"Ar var, þats Sigurðr

sótti Gjúka,

Völsungr ungi,

er vegit hafði;

tók við tryggðum

tveggja bræðra,

seldusk eiða

eljunfræknir."

"Of old did Sigurth

Gjuki seek,

The Volsung young,

in battles victor;

Well he trusted

the brothers twain,

With mighty oaths

among them sworn."

"Mey buðu hánum

ok meiðma fjölð,

Guðrúnu ungu,

Gjúka dóttur;

drukku ok dæmðu

dægr margt saman

Sigurðr ungi

ok synir Gjúka."

"A maid they gave him,

and jewels many,

Guthrun the young,

the daughter of Gjuki;

They drank and spake

full many a day,

Sigurth the young

and Gjuki's sons."

"Unz þeir Brynhildar

biðja fóru,

svá at þeim Sigurðr

reið í sinni

Völsungr ungi,

ok vega kunni;

hann of ætti,

ef hann eiga knætti."

"Thereafter went they

Brynhild to woo,

And so with them

did Sigurth ride,

The Volsung young,

in battle valiant,

Himself would have had her

if all he had seen."

"Sigurðr inn suðræni

lagði sverð nökkvit,

mæki málfán,

á meðal þeirra;

né hann konu

kyssa gerði

né húnskr konungr

hefja sér at armi,

mey frumunga

fal hann megi Gjúka."

"The southern hero

his naked sword,

Fair-flashing, let

between them lie;

(Nor would he come

the maid to kiss;)

The Hunnish king

in his arms ne'er held

The maiden he gave

to Gjuki's sons."

"Hon sér at lífi

löst né vissi

ok at aldrlagi

ekki grand,

vamm þat er væri

eða vera hygði;

gengu þess á milli

grimmar urðir."

"Ill she had known not

in all her life,

And nought of the sorrows

of men she knew;

Blame she had not,

nor dreamed she should bear it,

But cruel the fates

that among them came."

Ein sat hon úti

aftan dags,

nam hon svá margt

um at mælask:

"Hafa skal ek Sigurð,

— eða þó svelta, —

mög frumungan

mér á armi."

By herself at the end

of day she sat,

And in open words

her heart she uttered:

"I shall Sigurth have,

the hero young,

E'en though within

my arms he die."

"Orð mæltak nú,

iðrumk eftir þess:

kván er hans Guðrún,

en ek Gunnars;

ljótar nornir

skópu oss langa þrá."

"The word I have spoken;

soon shall I rue it,

His wife is Guthrun,

and Gunnar's am I;

Ill Norns set for me

long desire."

"Opt gengr hon innan

ills of fylld,

ísa ok jökla,

aftan hvern,

er þau Guðrún

ganga á beð

ok hana Sigurðr

sveipr í rifti,

konungr inn húnski

kván frjá sína."

"Oft did she go

with grieving heart

On the glacier's ice

at even-tide,

When Guthrun then

to her bed was gone,

And the bedclothes Sigurth

about her laid.

And the Hunnish king

with his wife is happy;"

"Vön geng ek vilja,

vers ok beggja,

verð ek mik gæla

af grimmum hug."

"(Now Gjuki's child

to her lover goes,)

Joyless I am

and mateless ever,

Till cries from my heavy

heart burst forth."

Nam af þeim heiftum

hvetjask at vígi:

"Þú skalt, Gunnarr,

gerst of láta

mínu landi

ok mér sjalfri;

mun ek una aldri

með öðlingi."

In her wrath to battle

she roused herself:

"Gunnar, now

thou needs must lose

Lands of mine

and me myself,

No joy shall I have

with the hero ever."

"Mun ek aftr fara,

þars ek áðan vark

með nábornum

niðjum mínum;

þar mun ek sitja

ok sofa lífi,

nema þú Sigurð

svelta látir

ok jöfurr öðrum

æðri verðir."

"Back shall I fare

where first I dwelt,

Among the kin

that come of my race,

To wait there, sleeping

my life away,

If Sigurth's death

thou shalt not dare,

(And best of heroes

thou shalt not be.)"

"Látum son fara

feðr í sinni,

skal-at ulf ala

ungan lengi.

