The son of Eylimi, Hjordis' brother, hight
Gripir. He ruled lands and
was the wisest of all men and fore- sighted.
- Sigurdhr rode alone and
came to Gripir's hall. Sigurdhr was easy
to recognise. He met a man at
a point outside before the hall; he named
himself Geitir. Then
Sigurdhr spoke to him and asked,
1. "Who dwells here in this burg?
What do the thanes name the folk-king?"
"Gripir hight the warriors' steersman,
he who rules fastly lands and thanes."
2. "Is the wise king home in the
land?
May the ruler come to speak with me?
An unknown man needs speech:
I wish swiftly to find Gripir!"
3. "The glad king shall ask Geitir
this,
who the man be who asks Gripir for speech?"
"I hight Sigurdhr, Sigmundr's bairn,
and Hjordis is the helm-ruler's mother!"
4. Then went Geitir to say to Gripir:
"Outside here is an unknown man come;
he is noble-like to look upon;
he wishes, folk-leader, to have a meeting
with you."
5. The drighten of warriors went out of
the hall
and hailed welcome to the helm-ruler.
"Take you here, Sigurdhr! It would
have been seemly earlier!
And you, Geitir, care for Grani yourself!"
6. They took speech and spoke much,
then when the rede-speakers, warriors,
met..
"Say you to me, if you know, mother's
brother:
how shall Sigurdhr shape his life?"
7. "You shall become the greatest
man under the sun,
and highest born of all boars,
generous of gold, but stingy of fleeing,
noble to look on and spae-wise in words.
8. "Speak you, wise king! more fully
of Sigurdhr,
Wise one, I ask yet, if you seem to see:
what shall be done first for luck,
when I go from your garth?"
9. "First, folk-leader, you shall
avenge your father
and avenge all Eylimi's sorrow;
you shall fell the hard and brave sons
of Hunding,
you shall have victory."
10. "Say thou, noble king, to me,
your kinsman,
more clearly, what we two bravely speak
of:
see you Sigurdhr's keen deeds of bravery,
which fare highest under heaven's corners?"
11. "You shall battle the gleaming
wyrm alone,
he who lies greedy on Gnita Heath;
you shall become the bane of both,
of Reginn and Fafnir: rightly says Gripir."
12. (My) Wealth must be rich, if I achieve
it so,
battle with men, as you, wise one, say!
Sense farther and speak longer:
what shall become for my life afterwards?"
13. "You shall find Fafnir's dwelling
and take up the fair wealth,
load the gold on Grani's back;
you'll ride to Gjuki, the battle-ready
ruler!"
14. "Helm-ruler, you shall say more,
wise boar, in soul-rede.
I am Gjuki's guest, and I go from there
-
what must become for my life afterwards?"
15. "The folk-king's daughter sleeps
on the fell,
bright, in a byrnie, after Helgi's death.;
you must hew with your keen sword,
with Fafnir's bane cut the byrnie."
16. "Broken is the byrnie, the maiden
takes speech,
and the wife is wakened from sleep -
what shall the wise one choose to speak
of with Sigurdhr,
so that he becomes a lucky folk-leader?"
17. "She shall teach you runes for
your power,
all which men wish to know,
and to speak every tongue of men,
hale shall you live your life with leechcraft,
king!"
18. "Now is that ended, taken are
the wisdoms,
and I am prepared to ride from there.
Sense further and speak longer:
what more shall become for my life?"
19. "You must find the dwellings
of Heimir
and be the glad guest of the folk-king.
Sigurdhr, all that I see before me has
fared to end;
you must ask Gripir no further!"
20. "Now I shall get sorrow from
the words that you say,
because you see farther, folk-king.
you think Sigurdhr's grief is too great,
because you, Gripir, will not speak more
fully to me."
21. "The youth of your life lies
most lightly before me,
little afterwards;
I, the rede-speaker, am not able to tell
rightly,
nor am I more fore-wise; at end is all
I know!"
22. "I know no man above the mould,
who sees more forward than you, Gripir!
you shall not hide it, although it be ugly,
or unluck be readied for my lot!"
23. "Deeds of shame are not laid
for your life,
noble one! Know that, atheling!
your name will be known while the world
lives,
causer-of-battles!"
24. "Worst I think it: that should
part
Sigurdhr from the folk-leader when it goes
so;
All lies before you - show you the way,
to me, if you will, famous mother's-brother!"
