Chapter 29

[Contents]1.There are many who know | how of old did menIn counsel gather; | little good did they get;In secret they plotted, | it was sore for them later,And for Gjuki’s sons, | whose trust they deceived.2.Fate grew for the princes, | to death they were given;Ill counsel was Atli’s, | though keenness he had;[501]He felled his staunch bulwark, | his own sorrow fashioned,Soon a message he sent | that his kinsmen should seek him.3.Wise was the woman, | she fain would use wisdom,She saw well what meant | all they said in secret;From her heart it was hid | how help she might render,The sea they should sail, | while herself she should go not.4.Runes did she fashion, | but false Vingi made them,The speeder of hatred, | ere to give them he sought;Then soon fared the warriors | whom Atli had sent,And to Limafjord came, | to the home of the kings.5.They were kindly with ale, | and fires they kindled,[502]They thought not of craft | from the guests who had come;The gifts did they take | that the noble one gave them,On the pillars they hung them, | no fear did they harbor.6.Forth did Kostbera, wife | of Hogni, then come,Full kindly she was, | and she welcomed them both;And glad too was Glaumvor, | the wife of Gunnar,She knew well to care | for the needs of the guests.7.Then Hogni they asked | if more eager he were,Full clear was the guile, | if on guard they had been;Then Gunnar made promise, | if Hogni would go,And Hogni made answer | as the other counseled.8.Then the famed ones brought mead, | and fair was the feast,[503]Full many were the horns, | till the men had drunk deep;. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .Then the mates made ready | their beds for resting.9.Wise was Kostbera, | and cunning in rune-craft,The letters would she read | by the light of the fire;But full quickly her tongue | to her palate clave,So strange did they seem | that their meaning she saw not.10.Full soon then his bed | came Hogni to seek,. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .The clear-souled one dreamed, | and her dream she kept not,To the warrior the wise one | spake when she wakened:11.“Thou wouldst go hence, Hogni, | but heed my counsel,—[504]Known to few are the runes,— | and put off thy faring;I have read now the runes | that thy sister wrote,And this time the bright one | did not bid thee to come.12.“Full much do I wonder, | nor well can I see,Why the woman wise | so wildly hath written;But to me it seems | that the meaning beneathIs that both shall be slain | if soon ye shall go.But one rune she missed, | or else others have marred it.”Hogni spake:13.“All women are fearful; | not so do I feel,Ill I seek not to find | till I soon must avenge it;The king now will give us | the glow-ruddy gold;I never shall fear, | though of dangers I know.”Kostbera spake:14.“In danger ye fare, | if forth ye go thither,[505]No welcoming friendly | this time shall ye find;For I dreamed now, Hogni, | and nought will I hide,Full evil thy faring, | if rightly I fear.15.“Thy bed-covering saw I | in the flames burning,And the fire burst high | through the walls of my home.”Hogni spake:“Yon garment of linen | lies little of worth,It will soon be burned, | so thou sawest the bed-cover.”Kostbera spake:16.“A bear saw I enter, | the pillars he broke,And he brandished his claws | so that craven we were;With his mouth seized he many, | and nought was our might,And loud was the tumult, | not little it was.”[506]Hogni spake:17.“Now a storm is brewing, | and wild it grows swiftly,A dream of an ice-bear | means a gale from the east.”Kostbera spake:18.“An eagle I saw flying | from the end through the house,Our fate must be bad, | for with blood he sprinkled us;. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .From the evil I fear | that ’twas Atli’s spirit.”Hogni spake:19.“They will slaughter soon, | and so blood do we see,Oft oxen it means | when of eagles one dreams;[507]True is Atli’s heart, | whatever thou dreamest.”Then silent they were, | and nought further they said.20.The high-born ones wakened, | and like speech they had,Then did Glaumvor tell | how in terror she dreamed,. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .. . . . . Gunnar | two roads they should go.Glaumvor spake:21.“A gallows saw I ready, | thou didst go to thy hanging,Thy flesh serpents ate, | and yet living I found thee;. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .The gods’ doom descended; | now say what it boded.”* * * * * *22.“A sword drawn bloody | from thy garments I saw,—[508]Such a dream is hard | to a husband to tell,—A spear stood, methought, | through thy body thrust,And at head and feet | the wolves were howling.”Gunnar spake:23.“The hounds are running, | loud their barking is heard,Oft hounds’ clamor follows | the flying of spears.”Glaumvor spake:24.“A river the length | of the hall saw I run,Full swiftly it roared, | o’er the benches it swept;O’er the feet did it break | of ye brothers twain,The water would yield not; | some meaning there was.”* * * * * *25.“I dreamed that by night | came dead women hither,[509]Sad were their garments, | and thee were they seeking;They bade thee come swiftly | forth to their benches,And nothing, methinks, | could the Norns avail thee.”Gunnar spake:26.“Too late is thy speaking, | for so is it settled;From the faring I turn not, | the going is fixed,Though likely it is | that our lives shall be short.”27.Then bright shone the morning, | the men all were ready,They said, and yet each | would the other hold back;Five were the warriors, | and their followers allBut twice as many,— | their minds knew not wisdom.28.Snævar and Solar, | they were sons of Hogni,Orkning was he called | who came with the others,[510]Blithe was the shield-tree, | the brother of Kostbera;The fair-decked ones followed, | till the fjord divided them,Full hard did they plead, | but the others would hear not.29.Then did Glaumvor speak forth, | the wife of Gunnar,To Vingi she said | that which wise to her seemed:“I know not if well | thou requitest our welcome,Full ill was thy coming | if evil shall follow.”30.Then did Vingi swear, | and full glib was his speech,. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .“May giants now take me | if lies I have told ye,And the gallows if hostile | thought did I have.”31.Then did Bera speak forth, | and fair was her thought,[511]. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .“May ye sail now happy, | and victory have,To fare as I bid ye, | may nought your way bar.”32.Then Hogni made answer,— | dear held he his kin,—courage, ye wise ones, | whatsoever may come;Though many may speak, | yet is evil oft mighty,And words avail little | to lead one homeward.33.They tenderly looked | till each turned on his way,Then with changing fate | were their farings divided.34.Full stoutly they rowed, | and the keel clove asunder,Their backs strained at the oars, | and their strength was fierce;[512]The oar-loops were burst, | the thole-pins were broken,Nor the ship made they fast | ere from her they fared.35.Not long was it after— | the end must I tell—That the home they beheld | that Buthli once had;Loud the gates resounded | when Hogni smote them;Vingi spake then a word | that were better unsaid:36.“Go ye far from the house, | for false is its entrance,Soon shall I burn you, | ye are swiftly smitten;I bade ye come fairly, | but falseness was under,Now bide ye afar | while your gallows I fashion.”37.Then Hogni made answer, | his heart yielded little,[513]And nought did he fear | that his fate held in store:“Seek not to affright us, | thou shalt seldom succeed;If thy words are more, | then the worse grows thy fate.”38.Then Vingi did they smite, | and they sent him to hell,With their axes they clove him | while the death-rattle came.39.Atli summoned his men, | in mail-coats they hastened,All ready they came, | and between was the courtyard.* * * * * *40.Then came they to words, | and full wrathful they were:[514]“Long since did we plan | how soon we might slay you.”Hogni spake:41.“Little it matters | if long ye have planned it;For unarmed do ye wait, | and one have we felled,We smote him to hell, | of your host was he once.”42.Then wild was their anger | when all heard his words;Their fingers were swift | on their bowstrings to seize,Full sharply they shot, | by their shields were they guarded.43.In the house came the word | how the heroes without[515]Fought in front of the hall; | they heard a thrall tell it;Grim then was Guthrun, | the grief when she heard,With necklaces fair, | and she flung them all from her,(The silver she hurled | so the rings burst asunder.)44.Then out did she go, | she flung open the doors,All fearless she went, | and the guests did she welcome;To the Niflungs she went— | her last greeting it was,—In her speech truth was clear, | and much would she speak.45.“For your safety I sought | that at home ye should stay;None escapes his fate, | so ye hither must fare.”Full wisely she spake, | if yet peace they might win,[516]But to nought would they hearken, | and “No” said they all.46.Then the high-born one saw | that hard was their battle,In fierceness of heart | she flung off her mantle;Her naked sword grasped she | her kin’s lives to guard,Not gentle her hands | in the hewing of battle.47.Then the daughter of Gjuki | two warriors smote down,Atli’s brother she slew, | and forth then they bore him;(So fiercely she fought | that his feet she clove off;)Another she smote | so that never he stood,To hell did she send him,— | her hands trembled never.[517]48.Full wide was the fame | of the battle they fought,’Twas the greatest of deeds | of the sons of Gjuki;Men say that the Niflungs, | while themselves they were living,With their swords fought mightily, | mail-coats they sundered,And helms did they hew, | as their hearts were fearless.49.All the morning they fought | until midday shone,(All the dusk as well | and the dawning of day,)When the battle was ended, | the field flowed with blood;Ere they fell, eighteen | of their foemen were slain,By the two sons of Bera | and her brother as well.50.Then the warrior spake, | and wild was his anger:“This is evil to see, | and thy doing is all;[518]Once we were thirty, | we thanes keen for battle,Now eleven are left, | and great is our lack.51.“There were five of us brothers | when Buthli we lost,Now Hel has the half, | and two smitten lie here;A great kinship had I,— | the truth may I hide not,—From a wife bringing slaughter | small joy could I win.52.We lay seldom together | since to me thou wast given,Now my kin all are gone, | of my gold am I robbed;Nay, and worst, thou didst send | my sister to hell.”