Hveim verðr hölða

hefnd léttari

síðan til sátta,

at sonr lifi?"

"The son shall fare

with his father hence,

And let not long

the wolf-cub live;

Lighter to pay

is the vengeance-price

After the deed

if the son is dead."

"Hryggr varð Gunnarr

ok hnipnaði,

sveip sínum hug,

sat of allan dag;

hann vissi þat

vilgi görla,

hvat hánum væri

vinna sæmst

eða hánum væri

vinna bezt,

alls sik Völsung

vissi firrðan

ok at Sigurð

söknuð mikinn."

"Sad was Gunnar,

and bowed with grief,

Deep in thought

the whole day through;

Yet from his heart

it was ever hid

What deed most fitting

he should find,

(Or what thing best

for him should be,

Or if he should seek

the Volsung to slay,

For with mighty longing

Sigurth he loved.)"

"Ýmist hann hugði

jafnlanga stund:

þat var eigi

afartítt,

at frá konungdóm

kvánir gengi.

Nam hann sér Högna

heita at rúnum,

þar átti hann

alls fulltrúa:"

"Much he pondered

for many an hour;

Never before

was the wonder known

That a queen should thus

her kingdom leave;

In counsel then

did he Hogni call,

(For him in truest

trust he held.)"

"Ein er mér Brynhildr

öllum betri,

of borin Buðla,

hon er bragr kvenna;

fyrr skal ek mínu

fjörvi láta

en þeirar meyjar

meiðmum týna."

"More than all

to me is Brynhild,

Buthli's child,

the best of women;

My very life

would I sooner lose

Than yield the love

of yonder maid."

"Vildu okkr fylki

til fjár véla?

Gótt er at ráða

Rínar malmi

ok unandi

auði stýra

ok sitjandi

sælu njóta."

"Wilt thou the hero

for wealth betray?

Twere good to have

the gold of the Rhine,

And all the hoard

in peace to hold,

And waiting fortune

thus to win."

Einu því Högni

andsvör veitti:

"Samir eigi okkr

slíkt at vinna,

sverði rofna

svarna eiða,

eiða svarna,

unnar tryggðir."

Few the words

of Hogni were:

"Us it beseems not

so to do,

To cleave with swords

the oaths we swore,

The oaths we swore

and all our vows."

"Vitum-a vit á moldu

menn in sælli,

meðan fjórir vér

folki ráðum

ok sá inn húnski

her-Baldr lifir,

né in mætri

mægð á foldu,

ef vér fimm sonu

fæðum lengi,

áttumgóða

æxla knættim."

"We know no mightier

men on earth

The while we four

o'er the folk hold sway,

And while the Hunnish

hero lives,

Nor higher kinship

the world doth hold.

If sons we five

shall soon beget,

Great, methinks,

our race shall grow;"

"Ek veit görla,

hvaðan vegir standa:

eru Brynhildar

brek ofmikil."

"Well I see

whence lead the ways;

Too bitter far

is Brynhild's hate."

Gunnarr kvað:

"Vit skulum Guthorm

gerva at vígi,

yngra bróður,

ofróðara;

hann var fyr útan

eiða svarna,

eiða svarna,

unnar tryggðir."

Gunnar spake:

"Gotthorm to wrath

we needs must rouse,

Our younger brother,

in rashness blind;

He entered not

in the oaths we swore,

The oaths we swore

and all our vows."

"Dælt var at eggja

óbilgjarnan,

stóð til hjarta

hjörr Sigurði."

"It was easy to rouse

the reckless one.

*********

The sword in the heart

of Sigurth stood."

"Réð til hefnda

hergjarn í sal

ok eftir varp

óbilgjörnum;

fló til Guthorms

Grams ramliga

kynbirt járn

ór konungs hendi."

"In vengeance the hero

rose in the hall,

And hurled his sword

at the slayer bold;

At Gotthorm flew

the glittering steel

Of Gram full hard

from the hand of the king."

"Hné hans of dolgr

til hluta tveggja,

hendr ok höfuð

hné á annan veg,

en fóta hlutr

féll aftr í stað."

"The foeman cleft

asunder fell,

Forward hands

and head did sink,

And legs and feet

did backward fall."

