a blossomed summer,
homing harvest,
hoary winter.
A year followed year;
yearning seized her:
the king came not;
cold weighed her heart.
2
Of her wealth and splendour
wide spread the word;
kings came riding,
her courts thronging.
Her mood was troubled,
her mind darkened;
fell greeting found they,
and few returned.
3
One armed and mantled
as ancient king
wild steed there rode
than wind fleeter.
Spear upholding
spiked with lightning
her hall he entered,
hailed her darkly:
4
‘Bond unbroken
shall be bounden oath,
dreed and endured
be doom appointed.
Brynhild full soon
shall bridal drink;
choosing not the slain,
shall choose the living.
5
Brynhild must drink
the bridal feast,
ere winters two
o’er the world be passed.
A queen thou wert,
a king shalt wed:
Odin dooms it;
Odin hearken!’
6
Fire forth blossomed,
flames were kindled,
high up-leaping
hissed and wavered.
In hall standing
hedged with lightning,
‘one only’, thought she
‘can enter now!’
*
7
In Gjuki’s house
glad the singing.
A feast they fashioned,
far men sought it.
To blissful Gudrun
the bridal drank
there golden Sigurd
glorious shining.
8
Morning woke with mirth,
merry came evening;
harp-strings were plucked
by hands of cunning;
mead poured and ale,
men were joyful,
of peerless kings
praise uplifting.
9
Oaths swore Sigurd
for ever lasting,
a bond of brotherhood
in blood mingled,
help in venture,
in hate and battle,
in need and desire,
nowhere failing.
10
Gunnar and Hogni
gladly swore it,
as Grimhild counselled
grey with wisdom.
Gunnar and Hogni
good they deemed it;
glad was Gudrun
gleaming-lovely.
11
Gudrun walked in joy,
gladness round her;
