J. Tolkien - The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún

70

The few and fearless

as a fire entered,

as roaring flame,

wrath devouring.

Wolves sprang behind,

the ways were reddened,

the walls echoed,

wailing filled them.

71

Steep, stone-builded,

the stair arose

to dark doorways

dreadly timbered.

There Högni halted,

hailed them loudly:

Högni

‘Forth, forth! O friends,

the feast begins!’

72

Out came Atli,

anger-clouded:

Atli

‘Welcome, my vassals!

Ye have well begun it.

Death the drink here,

doom the ending,

ropes here the rings –

if ransom fail.

73

That gold give me

that is Gudrún’s right,

that Sigurd conquered,

the serpent’s treasure!’

Högni laughed then,

on his hilts leaning;

Gunnar glowering

grimly answered.

Gunnar

74

‘No gold from Gunnar

shalt thou get for ever!

Life canst thou take

at latest end.

Dear wilt thou buy it

in dread barter

of lords and lieges,

lives uncounted!’

Atli

75

‘Fools the Niflungs,

feud-forgetful;

foul-stained their hands

with friend-murder.

Gudrún’s husband

for Gudrún’s wrong

a grim vengeance

will gladly wreak.’

Gunnar

76

‘Here Gudrún spake not!

Golden weregild

she looks nor longs for –

the lust is thine!’

Högni

‘For atonement now

time is over!

Words we need not,

war hath entered!’

77

Horns they sounded –

hall-walls echoed –

strode the stairway;

stern their onslaught.

The stones they stained

with streaming blood;

snaketonguéd arrows

sang about them.

78

Doors clanged backward,

din resounded:

Hunland’s champions

hurled upon them.

Hard were handstrokes,

hewn were corslets,

as on hundred anvils

were hammers ringing.

*

79

In hall sat Gudrún

at heart weary,

from mood to mood

her mind wavered.

The din she hearkened,

deadly crying,

as back were beaten

the Borgund-lords.

Gudrún

80

‘Little I love them,

long I hated!

A wolf they gave me

for woe’s comfort.

Yet the wolf rends them,

and woe is me!

Woe worth the hour

that of womb I came!’

81

Her hands she wrung

on high standing,

loud called she clear

to lieges there:

Gudrún

‘If any honour me

in these evil halls,

let them hold their hands

from this hell-labour!

82

Who would love requite,

who would lies disown,

who remember misery

by these masters wrought,

arm now! arm now!

aid the fearless

betrayed and trapped

by this troll-people!’

83

Atli sat there,

anger burned him;

yet murmurs mounted,

men were rising.

Goths were there many:

griefs they remembered,

wars in Mirkwood

and wars of old.

84

From the hall striding

high they shouted,

foes turned to friends

fiercely greeted:

‘Goths and Niflungs

our gods helping

will hew the Huns

to hell’s shadow!’

85

The few and fearless

fiercely answered

(their backs were driven

to the builded walls):

Niflungs

‘Friends, come welcome!

The feast is high.

Now songs let us sing

of our sires of yore.’

86

Of the Goths’ glory

Gunnar sang there;

of Iormunrek

earth-shadowing king;

of Angantýr

and old battles,

of Dylgja, Dúnheið,

and Danpar’s walls.

87

Forth went Högni,

hate rekindled,

his son Snævar

at his side leaping.

Hewn was Högni

by a Hun chieftain;

his shield was shorn

in shards falling.

88

Snævar they slew there,

their swords stabbed him;

he left his life

laughing grimly.

Högni wept not;

from his hand the shield

stooping lifted;

strode then onward.

89

The stairs they strode

streaming redly;

at dark doorways

they dinned and hammered;

into halls of Atli

hewed a pathway;

rushed in roaring,

reeking-handed.

90

Gudrún they greeted,

Gunnar and Högni:

Gunnar &

Högni

This feast is fashioned

fair and seemly!

Fell-shapen fates

will force us ever

as wife to give thee,

and a widow make thee!’

Gudrún

91

‘If for wrongs ye wrought

ruth now moves you,

doom forestall not!

This deed forego!’

Gunnar &

Högni

‘At our sister’s prayer

let him slink away!

Woman’s robes ward him,

not warrior’s mail!’

92

Forth went Atli,

anguish gnawed him;

to Gudrún Högni

said grim farewell:

Högni

‘Thy price is paid,

thy prayer granted!

At life’s forfeit

we have loosed our foe.’

*

93

Forth sent Atli

his errand-riders;

Hunland hearkened,

hosts were arming.

Gallowsfowl to gladden

Goths and Niflungs

from the hall they hurled

the Hunnish corpses.

94

Daylight grew dim,

dark shadows walked

in echoing halls

that Atli loved.

In need most dire

the Niflung lords

doom awaited;

the doors were shut.

95

Night lapped the world

and noiseless town;

under ashen moonlight

the owls hooted.

At guarded doorways

Gunnar and Högni

silent sat they

sleepless waiting.

96

First spake Högni:

Högni

‘Are these halls afire?

Of day untimely

doth the dawn smoulder?

Do dragons in Hunland

dreadly flaming

wind here their way?

Wake, O heroes!’

97

Gunnar answered:

Gunnar

‘Guard the doorways!

Here dawn nor dragon

dreadly burneth;

the gabled houses

are gloom-shrouded,

under ailing moon

the earth is shadowed.

98

There is tramp of men

torches bearing,

clink of corslet,

clank of armour.

There is crying of ravens,

cold howls the wolf,

shields are shimmering,

shafts uplifted.’

Gunnar &

Högni

99

‘Wake now, wake now!

War is kindled.

Now helm to head,

to hand the sword.

Wake now, warriors,

wielding glory!

To wide Valhöll

ways lie open.’

*

100

At the dark doorways

they dinned and hammered;

there was clang of swords

and crash of axes.

The smiths of battle

smote the anvils;

sparked and splintered

spears and helmets.

101

In they hacked them,

out they hurled them,

bears assailing,

boars defending.

Stones and stairways

streamed and darkened;

day came dimly –

the doors were held.

102

Five days they fought

few and dauntless;

the doors were riven,

dashed asunder.

They barred them with bodies,

bulwarks piling

of Huns and Niflungs

hewn and cloven.

103

(Atli spoke then

anguish mourning:)

Atli

‘My friends are fallen,

my foes living,

my kith and kindred

cloven-breasted.

I am wealth-bereaved

and wife-curséd,

of glory shorn

in the grey of years.

104

Woe and wailing

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