Asatru Folk Assembly - Völsunga Saga, a reading

00:00:00.000 Wollsunga Saga, the Saga of the Wollsungs, edited and translated with introduction,

00:00:24.080 Notes and Appendices by R.G. Finch, Senior Lecturer in German, The Queen's University, Belfast.

00:00:36.660 Wollsunga Saga, Part 1 of Mini

00:00:41.080 Introduction

00:00:43.540 Part 1

00:00:45.660 The Wollsungs and Wagner

00:00:48.180 Although a knowledge of Iceland's medieval saga literature is now becoming more widespread,

00:00:56.420 it is still far from having come into its own, and Jarl, Egl, and Rafnakell scarcely

00:01:04.920 enjoy the fame of Beowulf, Roland, or the Cid, whereas the latter belong, if only as

00:01:12.320 names to the common literary stock of the average educated reader, the former as yet

00:01:18.300 do not.

00:01:19.300 The main characters of Ur-Sunga Saga, however, are a notable exception to the rule, and the

00:01:26.200 saga writer's statement in Chapter 23 that his hero's name is current in all the languages

00:01:33.300 spoken north of the Greek Ocean, and so it will be for as long as the world endures,

00:01:40.080 contains a germ of truth.

00:01:43.020 There can be but few who have not heard of Sigurd or Sigrid, his deeds of bravery, his

00:01:49.660 love of Brynhild or Brynhilde, and his murder at the hands of those he trusted best.

00:01:56.840 But Richard Wagner drew largely on the lays of the Icelandic poet Ere, for the basis of

00:02:03.140 Der Ring des Núberlingen, and on Vrosunga Saga, which, although containing additional

00:02:08.880 material, and differing in certain matters of detail, is essentially a prose retelling

00:02:15.100 of the relevant Eddaic Lays.

00:02:18.220 Wagner's Ring cannot, however, be equated with the ancient Scandinavian legends that

00:02:24.980 it seems to tell.

00:02:26.280 It is by no means a modern dramatization of the Earth-Sunga Saga or of the Eddaic Lays,

00:02:33.720 And Wagner, in attempting to recreate the primitive myth, became an innovator on a grand scale,

00:02:40.900 whose genius produced an entirely new myth in accordance with his poetic and musical

00:02:46.320 purpose.

00:02:47.960 His approach to the material was eclectic and arbitrary.

00:02:53.360 For example, the shattering of Wotan's spear by Siegfried with a sword of his own forging

00:02:59.560 is pure invention, as is the claim that Sigfrid is the child of an incestuous union between

00:03:06.380 brother and sister, although according to Volsunga Saga, his half-brother, Sinfjotli,

00:03:13.080 was indeed born of such a union. Sigurd's mother in Edda and Saga was named Hjordis,

00:03:20.920 not Sigilinde, who appears as his mother in the MHG epic Destiny Belungenen.

00:03:28.800 Wotan is not, in the Icelandic version, solely responsible for despoiling the dwarf of his

00:03:37.240 gold.

00:03:38.240 Moreover, the dwarf's name was Anvari, not Albrecht, whom Wagner took over from the

00:03:44.240 Nieberlingeried, where he plays a different role.

00:03:48.840 In fact, the Rheingold springs largely from Wagner's fertile imagination, and the idea

00:03:55.600 of the inevitable conflict between lust for power symbolized by the ring, and true love

00:04:02.540 is his alone, arising in part at least, as so many of his themes, out of the social and

00:04:09.980 political situation of his day.

00:04:14.480 Part 2.

00:04:15.980 For Naldasugr and Varsunga Saga The For Naldasugr, the sagas of ancient

00:04:23.360 times, the genre to which Varsunga Saga belongs, deal with semi-historical or legendary events

00:04:31.360 and personages of Scandinavian history before the colonization of Iceland and

00:04:39.080 of early Germanic history, thus embracing both the latter Viking Age and the Age of

00:04:45.440 Migrations.

00:04:47.680 These sagas are often termed Romantic, and if one of the characteristics of Romanticism

00:04:53.560 is a nostalgic looking back to the glories of a distant and largely imaginary past, then

00:04:59.840 to that extent at least, the majority deserve the epithet.

00:05:05.820 Of course, a marked preoccupation with history characterizes the bulk of Iceland's medieval

00:05:11.860 prose.

00:05:13.760 Whether it be the earliest historiography proper, such as R.E. Thorgrsson's Book of

00:05:19.920 the Icelanders, Icelandicbröck, and the Book of the Settlements, Lannamabröck, or the

00:05:29.640 King's Sagas, or indeed the Great Family Sagas.

00:05:34.800 These latter, written before the Fornaldrsogur, tell of events in the comparatively recent

00:05:40.960 past, Iceland's own heroic age, extending approximately from 930 to 1030.

00:05:49.360 Here, history is combined with art, fact with fiction, but however fictitious the

00:05:56.440 material, the historical fact is ever striven for, and with considerable

00:06:02.140 success. Hrathnakel's saga Freysgotha, for instance, is so convincing in its

00:06:09.940 It's realism, that although almost entirely fictional, as shown by Professor Sigurður

00:06:16.940 Nordl, it was long believed to rest on genuine historical tradition.

00:06:21.820 It is a far cry from such a saga to the typical Fornaldur saga, where the wondrous and fantastic

00:06:30.620 tend to gain the upper hand, where the human is replaced by the well-nigh superhuman, where

00:06:37.500 The heroic spirit degenerates into mere heroics, and literary qualities count for little, but

00:06:44.940 a sunga saga is unfortunately not exempt from such strictures.

00:06:51.000 Sigurd himself, in the one full description given of him, chapter 23, is pictured as larger

00:06:57.720 than life, nor is it enough for him merely to kill the man who has dealt him a mortal

00:07:03.160 wound. 0.64

00:07:04.420 He throws his sword, which slices his murderer clean through at the waist.

00:07:09.340 Chapter 32

00:07:11.460 There are, in general, ample adventure and letting of blood for their own sakes.

00:07:17.660 There are also some structural weaknesses.

00:07:21.300 For example, Cygni's two children are twice slain.

00:07:25.760 Bryn Hild is twice betrothed to Sigurd.

00:07:29.600 to the residents seem to vary between a shield castle in normal Norse Hall and a castle surrounded

00:07:36.980 by a wall of leaping flame.

00:07:40.420 These deficiencies may not all be due to the failure of the compiler of the saga to remove

00:07:46.240 some of the inconsistencies in its source.

00:07:49.420 A less skilled interpolator may be partly responsible.

00:07:54.480 It must, however, be admitted that the compiler has on the whole little feeling for the poetry

00:08:00.660 of his poetic originals, that he should, where necessary, use words and phrases more appropriate

00:08:08.860 to saga style than the often purely poetic vocabulary of his sources as right and proper,

00:08:17.720 That he should occasionally, for example, in his rendering of Sigurdakvitha in Skama,

00:08:23.780 Sons of 6 through 12, the beginning of chapter 32, dismiss lines of considerable force, and

00:08:31.320 a few trite sentences is hardly excusable.

00:08:36.720 Yet in spite of all, it is difficult not to be impressed by this tale, which has as much

00:08:42.680 to do with character and fate as it has with the clash of arms.

00:08:48.420 Sigurd's youthful self-confidence that defies the curse on the treasure changes into the

00:08:54.440 realization that he is inextricably enmeshed in the toils of fate.

00:09:01.440 Brynhild, whose code of honor can not but demand the death of the man she loves, and

00:09:07.440 from whom fate has kept her apart, voluntarily ends her life in the flames of his funeral

00:09:14.780 pyre.

00:09:16.780 Hogni meets death with a laugh on his lips, and his brother Gunnar achieves true heroic

00:09:23.420 stature in defeat.

00:09:26.460 Such material, however naively presented, cannot fail to make its impact, even on the

00:09:32.760 sophisticated reader of the 20th century.

00:09:38.000 Part 3 Bursunga Saga and its Analogues

00:09:43.100 Notes from Reader

00:09:45.940 The following part of the introduction is dense and detailed with various descriptions

00:09:52.540 of certain Eddas and other sources of information.

00:09:58.300 Only the headings will be read.

00:10:02.640 a scandinavian one verse sunga saga to the poetic edda three the pros at us norris thurlson

00:10:16.560 four theoric saga of bern five norna guest stater six for sunga suramir seven scandinavian ballads

00:10:32.640 8. The Venn Chronicle

00:10:35.460 Part B. German

00:10:39.380 1. Das Niederlingelied

00:10:42.640 2. Siffre der Ardemont

00:10:46.400 3. The Anhang zum Herdebuch

00:10:51.200 4. Das Lied vom Huren siffred 0.85

00:10:56.400 5. Der Huren siffred

00:11:00.900 6. Worksbook von Gehornten Siegfried

00:11:06.520 Valsunga Saga, Part 2 of Mini

00:11:13.340 Introduction, Part 4

00:11:17.100 The basic themes, the major variations, and their significance

00:11:23.000 Valsunga Saga falls into five sections

00:11:27.740 Part A, Chapters 1-12, Sigrid's Genealogy in Narrative Form

00:11:35.100 Siggy, outlawed for murder, is helped by Odin, his father, and founds a kingdom.

00:11:43.700 Siggy is slain, but is avenged by his son, Rurir, who remains childless while he eats

00:11:50.740 of an apple sent by Odin.

00:11:52.300 His son is Volsung, father of Sigmund and of Cygni.

00:11:59.180 Sigmund, winds of sword plunged into the great tree growing in Volsung's hall, for he alone

00:12:06.580 can draw it forth.

00:12:08.520 Volsung, treacherously attacked by Sigir, Cygni's unloved husband, falls in the battle.

00:12:16.980 His sons are captured, set in stocks in the forest, and left to its lingering death.

00:12:23.940 A she-wolf appears every night, devouring brother after brother, until Sigmund alone

00:12:31.160 remains.

00:12:33.280 He slays the wolf, escapes, and lives on in the forest, Sigir believing him dead. 0.96

00:12:43.020 These two sons are too cowardly to be of help to Sigmund in avenging his kinsmen, and Signe 0.65

00:12:49.340 herself, eager for vengeance, contrives to sleep unrecognised with her brother and bears 0.77

00:12:57.060 him a son, Sint Fjotli, who is thus doubly in the line of Volsung and with Sigmund, or

00:13:05.260 the Avenger.

00:13:08.160 After preliminary exploits, including a period as werewolves, they fire Sigurds Hall.

00:13:16.160 Signey, her vengeance complete, chooses to perish in the flames.

00:13:22.100 After further adventures, mainly with his half-brother Helgi, Sinfjotli is poisoned

00:13:28.260 by his stepmother, Borgild.

00:13:31.920 Sigmund follows in battle, his sword breaking against Odin's spear.

00:13:37.720 Sigmund's second wife, Hjordis, gives birth to Sigurd at King Hjallprek's court after

00:13:53.460 her husband's death.

00:13:56.100 Sigurd's foster father, Regan, a smith, persuades him to ask the guardians of his father's property

00:14:03.320 for a horse.

00:14:05.200 His request is granted, and Odin helps him in his choice.

00:14:10.240 Regan tells Sigurd of his father, Hredmar, of his two brothers, Otr, who often assumed

00:14:16.200 the semblance of an otter, and Fafnir.

00:14:20.260 The god Loki, journeying with Odin and Hoenir, slew Otr in his animal shape.

00:14:27.920 Hredmar demanded that in compensation they stuff the otter skin with gold, and then heap

00:14:34.000 gold over it. Loki extorts the necessary gold, including the ring on Varnaut from the dwarf

00:14:42.960 on Varri, who lays a curse upon it. Fafnir, who murdered his father, appropriated the

00:14:50.400 gold and guards it in the semblance of a dragon. Sigurd agrees to slay Fafnir if Regan provides

00:14:58.300 a sword. Sigurd shatters his first two swords, but the third, Garam, forwards from Sigurd's

00:15:06.680 broken blade, stands every test. Sigurd persuades Grippir, his uncle, to tell his fortune. Then

00:15:15.620 Sigurd avenges his father, afterwards seeking out Fafnir. Helped in his strategy by Odin,

00:15:23.620 He slays the dragon.

00:15:26.120 He roasts its heart for Regan, burns his fingers, and in cooling them, tastes Fafnir's blood.

00:15:33.700 He immediately understands bird language, and from the twittering above him learns of

00:15:38.740 Regan's proposed treachery, and of Brynhild.

00:15:43.840 He slays Regan, loads Fafnir's treasure, including the sword Heroti, onto his horse,

00:15:50.980 mounts and rides off.

00:15:54.140 He finds a warrior asleep in a shield castle.

00:15:57.960 This is Brynhild, a former Valkyrie.

00:16:02.260 Sigurd awakens her from an enchanted sleep, a punishment laid upon her by Odin, who also

00:16:08.660 doomed her to marriage, though she swore she would accept none who knew fear.

00:16:14.860 Brynhild teaches Sigurd the runic and other wisdom, and they plight their throth.

00:16:22.060 Sigurd next visits Heimar, Brynhild's brother-in-law.

00:16:26.460 He finds that Brynhild is also there, and they renew their vows.

00:16:32.820 Part C, chapters 26 through 33, Sigurd's marriage to Gudrun, his death, and Brynhild's suicide.

00:16:44.660 Even Gyuki and his wife, Grimhild, have three sons, Gunnar, Hogni, and Guttorm, and a daughter,

00:16:52.240 Guthrun, who knows Brynhild, described here as Atli's sister.

00:16:58.600 Brynhild interprets Guthrun's dream as foretelling two marriages and their consequences.

00:17:05.840 Sigurd arrives at Guthrun's hall and becomes a great asset.

00:17:10.460 She forgets Brynhild because of a potion administered by Grimhild, and marries Guthrun, becoming

00:17:17.340 blood brother to Gunnar and Hogni.

00:17:21.180 Gunnar determines to win Brynhild, but cannot pass the flame barrier surrounding her hall.

00:17:28.180 Sigurd exchanges shapes with Gunnar and succeeds in his stead.

00:17:33.380 Brynhild accepts the supposed Gunnar, and for three nights they share the same bed with

00:17:38.100 drawn sword between them. Sigrid takes from her, and what or not, the ring he had earlier

00:17:45.140 given her in his own person, substituting another. Brynhild later gives Osloch, her daughter,

00:17:52.400 by Sigrid, into Hamer's cave and marries Gunnar. When bathing together, Brynhild claims precedence

00:18:00.380 over Guthrun by wading further into the river.

00:18:05.560 Quarrowing, they argue the merits of their respective husbands, and Guthrun shows Brynhild

00:18:11.440 on the Varunoth, thus revealing the deception.

00:18:16.620 Brynhild feels herself betrayed and perjured, for her she had sworn to marry him who braved

00:18:22.500 the flames.

00:18:24.560 To Gunnar, she implies that when Sigrid slept with her in Gunnar's semblance, he betrayed

00:18:29.700 Gunnar's trust and she urges his murder. Gunnar consults Hogni, alleging Sigurd's misconduct,

00:18:38.340 adding that his death would enhance their wealth and power. Hogni stresses Sigurd's value to them

00:18:45.300 and advises against the killing, but Guthrun is incited to their need.

00:18:51.700 He transfixes Sigurd with a sword as he rests in bed with Guthrun.

00:18:55.780 Sigurd slays his murderer, comforts Guthrun, who still has her brothers, and dies.

00:19:05.140 Brynhild laughs on hearing Guthrun's moaning.

00:19:08.680 She now denies Sigurd's misconduct, stabs herself, mounts Sigurd's blazing funeral pyre, and so dies.

00:19:17.320 Part D, chapters 33-40

00:19:21.020 The death of Gunnar and Hogni and Guthrun's vengeance.

00:19:25.780 Guthrun reluctantly marries Atli, who, greedy for her brother's gold, treacherously invites

00:19:34.020 them to a feast.

00:19:36.220 Despite ill-boding dreams and Guthrun's warning, they set out.

00:19:41.740 On arrival at Atli's Hall, they are attacked and captured.

00:19:46.240 Gunnar refuses to reveal where the gold is hidden, until he sees his brother's bloody

00:19:51.180 heart.

00:19:52.180 Hogni's heart is cut out.

00:19:55.540 Gunnar exalts that now he alone knows the secret which he will never disclose.

00:20:01.800 He dies bravely in a snake pit.

00:20:05.500 Guthrun, to avenge her brothers, slays her children by Otli,

00:20:10.020 serving him a grisly meal of their hearts and blood.

00:20:14.340 Later helped by Hogni's sons, Guthrun stabs Otli and fires his haul.

00:20:19.460 Part E. Chapters 41-44

00:20:25.900 Guthrin, Svanhild, and Jormenrik

00:20:30.220 Guthrin tries to drown herself, but the waves carry her to the land of King Jormenrik, whom she marries.

00:20:39.420 Their sons are Hamdir, Sorli, and Erp.

00:20:43.500 Svanhild, Guthrin's daughter by Sigurd, is promised to Jormenrik,

00:20:48.320 but he has Erd trampled to death beneath horses' hooves for a misconduct with his son.

00:20:54.820 Hamdir and Sorli set out to avenge Svanhil.

00:20:58.380 They kill Erd through a misunderstanding.

00:21:01.960 After hacking off Jormenrik's hands and feet,

00:21:05.560 they put up a stout resistance, for they are charmed against iron.

00:21:10.220 On Odin's advice, they are stoned to death.

00:21:12.840 Note from Reader

00:21:19.180 For further explanation, exposition, details, and descriptions on the Nibelengaleed vs. Sangha Saga

00:21:26.620 that are connections, differences, other sources, and various materials, please see the introduction.

00:21:36.260 Multiple pages are being skipped for extraneous detail.

00:21:42.840 Part 5. History, Myth, and Fairytale

00:21:47.520 It has long been an axiom that all the Romanic heroic poetry derives from some historical event,

00:21:55.700 and the names Gyuki, Gibik, Gutorm, Gishel, Gurnat, and Gunnar, Gunther,

00:22:02.180 have historical counterparts in Gibike, Gislarius, and Gundaharius, members of the Burgundian royal house.

00:22:10.300 The destruction of Gunnar, Hogni, and their fellows by Atli echoes the destruction of

00:22:17.020 the Burgundian kingdom by the Huns, not led by Attila, in 437, linked to an imaginative

00:22:24.220 account of Attila's death in 451.

00:22:27.960 He was found dead at the side of his Germanic concubine Hildico, probably Hildico, a diminutive

00:22:34.700 of Hild, whence is said to drive Kreimhild.

00:22:40.240 imagination saw his death as an act of vengeance, identified Hildur Deco as Gunnar's sister

00:22:46.120 in Avenger, and thus turned two unconnected events into the story of a family feud.

00:22:53.520 But what historical personages is reflected in Sigurd Sifrit?

00:22:58.400 The question has been variously answered.

00:23:01.740 He has been sought for in the Merovingian period and identified as Sigurd, the ruler

00:23:07.240 of Austrasia, who was murdered in 575. He has been acquainted with the Ostrogoth Araya,

00:23:15.860 with the German national hero Arminius, who defeated the Roman Varus in AD 9, and with

00:23:22.240 Victorinus, a Christian Roman officer martyred in Burton, 286.

00:23:29.740 H. de Boer argues for historical basis not far removed from the power political theme

00:23:35.380 of the extant texts. A noble Frankish exile marries into the Burgundian royal house, becomes

00:23:42.840 too powerful, and is assassinated. His cogent arguments are based on the intermingling of

00:23:48.920 Frankish and Burgundian names in the later Burgundian dynasty. F. Panzer and others held

00:23:56.440 that Sigurd Sifrit was not historical personages, but a fairytale character, recast in the heroic

00:24:03.500 old, while earlier a mythical origin for the Sigurd Sifrit material has been postulated.

00:24:10.660 The Arminius theory and the idea of an ultimate origin in myth have recently been revived.

00:24:17.380 O. Hofler sees Sigurd Sifrit's victory over the dragon as Arminius' victory over the Romans,

00:24:24.300 transferred to a mythical plane.

00:24:26.720 In the various references of the extant text to Sigurd Sifrit in terms of a stag or beast,

00:24:33.200 He sees not a literary motif, but a link with the animal symbolism and cultic ritual of

00:24:39.220 Arminius' tribe, the Cheruski, a name deriving from Germanic Herut Stag.

00:24:47.440 One such instance seems to be the name Hindfjall, where Sigurd awakens Brynhild, an episode

00:24:55.600 which, if the name is indeed a genuine survival from the ancient times before the separation

00:25:00.860 of Scandinavian and German traditions may have its roots in the erotic element of a

00:25:05.860 cultic stag ritual. The stag seeks its hind. In this case, the German Sifrit may have had

00:25:14.300 a similar adventure. F. R. Schroeder, emitting fairy tale influence and the presence of elements

00:25:22.120 derived probably from more than one historical personages, lays stress on the mythical basis

00:25:28.480 of the material. His ideas in the last analysis are based on C. G. Jung's theory of archetypes,

00:25:36.180 also drawn on by O. Hofer. Behind Sigurd Schifert, Schroeder sees the divine sun in various roles.

