Introductory Note
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Bellows, Henry Adams
They gave to Gotthorm | the greedy one’s flesh,
Before the men, | to murder minded,
Laid their hands | on the hero bold.
5. Slain was Sigurth | south of the Rhine;
From a limb a raven | called full loud: [406]
“Your blood shall redden | Atli’s blade,
And your oaths shall bind | you both in chains.”
6. Without stood Guthrun, | Gjuki’s daughter,
Hear now the speech | that first she spake:
“Where is Sigurth now, | the noble king,
That my kinsmen riding | before him come?”
7. Only this | did Hogni answer:
“Sigurth we | with our swords have slain;
The gray horse mourns | by his master dead.”
8. Then Brynhild spake, | the daughter of Buthli:
“Well shall ye joy | in weapons and lands;
Sigurth alone | of all had been lord,
If a little longer | his life had been.
9. “Right were it not | that so he should rule
O’er Gjuki’s wealth | and the race of the Goths; [407]
Five are the sons | for ruling the folk,
And greedy of fight, | that he hath fathered.”
10. Then Brynhild laughed— | and the building echoed—
Only once, | with all her heart;
“Long shall ye joy | in lands and men,
Now ye have slain | the hero noble.”
11. Then Guthrun spake, | the daughter of Gjuki:
“Much thou speakest | in evil speech;
Accursed be Gunnar, | Sigurth’s killer,
Vengeance shall come | for his cruel heart.”
12. Early came evening, | and ale was drunk,
And among them long | and loud they talked;
They slumbered all | when their beds they sought,
But Gunnar alone | was long awake.
13. His feet were tossing, | he talked to himself,
And the slayer of hosts | began to heed
What the twain from the tree | had told him then,
The raven and eagle, | as home they rode.
[408]
14. Brynhild awoke, | the daughter of Buthli,