"Sofnuð var Guðrún

í sæingu

sorgalaus

hjá Sigurði,

en hon vaknaði

vilja firrð,

er hon Freys vinar

flaut í dreyra."

"Guthrun soft

in her bed had slept,

Safe from care

at Sigurth's side;

She woke to find

her joy had fled,

In the blood of the friend

of Freyr she lay."

"Svá sló hon svárar

sínar hendr,

at rammhugaðr

reis upp við beð:

Grát-a-ðu, Guðrún,

svá grimmliga,

brúðr frumunga,

þér bræðr lifa."

So hard she smote

her hands together

That the hero rose up,

iron-hearted:

"Weep not, Guthrun,

grievous tears,

Bride so young,

for thy brothers live."

"Á ek til ungan

erfinytja,

kann-at hann firrask

ór fjándgarði;

þeir sér hafa

svárt ok dátt

enn nær numit

nýlig ráð."

"Too young, methinks,

is my son as yet,

He cannot flee

from the home of his foes;

Fearful and deadly

the plan they found,

The counsel new

that now they have heeded."

"Ríðr-a þeim síðan,

þótt sjau alir,

systursonr

slíkr at þingi.

Ek veit görla,

hví gegnir nú:

ein veldr Brynhildr

öllu bölvi."

"No son will ride,

though seven thou hast,

To the Thing as the son

of their sister rides;

Well I see

who the ill has worked,

On Brynhild alone

lies the blame for all."

"Mér unni mær

fyr mann hvern,

en við Gunnar

grand ekki vannk;

þyrmða ek sifjum,

svörnum eiðum,

síðr værak heitinn

hans kvánar vinr."

"Above all men

the maiden loved me,

Yet false to Gunnar

I ne'er was found;

I kept the oaths

and the kinship I swore;

Of his queen the lover

none may call me."

"Kona varp öndu,

en konungr fjörvi,

svá sló hon svárar

sínar hendr,

at kváðu við

kálkar í vá

ok gullu við

gæss í túni."

"In a swoon she sank

when Sigurth died;

So hard she smote

her hands together

That all the cups

in the cupboard rang,

And loud in the courtyard

cried the geese."

"Hló þá Brynhildr

Buðla dóttir

einu sinni

af öllum hug,

er hon til hvílu

heyra knátti

gjallan grát

Gjúka dóttur."

"Then Brynhild, daughter

of Buthli, laughed,

Only once,

with all her heart,

When as she lay

full loud she heard

The grievous wail

of Gjuki's daughter."

"Hitt kvað þá Gunnarr

gramr haukstalda:

Hlær-a þú af því,

heiftgjörn kona,

glöð á gólfi,

at þér góðs viti.

Hví hafnar þú

inum hvíta lit,

feikna fæðir?

Hygg ek, at feig séir."

Then Gunnar, monarch

of men, spake forth:

"Thou dost not laugh,

thou lover of hate,

In gladness there,

or for aught of good;

Why has thy face

so white a hue,

Mother of ill?

Foredoomed thou art."

"Þú værir þess

verðust kvenna,

at fyr augum þér

Atla hjöggim,

sæir bræðr þínum

blóðugt sár,

undir dreyrgar

knættir yfir binda."

"A worthier woman

wouldst thou have been

If before thine eyes

we had Atli slain;

If thy brother's bleeding

body hadst seen

And the bloody wounds

that thou shouldst End."

Brynhildr kvað:

"Frýr-a maðr þér engi,

hefir þú fullvegit;

lítt sésk Atli

ófu þína;

hann mun ykkar

önd síðari

ok æ bera

afl it meira."

Brynhild spake:

"None mock thee, Gunnar!

thou hast mightily fought,

But thy hatred little

doth Atli heed;

Longer than thou,

methinks, shall he live,

And greater in might

shall he ever remain."

"Segja mun ek þér, Gunnarr,

— sjalfr veiztu görla, —

hvé er yðr snemma

til saka réðuð;

varð ek til ung

né ofþrungin,

fullgædd féi

á fleti bróður."

"To thee I say,

and thyself thou knowest,

That all these ills

thou didst early shape;

No bonds I knew,

nor sorrow bore,

And wealth I had

in my brother's home."

