J. Tolkien - The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún

doughty princes.

Dread fell on folk;

doom they wielded;

victory rode ever

with the Völsung lord.

24

High they honoured him,

in heart loved him,

Hun-gold gave him

in the hall sitting.

But his heart remembered

house of Völsung,

and Sigmund slain

on sands afar.

25

A host he gathered,

help of Gjúkings;

to the sea he rode

and sails hoisted.

His ship was shining

with shields and mail;

it was dragon-headed,

dire and golden.

26

As fire and tempest

to his father’s land

came Sigurd sailing;

the sand was reddened.

Clashed the cloven

casque and hauberk;

shields were splintered,

shorn was corslet.

27

Men learned there lived yet

line of Völsung!

Now of Völsung land

was a Völsung lord.

But the house once high

was hollow, roofless;

the limbs were rotten

of their leafy tree.

28

A man there walked

mantled darkly,

his beard was flowing,

and blind his eye:

Grímnir

‘Grímnir hails thee,

glorious Völsung!

Far hence hath flown

the fate of Sigurd.

29

Where Sigmund drew

sword of Grímnir,

Gram shall shine not.

Go thou, Völsung!

Now king thou art

of kings begotten,

a bride calls thee

over billowing seas.’

*

30

His fleet went forth

with flaming sails;

goldladen ships

came glad to shore.

Steeds went striding,

stonefire glinted,

horns were sounded;

home rode Sigurd.

31

A feast they fashioned,

far proclaimed it,

their highroofed halls

hung with splendour;

boards and beakers,

benches, gilded;

mead poured and ale

from morn to eve.

32

A king sat Sigurd:

carven silver,

raiment gleaming,

rings and goblets,

dear things dealt he,

doughty-handed,

his friends enriching,

fame upraising.

33

(There spake Grímhild

to Gjúki’s ear:)

Grímhild

‘How long shall last

league unbounden?

Here is worthiest lord

of world’s renown!

Were a daughter offered,

he would dwell for ever,

our strength in strife,

standing bulwark.’

Gjúki

34

‘The gifts of kings

are gold and silver;

their daughters fair

are dearly wooed!’

Grímhild

‘Gifts oft are given

to greedy hand;

wives oft are wooed

by worthless men!’

35

Sigurd sat silent;

the singing heard not

but in heart Brynhild

bright with splendour:

‘A queen was I once,

and a king shall wed.’

Soon, thought he, soon

I will seek my own.

*

36

Grímhild went forth

to guarded bower;

deep horn she filled

that was darkly written.

She drink of power

dreadly blended;

it had strength of stone,

it was stained with blood.

Grímhild

37

‘Hail, guest and king!

Good go with thee!

Drink now deeply

dear love’s token!

A father hast thou found,

and fond mother,

brothers sit nigh thee.

O bravest, hail!’

38

Deep drank Sigurd,

drained it laughing,

then sat unsmiling,

the singing heard not.

In came Gudrún

golden-lovely,

as moon uprising

marvellous shining.

39

In came Gudrún

gleaming-robéd,

as flower unfolded

fair at morning.

Sigurd wondered,

silent gazing;

his mind was glamoured,

mood confounded.

*

VIII

SVIKIN BRYNHILDR

(Brynhild Betrayed)

1

Brynhild abode

a blossomed summer,

homing harvest,

hoary winter.

A year followed year;

yearning seized her:

the king came not;

cold weighed her heart.

2

Of her wealth and splendour

wide spread the word;

kings came riding,

her courts thronging.

Her mood was troubled,

her mind darkened;

fell greeting found they,

and few returned.

3

One armed and mantled

as ancient king

wild steed there rode

than wind fleeter.

Spear upholding

spiked with lightning

her hall he entered,

hailed her darkly:

King

4

‘Bond unbroken

shall be bounden oath,

dreed and endured

be doom appointed.

Brynhild full soon

shall bridal drink;

choosing not the slain,

shall choose the living.

5

Brynhild must drink

the bridal feast,

ere winters two

o’er the world be passed.

A queen thou wert,

a king shalt wed:

Ódin dooms it;

Ódin hearken!’

6

Fire forth blossomed,

flames were kindled,

high up-leaping

hissed and wavered.

In hall standing

hedged with lightning,

‘one only’, thought she

‘can enter now!’

*

7

In Gjúki’s house

glad the singing.

A feast they fashioned,

far men sought it.

To blissful Gudrún

the bridal drank

there golden Sigurd

glorious shining.

8

Morning woke with mirth,

merry came evening;

harp-strings were plucked

by hands of cunning;

mead poured and ale,

men were joyful,

of peerless kings

praise uplifting.

9

Oaths swore Sigurd

for ever lasting,

a bond of brotherhood

in blood mingled,

help in venture,

in hate and battle,

in need and desire,

nowhere failing.

10

Gunnar and Högni

gladly swore it,

as Grímhild counselled

grey with wisdom.

Gunnar and Högni

good they deemed it;

glad was Gudrún

gleaming-lovely.

11

Gudrún walked in joy,

gladness round her;

mornings came with mirth,

mirth at sleeping.

Sigurd dwelt as king

sweet days and nights;

high hope he had,

yet in heart a shadow.

*

12

Wide went the word

of woman mighty,

of Brynhild queen

bright in splendour.

Grímhild hearkened,

grimly pondered,

of Gunnar thinking

and of Gjúki’s power.

Grímhild

13

‘Hail, Gjúki’s son!

Good go with thee!

Fair flowers thy state,

thy fame riseth.

Who could woo as he wills,

a wife yet lacketh,

though his might few match,

or might of friends.’

Gunnar

14

‘Lo! Gjúkings’ mother

grey in counsel,

what wife shall Gunnar

woo or look for?

Fairest must be woman,

of fame mightiest,

that Gunnar seeketh

his gold dealing.’

Grímhild

15

‘Of the one fairest

fame is rumoured:

Brynhild the queen

bright in splendour.

Wide walks the word

of her wealth and might;

though high nor humble

her halls enter.’

Gunnar

16

‘Proud and peerless

in peril woven,

a queen would she be,

our courts’ glory!

Gunnar Gjúki’s son

glory seeking

at thy rede shall ride

to her realm afar.’

Grímhild

17

‘The son of Sigmund

thy sister holds,

Sigurd the mighty

is thy sworn brother.

At right hand in aid

he shall ride with thee;

counsels potent

shall my cunning find you.’

*

18

Gunnar rode Goti,

on Grani Sigurd,

Högni Hölkvir,

horse night-swarthy.

Steeds were striding,

stonefire glinting,

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