Gunnarsslagr

"It of old befell that Gunnar,

Giuki's son,

was doomed to die

in Grábak's halls.

The feet were free

of the king's son,

but his hands were bound

with hard bonds."

"A harp he seized,

the warrior king

his skill displayed,

his foot-branches moved,

the harp-strings

sweetly touched:

that art had not been practised

save by the king's son."

"Then sang Gunnar,

in these strains:

the harp got voice,

as it had been a man;

yet not a sweeter sound,

had it been a swan;

the hall of serpents echoed

to the golden strings:"

"I my sister know

wedded to the worst of men,

and to the Niflungs

base foe espoused.

To his home bade Atli

Högni and Gunnar,

his relations,

but murdered both."

"Slaughter he made them

take for festivity,

and conflict for

convivial potations.

Ever will that survive

while men shall live:

so did relations never

any one delude."

"Why, Atli! dost thou

so wreak thy anger?

Herself did Brynhild

cause to die,

and Sigurd's

cruel death.

Why wouldst thou Gudrún

cause to weep?"

"Long since the raven told,

from the high tree,

our calamities,

at our relation's death;

Brynhild told me,

Budli's daughter,

how Atli would

deceive us both."

"This also Glaumvör said,

when we both reposed,

for the last time,

in the same bed,

my consort had

portentous dreams

Go not Gunnar!

Atli is now false to thee."

"A lance I saw

red with thy blood,

a gallows ready

for Giuki's son:

I thought for thee the Dísir

prepared a feast;

I ween that for you brothers

treachery is at work."

"Said also Kostbera

she was Högni's wife

the runes were falsely graved,

and the dreams interpreted.

But the heart beat high

In the princes breast,

neither knew fear

of a cruel death."

"The Norns have for us,

Giuki's heirs,

a life-time appointed,

at Odin's will;

no one may

against fate provide,

nor, of luck bereft,

in his valour trust."

"Atli! I laugh

that thou hast not

the red-gold rings

that Hreidmar owned;

I alone know where that treasure

hidden lies,

since that Högni

to the heart ye cut."

"Atli! I laugh,

that ye Huns

the laughing Högni

to the heart cut.

The Hniflung shrank not

from the scooping wound,

nor flinched he from

a painful death."

"Atli! I laugh,

that thou hast lost

many of thy men

that choicest were,

beneath our swords,

before thy own death.

Our noble sister has

thy brother maimed."

"Yet shall not Gunnar,

Giuki's son,

fear express

in Grafvitnir's dwelling;

nor dejected go

to the sire of hosts:

Already is the prince

inured to suffering."

"Sooner shall Góin

pierce me to the heart,

and Nidhögg

suck my reins,

Linn and Lángbak

my liver tear,

than I will abandon

my steadfastness of heart."

"Gudrún it will

grimly avenge,

that Atli us

has both deceived;

she to thee, king! will

give the hearts

of thy cubs,

hot at the evening meal;"

"And (mead mixed

with) their blood

thou from cups shalt drink

formed of their skulls.

That mental anguish shall

bite thee most cruelly,

when Gudrún sets

such crimes before thee."

"Short will be thy life

after the princes death;

an ill end thou wilt have,

for breach of our affinity:

such is befitting thee,

through the deed

of our sister sorely impelled

thy treachery to requite."

"Gudrún will thee

with a lance lay low,

and the Niflung

stand hard by;

in thy palace

will the red flame play;

then in Náströnd thou shalt

be to Nidhögg given."

"Now is Grábak lulled,

and Grafvitnir,

Góin and Móin,

and Grafvöllud,

Ofnir and Svafnir,

with venom glistening,

Nad and Nidhögg,

and the serpents all,

Hring, Höggvard,

by the harp's sound."

"Alone wakeful remains

Atli's mother,

she has pierced me

to the heart's roots,

my liver sucks,

and my lungs tears.

A longer life-space is not

for the king's son."

"Cease now, my harp!

hence I will depart,

and in the vast

Valhall abide,

with the Æsir drink

of costly cups,

be with Sæhrimnir sated

at Odin's feast."

"Now is Gunnar's melody

all sung out;

I have men delighted

for the last time.

Henceforth few princes will

with their foot-branches

the sweetly sounding

harp-strings strike."