by those born of us!’
‘Of his troll’s temper
yet true were the words!
The gold will I gain,
though Gudrun weep!’
121
Out went Atli,
evil he purposed;
but wisemen bade him
wary counsel.
The queen fearing
of cunning thought they;
a thrall they seized
and thrust in prison.
*
122
‘Woe worth the wiles
and wars of kings,
if my life I must lose
in their luckless feud!
The light of morning,
labour daylong,
fire at evening,
too few my days!’
123
‘Hjalli, swineherd,
thy heart give us!’
Shrilly shrieked he
at the shining knife.
They bared his breast,
and bitter wailed he;
ere the point pricked him
he piercing cried.
124
Hogni heard him,
to the Huns spake he:
‘Noisome the shrieking!
Knives were liever.
If hearts ye wish
here lies a better.
It trembles not. Take it!
Your toil were less.’
125
The heart then cut they
from Hjalli’s bosom;
to Gunnar bore it
on golden dish:
‘Here lies his heart!
Hogni is ended.’
Loudly laughed he,
lord of Niflungs.
126
‘I hapless see here
heart of craven.
Hogni hath not
heart that trembles.
Quivering lies it;
quaked it swifter
beating in baseborn
breast ignoble.’
127
Loudly laughed he
at life’s ending,
when knife was come
to Niflung lord.
The heart they cut
from Hogni’s bosom;
to Gunnar bore it
on golden dish.
128
‘I haughty see here
heart undaunted.
Hogni held it,
heart untrembling.
Unshaken lies it,
so shook it seldom
beating in boldest
breast of princes.
129
