420 



SORROW AND MOURNING. 



The people-defender 

 For news of the kin". 



Gudrun's second song to King Thjodrek at the bird of Atli. 



I was a maiden of maidens, 



My bright mother 



Eaised me in her house ; 



I loved my brothers well, 



Till Gjuki endowed me with 



gold, 

 And gave me to Sigurd. 



So was Sigurd 

 Among the sons of Gjuki 

 As a green leek 

 Grown high in the grass, 

 Or a long-legged hart 

 Among the swift deer, 

 Or ruddy gold 

 Amidst grey silver. 



Until my brothers 



Begrudged me 



A husband, 



Who was the foremost of all ; 



They could not sleep 



Nor judge law-cases 



Till they had slain Sigurd. 



Grani l ran from the Thing ; 

 The noise (of his hoofs) was 



heard ; 



But then Sigurd 

 Himself did not come. 

 All the saddle-deer 2 

 Were soiled with blood, 

 And wearied 

 Under their murderers. 



I went in my tears 



To talk to Grani ; 



With wet cheeks 



I asked him to speak. 



Grani drooped his head, 



Bowed it down to the grass ; 



The steed knew 



His owner was no more. 



A long while I wavered, 

 Long was my mind divided 

 Before I asked 



Gunnar drooped his head ; 



Hogni told me 



The painful death 



Of Sigurd : 



The slayer of Gothorm 



Lies slain 



Beyond the water, 



Given to the wolves. 



Seek for Sigurd there, 

 On the southern road ; 

 Then thou wilt hear 

 Ravens croak, 

 Eagles scream, 

 Glad at their booty, 

 Wolves howl 

 Over thy husband. 



Why wilt thou, Hogni, 



Such sorrows tell 



To me so joy-bereft ? 



The ravens should 



Tear thy heart 



In far-off lands, 



Where thou art a stranger. 



Hogni answered : 



Some day, Gudrun, 



With heavy mind, 



With great grief; 



More cause wilt thou have 



To weep, 



If my heart 



By ravens be torn. 



I went alone thence 



From this talk 



Into the forest 



To gather what the wolves had 



left, 3 



I did not moan 

 Nor wring my hands, 

 Nor wail, 



1 Sigurd's horse. 



2 Horses. 



3 Probably Sigurd's body had been 



thrown into the forest after he was slain 

 in his bed. 



