The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún

IX

DEILD

(Strife)

1

On day appointed

dawn rose redly,

sun sprang fiery

southward hasting.

Bridal to Brynhild

blissful drank he,

Gunnar Gjúki’s son,

gold unsparing.

2

All surpassing,

proud and ardent,

Brynhild sat there,

a bride and queen.

All men’s master,

all surpassing,

in came Sigurd

as sun rising.

3

By

Gudrún’s

side,

Gjúki’s daughter,

she saw him seated –

a silence fell.

As stone graven

stared she palely,

as cold and still

as carven stone.

4

From

shrouded heart

the shadows parted;

oaths were remembered

all unfulfilled.

As stone carven,

stern, unbending,

he sat unsmiling

no sign making.

5

Clamour rose again,

clear the singing.

Men were joyful –

mirth they deemed it.

In that hall beheld they

heroes mightiest,

and kings and queens

crowned in splendour.

*

6

Forth rode Sigurd,

the forest seeking,

to hunt the hart;

horns were sounded.

To the Rhine-river,

to running water,

queens went comely

with combs of gold.

7

Their locks they loosened.

Long one waded

to deeper pools

darkly swirling:

Brynhild

‘The water that hath washed

thy wan tresses

shall not flow unfitting

over fairer brow!’

Gudrún

8

‘More queenly I,

more kingly wed! –

fame all surpasses

he that Fáfnir slew!’

Brynhild

‘Worth all surpasses

who my wavering fire,

flaming lightning

fearless vanquished!’

9

(Grim laughed

Gudrún

Grímhild’s daughter:)

Gudrún

‘True spake the tongue

of truth unwitting!

Thy wavering fire

wildly flaming

he rode unrecking

who that ring gave thee –

did Gunnar get it

on Gnitaheiði?

10

Andvari’s

ring,

old, enchanted,

is on Brynhild’s hand

bound in token.

Did

Gunnar give me

the gleaming ring

from thy hand he drew,

now here on

mine

!’

11

Coldhued as death

the queen was stricken,

strode swift from stream

as stone silent;

from Rhine-river,

from running water,

her bower sought she

brooding darkly.

12

Dim fell evening,

dusk was starless;

her mind was as night

as she mourned alone;

alone, lightless,

made lamentation:

Brynhild

‘Fell! fell the fates

that forged our days!

13

Mine own must I have

or anguish suffer,

or suffer anguish

Sigurd losing.

Yet he is Gudrún’s

and Gunnar’s I:

foul wrought the fates

that framed my life!’

14

Daylong lay she

drinking nor eating,

as in dead slumber

or dreadful thought.

Her maidens marvelled –

she minded not,

Gunnar sought her;

grim she heard him.

15

Then spake Brynhild

from bitter pondering:

Brynhild

‘Whence came the gold

here gleaming pale?

Who holds the ring

from my hand taken?’

Nought spake Gunnar,

no word answered.

Brynhild

16

‘King men call thee!

A coward rather,

from fire flinching,

fearful, quaking!

From witch-woman’s

womb thou camest.

Woe to Grímhild,

woe’s contriver!’

Gunnar

17

‘Vile words to use,

thou Valkyrie,

thou slayer of men,

and sword-hearted!’

Brynhild

‘If sword I had,

I would slay thee now,

for thy secret treason,

for thy sundered oaths!

18

Him only loved I

who all surpassed;

an oath uttered,

him only to wed,

him only to wed

who mine ardent fire

vanquished valorous;

I am vow-breaker.

19

I am oath-breaker,

dishonoured, humbled;

I am love-bereaved

and life-curséd.

In thy halls shalt thou hear

never happy voices,

no queen in thy courts

shall comely walk.’

20

Long there lay she

in lamentation;

afar heard folk

her fell mourning.

Gudrún she spurned,

Gunnar scorning,

and Högni mocking;

hate was kindled.

*

21

From the hunt rode Sigurd

home returning,

found halls unlit

and hearts darkened.

They brought him to seek her

for sorrow’s healing;

his mood was loath,

on the morrow went he.

