The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun

Then Fafnir’s heart

fiercely stung him;

Hreidmar he hewed

in his house asleep.

Fafnir’s heart

as a fire burneth:

part nor portion

he pays to Regin.

14

In

dragon’s

likeness

darkling lies he;

deep his dungeons,

and dread he knows not.

A helm of horror

his head weareth

on

Gnitahei?i

grimly creeping.’

Sigurd

15

‘With kin unkindly

wert thou cursed Regin!

His fire and venom

affright me not!

Yet why thou eggest me,

I ask thee still –

for father’s vengeance,

or for Fafnir’s gold?’

Regin

16

‘A sire avenged

were sweet to Regin;

the gold thy guerdon,

the glory thine.

A sword for Sigurd

will the smith fashion,

the blade most bitter

ever borne to war.’

*

17

The forge was smoking,

the fire smouldered.

Two swords there fashioned

twice he broke them:

hard the anvil

hewed he mightily –

sword was splintered,

smith was angered.

Sigurd

18

‘Sigrlinn, say me,

was sooth told me

of gleaming shards

of Grimnir’s sword?

Sigmund’s son

now seeks them from thee –

now Gram shall Regin

guileless weld me!’

19

The forge was flaring,

the fire blazing:

a blade they brought him

with blue edges;

they flickered with flame,

as it flashed singing –

the cloven anvil

clashed asunder.

20

The Rhine river

ran by swiftly;

there tufts of wool

on the tide he cast.

Sharp it shore them

in the sheer water:

glad grew Sigurd,

Gram there brandished.

Sigurd

21

‘Where lies the heath

and hoard golden?

Now rede me Regin