J. Tolkien - The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún

GUÐRÚNARKVIÐA EN NÝJA

eða

DRÁP NIFLUNGA

GUÐRÚNARKVIÐA EN NÝJA

1

Smoke had faded,

sunk was burning;

windblown ashes

were wafted cold.

As sun setting

had Sigurd passed;

and Brynhild burned

as blazing fire.

2

Their bliss was over,

their bale ended;

but Gudrún’s grief

ever grew the more.

Life she hated,

but life took not,

witless wandering

in woods alone.

*

3

Atli ariseth

armies wielding;

on the marches of the East

his might waxeth.

Goths he tramples,

gold despoiling,

his horsemen countless

hasten westward.

4

He, Budli’s son,

blades remembers

that of Budli’s brother

were the bane of old;

he, gold-greedy,

grimhearted king,

hath heard of the hoard

on the Heath that lay.

5

Of Fáfnir’s treasure

fame was rumoured,

that Niflungs held

in Niflung-land;

of Gudrún’s beauty

gleaming-lovely;

of Gjúki aged

to his grave passing.

*

6

From mighty Mirkwood

came message darkly:

‘Atli ariseth

armies mustering.

Hate awakens,

hosts are arming;

under horses’ hooves

Hunland trembles!’

7

Gunnar spake then

gloomy-hearted:

Gunnar

‘Fierce will the feud be,

fell the onslaught!

With gold and silver

shall his greed be stayed,

with gold and silver

or gleaming swords?’

8

Then spake Högni,

haughty chieftain:

Högni

‘The might of Sigurd

we mourn at last!

Victory rode ever

with the Völsung lord;

now alone will war

our land defend.’

9

Then spake Grímhild

grey with wisdom:

Grímhild

‘Gudrún is fair,

gleaming-lovely –

let us bind him in bonds

as brother wedded,

in Hunland’s queen

our help seeking!’

10

Gudrún they sought,

grieving found her

in woodland house

weaving lonely;

weaving wondrous

webs bright-figured

with woe tangled

and with works of old.

*

11

Ódin she wrought

old, blue-mantled;

Loki lightfooted

with locks of flame;

the falls of Andvari

framed of silver,

the gold of Andvari

she gleaming wove.

12

The house of Völsung

huge was timbered,

the Tree there tossed

tangled branches.

There Grímnir’s gift

gleaming brandished

Sigmund standing

stern unbending.

13

The hall of Siggeir

high was burning

fire-encircled

flame-devouréd.

Signý stood there

Sigmund greeting,

fire about her,

flame behind her.

14

Shields of silver

had the ship of Sigmund;

wild the waves were,

wind them twisted.

Sailed there slowly

Sinfjötli’s bier

through stormy seas

steered by Ódin.

15

There Regin wrought

by the red embers;

there Gram was hammered

amid gleaming sparks.

High loomed the head

of helméd dragon;

under black belly

there was blink of gold.

16

Long lay the shadow

of lone rider

golden-harnessed

Gram brandishing;

sun-bright Sigurd

seed of Völsung,

on Grani riding

into Gjúki’s courts.

*

17

Golden weregild

Gunnar brought her,

haughty Högni

humbly bent him.

Gudrún they hailed,

Gunnar and Högni;

head she turned not,

hate still burned her.

18

In came Grímhild

guileful-hearted:

Grímhild

‘Dearest daughter

droop no longer!

Burnt is Brynhild,

bale is ended;

life yet shineth,

thou art lovely still!’

19

Gudrún lifted

her grieving eyes,

dimmed with weeping,

dark with mourning.

Dark with wisdom,

deep with purpose

were Grímhild’s eyes

gazing through her.

Grímhild

20

‘Atli ariseth,

armies wieldeth,

king of Eastland’s

countless peoples.

His queen shall rule

courts of splendour,

over all women else

on earth upraised.’

Gudrún

21

‘Of gold were the days,

gold and silver,

silver and golden,

ere Sigurd came.

A maid among maids

in mirth walked I;

only dreams and shadows,

only dreams vexed me.

22

A hart I dreamed

high and golden:

now is sped the shaft

and spilled the blood.

A wolf thou gavest me

for woe’s comfort,

in my brethren’s blood

he bathed me red.

23

I love them little,

I believe them not,

but my brethren’s blood

is no boot for me.

How shall husband heal me

of harm I bear

in hateful Hunland

who am hopeless now?’

Grímhild

24

‘Thy brothers blame not!

Brynhild wrought it,

thy wrong and sorrow –

it rues them sore.

And dreams are but dreams,

or else doom foretell;

yet doom must be dreed,

though dreams foreshow.

25

Hungold is bright,

Hunland is wide,

Atli mightiest

of earthly kings.

And gold is healing,

though grieve the heart;

a queen’s bed better

than one cold and bare!’

Gudrún

26

‘Why drivest me on

with daunting eyes

dire of purpose,

doom forestalling?

To Sigurd thou gavest me,

to sorrow it turned;

now leave me to rest,

leave thy daughter!’

Grímhild

27

‘No rest for the living,

no room for tears,

who with pride and purpose

oppose their fate!

No rest I grant thee!

My redes hearken,

or rue for ever

thou wert wrought on earth!’

28

Dark hung her eyes

daunting Gudrún,

deep and dreadful,

dire with purpose.

For no word she waited,

wisdom knew she;

forth went Grímhild

from Gudrún’s side.

*

29

Of Gudrún’s beauty

glad was Atli;

of gold he dreamed him

guarded darkly;

of the serpent’s hoard

that Sigurd left her,

of the wife of Sigurd

of women fairest.

30

Bridal drank he

blissful-hearted

to Gudrún pale

in gleaming robes.

Oaths he swore them,

to each her brothers,

and lasting truce,

league of kinship.

31

Dark and splendid,

dreadly builded,

and echoing vast

were Atli’s halls.

Kings sat neath him,

countless chieftains,

and Hunnish horsemen

harnessed grimly.

32

High sat Gudrún

Hunland’s mistress,

cold lay Gudrún

queen of Hunland.

Her lord loved her,

lovely was she;

laughter she knew not,

yet her limbs were white.

33

But longer him lasted

his lust of gold,

the gold he dreamed him

guarded darkly.

The serpent’s treasure

they sent it never,

the Niflungs kept it

in Niflung-land.

34

Long he pondered,

till lust swayed him;

woes were wakened

and wars of old.

Long nights lying

he looked on her;

dark nights drowsing

he dreamed of gold.

35

Oaths he had uttered,

evil he pondered;

but his heart’s purpose

was hidden under.

Yet words he muttered

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