J. Tolkien - The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún

as a hare cowering

the fear-daunted smith;

forth now crept he.

Regin

35

‘Hail! O Völsung

victory-crownéd,

of mortal men

mightiest hero!’

Sigurd

‘In the halls of Ódin

more hard to choose!

many brave are born

who blades stain not.’

Regin

36

‘Yet glad is Sigurd,

of gold thinking,

as Gram on the grey

grass he wipeth!

‘Twas blood of my brother

that blade did spill,

though somewhat the slaying

I myself must share.’

Sigurd

37

‘Far enow thou fleddest,

when Fáfnir came.

This sword slew him,

and Sigurd’s prowess.’

Regin

‘This sword I smithied.

Yet would serpent live,

had not Regin’s counsel

wrought his ending!’

Sigurd

38

‘Nay, blame not thyself,

backward helper!

Stout heart is better

than strongest sword.’

Regin

‘Yet the sword I smithied,

the serpent’s bane!

The bold oft are beaten

who have blunt weapons.’

39

Thus heavy spake Regin

Ridil unsheathing,

fell Fáfnir’s heart

from the flesh cleaving.

Dark blood drank he

from the dragon welling;

deep drowsing fell

on dwarvish smith.

Regin

40

‘Sit now, Sigurd!

Sleep o’ercomes me.

Thou Fáfnir’s heart

at the fire roast me.

His dark thought’s dwelling

after drink potent

I fain would eat,

feast of wisdom.’

41

Sharp spit shaped he;

at shining fire

the fat of Fáfnir there frothed and hissed.

To tongue he touched

testing finger –

beasts’ cry he knew,

and birds’ voices

.

*

first bird

42

‘A head shorter

should hoary liar

go hence to nether hell!

The heart of Fáfnir

I whole would eat

if I myself were Sigurd.’

second bird

43

‘

Who

a foe lets free

is fool indeed,

when he was bane of

brother

!

I alone would be lord

of linkéd gold,

if my wielded sword had won it.’

first bird

44

‘A head shorter

should hiding dwarf

deprived of gold perish!

There Regin rouses

in rustling heather;

Vengeance he vows for brother.’

*

45

Round turned Sigurd,

and Regin saw he

in the heath crawling

with hate gleaming.

Black spilled the blood

as blade clove him,

the head hewing

of Hreidmar’s son.

46

Dark red the drink

and dire the meat

whereon Sigurd feasted

seeking wisdom.

Dark hung the doors

and dread the timbers

in the earth under

of iron builded.

47

Gold piled on gold

there glittered palely:

that gold was glamoured

with grim curses.

The Helm of Horror

on his head laid he:

swart fell the shadow

round Sigurd standing.

48

Great and grievous

was Grani’s burden,

yet lightly leaped he

down the long mountain.

Ride now! ride now

road and woodland,

horse and hero,

hope of Ódin!

*

49

Ever wild and wide

the wandering paths;

long lay the shadow

of lone rider.

Birds in the branches

blithe were singing:

their words he heard,

their wit he knew not.

Raven

50

‘High stands a hall

on Hindarfell,

fire it fenceth

flaming-tonguéd;

steep stands the path,

stern the venture,

where mountains beckon

to mighty heart.’

Finch

51

‘A maid have I seen

as morning fair,

golden-girdled,

garland-crownéd.

Green run the roads

to Gjúki’s land;

fate leads them on,

who fare that way.’

Raven

52

‘Slumber bindeth

the sun-maiden

on mountain high,

mail about her.

Thorn of Ódin

is thrust in bosom –

to what shall she wake,

woe or laughter?’

Finch

53

‘The Gjúkings proudly,

Gunnar and Högni,

there rule a realm

by Rhine-water.

Gudrún groweth

golden-lovely,

as flower unfolded

fair at morning.’

Raven

54

‘Too peerless proud

her power wielding,

victory swaying

as Valkyrie,

she heard nor heeded

hests of Ódin,

and Ódin smote

whom Ódin loved.’

VI

BRYNHILDR

Here is told of the awakening of Brynhild by Sigurd. Doomed by Ódin to go no longer to warfare but to wed, she has vowed to wed only the greatest of all warriors, the World’s chosen. Sigurd and Brynhild plight their troth, amid great joy, although of her wisdom she foresees that great perils beset Sigurd’s path. They depart together, but the pride of Brynhild causes her to bid Sigurd depart and come back to her only when he has won all men’s honour, and a kingdom.

1

Ever wide and wild

the wandering path;

long lay the shadow

of lone rider.

Ever high and high

stood Hindarfell,

mountain mighty

from mist rising.

2

A fire at crown,

fence of lightning,

high to heavenward

hissed and wavered.

Greyfell Grani,

glory seeking,

leaped the lightning

lightning-sinewed.

3

A wall saw Sigurd

of woven shields,

a standard streaming

striped with silver;

a man there war-clad,

mailclad, lying,

with sword beside him,

sleeping deadly.

4

The helm he lifted:

hair fell shining,

a woman lay there

wound in slumber;

fast her corslet

as on flesh growing –

the gleaming links,

Gram there clave them.

*

Brynhild awakening

5

‘Hail! O Daylight

and Day’s children!

Hail, Night and Noon

and Northern Star!

Hail, Kingly Gods,

Queens of Ásgard!

Hail, Earth’s bosom

all-abounding!

6

Hands of healing,

hear and grant us,

light in darkness,

life and wisdom;

to both give triumph,

truth unfailing,

to both in gladness

glorious meeting!’

*

Brynhild

7

‘Brynhild greets thee,

O brave and fair!

What prince hath pierced

my pale fetters?’

Sigurd

‘A man fatherless,

yet man-begotten,

here red from battle

raven-haunted.’

Brynhild

8

‘Ódin bound me,

Ódin’s chosen;

no more to battle,

to mate doomed me.

An oath I uttered

for ever lasting,

to wed but one,

the World’s chosen.’

Sigurd

9

‘In the halls of Ódin

it were hard to choose

man there mightiest,

most renownéd.’

Brynhild

‘Yet one they wait for,

in wide Valhöll,

the serpent-slayer,

seed of Ódin.’

Sigurd

10

‘Seed of Ódin

is Sigmund’s child,

and Sigurd’s sword

is serpent’s bane.’

Brynhild

‘Hail, son of Sigmund,

seed of Völsung!

Warriors wait for thee

in wide Valhöll.’

Sigurd

11

‘Hail, bright and splendid!

Hail, battle-maiden,

bride of Völsung

Brynhild chosen!’

Troth in triumph

twain there plighted

alone on mountain;

light was round them.

Brynhild

12

‘A beaker I bring thee,

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