WOMEN IN THE GERMANIC HERO-SAGAS 145 



the daughter of King Sigar, was loved by Hagbart and secretly 

 betrothed to him. But Hagbart had killed Signi's brothers in battle, 

 and for this reason knew that he could never obtain her father's 

 consent to marry her. He resolved, however, to see her again, 

 even at the risk of his life. He dressed himself in women's clothes, 

 and, giving himself out as a Valkyrie, bringing a message to King 

 Sigar, readily obtained admission to the palace. He thought not 

 of the danger, for his confidence in safety through the fidelity of Signi 

 was greater than his fear on account of having killed her brothers. 

 As an honored guest, the Valkyrie maiden was' taken to the apart- 

 ments of the king's daughter. Signi recognized her lover at once, 

 and was silent. Her maids, however, were suspicious of this stranger. 

 They spoke of his hardened hands and hairy wrists. But Hagbart 

 cried out, "What wonder that my tender soles have been hardened, 

 so oft the sand has touched my feet, and thorns have pinned me fast 

 in the midst of my course. And my hands — blood-dripping weapons, 

 and not the distaff, have busied them these many days." And Signi 

 quickly interposed, "The hand that deals out wounds is ne'er so 

 soft as that which holds the fine spun wool." After the maidens had 

 retired, the two alone renewed their vows of love, and Hagbart thus 

 addressed Signi, "If I am taken captive here and condemned to cruel 

 death, wilt thou then, thy holy vows forgetting, after my downfall 

 seek again the marriage bond, thou my only loved one?" And 

 Signi answered, "With thee will I die. If sad fate sink thee into the 

 grave, my life will I not prolong. No vow will be more safely kept, 

 if woman's word know what it be to keep the faith." These words 

 so cheered the heart of Hagbart that he felt greater joy from her 

 promise than pain at his own danger. But the lovers' secret could 

 not be kept for long. The maid-servants betrayed them, and Hagbart 

 was captured after a brave resistance. Nor was he permitted to 

 fight for his life, as befitted a king's son. Sigar refused him this 

 boon, and condemned him to die a disgraceful death on the gallows. 

 Meanwhile Signi had inquired of her maidens if they were willing to 

 share her fate to the last, and follow whithersoever she might lead. 

 These vowed to carry out faithfully every wish of their mistress, and 



