Gjuki’s daughter,
she saw him seated –
a silence fell.
As stone graven
stared she palely,
as cold and still
as carven stone.
4
From
shrouded heart
the shadows parted;
oaths were remembered
all unfulfilled.
As stone carven,
stern, unbending,
he sat unsmiling
no sign making.
5
Clamour rose again,
clear the singing.
Men were joyful –
mirth they deemed it.
In that hall beheld they
heroes mightiest,
and kings and queens
crowned in splendour.
*
6
Forth rode Sigurd,
the forest seeking,
to hunt the hart;
horns were sounded.
To the Rhine-river,
to running water,
queens went comely
with combs of gold.
7
Their locks they loosened.
Long one waded
to deeper pools
darkly swirling:
‘The water that hath washed
thy wan tresses
shall not flow unfitting
over fairer brow!’
8
‘More queenly I,
more kingly wed! –
fame all surpasses
he that Fafnir slew!’
‘Worth all surpasses
who my wavering fire,
flaming lightning
fearless vanquished!’
9
(Grim laughed
Gudrun
Grimhild’s daughter:)
‘True spake the tongue
of truth unwitting!
Thy wavering fire
wildly flaming
he rode unrecking
who that ring gave thee –
did Gunnar get it
on Gnitahei?i?
10
Andvari’s
ring,
old, enchanted,
is on Brynhild’s hand
bound in token.
Did
Gunnar give me
the gleaming ring
from thy hand he drew,
now here on
mine
!’
11
Coldhued as death
the queen was stricken,
strode swift from stream
as stone silent;
from Rhine-river,
from running water,
her bower sought she
brooding darkly.
12
Dim fell evening,
dusk was starless;
her mind was as night
as she mourned alone;