(He draws back the coverlet

from Brynhild and wakes her,

as before he had done.)

Sigurd

22

‘Hail, O sunlight

and sun’s rising!

Sleep no longer

and sorrow cast thou!’

Brynhild

‘I slept on mountain,

I sleep no more!

Accursed be thy words,

cruel forswearer!’

Sigurd

23

‘What grief ails thee

amid good liking,

who to glorious Gunnar

wert gladly wed?’

Brynhild

‘Gladly! gladly!

Grim thou mockest me.

Him only I loved,

who all surpassed.’

Sigurd

24

‘Yet glory no less

hath Gjúki’s son,

my blood-brother,

best renownéd.

Well he loves thee,

lord unfearing –

look now and learn

light yet shineth!’

Brynhild

25

‘Nay, Fáfnir Sigurd

fearless conquered;

my wavering fire

he waded twice;

twice he waded

tongues of lightning:

so great glory

never Gunnar earned.’

Sigurd

26

‘That twice he waded,

who told thee so?

Sigurd hath not said it –

why saist thou this?’

Brynhild

‘Gloom was round us.

Thy gleaming eyes,

thine eyes gleaming

anguish gave me.

27

Veils of darkness

they vanquished me.

I am life-curséd

and love-bereaved.

Yet I curse thee too,

cruel forswearer,

who rendered to another

the ring taken.

28

Gudrún I curse

for cruel reproach

of bed broken

and body yielded.

Thy glory alone

seems good to thee;

of all women the worst

thou weenest me.’

Sigurd

29

‘Woe worth the words

by women spoken!

Woe worth the while

this work began!

Webs enwound me

woven dreadly,

my mind shadowing,

my mood darkening.

30

Long I loved thee,

long desiring.

Thee only would I hold,

now all I know.

My mood mastering,

my mind wielding,

I sat unsmiling,

no sign making.

31

This solace sought I,

that I saw thee still,

the one hall walking

though wife of other.’

Brynhild

‘Too late! too late,

love thou speakest!

To allay this evil

there leech is none.’

Sigurd

32

‘Is hope all fallen,

is healing vain?

Must fate fierce-hearted

thus find its end?’

Brynhild

‘This hope only,

this heart’s comfort –

that Sigurd forsworn

a sword should bite!’

Sigurd

33

‘Swords lightly sleep,

soon may I feel them!

Then would Brynhild die –

bitter would she deem it.’

Brynhild

‘Well fall the words

from woe’s maker!

Little light in life

hath he left to me.’

Sigurd

34

‘Yet Gunnar would I slay,

Gudrún forsake,

from death thee to keep,

our doom o’ercoming!’

Brynhild

‘I am wife of one,

I wed no other.

No lord will I love,

and least Sigurd!’

*

35

Forth went Sigurd

filled with anguish,

his heart was swollen

in heaving breast.

Mail-rings clutched him,

marred his breathing,

to his flesh cutting

fiercely straining.

36

There stood Gudrún

gleaming-lovely:

Gudrún

‘Sleeps yet Brynhild,

sickness bearing?’

Sigurd

‘Brynhild sleeps not,

brooding darkly.

She broodeth darkly

our bale and doom.’

37

Gudrún wanly

grasped him weeping:

Gudrún

‘What doth Brynhild brood,

what bale purpose?’

Sigurd

‘Thou shouldst know it,

needless asking.

Woe worth the words

by women spoken!’

38

(Then spake Gunnar

gloomy-hearted:)

Gunnar

‘What hope of healing

harm’s amending?

Shall we gold offer,

gold and silver?’

Sigurd

‘Gold and silver

let Gunnar offer!

Her lord alone

her leech must be.’

39

Then Gunnar offered

gold and silver,

gold and silver

gleaming-hoarded.

Brynhild

‘Gunnar, speak not

of gold and silver;

swords were me dearer

to slay my life.

40

All men’s master,

all surpassing,

such only ever

shall earn my love.