00:25:44.720 His death parallels that of a vegetation god. His slaying of the dragon parallels the destruction

00:25:51.180 of a primeval chaos by the Divine Sun.

00:25:54.800 See Indra's similar victory.

00:25:57.960 Sigurd and Brynhild are, he postulates, akin to Indra and Indrani, Freyr and Freya, pairs

00:26:05.540 which each represent an originally single hermaphroditic divinity, son of the sky god

00:26:11.800 and earth goddess, hermaphrodite through acquiring the function of both parents.

00:26:18.380 This field of inquiry is certainly fruitful, but the derivation of literary motifs from

00:26:23.820 archetypes does not necessarily mean that the archetype's concern crystallized into

00:26:29.220 literary form at the same time and place, or around the same hero.

00:26:34.540 Moreover, the story of the historical Sigurd Sifred's murder, influenced by the archetypical

00:26:41.100 pattern, could have drawn to itself the dragonsling and later the sleeping maiden theme.

00:26:47.560 It seems very probable, as suggested by F. R. Schroeder and O. Hoeffler, that the Sigurds

00:26:54.160 Sifrit material is a blend of myth, history, fairy tale, and cultic ritual, though the

00:27:00.940 extant texts also reveal the hand of the creative literary artist.

00:27:06.180 Is the same true of the early chapters of Volsunga Saga, introductory to the Sigurds

00:27:11.200 material sigmund may be a reflection of the burgundian king sigismund who reigned from 516

00:27:19.280 to 523 and who likewise led the life of the fugitive though the sigmund story in the sunga

00:27:26.560 saga parallels the fall of the burgundians and seems modeled on it in both the king sends a

00:27:33.520 treacherous invitation to his brothers-in-law who are warned by their sister the king's unloving

00:27:39.360 wife, but are overpowered, captured, and given over to a cruel death.

00:27:45.380 The sister takes vengeance on her husband, their two sons are slain, and the hall goes

00:27:49.980 up in flames.

00:27:52.860 Literary influence is unmistakable.

00:27:55.640 Obvious fairytale elements are the shape-changing episodes, the leaf that restores Sinfiotli,

00:28:01.920 the imperviousness to poison, the test to which Signy subjects her children, the kneading

00:28:07.660 in of the Slytherpint, the disappearance of Sinfjotli's body in the Odin's boat.

00:28:13.340 Sigmund's father, Volsung, has no historical counterpart.

00:28:18.540 Mühlenhof declared the name related to the German Valen, i.e. choose Volsung, Odin's

00:28:26.180 chosen hero.

00:28:28.820 Being destined to destroy Sigurd's family, which, though also descended from Odin, had

00:28:34.420 become degenerate.

00:28:36.860 This etymology is not impossible, but the link between Sigir and Odin lacks foundation.

00:28:43.980 A sounder link is that postulated between the names Worsung and Worsi, which later appears

00:28:50.100 in Worsavthatr as the name of the phallic fetish and itself probably means phallus.

00:28:57.740 There are, in fact, definite traces of fertility cult in the Worsung-Sigmund material, e.g.

00:29:06.000 the apple centaurier, the tree in Volsung's hall, the incest motif, the werewolf episode,

00:29:14.660 and it is here that the basic substance of the Volsung-Sigmund story must be sought.

00:29:21.000 Vörsi was probably a lesser deity closely associated with Odin in his fertility aspect,

00:29:27.400 or else a hypothesis of that god.

00:29:31.240 That Odin should appear in Strvorsi in the Valsunga Saga as founder of the Valsung line

00:29:37.820 is thus understandable.

00:29:40.300 Less understandable is the appearance of Valsung as Odin's great-grandson.

00:29:45.400 The name Valsung is a patronymic, as in Valsing in Beowulf, but Valsing, son of Vals, Valsi,

00:29:55.140 is Sigmund himself.

00:29:57.680 It would, thus, seem that Siggy and Ryr in the Volsung saga are later interlopers and

00:30:05.800 that Volsung Odin's son was originally Sigmund, the patronymic, being later regarded in Scandinavian

00:30:14.440 tradition as the name of a distinct person.

00:30:18.320 The Volsung Sigmund material would, therefore, seem to draw on sources akin to those of the

00:30:23.960 Sigurd story proper.

00:30:27.440 Vursunga Saga, Part 3 of Mini. Introduction, Part 6. The Immediate Literary Sources of Vursunga Saga

00:30:40.140 and the Date and Place of its Compilation. As mentioned earlier, Vursunga Saga is largely

00:30:48.700 a prose version of such an Adeic Lays preserved in the Codex Virgius. Nothing in Poetic Eddo

00:30:56.300 Answers to Varsunga Saga, chapter 24 through 31, inclusive,

00:31:02.160 for this section preserves in prose form the poems of the Lost Leaves of Codex Regius.

00:31:09.400 Some scholars held that the whole section derives from leis.

00:31:14.760 Others utterly denied this for chapters 24 and 25,

00:31:19.340 while P. Varsugren sought to demonstrate

00:31:22.420 that not only did these two chapters never exist in lei form,

00:31:27.380 being largely interpretive,

00:31:29.860 Arong, as he thinks, with chapter 22,

00:31:32.660 but that even chapter 26, 27, and 28

00:31:35.520 did not necessarily derive from leis,

00:31:38.360 and also showed evidence of the latter redactor.

00:31:42.200 The first section of Ressunga Saga

00:31:44.740 that derives from Rhodaic sources

00:31:46.340 is Sigmund's marriage to Borokil

00:31:48.500 and the adventures of their son, Helgi.

00:31:52.420 All the preceding narrative, and that following, which had no equivalent in Poetic Era, excluding chapter 23, but including certain elements in chapters 24-31,

00:32:05.880 derived from a no longer extant Sigurdsrath saga, dating from circa 1200, which made self-drawn earlier lays, and in which a lesser or greater number of verses appeared.

00:32:18.580 An extant saga on which Vrtsunga Saga draws is Tithric's Saga of Bern.

00:32:25.860 Three short passages may derive from it.

00:32:28.520 A. Vrtsunga Saga chapter 32

00:32:31.780 And had I known, through wild boar,

00:32:36.580 C. Bertelsen 266, 17-24

00:32:41.840 B. Vrtsunga Saga chapter 34

00:32:45.620 Now everyone, through world endured, see Berthelstein 268, 9-17, see Worsanga Saga chapter 35,

00:32:59.560 There is no hiding the fact, through profit by this, see Berthelstein 281, 9-11.

00:33:08.500 But such derivation is doubtful.

00:33:11.240 It is hard to see why these three passages should have been taken over, and P. Weisselgren suggests that they derive on both sides from the Sigurdsritsch saga.

00:33:23.140 There is, however, no doubt that Sigurdsritsch's description for Sigurdsritsch saga chapter 23 is borrowed from Theatric's saga of Byrne, chapter 291.

00:33:35.700 It would thus seem that Vilsunga Saga must have been compiled after Tithric's Saga of Bern, which dates from 1250-60.

00:33:48.320 In support of this, it has been argued that only the example of the Tithric Saga of Byrne compiled at the behest of Hakim Hakansson, King of Norway 1217-63, could have supplied an incentive for the compilation of the Rusunga Saga,

00:34:06.500 which also provides, in the person of Odin, divine descent for Hakon,

00:34:12.940 whose ancestor, Ragnar Lothbrok, in the saga bearing his name,

00:34:17.500 marries Aslog, Sigurd's daughter, by Brynhild.

00:34:22.280 And Vrtsunga Saga is not extant except as a prelude to Ragnar's saga.

00:34:30.000 Moreover, it is argued Vrtsunga Saga is based on Codex Regius,

00:34:35.060 which is usually assigned a date somewhat later than Tudric's Saga of Bern.

00:34:41.860 These arguments are not convincing.

00:34:45.600 Firstly, P. Weisselgren argues that Chapter 23 is the work of the Interpolator.

00:34:52.240 If so, the date of Tudric's Saga of Bern is not significant.

00:34:57.140 Secondly, that an incentive should have been necessary for expanding the Sigurds Saga

00:35:04.100 Saga, where the Daek material is hard to see. Thirdly, it seems likely that Oslog did not

00:35:11.840 appear in the original Varsunga Saga, but was deliberately introduced to link Varsunga

00:35:17.240 Saga with Ragnar's Saga. Lastly, not Kodak Rage itself, but an earlier no longer extant

00:35:26.740 of the relevant dayglays was very likely the compiler source.

00:35:33.060 All that can be said with any certainty is that the Vorsanga saga was written between

00:35:38.740 circle 1200 and circle 1270, that it was linked to the Ragnar saga, and that the redactor

00:35:46.180 interpolated certain material.

00:35:49.920 There are certain Norwegian elements amidst the predominantly Icelandic text of our oldest

00:35:55.380 of Vörsunga Saga, which has been thought to indicate that a Norwegian exemplar was

00:36:02.040 used by an Icelandic scribe, and Imr Olsson suggested that Vörsunga Saga might have originally

00:36:08.400 been Norwegian, though he admitted that the Norwegian elements could have crept in through

00:36:13.900 the copying of an Icelandic manuscript by Norwegian scribes.

00:36:18.420 There seems little need to postulate an origin other than Icelandic.

00:36:25.380 Introduction, Part 7. The Manuscripts.

00:36:30.600 There is only one Vellum manuscript extant, dating from circa 1400, located in the Royal Library, Copenhagen.

00:36:40.980 There is also a number of paper manuscripts, dating from the 17th to the 19th century,

00:36:46.940 which have no independent value since they ultimately derive from the Vellum manuscript.

00:36:52.380 This is shown by the fact that they not only in general follow the velum manuscript closely,

00:37:00.220 but that for some of the passages where the velum manuscript is now illegible or only

00:37:05.000 partially legible, they substitute a form of words that could only be due to the failure

00:37:11.480 of an early copyist to read those selfsame passages.

00:37:15.380 There are also differences between Codex Regius and velum manuscript, where the paper

00:37:22.140 manuscripts agree with Velo Manuscript. The condition of Velo Manuscript has deteriorated

00:37:30.360 since Emolson's excellent diplomatic edition. His readings for words then legible but now

00:37:37.580 illegible are adopted in this edition, but illegibility being recorded in the textual

00:37:44.200 notes. Some pages have suffered badly, the worst being Folio 1F, which Olsen found illegible

00:37:54.480 in parts, and which is now totally undecipherable. Examination under ultraviolet light and infrared

00:38:02.960 photography have proved unavailing. The text in this edition is in normalized spelling.

00:38:11.700 Editions, other than those of minor scribal vagaries, are indicated in the textual notes,

00:38:17.540 as are the more important differences in Bugues' text.

00:38:22.880 Editions of Wurzunga Saga

00:38:25.340 Wurzunga Saga has previously been edited by E.J. Buehner, 1737,

00:38:32.880 F.H. Van der Hagen, 1814, C.C. Raffen, 1829,

00:38:40.740 S. Bug, 1865, E. Wilken, 1877 and 1912, W. Ranesh, 1891 and 1908, T. Hannas, 1907,

00:39:01.240 Inam Olsen, 1906-8

00:39:05.340 Gutny Janssen, 1943-44

00:39:10.560 Gutny Janssen, 1950

00:39:13.900 Previous English Translations of Versunga Saga

00:39:18.580 There have been two, the first by William Morris and Eriker Magnusson, first published

00:39:26.220 in London in 1870, and recently reissued by Call Your Books, New York, with an introduction

00:39:33.380 by R. W. Gutmann, the second by M. Schlauch, published in 1930, second edition in 1949.

00:39:43.140 Professor Schlauch criticizes the heavily archaistic style of the Morris Magnuson translation,

00:39:49.140 but nonetheless aims at a somewhat archaic style

00:39:53.620 on the grounds that, even to the Saga Man,

00:39:57.720 it was a tale of remote, ancient days

00:40:00.100 of gods and demigods and half-mythical kings.

00:40:04.220 It was.

00:40:06.180 But there can be little doubt that the legendary heroes

00:40:09.160 were as real to the people of the medieval north

00:40:12.020 as those of the more immediate past

00:40:15.160 and the compiler of the Saga Saga

00:40:17.960 aims at presenting his poetic material in a straightforward saga style and language.

00:40:24.840 The present translation attempts to provide an English version as free as possible

00:40:29.660 from unnecessary archaisms.

00:40:33.280 In the translation of the verses, no sort of claim is made for any close approximation

00:40:38.460 to the original alliterative meters or to the poetic qualities of the Icelandic.

00:40:44.920 The tale begins here and tells of a man called Siggy, who was said to be the son of Odin.

00:41:06.980 Another man features in the story, and his name was Skadi.

00:41:12.920 He was powerful and important, but even so, Siggy was the more powerful of the two, and

00:41:21.420 the higher born, as people said at the time.

00:41:27.100 Scotty had a thrall who must be mentioned in the story.

00:41:32.060 His name was Brady.

00:41:34.480 He was more efficient in the duties he was given to perform.

00:41:39.160 In his accomplishments and ability he was as good as people who counted for more than

00:41:44.300 he did, and better than some.

00:41:48.980 You must now hear how Siggy once went out after deer with this serf, and they hunted

00:41:55.540 on through the day until the late afternoon.

00:41:59.500 When they then brought together the deer they had slain, Breddy had accounted for both more

00:42:05.800 and larger than Siggy had and he took this very badly indeed he said he was astonished that a

00:42:13.240 search could be better at hunting deer than he was and with that he attacked and killed him

00:42:20.840 afterwards burying the body in a snow drift

00:42:26.040 that evening he returned home and said that bretti had ridden off into the woods

00:42:31.640 I soon lost sight of him, and I don't know what's become of him.

00:42:38.820 Scotty was suspicious of Siggy's story, and guessed that there had probably been foul

00:42:44.400 play and that Siggy had really killed him.

00:42:48.980 He got together a party to search for him, and their search ended with their finding

00:42:54.000 him in the snowdrift.

00:42:57.100 Everybody said he would call it Paredes Drifts from then on, and people have kept this ever

00:43:03.820 since.

00:43:05.980 Every big drift is called by that name.

00:43:10.340 It was then quite clear that Siggy had murdered the serf and hidden his body.

00:43:17.020 He was forthwith declared an outlaw and so could not remain at home with his father.

00:43:25.940 Ciggin now went with him when he left the country and accompanied him for a remarkably

00:43:31.120 long way, not giving up until he had brought him to several fighting ships.

00:43:37.880 Ciggin now embarked on three booting expeditions with the force his father had secured for

00:43:43.620 him before they parted.

00:43:46.420 He was successful in his raids, and his affairs so progressed that he managed to carve out

00:43:52.420 land for himself and eventually a kingdom. Next he made an important match and became

00:44:00.080 a powerful and important king, ruling over the land of the Huns and he was a truly great

00:44:07.620 warrior. By his wife he had a son called Rir. He was brought up there with his father and

00:44:16.560 and soon grew into a tall and able lad.

00:44:21.060 And now Siggy had grown old in years.

00:44:25.080 There were many who were jealous of him, and so in the end those whom he trusted most,

00:44:31.660 his brothers-in-law, plotted against him.

00:44:35.720 They turned on him when he was least expecting anything, having only a few men there with

00:44:41.060 him, and they got the better of him, and Siggy and all his followers were killed in the fights.

00:44:48.700 His son Rurir was away at the time of danger, and he gathered a strong force of friends

00:44:54.960 and influential nobles, with the result that he took over the Domains and the royal power

00:45:01.660 in succession to his father Siggy.

00:45:06.340 Now when he thought that he had found his feet in his kingdom, he remembered his grievances

00:45:12.000 against the uncles who had killed his father.

00:45:16.000 And so the king got together a powerful army and immediately marched with it against these

00:45:21.580 kinsmen of his.

00:45:25.020 And if he set but little store by the ties of kinship between them, they, after all,

00:45:31.760 seemed to have been the first to do him wrong.

00:45:35.760 And that is how he acted, for he did not rest until he had killed all his father's murderers,

00:45:43.140 though from every point of view it was a bad business.

00:45:48.640 And now he took over lawns, authority, and wealth, and became a man of greater consequence

00:45:55.500 than his father had been.

00:45:58.860 Ruir now acquired a great deal of plunder through his raids, and married a woman who

00:46:04.760 who seemed likely to make him a suitable wife.

00:46:09.080 And they lived together for a very long time, but had no heir, nor any child at all.

00:46:16.620 Neither was at all happy about this, and they earnestly prayed to the gods to let them have

00:46:22.300 a child.

00:46:24.580 And we are next told how Frigg heard their prayers and spoke to Odin about their request.

00:46:32.660 He was not at a loss what to do, and fetched a valkyrie of his.

00:46:38.460 The daughter of Hirimnir the giant put an apple in her hand and told her to take it

00:46:45.640 to the king.

00:46:47.540 She seized the apple, assumed the form of a crow, and flew until she came to where the

00:46:54.060 king was sitting on a hole.

00:46:58.120 She dropped the apple in the king's lap.

00:47:01.300 He picked the apple up and guessed what it was all about. 1.00

00:47:06.520 Then he left the hoe and went back to his men, had a talk with the queen, and ate part 1.00

00:47:12.780 of the apple. 1.00

00:47:16.160 Chapter 2 0.71

00:47:19.500 You must now hear how the queen soon found that she was going to have a child, but her

00:47:25.700 condition continued for a very long time.

00:47:29.340 her being able to give birth to the child, then Rurir found it necessary to set off

00:47:35.960 on a campaign, quite the usual thing for a king to do, in order to keep his country peaceful.

00:47:44.580 As it happened, Rurir was taken ill on the expedition, and died soon after.

00:47:51.340 He meant to join Odin, and many people in those days thought this a good thing to do.

00:47:58.800 The Queen's morbid condition, her inability to give birth to the child, remained unchanged,

00:48:06.240 and after six years she was still not free of it. 0.79

00:48:11.060 She then realized that she had not long to live, and thereupon ordered that the child

00:48:16.380 should be cut out of her, and that was what she ordered was done.

00:48:22.880 It was a boy, and as might be expected, the lad was a fair size when he was delivered.

00:48:29.660 People say that the boy kissed his mother before she died.

00:48:34.060 A name was now given to him, and he was called Vor-slung.

00:48:39.920 He succeeded his father as the King of Hunland.

00:48:43.780 From an early age, he was big and strong, and ready for anything that seemed to need

00:48:49.100 grit and courage.

00:48:51.640 He grew into a most able soldier, and luck was on his side in the battles he fought while

00:48:57.740 campaigning.

00:49:00.340 Now when he reached manhood, Rimnir sent his daughter, Hyliod, to him.

00:49:06.740 She was already been mentioned as bringing the apple to Rir, Varsing's father.

00:49:12.840 He now married her.

00:49:14.840 They lived together a long time, and their marriage was a happy one.

00:49:20.340 They had ten sons and one daughter.

00:49:23.320 Their eldest son was called Sigmund and their daughter Signy.

00:49:29.020 They were twins and in every way the best-looking and most remarkable of King Varsung's children.

00:49:36.900 Though indeed all of them were outstanding, a fact long recognized, just as the Varsungs

00:49:44.420 have long been famed for their orthocratic inflexibility of purpose, and for being far 0.84

00:49:50.820 ahead of most people, as old stories tell in knowledge, attainments, and in enterprise

00:49:58.460 generally.

00:50:01.280 The tale goes that King Folsung had a magnificent hall built, and in such a way that there was

00:50:07.940 a great tree standing inside, its branches with their colorful flowers spreading out

00:50:14.240 through the roof while its trunk stretched down into the hall, and they called it Barnstock.

00:50:23.520 Chapter 3

00:50:26.400 There was a king whose name was Sigir. He ruled over Gautland and was a powerful king

00:50:33.520 with a large band of followers. He paid a visit to King Forsum and asked him for Signy's hand in

00:50:41.440 marriage. The king was favorably disposed to the idea, as were his sons, but she herself

00:50:49.200 was against it, though she asked her father to decide about this as he did about the other

00:50:54.760 matters concerning her. And the king thought it advisable for her to be married, and she

00:51:01.320 was betrothed to King Sigir. And when the time came for the marriage feast and the wedding,

00:51:08.940 Sigir was to go to King Volsung's for the festivities.

00:51:13.620 The king made preparations for a splendid feast,

00:51:17.200 and when all was in readiness for the feast,

00:51:19.700 both King Volsung's and King Sigir's guests arrived on the appointed day,

00:51:25.380 and King Sigir had many people of note with him.

00:51:29.680 It is said that big fires were lighted down the length of the hall,

00:51:33.580 and as was mentioned before, the great apple tree stood there in the middle of the hall.

00:51:40.920 Now the story goes that while the men were sitting around the fires in the evening,

00:51:46.260 a man came into the hall.

00:51:48.940 It was a man whose appearance was unfamiliar.

00:51:52.040 This is how he was dressed.

00:51:55.100 He had on a mottled cape, he was barefooted,

00:51:58.700 and had bound his linen breeches around the leg.

