Hreidmar
6
‘Do fetters fret you,
folk of Ásgard?
Regin hath wrought them
with runes binding.
Redgolden rings,
ransom costly,
this fell must fill,
this fur cover!’
7
Lightshod Loki
over land and waves
to Rán came running
in her realm of sea.
The queen of Ægir
his quest granted:
a net she knotted
noosed with evil.
Loki
8
‘What fish have I found
in the flood leaping,
rashly roaming?
Ransom pay me!’
Andvari
‘I am Andvari.
Óin begot me
to grievous fate.
Gold I bid thee!’
Loki
9
‘What hides thy hand
thus hollow bending?’
Andvari
‘The ring is little –
let it rest with me!’
Loki
‘All, Andvari,
all shalt render,
light rings and heavy,
or life itself!’
10
(The Dwarf spake darkly
from his delvéd stone:)
Andvari
‘My ring I will curse
with ruth and woe!
Bane it bringeth
to brethren two;
seven princes slays;
swords it kindles –
end untimely
of Ódin’s hope.’
11
In Hreidmar’s house
they heaped the gold.
Hreidmar
‘A hair unhidden
I behold there yet!’
Out drew Ódin
Andvari’s ring,
cursed he cast it
on accurséd gold.
Ódin
12
‘Ye gold have gained:
a god’s ransom,
for thyself and sons
seed of evil.’
Hreidmar
‘Gods seldom give
gifts of healing;
gold oft begrudgeth
the greedy hand!’
13
Words spake Loki
worse thereafter:
Loki
‘Here deadly dwells
the doom of kings!
Here is fall of queens,
fire and weeping,
end untimely
of Ódin’s hope!’
Ódin
14
‘Whom Ódin chooseth
ends not untimely,
though ways of men
he walk briefly.
In wide Valhöll
he may wait feasting –
it is to ages after
that Ódin looks.’
Hreidmar
15
‘The hope of Ódin
we heed little!
Redgolden rings
I will rule alone.
Though Gods grudge it
gold is healing.
From Hreidmar’s house
haste now swiftly!’
*
II
SIGNÝ
Rerir was the son of the son of Ódin. After him reigned Völsung, to whom Ódin gave a Valkyrie as wife. Sigmund and Signý were their eldest children and twins. They had nine sons beside. Sigmund was of all men the most valiant, unless his sons be named. Signý was fair and wise and foresighted. She was given unwilling and against her foreboding to Siggeir king of Gautland, for the strengthening of the power of King Völsung. Here is told how hate grew between Gauts and Völsungs, and of the slaying of Völsung. The ten brothers of Signý were set in fetters in the forest and all perished save Sigmund. Long time he dwelt in a cave in the guise of a dwarvish smith. By Signý was a fierce vengeance devised and fulfilled.
1
On the coasts of the North
was king renowned
Rerir sea-roving,
the raven’s lord.
Shield-hung his ships,
unsheathed his sword;
his sire of old
was son of Ódin.
2
Him Völsung followed
valiant-hearted,
child of longing,
chosen of Ódin.
Valkyrie fair
did Völsung wed,
Ódin’s maiden,
Ódin’s chosen.
3
Sigmund and Signý,
a son and daughter,
she bare at a birth
in his builded halls.
High rose their roofs,
huge their timbers,
and wide the walls
of wood carven.
4
A tree there towered
tall and branching,
that house upholding,
the hall’s wonder;
its leaves their hangings,
its limbs rafters,
its mighty bole
in the midst standing.
*
Völsung
5
‘What sails be these
in the seas shining?
What ships be those
with shields golden?’
Signý
‘Gautland’s banners
gilt and silver
Gautland’s greeting
grievous bearing.’
Völsung
6
‘Wherefore grievous?
Are guests hateful?
Gautland’s master
glorious reigneth.’
Signý
‘For Gautland’s master
glory endeth;
grief is fated
for Gautland’s queen.’
7
Birds sang blithely
o’er board and hearth,
bold men and brave
on benches sitting.
Mailclad, mighty,
his message spake there
a Gautish lord
gleaming-harnessed.
Gaut
8
‘Siggeir sent me
swiftly steering:
fame of Völsung
far is rumoured.
Signý’s beauty,
Signý’s wisdom,
to his bed he wooeth,
bride most lovely.’
Völsung
9
‘What saith Sigmund?
Shall his sister go
with lord so mighty
league to bind us?’
Sigmund
‘With lord so mighty
league and kinship
let us bind, and grant him
bride most lovely!’
10
Ere summer faded
sails came shining,