[519]Guthrun spake:53.“Hear me now, Atli! | the first evil was thine;My mother didst thou take, | and for gold didst murder her,My sister’s daughter | thou didst starve in a prison.A jest does it seem | that thy sorrow thou tellest,And good do I find it | that grief to thee comes.”Atli spake:54.“Go now, ye warriors, | and make greater the griefOf the woman so fair, | for fain would I see it;So fierce be thy warring | that Guthrun shall weep,I would gladly behold | her happiness lost.55.“Seize ye now Hogni, | and with knives shall ye hew him,His heart shall ye cut out, | this haste ye to do;And grim-hearted Gunnar | shall ye bind on the gallows,[520]Swift shall ye do it, | to serpents now cast him.”Hogni spake:56.“Do now as thou wilt, | for glad I await it,Brave shalt thou find me, | I have faced worse before;We held thee at bay | while whole we were fighting,Now with wounds are we spent, | so thy will canst thou work.”57.Then did Beiti speak, | he was Atli’s steward:“Let us seize now Hjalli, | and Hogni spare we!Let us fell the sluggard, | he is fit for death,He has lived too long, | and lazy men call him.”58.Afraid was the pot-watcher, | he fled here and yon,And crazed with his terror | he climbed in the corners:[521]“Ill for me is this fighting, | if I pay for your fierceness,And sad is the day | to die leaving my swineAnd all the fair victuals | that of old did I have.”59.They seized Buthli’s cook, | and they came with the knife,The frightened thrall howled | ere the edge did he feel;He was willing, he cried, | to dung well the courtyard,Do the basest of work, | if spare him they would;Full happy were Hjalli | if his life he might have.60.Then fain was Hogni— | there are few would do thus—To beg for the slave | that safe hence he should go;“I would find it far better | this knife-play to feel,Why must we all hark | to this howling longer?”61.Then the brave one they seized; | to the warriors boldNo chance was there left | to delay his fate longer;Loud did Hogni laugh, | all the sons of day heard him,[522]So valiant he was | that well he could suffer.* * * * * *62.A harp Gunnar seized, | with his toes he smote it;So well did he strike | that the women all wept,And the men, when clear | they heard it, lamented;Full noble was his song, | the rafters burst asunder.63.Then the heroes died | ere the day was yet come;Their fame did they leave | ever lofty to live.. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .64.Full mighty seemed Atli | as o’er them he stood,The wise one he blamed, | and his words reproached her:“It is morning, Guthrun; | now thy dear ones dost miss,But the blame is part thine | that thus it has chanced.”[523]Guthrun spake:65.“Thou art joyous, Atli, | for of evil thou tellest,But sorrow is thine | if thou mightest all see;Thy heritage heavy | here can I tell thee,Sorrow never thou losest | unless I shall die.”Atli spake:66.“Not free of guilt am I; | a way shall I findThat is better by far,— | oft the fairest we shunned;—With slaves I console thee, | with gems fair to see,And with silver snow-white, | as thyself thou shalt choose.”Guthrun spake:67.“No hope shall this give thee, | thy gifts I shall take not,Requital I spurned | when my sorrows were smaller;Once grim did I seem, | but now greater my grimness,There was nought seemed too hard | while Hogni was living.[524]68.“Our childhood did we have | in a single house,We played many a game, | in the grove did we grow;Then did Grimhild give us | gold and necklaces;Thou shalt ne’er make amends | for my brother’s murder,Nor ever shalt win me | to think it was well.69.“But the fierceness of men | rules the fate of women,The tree-top bows low | if bereft of its leaves,The tree bends over | if the roots are cleft under it;Now mayest thou, Atli, | o’er all things here rule.”70.Full heedless the warrior | was that he trusted her,So clear was her guile | if on guard he had been;But crafty was Guthrun, | with cunning she spake,Her glance she made pleasant, | with two shields she played.[525]71.The beer then she brought | for her brothers’ death-feast,And a feast Atli made | for his followers dead;No more did they speak, | the mead was made ready,Soon the men were gathered | with mighty uproar.72.Thus bitterly planned she, | and Buthli’s race threatened,And terrible vengeance | on her husband would take;The little ones called she, | on a block she laid them;Afraid were the proud ones, | but their tears did not fall;To their mother’s arms went they, | and asked what she would.Guthrun spake:73.“Nay, ask me no more! | You both shall I murder,[526]For long have I wished | your lives to steal from you.”The boys spake:“Slay thy boys as thou wilt, | for no one may bar it,Short the angry one’s peace | if all thou shalt do.”74.Then the grim one slew both | of the brothers young,Full hard was her deed | when their heads she smote off;Fain was Atli to know | whither now they were gone,The boys from their sport, | for nowhere he spied them.Guthrun spake:75.“My fate shall I seek, | all to Atli saying,The daughter of Grimhild | the deed from thee hides not;No joy thou hast, Atli, | if all thou shalt hear,Great sorrow didst wake | when my brothers thou slewest.[527]76.“I have seldom slept | since the hour they were slain,Baleful were my threats, | now I bid thee recall them;Thou didst say it was morning,— | too well I remember,—Now is evening come, | and this question thou askest.77.“Now both of thy sons | thou hast lost . . .. . . . . . . . | as thou never shouldst do;The skulls of thy boys | thou as beer-cups didst have,And the draught that I made thee | was mixed with their blood.78.“I cut out their hearts, | on a spit I cooked them,I came to thee with them, | and calf’s flesh I called them;Alone didst thou eat them, | nor any didst leave,[528]Thou didst greedily bite, | and thy teeth were busy.79.“Of thy sons now thou knowest; | few suffer more sorrow;My guilt have I told, | fame it never shall give me.”Atli spake:80.“Grim wast thou, Guthrun, | in so grievous a deed,My draught with the blood | of thy boys to mingle;Thou hast slain thine own kin, | most ill it beseemed thee,And little for me | twixt my sorrows thou leavest.”Guthrun spake:81.“Still more would I seek | to slay thee thyself,Enough ill comes seldom | to such as thou art;Thou didst folly of old, | such that no one shall find[529]In the whole world of men | a match for such madness.Now this that of late | we learned hast thou added,Great evil hast grasped, | and thine own death-feast made.”Atli spake:82.“With fire shall they burn thee, | and first shall they stone thee,So then hast thou earned | what thou ever hast sought for.”Guthrun spake:“Such woes for thyself | shalt thou say in the morning,From a finer death I | to another light fare.”83.Together they sat | and full grim were their thoughts,Unfriendly their words, | and no joy either found;In Hniflung grew hatred, | great plans did he have,To Guthrun his anger | against Atli was told.[530]84.To her heart came ever | the fate of Hogni,She told him ’twere well | if he vengeance should win;So was Atli slain,— | ’twas not slow to await,—Hogni’s son slew him, | and Guthrun herself.85.Then the warrior spake, | as from slumber he wakened,Soon he knew for his wounds | would the bandage do nought:“Now the truth shalt thou say: | who has slain Buthli’s son?Full sore am I smitten, | nor hope can I see.”Guthrun spake:86.“Ne’er her deed from thee hides | the daughter of Grimhild,[531]I own to the guilt | that is ending thy life,And the son of Hogni; | ’tis so thy wounds bleed.”Atli spake:“To murder hast thou fared, | though foul it must seem;Ill thy friend to betray | who trusted thee well.87.“Not glad went I hence | thy hand to seek, Guthrun,In thy widowhood famed, | but haughty men found thee;My belief did not lie, | as now we have learned;I brought thee home hither, | and a host of men with us.88.“Most noble was all | when of old we journeyed,Great honor did we have | of heroes full worthy;Of cattle had we plenty, |and greatly we prospered,Mighty was our wealth, | and many received it.89.“To the famed one as bride-gift | I gave jewels fair,[532]I gave thirty slaves, | and handmaidens seven;There was honor in such gifts, | yet the silver was greater.90.“But all to thee was | as if nought it were worth,While the land lay before thee | that Buthli had left me;Thou in secret didst work | so the treasure I won not;My mother full oft | to sit weeping didst make,No wedded joy found I | in fullness of heart.”Guthrun spake:91.“Thou liest now, Atli, | though little I heed it;[533]If I seldom was kindly, | full cruel wast thou;Ye brothers fought young, | quarrels brought you to battle,And half went to hell | of the sons of thy house,And all was destroyed | that should e’er have done good.92.“My two brothers and I | were bold in our thoughts,From the land we went forth, | with Sigurth we fared;Full swiftly we sailed, | each one steering his ship,So our fate sought we e’er | till we came to the East.93.“First the king did we slay, | and the land we seized,[534]The princes did us service, | for such was their fear;From the forest we called | them we fain would have guiltless,And rich made we many | who of all were bereft.94.“Slain was the Hun-king, | soon happiness vanished,In her grief the widow | so young sat weeping;Yet worse seemed the sorrow | to seek Atli’s house,A hero was my husband, | and hard was his loss.95.“From the Thing thou camst never, | for thus have we heard,Having won in thy quarrels, | or warriors smitten;Full yielding thou wast, | never firm was thy will,In silence didst suffer, | . . . . . . . .”Atli spake:96.“Thou liest now, Guthrun, | but little of good[535]Will it bring to either, | for all have we lost;But, Guthrun, yet once | be thou kindly of will,For the honor of both, | when forth I am borne.”Guthrun spake:97.“A ship will I buy, | and a bright-hued coffin,I will wax well the shroud | to wind round thy body,For all will I care | as if dear were we ever.”98.Then did Atli die, | and his heirs’ grief doubled;The high-born one did | as to him she had promised;Then sought Guthrun the wise | to go to her death,But for days did she wait, | and ’twas long ere she died.99.Full happy shall he be | who such offspring has,Or children so gallant, | as Gjuki begot;Forever shall live, | and in lands far and wide,Their valor heroic | wherever men hear it.[499]