00:52:01.860 The man held the sword in his hand and went up to Barnstock and had a low hood over his

00:52:08.820 head.

00:52:09.820 He was very grey and venerable and had but one eye.

00:52:15.600 He drew back the sword and plunged it into the trunk, so the sword sank up to the hilt.

00:52:23.160 No one was able to utter a word of welcome to the man.

00:52:27.780 Then he started to speak, and these were his words.

00:52:33.520 The man to pull out this sword from the trunk shall receive it from me as a gift, and he

00:52:41.300 will find out for himself that he never bore in a hand a better sword than this.

00:52:49.660 After that the old man went out of the hall, and no one knew who he was or where he was

00:52:56.280 going. They now got up, and no one hung back in taking hold of the sword. He counted himself

00:53:05.880 best off who got it out first. Then the most notable among them went up first, and afterwards

00:53:14.140 the others one by one. And not one who went up succeeded, for when they took hold, the

00:53:22.820 sword would not budge.

00:53:25.840 Then Sigmund, the son of King Volsung, came up, gripped the sword, and pulled it out of

00:53:31.940 the trunk, as if he found it quite loose.

00:53:36.200 He seemed to everyone such an excellent weapon, that no one thought he had ever seen such

00:53:41.740 a fine sword, and Sigir offered to weigh him out three times its weight of gold.

00:53:49.660 have taken it from where it was fixed as easily as I did, if it was right for you to bear

00:53:55.900 it," replied Sigmund, but as it is, my hand was the first it came to, and you'll never

00:54:04.180 get it, even if you offer all the gold you possess for it."

00:54:10.860 King Sigir grew angry at these words, and considered that he had been given an insolent

00:54:16.940 answer, but since he was a great dissembler, he now made as if he didn't mind about this

00:54:24.320 matter. Yet that very evening, he thought of how he could pay him back, and that is

00:54:31.620 what later came about.

00:54:35.400 Volsunga Saga Part 4 of Mini

00:54:42.000 CHAPTER IV

00:54:45.440 That night, as we are told, Sigir slept with Signy.

00:54:50.700 Next day the weather was fine, so King Sigir said that he would return home and not wait

00:54:57.180 for the wind to rise and make the sea impassable.

00:55:01.760 The story does not say that King Vorsung dissuaded him, nor that his sons did so, especially

00:55:09.100 when he saw that Sigir wanted only to be off

00:55:12.060 and to leave the wedding festivities.

00:55:16.060 Signe now spoke to her father.

00:55:19.620 I don't want to go away with Sigir,

00:55:22.960 nor do I feel at all warmly towards him.

00:55:26.460 And my gift of second sight, which runs in the family,

00:55:30.240 tells me that this business will result in a great deal of misery for us,

00:55:34.940 unless this marriage is speedily annulled.

00:55:39.100 You must not speak like that, daughter, he said, because it would be most shameful for

00:55:46.520 him and for us to make void the agreement with him without just cause, and if it is

00:55:53.400 annulled, that we can neither trust him nor keep his friendship, and that he will pay

00:55:59.240 us back as best he can, and only proper thing to do is for us to keep our part of the bargain.

00:56:05.820 King Sigir now made ready for the journey home, but before they left the scene of their

00:56:13.860 wedding, he invited his father-in-law, King Worsung, to visit him in Gautland in three

00:56:19.640 months' time, accompanied by all his sons and by as many men as he desired, and as would

00:56:27.000 befit this state.

00:56:30.040 In this way, King Sigir wanted to make up for his lack of courtesy at the wedding celebrations.

00:56:35.760 and not wishing to stay for more than one night,

00:56:39.560 which was not at all the usual way for anyone to behave.

00:56:45.040 King Vorsung then promised to make the journey and arrive on the appointed day.

00:56:50.800 Then son-in-law and father-in-law parted, and Sigir returned home with his wife.

00:56:59.800 Chapter 5

00:57:01.420 At the appointed time, so the story tells us, King Varsung and his sons set off for Gautland

00:57:09.980 in compliance with their in-law Sigir's request.

00:57:14.760 They put off from the land in three ships, Arwar Manned, had a very good voyage and got

00:57:21.880 their ships to Gautland, arriving in the late evening.

00:57:25.320 That same evening, Signe, King Vorisling's daughter, came to ask her father and her brothers to have a private talk with her.

00:57:35.800 She then said that in her opinion, it was also King Sigir's own.

00:57:41.680 Sigir had got together a large force that was invincible. 0.70

00:57:46.400 And he means to break faith with you, so I beg you, she said, to get back to your own country immediately. 0.96

00:57:54.420 Get hold of as large a group of men as you can, and return and get revenge, rather than walk into this trap, for you'll find no lack of treachery in him if you don't adopt the plan I desire you to.

00:58:10.560 Then King Volsung said,

00:58:40.560 at my sons for fearing to meet death. For everybody must die sometime. There is no escape

00:58:48.860 from dying the once. And my decision is that we do not run, and let us act on part as bravely

00:58:57.440 as we can. I have fought on a hundred occasions. Sometimes I had a bigger force, and sometimes

00:59:06.360 Sometimes it's been smaller, but I've always been the victor, and there'll be no report

00:59:12.380 of my running away or of my suing for peace."

00:59:19.120 Then Signy wept bitterly and begged not to have to go back to King Sigir.

00:59:25.600 Of course you must go back to your husband, King Vorsung replied, and stay with him whatever

00:59:31.980 happens to us.

00:59:35.100 So Cygni went back, and they stayed where they were that night.

00:59:40.340 But at daybreak the next morning, King Varsung ordered all his men to get up, go ashore,

00:59:47.440 and prepare for action.

00:59:50.380 So they all went ashore, fully armed, and there was not long to wait before King Sigir

00:59:56.680 came up with the whole of his army.

01:00:00.260 The battle that now ensued between them was very fierce.

01:00:04.920 The king hotly urged on his men to attack, and we are told that King Volsung and his

01:00:10.440 sons went right through the enemy ranks eight times that day, slashing right and left.

01:00:17.940 And just as they were about to do so again, King Volsung fell in the middle of his line,

01:00:24.320 and so too all his men, except his ten sons with him, for they were faced by a superior

01:00:32.160 force, far greater than they could stand against.

01:00:37.180 All his sons were taken prisoner, bound, and marched off.

01:00:43.160 Signy discovered that her father had been killed, and her brothers captured and sentenced

01:00:48.600 to death.

01:00:50.560 She then asked King Sigir for a word in private, and Signy then said,

01:00:58.100 I want to ask you not to have my brothers executed so swiftly.

01:01:03.360 Have them put in the stocks instead.

01:01:06.440 There's a saying that fits my case.

01:01:09.840 Happy the eye that gazes its fill.

01:01:13.460 But I'm not asking for them to be given any longer, since I imagine it would be useless.

01:01:19.140 You must be quiet, out of your mind, to ask a worse fate for your brothers than being instantly put to the sword, answered Sigir.

01:01:31.380 But I'll do as you ask, for the more they suffer and the slower they die, the better I like it.

01:01:49.140 forest the ten brothers had their legs clamped in, and there they sat all day and night came

01:01:56.760 on. And at midnight an old she-wolf came out from the forest to where they were sitting

01:02:03.380 in the stocks. She was large and evil-looking. What she did was to bite one of them to death,

01:02:13.340 Thereupon, devour him, and then go away. 0.83

01:02:17.740 The following morning, Signy sent out her most trusted man to her brothers to find out what had happened.

01:02:25.620 And when he came back, he told her that one of them was dead.

01:02:30.680 She thought it would be terrible if they were all to go the same way.

01:02:35.580 Yet she could do nothing to help.

01:02:39.900 What happened is soon told.

01:02:41.920 On nine successive nights, that same wolf appeared at midnight, and each time she killed and ate one of them until all were dead, and Sigmund alone remained.

01:02:57.500 And now, before the tenth night came, Signy sent her trusted servant to her brother, Sigmund.

01:03:03.820 She had handed him some honey with instructions to smear it over Sigmund's face

01:03:11.360 And put some of it in his mouth

01:03:14.120 He now went off to Sigmund, did what he'd been told to do, and so returned

01:03:20.960 That night the same wolf came as usual

01:03:25.320 Intending to bite him to death as she had his brothers

01:03:28.740 But then she sniffed the honey that had been smeared on him 0.99

01:03:32.940 and she licked his face all over with her tongue 0.99

01:03:36.260 and then thrust her tongue into his mouth. 0.99

01:03:40.520 He took heart and bit the wolf's tongue 1.00

01:03:43.260 as she gave a violent jerk and strained backwards 1.00

01:03:47.420 pressing hard with her paws against the stalks 1.00

01:03:50.740 which as a result split apart.

01:03:54.080 But he held so firmly that the wolf's tongue

01:03:56.960 was torn out by the roots 1.00

01:03:59.060 and that finished her.

01:04:00.920 And some people have it that the wolf was King Sigur's mother, who had assumed the

01:04:07.340 shape on account of witchcraft and magic.

01:04:12.680 CHAPTER 6

01:04:15.100 So Sigmund was freed, and the stocks were broken, but he stayed on in the woods.

01:04:21.820 Signy sent again to find out what had happened, and whether Sigmund was alive.

01:04:27.160 And when they arrived, he told them all the details of his encounter with the wolf.

01:04:32.800 Then they returned and told Signy what had taken place.

01:04:37.020 So she went and found her brother, and they decided that he should build an underground

01:04:41.960 retreat in the woods.

01:04:44.220 And what now happened for a time was that Signy hid him there and provided him with

01:04:49.940 everything he needed.

01:04:52.540 And King Sigir imagined that all the Volsungs were dead.

01:04:57.960 King Sigir had two sons by his wife, and we are told that when the elder son was ten years

01:05:04.920 old, Signy sent him off to find Sigmund so that he could help him, should he wish to

01:05:11.720 make any attempt to avenge his father.

01:05:15.720 So the boy made his way to the forest, and late in the evening he came to Sigmund's

01:05:21.300 retreat, where he was given a terrible welcome, and told that he could make bread for them

01:05:27.980 both, and I'll go and look for firewood. And handing him a bag of flour, Sigmund himself

01:05:38.040 went to look for the wood. And when he came back, the lad had still done nothing about

01:05:44.420 making the bread. Then Sigmund asked whether the bread was ready.

01:05:51.600 I didn't dare touch the bag, he replied, because there was something alive in the flour.

01:05:59.500 Then Sigmund thought to himself that he could see that the lad was not so plucky that he'd

01:06:06.360 want to keep him there. The next time Sigmund and his sister met, he said he seemed no nearer

01:06:13.400 to getting him on, even though the boy was staying with him. 0.99

01:06:19.280 Then seize and kill him, said Signy. 0.99

01:06:23.480 There's no need for him to live any longer. 1.00

01:06:27.020 And that's what he did.

01:06:29.460 The winter passed, and the next winter, Signy sent the younger son to stay with Sigmund.

01:06:35.680 But there's no need to make a longer story of it, as the upshot was much the same.

01:06:42.940 He killed the boy at Signy's bidding.

01:06:45.840 Valsunga Saga Part 6 of Mini Chapter 7

01:06:57.440 The next thing to be told is how Signy was sitting one day in her private quarters when

01:07:03.860 a sorceress highly skilled in magic arts came to her there.

01:07:09.880 Then Signe spoke to her.

01:07:13.160 I would like the two of us to exchange shapes, she said.

01:07:18.760 What you desire shall be done, the sorceress replied.

01:07:24.560 And then by her arts she brought about an exchange of appearances, and after that the 0.92

01:07:29.960 sorceress took Signe's place as she was told to do.

01:07:35.120 That night she slept with the king and he didn't notice that it wasn't Signy who was with him.

01:07:42.360 Signy, we are told, went to her brother's retreat and asked him to give her shelter

01:07:46.940 for the night, for I am lost here in the forest and I don't know where I'm going.

01:07:54.440 He said she could stay there and that he would not refuse her shelter, all alone as she was,

01:08:01.000 felt that she would not repay his hospitality by giving him away.

01:08:06.060 So she joined him in the shelter and they sat down to a meal.

01:08:10.240 He often glanced at her and she appeared to be a good looking and attractive woman.

01:08:15.820 And when they were satisfied he told her that he wanted them to sleep together that night.

01:08:21.280 She made no objection and for three nights in succession he laid her next to him.

01:08:27.960 Afterwards, she went back and found the sorceress, told her that they must now change back to their own shapes again, and the woman saw to it.

01:08:38.680 And after some time had passed, Signy gave birth to a son.

01:08:44.140 The boy was called Sinfjotli, and when he grew older, he was tall, strong, and handsome, and took after the Wurzling family very markedly.

01:08:54.000 and he was scarcely ten years old when she sent him to join Sigmund in his retreat.

01:09:01.060 Before sending her first two sons to Sigmund, she had submitted them to the following test.

01:09:07.720 She sewed their tunics onto their arms, stitching through skin and flesh.

01:09:13.920 They stood up to it badly and screamed as it was being done.

01:09:19.040 She did the same to Simfiotli.

01:09:21.640 He did not flinch.

01:09:24.000 Then she stripped the tunic from him so that the skin came off with the sleeves and said that this would hurt him.

01:09:33.140 No Worsund would think much of a pain like that, was the reply, and so the lad came to Sigmund.

01:09:44.560 Sigmund then took him to use their flour to make dough, saying that he would go and look for firewood for them, and handed him a sack.

01:09:54.000 He then went to fetch the wood, and when he came back, Sinfjotli had finished baking.

01:10:00.080 Then Sigmund asked if he had found anything in the flour.

01:10:04.800 I'm not at all sure that there wasn't something alive in the flour when I first started kneading,

01:10:10.320 he said, but I kneaded in whatever was there.

01:10:15.920 Sigmund laughed and said, I don't think you'll eat any of this bread tonight,

01:10:21.600 for you've needed in a huge poisonous snake.

01:10:27.620 Sigmund was so hardy that he could take poison and it come to no harm.

01:10:32.620 But though Sinfjortli was able to stand outward contact with poison,

01:10:36.540 he could neither eat nor drink it.

01:10:41.000 Chapter 8

01:10:42.600 The story now tells how Sigmund thought Sinfjortli too young to go with him in search of vengeance.

01:10:51.600 and decided he would first gain him experience in something that called for grit and determination.

01:11:00.980 For some summers, they roved far and wide through the forest and killed people for plunder. 0.99

01:11:08.600 Sigmund thought that he took after the Volsungs, and markedly so, 0.56

01:11:13.540 but he believed him to be King Sigur's son with his father's evil inclinations.

01:11:18.240 even if he did have the keenness and energy of the Wollsungs.

01:11:24.020 Although he did not imagine he felt very attached to his family 1.00

01:11:27.800 for he often reminded Sigmund of his wrongs

01:11:31.260 and kept urging him to kill King Sigur.

01:11:35.280 Now one day they went again in the forest

01:11:38.220 in order to find themselves riches

01:11:41.000 and they came to a cabin

01:11:43.000 and in the cabin there were two men asleep

01:11:46.100 wearing heavy gold rings.

01:11:49.800 An evil fate had overtaken them, for there were wolf skins hanging above them in the

01:11:55.780 cabin.

01:11:56.780 They could shed the skins once every ten days.

01:12:01.340 They were princes.

01:12:04.020 Sigmund and Sincholi got into the skins and could not get out of them again.

01:12:09.660 A strange power was there, just as before, and they even howled like wolves, both understanding what was being said.

01:12:20.280 They now went off into the woods, each of them his own way, but they made an arrangement that they would risk it against up to seven men, but not against more, and if one of them should meet with trouble, then he was to howl.

01:12:35.680 "'And let's keep to that,' said Sigmund.

01:12:40.860 "'Both you or a young daredevil people will think it grand to hunt down.'

01:12:47.100 Then they each went off on their own, and after they had separated, Sigmund came across

01:12:54.580 seven men and howled with his wolf's voice.

01:12:58.120 Sin shortly heard it, was immediately on the spot and killed all of them.

01:13:06.620 They separated once more.

01:13:09.520 And before Sin shortly had been roving about the forest very long, he encountered eleven 0.88

01:13:14.760 men and fought with them, and the result was that he killed them all.

01:13:20.880 He too was badly hurt, got under an oak and rested there.

01:13:26.720 Then Sigmund came up and said,

01:13:29.300 Why didn't you call out?

01:13:33.200 I didn't want to call on you for help, said Sinfjalli.

01:13:38.160 You were given help in killing seven men, 0.77

01:13:41.800 yet I'm no more than a child compared with you,

01:13:45.360 and I didn't call for help to kill eleven.

01:13:50.340 Sigmund went for him so violently that he staggered and fell. 0.65

01:13:54.140 Sigmund bit him in the throat. 0.98

01:13:58.560 That day they were unable to shed the wolf skins. 0.98

01:14:02.720 Sigmund then hoisted him over his shoulder and carried him back to the hut and watched

01:14:07.760 over him and wished the wolf skins to the devil.

01:14:13.960 One day Sigmund chanced to see two weasels and one bit the other in the throat and then

01:14:19.900 ran to the woods and fetched a leaf and laid it on the wound, and the weasel leapt up well

01:14:26.580 again.

01:14:28.420 Sigmund went out and saw a raven flying with a leaf that it brought to him.

01:14:34.220 This he drew across St. Shortley's wound and he immediately jumped up quite recovered,

01:14:39.520 just as if he had never been hurt.

01:14:43.460 After that they went to their underground lair and stayed there until they could throw 0.98

01:14:47.620 off the wolf skins. They seized them and fed them to the flames, saying they should trouble 0.99

01:14:54.200 no one again. While under the curse they had carried out many daring exploits in King Sigir's

01:15:01.560 territory. And by the time Sinfjotli had grown up, Sigmund believed that he tested him thoroughly.

01:15:09.920 And it wasn't long before Sigmund wished to set about avenging his father. If only it could be

01:15:15.880 done. So one day they left the forest retreat, coming to King Sigur's estate late in the

01:15:23.860 afternoon, and they went into the outer room at the front of the hall. Inside there were

01:15:30.760 some ale barrels, and they hid themselves there. Now the queen got to know where they

01:15:36.980 were and wanted to go and see them, and when they met they decided that they would attempt

01:15:42.360 to avenge their father after nightfall.

01:15:46.700 Signy and the king had two children of tender years.

01:15:51.020 They were amusing themselves on the floor with golden playthings, bowling them along

01:15:55.940 the hall floor and running after them.

01:15:59.600 And a gold ring rolled out into the room where Sigmund and his companion were, and the lad

01:16:05.600 ran after the ring to look for it.

01:16:08.920 And then he spied two tall, fierce-looking men sitting there, wearing helmets which

01:16:15.820 came down low over their faces, and shining coats of mail.

01:16:22.020 Then he ran back into the hall to his father and told him what he had seen.

01:16:28.500 So the king suspected that there must be treachery afoot.

01:16:33.160 Now Signy heard what they said.

01:16:35.840 She stood up, took both children, and went into the outer room to them, and said that

01:16:41.520 they ought to know that the children had given them away. 1.00

01:16:45.080 And I think you had better kill them. 1.00

01:16:49.280 I'll kill not your children, even if they had given me away, said Sigmund. 1.00

01:16:56.560 But Sinfjotli was nothing daunted. 0.99

01:16:59.960 He drew his sword and killed both the children.

01:17:03.940 them into the inner part of the hall right in front of King Sigir.

01:17:09.580 Then the king stood up and called out to his retainers to seize the men who had been hiding

01:17:14.900 in the outer room throughout the evening.

01:17:18.160 So some of his men ran to the outer room intending to lay hands on them, but they put up an able

01:17:24.120 and courageous defense, and for a long time the man who felt he was the worst off was the

01:17:30.140 one nearest them.

01:17:32.480 But in the end they were overpowered, seized, and subbound and shackled, and there they

01:17:37.500 sat all the night.

01:17:40.300 Meantime, the king pondered what would be the slowest way he knew of putting them to

01:17:46.040 death.

01:17:47.040 And when morning came, the king had a huge burial mound made out of stones and turf,

01:17:55.140 and when the mound was ready, he had a great stone slab fixed in the middle, in such a

01:18:01.200 away that one end of the slab pointed up and the other down.

01:18:06.800 It was big enough to reach right across from side to side, so that it was impossible to

01:18:12.580 get around it.

01:18:15.120 Then he had Sigmund and Sincerely brought out and put inside the mound, one on each

01:18:20.600 side by himself, for he thought it would be worse for them if they were not both together,

01:18:28.040 could none the less hear each other.

01:18:31.280 And while they were busy covering over the mound with turf, Signe came up with an armful

01:18:36.920 of straw. 0.51

01:18:38.760 She threw it into the mound to Sincjotli and told the serfs to conceal this from the king.

01:18:45.960 They said they would do so and then the mound was closed in.

01:18:50.760 Now when it began to grow dark, Sincjotli said to Sigmund,

01:18:55.440 I don't think we'll go short for food in here for a time.

01:19:00.980 The queen threw down some pork into the mound.

01:19:04.300 She wrapped it up in straw.

