J. Tolkien - The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún

in wandering sleep;

Gudrún guessed them,

gloom foreboding.

36

A feast he fashioned,

far proclaimed it;

to high-builded halls

his hosts were bidden;

all kith and kindred

called to greet him,

to dealing of rings,

drink and laughter.

*

37

On valiant horse

Vingi swiftly,

herald of Hunland,

hasted westward.

To Gunnar came he,

Gjúking mighty,

to halls of Rhineland

high and golden.

38

There drank they deep;

dark they eyed him,

Hun-speech hearing

in their hall ringing.

Cold fell his cry

calling loudly

under helm standing

hailing Gunnar.

Vingi

39

‘Atli hath sent me

on errand speedy,

on horse hasting

through hoar forest.

Gunnar he greeteth,

Gunnar and Högni.

Be blithe he bids you,

to his boon hearken!

40

A feast he fashions,

fair he dights it,

all kith and kindred

calls to meet him.

Rings will he deal,

raiment costly,

saddles silverlaid,

and southern purple.

41

Shields shall ye choose there

and shirts of mail,

spears smooth-shafted

and splendid helms.

Gifts will he give you,

graven silver,

gold-hilted swords,

and goodly lands.’

42

His head bowed Gunnar

to Högni speaking:

Gunnar

‘What saith Högni?

Doth he hear the summons?

Is not gold that glimmered

on Gnitaheiði

enough for Niflungs?

Need we bounty?

43

Is there sword in the East

that my sword matcheth?

Are there helms in Hunland

so high as ours?

Are we lieges of Atli,

lands receiving

from Hun master?

Högni answer!’

Högni

44

‘Of Gudrún I think –

grim thoughts awake!

A ring she hath sent me,

a ring only.

Wolf’s hair winds it,

woven round it,

wolves lie in wait

at the way’s ending.’

Gunnar

45

‘Yet runes she sends me,

runes of healing,

words well-graven

on wood to read;

fast bids us fare

to feast gladly,

old woes forgetting

and ancient wrong.’

*

46

Gifts gave Gunnar,

guerdon kingly;

wine bade men bring

to weary guest.

Deep there drank they

to day’s ending,

doom they recked not;

din resounded.

47

In came Grímhild

grey with wisdom,

the runes she read,

the written tokens.

Her brows darkened

boding evil;

to Gunnar spake she

grave and slowly.

Grímhild

48

‘These runes I doubt:

they are writ with cunning,

strangely twisted,

stained and darkened.

There were others under,

now overlaid –

if I read them right

they were runes of ill.’

49

Gunnar had drunken,

to his guest turned he:

Gunnar

‘Ye Huns have no wine

such as here runneth!

It irks us to ride

to your ale-quaffing;

guile fills your horns –

Gunnar comes not!’

50

Laughing said Vingi:

Vingi

‘My lord shall I tell

that in courts of Gjúki

no kings are left?

There rules a queen,

a rune-conner;

his weighty words

a woman judgeth?

51

I must haste away,

so will hide it not,

that Atli is old,

but Erp is young.

Thy sister’s son

is but seven winters –

strong hands he needs

to steer his realm.

52

In Gunnar hoped he

for guide and help,

of his sister’s son

the safe keeper.

He weened ye might wield

his wide kingdom –

ye are fallen afraid,

and fear shadows.’

53

Högni him answered

hard and scornful:

Högni

‘Daring speeches,

and drink-begotten!

Nor hoar nor weary

is here the king,

though queens in Rhineland

be counted wise.

54

Yet Atli I heard not

too old for guile,

war to ponder,

or wealth to covet.

And fey saith my thought:

“Far lies the day

ere Erp or Eitill

after Atli rule!”’

55

But loud cried Gunnar

laughing scornful,

deep had he drunken

darkly musing:

Gunnar

‘Let wolves then wield

wealth of Niflungs!

Bears shall harbour

in barren courtyards.

56

Winds shall wander

where wine we drank,

but Gunnar will go

Gudrún seeking.

We fast shall follow

thy feet, Vingi!

Our horns shall be heard

Hunland rousing.’

57

(From heavy heart then

Högni answered:)

Högni

‘I go with Gunnar,

though glad I am not.

Oft Grímhild’s redes

we have grimly heard.

We took them ever,

though they turned awry;

truth now she teacheth,

and we trust her not.’

58

Then vowed Vingi

the venom-tonguéd –

oaths he recked not,

the oft forsworn:

Vingi

‘May hell have me

and the high gallows,

may ravens rend me,

if the runes should lie!’

*

59

Niflungs rode forth

from Niflung-land;

fast their journey,

few went with them.

Grímhild stood there

grey and aged,

dark eyes were dimmed

death foreseeing.

60

Their word was spoken,

wills were hardened;

fate drove them on,

fey they parted.

None might hinder

near them thronging,

lords nor wisemen;

with a laugh they rode.

61

Steeds went striding,

stonefire glinted,

rocks were ringing,

roads resounding.

In hoar forests

harts were startled,

over hill and valley

hooves were beating.

62

Over river rowed they

roaring onward;

oars were bending

urged to breaking.

Foam flew from prow,

flashed and sparkled;

at bank unbound

the boats left they.

63

In the hoar forest

horns they sounded

Hunland rousing;

hooves were beating.

Golden harness

gleamed and sparkled;

steeds came striding

stung to madness.

*

64

From hill upon high

halls they looked on,

walls and watchtowers

wondrous-builded.

They were forest-girdled,

fenced with spearmen;

horses neighed there,

helms were glinting.

65

There was clamour in the courts,

cold rang the steel;

shafts were shaken,

shields them answered.

Gates found they barred,

grim doors of iron:

Högni smote them,

hewed them fiercely.

66

(Forth came Vingi

the venom-tonguéd:)

Vingi

‘Ye need not to knock,

for known your coming!

The greeting is prepared –

the gallows waits you.

The hungry eagle,

the hoary wolf,

the ravens are ready

to rend your flesh!’

Högni

67

‘Heralds were holy –

but unhallowed liar,

thou shalt hang the first,

and hell take thee!’

From the oak-branches

with arms corded

they hung him high

in the Huns’ faces.

68

Huns loud clamoured,

hate was kindled;

forth rushed they fell,

fierce the onslaught.

In battle blended

Budlungs, Niflungs;

blades were brandished,

burst were helmets.

69

Back they beat them

broken-harnessed;

to the doors they drove them –

din was in the gates.

In leaped Högni,

held the gateway,

hewed two-handed,

hurled them backward.

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