25. "Now shall all be said to Sigurdhr,
because, leader, you have forced me to
this!
You shall know that I do not lie:
a certain day is deemed for your death."
26. "I wish not the wrath of the
powerful folk-king,
but rather to get your good rede, Gripir!
Now will I know openly, although you do
not wish to see:
what Sigurdhr sees soon at hand."
27. "A woman is with Heimir, fair
to look upon
- the men name her Brynhildr -
the daughter of Budli, but the lordly king,
the hardy-souled man, Heimir, fosters her."
28. "What is it to me, though I see
a maiden,
fair to look upon, fostered by Heimir?
that shall you, Gripir, prepare to say,
because you see all of xrlvg before us!"
29. "She will rob you of most pleasures,
the fair to look upon, fostered by Heimir;
you sleep no sleep, nor judge causes,
the concerns of men, unless you see the
maid."
30. "What tending shall be laid to
Sigurdhr?
Say you that, Gripir, if you seem to see!
Shall I buy the maid with a dowry,
the folk-leader's fair daughter?"
31. "You shall swear all oaths
full fast; but few shall you keep:
when you have been Gjuki's guest one night,
you shall not remember Hymir's wise foster-daughter."
32. "How is that so, Gripir - speak
this before me! -
see you weakness in the leader's shaping?
when I shall rend the contracts with that
maid,
whom I had thought to love with all my
soul?"
33. "You become so, chieftain, before
another's deceptions,
you shall receive redes from Grimhildr:
she shall offer you the bright-headed maid,
her daughter, and well lure the leader."
34. Shall I then form kinship with Gunnar,
and go to marry Gudhrun?
Full well-wedded then the folk-leader would
be,
if sorrows over ill deeds did not plague
me!"
35. "Grimhildr shall do betrayal
towards thee,
she shall bid you to ask for Brynhildr
for the hands of Gunnar, the Goths' drighten,
you shall promise a swift faring to the
folk-leader's mother."
36. "Ill luck is to hand, I can see
that,
rede fails Sigurdhr wholly,
If I shall ask for the famous maid
for another's hand - her who I love well!"
37. "You shall all swear oaths together,
Gunnar, and Hogni, and you, leader, the
third,
for you shall change appearances when you
are on the way,
Gunnar and you; Gripir lies not!"
38. "How shall that go? how shall
we exchange
looks and bearing when we are on the way?
another falsehood must follow that,
fatal for all: but speak you, Gripir!"
39. "You have Gunnar's looks and
his bearing,
but your speech and main of soul -
you shall pledge yourself
to the brave sister of Atli; the wight
sees despite that.
40. "I think that worst: Sigurdhr
must be named evil
among warriors, to do so!
I would not wish to bid with wiles
a bride for the boar, who I know to be
best!"
41. "Army's famous edge leader, you
must while
beside the maid as if she were your mother;
for that your name shall be known while
the world lives,
folk's leader!"
42. "Shall Gunnarr have the good
woman,
famous among men - tell me, Gripir! -
although the thane's bride, keen of thought,
had slept three nights beside me,
such is not thought of!"
43. "Together shall both bridals
be drunken,
for Sigurdhr and Gunnar in Gjuki's hall.
Then hides are changed when you come home,
though each, despite that, has his own
thoughts."
44. "How, afterwards, shall the kinship
among (these) men be joyous?
tell me, Gripir!
shall Gunnarr be readied for joy afterward,
or I myself?"
45. "You shall remember the oaths,
but you must be silent nevertheless,
you shall not deny Gudhrun your good redes.
but Brynhildr shall think herself a bride
badly given,
the woman seeks to revenge herself for
the wiles.
46. "What shall be offered to comfort
the bride,
when wiles were used on the wife?
The woman had sworn oaths from me,
never fulfilled and little enjoyed!"
47. "She shall say to Gunnar
that you did not keep your oaths well,
when the noble king, Gjuki's heir,
had trusted the leader with all his soul."
48. "What is then, Gripir? tell me
about this!
shall I truly be as they say?
or does the fame-blessed woman lie about
me
and about herself? tell you that, Gripir!"
49. "The powerful bride shall, from
wrath,
from overwhelming sorrows, not deal well
with you.
You never did harm against the good one,
though you deceived the king's wife with
wiles."