01:19:07.540 Once more he felt the pork over and discovered that Sigmund's sword had been thrust into it.

01:19:13.840 He recognized it by the hilt, for it was dark in the mound, and he told Sigmund.

01:19:20.260 They were both overjoyed.

01:19:22.140 Then Sinfjartli thrust the point of the sword up over the stone slab and pulled down hard.

01:19:30.420 The sword bit into the stone.

01:19:33.760 Sigmund now took hold of the sword point and then they sawed through the stone, not giving

01:19:40.400 up until the sawing was complete.

01:19:43.740 As the poet says,

01:19:45.300 They cut with might the massive slab, Sigmund with his blade and Sinfjortli.

01:19:54.300 So both were now three together in the mound, and they soldered with stones and iron too,

01:20:00.920 and in this way they got out of the mound.

01:20:04.940 They then went back to the hall where everyone was asleep.

01:20:09.320 They brought up wood to the hall and set fire to the wood, and those inside were awakened

01:20:15.060 by smoke, and the hall all ablaze above them.

01:20:19.340 The king asked who had started the fire.

01:20:22.380 Here we are, myself and Sinfjordli, my sister's son, said Sigmund, and now we intend you to

01:20:31.300 know that not all the Volsungs are dead.

01:20:36.380 He told his sister to come out and receive from him every consideration and high esteem,

01:20:42.780 leaning in this way to make up for what she had suffered.

01:20:46.600 You'll know now whether or not I've remembered King Sigurd's killing of King Volsung against him,

01:20:54.080 she answered.

01:20:55.420 And I had our children killed when they seemed to me all too tardy in avenging our father.

01:21:02.020 And in the shape of some sorceress, I came to you in the forest,

01:21:08.760 and since shortly is your son and mine.

01:21:12.780 His immense vigor comes from being King Vorsung's grandson on his father's as well as his mother's side.

01:21:22.320 Everything I have done has been to bring about King Sigir's death,

01:21:27.720 and I have done so much to achieve vengeance that to go on living is out of the question.

01:21:35.800 I shall now gladly die with King Sigir, reluctant that I was to marry him.

01:21:42.780 Then she kissed her brother Sigmund, and sent Fjortli, and walking into the inferno she

01:21:51.920 bade them farewell, and thereupon she perished there with King Sigur and all his men.

01:21:59.900 The two kinsmen got together a following, and ships, and Sigmund set off for his ancestral

01:22:08.620 lands, and he drove from the country the king who established himself there in secession

01:22:15.060 to King Volsung.

01:22:17.680 Sigmund now became a powerful king and was famous, intelligent, and ambitious.

01:22:24.800 He married a woman whose name was Borghild, and they had two sons, Helgi was one and Hamund

01:22:32.740 the other. And when Helgi was born, the Norns appeared, and they granted him knowledge of

01:22:40.120 his destiny, saying that of all kings he would be the most famous. Sigmund had just returned

01:22:48.360 from battle, and taking with him some garlic, he went to see his son, and thereupon gave

01:22:55.560 him the name of Helgi, and his gifts for the occasion were Ringstadr, and Solfel, and a

01:23:04.360 sword, and he told him he must go on in life and be a real Vorsung. He grew into a noble-minded

01:23:14.040 and well-loved man, and his talents in every field outstripped those of most others. It

01:23:21.920 It is told that he went to raiding when he was fifteen years old.

01:23:26.360 Helgi was in charge of the troops, but Sinfjotli was put in with him, and they shared the command

01:23:33.200 between them.

01:23:36.040 Volsunga Saga Part 7 of Minni Chapter 9

01:23:45.420 We are now told that while on a raiding expedition, Helgi came across a king whose name was Hunding

01:23:51.920 king. He was a powerful king, with men at his command and lands under his sway.

01:23:59.600 Battle ensued between them, and Helgi pressed on vigorously, and the battle ended with Helgi

01:24:05.920 victorious, King Hunding falling with a large part of his following. So Helgi was heard

01:24:13.720 to have greatly increased his fame by the killing of such a powerful king. Hunding's

01:24:19.920 sons then called out an army against Helgi, meaning to avenge their father. They had a

01:24:26.880 violent battle, and Helgi fought his way through the brothers' serried ranks and made for the

01:24:33.360 standards of King Hunding's sons. Of these sons, he struck down the following. Alf, Ayyoth,

01:24:42.240 Erwald, and Hagbald, and in this he won an outstanding victory. 0.98

01:24:49.520 And on his way from the battle Helgi met a large party of women near a forest.

01:24:55.360 Their appearance was impressive, but there was one who stood out among them all. 0.99

01:25:01.840 They were riding along magnificently arrayed. Helgi asked the woman who was leading them what

01:25:07.600 her name was, and she said she was called Sigru, and that she was the daughter of King Hogni.

01:25:15.920 Come home with us and welcome, said Helgi. Drinking with you is not business we have

01:25:23.200 ahead of us, said the princess then. What is that, princess, was Helgi's answer.

01:25:30.720 King Hogni, she replied, has promised me in marriage to Hodbrood, King Granmar's son,

01:25:38.240 but I have vowed to have him no more than I have had a fledgling crow as a husband.

01:25:46.160 But it was none the less come to that, unless you stop him and come against him with an army

01:25:52.720 and take me away, for there is no king I would rather make a home with than with you.

01:25:57.840 take heart princess he said we shall try out our courage rather than have you married to him

01:26:06.480 and we shall first prove which of us shall prevail against the other and i pledge my life to this

01:26:13.760 and then helgi dispatched men with gifts of money to invite people to join him

01:26:19.440 and he made the rather björg the assembly point for the whole force

01:26:23.280 There Helgi waited until a large body of men joined him from head in sea.

01:26:30.680 And then there joined him a great nether from Norvisund with fine large ships.

01:26:37.960 King Helgi summoned a ship's captain, his name was Leif, and asked if he had counted

01:26:43.640 their numbers, and he replied,

01:26:46.120 It's not easy to count them, sir.

01:26:49.460 On the ships come from Norvosund there are 12,000 men, but the other force is far greater.

01:26:58.240 King Helgi then ordered them to turn to the Firth called Virensfjord, and they did so.

01:27:06.080 And then a heavy storm hit them, and the sea was so high that when the waves roared against

01:27:11.520 the sides of the ship, it sounded just as if boulders were being clashed together.

01:27:18.100 Ergi then told them not to be afraid and not to strike sail, but instead to hoist each

01:27:24.860 of them higher than before.

01:27:27.760 They were then on the verge of foundering before they could make land.

01:27:33.520 Then Sigrun, King Hogni's daughter, came down to the shore with a large party and directed

01:27:39.720 them to a good harbor called Gnippurund.

01:27:43.800 The inhabitants of that region saw what was happening, and down to the shore came King

01:27:48.920 Hodbrod's brother, who governed the district known as Svarinsbog.

01:27:55.320 He called to them and asked them who was in command of that large force.

01:28:01.120 Sin Fjotli stood up, and on his head was a helmet that shone like glass, and he wore 0.63

01:28:07.000 a coat of mare as dazzling as snow. 0.93

01:28:10.440 A spear with a fine pennant was in his hand, and before him he held a shield inlaid with

01:28:16.980 gold.

01:28:18.680 He knew how to parley with kings.

01:28:21.400 Say this when you have fed your pigs and dogs, and you meet your wife.

01:28:29.240 The Varsungs are here, and King Helgi can be found here with his troops.

01:28:35.460 Hoedbrod wants to find him, and it is his pleasure to fight with glory while you kiss

01:28:41.580 your serving oars by the fire.

01:28:45.580 You don't seem able to say anything very honourable, or talk of old memories.

01:28:54.140 You who tell lies about men of rank, answered Gronmar, it is probably truer to say that

01:29:02.100 you have long fed on Ruf's Fair, out in the forests, and have killed your brothers, and 0.94

01:29:08.520 it is extraordinary that you, who have sucked the blood of many a cold corpse, should dare

01:29:15.140 to come in an army with decent men. 0.98

01:29:20.100 You probably won't now remember clearly the time you were the Sibyl on Varency," answered

01:29:27.160 in Fiori, and declared you desired a mate, and chose me for this office of husband.

01:29:35.120 And later on you were a Valkyrie in Asgard, and they were all on the point of fighting

01:29:41.240 because of you. 0.71

01:29:43.320 And in Laganness I begotten nine wolves on you, and I was the father of them all."

01:29:50.320 You're a great hound at lying, answered Granmar. 0.97

01:29:56.560 I don't think you could be anyone's father, since you were castrated by the giant daughter 0.95

01:30:02.540 at Thrasnas, and you were King Sigur's stepson, and you roamed abroad with wolves in the forest,

01:30:10.600 and every stroke of evil fate descended on you at once. 0.63

01:30:15.460 You killed your brothers and got yourself an evil name. 0.95

01:30:21.740 Do you remember the time you were the male with the steed Grani? 0.96

01:30:27.340 Sinchaltly answered, and I rode you at full gallop on Bravor. 0.98

01:30:32.060 Later, you were the giant Golnir's goatherd. 0.99

01:30:39.460 I would rather feed birds on your carcass than wrangle with you any longer, said Granmar. 1.00

01:30:47.200 It would be better for you both in a more sensible plan to fight, said King Hergivin,

01:30:54.260 rather than say things that are shameful to hear.

01:30:57.780 And Granmar's sons are no friend of mine, hearty men though they are.

01:31:02.120 Grandmar now rode away to a meeting with King Hodbrod at a place called Solfell.

01:31:11.160 The names of their horses were Sveepud and Svegyud.

01:31:15.680 They met at the castle gate, and he was told of the enemy's approach.

01:31:20.680 King Hodbrod was clad in mail, and a helmet was on his head.

01:31:24.920 He asked who they were.

01:31:26.880 And why are you looking so angry?

01:31:30.880 The Vorsungs are here with 12,000 men just offshore and 7,000 on the island of Sok, said

01:31:40.560 Grinmar, but their largest force is off Grindyr, so I think Helgi probably means to fight. 0.59

01:31:48.580 Then let us send a summons throughout all our kingdom, said the king, and march against 0.97

01:31:55.320 them. No staying at home for those who wished to fight. Let us send a word to Thuring's 0.98

01:32:01.320 sons, and to King Hogni, and to Arth the Old. They are great warriors.

01:32:07.560 They met at a place called Frekastein, and there a fierce battle began.

01:32:12.920 Helgi pressed forward through the enemy ranks. Casualties became heavy there.

01:32:18.360 They saw a large party of warrior maids. It was like gazing into flame.

01:32:23.480 him. Sigrun, the king's daughter, was there. King Helgi made a king holdbrot and struck

01:32:31.200 him down beneath his banners.

01:32:33.260 My thanks for his great feat, said Sigrun then. The lands will now change hands. This

01:32:40.040 is a happy day for me, and from this you will win honor and renown, striking down so powerful

01:32:47.540 a king. King Helgi took over the kingdom and lived there long. He married Sigrun, becoming

01:32:54.900 a renowned and distinguished king. But he did not appear again in this saga.

01:33:02.820 Chapter 10 So the Volfsungs returned home, and one

01:33:08.040 more they had considerably added to their reputation. Since Flautli went off the rating

01:33:14.380 him. He saw a good-looking woman and desired her very much. The brother of Borghird, King

01:33:21.900 Sigmund's wife, was also seeking this woman's hand in marriage. They fought a battle over

01:33:27.760 their differences and Sinfjotli struck down the king concerned. He now went raiding over

01:33:34.020 a wide area, fought many battles, and was always victorious. He became a most famous

01:33:40.660 and distinguished man, and returned home that autumn with a large number of ships and wealth

01:33:47.160 in plenty.

01:33:49.080 He told his father the news, and his father told the queen.

01:33:53.160 She ordered Sintyatli to leave the realm, and said that she had no wish to see him.

01:33:59.460 Sigmund declared he would not allow him to leave, and offered to compensate her with

01:34:04.840 gold and great riches, though previously he had never paid compensation to anyone.

01:34:12.280 He said there was no distinction to be won in choosing a quarrel with a woman,

01:34:17.640 so she was not able to get her own way in the matter.

01:34:22.440 Yours must be the decision, sire, that is only proper, she said.

01:34:27.880 Then, with the king's consent, she set about the arrangements for her brother's funeral feast,

01:34:32.600 providing the best of food and drink, and she invited many important men to it.

01:34:39.940 Borekild carried the drink round to the men.

01:34:43.360 She came to Sinfjotli with a large drinking horn and said,

01:34:47.140 Now drink, stepson.

01:34:49.620 He took the horn, peered in, and said,

01:34:53.380 The drink is cloudy.

01:34:56.000 Give it to me then, said Sigmund.

01:34:58.480 He drank it off.

01:34:59.380 Why should other people drink ale for you? said the queen.

01:35:04.440 She came a second time with the horn. 0.95

01:35:07.420 Drink now, she said, and roundly jittered at him.

01:35:11.780 He grasped the horn and said, This drink has been tampered with.

01:35:17.360 Give it to me then, said Sigmund. 0.97

01:35:20.340 She came a third time, and told him to drain the horn if he had the courage of the Volsungs. 0.79

01:35:27.220 Sinfjotli grasped the horn and said,

01:35:29.660 This drink has been poisoned.

01:35:33.260 Strain it through your mustache, my son,

01:35:36.320 exclaimed Sigmund in reply.

01:35:39.300 The king was very drunk at the time,

01:35:41.400 and that is why he spoke as he did.

01:35:44.000 Sinfjotli draped and immediately collapsed.

01:35:47.900 Sigmund rose to his feet,

01:35:50.100 almost succumbing in grief,

01:35:52.180 and he took the body in his arms

01:35:54.140 and went to the forest,

01:35:55.200 and eventually came to a Firth.

01:35:58.760 There he saw a man in a small boat.

01:36:02.120 The man asked if he wanted to ferry it across the Firth.

01:36:05.660 He said he did.

01:36:07.660 The boat was so small that it would not hold them,

01:36:10.700 and the body was taken first.

01:36:13.240 Sigmund walking alongside the Firth.

01:36:16.260 The next instant, the ship vanished from sight,

01:36:19.440 and with it, the man.

01:36:22.160 After this, Sigmund returned home,

01:36:24.200 and he now banished the queen, who soon afterwards died.

01:36:29.300 King Sigmund now ruled his kingdom as before,

01:36:31.920 and he thought of as the greatest and most valiant king in heathen times.

01:36:38.920 Vilsunga Saga

01:36:40.320 Part 8 of Many

01:36:44.880 Chapter 11

01:36:48.480 There was a powerful and famous king named Arlimi.

01:36:55.800 His daughter's name was Hjordes.

01:36:59.220 She was the best-looking and most intelligent woman there was,

01:37:03.640 and King Sigmund heard that she and none other would suit him.

01:37:09.240 Sigmund now set out to visit King Arlimi,

01:37:12.880 who prepared a great feast to welcome him.

01:37:15.680 if his journey there was without hostile intent.

01:37:22.500 Messages now passed between them to the effect that they came in friendship, and did not

01:37:29.240 mean war.

01:37:31.820 The feast was supplied with the best of everything, and a large number of people was there.

01:37:39.520 Facts were provided for King Sigmund all along the route, and other amenities to help him

01:37:46.000 on his journey.

01:37:47.560 Thus they arrived at the feast, and the two kings shared the same hall.

01:37:53.860 King Lingvi, King Hunning's son, had also appeared, and he too would have liked to have

01:38:00.780 King Arlimmi as a father-in-law.

01:38:04.680 He didn't imagine their mission would end in the same way for both of them, and he rather

01:38:10.260 thought that the one who failed would very likely make trouble.

01:38:17.240 Then said the king to his daughter, You are an intelligent woman, and I said that you

01:38:24.700 would choose your own husband.

01:38:27.700 So choose between the two kings, and your decision in the matter will be mine too.

01:38:34.520 I don't find this easy, she replied, but I'll choose the king who has the highest

01:38:42.540 renown, and that is King Sigmund, even though he is well on in years. 0.85

01:38:51.480 So it was to him she was given, and King Lingvi went away.

01:38:57.940 Sigmund married, taking Kjörlis as his wife.

01:39:02.520 Every day they were feasted better, and with more zest than the day before.

01:39:09.480 Afterwards King Sigmund returned to Hunland, and King Arlimmi his father-in-law with him,

01:39:16.160 and he saw to his kingdom.

01:39:19.900 And now King Lingvi and his brothers gathered an army about them, and moved against King

01:39:26.580 Sigmund, for they had always had the worst of it, but this was the last straw. 0.82

01:39:33.280 They now meant to dampen the ardor of the Wurlsungs. 0.85

01:39:38.060 So they arrived in Hunund, and sent water to King Sigmund, not wishing to take him by

01:39:43.580 surprise and being confident that he wouldn't run from them king sigmund said that he would give

01:39:52.060 battle he gathered together an army and heurus was driven over to the woods accompanied by a bond

01:40:00.060 woman and a large amount of treasure went with them she was there throughout the fighting the

01:40:09.260 The Vikings leaped from their ships in overwhelming numbers.

01:40:13.500 King Sigmund and Eilemi raised their standards, and the trumpets were sounded.

01:40:18.940 Then Sigmund blew the horn that had been his father's and urged on his men.

01:40:23.780 Sigmund's force was smaller by far.

01:40:26.340 Now a fierce battle began there, and Sigmund, old as he was, fought savagely, and he was

01:40:31.740 always in the forefront of his men.

01:40:33.880 Neither shield nor coat of Mair could stand against him, and on that day he constantly

01:40:39.500 pierced clean through the ranks of the enemies, and no one could see how the fight between

01:40:44.880 them would turn out.

01:40:46.640 Numerous spears hurtled through the air, and arrows too, but his Norns looked after him,

01:40:53.020 so he remained unscathed, and no one kept the count of the men who fared before him.

01:40:58.940 Both his arms were bloody to the shoulders.

01:41:02.360 Now when the battle had gone on for some time, a man who had on a black cloak and a cat coming

01:41:08.720 down low over his face entered the fray.

01:41:11.820 He had but one eye, and in his hand he held a spear.

01:41:15.740 The man advanced towards King Sigmund, raising his spear to bar his way, and when King Sigmund

01:41:22.120 struck fiercely, his sword hit against the spear and snapped in two.

01:41:27.400 After this, the balance of the casualties shifted.

01:41:30.540 King Sigmund's good luck had turned, and his losses were heavy.

01:41:34.620 The king gave no thought for himself, and he urged on his men hotly.

01:41:39.200 The saying that numbers count was now an apt one.

01:41:45.000 Chapter 12 In this battle, King Sigmund fell, as did 0.98

01:41:52.160 his father-in-law, King Ailemi, at the head of his troops along with the best part of

01:41:58.780 his force. King Lingvi then paid a visit to the royal residence, expecting to find and

01:42:07.280 seize the king's daughter, but in this he was thwarted. He found neither woman nor treasure

01:42:14.400 there. Then he went through the country and shared out the land among his men. He now

01:42:22.520 thought that he had wiped out the whole Worsug family, so that he supposed that from then

01:42:29.000 on there would be no cause for alarm.

01:42:33.860 The night after the battle, Hjordes went out to the men who had fallen, came to the spot

01:42:40.980 where King Sigmund was lying, and asked if he could be made well again.

01:42:49.900 Many have recovered when there was little hope, he answered.

01:42:55.300 But my good luck has turned, and so I do not wish to be made well.

01:43:02.660 Odin does not want me to draw a sword, for now it lies broken.

01:43:09.120 I have fought battles while it was his pleasure.

01:43:13.900 I should think, she said, that nothing would be lacking if you were made well and avenged

01:43:19.720 my father. That is left for others, said the king. You are with child, a boy. Give him

01:43:30.820 a good and careful upbringing. The boy shall be famous and the foremost of our house. Look

01:43:40.660 after the pieces of the sword as well. A fine sword can be made from them. It will be called

01:43:48.500 Grom, and our son will bear it and perform many great deeds with it, deeds which shall

01:43:56.900 never be forgotten, and his name shall live as long as the world endures.

01:44:04.100 Now be content with that, but my wounds are troubling me, and I shall now go to join our

01:44:13.400 kinsmen who have gone before.

01:44:16.180 Then Hjordas watched over him until he died, and then dawn came.

01:44:24.420 She saw that a good many ships have put him to shore.

01:44:28.300 We'll exchange clothes, she said to the bondwoman, and you call yourself by my name and say you're

01:44:37.500 the king's daughter.

01:44:40.360 And this is what they did.

01:44:43.560 The Vikings saw the carnage, and also saw the woman making there for the woods.

01:44:50.480 And they realized that something of great moment must have occurred, and they sprang

01:44:55.360 from their boats.

01:44:57.180 Alf, son of Hjalprik, King of Denmark, was in command of the force.

01:45:03.960 He had been sailing along the coast with his army.

01:45:07.620 They now came to the place of battle.

01:45:10.840 They saw the carnage there.

01:45:13.480 The king now commanded that the women should be looked for and found, and this they did.

01:45:20.340 He asked the women who they were, and then an unlikely thing happened.

