Wild blew the winds,
waves were foaming;
they viewed afar
the V?lsung shore.
2 Long ruled Sigmund,
sire and uncle;
Sinfj?tli sat
at his side proudly.
There towered the tree,
tall and ancient,
birds in the branches
were blithe again.
3 Ever Grímnir’s gift
gleamed in warfare;
at Sigmund’s side
Sinfj?tli strode.
Hard, handlinkéd,
helm and corslet
glasswhite glittered
with grey silver.
4 Seven kings they slew,
their cities plundered;
wide waxed their realm
the world over.
Of women fairest
in war taken
a wife took Sigmund;
woe she brought him.
5 Sinfj?tli came
sailing proudly
ships goldladen
to the shore steering.
Sigmund ‘Hail! ódin’s son,
eager-hearted!
War no longer!
Wine is pouring.’
6 In came the queen
evil pondering –
her sire was slain
by Sinfj?tli – :
Queen ‘Hail! V?lsung fell,
valiant-hearted!
Weary art thou.
Wine I bring thee.
7 Steep stands the horn,
Stepson thirsty!’
Sinfj?tli ‘Dark seems the drink,
deadly blended!’
Sigmund seized it,
swiftly drained it;
no venom vanquished
V?lsung’s eldest.
Queen 8 ‘Beer I bring thee
brown and potent!’
Sinfj?tli ‘Guile there gleameth
grimly blended!’
Sigmund seized it,
swiftly drank it;
that prince of men
poison harmed not.
Queen 9 ‘Ale I offer thee,
eager V?lsung!
V?lsungs valiant
at venom blench not;
heroes ask not
help in drinking –
if drink thou darest,
drink Sinfj?tli!’
10 Dead Sinfj?tli
drinking stumbled.
Sigmund ‘Woe! thou witchwife
weary-hearted!
Of the seed of V?lsung
in Signy’s child
the fairest flower
fades untimely!’
11 There sorrowladen
Sigmund raised him,
in arms caught him;
out he wandered.
Over wood and wild
to the waves foaming
witless strayed he
to the waves roaring.
Boatman 12 ‘Whither bringest thou
thy burden heavy?
My boat is ready
to bear it hence.’
A man there steered,
mantled darkly,
hooded and hoary,
huge and awful.
13 Alone was Sigmund
by the land’s margin;
in Valh?llu
V?lsung feasted:
V?lsung ‘Son’s son welcome,
and son of daughter!
But one yet await we,
the World’s chosen.’
*
IV
F?DDR SIGURDR
(Sigurd Born)
1 Alone dwelt Sigmund
his land ruling;
cold was his bower,
queenless, childless.
In songs he heard
of sweetest maiden,
of Sigrlinn’s beauty,
Sváfnir’s daughter.
2 Old was Sigmund,
as an oak gnarléd;
his beard was grey
as bark of ash.
Young was Sigrlinn
and yellow-gleaming
her locks hung long
on lissom shoulder.
3 Seven sons of kings
sued the maiden:
Sigmund took her;
sails were hoisted.
The V?lsung land
they viewed afar,
the windy cliffs,
the waves foaming.
Sigmund 4 ‘Say me, Sigrlinn,
sweeter were it
young king to wed
and yellow-bearded,
or wife of a V?lsung,
the World’s chosen
in my bed to bear,
bride of ódin?’
*
Sigrlinn 5 ‘What sails be these
in the seas shining? –
the shields are scarlet,
ships uncounted.’
Sigmund ‘Seven sons of kings
seeking welcome!
Grímnir’s gift shall
gladly meet them!’
6 High sang the horns,
helms were gleaming,
shafts were shaken,
shields them answered.
Vikings’ standards,
V?lsung’s banner
on strand were streaming;
stern the onslaught.
7 Old was Sigmund
as the oak gnarléd;
his sword swung he
smoking redly.
Fate him fended
fearless striding
with dew of battle
dyed to shoulder.