50. "Shall wise Gunnarr go at her
whetting then,
and Guthormr and Hogni?
shall the sons of Gjuki redden their edges
against me, their sibling? yet tell thou,
Gripir!"
51. "Then sorrow is at Gudhrun's
heart,
when her brothers give rede towards your
bane,
and nothing becomes her joy afterwards,
the wise wife; Grimhildr causes that."
52. "Then should you be comforted,
army's edge-leader!
thus must luck be laid for the leader's
life:
no mightier man shall come on the earth,
under the sun's seat, than thou, Sigurdhr,
seem!"
53. "Part we hale! None wins over
what is shaped!
Now, Gripir, you have well-done what I
bade!
Ready-willing would you have spoken better
for my life, if you might have!"
Gudhrun sat over the dead Sigurdhr. She
did not weep like other women,
but she was ready to burst from sorrow.
Both women and men went to
comfort her, but that was not easily done.
- Men say that Gudhrun had
eaten of Fafnir's heart and she understood
the speech of birds. - This
is yet said of Gudhrun:
1. It was early when Gudhrun prepared
herself to die,
when she sat sorrowful over Sigurdhr;
she made no weeping, nor wrung her hands,
nor cried out like other women.
2. The all-wise earls went before,
they who (wished to) ease her heavy heart.
Gudhrun was silent, could not weep,
she was so sad as to burst.
3. The noble brides of the earls sat,
adorned with gold, before Gudhrun;
each of them told (of) a time of sorrow,
which had been bitterest to bide.
4. Then spoke Gjaflaug, Gjuki's sister:
"I know that I must be the most miserable
on earth:
I have suffered the loss of five husbands,
three daughters, three sisters,
eight brothers - but I live yet!"
5. Gudhrun was silent, could not weep,
she was so sad at the youth's death
and heavy-souled over the folk-leader's
corpse.
6. Then spoke thus Herborg, Hunland's
queen:
"I have harder sorrows to say:
my seven sons, in southern lands,
(my) husband the eighth, fell in battle;
7. "father and mother, four brothers,
wind played over them on the sea,
waves struck against the bulwarks.
8. "I myself had to adorn, I myself
had to bury,
I myself had to handle their corpses.
I suffered all that in one half-year,
so that no one tried to give me comfort.
9. "Then I was bound and battle-taken
afterwards in the same half-year;
I had to wash and bind shoes onto
the warleader's woman every morning.
10. "She set me in fear from jealousy,
and drove me with heavy blows;
I never found a better house-master,
nor any worse housewife."
11. Gudhrun was silent, could not weep,
she was so sad at the youth's death,
and heavy-souled over folk-leader's corpse.
12. Then Gullrond, Gjuki's daughter, spoke
thus:
"Few of you know, foster-mothers,
though you be wise,
(how) to bear comforting speech to a young
wife!"
She had them uncover the folk-leader's
corpse.
13. She unwrapped the blanket from Sigurdhr
and brought the cushon before the wife's
knees:
"Look on the beloved, lay your mouth
to his mustache,
as you embraced the hale leader!"
14. Gudhrun looked upon (him) one time:
she saw the day-bright's hair running with
blood,
the gleaming eyes of folk-leader dimmed,
boar's soul-burg sheared by sword.
15. Then Gudhrun sank bent onto the cushion,
hair loosened, cheeks reddened,
and drops of rain ran down to knees.
16. Then Gudhrun, Gjuki's daughter, wept,
so that tears flowed along tresses,
and the geese cried out in their dwelling,
many birds which the maiden owned.
17. Then Gullrond, Gjuki's daughter, spoke
thus:
"I know that the greatest love was
(given) to you
of all people above the earth!
You were never content, without or within,
my sister, except beside Sigurdhr!"
18. "So was my Sigurdhr beside Gjuki's
sons,
as (if he) were the garlic growing above
the grass,
or were a bright stone set in a band,
arkenstone among athelings!
19. "Among the folk-leader's men
I seemed
higher than any of Herjan's disir;
now I am little as leaves are
many on laurel-tree, at the boar's death.
20. "I miss in seat and in bed
my speech-friend - the kin of Gjuki ruled
it!
The kin of Gjuki ruled my evil,
and their sister's sore weeping!
21. "Be it so to your hosts, your
lands emptied,
as you carried out your sworn oaths!
You shall not enjoy the gold, Gunnar,
the rings shall become your bane
since you swore oaths to Sigurdhr.
