| 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 Völsung 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 Völsung, the World’s chosen in my bed to bear, bride of Ódin?’ |
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| 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, Völsung’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: |
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| Sigrlinn | ‘Hope of healing for thy hurts I bring, my lord beloved, last of Völsungs.’ | |
| 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 Völsung! |
| 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 Valhöll 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 Völsung 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 Völsung; Seed of Ódin songs shall call him.’ |
| Woman | ‘Fair shall be fostered that father’s child; his mother be mated to a mighty king.’ | |
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