1.There are many who know | how of old did menIn counsel gather; | little good did they get;In secret they plotted, | it was sore for them later,And for Gjuki’s sons, | whose trust they deceived.2.Fate grew for the princes, | to death they were given;Ill counsel was Atli’s, | though keenness he had;[501]He felled his staunch bulwark, | his own sorrow fashioned,Soon a message he sent | that his kinsmen should seek him.3.Wise was the woman, | she fain would use wisdom,She saw well what meant | all they said in secret;From her heart it was hid | how help she might render,The sea they should sail, | while herself she should go not.4.Runes did she fashion, | but false Vingi made them,The speeder of hatred, | ere to give them he sought;Then soon fared the warriors | whom Atli had sent,And to Limafjord came, | to the home of the kings.5.They were kindly with ale, | and fires they kindled,[502]They thought not of craft | from the guests who had come;The gifts did they take | that the noble one gave them,On the pillars they hung them, | no fear did they harbor.6.Forth did Kostbera, wife | of Hogni, then come,Full kindly she was, | and she welcomed them both;And glad too was Glaumvor, | the wife of Gunnar,She knew well to care | for the needs of the guests.7.Then Hogni they asked | if more eager he were,Full clear was the guile, | if on guard they had been;Then Gunnar made promise, | if Hogni would go,And Hogni made answer | as the other counseled.8.Then the famed ones brought mead, | and fair was the feast,[503]Full many were the horns, | till the men had drunk deep;. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .Then the mates made ready | their beds for resting.9.Wise was Kostbera, | and cunning in rune-craft,The letters would she read | by the light of the fire;But full quickly her tongue | to her palate clave,So strange did they seem | that their meaning she saw not.10.Full soon then his bed | came Hogni to seek,. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .The clear-souled one dreamed, | and her dream she kept not,To the warrior the wise one | spake when she wakened:11.“Thou wouldst go hence, Hogni, | but heed my counsel,—[504]Known to few are the runes,— | and put off thy faring;I have read now the runes | that thy sister wrote,And this time the bright one | did not bid thee to come.12.“Full much do I wonder, | nor well can I see,Why the woman wise | so wildly hath written;But to me it seems | that the meaning beneathIs that both shall be slain | if soon ye shall go.But one rune she missed, | or else others have marred it.”

1.There are many who know | how of old did menIn counsel gather; | little good did they get;In secret they plotted, | it was sore for them later,And for Gjuki’s sons, | whose trust they deceived.

1.There are many who know | how of old did men

In counsel gather; | little good did they get;

In secret they plotted, | it was sore for them later,

And for Gjuki’s sons, | whose trust they deceived.

2.Fate grew for the princes, | to death they were given;Ill counsel was Atli’s, | though keenness he had;[501]He felled his staunch bulwark, | his own sorrow fashioned,Soon a message he sent | that his kinsmen should seek him.

2.Fate grew for the princes, | to death they were given;

Ill counsel was Atli’s, | though keenness he had;[501]

He felled his staunch bulwark, | his own sorrow fashioned,

Soon a message he sent | that his kinsmen should seek him.

3.Wise was the woman, | she fain would use wisdom,She saw well what meant | all they said in secret;From her heart it was hid | how help she might render,The sea they should sail, | while herself she should go not.

3.Wise was the woman, | she fain would use wisdom,

She saw well what meant | all they said in secret;

From her heart it was hid | how help she might render,

The sea they should sail, | while herself she should go not.

4.Runes did she fashion, | but false Vingi made them,The speeder of hatred, | ere to give them he sought;Then soon fared the warriors | whom Atli had sent,And to Limafjord came, | to the home of the kings.

4.Runes did she fashion, | but false Vingi made them,

The speeder of hatred, | ere to give them he sought;

Then soon fared the warriors | whom Atli had sent,

And to Limafjord came, | to the home of the kings.

5.They were kindly with ale, | and fires they kindled,[502]They thought not of craft | from the guests who had come;The gifts did they take | that the noble one gave them,On the pillars they hung them, | no fear did they harbor.

5.They were kindly with ale, | and fires they kindled,[502]

They thought not of craft | from the guests who had come;

The gifts did they take | that the noble one gave them,

On the pillars they hung them, | no fear did they harbor.

6.Forth did Kostbera, wife | of Hogni, then come,Full kindly she was, | and she welcomed them both;And glad too was Glaumvor, | the wife of Gunnar,She knew well to care | for the needs of the guests.

6.Forth did Kostbera, wife | of Hogni, then come,

Full kindly she was, | and she welcomed them both;

And glad too was Glaumvor, | the wife of Gunnar,

She knew well to care | for the needs of the guests.

7.Then Hogni they asked | if more eager he were,Full clear was the guile, | if on guard they had been;Then Gunnar made promise, | if Hogni would go,And Hogni made answer | as the other counseled.

7.Then Hogni they asked | if more eager he were,

Full clear was the guile, | if on guard they had been;

Then Gunnar made promise, | if Hogni would go,

And Hogni made answer | as the other counseled.

8.Then the famed ones brought mead, | and fair was the feast,[503]Full many were the horns, | till the men had drunk deep;. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .Then the mates made ready | their beds for resting.

8.Then the famed ones brought mead, | and fair was the feast,[503]

Full many were the horns, | till the men had drunk deep;

. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .

Then the mates made ready | their beds for resting.

9.Wise was Kostbera, | and cunning in rune-craft,The letters would she read | by the light of the fire;But full quickly her tongue | to her palate clave,So strange did they seem | that their meaning she saw not.

9.Wise was Kostbera, | and cunning in rune-craft,

The letters would she read | by the light of the fire;

But full quickly her tongue | to her palate clave,

So strange did they seem | that their meaning she saw not.

10.Full soon then his bed | came Hogni to seek,. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .The clear-souled one dreamed, | and her dream she kept not,To the warrior the wise one | spake when she wakened:

10.Full soon then his bed | came Hogni to seek,

. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .

The clear-souled one dreamed, | and her dream she kept not,

To the warrior the wise one | spake when she wakened:

11.“Thou wouldst go hence, Hogni, | but heed my counsel,—[504]Known to few are the runes,— | and put off thy faring;I have read now the runes | that thy sister wrote,And this time the bright one | did not bid thee to come.

11.“Thou wouldst go hence, Hogni, | but heed my counsel,—[504]

Known to few are the runes,— | and put off thy faring;

I have read now the runes | that thy sister wrote,

And this time the bright one | did not bid thee to come.

12.“Full much do I wonder, | nor well can I see,

Why the woman wise | so wildly hath written;

But to me it seems | that the meaning beneath

Is that both shall be slain | if soon ye shall go.

But one rune she missed, | or else others have marred it.”

