‘No wind, nor wraith
of waking thought –
a hart we hunted
over hill and valley;
all would take him,
’twas I caught him:
his hide was golden,
his horns towering.
3
A woman wildly
on the wind riding
with a shaft stung him,
shooting pierced him;
at my knees he fell
in night of woe,
my heart too heavy
might I hardly bear.
4
A wolf they gave me
for woe’s comfort;
in my brethren’s blood
he bathed me red.
Dreams have vexed me,
direst boding,
not wind or weather
or waning moon.’
5
‘Dreams oft token
the dark by light,
good by evil,
Gudrun daughter!
Lift up thine eyes
eager shining!
Green lie the lands
round Gjuki’s house.’
6
‘The roads run green
to the Rhine-water!
Who rides here lone,
arrayed for war?
His helm is high,
his horse fleeting,
his shield is shining
with sheen of gold!’
7
Thus Gudrun gazed,
Gjuki’s daughter,
from wall and window
in wonder looking.
Thus Sigurd rode,
seed of Volsung,
into Gjuki’s courts
gleaming-harnessed.
8
There Gjuki dwelt
his gold dealing
in Niflung land,
the Niflung lord.
Gunnar and Hogni
were Gjuki’s sons,
mighty princes;
men them hearkened.
9
There Grimhild dwelt,
guileful in counsel,
grimhearted queen
grey with wisdom,
with lore of leechcraft,
lore of poison,
with chill enchantment
and with changing spells.
10
As ravens dark
were those raven-friends;
fair their faces,
fierce their glances.
With Huns they waged
hate and warfare,
gold ever gathering
in great dungeons.
11
Silent they sat
when Sigurd entered
Gunnar greeting,
Gjuki hailing.
‘Who comes unbidden
in battle’s harness,
helm and hauberk,
to halls of mine?’
