Necks were broken
and knees sundered,
ere the Borgund king
was bound and thrown.
112
Last fought Hogni
alone hopeless;
his teeth tore them
as they tied him down.
The dust was bitten,
the doom fallen,
the Need of the Niflungs
and their night was come.
113
In dank prison
dark and evil
Hogni hurled they;
Huns him guarded.
But Gunnar bound
in Gudrun’s bower
was flung at the feet
of her frenzied lord.
114
‘Too long have I looked
for this last meeting,
Budlung’s vengeance
on Borgund lord.
Here lies at last
in lowly dust
lordly Gunnar!
Gudrun behold!
115
Sigurd remember,
and say me now,
is it sweet to see him
so sore avenged?
In my serpent-pit
snakes are waiting –
they bite more bitter
than blades of steel!’
116
Gunnar he trampled,
Gudrun saw him:
‘Evil art thou, Atli.
May thy end be shame!
By Erp and Eitill
our own children
(sons of the sister
of these sad captives),
from the dust lift them!
Their death forego!’
117
‘Let them give me the gold,
the gleaming hoard,
the serpent’s treasure
that Sigurd conquered!
The gold, the gold
that grieves my dreams –
if Gunnar will grant it,
I will grant him thee!’
118
‘I will give thee the gold,
goodly portion,
the half yielding
which I hold my own.
Half hath Hogni,
my haughty brother;
to his latest breath
he will loose it not.
119
Let heart of Hogni
at my hand be laid
from breast bleeding
with blades severed;
then gold will I give,
gold of serpents –
all shall Atli
eager take it!’
120
‘Yet Hogni no less,
mine hapless brother,
I did beg from thee
