in blood flowing.
in flowing blood
of fairest lord.
62
Breast white and bare
she beat so sore
that Sigurd raised him
from soaking pillow:
‘My wife, weep not
for woe foredoomed!
Brothers remain to thee –
blame them lightly!
63
Brynhild wrought this:
best she loved me,
worst she dealt me,
worst belied me.
I Gunnar never
grieved nor injured;
oaths I swore him,
all fulfilled them!’
64
Dead fell Sigurd;
dreadly Gudrun
cried in anguish,
called him vainly.
Swords rang on wall,
and sleepers shivered;
geese screamed shrill
in green meadow.
65
Then laughed Brynhild
in her bed listening
with whole heart once –
the house shuddered –
Gudrun hearing
in grief’s torment.
Gunnar answered
grimly speaking:
66
‘Little thou laughest
for delight of soul,
O fell-hearted!
Fey I deem thee.
Thy colour blancheth,
cold thy cheeks are;
cold thy counsels
and accursed thy redes.’
67
‘Cursed are the Niflungs,
cruel forswearers.
Oaths swore Sigurd,
all fulfilled them.
Ye all shall find
evil fortune,
while all men’s honour
he for ever holdeth.
68
Bonds of brotherhood
in blood mingled
with murder kept ye;
he remembered them.
A
sword lay naked
set between us,
Gram lay grimly
gleaming
sheathless
.
69
Now life no longer
will I live with you;
of love ye robbed me
with lying counsels.
Shorn I leave you,
shame enduring,
of faith and friendship,
of fame on earth.’
70
In arms he took her,
anguished begged her
her hand to stay,
hope to look for.
She thrust them from her
who thronged round her,
longing only
for her last journey.
71
(Hogni only
withheld her not:)
‘Little would I hinder
her last journey,
so she bide in that land
