The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun

alone, lightless,

made lamentation:

Brynhild

‘Fell! fell the fates

that forged our days!

13

Mine own must I have

or anguish suffer,

or suffer anguish

Sigurd losing.

Yet he is Gudrun’s

and Gunnar’s I:

foul wrought the fates

that framed my life!’

14

Daylong lay she

drinking nor eating,

as in dead slumber

or dreadful thought.

Her maidens marvelled –

she minded not,

Gunnar sought her;

grim she heard him.

15

Then spake Brynhild

from bitter pondering:

Brynhild

‘Whence came the gold

here gleaming pale?

Who holds the ring

from my hand taken?’

Nought spake Gunnar,

no word answered.

Brynhild

16

‘King men call thee!

A coward rather,

from fire flinching,

fearful, quaking!

From witch-woman’s

womb thou camest.

Woe to Grimhild,

woe’s contriver!’

Gunnar

17

‘Vile words to use,

thou Valkyrie,

thou slayer of men,

and sword-hearted!’

Brynhild

‘If sword I had,

I would slay thee now,

for thy secret treason,

for thy sundered oaths!

18

Him only loved I

who all surpassed;

an oath uttered,

him only to wed,

him only to wed

who mine ardent fire

vanquished valorous;

I am vow-breaker.

19

I am oath-breaker,

dishonoured, humbled;

I am love-bereaved

and life-cursed.

In thy halls shalt thou hear

never happy voices,

no queen in thy courts

shall comely walk.’

20

Long there lay she

in lamentation;

afar heard folk

her fell mourning.

Gudrun she spurned,

Gunnar scorning,

and Hogni mocking;

hate was kindled.

*

21

From the hunt rode Sigurd

home returning,

found halls unlit

and hearts darkened.

They brought him to seek her

for sorrow’s healing;

his mood was loath,

on the morrow went he.

(He draws back the coverlet

from Brynhild and wakes her,

as before he had done.)

Sigurd

22

‘Hail, O sunlight

and sun’s rising!