"Né ek vilda þat,

at mik verr ætti,

áðr þér Gjúkungar

riðuð at garði,

þrír á hestum

þjóðkonungar,

en þeira för

þörfgi væri."

"Never a husband

sought I to have,

Before the Gjukungs

fared to our land;

Three were the kings

on steeds that came,

Need of their journey

never there was."

"Þeim hétumk þá

þjóðkonungi,

er með gulli sat

á Grana bógum;

var-at hann í augu

yðr um líkr

né á engi hlut

at álitum,

þó þykkizk ér

þjóðkonungar."

"To the hero great

my troth I gave

Who gold-decked sat

on Grani's back;

Not like to thine

was the light of his eyes,

(Nor like in form

and face are ye,)

Though kingly both

ye seemed to be."

"Ok mér Atli þat

einni sagði,

at hvárki lézk

höfn of deila,

gull né jarðir,

nema ek gefask létak,

ok engi hlut

auðins féar,

þá er mér jóðungri

eigu seldi

ok mér jóðungri

aura talði."

"And so to me

did Atli say

That share in our wealth

I should not have,

Of gold or lands,

if my hand I gave not;

(More evil yet,

the wealth I should yield,)

The gold that he

in my childhood gave me,

(The wealth from him

in my youth I had.)"

"Þá var á hvörfun

hugr minn um þat,

hvárt ek skylda vega

eða val fella

böll í brynju

um bróður sök;

þat myndi þá

þjóðkunnt vera

mörgum manni

at munar stríði."

"Oft in my mind

I pondered much

If still I should fight,

and warriors fell,

Brave in my byrnie,

my brother defying;

That would wide

in the world be known,

And sorrow for many

a man would make."

"Létum síga

sáttmál okkur

lék mér meir í mun

meiðmar þiggja,

bauga rauða

burar Sigmundar;

né ek annars manns

aura vildak."

"But the bond at last

I let be made,

For more the hoard

I longed to have,

The rings that the son

of Sigmund won;

No other's treasure

e'er I sought."

"Unnak einum

né ýmissum,

bjó-at of hverfan

hug men-Skögul;

allt mun þat Atli

eftir finna,

er hann mína spyrr

morðför görva,"

"One-alone

of all I loved,

Nor changing heart

I ever had;

All in the end

shall Atli know,

When he hears I have gone

on the death-road hence."

"At þeygi skal

þunngeð kona

annarrar ver

aldri leiða;

þá mun á hefndum

harma minna."

"Never a wife

of fickle will

Yet to another

man should yield.

*********

So vengence for all

my ills shall come."

"Upp reis Gunnarr

gramr verðungar,

ok um hals konu

hendr of lagði;

gengu allir

ok þó ýmissir

af heilum hug

hana at letja."

"Up rose Gunnar,

the people's ruler,

And flung his arms

round her neck so fair;

And all who came,

of every kind,

Sought to hold her

with all their hearts."

"Hratt af halsi

hveim þar sér,

lét-a mann sik letja

langrar göngu."

"But back she cast

all those who came,

Nor from the long road

let them hold her."

Nam hann sér Högna

hvetja at rúnum:

"Seggi vil ek alla

í sal ganga

þína með mínum,

— nú er þörf mikil, —

vita, ef meini

morðför konu,

unz af méli

enn mein komi;

þá látum því

þarfar ráða."

In counsel then

did he Hogni call:

"Of wisdom now

full great is our need.

Let the warriors here

in the hall come forth,

Thine and mine,

for the need is mighty,

If haply the queen

from death they may hold,

Till her fearful thoughts

with time shall fade."

Einu því Högni

andsvör veitti:

"Leti-a maðr hana

langrar göngu,

þars hon aftrborin

aldri verði;

hon kröng of komsk

fyr kné móður,

hon æ borin

óvilja til,

mörgum manni

at móðtrega."

(Few the words

of Hogni were:)

"From the long road now

shall ye hold her not,

That born again

she may never be!

Foul she came

from her mother forth,

And born she was

for wicked deeds,

(Sorrow to many

a man to bring.)"

"Hvarf sér óhróðugr

andspilli frá,

þar er mörk menja

meiðmum deildi."