Hogni spake:13.“All women are fearful; | not so do I feel,Ill I seek not to find | till I soon must avenge it;The king now will give us | the glow-ruddy gold;I never shall fear, | though of dangers I know.”Kostbera spake:14.“In danger ye fare, | if forth ye go thither,[505]No welcoming friendly | this time shall ye find;For I dreamed now, Hogni, | and nought will I hide,Full evil thy faring, | if rightly I fear.15.“Thy bed-covering saw I | in the flames burning,And the fire burst high | through the walls of my home.”Hogni spake:“Yon garment of linen | lies little of worth,It will soon be burned, | so thou sawest the bed-cover.”Kostbera spake:16.“A bear saw I enter, | the pillars he broke,And he brandished his claws | so that craven we were;With his mouth seized he many, | and nought was our might,And loud was the tumult, | not little it was.”[506]Hogni spake:17.“Now a storm is brewing, | and wild it grows swiftly,A dream of an ice-bear | means a gale from the east.”Kostbera spake:18.“An eagle I saw flying | from the end through the house,Our fate must be bad, | for with blood he sprinkled us;. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .From the evil I fear | that ’twas Atli’s spirit.”Hogni spake:19.“They will slaughter soon, | and so blood do we see,Oft oxen it means | when of eagles one dreams;[507]True is Atli’s heart, | whatever thou dreamest.”Then silent they were, | and nought further they said.20.The high-born ones wakened, | and like speech they had,Then did Glaumvor tell | how in terror she dreamed,. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .. . . . . Gunnar | two roads they should go.Glaumvor spake:21.“A gallows saw I ready, | thou didst go to thy hanging,Thy flesh serpents ate, | and yet living I found thee;. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .The gods’ doom descended; | now say what it boded.”* * * * * *22.“A sword drawn bloody | from thy garments I saw,—[508]Such a dream is hard | to a husband to tell,—A spear stood, methought, | through thy body thrust,And at head and feet | the wolves were howling.”Gunnar spake:23.“The hounds are running, | loud their barking is heard,Oft hounds’ clamor follows | the flying of spears.”Glaumvor spake:24.“A river the length | of the hall saw I run,Full swiftly it roared, | o’er the benches it swept;O’er the feet did it break | of ye brothers twain,The water would yield not; | some meaning there was.”* * * * * *25.“I dreamed that by night | came dead women hither,[509]Sad were their garments, | and thee were they seeking;They bade thee come swiftly | forth to their benches,And nothing, methinks, | could the Norns avail thee.”Gunnar spake:26.“Too late is thy speaking, | for so is it settled;From the faring I turn not, | the going is fixed,Though likely it is | that our lives shall be short.”27.Then bright shone the morning, | the men all were ready,They said, and yet each | would the other hold back;Five were the warriors, | and their followers allBut twice as many,— | their minds knew not wisdom.28.Snævar and Solar, | they were sons of Hogni,Orkning was he called | who came with the others,[510]Blithe was the shield-tree, | the brother of Kostbera;The fair-decked ones followed, | till the fjord divided them,Full hard did they plead, | but the others would hear not.29.Then did Glaumvor speak forth, | the wife of Gunnar,To Vingi she said | that which wise to her seemed:“I know not if well | thou requitest our welcome,Full ill was thy coming | if evil shall follow.”30.Then did Vingi swear, | and full glib was his speech,. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .“May giants now take me | if lies I have told ye,And the gallows if hostile | thought did I have.”31.Then did Bera speak forth, | and fair was her thought,[511]. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .“May ye sail now happy, | and victory have,To fare as I bid ye, | may nought your way bar.”32.Then Hogni made answer,— | dear held he his kin,—courage, ye wise ones, | whatsoever may come;Though many may speak, | yet is evil oft mighty,And words avail little | to lead one homeward.33.They tenderly looked | till each turned on his way,Then with changing fate | were their farings divided.34.Full stoutly they rowed, | and the keel clove asunder,Their backs strained at the oars, | and their strength was fierce;[512]The oar-loops were burst, | the thole-pins were broken,Nor the ship made they fast | ere from her they fared.35.Not long was it after— | the end must I tell—That the home they beheld | that Buthli once had;Loud the gates resounded | when Hogni smote them;Vingi spake then a word | that were better unsaid:36.“Go ye far from the house, | for false is its entrance,Soon shall I burn you, | ye are swiftly smitten;I bade ye come fairly, | but falseness was under,Now bide ye afar | while your gallows I fashion.”37.Then Hogni made answer, | his heart yielded little,[513]And nought did he fear | that his fate held in store:“Seek not to affright us, | thou shalt seldom succeed;If thy words are more, | then the worse grows thy fate.”38.Then Vingi did they smite, | and they sent him to hell,With their axes they clove him | while the death-rattle came.39.Atli summoned his men, | in mail-coats they hastened,All ready they came, | and between was the courtyard.* * * * * *40.Then came they to words, | and full wrathful they were:[514]“Long since did we plan | how soon we might slay you.”Hogni spake:41.“Little it matters | if long ye have planned it;For unarmed do ye wait, | and one have we felled,We smote him to hell, | of your host was he once.”42.Then wild was their anger | when all heard his words;Their fingers were swift | on their bowstrings to seize,Full sharply they shot, | by their shields were they guarded.43.In the house came the word | how the heroes without[515]Fought in front of the hall; | they heard a thrall tell it;Grim then was Guthrun, | the grief when she heard,With necklaces fair, | and she flung them all from her,(The silver she hurled | so the rings burst asunder.)44.Then out did she go, | she flung open the doors,All fearless she went, | and the guests did she welcome;To the Niflungs she went— | her last greeting it was,—In her speech truth was clear, | and much would she speak.45.“For your safety I sought | that at home ye should stay;None escapes his fate, | so ye hither must fare.”Full wisely she spake, | if yet peace they might win,[516]But to nought would they hearken, | and “No” said they all.46.Then the high-born one saw | that hard was their battle,In fierceness of heart | she flung off her mantle;Her naked sword grasped she | her kin’s lives to guard,Not gentle her hands | in the hewing of battle.47.Then the daughter of Gjuki | two warriors smote down,Atli’s brother she slew, | and forth then they bore him;(So fiercely she fought | that his feet she clove off;)Another she smote | so that never he stood,To hell did she send him,— | her hands trembled never.[517]48.Full wide was the fame | of the battle they fought,’Twas the greatest of deeds | of the sons of Gjuki;Men say that the Niflungs, | while themselves they were living,With their swords fought mightily, | mail-coats they sundered,And helms did they hew, | as their hearts were fearless.49.All the morning they fought | until midday shone,(All the dusk as well | and the dawning of day,)When the battle was ended, | the field flowed with blood;Ere they fell, eighteen | of their foemen were slain,By the two sons of Bera | and her brother as well.50.Then the warrior spake, | and wild was his anger:“This is evil to see, | and thy doing is all;[518]Once we were thirty, | we thanes keen for battle,Now eleven are left, | and great is our lack.51.“There were five of us brothers | when Buthli we lost,Now Hel has the half, | and two smitten lie here;A great kinship had I,— | the truth may I hide not,—From a wife bringing slaughter | small joy could I win.52.We lay seldom together | since to me thou wast given,Now my kin all are gone, | of my gold am I robbed;Nay, and worst, thou didst send | my sister to hell.”[519]Guthrun spake:53.“Hear me now, Atli! | the first evil was thine;My mother didst thou take, | and for gold didst murder her,My sister’s daughter | thou didst starve in a prison.A jest does it seem | that thy sorrow thou tellest,And good do I find it | that grief to thee comes.”Atli spake:54.“Go now, ye warriors, | and make greater the griefOf the woman so fair, | for fain would I see it;So fierce be thy warring | that Guthrun shall weep,I would gladly behold | her happiness lost.55.“Seize ye now Hogni, | and with knives shall ye hew him,His heart shall ye cut out, | this haste ye to do;And grim-hearted Gunnar | shall ye bind on the gallows,[520]Swift shall ye do it, | to serpents now cast him.”Hogni spake:56.“Do now as thou wilt, | for glad I await it,Brave shalt thou find me, | I have faced worse before;We held thee at bay | while whole we were fighting,Now with wounds are we spent, | so thy will canst thou work.”57.Then did Beiti speak, | he was Atli’s steward:“Let us seize now Hjalli, | and Hogni spare we!Let us fell the sluggard, | he is fit for death,He has lived too long, | and lazy men call him.”58.Afraid was the pot-watcher, | he fled here and yon,And crazed with his terror | he climbed in the corners:[521]“Ill for me is this fighting, | if I pay for your fierceness,And sad is the day | to die leaving my swineAnd all the fair victuals | that of old did I have.”59.They seized Buthli’s cook, | and they came with the knife,The frightened thrall howled | ere the edge did he feel;He was willing, he cried, | to dung well the courtyard,Do the basest of work, | if spare him they would;Full happy were Hjalli | if his life he might have.60.Then fain was Hogni— | there are few would do thus—To beg for the slave | that safe hence he should go;“I would find it far better | this knife-play to feel,Why must we all hark | to this howling longer?”61.Then the brave one they seized; | to the warriors boldNo chance was there left | to delay his fate longer;Loud did Hogni laugh, | all the sons of day heard him,[522]So valiant he was | that well he could suffer.* * * * * *62.A harp Gunnar seized, | with his toes he smote it;So well did he strike | that the women all wept,And the men, when clear | they heard it, lamented;Full noble was his song, | the rafters burst asunder.63.Then the heroes died | ere the day was yet come;Their fame did they leave | ever lofty to live.. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .64.Full mighty seemed Atli | as o’er them he stood,The wise one he blamed, | and his words reproached her:“It is morning, Guthrun; | now thy dear ones dost miss,But the blame is part thine | that thus it has chanced.”[523]Guthrun spake:65.“Thou art joyous, Atli, | for of evil thou tellest,But sorrow is thine | if thou mightest all see;Thy heritage heavy | here can I tell thee,Sorrow never thou losest | unless I shall die.”Atli spake:66.“Not free of guilt am I; | a way shall I findThat is better by far,— | oft the fairest we shunned;—With slaves I console thee, | with gems fair to see,And with silver snow-white, | as thyself thou shalt choose.”Guthrun spake:67.“No hope shall this give thee, | thy gifts I shall take not,Requital I spurned | when my sorrows were smaller;Once grim did I seem, | but now greater my grimness,There was nought seemed too hard | while Hogni was living.[524]68.“Our childhood did we have | in a single house,We played many a game, | in the grove did we grow;Then did Grimhild give us | gold and necklaces;Thou shalt ne’er make amends | for my brother’s murder,Nor ever shalt win me | to think it was well.69.“But the fierceness of men | rules the fate of women,The tree-top bows low | if bereft of its leaves,The tree bends over | if the roots are cleft under it;Now mayest thou, Atli, | o’er all things here rule.”70.Full heedless the warrior | was that he trusted her,So clear was her guile | if on guard he had been;But crafty was Guthrun, | with cunning she spake,Her glance she made pleasant, | with two shields she played.[525]71.The beer then she brought | for her brothers’ death-feast,And a feast Atli made | for his followers dead;No more did they speak, | the mead was made ready,Soon the men were gathered | with mighty uproar.72.Thus bitterly planned she, | and Buthli’s race threatened,And terrible vengeance | on her husband would take;The little ones called she, | on a block she laid them;Afraid were the proud ones, | but their tears did not fall;To their mother’s arms went they, | and asked what she would.Guthrun spake:73.“Nay, ask me no more! | You both shall I murder,[526]For long have I wished | your lives to steal from you.”The boys spake:“Slay thy boys as thou wilt, | for no one may bar it,Short the angry one’s peace | if all thou shalt do.”74.Then the grim one slew both | of the brothers young,Full hard was her deed | when their heads she smote off;Fain was Atli to know | whither now they were gone,The boys from their sport, | for nowhere he spied them.Guthrun spake:75.“My fate shall I seek, | all to Atli saying,The daughter of Grimhild | the deed from thee hides not;No joy thou hast, Atli, | if all thou shalt hear,Great sorrow didst wake | when my brothers thou slewest.[527]76.“I have seldom slept | since the hour they were slain,Baleful were my threats, | now I bid thee recall them;Thou didst say it was morning,— | too well I remember,—Now is evening come, | and this question thou askest.77.“Now both of thy sons | thou hast lost . . .. . . . . . . . | as thou never shouldst do;The skulls of thy boys | thou as beer-cups didst have,And the draught that I made thee | was mixed with their blood.78.“I cut out their hearts, | on a spit I cooked them,I came to thee with them, | and calf’s flesh I called them;Alone didst thou eat them, | nor any didst leave,[528]Thou didst greedily bite, | and thy teeth were busy.79.“Of thy sons now thou knowest; | few suffer more sorrow;My guilt have I told, | fame it never shall give me.”Atli spake:80.“Grim wast thou, Guthrun, | in so grievous a deed,My draught with the blood | of thy boys to mingle;Thou hast slain thine own kin, | most ill it beseemed thee,And little for me | twixt my sorrows thou leavest.”Guthrun spake:81.“Still more would I seek | to slay thee thyself,Enough ill comes seldom | to such as thou art;Thou didst folly of old, | such that no one shall find[529]In the whole world of men | a match for such madness.Now this that of late | we learned hast thou added,Great evil hast grasped, | and thine own death-feast made.”Atli spake:82.“With fire shall they burn thee, | and first shall they stone thee,So then hast thou earned | what thou ever hast sought for.”Guthrun spake:“Such woes for thyself | shalt thou say in the morning,From a finer death I | to another light fare.”83.Together they sat | and full grim were their thoughts,Unfriendly their words, | and no joy either found;In Hniflung grew hatred, | great plans did he have,To Guthrun his anger | against Atli was told.[530]84.To her heart came ever | the fate of Hogni,She told him ’twere well | if he vengeance should win;So was Atli slain,— | ’twas not slow to await,—Hogni’s son slew him, | and Guthrun herself.85.Then the warrior spake, | as from slumber he wakened,Soon he knew for his wounds | would the bandage do nought:“Now the truth shalt thou say: | who has slain Buthli’s son?Full sore am I smitten, | nor hope can I see.”Guthrun spake:86.“Ne’er her deed from thee hides | the daughter of Grimhild,[531]I own to the guilt | that is ending thy life,And the son of Hogni; | ’tis so thy wounds bleed.”Atli spake:“To murder hast thou fared, | though foul it must seem;Ill thy friend to betray | who trusted thee well.87.“Not glad went I hence | thy hand to seek, Guthrun,In thy widowhood famed, | but haughty men found thee;My belief did not lie, | as now we have learned;I brought thee home hither, | and a host of men with us.88.“Most noble was all | when of old we journeyed,Great honor did we have | of heroes full worthy;Of cattle had we plenty, |and greatly we prospered,Mighty was our wealth, | and many received it.89.“To the famed one as bride-gift | I gave jewels fair,[532]I gave thirty slaves, | and handmaidens seven;There was honor in such gifts, | yet the silver was greater.90.“But all to thee was | as if nought it were worth,While the land lay before thee | that Buthli had left me;Thou in secret didst work | so the treasure I won not;My mother full oft | to sit weeping didst make,No wedded joy found I | in fullness of heart.”Guthrun spake:91.“Thou liest now, Atli, | though little I heed it;[533]If I seldom was kindly, | full cruel wast thou;Ye brothers fought young, | quarrels brought you to battle,And half went to hell | of the sons of thy house,And all was destroyed | that should e’er have done good.92.“My two brothers and I | were bold in our thoughts,From the land we went forth, | with Sigurth we fared;Full swiftly we sailed, | each one steering his ship,So our fate sought we e’er | till we came to the East.93.“First the king did we slay, | and the land we seized,[534]The princes did us service, | for such was their fear;From the forest we called | them we fain would have guiltless,And rich made we many | who of all were bereft.94.“Slain was the Hun-king, | soon happiness vanished,In her grief the widow | so young sat weeping;Yet worse seemed the sorrow | to seek Atli’s house,A hero was my husband, | and hard was his loss.95.“From the Thing thou camst never, | for thus have we heard,Having won in thy quarrels, | or warriors smitten;Full yielding thou wast, | never firm was thy will,In silence didst suffer, | . . . . . . . .”Atli spake:96.“Thou liest now, Guthrun, | but little of good[535]Will it bring to either, | for all have we lost;But, Guthrun, yet once | be thou kindly of will,For the honor of both, | when forth I am borne.”Guthrun spake:97.“A ship will I buy, | and a bright-hued coffin,I will wax well the shroud | to wind round thy body,For all will I care | as if dear were we ever.”98.Then did Atli die, | and his heirs’ grief doubled;The high-born one did | as to him she had promised;Then sought Guthrun the wise | to go to her death,But for days did she wait, | and ’twas long ere she died.99.Full happy shall he be | who such offspring has,Or children so gallant, | as Gjuki begot;Forever shall live, | and in lands far and wide,Their valor heroic | wherever men hear it.[499]