22. "There was much greater joy in
the garth,
when my Sigurdhr saddled Grani,
and they fared to ask for Brynhildr,
evil wight, to ill-luck!"
23. Then Brynhildr, Budhli's daughter
spoke thus:
"(May) that witch lack husband and
children,
who made it possible for you, Gudhrun,
to shed tears
and gave you speech-runes this morning!"
24. Then Gullrond, Gjuki's daughter spoke
thus:
"Still your words, folk-loathed!
you have ever been wyrd to athelings,
and everyone recks your life-age ill-shaped,
sore sorrow to seven kings,
and greatest friend-destroyer to wives!"
25. Then Brynhildr, Budhli's daughter
spoke thus:
"Atli alone ruled all this evil,
my brother, born of Budhli,
26. "when we two in the hall of the
Hunnish folk
saw the wyrm-bed's fire on the boar -
I have paid for that journey since,
I see that sight ever!"
27. She stood under the pillar, made fast
her strength,
from the eyes of Brynhildr, Budhli's daughter,
fire burned, poison frothed out,
when she looked at the wounds on Sigurdhr.
Gudhrun went afterwards outside into the
woods and wastelands and
fared to Denmark and was there with Thora,
Hakon's daughter, seven
half-years.
Brynhildr did not wish to live after Sigurdhr.
She let eight of her
thralls and five bondsmaids be slain. Then
she laid a sword to herself
as bane, as is said in "The Short
Lay of Sigurdhr".
King Theoderik was with Atli and had lost
most of his men there.
Theoderik and Gudhrun told their sorrows
between them. She spoke to
him and said:
1. I was a maid of maids - my mother raised
me up -
bright in bower, I loved (my) brothers
well -
until Gjuki dowered me with gold,
dowered with gold, gave to Sigurdhr.
2. Sigurdhr was thus above the sons of
Gjuki,
as were the green leek grown above the
grass,
or high-boned hart among brave beasts,
or glow-red gold on gray silver.
3. Afterwards my brothers would not grant
me,
that I had a husband foremost of all;
they could not sleep nor judge causes,
before they caused Sigurdhr to die.
4. Grani ran to the Thing - whinnying
could be heard -
yet Sigurdhr came not himself;
saddle-beasts were all sprinkled with sweat,
and from much toil, under the slayers.
5. I went weeping to speak with Grani,
wet-cheeked I asked the horse of his tale;
Grani bent downward then, drooped head
to grass,
the horse knew that his owner did not live.
6. I delayed long, long thoughts strove
together,
before I asked folk-warder about leader.
7. Gunnar droped his head; Hogni told
me
of Sigurdhr's sorrowful death:
'Gothormr's bane lies hewed on the other
side of the river,
given over to wolves.
8. 'Look for Sigurdhr on the southern
road!
there you shall hear the ravens calling,
eagles calling, glad of food,
wargs howl around your husband.'
9. 'Why, Hogni do you wish to say
such sorrows to me, deprived of joy?
The ravens should rend your heart
in a far-off land; you are worst of men!"
10. Hogni answered only once,
not inclined to good soul, from great grief:
'You shall have much weeping of this, Gudhrun,
when the ravens rend my heart."
11. I turned alone from there, from talk,
to the wood, to gather the wargs' leavings:
I made no weeping, nor wrung hands,
nor complained about it, like other women,
when I sat sorrowing over Sigurdhr.
12. The night seemed deeply dark to me,
when I sat sorrowfully over Sigurdhr,
I thought the wolves to be all-better,
if they caused me to part from life
or burnt me like birch-wood!
13. I fared from the fells five days counted.
until I saw Half's high hall.
14. I sat seven half-years with Thora,
Hakon's daughter, in Denmark.
She embroidered in gold for my pleasure
Southern halls and Danish swans;
we two had that which warriors play on
the picture,
and on the handwork helm-warder's thanes,
red shields, Hunnish host,
helm-warder's following, sword-clad, helm-clad;
16. Sigmundr's ships glided from land,
gilded figureheads, graven stems;
we wove onto the tapestry that when they
did battle,
Sigarr and Siggeirr, south on Funen.
17. Then Grimhildr, the Gothic woman,
asked
what I was thinking of...
she threw down tapestry and summoned her
bairns,
single-mindedly to ask of this,
whether son would atone to sister,
or would pay for slain husband.
18. Gunnarr was ready to let gold be offered,
to atone for causes, and Hogni the same.