01:45:25.700 The bondwoman answered for them, and told how King Sigmund had fallen in battle, along

01:45:33.720 with King Ailemi and many other high-ranking men, and told also who had done this thing.

01:45:42.600 The king asked whether they knew where the king's treasure was hidden.

01:45:46.600 It would seem rather likely we'd know that, answered the bondwoman, and she showed the

01:45:55.820 way to the treasure.

01:45:57.580 They found a vast amount of wealth, so much so they did not believe they had ever seen

01:46:05.040 so much collected together in one place, or a larger number of precious things.

01:46:12.300 had carried it to King Dolph's ships.

01:46:16.980 Hjordas went along with them, and so did the bondwoman.

01:46:21.480 He now returned to his kingdom, where he announced that the most famous kings of all had fallen

01:46:27.760 in that place.

01:46:30.240 The king sat down at the harem, and the women sat on the first bench.

01:46:35.300 He conversed with them, and what they said met with his approval.

01:46:40.680 The king arrived back in his country with a large amount of treasure, Alf was the most

01:46:46.060 capable man.

01:46:48.540 And when they had been back for a short time, the queen asked her son Alf this,

01:46:55.200 Why is it that the better looking women has fewer rings and poorer clothes? 0.69

01:47:01.920 I think that one that you have made less of is really the higher. 0.97

01:47:09.380 I suspected that her manner was not that of a bondwoman, he answered, and when we met

01:47:15.820 she knew well how to receive men of noble rank, and I'll put it to the test.

01:47:23.480 So once when they were drinking, the king sat down to talk to them.

01:47:28.440 What tells you that dawn has come if you can't see moon, stars, or sun, he said.

01:47:36.100 I can tell because when I was small

01:47:40.160 I used to have a deep drink just before daybreak

01:47:43.980 she answered

01:47:44.940 and after I left off doing this

01:47:47.800 I went on waking up as usual

01:47:50.420 and that's how I can tell

01:47:53.120 the king smiled at this

01:47:57.100 that was a poor upbringing for a princess

01:48:01.340 he said

01:48:03.200 then he went to Hjordes

01:48:05.900 and asked her the same question.

01:48:10.360 My father gave me a little gold ring,

01:48:13.540 which has a strange power, she answered him.

01:48:18.540 Just before daybreak, it grows cold on my finger.

01:48:24.700 This is how I can tell.

01:48:28.700 There was plenty of gold about if bondwoman wear it,

01:48:34.060 answered the king.

01:48:35.900 and you concealed your identity from me quite long enough.

01:48:40.300 But I have treated you as if the two of us were the children of the same king.

01:48:46.460 If you had spoken, and I shall treat you even better than that, for you shall be my wife, 0.54

01:48:53.500 and I shall pay the marriage settlement when you have born a child."

01:49:01.180 She answered and told the whole truth about those circumstances.

01:49:04.620 She was now held in great honor there, and was thought a most noteworthy woman.

01:49:13.980 Volsunga Saga, Part 9 of Minni

01:49:19.500 Chapter 13

01:49:22.660 The saga now tells how Hjordis gave birth to a son, and the boy was brought to King Chalpreth.

01:49:31.700 The king was glad when he saw the keen eyes he had in his head, and said that no one would

01:49:39.360 be like him, or a match for him, and he was sprinkled with water, and named Sigurd.

01:49:50.080 Everyone says the same thing about him.

01:49:53.420 In energy and stature, none was his peer.

01:49:59.020 He was brought up there in King Chalprek's household with great affection, and when all

01:50:05.400 the most famous men and kings in ancient tales are mentioned, it is Sigurd who must first

01:50:12.080 come in strength and ability, in eagerness and courage, of which he had far more than

01:50:19.940 any other man in Europe.

01:50:23.660 He grew up there in King Galpric's household, and everyone loved him.

01:50:30.940 He it is who betrothed Yordas to King Arth and fixed the settlement for her.

01:50:39.480 Regan was the name of Sigurd's foster father, and he was Vredmar's son.

01:50:46.060 He taught him various accomplishments, checkers, runes, and also how to speak many languages,

01:50:53.860 as was then customary for princes, and much else besides.

01:50:59.620 Once when the two were together, Regan asked Sigurd if he knew how much wealth his father

01:51:05.200 had possessed and who the people were that looked after it.

01:51:10.340 Sigurd answered, saying that the kings were looking after it.

01:51:16.540 Do you altogether trust them? said Regan.

01:51:21.060 It is right, answered Sigurd, that they should look after it until it will be of use to me,

01:51:27.660 for they are better able to guard it than I am.

01:51:31.780 Regan came a second time to talk to Sigurd and said,

01:51:35.900 It's odd that you're willing to be a horseboy for kings to go around like a renegade.

01:51:44.260 That's not so, replied Sigurd, for I have my say with them in everything, and anything I want is at my disposal.

01:51:54.720 Tell him you want a horse, said Regan.

01:51:59.120 He'll give it to me the moment I want it, replied Sigurd.

01:52:03.800 Sigrid then went to visit the kings.

01:52:07.040 Then a king said to Sigrid,

01:52:09.500 What do you want from us?

01:52:12.800 I want a horse for my sport, Sigrid answered.

01:52:17.600 Pick out a horse for yourself, said the king, and anything of ours you may want.

01:52:25.060 The following day, Sigrid went to the woods and came across an old man with a long beard,

01:52:30.980 a man he did not know.

01:52:34.040 He asked where Sigurd was going.

01:52:37.040 I am going to choose a horse, he replied.

01:52:40.940 Give me some advice about it.

01:52:44.440 Let us go and drive them to the river Bustiorn, he said.

01:52:52.440 They drove the horses out into the deep part of the river

01:52:55.700 and all swam to the shore except one.

01:52:58.960 That was the one Sigrid took.

01:53:02.780 He was gray in color, young, large, and a handsome horse.

01:53:08.140 No one had ever mounted him.

01:53:10.720 The man with the beard spoke,

01:53:13.860 This horse is sired by Sleipnir.

01:53:17.040 He must be carefully reared, for it will turn out better than any other horse.

01:53:25.560 Thereupon the men vanished.

01:53:28.380 Sigrid called the horse Grani. 0.99

01:53:30.940 That horse was the best ever.

01:53:33.700 The man who had met with him was Odin.

01:53:38.420 Regan again spoke to Sigrid.

01:53:41.880 You've too little wealth. 1.00

01:53:44.620 It annoys me to see you running around like a peasant lad, but I can tell you where great 1.00

01:53:50.860 wealth is likely to be found.

01:53:53.960 And in all probability there's honor to be had, and fame, too, should you win it.

01:54:01.720 Sigurd asked where it was, and who was guarding it.

01:54:06.240 His name is Fafnir, answered Regan, and he's lying but a short distance away.

01:54:13.660 The place is called Nginithahed, and when you get there you will say that you have never

01:54:19.960 seen a hoard greater of gold in any one place, and you'll not need more, even if you become

01:54:29.380 the most senior and most renowned of all kings.

01:54:34.600 Even though I'm young, replied Sigurd, I know what that dragon's like, and I've heard

01:54:40.920 that no one dares to face him because of his size and malignity.

01:54:47.200 That's not so, answered Regan, his size is the usual for serpents, and it's been made

01:54:57.000 out to be far greater than it actually is.

01:55:00.700 And that's what your ancestors would have thought, but even though you are of the Worsung 0.93

01:55:05.960 line, you'll scarcely have the Worsung temperament, and courage, there reckoned, second to none. 0.95

01:55:16.720 Perhaps I've not got much of their energy or ability, replied Sigrid, but there is no

01:55:24.180 need to find fault with me, seeing that I'm hardly more than a child.

01:55:30.780 Why are you so very keen on my business?

01:55:34.960 There is a story behind it, replied Regan, and I'll tell it to you.

01:55:44.000 Let me hear it," said Sigrid.

01:55:49.420 CHAPTER XIV

01:55:53.460 The story begins with my father, whose name was Thredmar, an important and wealthy man.

01:56:02.940 His son's name was Fafnir.

01:56:06.060 A second son was called Otter, and I was the third.

01:56:13.240 least gifted and made least of. I could fashion things in iron, in silver and gold too, and

01:56:25.700 I could make something useful out of it. My brother Otter's work and bench was different.

01:56:34.220 He was a great fisherman, far and more expert than others, and during the day he assumed

01:56:43.600 the shape of an otter and was always in the river bringing up fish with his mouth.

01:56:51.480 When he caught, he brought to his father, and this was a great help to him.

01:56:57.700 He had many of the characteristics of an otter.

01:57:01.540 He came home late, eating alone, and with his eyes shut, for he couldn't bear to watch

01:57:08.560 it growing less.

01:57:11.300 Fafnir by far the biggest and fiercest, and he wanted everything to be called his.

01:57:20.280 There was a dwarf whose name was Andvari, said Regan. 0.98

01:57:25.840 He was always in the waterfall, known as Anvari Falls, in the semblance of a pike, and he

01:57:34.800 got home there food for himself, for there was a very large number of fish in the falls.

01:57:43.100 My brother Otter always used to go in these falls, and would bring up fish in his mouth

01:57:49.240 and lay them on the bank, one by one.

01:57:55.640 Odin, Loki, and Honir were journeying along, and they came to the Andvari Falls.

01:58:05.060 Otter had just caught a salmon, and was eating it with his eyes shut on the river bank.

01:58:12.760 Loki took up a stone, struck the otter, and killed him.

01:58:18.700 The Isir thought they were very lucky in their hunting, and they skinned the otter.

01:58:26.300 That everything they came to Hredmar's house, and showed him what they had caught. 0.99

01:58:32.940 Then we laid hands on them, and by way of compensation and ransom, we stipulated that

01:58:39.700 they should fill the skin with gold, and cover it up on the outside with red gold.

01:58:46.900 So they sent to Loki to get the gold.

01:58:50.320 He went to Ron, and got her net, and then went to the Unfally Falls, cast a net in front 0.98

01:58:58.160 of the pike, and it ran into the net.

01:59:03.140 Then Loki said, What fish is this that swims in the flood, and from punishment knows no

01:59:11.100 protection. Ransom your head out from hell, and of linden find me flame.

01:59:19.340 Anvali's my name, and Odin's my father, over many a fall have I fared. A tismal 0.96

01:59:30.040 norn, decreed in days of yore, that I should wade in water.

01:59:36.980 Loki saw the gold that was in Varys, and when he proffered the gold, he kept back one ring,

01:59:48.480 but Loki took it from him.

01:59:51.760 The dwarf went into the rock and said that to possess the ring, or any of the gold, meant

01:59:58.580 death.

02:00:01.160 The Æsir handed over the treasure to Redmar, stuffed the utterskin full and set it on his 0.62

02:00:07.920 feet.

02:00:08.920 Then the Æsir had to pile the gold alongside and cover it up.

02:00:14.980 When that was completed, Redmar went up and saw a single whisker and told them to cover

02:00:22.580 After that, then Odin drew the ring on Varunaut from his arm and covered up the hair.

02:00:37.260 Then Loki spoke, Gold is now rendered, recompense for you.

02:00:45.440 Much for my head, tis not luck will be the lot of your son. 0.60

02:00:52.020 Death to you both it brings." 0.62

02:00:56.480 Later on, An' Fafnir killed his father, said Regan, hiding his murdered body, and I didn't 0.96

02:01:05.420 get any of the treasure.

02:01:07.760 He grew so malevolent that he went off to live in the wilds and allowed none but himself

02:01:14.240 to have any pleasure in the riches.

02:01:17.760 And later on he turned into a terrible dragon, and now he lays on the treasure.

02:01:27.260 Afterwards I went to the king and became his smith, and the upshot of my story is that

02:01:34.860 I'm left without patrimony or a compensation for my brother.

02:01:41.340 This thing gold has been called payment for otter, and that is the reason why.

02:01:48.840 You've lost a great deal, answered Sigurd, and your family has become very evil.

02:01:59.020 Volsunga Saga Part 10 of Minni

02:02:06.580 Chapter 15

02:02:09.660 Now use your skill to make such a fine sword, that no other sword can be made equal to it,

02:02:17.460 and so that I shall be able to perform great deeds, if my courage serves, should you want

02:02:24.080 me to kill this great dragon.

02:02:28.420 I shall be able to make it with confidence, said Regan. 1.00

02:02:33.660 With that sword you'll be able to kill Fafnir.

02:02:38.780 So Regan made a sword and placed it in Sigurd's hands.

02:02:43.360 He grasped the sword.

02:02:45.320 This is what your work's like, Regan, he said striking at the anvil, and the sword broke.

02:02:53.060 He flung away the blade and told him to forge a second and better one.

02:02:58.240 Regan made a second sword and brought it to Sigurd.

02:03:01.600 He examined it.

02:03:03.400 You'll be pleased with this one, though you're not an easy man to work metal for.

02:03:11.840 Sigrid tried out the sword and broke it just like the first.

02:03:16.060 Then Sigrid said to the regan, You're like your forebears, untrustworthy.

02:03:22.500 He now went to his mother, she made him welcome, and they talked and drank together.

02:03:28.360 Is what I've heard true, said Sigurd then, did King Sigmund entrust you with the sword

02:03:36.760 Graham in two pieces?

02:03:39.740 That is so, she replied.

02:03:43.640 Let me have them, said Sigurd.

02:03:46.960 I want them.

02:03:49.760 She said he seemed likely to win fame and brought him the sword.

02:03:54.320 Sigurd then sought out Regan and told him to fashion a sword from them to the best of

02:04:00.920 his ability. Regan got angry and went to the smithy with the pieces of sword, thinking

02:04:07.480 that Sigurd was a very exacting when it came to forging. Then Regan made a sword, and when

02:04:14.820 he drew it from the furnace, it seemed to the lads working in the smithy as if the edges

02:04:20.560 were all aflame.

02:04:22.860 He next told Sigurd to take the sword, saying that if this one failed, then he didn't know

02:04:28.320 how to make a sword.

02:04:30.700 He struck at the anvil and cleft it right down to its base, and the sword neither shattered

02:04:35.940 nor snapped.

02:04:37.700 He praised the sword highly and went down to the river, taking along a tuft of wool

02:04:43.680 which he threw against the stream, and it was sliced through when he held the sword

02:04:49.060 against it, so Sigurd went back happy.

02:04:52.880 You'll keep your promise then, said Regan, now that I've made the sword and seek out

02:04:59.800 Fafnir.

02:05:00.800 I shall keep it, replied Sigurd, but first there's something else.

02:05:08.900 Vengeance for my father.

02:05:11.860 The older Sigurd grew, the more popular he was with everybody.

02:05:17.220 So much so that one and all loved him dearly.

02:05:22.600 Chapter 16

02:05:25.420 There was a man named Grippier, who was Sigrid's uncle on his mother's side.

02:05:30.740 And soon after the sword was made, he went to visit Grippier, because he had the gift

02:05:36.600 of second sight, and knew in advance what a man's fate would be.

02:05:43.180 Sigurd asked about his own life, and how it would turn out.

02:05:47.060 However, for a long time he was unwilling, but as Sigurd's urgent entreaty, he finally

02:05:54.520 told him his entire destiny, just as afterwards came to pass.

02:06:01.680 And when Grippier had told him of these matters as he had been asked, Sigurd rode home.

02:06:08.500 And shortly after that, he and Regan met.

02:06:13.000 Then Regan said, Kill Fafnir as you promised.

02:06:18.000 And Sigurd answered, I'll do so, but first there's something else.

02:06:23.780 Vengeance for King Sigmund and the other kinsmen of ours who fell in that battle.

02:06:32.320 17. Sigurd now paid a visit to the kings.

02:06:39.440 I've been here for some time, and I stand in your debt, for the affection and high honor shown me, he said to them. 1.00

02:06:48.500 But now I mean to leave the country and find Hunding's sons.

02:06:53.480 I want them to know that not all the Volsungs are dead.

02:06:58.560 I like your helpiness.

02:07:00.140 They said they'd get him everything he asked for.

02:07:05.380 A large force was now made ready, and everything prepared as carefully as possible.

02:07:11.900 Ships and all of the military equipment.

02:07:15.620 So that his expedition haul was more resplendent than would have otherwise been the case.

02:07:22.880 Sigurd captained the largest and finest of the warships.

02:07:26.080 Great pains had been taken with the sails, and they made a wonderful sight.

02:07:32.520 They now sailed on a favorable breeze.

02:07:37.100 And when only a few days had elapsed, a violent storm of wind came up, and the sea looked

02:07:43.360 bathed in gore.

02:07:46.460 Sigurd gave no command to reef the sails, even though they were ripping, but instead

02:07:52.500 ordered them to be hoisted higher than before.

02:07:55.520 Now, as they sailed by a certain promontory, a man shouted up to the ship, asking who was

02:08:02.720 in command.

02:08:04.420 He was told that their chief was Sigurd Sigmundarsson, now the most famous of all young men.

02:08:11.840 As for that, everyone says the same of him, replied the man, that no prince can call himself

02:08:21.320 his equal.

02:08:23.320 Please, lower sail on one of your ships and take me on board.

02:08:29.200 They asked the man his name.

02:08:31.860 He replied, Hnikar, they called me, when Hugh and I gladdened. 0.94

02:08:37.240 Vanquished and slew, or Vosung Youth.

02:08:40.380 The man from the cliff, called by thy name, of Fang or Fjolnir, I would fare hence with you. 0.99

02:08:48.640 They put in the land and took the man on board ship.

02:08:51.680 Then the storm abated, and they sailed until they reached land in the kingdom of Huning's

02:08:57.300 sons. 0.53

02:08:58.800 Then Fjornir vanished.

02:09:01.800 Immediately they let loose a riot of fire and slaughter.

02:09:05.580 They killed, they burnt down settlements, and wherever they went they laid waste.

02:09:10.180 A good number fled to King Lingvi and told him that a hostile army had entered the country,

02:09:16.440 and that the violence of their passage was unheard of.

02:09:19.900 They said that Hunding's sons hadn't been very far-sighted when they declared that there

02:09:24.840 was nothing to fear from the Volsungs. 0.82

02:09:29.100 And now Sigmund Sigmarsson is in commander of the enemy army.

02:09:36.460 King Lingvi sent out a call to arms throughout the whole of his kingdom.

02:09:40.760 He refused to take fright and summoned every man prepared to support him.

02:09:46.020 He now marched to meet Sigurd with a huge army.

02:09:49.640 His brothers were with him.

02:09:52.180 A fierce battle now took place between them.

02:09:55.160 Many a spear and many an arrow could be hurtled through the air.

02:10:00.180 The fierce sweep of the ox, cleft shields, gashed hauberks, helms slashed open, cleft

02:10:07.540 skulls, and many a man were seen to fall to the ground.

02:10:13.960 After the battle had gone on in this way for a very long time, Sigurd pressed on past the

02:10:20.140 Baners, holding in his hand the great sword, Grom. 0.93

02:10:25.020 He felled men and horses too, advancing through the enemy line.

02:10:30.220 Both his arms were bloody to the shoulders, and people fled wherever he moved.

02:10:35.380 Neither Helm nor Harburg was proof against him, and there was not one who thought that

02:10:40.880 he'd ever seen such a man before.

02:10:43.400 The battle with its great slaughter and savage fighting went on a long time.

02:10:49.480 What developed there was something that can happen but rarely when the home-based army attacks.

02:10:55.980 It got them nowhere.

02:10:59.360 Hunding's sons lost so many men that no one could keep count, and Sigurd was well into the fore.

02:11:08.140 Then King Hunding's sons came at him.

02:11:11.580 Sigurd struck at King Lingvi and cleft his head and armoured body.

02:11:18.500 Next he cut in half his brother, Hjordvald, and then struck down all the sons of Hunding 0.99

02:11:23.180 that were left, and the best part of their force. 0.87

02:11:27.520 So Sigurd set out for home.

02:11:29.920 A splendid victory was his, and also much wealth and renown which he had won on the

02:11:35.840 expedition.

02:11:37.620 Back in his own country, a festive welcome was prepared for him, and when Sigurd had

02:11:43.160 been at home a short time, Regan came to talk to him.

02:11:47.680 You'll surely be ready now to bring low Fafnir's helm as you promised, seeing that you've avenged

02:11:55.500 your father and your other kinsmen," said Regan.

02:11:59.380 I'll keep my promise, answered Sigurd. It won't slip my memory.

02:12:07.680 Volsunga Saga, Part 11 of Minni

02:12:13.580 Chapter 18

02:12:17.360 Now Sigurd and Regan rode up to the moors, to the track along which Fafnir used to crawl when he went to drink,

02:12:28.200 and the crag he lay on to get the water when he drank

02:12:32.320 was said to be thirty fathoms high.

02:12:37.600 You told me, Regan, said Sigurd then,

02:12:41.740 that this monster was no bigger than any serpent,

02:12:45.600 but his tracks look very big to me.

02:12:49.780 Dig a pit, said Regan, and sit in it,

02:12:53.620 and when the dragon comes crawling to the water, 0.98

02:12:56.740 stab him to the heart, and so destroy him. 0.99

02:13:00.260 Then you'll win great distinction. 0.99

02:13:04.060 Not if I get in the way of the dragon's blood, said Sigurd.