Hogni spake:

13.“All women are fearful; | not so do I feel,Ill I seek not to find | till I soon must avenge it;The king now will give us | the glow-ruddy gold;I never shall fear, | though of dangers I know.”

13.“All women are fearful; | not so do I feel,

Ill I seek not to find | till I soon must avenge it;

The king now will give us | the glow-ruddy gold;

I never shall fear, | though of dangers I know.”

Kostbera spake:

14.“In danger ye fare, | if forth ye go thither,[505]No welcoming friendly | this time shall ye find;For I dreamed now, Hogni, | and nought will I hide,Full evil thy faring, | if rightly I fear.

14.“In danger ye fare, | if forth ye go thither,[505]

No welcoming friendly | this time shall ye find;

For I dreamed now, Hogni, | and nought will I hide,

Full evil thy faring, | if rightly I fear.

15.“Thy bed-covering saw I | in the flames burning,And the fire burst high | through the walls of my home.”

15.“Thy bed-covering saw I | in the flames burning,

And the fire burst high | through the walls of my home.”

Hogni spake:

“Yon garment of linen | lies little of worth,It will soon be burned, | so thou sawest the bed-cover.”

“Yon garment of linen | lies little of worth,

It will soon be burned, | so thou sawest the bed-cover.”

Kostbera spake:

16.“A bear saw I enter, | the pillars he broke,And he brandished his claws | so that craven we were;With his mouth seized he many, | and nought was our might,And loud was the tumult, | not little it was.”

16.“A bear saw I enter, | the pillars he broke,

And he brandished his claws | so that craven we were;

With his mouth seized he many, | and nought was our might,

And loud was the tumult, | not little it was.”

[506]

Hogni spake:

17.“Now a storm is brewing, | and wild it grows swiftly,A dream of an ice-bear | means a gale from the east.”

17.“Now a storm is brewing, | and wild it grows swiftly,

A dream of an ice-bear | means a gale from the east.”

Kostbera spake:

18.“An eagle I saw flying | from the end through the house,Our fate must be bad, | for with blood he sprinkled us;. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .From the evil I fear | that ’twas Atli’s spirit.”

18.“An eagle I saw flying | from the end through the house,

Our fate must be bad, | for with blood he sprinkled us;

. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .

From the evil I fear | that ’twas Atli’s spirit.”

Hogni spake:

19.“They will slaughter soon, | and so blood do we see,Oft oxen it means | when of eagles one dreams;[507]True is Atli’s heart, | whatever thou dreamest.”Then silent they were, | and nought further they said.

19.“They will slaughter soon, | and so blood do we see,

Oft oxen it means | when of eagles one dreams;[507]

True is Atli’s heart, | whatever thou dreamest.”

Then silent they were, | and nought further they said.

20.The high-born ones wakened, | and like speech they had,Then did Glaumvor tell | how in terror she dreamed,. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .. . . . . Gunnar | two roads they should go.

20.The high-born ones wakened, | and like speech they had,

Then did Glaumvor tell | how in terror she dreamed,

. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .

. . . . . Gunnar | two roads they should go.

Glaumvor spake:

21.“A gallows saw I ready, | thou didst go to thy hanging,Thy flesh serpents ate, | and yet living I found thee;. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .The gods’ doom descended; | now say what it boded.”

21.“A gallows saw I ready, | thou didst go to thy hanging,

Thy flesh serpents ate, | and yet living I found thee;

. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .

The gods’ doom descended; | now say what it boded.”

* * * * * *

22.“A sword drawn bloody | from thy garments I saw,—[508]Such a dream is hard | to a husband to tell,—A spear stood, methought, | through thy body thrust,And at head and feet | the wolves were howling.”

22.“A sword drawn bloody | from thy garments I saw,—[508]

Such a dream is hard | to a husband to tell,—

A spear stood, methought, | through thy body thrust,

And at head and feet | the wolves were howling.”

Gunnar spake:

23.“The hounds are running, | loud their barking is heard,Oft hounds’ clamor follows | the flying of spears.”

23.“The hounds are running, | loud their barking is heard,

Oft hounds’ clamor follows | the flying of spears.”

Glaumvor spake:

24.“A river the length | of the hall saw I run,Full swiftly it roared, | o’er the benches it swept;O’er the feet did it break | of ye brothers twain,The water would yield not; | some meaning there was.”

24.“A river the length | of the hall saw I run,

Full swiftly it roared, | o’er the benches it swept;

O’er the feet did it break | of ye brothers twain,

The water would yield not; | some meaning there was.”

* * * * * *

25.“I dreamed that by night | came dead women hither,[509]Sad were their garments, | and thee were they seeking;They bade thee come swiftly | forth to their benches,And nothing, methinks, | could the Norns avail thee.”

25.“I dreamed that by night | came dead women hither,[509]

Sad were their garments, | and thee were they seeking;

They bade thee come swiftly | forth to their benches,

And nothing, methinks, | could the Norns avail thee.”

Gunnar spake:

26.“Too late is thy speaking, | for so is it settled;From the faring I turn not, | the going is fixed,Though likely it is | that our lives shall be short.”