She asked of this: which wished to fare,
to saddle steed, to hitch wagon,
to ride horse, to fly hawk,
to shoot arrows from yew-bow.
19. Then they went in like boars,
Langobardish hosts, they had red fur-cloaks,
polished byrnies, crested helmets,
saxes girded on, they had dark-brown hair.
20. Each wanted to choose treasures for
me,
choose treasures and speak bravely,
if they might be able to win my trust
from many sorrows - I did not bring myself
to trust.
21. Grimhildr brought me a cup to drink,
cold and bitter, that I not mind my causes:
that was mixed with Wyrd's main,
very cold sea, and hallowed boar's blood.
22. In the horn, every sort of staves
were
risted and reddened - I was not able to
understand -
a long ling-fish from the Haddings' land,
an uncut ear of grain, beasts' innards.
23. Many bales were together in that beer,
all herbs of the wood and a burnt acorn,
dew of the hearth, sacrifice-entrails,
seethed swine's liver, with which she silenced
(my) claims.
24. Yet I forgot all which I had gotten,
all about the boar, iron-slain in hall.
The three kings came before (my) knee,
before she herself sought to speak with
me.
25. "Gudhrun, I will give you gold
to receive,
much of all wealth, from your father's
death,
red rings, Hlodhver's hall,
all bedclothes, for the fallen boar;
26. "Hunnish maids, they who weave
with little boards
and ready fair gold, so that you receive
pleasure -
you shall rule Budhli's wealth alone,
bedecked with gold, and given in marriage
to Atli!"
27. "I do not wish to go with a husband,
nor have Brynhildr's brother!
It is not seemly for me to raise a clan
with Budhli's son, nor enjoy life!"
28. "Do not intend any longer that
folk pay for hate,
although we have caused it before!
so shall you let it be as if they both
lived,
Sigurdhr and Sigmundr, if you raise up
sons!"
29. "I may not be joyful, Grimhildr,
nor offer hopes to the battle-eager one,
since the corpse-ravenous (and) Huginn
greedily drank
Sigurdhr's heartblood together!"
30. "I have found him the most clan-stately
of all folk, and foremost of any;
you shall have him, until your life-age
fades -
be husbandless, unless you choose him!"
31. "Bid me no longer, single-mindedly,
to those bale-full kin!
he shall grimly act towards Gunnarr
and rend the heart from Hogni.
I shall not be light over it before from
the life-strong
of whetted edge-play I take life-age."
32. Weeping, Grimhildr gripped the words
which showed bale to her bairns,
and great ill to her youths:
"Yet I shall give you lands, a following,
Wine-Burg, Wal-Burg, if you will receive
(them) -
have and enjoy that to age, daughter!"
34. "Then I shall choose from kings,
and indeed have that needful from kin!
This husband will never become loved by
me,
nor ill to brothers be protection to bairns!"
35. That moment every dreng was seen on
horse
but the Welsh women (were) lifted into
wagon:
we rode cold land seven days,
yet another seven we struck waves,
yet on the third seven we strode dry land.
36. There the door-warders of the high
burg
unlocked the gates before we rode into
garth.
37. Atli wakened me - but I seemed to
myself to be
full of ill soul at kin's death - :
38. "So norns newly wakened me,"
he wished that I give rede about spae of
danger:
"I sensed that you, Gudhrun, Gjuki's
daughter,
laid a destruction-blended blade against
me."
39. (Gudhrun) "That is before a fire,
when iron is dreamed,
before conceit and wilfulness, a woman's
wrath.
I shall go to burn you against bale,
tend and leech, although it be loathly
to me."
40. (Atli) "I sensed saplings falling
here in the dwelling,
those which I wished to let wax,
ripped up by roots, reddened in blood,
born to the bench, you bade me to eat.
41. I sensed hawks fly from my hand,
deprived of meat, to ill-luck's house;
I sensed their hearts eaten with honey,
in sorrow-mood of soul, swollen with blood.
42. I sensed whelps loosed from my hand,
both yelped, deprived of joy;
I sensed their flesh become carrion,
against my will, I had to eat the corpses."
43. (Gudhrun) "There shall warriors
speak of slaughtering
and take head from the white-haired beasts.
They are fey: in a few nights
before the days grow short, the warriors
shall enjoy them."