02:13:09.100 It's not possible to advise you, replies Regan.

02:13:13.800 If you're scared of everything, you've nothing like the courage of your kinsmen.

02:13:20.160 So Sigurd rode up to the moors, and Regan went off in great fright.

02:13:25.980 Sigurd dug a pit, and while he was about this, an old man with a long beard came up to him

02:13:32.020 and asked what he was doing there.

02:13:34.940 He told him,

02:13:37.200 That's ill-advised, the old man then replied.

02:13:41.800 Dig other pits and let the blood run into them. 0.98

02:13:45.400 You are to sit in one and stab the dragon to the heart.

02:13:50.120 Then the old man vanished, and Sigurd dug the pits as he had been told.

02:13:55.000 And when the dragon crawled to the water, the earth's tremors were so violent that all the land round about shook.

02:14:05.560 It breathed out poison all over the path ahead, but Sigurd was neither frightened nor dismayed by the noise.

02:14:13.980 And when the dragon crawled across the pit, Sigurd thrust in the sword under the left shoulder, and it sunk in up to the hilt.

02:14:23.920 Then Sigurd leapt out of the pit, wrenching back the sword and getting his arms bloody right up to the shoulders.

02:14:32.000 And when the huge dragon felt its death wound, it lashed with its tail and head, shattering everything that got to know its way.

02:14:40.580 And when Fafni had received his death wound, he asked,

02:14:44.300 What are you? Who is your father, and what is your family?

02:14:52.900 You who have been bold enough to dare to bear arms against me.

02:14:58.900 No man knows of my family, replied Sigurd.

02:15:02.940 I'm called Noble Beast. I've neither father nor mother, and I've journeyed alone.

02:15:09.060 If you've no father or mother, Fafnir answered, what strange thing gave you life?

02:15:19.720 And even though you won't tell me your name on this day, the day I shall die, you know that you are now lying.

02:15:30.060 My name is Sigurd, he answered, and my father is Sigmund.

02:15:35.060 Who prompted you to do this deed, and why did you follow his prompting, replied Sigurd.

02:15:45.140 Hadn't you heard how everyone was frightened of me, and my terrible armored head?

02:15:52.900 Your eyes flash, boy, and you had a gallant father.

02:15:57.940 A stout heart urged me on to do it, was Sigurd's reply, and a strong arm and a keen sword that you've now felt helped me to carry it through, and fewer resolute when old, if timid in youth.

02:16:15.320 I know you've been an angry man in a fight, said Fafnir, had you grown up among your kinsmen.

02:16:26.460 But it's even more amazing that the captive taken in a raid should have dared to fight

02:16:33.000 against me.

02:16:35.000 Few prisoners are courageous in battle.

02:16:39.720 You reproach me for being far from my kinsmen, said Sigurd, but even if I was a prisoner,

02:16:47.600 I wasn't fettered, and you have learned that I was free.

02:16:52.960 Everything I say you take to be sad and hate, answered Fafnir, but the gold I possessed 0.79

02:17:01.880 will be your death.

02:17:06.220 wants to keep hold on wealth until that day come, but everyone must die in some time," 0.96

02:17:13.840 replied Sigurd.

02:17:14.840 You'll not be guided by it much, what I say, said Fafnir, but if you're careless

02:17:24.480 in crossing the sea, you'll be drowned.

02:17:28.880 Better wait on shore until it's calm.

02:17:32.000 Tell me, Fafnir, then, said Sigurd, if you were so wise, who are the Norns that deliver 0.97

02:17:41.280 mothers of their sons? 0.88

02:17:43.920 They are many and varied, replied Fafnir.

02:17:49.980 Some belong to the Aesir, some belong to the Elves, and some are the Valin's daughters. 0.63

02:17:59.560 What is the name of the Islet where Surt and the Aesir will shed each other's blood?"

02:18:05.120 said Sigurd.

02:18:06.120 It is named Oskopt, replied Fafnir.

02:18:11.180 Fafnir spoke again.

02:18:13.580 My brother Regan has brought about my death. 0.72

02:18:18.660 I am glad that he will bring about your death too. 0.82

02:18:24.100 That will be just what he wanted. 0.97

02:18:27.800 Lofnir spoke again.

02:18:29.900 I raised a crest of terror above all men ever since I couched on my brother's inheritance,

02:18:39.260 and I breathed out poison all around me so that no one dared to come near me.

02:18:47.160 I feared no weapon and never found so many against me

02:18:53.280 that I didn't think myself by far the stronger.

02:18:57.800 And they were all afraid of me.

02:19:02.600 This crest of terror you spoke of, said Sigurd, gives victory to few.

02:19:10.200 For anyone who mixes with many people may one day find that no man is the superior of all others.

02:19:18.580 I advise you to take your horse, replied Fafnir, and ride away as quickly as you can, for it

02:19:30.500 often happens that he who suffers a mortal wound avenges himself.

02:19:38.980 This is your advice, answered Sigurd, but I shall act differently.

02:19:44.400 I shall ride to your lair, and there sees the vast treasure that belonged to your kinsmen.

02:19:52.580 You'll be riding to a place where you'll find so much gold, Fafnir answered,

02:20:01.720 that it will last you all your days.

02:20:05.780 But the same gold will be your death, and the death of any other man that possesses it.

02:20:14.400 Sigurd stood up, if I know I'd never die I'd ride back, he said, even though I were

02:20:23.200 to forfeit all the wealth.

02:20:26.260 But every valiant man desires to have wealth until the day comes. 0.99

02:20:32.240 But you, Fafnir, lie in your death throes until hell takes you. 0.97

02:20:39.900 Then Fafnir died. 0.98

02:20:44.920 Chapter 19

02:20:48.460 After this Regan came to Sigurd and said,

02:20:52.780 Greetings my lord, you have won a great victory by killing Fafnir, when before no man was

02:21:00.020 daring enough to lie in wait for him, and this great deed will live for as long as the

02:21:06.300 world shall last.

02:21:09.700 Regan now stood looking down at the ground for a long time, and thereupon he said in

02:21:16.060 great anger, You have killed my brother, but I can scarcely be free of blame for the deed.

02:21:25.940 Then Sigurd took up his sword, Grom, wiped it on the grass, and said to Regan, You wilt

02:21:33.360 a great day of while I performed the deed, and I tried out this keen sword with my own

02:21:40.700 hand, and with my own strength I strove against the might of the dragon, while you were lying

02:21:47.080 in a heather bush, not knowing whether you were on the head or on your heels.

02:21:55.220 The dragon might have lain in his lair a long time, replied Regan, if you hadn't had the

02:22:02.480 use of your sword, I fashioned for you with my own hands. Neither you nor anyone else would have done

02:22:10.420 it yet. When men come to do battle, answered Sigurd, then a stout heart is better for a man

02:22:18.620 than a keen sword. Regan then said to Sigurd in great distress,

02:22:24.560 You killed my brother, but I scarcely be free of blame for the deed.

02:22:33.240 Then Sigurd cut out the dragon's heart with a sword called Rydil.

02:22:38.140 Regan then drank Fafnir's blood and said,

02:22:41.960 Do something for me, it's a small matter for you.

02:22:46.100 Take the heart to the fire, roast it, and give it me to eat.

02:22:51.660 Sigurd went and roasted it on a spit.

02:22:54.560 And when the juice sputtered out, he touched it with his finger to see whether it was done.

02:23:00.240 He jerked his finger to his mouth, and when the blood from the dragon's heart touched his tongue,

02:23:04.980 he could understand the language of birds.

02:23:08.620 He heard some twits twittering near him in the thicket.

02:23:15.640 Chapter 20 0.94

02:23:17.080 There sits Sigrid, roasting Faftner's heart, he should eat himself, and then he'd be wiser 0.53

02:23:26.860 than any man. 0.95

02:23:28.360 There lies, Sir Regan, meaning to play false the man who trusts him, said a second. 0.98

02:23:36.960 Then Sir Third, let him then strike off his head, then he can have the great treasure

02:23:46.080 all to himself he would be wiser to do as they advised said then a fourth and afterwards ride

02:23:57.120 to fafnir's there taking the treasure great that lies there and then ride up to hindfell

02:24:04.560 where brendhild sleeping and there he will learn much wisdom and he would be wise if he followed

02:24:11.840 your advice and thought of his own needs. I'd expect to find a wolf where I spied his

02:24:19.160 ears. Then set a fifth. If he spares him, having previously killed his brother, he's

02:24:27.360 not as wise as I imagine. Then set a sixth. It would be a sound plan if he killed him

02:24:35.000 and had the treasure all to himself. 0.93

02:24:38.860 Death at Regan's hands is not my evil destiny, said Sigurdyn.

02:24:45.520 Better instead for both brothers to go the same way. 0.86

02:24:50.280 Then he drew the sword Grom and struck off Regan's head.

02:24:55.980 And after that he ate some of the dragon's heart, and some he put by.

02:25:01.040 Then he leapt on his horse and rode along, following Fafnir's tracks up to his lair.

02:25:07.560 He found that it was open, and that all the doors were made of iron, and the whole of

02:25:12.600 the doorframe as well.

02:25:14.880 Of iron, too, were all the posts of the building, which was anchored deep in the earth.

02:25:21.120 There Sigurd found a vast store of gold, and the sword Horoti, and there he took possession

02:25:28.220 of the Helm of Tellur, the gold hauberk, and many valuables. He found so much gold there

02:25:36.240 that he thought it probable that two horses, or even three, would scarcely carry more.

02:25:43.300 He took all the gold and put it in two large chests, then took his horse Grani by the bridle.

02:25:51.640 But the horse wouldn't move and whipping did no good. Then Sigurd saw what the horse

02:25:57.760 wanted. He leapt on his back, clamped sputters to him, and the horse galloped away as if unladen.

02:26:07.760 Volsunga Saga Part 12 of Menni

02:26:13.760 Chapter 21 Sigurd now rode a long way until he arrived

02:26:19.360 right up on Hindfell and turned off south to Thrankland. On the fell he saw a bright

02:26:26.840 glow ahead as if there were a fire blazing, and it lit up the sky, and when he got up

02:26:33.640 to it there stood before him a fort with a banner out on top. Sigurd went inside the

02:26:40.340 fort and saw a man there, asleep and lying fully armored. First he removed the hermits 1.00

02:26:47.560 from his head and saw that it was a woman. She had on a halberk, and it was as tight 1.00

02:26:54.520 as if grown into the flesh. Then he sheared right down from the neck, then right along

02:27:01.100 both sleeves, and the blade bit in as if cutting cloth. Sigrid said she'd been asleep too

02:27:08.100 long. She asked what was strong enough to bite into the albric.

02:27:13.020 And to interrupt my sleep? And is it Sigrid Sigmon Sarsson who has come here with Fafnir's

02:27:22.520 bearing Fafnir's doom in his hand. 0.75

02:27:27.240 He who has done this deed is of the Volsung line, then replied Sigurd, and I have heard

02:27:35.520 that you are the daughter of a powerful king, and I have also been told of your

02:27:40.720 beauty and your wisdom, and this I shall put to the test.

02:27:47.640 Brynir told how two kings had been fighting.

02:27:52.080 One was called Hjongunar.

02:27:54.240 He was old and a fine warrior, and Odin had promised him the victory, and the other was

02:28:00.200 called Agnar, the older brother.

02:28:04.080 In the battle I struck down Hjongunar, and in retaliation, Odin tricked me with a sleep

02:28:10.580 thorn, said that I should never again win a victory, and that I was too merry.

02:28:17.160 And in return, I made a solemn vow to marry no one who knew the meaning of fear.

02:28:24.800 Give me good advice on things that matter, said Sigrid.

02:28:30.580 You are better able to do that, she said.

02:28:34.260 But I'll teach you gladly if I know anything that might please you,

02:28:39.380 whether of ruins or of other matters pertaining to everything.

02:28:43.680 And let us both drink together.

02:28:46.000 And may the gods grant us a good day, so that my wisdom may profit you, and bring you fame,

02:28:53.000 and that you may remember what we two talk of.

02:28:57.000 Brynhild filled a cup, brought it to Sigrid, and said,

02:29:02.000 Ruler of battle, as I now bring you air, mixed with great power, mingled with fame, 0.87

02:29:10.000 Filled with verse charms and friendship runes, With goodly spells, with gay talk brimming.

02:29:18.560 War runes you must know, as wise you would be, On sword guard grave them on hilt's sockets, 0.90

02:29:26.760 On hilt's iron grip and twice satyr's name.

02:29:31.200 Wave runes you must cut, to watch over with care, Your sailed seeds from swimming on prow

02:29:38.560 put them. Place them on steering oar, and burn them also on oars. No blue wave shall

02:29:45.560 fall, nor breakers steep, but you'll return safe from the sea. Speech runes you must know,

02:29:53.700 to be spared if you wish, repayment of grief surrendered. Wind them about, weave them around,

02:30:02.700 side by side set them. There to thing where throngs shall come all to full season's faring.

02:30:13.700 Ale runes you must know lest another's wife betray trust if you trust her. On the horn

02:30:20.700 you must carve them on hands back too and mark on ale need.

02:30:28.200 Old cup you must bless against bane to guard, cast garlic into the goblet.

02:30:34.460 In this I promise that poisoned mead will not fall to your fate.

02:30:41.200 Life runes you must learn for those laboring with child to deliver babe safe and sound. 0.96

02:30:48.220 On palm you must carve them, collapse them around limbs in aid of the visir desire. 0.93

02:30:55.900 Twig runes you must know for treating the sick to see wisely to wounds. 0.93

02:31:02.120 Lay them on bark on the leaves of the tree whose boughs bend to the east.

02:31:08.720 Mind runes you must learn, if other men you would, quite our way in wisdom.

02:31:14.800 He who devised them, he who divined them, and hewed them out, t'was rot.

02:31:21.940 On the shield where they graved Before the shining god,

02:31:26.120 On Arvark's ear, on Arziv's head, Carved there on the wheel,

02:31:30.760 Neath the wane of Rognir, And Sleipnir's reins,

02:31:34.120 And on sleigh's traces, On bear's paw too, on Bragi's tongue,

02:31:39.880 On both wolf's claw, and beak of eagle, On the bloody wings,

02:31:44.720 On bridge's head, on Shring palm, and path of mercy,

02:31:50.340 On glass and gold, and on good silver, And wine and wort on witch's throne, 0.73

02:31:56.640 On Gopnir's point and pelt of men, And put them on hag's breast,

02:32:01.740 On Norn's nail too, and neb of owl.

02:32:06.500 All scored in these were scraped away, And mingled with mead most holy,

02:32:12.620 And sent on flour-flung ways.

02:32:16.020 Here with elves, with the Aesir some, And with Vanir a vast wisdom, and some are found 0.75

02:32:22.260 mist-men.

02:32:24.260 Beach runes are these, and both runes too, And all ale runes are very glorious runes.

02:32:31.620 For all who use them, unspoilt and true, To lead luck thence, possesses them and prosper

02:32:38.140 till the gods are gone.

02:32:41.900 Now you must choose, a choice of all's offered, O maple tree of true weapons.

02:32:48.480 Speech or silence you yourself shall decide, Now all the words are weighed.

02:32:55.460 Sigurd answered, I shall not fly, though you know me foredoomed,

02:33:00.960 I was created no craven, Your friendly counsel and full I would have,

02:33:06.780 as long as I may live.

02:33:12.280 Chapter Twenty-Two

02:33:15.580 In all the world there'll never be a wiser woman than you, said Sigurd.

02:33:21.820 Give me more good advice.

02:33:23.940 I owe it to you to do as you wish and to give you sound advice, she replied, because you

02:33:31.940 desired it and because you are intelligent.

02:33:36.020 Then she said, Behave well towards your kinsmen, and take but scant revenge on them for their offenses.

02:33:46.200 Bear with them, and you will win lasting praise.

02:33:50.420 Be under guard against things that are harmful, both against a maid's love and a man's wife.

02:33:57.100 Ill often comes from them. 0.98

02:33:59.540 Don't argue over much with fools at crowded meetings. 1.00

02:34:03.120 They often say worse things than they know, and then you are straightway called a coward, 0.99

02:34:10.360 and people think the charges are true. 0.99

02:34:13.980 Kill him another day and pay him back that way for his hostile remarks. 0.99

02:34:20.580 If you go along the road where there are evil spirits, then be wary. 0.99

02:34:26.120 Even if overtaken by nightfall, do not seek shelter near the path.

02:34:31.340 Harmful spirits that lead men astray are often there.

02:34:35.840 Don't get entangled with good-looking women, even though you see them at banquets, so that

02:34:41.680 it stops you from sleeping or brings you heartache. 0.80

02:34:46.220 Don't entice them with kisses or other endearments. 1.00

02:34:50.600 If you hear drunks making stupid remarks, don't fall on them when they're sold with 1.00

02:34:56.740 wine and have lost their wits. 1.00

02:35:00.620 Things of that sort bring deep sorrow or even death to many.

02:35:05.860 It's better to fight against your enemy than to be burned.

02:35:10.860 And neither swear, a crooked oath, or dire vengeance follows on a breach of truce.

02:35:19.120 Do right by dead men, whether dead of disease, drowned, or struck down.

02:35:25.180 the other bodies carefully and don't trust anyone if you've killed his father brother or any other

02:35:31.980 near relative even though he's a young man there's often a wolf in a young son watch out for trickery

02:35:41.740 from your friends and i can't foresee much of your life if the hatred of your wife's kinsmen

02:35:47.900 does not fall upon you no one is wiser than you said sigurd and i swear it is you i shall marry

02:35:58.540 and we are ideally suited i should wish to marry you she answered even though i might have the

02:36:06.460 choice of all men there are. And this they swore each to each other.

02:36:14.700 Chapter Twenty-Three Then Sigurd rode away. His shield was of

02:36:20.040 many thicknesses. It was plated with red gold, and on it was pictured a dragon. Its upper

02:36:26.780 part was dark brown, and its lower, light red. And his helm, saddle, and surcoat were

02:36:33.020 were blazoned in the same way. His holbork was of gold, and all his weapons were decked

02:36:39.240 with gold. And the reason for the dragon being emblazoned on all his weapons was so that

02:36:45.860 all those who had heard that he had killed the great dragon, the Veilings, called Fafnir,

02:36:52.700 would know on seeing him who he was. And the reason for his weapons being all decked with

02:37:00.300 gold and gleaming bright was that he far excelled others in fine manners in all the social graces

02:37:07.340 and well nigh in everything and when all the greatest heroes the most famous leaders are

02:37:13.900 spoken of he is the one who always be spoken of as foremost of all and his name is current

02:37:21.020 in all languages spoken north of the greek ocean and so it will be for as long as the world endures

02:37:28.220 his hair which fell in long locks was brown and handsome to look on his beard was short and thick

02:37:36.740 and of the same color he had two high bridge nose and broad large boned features his eyes

02:37:45.380 were so piercing that few dared look at him in the face his shoulders were so wide that to look

02:37:51.900 at him was like looking at two men. His body was well proportioned as regards height and

02:37:58.860 breadth, and just as it should be. And an indication of his height is that when he belted

02:38:05.400 on the sword Grom, it was over five feet long, and walked through a field of full-grown rye,

02:38:13.760 the scabbard chap brushed the top of the standing grain. And his size was outdone by his strength.

02:38:20.560 He was expert in sword play, throwing a spear or hurling a javelin, in shield work, in archery and in writing, and many varied were the arts of chivalry he had acquired in his youth.

02:38:36.560 He was also a young, wise man, having foreknowledge of future events.

02:38:42.320 He could understand the language of birds, and for these reasons there was little that took him unawares.

02:38:49.620 He could speak long and eloquently, and if he started on a speech, he would never stop until everyone saw that his was the only way possible.

02:39:00.380 And he loved to come to the aid of his men, to tax his powers in dangerous ventures, to rob his enemies of their wealth, and to give to his friends.

02:39:09.840 He never lacked courage, and he was never afraid.

02:39:15.920 Valsanga Saga, Part 13

02:39:19.380 King of Many

02:39:23.560 CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

02:39:27.560 Sigurd now rode until he came to a large estate, rode over by an important chieftain

02:39:34.140 named Heimir.

02:39:36.260 He was married to Brynhild's sister, who was called Beckhild, because she had stayed

02:39:42.660 headed home and taken up to Distoth, while Brynhild was concerned with Helmet and Hauberk

02:39:49.660 and went to battle. This is why she was called Brynhild.

02:39:56.000 Heimir and Bechild had a son named Arsvid, a man of more courtly bearing. Outside were

02:40:05.600 people taking part in various sports, but when they saw the man riding up to the buildings,

02:40:12.400 they stopped, and they were amazed because they had never seen such a man.

02:40:19.160 They went to meet him and welcome him.

02:40:23.540 Arsvith invited him to be his guest and to have anything he wanted, and this was accepted.

02:40:32.520 Arrangements were made for him to be nobly waited on.