Than thy liege lower

thou art less become,

a Völsung’s squire,

a vassal’s servant!

41

From thy bed parting,

at thy board humbled

I will leave thee alone

to laughter of men,

if life thou allowest

to liege forsworn,

if thou slay not Sigurd,

thy sister’s lord.’

Gunnar

42

‘Fell-hearted thou,

and foe of peace!

I oaths have sworn

for ever lasting,

bonds of brotherhood

in blood mingled;

though Brynhild bid it,

I may break them not.’

Brynhild

43

‘

Oaths

too I swore

for ever lasting –

light thou heldest them!

I am love-betrayed.

Sigurd thou sent me,

thy sworn brother.

My bed he entered,

by my body laid him,

betrayed thy trust,

betraying me.

44

To Gudrún he told it,

Gudrún knoweth.

In shame am I shrouded,

and shamed art thou!’

Gunnar came forth

grievous-hearted,

daylong he sat,

deeply brooding.

45

From mood to mood

his mind wandered,

from shame to shame

shorn of friendship.

Högni called he

to hidden counsel,

his true brother,

whom he trusted well.

Gunnar

46

‘

Evil

wrought Sigurd:

oaths he swore me,

oaths he swore me,

all belied them;

betrayed my trust,

whom I trusted most,

truth forswearing,

whom most true I deemed.’

Högni

47

‘Brynhild beguiles thee

baleful-hearted,

woe devising

to woe stings thee;

loathing Gudrún,

her love grudging,

thy love loathing,

she lies to thee.’

Gunnar

48

‘Brynhild, Brynhild,

I better hold her

than all women,

than all treasure.

I will life sooner leave

than lose her now,

than live lonely

for laughter of men.

49

Let us slay Sigurd –

forsworn is he!

Let us lords be alone

of our lands again!

Let us slay Sigurd,

this sorrow ending,

and masters make us

of his mighty hoard!’

Högni

50

‘Woe worth the words

by women spoken!

Lords unassailed

our league made us.

The might of Sigurd

we shall mourn later,

and the sister-sons

this sire had got us.’

51

To Gotthorm turning,

Grímhild’s offspring,

greyhearted lord,

Gunnar hailed him:

Gunnar

‘No oaths thou sworest,

no oaths heedest.

With his blood unblended

his blood now spill!’

52

Gold he promised him

and great lordship;

his bastard blood

burned with hunger.

Snake’s flesh they took,

seethed it darkly,

wolf-meat gave him,

wine enchanted.

53

Drunk with madness,

dire and wolvish,

he grinned and gnashed

his grinding teeth.

Of guile unworthy,

no guile dreaming,

yet doom foreboding,

drear went Sigurd.

54

To the forest fared he,

falcon loosing,

with hounds hunting,

for harm’s solace.

Gotthorm rode there,

and Grani marked he,

assailing Sigurd,

with searing words.

Gotthorm

55

‘O werewolf’s son

and war-captive,

what huntest here

where hart roameth –

thou wooer of women

and wife-marrer,

who wouldst lord all alone

our lands and queens!’

56

Sword touched Sigurd

swart-red flushing;

white blanched the knuckles

on hilt clenching:

Sigurd

‘Thou drunken dog,

doom hangs nigh thee!

Now slink to kennel!

Sleep may mend thee.’

57

Gotthorm he left

to grind his teeth;

back rode Sigurd

foreboding ill.

Night fell starless,

none were waking;

asleep was Gudrún

by Sigurd dreaming.

58

Dawn came wanly:

drunk with hatred

there Gotthorm stalked

as glowering wolf.

Sword leaped naked,

sleeping stabbed him,

pierced through to pillow,

pinned in anguish.

59

Forth sprang the wolf

by fear blinded

of awful eyes

that opened wide.

Gram was brandished,

gleaming handled,

hissing hurled aloft

at hasting beast.

60

At the door he tumbled

dreadly crying;

there hell took him

hewn asunder.

Forth crashed the head,

feet fell backward;

blood ran darkly

on bower threshold.

