The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun

Sleep no longer

and sorrow cast thou!’

Brynhild

‘I slept on mountain,

I sleep no more!

Accursed be thy words,

cruel forswearer!’

Sigurd

23

‘What grief ails thee

amid good liking,

who to glorious Gunnar

wert gladly wed?’

Brynhild

‘Gladly! gladly!

Grim thou mockest me.

Him only I loved,

who all surpassed.’

Sigurd

24

‘Yet glory no less

hath Gjuki’s son,

my blood-brother,

best renowned.

Well he loves thee,

lord unfearing –

look now and learn

light yet shineth!’

Brynhild

25

‘Nay, Fafnir Sigurd

fearless conquered;

my wavering fire

he waded twice;

twice he waded

tongues of lightning:

so great glory

never Gunnar earned.’

Sigurd

26

‘That twice he waded,

who told thee so?

Sigurd hath not said it –

why saist thou this?’

Brynhild

‘Gloom was round us.

Thy gleaming eyes,

thine eyes gleaming

anguish gave me.

27

Veils of darkness

they vanquished me.

I am life-cursed

and love-bereaved.

Yet I curse thee too,

cruel forswearer,

who rendered to another

the ring taken.

28

Gudrun I curse

for cruel reproach

of bed broken

and body yielded.

Thy glory alone

seems good to thee;

of all women the worst

thou weenest me.’

Sigurd

29

‘Woe worth the words

by women spoken!

Woe worth the while

this work began!

Webs enwound me

woven dreadly,

my mind shadowing,

my mood darkening.

30

Long I loved thee,

long desiring.

Thee only would I hold,

now all I know.

My mood mastering,

my mind wielding,

I sat unsmiling,

no sign making.

31

This solace sought I,

that I saw thee still,

the one hall walking

though wife of other.’

Brynhild

‘Too late! too late,

love thou speakest!

To allay this evil

there leech is none.’

Sigurd

32