26.“Too late is thy speaking, | for so is it settled;

From the faring I turn not, | the going is fixed,

Though likely it is | that our lives shall be short.”

27.Then bright shone the morning, | the men all were ready,They said, and yet each | would the other hold back;Five were the warriors, | and their followers allBut twice as many,— | their minds knew not wisdom.

27.Then bright shone the morning, | the men all were ready,

They said, and yet each | would the other hold back;

Five were the warriors, | and their followers all

But twice as many,— | their minds knew not wisdom.

28.Snævar and Solar, | they were sons of Hogni,Orkning was he called | who came with the others,[510]Blithe was the shield-tree, | the brother of Kostbera;The fair-decked ones followed, | till the fjord divided them,Full hard did they plead, | but the others would hear not.

28.Snævar and Solar, | they were sons of Hogni,

Orkning was he called | who came with the others,[510]

Blithe was the shield-tree, | the brother of Kostbera;

The fair-decked ones followed, | till the fjord divided them,

Full hard did they plead, | but the others would hear not.

29.Then did Glaumvor speak forth, | the wife of Gunnar,To Vingi she said | that which wise to her seemed:“I know not if well | thou requitest our welcome,Full ill was thy coming | if evil shall follow.”

29.Then did Glaumvor speak forth, | the wife of Gunnar,

To Vingi she said | that which wise to her seemed:

“I know not if well | thou requitest our welcome,

Full ill was thy coming | if evil shall follow.”

30.Then did Vingi swear, | and full glib was his speech,. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .“May giants now take me | if lies I have told ye,And the gallows if hostile | thought did I have.”

30.Then did Vingi swear, | and full glib was his speech,

. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .

“May giants now take me | if lies I have told ye,

And the gallows if hostile | thought did I have.”

31.Then did Bera speak forth, | and fair was her thought,[511]. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .“May ye sail now happy, | and victory have,To fare as I bid ye, | may nought your way bar.”

31.Then did Bera speak forth, | and fair was her thought,[511]

. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .

“May ye sail now happy, | and victory have,

To fare as I bid ye, | may nought your way bar.”

32.Then Hogni made answer,— | dear held he his kin,—courage, ye wise ones, | whatsoever may come;Though many may speak, | yet is evil oft mighty,And words avail little | to lead one homeward.

32.Then Hogni made answer,— | dear held he his kin,—

courage, ye wise ones, | whatsoever may come;

Though many may speak, | yet is evil oft mighty,

And words avail little | to lead one homeward.

33.They tenderly looked | till each turned on his way,Then with changing fate | were their farings divided.

33.They tenderly looked | till each turned on his way,

Then with changing fate | were their farings divided.

34.Full stoutly they rowed, | and the keel clove asunder,Their backs strained at the oars, | and their strength was fierce;[512]The oar-loops were burst, | the thole-pins were broken,Nor the ship made they fast | ere from her they fared.

34.Full stoutly they rowed, | and the keel clove asunder,

Their backs strained at the oars, | and their strength was fierce;[512]

The oar-loops were burst, | the thole-pins were broken,

Nor the ship made they fast | ere from her they fared.

35.Not long was it after— | the end must I tell—That the home they beheld | that Buthli once had;Loud the gates resounded | when Hogni smote them;Vingi spake then a word | that were better unsaid:

35.Not long was it after— | the end must I tell—

That the home they beheld | that Buthli once had;

Loud the gates resounded | when Hogni smote them;

Vingi spake then a word | that were better unsaid:

36.“Go ye far from the house, | for false is its entrance,Soon shall I burn you, | ye are swiftly smitten;I bade ye come fairly, | but falseness was under,Now bide ye afar | while your gallows I fashion.”

36.“Go ye far from the house, | for false is its entrance,

Soon shall I burn you, | ye are swiftly smitten;

I bade ye come fairly, | but falseness was under,

Now bide ye afar | while your gallows I fashion.”

37.Then Hogni made answer, | his heart yielded little,[513]And nought did he fear | that his fate held in store:“Seek not to affright us, | thou shalt seldom succeed;If thy words are more, | then the worse grows thy fate.”

37.Then Hogni made answer, | his heart yielded little,[513]

And nought did he fear | that his fate held in store:

“Seek not to affright us, | thou shalt seldom succeed;

If thy words are more, | then the worse grows thy fate.”

38.Then Vingi did they smite, | and they sent him to hell,With their axes they clove him | while the death-rattle came.

38.Then Vingi did they smite, | and they sent him to hell,

With their axes they clove him | while the death-rattle came.

39.Atli summoned his men, | in mail-coats they hastened,All ready they came, | and between was the courtyard.

39.Atli summoned his men, | in mail-coats they hastened,

All ready they came, | and between was the courtyard.

* * * * * *

40.Then came they to words, | and full wrathful they were:[514]“Long since did we plan | how soon we might slay you.”

40.Then came they to words, | and full wrathful they were:[514]

“Long since did we plan | how soon we might slay you.”

Hogni spake:

41.“Little it matters | if long ye have planned it;For unarmed do ye wait, | and one have we felled,We smote him to hell, | of your host was he once.”

41.“Little it matters | if long ye have planned it;

For unarmed do ye wait, | and one have we felled,

We smote him to hell, | of your host was he once.”

42.Then wild was their anger | when all heard his words;Their fingers were swift | on their bowstrings to seize,Full sharply they shot, | by their shields were they guarded.

42.Then wild was their anger | when all heard his words;

Their fingers were swift | on their bowstrings to seize,

Full sharply they shot, | by their shields were they guarded.

43.In the house came the word | how the heroes without[515]Fought in front of the hall; | they heard a thrall tell it;Grim then was Guthrun, | the grief when she heard,With necklaces fair, | and she flung them all from her,(The silver she hurled | so the rings burst asunder.)

43.In the house came the word | how the heroes without[515]

Fought in front of the hall; | they heard a thrall tell it;

Grim then was Guthrun, | the grief when she heard,

With necklaces fair, | and she flung them all from her,

(The silver she hurled | so the rings burst asunder.)

44.Then out did she go, | she flung open the doors,All fearless she went, | and the guests did she welcome;To the Niflungs she went— | her last greeting it was,—In her speech truth was clear, | and much would she speak.

44.Then out did she go, | she flung open the doors,

All fearless she went, | and the guests did she welcome;

To the Niflungs she went— | her last greeting it was,—

In her speech truth was clear, | and much would she speak.

45.“For your safety I sought | that at home ye should stay;None escapes his fate, | so ye hither must fare.”Full wisely she spake, | if yet peace they might win,[516]But to nought would they hearken, | and “No” said they all.

45.“For your safety I sought | that at home ye should stay;

None escapes his fate, | so ye hither must fare.”

Full wisely she spake, | if yet peace they might win,[516]

But to nought would they hearken, | and “No” said they all.

46.Then the high-born one saw | that hard was their battle,In fierceness of heart | she flung off her mantle;Her naked sword grasped she | her kin’s lives to guard,Not gentle her hands | in the hewing of battle.

46.Then the high-born one saw | that hard was their battle,

In fierceness of heart | she flung off her mantle;

Her naked sword grasped she | her kin’s lives to guard,

Not gentle her hands | in the hewing of battle.

47.Then the daughter of Gjuki | two warriors smote down,Atli’s brother she slew, | and forth then they bore him;(So fiercely she fought | that his feet she clove off;)Another she smote | so that never he stood,To hell did she send him,— | her hands trembled never.

47.Then the daughter of Gjuki | two warriors smote down,

Atli’s brother she slew, | and forth then they bore him;

(So fiercely she fought | that his feet she clove off;)

Another she smote | so that never he stood,

To hell did she send him,— | her hands trembled never.

[517]

48.Full wide was the fame | of the battle they fought,’Twas the greatest of deeds | of the sons of Gjuki;Men say that the Niflungs, | while themselves they were living,With their swords fought mightily, | mail-coats they sundered,And helms did they hew, | as their hearts were fearless.

48.Full wide was the fame | of the battle they fought,

’Twas the greatest of deeds | of the sons of Gjuki;

Men say that the Niflungs, | while themselves they were living,

With their swords fought mightily, | mail-coats they sundered,

And helms did they hew, | as their hearts were fearless.

49.All the morning they fought | until midday shone,

(All the dusk as well | and the dawning of day,)

When the battle was ended, | the field flowed with blood;

Ere they fell, eighteen | of their foemen were slain,

By the two sons of Bera | and her brother as well.

50.Then the warrior spake, | and wild was his anger:“This is evil to see, | and thy doing is all;[518]Once we were thirty, | we thanes keen for battle,Now eleven are left, | and great is our lack.

50.Then the warrior spake, | and wild was his anger:

“This is evil to see, | and thy doing is all;[518]

Once we were thirty, | we thanes keen for battle,

Now eleven are left, | and great is our lack.

51.“There were five of us brothers | when Buthli we lost,Now Hel has the half, | and two smitten lie here;A great kinship had I,— | the truth may I hide not,—From a wife bringing slaughter | small joy could I win.

51.“There were five of us brothers | when Buthli we lost,

Now Hel has the half, | and two smitten lie here;

A great kinship had I,— | the truth may I hide not,—

From a wife bringing slaughter | small joy could I win.

52.We lay seldom together | since to me thou wast given,Now my kin all are gone, | of my gold am I robbed;Nay, and worst, thou didst send | my sister to hell.”

52.We lay seldom together | since to me thou wast given,

Now my kin all are gone, | of my gold am I robbed;

Nay, and worst, thou didst send | my sister to hell.”

[519]

Guthrun spake:

53.“Hear me now, Atli! | the first evil was thine;My mother didst thou take, | and for gold didst murder her,My sister’s daughter | thou didst starve in a prison.A jest does it seem | that thy sorrow thou tellest,And good do I find it | that grief to thee comes.”