61

In sweet embrace

to sleep she went,

to grief unending

Gudrún wakened,

to her bliss drowning

in blood flowing.

in flowing blood

of fairest lord.

62

Breast white and bare

she beat so sore

that Sigurd raised him

from soaking pillow:

Sigurd

‘My wife, weep not

for woe foredoomed!

Brothers remain to thee –

blame them lightly!

63

Brynhild wrought this:

best she loved me,

worst she dealt me,

worst belied me.

I Gunnar never

grieved nor injured;

oaths I swore him,

all fulfilled them!’

64

Dead fell Sigurd;

dreadly Gudrún

cried in anguish,

called him vainly.

Swords rang on wall,

and sleepers shivered;

geese screamed shrill

in green meadow.

65

Then laughed Brynhild

in her bed listening

with whole heart once –

the house shuddered –

Gudrún hearing

in grief’s torment.

Gunnar answered

grimly speaking:

Gunnar

66

‘Little thou laughest

for delight of soul,

O fell-hearted!

Fey I deem thee.

Thy colour blancheth,

cold thy cheeks are;

cold thy counsels

and accursed thy redes.’

Brynhild

67

‘Cursed are the Niflungs,

cruel forswearers.

Oaths swore Sigurd,

all fulfilled them.

Ye all shall find

evil fortune,

while all men’s honour

he for ever holdeth.

68

Bonds of brotherhood

in blood mingled

with murder kept ye;

he remembered them.

A

sword lay naked

set between us,

Gram lay grimly

gleaming

sheathless

.

69

Now life no longer

will I live with you;

of love ye robbed me

with lying counsels.

Shorn I leave you,

shame enduring,

of faith and friendship,

of fame on earth.’

70

In arms he took her,

anguished begged her

her hand to stay,

hope to look for.

She thrust them from her

who thronged round her,

longing only

for her last journey.

71

(Högni only

withheld her not:)

Högni

‘Little would I hinder

her last journey,

so she bide in that land

never born again.

Crooked came she forth

from curséd womb

to man’s evil

and our mighty woe.’

*

72

Gold corslet she took,

gleaming hauberk,

helm set on head,

in hand a sword.

On the sword she cast her,

sank down wounded:

thus Brynhild ended

her bright splendour.

Brynhild

73

‘A boon I beg thee,

this boon at last!

Pile high a pyre

on the plain builded;

shields hang round it

and shining cloths,

blood pour over it

for us brightly shed!

74

A hawk at each hand,

a hound at feet,

there harnessed set ye

our horses slain.

At his side lay me,

sword between us,

naked gleaming

as on night of yore.

75

Burn there Brynhild

in the blazing fire

who in flames awoke

to fell sorrow.

In flames send forth

that fairest lord

now as sun setting

who as sun did rise!’

76

Flames were kindled,

fume was swirling,

a roaring fire

ringed with weeping.

Thus Sigurd passed,

seed of Völsung,

there Brynhild burned:

bliss was ended.

*

77

On the hell-way hastened

the helméd queen,

never born again

from bleak regions.

In Valhöllu

Völsungs feasted:

‘Son’s son welcome,

seed of Ódin!’

78

Thus soon came Sigurd

the sword bearing

to glad Valhöll

greeting Ódin.

There feasts he long

at his father’s side,

for War waiting,

the World’s chosen.

79

When Heimdall’s horn

is heard ringing

and the Blazing Bridge

bends neath horsemen,

Brynhild shall arm him

with belt and sword,

a beaker bear him

brimmed with glory.

80

In the day of Doom

he shall deathless stand

who death tasted

and dies no more,

the serpent-slayer,

seed of Ódin:

not all shall end,

nor Earth perish.

81

On his head the Helm,

in his hand lightning,

afire his spirit,

in his face splendour.

When war passeth

in world rebuilt,

bliss shall they drink

who the bitter tasted.

82

Thus passed Sigurd,

seed of Völsung,

hero mightiest,

hope of Ódin.

But woe of Gudrún

through this world lasteth,

to the end of days

all shall hear her.

*