"From the speaker gloomily

Gunnar turned,

For the jewel-bearer

her gems was dividing;"

"Leit hon of alla

eigu sína,

soltnar þýjar

ok salkonur;

gullbrynju smó,

— var-a gott í hug, —

áðr sik miðlaði

mækis eggjum."

"On all her wealth

her eyes were gazing,

On the bond-women slain

and the slaughtered slaves.

Her byrnie of gold

she donned, and grim."

"Hné við bollstri

hon á annan veg

ok hjörunduð

hugði at ráðum:"

"Was her heart ere the point

of her sword had pierced it;

On the pillow at last

her head she laid,

And, wounded, her plan

she pondered o'er."

"Nú skulu ganga,

þeir er gull vili

ok minni því

at mér þiggja;

ek gef hverri

of hróðit sigli,

bók ok blæju,

bjartar váðir."

"Hither I will

that my women come

Who gold are fain

from me to get;

Necklaces fashioned

fair to each

Shall I give, and cloth,

and garments bright."

Þögðu allir,

við því orði

ok allir senn

andsvör veittu:

"Ærnar soltnar,

munum enn lifa.

Verða salkonur

sæmð at vinna."

Silent were all

as so she spake,

And all together

answer made:

"Slain are enough;

we seek to live,

Not thus thy women

shall honor win."

Unz af hyggjandi

hörskrýdd kona,

ung at aldri

orð viðr of kvað:

"Vilk-at ek mann trauðan

né torbænan

um óra sök

aldri týna."

Long the woman,

linen-decked, pondered,

Young she was,

and weighed her words:

"For my sake now

shall none unwilling

Or loath to die

her life lay down."

"Þó mun á beinum

brenna yðrum

færi eyrir,

þá er ér fram komið,

neitt Menju góð,

mín at vitja."

"But little of gems

to gleam on your limbs

Ye then shall find

when forth ye fare

To follow me,

or of Menja's wealth."

Sezktu niðr, Gunnarr,

mun ek segja þér

"lífs örvæna

ljósa brúði;

mun-a yðvart far

allt í sundi,

þótt ek hafa

öndu látit."

Sit now, Gunnar!

for I shall speak:

"Of thy bride so fair

and so fain to die;

Thy ship in harbor

home thou hast not,

Although my life

I now have lost."

"Sátt munuð it Guðrún

snemr, en þú hyggir;

hefir kunn kona

við konungi

daprar minjar

at dauðan ver."

"Thou shalt Guthrun requite

more quick than thou thinkest,

Though sadly mourns

the maiden wise

Who dwells with the king,

o'er her husband dead."

"Þar er mær borin,

— móðir fæðir, —

sú mun hvítari

en inn heiði dagr

Svanhildr vera,

sólar geisla."

"A maid shall then

the mother bear;

Brighter far

than the fairest day

Svanhild shall be,

or the beams of the sun."

"Gefa muntu Guðrúnu

góðra nökkurum

skeyti skæða

skatna mengi;

mun-at at vilja

versæl gefin;

hana mun Atli

eiga ganga,

of borinn Buðla,

bróðir minn."

"Guthrun a noble

husband thou givest,

Yet to many a warrior

woe will she bring,

Not happily wedded

she holds herself;

Her shall Atli

hither seek,

(Buthli's son,

and brother of mine.)"

"Margs á ek minnask,

hvé við mik fóru,

þá er mik sára

svikna höfðuð,

vaðin at vilja

vark, meðan ek lifðak."

"Well I remember

how me ye treated

When ye betrayed me

with treacherous wiles;

Lost was my joy

as long as I lived."

"Muntu Oddrúnu

eiga vilja,

en þik Atli mun

eigi láta;

it munuð lúta

á laun saman,

hon mun þér unna

sem ek skyldak,

ef okkr góð of sköp

gerði verða."

"Oddrun as wife

thou fain wouldst win,

But Atli this

from thee withholds;

Yet in secret tryst

ye twain shall love;

She shall hold thee dear,

as I had done

If kindly fate

to us had fallen."

"Þik mun Atli

illu beita,

muntu í öngan

ormgarð lagiðr."

"Ill to thee

shall Atli bring,

When he casts thee down

in the den of snakes."

