‘Is hope all fallen,
is healing vain?
Must fate fierce-hearted
thus find its end?’
‘This hope only,
this heart’s comfort –
that Sigurd forsworn
a sword should bite!’
33
‘Swords lightly sleep,
soon may I feel them!
Then would Brynhild die –
bitter would she deem it.’
‘Well fall the words
from woe’s maker!
Little light in life
hath he left to me.’
34
‘Yet Gunnar would I slay,
Gudrun forsake,
from death thee to keep,
our doom o’ercoming!’
‘I am wife of one,
I wed no other.
No lord will I love,
and least Sigurd!’
*
35
Forth went Sigurd
filled with anguish,
his heart was swollen
in heaving breast.
Mail-rings clutched him,
marred his breathing,
to his flesh cutting
fiercely straining.
36
There stood Gudrun
gleaming-lovely:
‘Sleeps yet Brynhild,
sickness bearing?’
‘Brynhild sleeps not,
brooding darkly.
She broodeth darkly
our bale and doom.’
37
Gudrun wanly
grasped him weeping:
‘What doth Brynhild brood,
what bale purpose?’
‘Thou shouldst know it,
needless asking.
Woe worth the words
by women spoken!’
38
(Then spake Gunnar
gloomy-hearted:)
‘What hope of healing
harm’s amending?
Shall we gold offer,
gold and silver?’
‘Gold and silver
let Gunnar offer!
Her lord alone
her leech must be.’
39
Then Gunnar offered
gold and silver,
gold and silver
gleaming-hoarded.
‘Gunnar, speak not
of gold and silver;
swords were me dearer
to slay my life.
40
All men’s master,
all surpassing,
such only ever
shall earn my love.
Than thy liege lower
thou art less become,
a Volsung’s squire,
a vassal’s servant!
41
From thy bed parting,
at thy board humbled
I will leave thee alone
to laughter of men,
if life thou allowest
to liege forsworn,
if thou slay not Sigurd,
thy sister’s lord.’
42
