| 1 | Brynhild abode a blossomed summer, homing harvest, hoary winter. A year followed year; yearning seized her: the king came not; cold weighed her heart. | |
| 2 | Of her wealth and splendour wide spread the word; kings came riding, her courts thronging. Her mood was troubled, her mind darkened; fell greeting found they, and few returned. | |
| 3 | One armed and mantled as ancient king wild steed there rode than wind fleeter. Spear upholding spiked with lightning her hall he entered, hailed her darkly: |
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| King | 4 | ‘Bond unbroken shall be bounden oath, dreed and endured be doom appointed. Brynhild full soon shall bridal drink; choosing not the slain, shall choose the living. |
| 5 | Brynhild must drink the bridal feast, ere winters two o’er the world be passed. A queen thou wert, a king shalt wed: Ódin dooms it; Ódin hearken!’ |
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| 6 | Fire forth blossomed, flames were kindled, high up-leaping hissed and wavered. In hall standing hedged with lightning, ‘one only’, thought she ‘can enter now!’ |
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| * | ||
| 7 | In Gjúki’s house glad the singing. A feast they fashioned, far men sought it. To blissful Gudrún the bridal drank there golden Sigurd glorious shining. |
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| 8 | Morning woke with mirth, merry came evening; harp-strings were plucked by hands of cunning; mead poured and ale, men were joyful, of peerless kings praise uplifting. |
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| 9 | Oaths swore Sigurd for ever lasting, a bond of brotherhood in blood mingled, help in venture, in hate and battle, in need and desire, nowhere failing. |
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| 10 | Gunnar and Högni gladly swore it, as Grímhild counselled grey with wisdom. Gunnar and Högni good they deemed it; glad was Gudrún gleaming-lovely. |
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| 11 | Gudrún walked in joy, gladness round her; mornings came with mirth, mirth at sleeping. Sigurd dwelt as king sweet days and nights; high hope he had, yet in heart a shadow. |
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| * | ||
| 12 | Wide went the word of woman mighty, of Brynhild queen bright in splendour. Grímhild hearkened, grimly pondered, of Gunnar thinking and of Gjúki’s power. |
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| Grímhild | 13 | ‘Hail, Gjúki’s son! Good go with thee! Fair flowers thy state, thy fame riseth. Who could woo as he wills, a wife yet lacketh, though his might few match, or might of friends.’ |
| Gunnar | 14 | ‘Lo! Gjúkings’ mother grey in counsel, what wife shall Gunnar woo or look for? Fairest must be woman, of fame mightiest, that Gunnar seeketh his gold dealing.’ |
| Grímhild | 15 | ‘Of the one fairest fame is rumoured: Brynhild the queen bright in splendour. Wide walks the word of her wealth and might; though high nor humble her halls enter.’ |
| Gunnar | 16 | ‘Proud and peerless in peril woven, a queen would she be, our courts’ glory! Gunnar Gjúki’s son glory seeking at thy rede shall ride to her realm afar.’ |
| Grímhild | 17 | ‘The son of Sigmund thy sister holds, Sigurd the mighty is thy sworn brother. At right hand in aid he shall ride with thee; counsels potent shall my cunning find you.’ |
| * | ||
| 18 | Gunnar rode Goti, on Grani Sigurd, Högni Hölkvir, horse night-swarthy. Steeds were striding, stonefire glinting, high wind rushing over helm and mane. |
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| 19 | Over fell and lowland and forest gloomy, over rocks and rivers their roads led them. Golden gables gleaming saw they; a light was lifted o’er the land afar. |
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| 20 | Fire forth blossomed, flames up-leaping, trees of lightning twisted branching. Gunnar smote Goti: the ground spurning he reared him backward, nor rowel heeded. |
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| 21 | Sigurd unsmiling silent waited, in his shrouded heart a shadow deepened: |
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| Sigurd | ‘For what waits Gunnar, Gjúking fearless? Here the queen dwelleth that our quest seeketh!’ |
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| Gunnar | 22 | ‘A boon grant me, O blood-brother! Goti will not bear me, now Grani lend me!’ Gunnar smote Grani: on the ground moveless grey-hewn he stood as of graven stone. |
| 23 | Gunnar rode not the glittering flame. Oaths swore Sigurd, all fulfilled them. In hope or hate help unfailing, he Grímhild’s counsel grim refused not. |
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| 24 | Counsels potent had her cunning furnished of chill enchantment and changing spell. In Gunnar’s likeness on Grani leaped he; gold spurs glinted, Gram was brandished. |
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| 25 | The earth shivered; angry roaring fire flaming-tongued flashed heavenward. With sword smitten snorting leaped he, Grani greyfell; the ground trembled. |
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| 26 | The fire flickered; flame wavered, sank to silence slaked and fading. Swart lay the shadow of Sigurd riding in helm of terror high and looming. |
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| 27 | Sigurd stood there on sword leaning; Brynhild waited a blade holding. There helméd maiden of helméd king name demanded: night fell round them. |
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| Sigurd | 28 | ‘Gunnar Gjúki’s son greets and hails thee. As my queen shalt thou ride my quest fulfilling.’ As on swaying seas a swan glimmering sat she sore troubled seeking counsel: |
| Brynhild | 29 | ‘What shall I answer in hour o’ershadowed, Gunnar, Gunnar, with gleaming eyes?’ |
| Sigurd | ‘Redgolden rings, Rhineland treasure, mighty brideprice shall be meted thee!’ |
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| Brynhild | 30 | ‘Gunnar, speak not of golden rings! Swords were me dearer to slay my loves. Art thou all men’s master, all surpassing? – to only such will I answer give.’ |
| Sigurd | 31 | ‘Yea, swords hast thou reddened, swords yet shalt wield; and oaths hast thou sworn, and oaths shalt keep. Thy wall is ridden, thy wavering fire: thou art doomed him to wed who dared to pass.’ |
| 32 | In a bed them laid Brynhild, Sigurd; a sword them sundered set there naked. Gram lay between gleaming sheathless, fate lay between forged unyielding. |
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| 33 | Dawn came on earth, day grew round them. From sleeping finger he slipped her ring, and Andvari’s gold, old, enchanted, on Brynhild’s hand bound in token. |
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| Sigurd | 34 | ‘Wake thou! wake thou! Wide is daylight. I ride to my realm to array the feast.’ |
| Brynhild | ‘Gunnar, Gunnar, with gleaming eyes, on day appointed I shall drink with thee.’ |
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| * | ||