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

  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.