J. Tolkien - The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún

*

10

A seer long silent

her song upraised –

the halls hearkened –

on high she stood.

Of doom and death

dark words she spake,

of the last battle

of the leaguered Gods.

11

‘The horn of Heimdal

I hear ringing;

the Blazing Bridge

bends neath horsemen;

the Ash is groaning,

his arms trembling,

the Wolf waking,

warriors riding.

12

The sword of Surt

smoketh redly;

the slumbering Serpent

in the sea moveth;

a shadowy ship

from shores of Hell

legions bringeth

to the last battle.

13

The wolf Fenrir

waits for Ódin,

for Frey the fair

the flames of Surt;

the deep Dragon

shall be doom of Thór –

shall all be ended,

shall Earth perish?

14

If in day of Doom

one deathless stands,

who death hath tasted

and dies no more,

the serpent-slayer,

seed of Ódin,

then all shall not end,

nor Earth perish.

15

On his head shall be helm,

in his hand lightning,

afire his spirit,

in his face splendour.

The Serpent shall shiver

and Surt waver,

the Wolf be vanquished

and the world rescued.’

*

16

The Gods were gathered

on guarded heights,

of doom and death

deep they pondered.

Sun they rekindled,

and silver Moon

they set to sail

on seas of stars.

17

Frey and Freyia

fair things planted,

trees and flowers,

trembling grasses;

Thór in chariot

thundered o’er them

through Heaven’s gateways

to the hills of stone.

18

Ever would Ódin

on earth wander

weighed with wisdom

woe foreknowing,

the Lord of lords

and leaguered Gods,

his seed sowing,

sire of heroes.

19

Valhöll he built

vast and shining;

shields the tiles were,

shafts the rafters.

Ravens flew thence

over realms of Earth;

at the doors an eagle

darkly waited.

20

The guests were many:

grim their singing,

boar’s-flesh eating,

beakers draining;

mighty ones of Earth

mailclad sitting

for one they waited,

the World’s chosen.

*

I

ANDVARA-GULL

(Andvari’s Gold)

Here first is told how Ódin and his companions were trapped in the house of the demon Hreidmar, and his sons. These dwelt now in the world in the likeness of men or of beasts.

1

Of old was an age

when Ódin walked

by wide waters

in the world’s beginning;

lightfooted Loki

at his left was running,

at his right Hoenir

roamed beside him.

2

The falls of Andvari

frothed and murmured

with fish teeming

in foaming pools.

As a pike there plunged

his prey hunting

Dwarf Andvari

from his dark cavern.

3

There hunted hungry

Hreidmar’s offspring:

the silver salmon

sweet he thought them.

Otr in otter’s form

there ate blinking,

on the bank brooding

of black waters.

4

With stone struck him,

stripped him naked,

Loki lighthanded,

loosing evil.

The fell they flayed,

fared then onward;

in Hreidmar’s halls

housing sought they.

5

There wrought Regin

by the red embers

rune-written iron,

rare, enchanted;

of gold things gleaming,

of grey silver,

there Fáfnir lay

by the fire dreaming.

Hreidmar

6

‘Do fetters fret you,

folk of Ásgard?

Regin hath wrought them

with runes binding.

Redgolden rings,

ransom costly,

this fell must fill,

this fur cover!’

7

Lightshod Loki

over land and waves

to Rán came running

in her realm of sea.

The queen of Ægir

his quest granted:

a net she knotted

noosed with evil.

Loki

8

‘What fish have I found

in the flood leaping,

rashly roaming?

Ransom pay me!’

Andvari

‘I am Andvari.

Óin begot me

to grievous fate.

Gold I bid thee!’

Loki

9

‘What hides thy hand

thus hollow bending?’

Andvari

‘The ring is little –

let it rest with me!’

Loki

‘All, Andvari,

all shalt render,

light rings and heavy,

or life itself!’

10

(The Dwarf spake darkly

from his delvéd stone:)

Andvari

‘My ring I will curse

with ruth and woe!

Bane it bringeth

to brethren two;

seven princes slays;

swords it kindles –

end untimely

of Ódin’s hope.’

11

In Hreidmar’s house

they heaped the gold.

Hreidmar

‘A hair unhidden

I behold there yet!’

Out drew Ódin

Andvari’s ring,

cursed he cast it

on accurséd gold.

Ódin

12

‘Ye gold have gained:

a god’s ransom,

for thyself and sons

seed of evil.’

Hreidmar

‘Gods seldom give

gifts of healing;

gold oft begrudgeth

the greedy hand!’

13

Words spake Loki

worse thereafter:

Loki

‘Here deadly dwells

the doom of kings!

Here is fall of queens,

fire and weeping,

end untimely

of Ódin’s hope!’

Ódin

14

‘Whom Ódin chooseth

ends not untimely,

though ways of men

he walk briefly.

In wide Valhöll

he may wait feasting –

it is to ages after

that Ódin looks.’

Hreidmar

15

‘The hope of Ódin

we heed little!

Redgolden rings

I will rule alone.

Though Gods grudge it

gold is healing.

From Hreidmar’s house

haste now swiftly!’

*

II

SIGNÝ

Rerir was the son of the son of Ódin. After him reigned Völsung, to whom Ódin gave a Valkyrie as wife. Sigmund and Signý were their eldest children and twins. They had nine sons beside. Sigmund was of all men the most valiant, unless his sons be named. Signý was fair and wise and foresighted. She was given unwilling and against her foreboding to Siggeir king of Gautland, for the strengthening of the power of King Völsung. Here is told how hate grew between Gauts and Völsungs, and of the slaying of Völsung. The ten brothers of Signý were set in fetters in the forest and all perished save Sigmund. Long time he dwelt in a cave in the guise of a dwarvish smith. By Signý was a fierce vengeance devised and fulfilled.

1

On the coasts of the North

was king renowned

Rerir sea-roving,

the raven’s lord.

Shield-hung his ships,

unsheathed his sword;

his sire of old

was son of Ódin.

2

Him Völsung followed

valiant-hearted,

child of longing,

chosen of Ódin.

Valkyrie fair

did Völsung wed,

Ódin’s maiden,

Ódin’s chosen.

3

Sigmund and Signý,

a son and daughter,

she bare at a birth

in his builded halls.

High rose their roofs,

huge their timbers,

and wide the walls

of wood carven.

4

A tree there towered

tall and branching,

that house upholding,

the hall’s wonder;

its leaves their hangings,

its limbs rafters,

its mighty bole

in the midst standing.

*

Völsung

5

‘What sails be these

in the seas shining?

What ships be those

with shields golden?’

Читать дальше