8 A warrior strange,
one-eyed, awful,
strode and stayed him
standing silent,
huge and hoary
and hooded darkly.
The sword of Sigmund
sang before him.
9 His spear he raised:
sprang asunder
the sword of Grímnir,
singing splintered.
The king is fallen
cloven-breasted;
lords lie round him;
the land darkens.
10 Men were moaning,
the moon sinking.
Sigrlinn sought him,
sadly raised him:
Sigrlinn ‘Hope of healing
for thy hurts I bring,
my lord beloved,
last of V?lsungs.’
Sigmund 11 ‘From wanhope many
have been won to life,
yet healing I ask not.
Hope is needless.
ódin calls me
at the end of days.
Here lies not lost
the last V?lsung!
12 Thy womb shall wax
with the World’s chosen,
serpent-slayer,
seed of ódin.
Till ages end
all shall name him
chief of chieftains,
changeless glory.
13 Of Grímnir’s gift
guard the fragments;
of the shards shall be shaped
a shining blade.
Too soon shall I see
Sigurd bear it
to glad Valh?ll
greeting ódin.’
14 Cold came morning
o’er the king lifeless
and woeful Sigrlinn
her watch keeping.
Ships came sailing
to the shore crowding,
rovers northern
to the red beaches
15 The bride of Sigmund
as a bondwoman
over sounding seas
sadly journeyed.
Wild blew the winds,
waves them lifted;
she viewed afar
the V?lsung land.
16 Wind was wailing,
waves were crying,
Sigrlinn sorrowful,
when a son she bore.
Sigurd golden
as a sun shining,
forth came he fair
in a far country.
Woman 17 ‘O woman woeful
in war taken,
who was thy husband
while his house lasted?
What father begot
such fair offspring? –
grey steel glitters
in his gleaming eyes.’
Sigrlinn 18 ‘The sire of Sigurd
Sigmund V?lsung;
Seed of ódin
songs shall call him.’
Woman ‘Fair shall be fostered
that father’s child;
his mother be mated
to a mighty king.’
*
V
REGIN
The king of that land took Sigrlinn to wife. Sigurd was sent to be fostered by Regin, of whom it has been told above. Regin dwelt now in the forest and was deemed wise in many other matters than smithwork. Regin egged Sigurd to slay Fáfnir. With the sword Gram and the horse Grani, of which it is here spoken, he accomplished this, though Regin had concealed from him both the great power of Fáfnir and the nature of the hoard that the serpent guarded. Here also are given the dark words of Regin in which the undermeaning is that the real cause of the serpent’s death is Regin, who should therefore have the gold (though this he has promised, at least in large share, to Sigurd); but that Regin should slay the slayer of his brother. Sigurd deeming him only weighed with the thought of his guilt in brother-murder, dismisses his words with scorn. Nor does Sigurd heed the dragon’s words concerning the curse, thinking them merely the device of greed to protect the gold even though its guardian be slain. This indeed was the dragon’s chief purpose in revealing the curse at the hour of his death. Yet that curse began to work swiftly.
1 The forge was smoking
in the forest-darkness;
there wrought Regin
by the red embers.
There was Sigurd sent,
seed of V?lsung,
lore deep to learn;
long his fostering.
2 Runes of wisdom
then Regin taught him,
and weapons’ wielding,
works of mastery;
the language of lands,
lore of kingship,
wise words he spake
in the wood’s fastness.
Regin 3 ‘Full well couldst thou wield
wealth and kingship,
O son of Sigmund,
a sire’s treasure.’
Sigurd ‘My father is fallen,
his folk scattered,
his wealth wasted,
in war taken!’
Regin 4 ‘A hoard have I heard
on a heath lying,
gold more glorious
than greatest king’s.
Wealth and worship
would wait on thee,
if thou durst to deal
with its dragon master.’
Sigurd 5 ‘Men sing of serpents