FIRST SONG OF GUDRUN. 417 



The want of brothers I need it often. 



Comes often Such are the tempers of men ; 



Into the mind My flight becomes faint 



0!' the women of Bjorn. 1 When my friends get few. 

 I look round 



nn xu i .L.I J.-L- i It is also told 



\\ hen the battle thickens : , 



I heed this rhat n De gets 



A i. ... The equal of his son 



And look to see it T , , 



Unless he begets another ; 



Any other Thegn Nor a kinsman 



Daring in fight Who is to him 



Stands Like the man 



At my side ; Who is his born brother. 



THE FIRST SONG OF GUDRUN. 



The brothers of Gudruu, daughter of Gjuki, had slain her 

 husband, Sigurd Fafnisbani, in his bed. Gudrun sat over 

 Sigurd when he was dead ; she did not weep, as other women, 

 but almost died from grief. Both men and women came to 

 comfort her, but did not find it easy to do so. 



Gudrun was The sister of Gjuki, 



Near to death Gjaflang, said : 



When she sat, full of grief, No women on earth 



Over Sigurd ; Lack love more than I ; 



She did not weep, I have felt the loss 



Nor wring her hands, Of husbands five, 



Nor wail Of daughters two, 



Like other women. Of sisters three, 



Of brothers eight, 



Very wise jarls . ,. ' 



~ . , And yet I live alone. 



Came forward, 



Who tried to soothe Still Gudrun 



Her heavy heart ; Could not weep, 



Though Gudrun was So full of grief was she 



Unable to weep ; For her dead husband, 



She was so sad ; And heavy-hearted 



Her heart almost broke. O'er the king's corpse. 



The high-born Then said Herborg, 



Brides of jarls The Queen of Hunaland : 



Sat, gold adorned, I have a harder 



By Gudrun ; Sorrow to tell ; 



Each of them My seven sons 



Related her woes, And my eighth husband 



The bitterest sorrow Fell among the slain 



She had suffered. In the southern lauds. 



1 Bjorn = Thor. The women of Bjorn = the Troll women. 

 VOL. II. 2 E 