53.“Hear me now, Atli! | the first evil was thine;

My mother didst thou take, | and for gold didst murder her,

My sister’s daughter | thou didst starve in a prison.

A jest does it seem | that thy sorrow thou tellest,

And good do I find it | that grief to thee comes.”

Atli spake:

54.“Go now, ye warriors, | and make greater the griefOf the woman so fair, | for fain would I see it;So fierce be thy warring | that Guthrun shall weep,I would gladly behold | her happiness lost.

54.“Go now, ye warriors, | and make greater the grief

Of the woman so fair, | for fain would I see it;

So fierce be thy warring | that Guthrun shall weep,

I would gladly behold | her happiness lost.

55.“Seize ye now Hogni, | and with knives shall ye hew him,His heart shall ye cut out, | this haste ye to do;And grim-hearted Gunnar | shall ye bind on the gallows,[520]Swift shall ye do it, | to serpents now cast him.”

55.“Seize ye now Hogni, | and with knives shall ye hew him,

His heart shall ye cut out, | this haste ye to do;

And grim-hearted Gunnar | shall ye bind on the gallows,[520]

Swift shall ye do it, | to serpents now cast him.”

Hogni spake:

56.“Do now as thou wilt, | for glad I await it,Brave shalt thou find me, | I have faced worse before;We held thee at bay | while whole we were fighting,Now with wounds are we spent, | so thy will canst thou work.”

56.“Do now as thou wilt, | for glad I await it,

Brave shalt thou find me, | I have faced worse before;

We held thee at bay | while whole we were fighting,

Now with wounds are we spent, | so thy will canst thou work.”

57.Then did Beiti speak, | he was Atli’s steward:“Let us seize now Hjalli, | and Hogni spare we!Let us fell the sluggard, | he is fit for death,He has lived too long, | and lazy men call him.”

57.Then did Beiti speak, | he was Atli’s steward:

“Let us seize now Hjalli, | and Hogni spare we!

Let us fell the sluggard, | he is fit for death,

He has lived too long, | and lazy men call him.”

58.Afraid was the pot-watcher, | he fled here and yon,And crazed with his terror | he climbed in the corners:[521]“Ill for me is this fighting, | if I pay for your fierceness,And sad is the day | to die leaving my swineAnd all the fair victuals | that of old did I have.”

58.Afraid was the pot-watcher, | he fled here and yon,

And crazed with his terror | he climbed in the corners:[521]

“Ill for me is this fighting, | if I pay for your fierceness,

And sad is the day | to die leaving my swine

And all the fair victuals | that of old did I have.”

59.They seized Buthli’s cook, | and they came with the knife,The frightened thrall howled | ere the edge did he feel;He was willing, he cried, | to dung well the courtyard,Do the basest of work, | if spare him they would;Full happy were Hjalli | if his life he might have.

59.They seized Buthli’s cook, | and they came with the knife,

The frightened thrall howled | ere the edge did he feel;

He was willing, he cried, | to dung well the courtyard,

Do the basest of work, | if spare him they would;

Full happy were Hjalli | if his life he might have.

60.Then fain was Hogni— | there are few would do thus—To beg for the slave | that safe hence he should go;“I would find it far better | this knife-play to feel,Why must we all hark | to this howling longer?”

60.Then fain was Hogni— | there are few would do thus—

To beg for the slave | that safe hence he should go;

“I would find it far better | this knife-play to feel,

Why must we all hark | to this howling longer?”

61.Then the brave one they seized; | to the warriors boldNo chance was there left | to delay his fate longer;Loud did Hogni laugh, | all the sons of day heard him,[522]So valiant he was | that well he could suffer.

61.Then the brave one they seized; | to the warriors bold

No chance was there left | to delay his fate longer;

Loud did Hogni laugh, | all the sons of day heard him,[522]

So valiant he was | that well he could suffer.

* * * * * *

62.A harp Gunnar seized, | with his toes he smote it;So well did he strike | that the women all wept,And the men, when clear | they heard it, lamented;Full noble was his song, | the rafters burst asunder.

62.A harp Gunnar seized, | with his toes he smote it;

So well did he strike | that the women all wept,

And the men, when clear | they heard it, lamented;

Full noble was his song, | the rafters burst asunder.

63.Then the heroes died | ere the day was yet come;Their fame did they leave | ever lofty to live.. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .

63.Then the heroes died | ere the day was yet come;

Their fame did they leave | ever lofty to live.

. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .

64.Full mighty seemed Atli | as o’er them he stood,The wise one he blamed, | and his words reproached her:“It is morning, Guthrun; | now thy dear ones dost miss,But the blame is part thine | that thus it has chanced.”

64.Full mighty seemed Atli | as o’er them he stood,

The wise one he blamed, | and his words reproached her:

“It is morning, Guthrun; | now thy dear ones dost miss,

But the blame is part thine | that thus it has chanced.”

[523]

Guthrun spake:

65.“Thou art joyous, Atli, | for of evil thou tellest,But sorrow is thine | if thou mightest all see;Thy heritage heavy | here can I tell thee,Sorrow never thou losest | unless I shall die.”

65.“Thou art joyous, Atli, | for of evil thou tellest,

But sorrow is thine | if thou mightest all see;

Thy heritage heavy | here can I tell thee,

Sorrow never thou losest | unless I shall die.”

Atli spake:

66.“Not free of guilt am I; | a way shall I findThat is better by far,— | oft the fairest we shunned;—With slaves I console thee, | with gems fair to see,And with silver snow-white, | as thyself thou shalt choose.”

66.“Not free of guilt am I; | a way shall I find

That is better by far,— | oft the fairest we shunned;—

With slaves I console thee, | with gems fair to see,

And with silver snow-white, | as thyself thou shalt choose.”

Guthrun spake:

67.“No hope shall this give thee, | thy gifts I shall take not,Requital I spurned | when my sorrows were smaller;Once grim did I seem, | but now greater my grimness,There was nought seemed too hard | while Hogni was living.

67.“No hope shall this give thee, | thy gifts I shall take not,

Requital I spurned | when my sorrows were smaller;

Once grim did I seem, | but now greater my grimness,

There was nought seemed too hard | while Hogni was living.

[524]

68.“Our childhood did we have | in a single house,

We played many a game, | in the grove did we grow;

Then did Grimhild give us | gold and necklaces;

Thou shalt ne’er make amends | for my brother’s murder,

Nor ever shalt win me | to think it was well.

69.“But the fierceness of men | rules the fate of women,The tree-top bows low | if bereft of its leaves,The tree bends over | if the roots are cleft under it;Now mayest thou, Atli, | o’er all things here rule.”

69.“But the fierceness of men | rules the fate of women,

The tree-top bows low | if bereft of its leaves,

The tree bends over | if the roots are cleft under it;

Now mayest thou, Atli, | o’er all things here rule.”

70.Full heedless the warrior | was that he trusted her,So clear was her guile | if on guard he had been;But crafty was Guthrun, | with cunning she spake,Her glance she made pleasant, | with two shields she played.

70.Full heedless the warrior | was that he trusted her,

So clear was her guile | if on guard he had been;

But crafty was Guthrun, | with cunning she spake,

Her glance she made pleasant, | with two shields she played.

[525]

71.The beer then she brought | for her brothers’ death-feast,And a feast Atli made | for his followers dead;No more did they speak, | the mead was made ready,Soon the men were gathered | with mighty uproar.

71.The beer then she brought | for her brothers’ death-feast,

And a feast Atli made | for his followers dead;

No more did they speak, | the mead was made ready,

Soon the men were gathered | with mighty uproar.

72.Thus bitterly planned she, | and Buthli’s race threatened,And terrible vengeance | on her husband would take;The little ones called she, | on a block she laid them;Afraid were the proud ones, | but their tears did not fall;To their mother’s arms went they, | and asked what she would.

72.Thus bitterly planned she, | and Buthli’s race threatened,

And terrible vengeance | on her husband would take;

The little ones called she, | on a block she laid them;

Afraid were the proud ones, | but their tears did not fall;

To their mother’s arms went they, | and asked what she would.

Guthrun spake:

73.“Nay, ask me no more! | You both shall I murder,[526]For long have I wished | your lives to steal from you.”

73.“Nay, ask me no more! | You both shall I murder,[526]

For long have I wished | your lives to steal from you.”

The boys spake:

“Slay thy boys as thou wilt, | for no one may bar it,Short the angry one’s peace | if all thou shalt do.”

“Slay thy boys as thou wilt, | for no one may bar it,

Short the angry one’s peace | if all thou shalt do.”

74.Then the grim one slew both | of the brothers young,Full hard was her deed | when their heads she smote off;Fain was Atli to know | whither now they were gone,The boys from their sport, | for nowhere he spied them.

74.Then the grim one slew both | of the brothers young,

Full hard was her deed | when their heads she smote off;

Fain was Atli to know | whither now they were gone,

The boys from their sport, | for nowhere he spied them.

Guthrun spake:

75.“My fate shall I seek, | all to Atli saying,The daughter of Grimhild | the deed from thee hides not;No joy thou hast, Atli, | if all thou shalt hear,Great sorrow didst wake | when my brothers thou slewest.

75.“My fate shall I seek, | all to Atli saying,

The daughter of Grimhild | the deed from thee hides not;

No joy thou hast, Atli, | if all thou shalt hear,

Great sorrow didst wake | when my brothers thou slewest.

[527]

76.“I have seldom slept | since the hour they were slain,Baleful were my threats, | now I bid thee recall them;Thou didst say it was morning,— | too well I remember,—Now is evening come, | and this question thou askest.