"Þat mun ok verða

þvígit lengra,

at Atli mun

öndu týna,

sælu sinni,

ok sona lífi,

því at hánum Guðrún

grýmir á beð

snörpum eggjum

af sárum hug."

"But soon thereafter

Atli too

His life, methinks,

as thou shalt lose,

(His fortune lose

and the lives of his sons;)

Him shall Guthrun,

grim of heart,

With the biting blade

in his bed destroy."

"Sæmri væri Guðrún,

systir ykkur,

frumver sínum

at fylgja dauðum,

ef henni gæfi

góðra ráða

eða ætti hon hug

ossum líkan."

"It would better beseem

thy sister fair

To follow her husband

first in death,

If counsel good

to her were given,

Or a heart akin

to mine she had."

"Ört mæli ek nú,

en hon eigi mun

of óra sök

aldri týna;

hana munu hefja

hávar bárur

til Jónakrs

óðaltorfu."

"Slowly I speak,

but for my sake

Her life, methinks,

she shall not lose;

She shall wander over

the tossing waves,

To where Jonak rules

his father's realm."

"(Ala mun hún sér jóð,

erfivörðu),

erfivörðu,

Jónakrs sonum;

mun hon Svanhildi

senda af landi,

sína mey

ok Sigurðar."

"Sons to him

she soon shall bear,

Heirs therewith

of Jonak's wealth;

But Svanhild far

away is sent,

The child she bore

to Sigurth brave."

"Hana munu bíta

Bikka ráð,

því at Jörmunrekkr

óþarft lifir;

þá er öll farin

ætt Sigurðar;

eru Guðrúnar

græti at fleiri."

"Bikki's word

her death shall be,

For dreadful the wrath

of Jormunrek;

So slain is all

of Sigurth's race,

And greater the woe

of Guthrun grows"

"Biðja mun ek þik

bænar einnar,

— sú mun í heimi

hinzt bæn vera —:

Láttu svá breiða

borg á velli,

at undir oss öllum

jafnrúmt séi,

þeim er sultu

með Sigurði."

"Yet one boon

I beg of thee,

The last of boons

in my life it is:

Let the pyre be built

so broad in the field

That room for us all

will ample be,

(For us who slain

with Sigurth are.)"

"Tjaldi þar um þá borg

tjöldum ok skjöldum,

valarift vel fáð

ok Vala mengi;

brenni mér inn húnska

á hlið aðra."

"With shields and carpets

cover the pyre,

Shrouds full fair,

and fallen slaves,

And besides the Hunnish

hero burn me."

"Brenni inum húnska

á hlið aðra

mína þjóna

menjum göfga:

tveir at höfðum

ok tveir haukar;

þá er öllu skipt

til jafnaðar."

"Besides the Hunnish

hero there

Slaves shall burn,

full bravely decked,

Two at his head

and two at his feet,

A brace of hounds

and a pair of hawks,

For so shall all

be seemly done."

"Liggi okkar enn í milli

malmr hringvariðr,

egghvast járn,

sem endr lagit,

þá er vit bæði

beð einn stigum

ok hétum þá

hjóna nafni."

"Let between us

lie once more

The steel so keen,

as so it lay

When both within

one bed we were,

And wedded mates

by men were called."

"Hrynja hánum þá

á hæl þeygi

hlunnblik hallar

hringi litkuð,

ef hánum fylgir

ferð mín heðan;

þeygi mun ór för

aumlig vera."

"The door of the hall

shall strike not the heel

Of the hero fair

with flashing rings,

If hence my following

goes with him;

Not mean our faring

forth shall be."

"Því at hánum fylgja

fimm ambáttir,

átta þjónar,

eðlum góðir,

fóstrman mitt

ok faðerni,

þat er Buðli gaf

barni sínu."

"Bond-women five

shall follow him,

And eight of my thralls,

well-born are they,

Children with me,

and mine they were

As gifts that Buthli

his daughter gave."

"Margt sagða ek,

munda ek fleira,

er mér meir mjötuðr

málrúm gæfi;

ómum þverr,

undir svella,

satt eitt sagðak,

svá mun ek láta."

"Much have I told thee,

and more would say

If fate more space

for speech had given;

My voice grows weak,

my wounds are swelling;

Truth I have said,

and so I die."