44. (Atli) "I lay afterwards - I
did not want to sleep -
self-willed in sickbed - I shall remember
to do..."
Herkja hight a bondsmaid of Atli; she had
been his lover. She said to
Atli that she had seen Thiodhrekr and Gudhrun
both together. Atli was
greatly uncheerful. Then said Gudhrun:
1. "What is always with you, Atli,
Budhli's son,
you are sad in soul - why do you never
laugh?
The jarls would think it better
if you spoke to men and looked at me!"
2. "That saddens me, Gudhrun, Gjuki's
daughter,
which Herkja said to me in the hall,
that you and Thiodhrekr slept under a blanket
and were lightly (under) linen!"
3. "I shall swear all oaths to you,
at the white holy stone,
that I never did with Thiodhmar's son
what man nor maid should not do!
4. "Except that I embraced the arranger
of armies,
the unshamed boar, a single time.
Our speeches were otherwise,
when we troubled two inclined to secret
speech!
5. "Thiodhrekr came here with three
tens -
not one of them lives - of thirty men!
you robbed me of brothers, and the byrnied
ones,
robbed me of all my nearest kin!
6. "Send you the Saxon, southern
leader:
he knows how to hallow a boiling kettle!"
Seven hundred men went into the hall,
before the king's wife went to the kettle.
8. "Gunnarr comes not, I do not call
Hogni,
I see not my beloved brothers afterwards
-
Hogni would avenge such sorrow with sword:
now I must clear myself of sin."
9. She plunged bright hands to the bottom
-
and she took up the arkenstone:
"See the warriors now: I have become
cleared,
in holy fashion, as kettle boils!"
10. Atli's soul laughed in breast,
when he saw Gudhrun's hands whole:
"Now shall Herkja go to the kettle,
she who expected ill for Gudhrun!"
11. No one saw (anything) more pitiful,
everyone who saw that,
how there the hands were burnt from Herkja!
Then the maid was taken to the foul bog
-
this Gudhrun got for her sorrows.
After Brynhildr's death two bale-fires
were made, one for Sigurdhr,
and that burned first, but Brynhildr was
burned on the other, and she
was in a wagon which was adorned with gold
cloth. So it is said, that
Brynhildr drove with the wagon on the Hel-road
and fared to a dwelling
where a certain giantess lived. The giantess
said,
1. "You shall not go on this path
My garth is supported on stone!
It were better for you to spread a tapestry
to weave,
rather than to visit another's husband!
2. "Why should you visit from Welsh-land,
constant-headed one, my house?
Var of gold, you have, if you desire to
know,
- mild one - nothing but men's blood on
your hands!"
3. "Brandish (it) not at me, bride
from the stone,
although I was at viking!
I must seem the better of us,
where men ken our clans."
4. "You were Budhli's daughter, Brynhildr,
born for the worst luck in the world:
you have destroyed Gjuki's bairns,
and broken their good dwelling."
5. "I shall say to you, wise, from
the wagon,
if you desire to know, greatly witless
one,
how Gjuki's heirs made me
love-robbed and oath-broken!
6. "The soul-full king took our hides,
eight sisters, born under oak;
I was twelve winters old, if you desire
to know,
when I gave oaths to the young leader.
7. "All in Hlymdales called me
Hildr-under-Helm, whoever knew.
8. "Then I caused the old one of
the Gothic folk,
Helm-Gunnarr, to go to Hel most swiftly;
I gave victory to Audha's young brother:
Odhinn became greatly angry with me for
that.
9. "He laid me about with shields
in Skatalund,
red and white, rims touching;
then he bade break my sleep
whoever in the land had never known how
to fear.
10. "(He) let burn high around my
hall,
southwards, the war-of-all-woods;
he bade one thane to ride over that,
he who brought me that gold which lay under
Fafnir.
11. "The good gold-dealer rode Grani,
there where my foster-father steered the
benches;
He alone seemed better than all there,
viking-of-Danes, in the host.
12. "We two slept, and in comfort,
in one bed,
as if he were born my brother;
neither of us might lay
our hand over the other in eight nights.
13. "Yet Gudhrun, Gjuki's daughter
brandished at me
that I had slept in Sigurdhr's arms;
then I became wise about this, as I had
not wished to,
that they had deceived me into man-taking!
14. "With pressing sorrow for a long
time must all
women and men living be raised up!
We two should have spent life together,
Sigurdhr! Sink thou, giantesses' get!"