The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun

mighty brideprice

shall be meted thee!’

Brynhild

30

‘Gunnar, speak not

of golden rings!

Swords were me dearer

to slay my loves.

Art thou all men’s master,

all surpassing? –

to only such

will I answer give.’

Sigurd

31

‘Yea, swords hast thou reddened,

swords yet shalt wield;

and oaths hast thou sworn,

and oaths shalt keep.

Thy wall is ridden,

thy wavering fire:

thou art doomed him to wed

who dared to pass.’

32

In a bed them laid

Brynhild, Sigurd;

a sword them sundered

set there naked.

Gram lay between

gleaming sheathless,

fate lay between

forged unyielding.

33

Dawn came on earth,

day grew round them.

From

sleeping finger

he slipped her

ring

,

and Andvari’s gold,

old, enchanted,

on Brynhild’s hand

bound in token.

Sigurd

34

‘Wake thou! wake thou!

Wide is daylight.

I ride to my realm

to array the feast.’

Brynhild

‘Gunnar, Gunnar,

with gleaming eyes,

on day appointed

I shall drink with thee.’

*

IX

DEILD

(Strife)

1

On day appointed

dawn rose redly,

sun sprang fiery

southward hasting.

Bridal to Brynhild

blissful drank he,

Gunnar Gjuki’s son,

gold unsparing.

2

All surpassing,

proud and ardent,

Brynhild sat there,

a bride and queen.

All men’s master,

all surpassing,

in came Sigurd

as sun rising.

3

By

Gudrun’s

side,