02:40:36.400 Four men unloaded the gold from his horse, and a fifth attended him.

02:40:41.700 Any precious and rare treasures were to be seen there.

02:40:45.200 It was considered a good sport to look at the hauberks and hermits, the big rings, the

02:40:51.940 amazingly large golden goblets, and weapons of every kind.

02:40:58.100 Sigurd stayed there a long time and was held in great esteem.

02:41:03.400 Word of his magnificent feet, the sling of the terrible dragon, now spread through every

02:41:09.800 country.

02:41:10.800 They now had a good life, and got on well together.

02:41:15.660 They amused themselves by seeing to their weapons, making arrow shafts, and hawking.

02:41:23.960 Chapter 25

02:41:26.980 At that time Brynhild, Heimir's foster daughter, was back with him.

02:41:33.040 She lived in her own quarters with her maidens. 0.82

02:41:37.140 She was more skilled in the domestic arts than any other woman.

02:41:42.760 She was working her tapestry with gold thread and embroidering it on the great deeds performed

02:41:48.940 by Sigrid. 0.89

02:41:50.580 The slaying of the dragon, the seizure of the treasure, and the death of the Regan.

02:41:57.600 One day, as we are told, Sigrid rode to the forest with his hounds and hawks, and a large

02:42:04.360 body of men.

02:42:06.420 On his return, his hawk flew up onto a high tower and settled near a window.

02:42:12.980 Sigurd went after the hawk.

02:42:15.840 Then he saw a good-looking woman and perceived that it was Brynhild who was there.

02:42:21.800 Her good looks and her task made a deep impression on him.

02:42:26.680 He entered the hall, but would not join in the men's amusements.

02:42:31.920 Why are you so silent? said Arsvith.

02:42:38.160 Then, this change in you worries us, your friends.

02:42:43.580 Why can't you enjoy yourself?

02:42:46.360 Your hawks are pining, and so is your horse, Granny, and will not find a speedy cure for

02:42:52.220 it.

02:42:53.220 My good friend, answered Sigurd, let me tell you what's on my mind.

02:43:01.400 My hawk flew to a tower, and as I caught him I saw a beautiful woman.

02:43:08.440 She was sitting over a golden tapas tree, and embroidering on it the deeds I've accomplished

02:43:14.340 in the past."

02:43:16.340 "'You saw Bootley's daughter, Brinnhild,' replied Alfvith,

02:43:21.920 "'a woman of real character and presence.' 0.97

02:43:26.200 That's surely true, answered Sigurd. 0.94

02:43:30.500 But how did she get here?

02:43:32.900 There was but little time between your arrival and hers, replied Arsvith.

02:43:40.460 I knew that just a few days ago, said Sigurd, she seemed to me the finest woman in the world.

02:43:48.400 A man like you shouldn't get interested in any one woman, said Arsvith.

02:43:56.460 It's bad to fret what can't be had.

02:44:00.780 I shall go to her, said Sigrid, and give her gold and gain her delights in love.

02:44:09.120 She's never suffered any man to sit by her or given him air to drink, replied Arsvith. 0.75

02:44:16.060 She wants to be off to battle and generally increase her fame.

02:44:23.180 I don't know if she'll reply or not, said Sigurd, or let me sit by her.

02:44:30.020 The next day Sigurd went to the woman's apartments,

02:44:34.960 and Alice stood close by outside making aeroshafts.

02:44:40.420 Greetings, my lady, said Sigurd. Is all well with you?

02:44:46.060 All's well, she answered, my kinsmen and friends are alive, but none of us can tell what sort

02:44:54.840 of luck we'll have down to the day we die.

02:44:59.140 He sat down by her side, then four women entered bearing large golden cups and the finest wine

02:45:07.120 and stood before them.

02:45:09.440 Then Brynhild said, Not many are given this seat, apart from when my father comes.

02:45:17.120 I'm pleased about the man who's got it now, he answered.

02:45:23.580 The room was hung with the most costly tapestries, and whole floor had coverings.

02:45:31.820 You promised me is now fulfilled, said Sigurd.

02:45:37.240 You are welcome here," she replied.

02:45:41.800 Then she arose and four maidens with her, and brought him a golden cup, and told him 0.69

02:45:47.340 to drink.

02:45:49.300 He reached for the cup, and at the same time took her hand, and drew her down beside him.

02:45:57.200 Embracing her, he kissed her, and said,

02:46:01.640 No woman born is lovelier than you. 1.00

02:46:06.480 Wiser not to surrender your trust to a woman, for they always break their vows, said Brynhild. 0.99

02:46:14.500 The day we wed would be our happiest, he said. 0.99

02:46:20.140 We're not fated to share our lives together, Brynhild replied.

02:46:25.420 I am a shield maiden, wearing a helmet along with the warrior kings.

02:46:31.180 I help them, and I don't find battle distasteful.

02:46:39.200 We shall prosper best if we share our lives together, answered Sigurd.

02:46:45.440 The pain of all this is worse to bear than sharp weapons.

02:46:52.540 I shall muster the troops, replied Brandhild, and you will marry Guthrun, Gukki's daughter. 0.88

02:47:01.180 No king's daughter shall ensnare me, replied Sigurd. 0.95

02:47:07.560 I'm not in two minds about this, and I swear by the gods that I either marry you or no

02:47:14.680 one at all.

02:47:17.260 She spoke to the same effect.

02:47:20.040 Sigurd thanked her for what she had said and gave her a gold ring.

02:47:23.860 Then they again repeated their vows, and Sigurd went off to his men, and there he prospered

02:47:30.360 for a long time.

02:47:34.160 Chapter 26 There was a king named Gyoki.

02:47:40.680 His kingdom lay south of the Rhine.

02:47:44.140 He had three sons called Gunnar, Hogni, and Guthorn.

02:47:49.660 Guthron was his daughter, a maiden who was widely famed.

02:47:56.040 The children outdid other king's children in natural gifts and attainments, in good

02:48:01.680 looks as in stature.

02:48:04.680 They were always outrating, and performed many brilliant feats.

02:48:10.880 Gilkey's wife was Grimhild, a sorceress.

02:48:16.120 There was a king named Bulutli.

02:48:18.740 He was more powerful than Gilkey, though both were powerful.

02:48:24.600 Grimhild's brother was Ati, a stern man, tall and dark, but of noble bearing and a

02:48:32.360 great warrior. Grimhild had an evil disposition. Gilkey's house prospered, and chiefly because

02:48:41.980 of his children who outshone most people. One day Guthrun told her maids of honor that

02:48:50.100 she couldn't be happy one woman asked her what she was unhappy about I had no

02:48:59.340 luck in my dreams she replied and so there is grief in my heart interpret the

02:49:09.280 dream since you ask about it tell me she replied and don't worry for dreams

02:49:18.180 Dreams always mean storms.

02:49:21.420 There is no storm, replied Gotham.

02:49:27.200 I dreamed I saw a splendid hawk on my hand.

02:49:32.140 His plumage was gold in color.

02:49:36.700 Many have heard of your beauty, wisdom, and courtliness.

02:49:43.020 One king's son will ask for the dear hand," answered the woman.

02:49:48.360 I have thought nothing finer than the hawk," replied Guthrum,

02:49:54.640 and I would rather have lost all in my wealth than him. 0.70

02:49:59.900 You'll marry a manly husband," answered the woman, 0.85

02:50:04.780 "'and you'll love him dearly.'

02:50:07.780 "'It worries me, not knowing who he is,' replied Guthrun.

02:50:14.860 "'We will go to see Brynherd.

02:50:18.100 "'She will know.'

02:50:19.780 "'They arranged themselves in gold

02:50:23.260 "'and many things of great beauty,

02:50:26.880 "'and with their maids-in-waiting they set out

02:50:30.220 "'and came to Brynherd's palace.

02:50:33.240 The palace was ablaze with gold and stood on a hill, and when the approach was seen, Brynhild

02:50:43.600 was told that many women were driving towards the castle in girded carriages.

02:50:52.260 Gyuki's daughter, Guthryn, must be there, she said.

02:50:57.160 I dreamed of her last night and let out to meet her.

02:51:00.940 No lovelier woman come to visit us.

02:51:08.440 They went out and welcomed them.

02:51:11.300 They entered the magnificent palace, there were paintings on the inside of the hall,

02:51:16.260 and it shone with silver.

02:51:19.380 Flora coverings were spread beneath their feet, and everyone waited on them.

02:51:25.360 They had all kinds of games.

02:51:28.820 Guthrun had little to say. 1.00

02:51:33.740 Why can't you be gay? said Brynhild. 0.98

02:51:37.060 Don't be like this.

02:51:39.060 Let's all have a happy time together, and talk about mighty kings and great deeds.

02:51:47.160 Let's do that, said Guthrun.

02:51:52.920 Which kings do you feel were the most imminent?

02:51:58.540 The sons of Hamud, Haki, and Hagbard, replied Brynhild, they performed many exploits in

02:52:06.860 battle.

02:52:07.860 They were great and famous, replied Gudrun, but Sigar took their sister, and burned to

02:52:18.120 death another in their house, and they're slow about vengeance.

02:52:25.060 Why didn't you mention my brothers, who are now thought to be the most eminent of men?"

02:52:30.820 That's true, said Brynhild, but they are still rather untried, and I know one man who

02:52:39.860 quite outstrips them.

02:52:43.000 Sigurd, King Sigmund's son.

02:52:47.180 When he killed King Hunding's sons and avenged his father and Ailemi his grandfather, he

02:52:54.720 He was still just a child.

02:52:58.760 What was there to show that? said Guthrun.

02:53:02.860 Do you say he was born when his father fell?

02:53:08.100 His mother went to the battlefield, replied Brynhild, and found King Sigmund wounded and

02:53:15.100 offered to bandage his wounds.

02:53:18.020 But he said he was too old to fight again, and told her to take comfort from the fact

02:53:22.960 that when she gave birth, it would be to an outstanding son, and here a wise man guess

02:53:30.620 was second sight. And after King Sigmund's death, she was with King Ulf, and Sigrid brought

02:53:39.480 up there in high esteem, and he performed many great feats every day, and he's the most

02:53:46.980 famous man in the world love led you to find out about him said guthrun but i came to tell you my

02:53:58.020 dreams they caused me much anxiety don't let such things worry you replied brynhild

02:54:09.700 stay among your family who all want to make you happy

02:54:13.620 Chapter 27

02:54:18.300 I dreamed, said Guthrun, that a good number of us left our quarters, and we saw a great

02:54:28.600 stag.

02:54:30.120 It was far superior to other deer.

02:54:33.920 Its hair was golden.

02:54:36.800 We all wanted to capture that deer, but I alone managed it.

02:54:41.840 The deer seemed to me more precious than anything else.

02:54:47.840 Then you shot down the deer at my feet.

02:54:53.840 And this my grief was so great that I could hardly bear it.

02:54:59.840 Then you gave me a wolf-cob.

02:55:02.840 It spattered me with my brother's blood.

02:55:07.840 I'll interpret it just as it will come to pass, Grimherd answered.

02:55:16.940 Sigurd, whom I choose as my husband, will come to you.

02:55:23.520 Grimherd will give him drugged mead. 0.93

02:55:28.360 This will bring sorrow to us all.

02:55:32.440 You will marry him and soon lose him.

02:55:37.020 Then you will marry King Otli. 1.00

02:55:40.460 You will lose your brothers and then kill Otli. 0.99

02:55:44.780 To know such things overwhelms me with grief," answered Guthrun. 0.92

02:55:52.960 And now they went back to King Gyuki.

02:55:58.780 Old Sangha Saga Part 14 of Minni

02:56:06.340 Chapter 28 Sigurd now rode away with all the gold.

02:56:14.600 They now parted as friends.

02:56:17.860 He rode Grani with all his gear and equipment.

02:56:22.820 He rode until he came to King Yuki's hall.

02:56:26.940 He now rode into the castle.

02:56:30.400 One of the king's men saw this and said,

02:56:33.320 I think one of the gods is approaching.

02:56:37.940 This man is gold all over.

02:56:40.800 His horse is far bigger than other horses.

02:56:44.300 His weapons and armor are magnificent.

02:56:47.660 He leaves other men far behind, and he himself must surpasses other men.

02:56:56.280 The king went out with his retainers and dressed the man.

02:57:00.100 Why are you, he asked, riding into the castle, which no one has dared to do without my son's

02:57:11.660 leave?

02:57:12.660 I am Sigurd, he answered, son of King Sigmund.

02:57:19.520 You're welcome among us here, said King Yuki.

02:57:26.400 Whatever you want is yours.

02:57:29.740 And he went into the hall, and they were all short when compared to him, and they all waited

02:57:35.440 on him, and he was held there in great esteem.

02:57:41.480 Sigurd, Gunnar, and Hogni all rode together, but Sigurd's accomplishments went far beyond

02:57:48.360 theirs, though they were all great men.

02:57:54.360 Grimhild noticed how deeply Sigrid loved Brynhild, and how often he talked of her.

02:58:00.700 She thought that it would be a good thing if he settled there and married King Yuki's

02:58:05.640 daughter, and she saw how no one could claim to be his equal, and what an asset he was,

02:58:14.080 having immense wealth far greater than any heard of before.

02:58:19.020 The king treated him like one of his sons, and they reckoned him more outstanding than

02:58:24.120 they were himself.

02:58:27.620 One evening as they sat drinking, the queen got up, went to Sigurd, and addressing him

02:58:33.460 said,

02:58:34.460 We are delighted that you are here.

02:58:38.940 We wish to give you all that's good. 0.64

02:58:42.280 Take this horn and drink."

02:58:45.500 He took it and drank it off.

02:58:48.160 King Yuki shall be your father, and I your mother, she said, and Gunnar and Hogni, and

02:58:56.920 all who take the oaths shall be your brothers.

02:59:01.800 Then none will be found to equal you.

02:59:06.060 Sigurd took this well, and with that drink he lost all memory of Brynhild.

02:59:11.920 He stayed there for a time.

02:59:15.200 One day Grimhild went to King Yuki, embraced him, and said,

02:59:20.760 The greatest champion to be found anywhere in the world is here with us now.

02:59:27.240 He would prove a great asset.

02:59:30.800 Give him your daughter in marriage, a large sum of money, and whatever dignities he would

02:59:37.260 like, and perhaps he will live here happily.

02:59:42.440 It's unusual to offer a daughter's hand, but to offer it to him is a greater honor

02:59:49.880 than the others to ask for it," the king answered.

02:59:55.040 One evening Gudrun was serving wine.

02:59:58.860 Sigurd saw that she was beautiful and most courtly in every way.

03:00:04.460 Sigurd was there for two and a half years, and they thus lived in Amity, and were widely

03:00:09.980 spoken of, and the kings were now conversing.

03:00:14.340 You're doing a great deal for us, Sigurd, said King Yuki, and you've greatly strengthened

03:00:22.400 our power.

03:00:24.400 We'll do anything and persuade you to stay here a long time, said Gunnar.

03:00:32.820 Fignities and the offer of our sister's hand.

03:00:36.160 No one else would be granted it, even if he asked."

03:00:40.140 "'Thank you for the honor you do to me,' replied Sigurd.

03:00:45.100 I accept."

03:00:48.060 They now swore to be brothers as if born of the same parents.

03:00:52.540 A sumptuous feast was now prepared and it lasted many days, and Sigurd now married Guthrun.

03:01:01.020 Many different amusements and entertainments were to be found there, and each day's feasting

03:01:06.460 was better than the last.

03:01:09.260 They now roamed far and wide, performing many glorious deeds, killing many princes, and

03:01:16.900 no one accomplished such great feats as they did.

03:01:20.740 They now returned home with much booty.

03:01:24.560 Sigrid gave Guthrun some of Fafnir's heart to eat, and she was then far grimmer than

03:01:30.620 before, and wiser too.

03:01:34.420 Their son's name was Sigmund.

03:01:38.520 Grimhird went one day to her son Gunnar.

03:01:42.000 Your affairs are flourishing, she said, except in one particular.

03:01:50.120 You've no wife.

03:01:52.560 for Brynhild's hand, it will be much a splendid match, and Sigrid will ride with you."

03:02:00.620 She is certainly beautiful, replied Gunnar, and I am nothing lord.

03:02:09.060 And then he told his father, and his brothers, and Sigrid, and they were all strongly in

03:02:15.160 favor.

03:02:18.400 Chapter 29

03:02:21.740 They now prepared carefully for the journey.

03:02:25.640 Then they rode over Hill and Dale to King Boothly.

03:02:30.420 They put forward their proposal.

03:02:33.260 He received it favorably, provided that she did not refuse, saying she was so proud that

03:02:39.420 she would only marry the man of her choice.

03:02:43.360 Then they rode to Hlemdelir.

03:02:47.000 Haimir gave them a hearty welcome.

03:02:50.320 Gunnar explained their business.

03:02:53.320 Haimir said that hers was the decision as to whom she would marry.

03:02:59.680 Then he said that her hall was a short way off and gave his opinion that she would only

03:03:04.840 marry the man who rode through the burning fire that surrounded her hall.

03:03:10.280 They found the hall and the fire, and what they saw was a stronghold.

03:03:16.320 gable head mounted in gold and fire burning all around it. Gunnar rode Goti and Hogni rode

03:03:24.720 Halkvir. Gunnar spurred on his horse towards the fire, but he shied back.

03:03:31.760 Why shy back, Gunnar? said Sigurd. The horse won't leap the fire, he answered,

03:03:40.080 and he asked Sigurd to lend him Grani.

03:03:43.700 By all means, said Sigurd.

03:03:47.800 Gunnar then rode at the fire, but Grani wouldn't go on,

03:03:52.080 so Gunnar could not ride through the fire.

03:03:55.760 Sigurd and Gunnar then exchanged appearances, as Grimhild had taught them.

03:04:01.220 Then Sigurd rode with Grom in hand, and gold spurs bound on his heels.

03:04:06.640 Grani charged at the fire when he felt the spur.

03:04:12.480 Then there came a mighty roar as the fire began to rage, and the earth to tremble.

03:04:18.180 The flames mounted to the skies.

03:04:20.060 No one had dared do this before, and it was like riding dense fog.

03:04:26.460 Then the fire died down, and dismounting he entered the hall.

03:04:32.920 As is said,

03:04:35.360 The fire grew great, and ground did shake, And tall flame towered to the sky.

03:04:42.600 Few warrior kings were willing to ride, On fair onwards through the fire's rage.

03:04:49.420 We saw did Sigurd spur granny onwards, Before the prince the fire then died.

03:04:56.240 The flames all ceased for the seeker of glory, Resplendent the harness Regan had owned.

03:05:02.360 And when Sigurd went in past the flames, he found a fine dwelling, and Brynhild was sitting

03:05:09.960 within.

03:05:11.660 She asked who the man was.

03:05:14.120 He said he was Gunnar, Gukki's son.

03:05:17.440 And you are to be my wife. 0.98

03:05:21.440 Your father consented if I rode through your leaping flames, as did your foster father,

03:05:27.860 if you so decided.

03:05:31.960 I hardly know how to answer, she said.

03:05:37.080 Sigurd stood erect on the floor, leaning on the hilt of his sword, and said to Brynhild,

03:05:43.680 In return, I shall make you a large marriage settlement in valuables and gold.

03:05:51.360 From her seat, like a swan on the wave, she made solemn reply.

03:05:57.020 She had sword in hand, a helm on her head, and she was clod in armor.

03:06:03.980 Gunnar!

03:06:05.900 Nope.

03:06:08.460 Gunnar, she said, do not talk to me of this unless you are a better man than any other, 0.99

03:06:16.700 and you must kill all who have asked for my hand, if you are resolute enough. 0.83

03:06:22.540 I have fought in battle with the king of Gardoriki, and my weapons are stained with men's blood, and this is what I still long for. 0.97

03:06:34.800 You have outperformed many great deeds, he replied, but now think of your oath, that if anyone rode through the fire, you would go with the man who did so. 0.56

03:06:46.660 She realized that what he said was true, and saw the point of his answer.

03:06:55.260 She arose and made him welcome.

03:06:58.540 He stayed there three nights, and they shared the same bed.

03:07:03.040 He took the sword Grom and laid it naked between them.

03:07:08.140 She asked the reason. 0.57

03:07:10.420 He said it was ordained that he should marry his wife in this way, or else die.

03:07:17.300 Then he took from her the ring Anvaranaut, which he had given her, and gave her another

03:07:24.360 from Fafnir's inheritance.

03:07:27.540 After this he rode off into the fire and to his comrades.

03:07:32.380 They changed back their appearances, and then rode to Hlidilir, and told how things had

03:07:38.600 gone.

03:07:40.140 That same day Brynhild went back to her foster-fathers and told him in confidence that a king had

03:07:46.980 come to her.

03:07:49.340 And he rode through my leaping frames, and said he had come to make me his own, and that

03:07:55.420 his name was Gunnar.

03:07:58.320 But I said that Sigrid alone would do this, he to whom I gave my vows on the mountain.

03:08:05.480 He is my first lover.

