no more to battle,
to mate doomed me.
An oath I uttered
for ever lasting,
to wed but one,
the World’s chosen.’
9
‘In the halls of Odin
it were hard to choose
man there mightiest,
most renowned.’
‘Yet one they wait for,
in wide Valholl,
the serpent-slayer,
seed of Odin.’
10
‘Seed of Odin
is Sigmund’s child,
and Sigurd’s sword
is serpent’s bane.’
‘Hail, son of Sigmund,
seed of Volsung!
Warriors wait for thee
in wide Valholl.’
11
‘Hail, bright and splendid!
Hail, battle-maiden,
bride of Volsung
Brynhild chosen!’
Troth in triumph
twain there plighted
alone on mountain;
light was round them.
12
‘A beaker I bring thee,
O battle-wielder,
mighty-blended
mead of glory,
brimmed with bounty,
blessed with healing,
and rimmed with runes
of running laughter.’
13
‘I drink, all daring:
doom or glory;
drink of splendour
dear the bearer!’
‘Dear the drinker!
Doom and glory
both me bodeth,
thou bright and fair!’
14
‘I flee nor flinch,
though fey standing,
words of wisdom,
woe, or gladness.’
‘Words of wisdom
warning darkly
hear thou and hold,
hope of Odin!
15
Be slow to vengeance,
seed of Volsung!
In swearing soothfast,
the sworn holding.
Grim grow the boughs
in guile rooted;
fair flowers the tree
in faith planted!
16
Where the witch-hearted
walks or houses
linger not, lodge not,
though lone the road!
Though beauty blindeth
