J. Tolkien - The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún

I am vow-breaker.

19

I am oath-breaker,

dishonoured, humbled;

I am love-bereaved

and life-curséd.

In thy halls shalt thou hear

never happy voices,

no queen in thy courts

shall comely walk.’

20

Long there lay she

in lamentation;

afar heard folk

her fell mourning.

Gudrún she spurned,

Gunnar scorning,

and Högni mocking;

hate was kindled.

*

21

From the hunt rode Sigurd

home returning,

found halls unlit

and hearts darkened.

They brought him to seek her

for sorrow’s healing;

his mood was loath,

on the morrow went he.

(He draws back the coverlet

from Brynhild and wakes her,

as before he had done.)

Sigurd

22

‘Hail, O sunlight

and sun’s rising!

Sleep no longer

and sorrow cast thou!’

Brynhild

‘I slept on mountain,

I sleep no more!

Accursed be thy words,

cruel forswearer!’

Sigurd

23

‘What grief ails thee

amid good liking,

who to glorious Gunnar

wert gladly wed?’

Brynhild

‘Gladly! gladly!

Grim thou mockest me.

Him only I loved,

who all surpassed.’

Sigurd

24

‘Yet glory no less

hath Gjúki’s son,

my blood-brother,

best renownéd.

Well he loves thee,

lord unfearing –

look now and learn

light yet shineth!’

Brynhild

25

‘Nay, Fáfnir Sigurd

fearless conquered;

my wavering fire

he waded twice;

twice he waded

tongues of lightning:

so great glory

never Gunnar earned.’

Sigurd

26

‘That twice he waded,

who told thee so?

Sigurd hath not said it –

why saist thou this?’

Brynhild

‘Gloom was round us.

Thy gleaming eyes,

thine eyes gleaming

anguish gave me.

27

Veils of darkness

they vanquished me.

I am life-curséd

and love-bereaved.

Yet I curse thee too,

cruel forswearer,

who rendered to another

the ring taken.

28

Gudrún I curse

for cruel reproach

of bed broken

and body yielded.

Thy glory alone

seems good to thee;

of all women the worst

thou weenest me.’

Sigurd

29

‘Woe worth the words

by women spoken!

Woe worth the while

this work began!

Webs enwound me

woven dreadly,

my mind shadowing,

my mood darkening.

30

Long I loved thee,

long desiring.

Thee only would I hold,

now all I know.

My mood mastering,

my mind wielding,

I sat unsmiling,

no sign making.

31

This solace sought I,

that I saw thee still,

the one hall walking

though wife of other.’

Brynhild

‘Too late! too late,

love thou speakest!

To allay this evil

there leech is none.’

Sigurd

32

‘Is hope all fallen,

is healing vain?

Must fate fierce-hearted

thus find its end?’

Brynhild

‘This hope only,

this heart’s comfort –

that Sigurd forsworn

a sword should bite!’

Sigurd

33

‘Swords lightly sleep,

soon may I feel them!

Then would Brynhild die –

bitter would she deem it.’

Brynhild

‘Well fall the words

from woe’s maker!

Little light in life

hath he left to me.’

Sigurd

34

‘Yet Gunnar would I slay,

Gudrún forsake,

from death thee to keep,

our doom o’ercoming!’

Brynhild

‘I am wife of one,

I wed no other.

No lord will I love,

and least Sigurd!’

*

35

Forth went Sigurd

filled with anguish,

his heart was swollen

in heaving breast.

Mail-rings clutched him,

marred his breathing,

to his flesh cutting

fiercely straining.

36

There stood Gudrún

gleaming-lovely:

Gudrún

‘Sleeps yet Brynhild,

sickness bearing?’

Sigurd

‘Brynhild sleeps not,

brooding darkly.

She broodeth darkly

our bale and doom.’

37

Gudrún wanly

grasped him weeping:

Gudrún

‘What doth Brynhild brood,

what bale purpose?’

Sigurd

‘Thou shouldst know it,

needless asking.

Woe worth the words

by women spoken!’

38

(Then spake Gunnar

gloomy-hearted:)

Gunnar

‘What hope of healing

harm’s amending?

Shall we gold offer,

gold and silver?’

Sigurd

‘Gold and silver

let Gunnar offer!

Her lord alone

her leech must be.’

39

Then Gunnar offered

gold and silver,

gold and silver

gleaming-hoarded.

Brynhild

‘Gunnar, speak not

of gold and silver;

swords were me dearer

to slay my life.

40

All men’s master,

all surpassing,

such only ever

shall earn my love.

Than thy liege lower

thou art less become,

a Völsung’s squire,

a vassal’s servant!

41

From thy bed parting,

at thy board humbled

I will leave thee alone

to laughter of men,

if life thou allowest

to liege forsworn,

if thou slay not Sigurd,

thy sister’s lord.’

Gunnar

42

‘Fell-hearted thou,

and foe of peace!

I oaths have sworn

for ever lasting,

bonds of brotherhood

in blood mingled;

though Brynhild bid it,

I may break them not.’

Brynhild

43

‘

Oaths

too I swore

for ever lasting –

light thou heldest them!

I am love-betrayed.

Sigurd thou sent me,

thy sworn brother.

My bed he entered,

by my body laid him,

betrayed thy trust,

betraying me.

44

To Gudrún he told it,

Gudrún knoweth.

In shame am I shrouded,

and shamed art thou!’

Gunnar came forth

grievous-hearted,

daylong he sat,

deeply brooding.

45

From mood to mood

his mind wandered,

from shame to shame

shorn of friendship.

Högni called he

to hidden counsel,

his true brother,

whom he trusted well.

Gunnar

46

‘

Evil

wrought Sigurd:

oaths he swore me,

oaths he swore me,

all belied them;

betrayed my trust,

whom I trusted most,

truth forswearing,

whom most true I deemed.’

Högni

47

‘Brynhild beguiles thee

baleful-hearted,

woe devising

to woe stings thee;

loathing Gudrún,

her love grudging,

thy love loathing,

she lies to thee.’

Gunnar

48

‘Brynhild, Brynhild,

I better hold her

than all women,

than all treasure.

I will life sooner leave

than lose her now,

than live lonely

for laughter of men.

49

Let us slay Sigurd –

forsworn is he!

Let us lords be alone

of our lands again!

Let us slay Sigurd,

this sorrow ending,

and masters make us

of his mighty hoard!’

Högni

50

‘Woe worth the words

by women spoken!

Lords unassailed

our league made us.

The might of Sigurd

we shall mourn later,

and the sister-sons

this sire had got us.’

51

To Gotthorm turning,

Читать дальше