76.“I have seldom slept | since the hour they were slain,

Baleful were my threats, | now I bid thee recall them;

Thou didst say it was morning,— | too well I remember,—

Now is evening come, | and this question thou askest.

77.“Now both of thy sons | thou hast lost . . .. . . . . . . . | as thou never shouldst do;The skulls of thy boys | thou as beer-cups didst have,And the draught that I made thee | was mixed with their blood.

77.“Now both of thy sons | thou hast lost . . .

. . . . . . . . | as thou never shouldst do;

The skulls of thy boys | thou as beer-cups didst have,

And the draught that I made thee | was mixed with their blood.

78.“I cut out their hearts, | on a spit I cooked them,I came to thee with them, | and calf’s flesh I called them;Alone didst thou eat them, | nor any didst leave,[528]Thou didst greedily bite, | and thy teeth were busy.

78.“I cut out their hearts, | on a spit I cooked them,

I came to thee with them, | and calf’s flesh I called them;

Alone didst thou eat them, | nor any didst leave,[528]

Thou didst greedily bite, | and thy teeth were busy.

79.“Of thy sons now thou knowest; | few suffer more sorrow;My guilt have I told, | fame it never shall give me.”

79.“Of thy sons now thou knowest; | few suffer more sorrow;

My guilt have I told, | fame it never shall give me.”

Atli spake:

80.“Grim wast thou, Guthrun, | in so grievous a deed,My draught with the blood | of thy boys to mingle;Thou hast slain thine own kin, | most ill it beseemed thee,And little for me | twixt my sorrows thou leavest.”

80.“Grim wast thou, Guthrun, | in so grievous a deed,

My draught with the blood | of thy boys to mingle;

Thou hast slain thine own kin, | most ill it beseemed thee,

And little for me | twixt my sorrows thou leavest.”

Guthrun spake:

81.“Still more would I seek | to slay thee thyself,Enough ill comes seldom | to such as thou art;Thou didst folly of old, | such that no one shall find[529]In the whole world of men | a match for such madness.Now this that of late | we learned hast thou added,Great evil hast grasped, | and thine own death-feast made.”

81.“Still more would I seek | to slay thee thyself,

Enough ill comes seldom | to such as thou art;

Thou didst folly of old, | such that no one shall find[529]

In the whole world of men | a match for such madness.

Now this that of late | we learned hast thou added,

Great evil hast grasped, | and thine own death-feast made.”

Atli spake:

82.“With fire shall they burn thee, | and first shall they stone thee,So then hast thou earned | what thou ever hast sought for.”

82.“With fire shall they burn thee, | and first shall they stone thee,

So then hast thou earned | what thou ever hast sought for.”

Guthrun spake:

“Such woes for thyself | shalt thou say in the morning,From a finer death I | to another light fare.”

“Such woes for thyself | shalt thou say in the morning,

From a finer death I | to another light fare.”

83.Together they sat | and full grim were their thoughts,Unfriendly their words, | and no joy either found;In Hniflung grew hatred, | great plans did he have,To Guthrun his anger | against Atli was told.

83.Together they sat | and full grim were their thoughts,

Unfriendly their words, | and no joy either found;

In Hniflung grew hatred, | great plans did he have,

To Guthrun his anger | against Atli was told.

[530]

84.To her heart came ever | the fate of Hogni,She told him ’twere well | if he vengeance should win;So was Atli slain,— | ’twas not slow to await,—Hogni’s son slew him, | and Guthrun herself.

84.To her heart came ever | the fate of Hogni,

She told him ’twere well | if he vengeance should win;

So was Atli slain,— | ’twas not slow to await,—

Hogni’s son slew him, | and Guthrun herself.

85.Then the warrior spake, | as from slumber he wakened,Soon he knew for his wounds | would the bandage do nought:“Now the truth shalt thou say: | who has slain Buthli’s son?Full sore am I smitten, | nor hope can I see.”

85.Then the warrior spake, | as from slumber he wakened,

Soon he knew for his wounds | would the bandage do nought:

“Now the truth shalt thou say: | who has slain Buthli’s son?

Full sore am I smitten, | nor hope can I see.”

Guthrun spake:

86.“Ne’er her deed from thee hides | the daughter of Grimhild,[531]I own to the guilt | that is ending thy life,And the son of Hogni; | ’tis so thy wounds bleed.”

86.“Ne’er her deed from thee hides | the daughter of Grimhild,[531]

I own to the guilt | that is ending thy life,

And the son of Hogni; | ’tis so thy wounds bleed.”

Atli spake:

“To murder hast thou fared, | though foul it must seem;Ill thy friend to betray | who trusted thee well.

“To murder hast thou fared, | though foul it must seem;

Ill thy friend to betray | who trusted thee well.

87.“Not glad went I hence | thy hand to seek, Guthrun,In thy widowhood famed, | but haughty men found thee;My belief did not lie, | as now we have learned;I brought thee home hither, | and a host of men with us.

87.“Not glad went I hence | thy hand to seek, Guthrun,

In thy widowhood famed, | but haughty men found thee;

My belief did not lie, | as now we have learned;

I brought thee home hither, | and a host of men with us.

88.“Most noble was all | when of old we journeyed,Great honor did we have | of heroes full worthy;Of cattle had we plenty, |and greatly we prospered,Mighty was our wealth, | and many received it.

88.“Most noble was all | when of old we journeyed,

Great honor did we have | of heroes full worthy;

Of cattle had we plenty, |and greatly we prospered,

Mighty was our wealth, | and many received it.

89.“To the famed one as bride-gift | I gave jewels fair,[532]I gave thirty slaves, | and handmaidens seven;There was honor in such gifts, | yet the silver was greater.

89.“To the famed one as bride-gift | I gave jewels fair,[532]

I gave thirty slaves, | and handmaidens seven;

There was honor in such gifts, | yet the silver was greater.

90.“But all to thee was | as if nought it were worth,

While the land lay before thee | that Buthli had left me;

Thou in secret didst work | so the treasure I won not;

My mother full oft | to sit weeping didst make,

No wedded joy found I | in fullness of heart.”

Guthrun spake:

91.“Thou liest now, Atli, | though little I heed it;[533]If I seldom was kindly, | full cruel wast thou;Ye brothers fought young, | quarrels brought you to battle,And half went to hell | of the sons of thy house,And all was destroyed | that should e’er have done good.

91.“Thou liest now, Atli, | though little I heed it;[533]

If I seldom was kindly, | full cruel wast thou;

Ye brothers fought young, | quarrels brought you to battle,

And half went to hell | of the sons of thy house,

And all was destroyed | that should e’er have done good.

92.“My two brothers and I | were bold in our thoughts,From the land we went forth, | with Sigurth we fared;Full swiftly we sailed, | each one steering his ship,So our fate sought we e’er | till we came to the East.

92.“My two brothers and I | were bold in our thoughts,

From the land we went forth, | with Sigurth we fared;

Full swiftly we sailed, | each one steering his ship,

So our fate sought we e’er | till we came to the East.

93.“First the king did we slay, | and the land we seized,[534]The princes did us service, | for such was their fear;From the forest we called | them we fain would have guiltless,And rich made we many | who of all were bereft.

93.“First the king did we slay, | and the land we seized,[534]

The princes did us service, | for such was their fear;

From the forest we called | them we fain would have guiltless,

And rich made we many | who of all were bereft.

94.“Slain was the Hun-king, | soon happiness vanished,In her grief the widow | so young sat weeping;Yet worse seemed the sorrow | to seek Atli’s house,A hero was my husband, | and hard was his loss.

94.“Slain was the Hun-king, | soon happiness vanished,

In her grief the widow | so young sat weeping;

Yet worse seemed the sorrow | to seek Atli’s house,

A hero was my husband, | and hard was his loss.

95.“From the Thing thou camst never, | for thus have we heard,Having won in thy quarrels, | or warriors smitten;Full yielding thou wast, | never firm was thy will,In silence didst suffer, | . . . . . . . .”

95.“From the Thing thou camst never, | for thus have we heard,

Having won in thy quarrels, | or warriors smitten;

Full yielding thou wast, | never firm was thy will,

In silence didst suffer, | . . . . . . . .”

Atli spake:

96.“Thou liest now, Guthrun, | but little of good[535]Will it bring to either, | for all have we lost;But, Guthrun, yet once | be thou kindly of will,For the honor of both, | when forth I am borne.”

96.“Thou liest now, Guthrun, | but little of good[535]

Will it bring to either, | for all have we lost;

But, Guthrun, yet once | be thou kindly of will,

For the honor of both, | when forth I am borne.”

Guthrun spake:

97.“A ship will I buy, | and a bright-hued coffin,I will wax well the shroud | to wind round thy body,For all will I care | as if dear were we ever.”

97.“A ship will I buy, | and a bright-hued coffin,

I will wax well the shroud | to wind round thy body,

For all will I care | as if dear were we ever.”

98.Then did Atli die, | and his heirs’ grief doubled;The high-born one did | as to him she had promised;Then sought Guthrun the wise | to go to her death,But for days did she wait, | and ’twas long ere she died.

98.Then did Atli die, | and his heirs’ grief doubled;

The high-born one did | as to him she had promised;

Then sought Guthrun the wise | to go to her death,

But for days did she wait, | and ’twas long ere she died.

99.Full happy shall he be | who such offspring has,Or children so gallant, | as Gjuki begot;Forever shall live, | and in lands far and wide,Their valor heroic | wherever men hear it.

99.Full happy shall he be | who such offspring has,

Or children so gallant, | as Gjuki begot;

Forever shall live, | and in lands far and wide,

Their valor heroic | wherever men hear it.

[499]

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