Introductory Note
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Bellows, Henry Adams
Still less did it tremble | when it lay in his breast.
27. “So distant, Atli, | from all men’s eyes,
Shalt thou be as thou | . . . . . from the gold.
. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .
28. “To no one save me | is the secret known
Of the Niflungs’ hoard, | now Hogni is dead;
Of old there were two, | while we twain were alive,
Now is none but I, | for I only am living.
29. “The swift Rhine shall hold | the strife-gold of heroes,
That once was the gods’, | the wealth of the Niflungs, [493]
In the depths of the waters | the death-rings shall glitter,
And not shine on the hands | of the Hunnish men.”
Atli spake:
30. “Ye shall bring the wagon, | for now is he bound.”
* * * * * *
31. On the long-maned Glaum | rode Atli the great,
About him were warriors | . . . . . . . .
But Guthrun, akin | to the gods of slaughter,
Yielded not to her tears | in the hall of tumult.
[494]
Guthrun spake:
32. “It shall go with thee, Atli, | as with Gunnar thou heldest
The oaths ofttimes sworn, | and of old made firm,
By the sun in the south, | by Sigtyr’s mountain,
By the horse of the rest-bed, | and the ring of Ull.”
33. Then the champer of bits | drew the chieftain great,
The gold-guarder, down | to the place of death.
. . . . . . . . | . . . . . . . .
34. By the warriors’ host | was the living hero
Cast in the den | where crawling about
Within were serpents, | but soon did Gunnar
With his hand in wrath on | the harp-strings smite; [495]
The strings resounded,— | so shall a hero,
A ring-breaker, gold | from his enemies guard.
35. Then Atli rode | on his earth-treading steed,
Seeking his home, | from the slaughter-place;
There was clatter of hoofs | of the steeds in the court,
And the clashing of arms | as they came from the field.
36. Out then came Guthrun | to meeting with Atli,