J. Tolkien - The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún

high wind rushing

over helm and mane.

19

Over fell and lowland

and forest gloomy,

over rocks and rivers

their roads led them.

Golden gables

gleaming saw they;

a light was lifted

o’er the land afar.

20

Fire forth blossomed,

flames up-leaping,

trees of lightning

twisted branching.

Gunnar smote Goti:

the ground spurning

he reared him backward,

nor rowel heeded.

21

Sigurd unsmiling

silent waited,

in his shrouded heart

a shadow deepened:

Sigurd

‘For what waits Gunnar,

Gjúking fearless?

Here the queen dwelleth

that our quest seeketh!’

Gunnar

22

‘A boon grant me,

O blood-brother!

Goti will not bear me,

now Grani lend me!’

Gunnar smote Grani:

on the ground moveless

grey-hewn he stood

as of graven stone.

23

Gunnar rode not

the glittering flame.

Oaths swore Sigurd,

all fulfilled them.

In hope or hate

help unfailing,

he Grímhild’s counsel

grim refused not.

24

Counsels potent

had her cunning furnished

of chill enchantment

and changing spell.

In Gunnar’s likeness

on Grani leaped he;

gold spurs glinted,

Gram was brandished.

25

The earth shivered;

angry roaring

fire flaming-tongued

flashed heavenward.

With sword smitten

snorting leaped he,

Grani greyfell;

the ground trembled.

26

The fire flickered;

flame wavered,

sank to silence

slaked and fading.

Swart lay the shadow

of Sigurd riding

in helm of terror

high and looming.

27

Sigurd stood there

on sword leaning;

Brynhild waited

a blade holding.

There helméd maiden

of helméd king

name demanded:

night fell round them.

Sigurd

28

‘Gunnar Gjúki’s son

greets and hails thee.

As my queen shalt thou ride

my quest fulfilling.’

As on swaying seas

a swan glimmering

sat she sore troubled

seeking counsel:

Brynhild

29

‘What shall I answer

in hour o’ershadowed,

Gunnar, Gunnar,

with gleaming eyes?’

Sigurd

‘Redgolden rings,

Rhineland treasure,

mighty brideprice

shall be meted thee!’

Brynhild

30

‘Gunnar, speak not

of golden rings!

Swords were me dearer

to slay my loves.

Art thou all men’s master,

all surpassing? –

to only such

will I answer give.’

Sigurd

31

‘Yea, swords hast thou reddened,

swords yet shalt wield;

and oaths hast thou sworn,

and oaths shalt keep.

Thy wall is ridden,

thy wavering fire:

thou art doomed him to wed

who dared to pass.’

32

In a bed them laid

Brynhild, Sigurd;

a sword them sundered

set there naked.

Gram lay between

gleaming sheathless,

fate lay between

forged unyielding.

33

Dawn came on earth,

day grew round them.

From

sleeping finger

he slipped her

ring

,

and Andvari’s gold,

old, enchanted,

on Brynhild’s hand

bound in token.

Sigurd

34

‘Wake thou! wake thou!

Wide is daylight.

I ride to my realm

to array the feast.’

Brynhild

‘Gunnar, Gunnar,

with gleaming eyes,

on day appointed

I shall drink with thee.’

*

IX

DEILD

(Strife)

1

On day appointed

dawn rose redly,

sun sprang fiery

southward hasting.

Bridal to Brynhild

blissful drank he,

Gunnar Gjúki’s son,

gold unsparing.

2

All surpassing,

proud and ardent,

Brynhild sat there,

a bride and queen.

All men’s master,

all surpassing,

in came Sigurd

as sun rising.

3

By

Gudrún’s

side,

Gjúki’s daughter,

she saw him seated –

a silence fell.

As stone graven

stared she palely,

as cold and still

as carven stone.

4

From

shrouded heart

the shadows parted;

oaths were remembered

all unfulfilled.

As stone carven,

stern, unbending,

he sat unsmiling

no sign making.

5

Clamour rose again,

clear the singing.

Men were joyful –

mirth they deemed it.

In that hall beheld they

heroes mightiest,

and kings and queens

crowned in splendour.

*

6

Forth rode Sigurd,

the forest seeking,

to hunt the hart;

horns were sounded.

To the Rhine-river,

to running water,

queens went comely

with combs of gold.

7

Their locks they loosened.

Long one waded

to deeper pools

darkly swirling:

Brynhild

‘The water that hath washed

thy wan tresses

shall not flow unfitting

over fairer brow!’

Gudrún

8

‘More queenly I,

more kingly wed! –

fame all surpasses

he that Fáfnir slew!’

Brynhild

‘Worth all surpasses

who my wavering fire,

flaming lightning

fearless vanquished!’

9

(Grim laughed

Gudrún

Grímhild’s daughter:)

Gudrún

‘True spake the tongue

of truth unwitting!

Thy wavering fire

wildly flaming

he rode unrecking

who that ring gave thee –

did Gunnar get it

on Gnitaheiði?

10

Andvari’s

ring,

old, enchanted,

is on Brynhild’s hand

bound in token.

Did

Gunnar give me

the gleaming ring

from thy hand he drew,

now here on

mine

!’

11

Coldhued as death

the queen was stricken,

strode swift from stream

as stone silent;

from Rhine-river,

from running water,

her bower sought she

brooding darkly.

12

Dim fell evening,

dusk was starless;

her mind was as night

as she mourned alone;

alone, lightless,

made lamentation:

Brynhild

‘Fell! fell the fates

that forged our days!

13

Mine own must I have

or anguish suffer,

or suffer anguish

Sigurd losing.

Yet he is Gudrún’s

and Gunnar’s I:

foul wrought the fates

that framed my life!’

14

Daylong lay she

drinking nor eating,

as in dead slumber

or dreadful thought.

Her maidens marvelled –

she minded not,

Gunnar sought her;

grim she heard him.

15

Then spake Brynhild

from bitter pondering:

Brynhild

‘Whence came the gold

here gleaming pale?

Who holds the ring

from my hand taken?’

Nought spake Gunnar,

no word answered.

Brynhild

16

‘King men call thee!

A coward rather,

from fire flinching,

fearful, quaking!

From witch-woman’s

womb thou camest.

Woe to Grímhild,

woe’s contriver!’

Gunnar

17

‘Vile words to use,

thou Valkyrie,

thou slayer of men,

and sword-hearted!’

Brynhild

‘If sword I had,

I would slay thee now,

for thy secret treason,

for thy sundered oaths!

18

Him only loved I

who all surpassed;

an oath uttered,

him only to wed,

him only to wed

who mine ardent fire

vanquished valorous;

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