FIRST S<L\G OF GUD1H \. 



419 



Then said Gudrun, 



The daughter of Gjuki : 



Such was my Sigurd 



Among the sons of Gjuki, 



As a garlic ! 



Grown high among grass, 



Or a shining stone 



Set on a baud, 



A precious gem, 



So was he above the high-born. 



I seemed also 



To the king's champions 



Higher than any 



Dis of Herjan ; 2 



Now I am lowly 



As a willow leaf, 



After the king's death. 



I miss in the seat 



And in the bed 



The talk of my friend ; 



The sons of Gjuki cause 



My misery, 



And the sore weeping 



Of their sister. 



So shall you 

 Lose your land 

 As you kept not 

 The sworn oaths ; 

 Thou, Gunuar, wilt not 

 Enjoy the gold ; 

 Those rings 

 Will be thy death, 

 As thou to Sigurd 

 Did'st falsely swear. 



Oft was it merrier 

 When my Sigurd 

 Saddled Grani 

 In the grass-plot (tun), 

 And they went 

 To woo Brynhild, 

 The cursed being 

 With bad luck. 



Then said Brynhild, 

 The daughter of Budli: 

 May that being lack 3 

 Husband and children 

 Who made thee 

 Weep, Gudrun, 

 And to thee this mornin^ 



O 



Gave power of speech. 4 



Then said Gullrond, 

 The daughter of Gjuki : 

 Speak not these words, 

 Much hated one ; 

 Thou hast always been 

 The Urd 5 of the high-born ; 



Every man disowns thee, 



Thou evil being ! 



Sore sorrow 



Of seven kings, 



And the greatest spoiler 



Of wives' friends. 6 



Then said Brynhild, 

 The daughter of Budli : 

 Atli alone causes 

 All the misery ; 

 The son or Budli, 

 My brother, 



When we in the hall 



Of the Hunnish people 



Saw with the king 



The fire of the serpent lair 7 



I have paid since 



For that journey ; 



Of that sight 



I was not afraid. 



She stood at the door-post ; 

 She clasped the alder-tree ; 8 

 Fire flashed 

 Out of the eyes 



Of Brynhild, Biulli's daughter ; 

 Venom gushed from her 

 When she saw the wounds 

 Of Sigurd. 



1 Geirlauk. 2 Odin. 



3 To be an old maid seems to have 

 been looked upon as a curse, 



4 Speech runes. 



5 One of the Nornir, representing the 

 past. 6 Husbands. 



7 The gold of Fafnir's lair. 



The door-post. 



2 E 2 



