Introductory Note
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Bellows, Henry Adams
And the Hunnish shield-maids | might shun not the sword,)
And send Atli himself | to the den of the snakes;
(Now the den of the snakes | for thee is destined.)”
Gunnar spake:
18. . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .
“Too late is it, sister, | to summon the Niflungs,
Long is it to come | to the throng of our comrades,
The heroes gallant, | from the hills of the Rhine.”
* * * * * *
19. Then Gunnar they seized, | and they set him in chains, [490]
The Burgundians’ king, | and fast they bound him.
20. Hogni slew seven | with sword so keen,
And an eighth he flung | in the fire hot;
A hero should fight | with his foemen thus,
As Hogni strove | in Gunnar’s behalf.
21. . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .
The leader they asked | if his life he fain
With gold would buy, | the king of the Goths.
Gunnar spake:
22. “First the heart of Hogni | shall ye lay in my hands, [491]
All bloody from the breast | of the bold one cut
With keen-biting sword, | from the son of the king.”
23. . . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .
They cut out the heart | from the breast of Hjalli,
On a platter they bore it, | and brought it to Gunnar.
24. Then Gunnar spake forth, | the lord of the folk:
“Here have I the heart | of Hjalli the craven,
Unlike to the heart | of Hogni the valiant,
For it trembles still | as it stands on the platter;
Twice more did it tremble | in the breast of the man.”
25. Then Hogni laughed | when they cut out the heart
Of the living helm-hammerer; | tears he had not.
. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .
On a platter they bore it, | and brought it to Gunnar.
[492]
26. Then Gunnar spake forth, | the spear of the Niflungs:
“Here have I the heart | of Hogni the valiant,
Unlike to the heart | of Hjalli the craven,
Little it trembles | as it lies on the platter,