The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun

Wind was wailing,

waves were crying,

Sigrlinn sorrowful,

when a son she bore.

Sigurd golden

as a sun shining,

forth came he fair

in a far country.

Woman

17

‘O woman woeful

in war taken,

who was thy husband

while his house lasted?

What father begot

such fair offspring? –

grey steel glitters

in his gleaming eyes.’

Sigrlinn

18

‘The sire of Sigurd

Sigmund Volsung;

Seed of Odin

songs shall call him.’

Woman

‘Fair shall be fostered

that father’s child;

his mother be mated

to a mighty king.’

*

V

REGIN

The king of that land took Sigrlinn to wife. Sigurd was sent to be fostered by Regin, of whom it has been told above. Regin dwelt now in the forest and was deemed wise in many other matters than smithwork. Regin egged Sigurd to slay Fafnir. With the sword Gram and the horse Grani, of which it is here spoken, he accomplished this, though Regin had concealed from him both the great power of Fafnir and the nature of the hoard that the serpent guarded. Here also are given the dark words of Regin in which the undermeaning is that the real cause of the serpent’s death is Regin, who should therefore have the gold (though this he has promised, at least in large share, to Sigurd); but that Regin should slay the slayer of his brother. Sigurd deeming him only weighed with the thought of his guilt in brother-murder, dismisses his words with scorn. Nor does Sigurd heed the dragon’s words concerning the curse, thinking them merely the device of greed to protect the gold even though its guardian be slain. This indeed was the dragon’s chief purpose in revealing the curse at the hour of his death. Yet that curse began to work swiftly.

1

The forge was smoking

in the forest-darkness;

there wrought Regin

by the red embers.

There was Sigurd sent,

seed of Volsung,

lore deep to learn;

long his fostering.

2

Runes of wisdom

then Regin taught him,

and weapons’ wielding,

works of mastery;

the language of lands,

lore of kingship,

wise words he spake

in the wood’s fastness.

Regin

3

‘Full well couldst thou wield

wealth and kingship,

O son of Sigmund,

a sire’s treasure.’

Sigurd

‘My father is fallen,

his folk scattered,

his wealth wasted,

in war taken!’

Regin

4

‘A hoard have I heard

on a heath lying,

gold more glorious

than greatest king’s.

Wealth and worship

would wait on thee,

if thou durst to deal

with its dragon master.’