03:08:09.240 Hymir then said that things would have to stay as they were.

03:08:15.240 Aslog, Sigurd's daughter and mine, shall be brought up here with you, said Brynhild.

03:08:24.320 The king now returned and Brynhild went to her fathers.

03:08:28.540 Grimhild welcomed them and thanked Sigurd for his help.

03:08:32.520 Preparations were then made for a feast.

03:08:35.620 A large number of people arrived.

03:08:38.540 King Burtli came with his daughter, and his son Atli came.

03:08:43.620 The feast lasted many days, and when it was over Sigurd remembered all his vows to Brynhild,

03:08:51.480 but he gave no sign.

03:08:54.240 Brynhild and Gunnar set enjoying themselves and drank good wine.

03:09:01.220 Volsunga Saga Part 15 of Menni

03:09:08.140 Chapter 30 One day they went to bathe in the River Rhine.

03:09:15.720 Brynhild then waded out furthest in the river.

03:09:19.540 Guthrun asked what this meant.

03:09:22.460 Why should I think we're of equal standing in this more than in anything else?

03:09:28.820 Said Brynhild.

03:09:30.700 I thought my father was more powerful than yours, and that my husband had performed many

03:09:35.700 outstanding feats, and rode through the burning fire, while your husband was King Hjallprek's

03:09:42.880 thrall.

03:09:43.880 You'd be wiser to hold your peace, answered Guthrun angrily, than to speak slightingly

03:09:54.580 of my husband.

03:09:57.380 One says that no man born into the world is in any way like him, and it is not fitting

03:10:04.200 for you to speak slightingly of him.

03:10:07.620 For he is your lover, and he killed Fafnir, and rode through leaping flames when you thought

03:10:14.320 it was King Gunnar.

03:10:16.880 And he slept with you, and took from your arm the ring on Varanaut, and here, now you

03:10:23.560 can see for yourself.

03:10:26.620 Brynherd then saw the ring and recognized it.

03:10:31.000 Then she turned deathly pale.

03:10:33.280 Brynherd went back and did not utter a word that evening, and when Sigrid went to bed,

03:10:39.300 Guthrun asked, Why is Brynherd so dejected?

03:10:46.000 I don't know for sure, answered Sigrid, but I suspect we shall soon know rather more fully.

03:10:56.040 Why isn't she content with wealth and happiness, with praise from everyone, and with getting

03:11:02.420 the husband she wanted?" said Guthrun. 0.91

03:11:06.100 Where was she when she said she thought she had the most distinguished husband, or the

03:11:12.140 one she most wanted? said Sigurd.

03:11:16.160 Tomorrow, I'll ask whom she would most like to have, replied Guthrun.

03:11:22.080 I advise you not to do that, answered Sigurd. You'll regret it if you do.

03:11:29.700 And in the morning, they were sitting in the private quarters, and Brynhild was silent.

03:11:36.220 Then Guthrin said,

03:11:38.780 Be cheerful, Brynhild. Are you upset because of our conversation?

03:11:44.600 Or what is it that stops you from being happy?

03:11:47.040 This is prompted by nothing but malice, replied Brunhild, and you have a cruel heart.

03:11:58.020 Don't talk like that, said Guthrun, and instead tell me.

03:12:04.260 Only ask about what is good for you to know, replied Brunhild.

03:12:09.380 That is befitting for a woman of rank, and it's good to be content with good things.

03:12:15.520 what everything's going as you wish it's early yet to boast of that replied guthrun and there's

03:12:25.120 something prophetic in it what do you reproach me with i've done nothing to cause you grief

03:12:31.960 you'll pay for having sigurd replied brynhild i grudge your enjoyment of him and of all the gold

03:12:42.040 I know nothing of the vow you made, answered Guthrun, and my father could surely arrange

03:12:50.440 my marriage without it consulting you.

03:12:55.240 What we said was no secret, making vows as we did, and you knew you were playing me false.

03:13:03.800 But I'll be rearranged, answered Brynhild.

03:13:09.360 You've made a better match than you deserve, replied Guthrun, but your pride won't abate

03:13:16.420 without mischief, and many will pay for it.

03:13:21.360 I'd be content, said Brynhild, if only you didn't have the more eminent husband.

03:13:31.040 Your husband is so eminent, replied Guthrun, that none can say who is the greater king,

03:13:38.580 With wealth and power in plenty, too.

03:13:42.820 Sigurd struck at Fafnir, replied Brynhild, And that's worth more than all King Gunnar's

03:13:49.260 power.

03:13:50.900 As the poem says, Sigurd struck at the dragon, That deed shall be told,

03:13:57.240 For as long as ever there's life on earth.

03:14:00.540 No wish had your brother to win over, Or fare onwards through the fire's rage.

03:14:07.700 Durrani did not gallop through the fire when King Gunnar mounted, but he essayed the ride,

03:14:14.900 and his courage can't be called into question, replied Guthrun.

03:14:19.700 I can't pretend that I'm well disposed towards Grimhild, answered Brynhild.

03:14:24.900 Don't blame her, replied Guthrun, for she treats you like a daughter.

03:14:29.980 She is responsible for the whole onset of the misfortune now afflicting us, answered Brynhild.

03:14:38.780 She brought Sigurd a harmful draught of ale so that he couldn't recall my name.

03:14:46.480 You're telling a lot of untruths, said Guthrum. It's a monstrous lie.

03:14:52.520 Enjoy Sigurd to the extent you've not deceived me. You don't deserve your life together,

03:15:00.920 and I hope things turn out for you, as I expect, replied Brynhild.

03:15:07.540 I'll enjoy him more than you'd like, answered Guthrum, and no one thought he'd been over-intimate

03:15:15.860 with me not once you're talking offensively and when you're calmer you'll be sorry replied

03:15:27.380 brinnhild let's not indulge in spiteful language you first hurled spiteful words at me said guthrum

03:15:39.140 now you act as if you'll put things right but there's malice behind it all

03:15:45.860 Let's have done with pointless chatter, said Brynhild, for a long time I kept silent about

03:15:53.580 the grief that was in my heart, and I loved no one but your brother, and let's talk of

03:16:00.220 something else.

03:16:02.740 Your thoughts are looking far beyond this, said Guthrun, and much unhappiness came about

03:16:10.840 up, because they went to the river, and she recognized the ring which led to their conversation.

03:16:19.900 Chapter 31 After their talk Brynhild took to her bed,

03:16:25.940 and Gunnar heard the news that Brynhild was ill.

03:16:29.980 He visited her and asked what was the matter, but she made no reply and lay like one dead.

03:16:37.840 But when he pressed his question, she answered.

03:16:42.660 Why do you do with the ring I gave you, King Boothly's gift to me at her last parting?

03:16:50.000 When your sons of King Gukki came to him, swearing to Harry and Byrne, if you didn't

03:16:56.380 kid me, then he took me aside and asked which one I chose from those who'd come. 0.66

03:17:04.140 But I offered to defend the country and command the third of the army.

03:17:09.820 There were two alternatives to hand.

03:17:13.100 I had to marry the one as he desired, or lose all my wealth in his favour, and he said his

03:17:21.120 favour would serve me better than his anger.

03:17:25.860 Then I deliberated whether to bow to his will or kill many men.

03:17:32.620 I considered I was incapable of fighting him, and so I promised to marry the man who would 0.99

03:17:39.280 ride the steed Grani with Fafnir's inheritance, and ride through my leaping flames, and kill 0.99

03:17:48.060 the men I named. 0.58

03:17:50.440 Now none dared the ride save Sigurd alone.

03:17:54.480 He rode through the fire, for he did not lack the courage for defeat.

03:18:00.960 He it was who killed the dragon, and Regan, and five kings, and not you, Gunnar, for you

03:18:10.060 turned pale as a corpse, and you're no king, nor a hero.

03:18:16.680 And back at my father's I swore, I would love only the noblest man born, and that is Sigurd.

03:18:26.200 Now I am perjured, for he is not mine, and for this reason I shall be the cause of your

03:18:33.700 death, and I've to pay back Grimhird for her malice. 0.98

03:18:39.620 There's no woman more cowardly or worse than she is." 0.98

03:18:47.360 Gunnar answered so that not many heard, 0.99

03:18:51.440 You've made a lot of lying statements, and it's wicked of you to speak ill of a woman 0.97

03:19:00.000 who is far superior to you. 0.72

03:19:04.100 She wasn't badly discontented with her lots as you are, nor has she tormented her dead

03:19:10.360 men, nor murdered anyone, and she is held in esteem.

03:19:18.480 I've held no secret meetings, nor committed any outrage. 0.99

03:19:27.660 That's not my nature, but I'd be quite ready to kill you." 0.99

03:19:36.840 Then she would have killed King Gunnar, but Hogni put her in chains. 0.97

03:19:43.900 Then said Gunnar, it's not my wish that she should be in chains.

03:19:52.540 Pay no heed to that, she answered, for you'll never see again me happy in your hall, neither

03:20:01.880 drinking nor playing at checkers, nor speaking in friendly tones, nor working fine materials

03:20:09.400 in gold, nor giving you advice.

03:20:14.520 She said her deepest sorrow lay in not being married to Sigurd.

03:20:19.560 She raised herself up and struck her tapestry work, tearing it apart, and then she ordered

03:20:25.740 the door of the apartment to be opened so that her lament could be heard afar off.

03:20:32.360 There was now great sorrow, and it was heard over all the precincts.

03:20:38.080 Guthrun asked her attendants why they were so depressed and sad.

03:20:43.580 What's the matter with you?

03:20:46.580 Why go about like people demented? 0.67

03:20:49.760 Why has so strangely what come over to you?

03:20:54.480 Then one of her sweet, called Svar'lod, answered,

03:20:59.480 This is an evil day.

03:21:02.600 Our hall is full of sorrow.

03:21:07.120 Then Guthrun spoke to her confidante, Get up, we have long been asleep. 0.99

03:21:15.840 Arouse Brynheer, then let's set to weaving and be gay. 0.99

03:21:19.880 I'll not do it, she said, neither rouse her nor talk to her. 0.98

03:21:27.700 For many a day she's drunk no mead or wine, and the wrath of the gods has come upon her.

03:21:36.000 Then Guthron spake to Gunnar, Go and see her, she said, and say we have no pleasure

03:21:44.320 in her misery.

03:21:46.460 I am forbidden to see her, replied Gunnar, or to have any part in what is hers.

03:21:56.240 But Gunnar went to see her and tried in numerous ways to talk with her, but got nothing in

03:22:02.660 by, and then went away, met Hogni, and asked him to visit her.

03:22:09.600 He said he was reluctant, but he went and got nothing out of her, and he met Sigurd

03:22:17.100 and asked him to visit her.

03:22:19.560 He returned no answer, and such was the position that evening.

03:22:25.980 And the following day, when he returned from the hunt, he found Guthrum and said,

03:22:31.600 I've had a pre-sentiment that the feverish shivering will come to something, and Brainyrd

03:22:39.780 will die."

03:22:40.780 "'My lord,' replied Guthrun, "'there are great portents all about her.

03:22:49.140 She has now slept for seven days, and no one has dared to wake her.'"

03:22:54.840 She's not asleep, answered Sigurd.

03:22:59.400 She's busy with some deep scheme against us both.

03:23:05.120 Then weeping, Guthrun said, How great is the sorrow to hear of your death!

03:23:11.660 It would be better to go and visit her, and see if her pride were abate.

03:23:16.880 Give her gold, and so mollify her anger.

03:23:23.400 went and found the hall open. He thought she was asleep and threw back the bedclothes from

03:23:29.440 her and said, Wake up, Braineer, the sun is shining all around the house. You've done

03:23:36.580 enough sleeping. Shake off your cares and be happy. How can you dare come to see me?

03:23:45.940 She said.

03:23:47.300 No one behaved worse in deceiving me than you.

03:23:52.600 Why don't you speak to people?

03:23:55.400 Sigrid asked.

03:23:56.680 What's troubling you?

03:23:59.760 I'll tell you about my anger.

03:24:03.020 Bryn Hiddert answered.

03:24:05.260 You're bewitched if you imagine I better you ill will.

03:24:08.700 And your husband is the man you chose. 0.54

03:24:12.980 Said Sigrid.

03:24:15.220 No, she said.

03:24:18.500 Gunnar did not ride through the fire to me, nor did he make a marriage payment of slaughtered dead.

03:24:25.820 I was puzzled by the man who came into my hall, and I thought I recognized your eyes.

03:24:33.100 But I wasn't able to see things clearly, because of the veil which shrouded my good fortune. 1.00

03:24:40.140 I'm not a nobleman, the Gukki's sons, said Sigurd. 1.00

03:24:48.920 They killed the Danish king and a great prince, King Boothly's brother. 1.00

03:24:55.520 I've a heavy score to settle with them, answered Brynhild, and don't remind me of my sorrows.

03:25:02.920 You, Sigrid, struck at the dragon and rode through the fire, even for my sake, and Kinyuki's sons weren't there.

03:25:15.760 I was never your husband, nor you my wife, replied Sigrid, and a famous king put down the marriage payment for you.

03:25:26.120 I have not looked at Gunnar so that my heart smiled upon him, answered Brynhild.

03:25:32.920 and I bear him ill will, though I hide it from others.

03:25:37.980 It's monstrous not to love such a king, said Sigurd.

03:25:42.700 What is it that troubles you most?

03:25:45.600 It seems to me that his love should mean more to you than gold.

03:25:50.880 The most hurtful for me of my sorrows, answered Brynhild,

03:25:54.540 is that I can't get the king's sword reddened with your blood.

03:25:59.380 "'Have no fear on that score,' replied Sigurd.

03:26:05.020 "'There will not be long to wait before a sharp sword is embedded in my heart,

03:26:11.620 "'and you'll not ask for anything less for yourself, because you'll not survive me.

03:26:18.180 "'There'll not be many days left to us from now on.'"

03:26:23.000 "'No slight malice prompts your words, since you cheated me of all happiness,'

03:26:28.380 answered Brynhild and life is nothing to me live love King Gunnar and me replied

03:26:39.000 Sigrid I'll give all I have if only you'll not die you don't really know my

03:26:47.880 nature answered Brynhild you are the most outstanding of all men and no woman

03:26:53.860 grew more hateful to you than I did.

03:26:56.980 The truth

03:26:58.020 is rather difficult,

03:27:00.100 replied Sigurd.

03:27:01.520 I loved you more than myself,

03:27:04.820 though I met with

03:27:05.760 trickery, and now that

03:27:07.780 can't be changed,

03:27:09.680 for when my wits were uncouted,

03:27:12.200 it always grieved me

03:27:13.660 that you weren't my wife.

03:27:15.760 And I bore up best as I could,

03:27:18.780 for I was in the noble

03:27:19.860 hall, and yet

03:27:21.960 I was glad that we were all together.

03:27:23.860 It may be that it was formerly prophesied would have come true, but I shan't worry about it.

03:27:32.240 You're too late in saying that my grief distresses you, answered Brynhild, and now I shall find no relief.

03:27:41.260 I would like us to sleep together, replied Sigurd, and you would be my wife.

03:27:47.220 Such things must not be said, answered Brynhild, nor will I have two lords in one hall.

03:27:57.460 I'd die sooner than deceive King Gunnar.

03:28:01.600 And then she recalled how they met on the mountain and made their vows.

03:28:07.460 But not all that has changed, and I don't want to live.

03:28:14.280 I had no memory of your name, said Sigrid, nor recognized you before you were married.

03:28:21.300 And that is my greatest sorrow.

03:28:24.840 I swore an oath, said Brynhilden, to marry the man who rode through my leaping flames.

03:28:32.820 And that oath I would keep, or die.

03:28:38.120 Rather than you should die, I'll marry you and leave Guthrun, said Sigrid. 0.96

03:28:43.160 and his breast so heaved that the lengths of his hauberk snapped. 0.86

03:28:47.820 I don't want you, said Brynhild, nor any other man.

03:28:54.340 Sigurd went away.

03:28:56.640 As the lay of Sigurd says,

03:28:59.880 Out went Sigurd to wait for him to talk,

03:29:02.560 his staunch friend of men, so strong his grief,

03:29:06.120 the shirt iron-woven at the warrior's sides,

03:29:09.480 it sprang thin wide and split apart.

03:29:11.480 And when Sigurd came into the hall, Gunnar asked if he knew what was grieving her, and

03:29:19.360 if she were capable of speech.

03:29:23.240 Sigurd said she could speak.

03:29:26.380 And now Gunnar went to see her a second time, asked what her grief meant and whether that

03:29:32.240 was any remedy for it.

03:29:34.400 I don't want to live, said Brynherd, for Sigurd betrayed me, and he betrayed you no less when you let him sleep with me.

03:29:45.960 Now I'll not have two husbands at one, and at the same time in one hall, and this will mean Sigurd's death, or to yours, or to mine, for he's told Gudrun everything, and she taunts me with it.

03:30:04.400 After this, Brynhild went out and sat beneath the wall of her private quarters, and gave

03:30:22.160 vent to her grief.

03:30:24.760 She said that everything was hateful to her, land and power too, since Sigurd was not hers.

03:30:34.280 And Gunnar came to her once more.

03:30:38.040 Then Brynhild said, You'll lose both power and wealth, your life and me, and I shall 0.96

03:30:47.340 go back to my family and live there sorrowfully if you don't kill Sigurd and his son. 0.99

03:30:56.400 Don't rear the wolf cub. 1.00

03:31:00.240 Gunnar now grew very distressed.

03:31:04.300 He did not know, he thought, what had best be done, for he was bound to Sigurd by oath,

03:31:11.200 and his mind toyed now with this, now with that, but he thought it would be a terrible

03:31:17.420 disgrace if his wife left him.

03:31:20.740 I treasure Bryngrid above all else, said Gunnar.

03:31:26.560 She is the most famous of our women, and I would sooner die than lose her love," and

03:31:33.980 he summoned his brother Hogni.

03:31:36.060 I am faced with a difficult problem, he told him, and said he meant to kill Sigurd, who

03:31:44.700 he declared had broken faith with him.

03:31:48.120 Then the gold and all the power will be ours.

03:31:54.740 It would not be right, said Hogni, to break our oaths by a hostile act, and he's a great

03:32:02.480 asset to us. 0.94

03:32:04.800 No kings are a match to us if this foolish king is alive, and never again shall we get 0.99

03:32:12.300 a brother-in-law like him. 0.98

03:32:14.940 And think how fine it would be if we had a brother-in-law like him, and nephews too.

03:32:22.240 But I see where all this started.

03:32:25.460 Vrenhild is behind it, and her plans will do us harm, and bring us deep shame.

03:32:32.940 It will have to be carried out, said Gunnar, and I see a way.

03:32:40.240 Let's urge our brother Gutorn to do it.

03:32:43.260 He is young and simple, and free from any oath.

03:32:49.120 I think that plan is irrevised, said Ogni, and even if successful, we shall still pay

03:32:56.840 dearly for betraying such a man. 0.65

03:33:01.380 Gunnar said that Sigurd must die, or else I shall die. 1.00

03:33:10.240 He told Brynjir to get up and be gay. 1.00

03:33:13.680 She got up but said that Gunnar would not share her bed until it was done. 0.97

03:33:20.220 The brothers now talked it over. 0.90

03:33:22.920 Gunnar said that to have robbed Brynhild of her virginity fully deserved death. 0.90

03:33:29.440 Let's urge on Guttorn to do the deed.

03:33:35.220 And they called him over and offered him gold and great power if he would do it.

03:33:40.400 They took a serpent and some wolf's flesh, boiled them up, and gave them to eat them.

03:33:47.100 As the Skald says, Some took forest fish, some wolf's flesh sliced, some colored for

03:33:54.800 Guttorm, carrying a wolf, gave it with air and with other things besides, and magic spells.

03:34:04.520 And what with the food and Grimherd's arguments, he grew so fiery and impetuous that he promised

03:34:11.520 to do the deed, and they in return promised him high honors.

03:34:17.400 Sigurd was not expecting such treachery, but he could not fight against fate and his destiny.

03:34:23.760 Nor was Sigurd aware that he deserved any double-dealing at their hands.

03:34:30.020 The following morning Guttorm went in to Sigurd when he was resting in bed, but when Sigurd

03:34:35.900 looked at him Guttorm dared not attack him and went out again.

03:34:41.440 This happened a second time, Sigurd's eyes were so piercing that few dared meet them.

03:34:48.620 He went in a third time and Sigurd was now asleep.

03:34:53.140 Guttorm drew his sword and lunged at Sigurd so that the point pierced the bed beneath

03:34:58.820 him. Sigurd awoke with the wound just as Guthrun was going out through the door. Then Sigurd

03:35:05.920 picked up the sword Grom and hurled it after him. It caught him across the back and severed

03:35:11.980 him at the waist. The lower half fell one way, and the other, the head and arms, fell

03:35:18.480 back into the room. Guthrun was now asleep in Sigurd's arms, and she awoke in unutterable

03:35:26.500 grief, bathed in his blood. And she so groaned and wept in sorrow that Sigurd raised himself

03:35:33.660 on the pillow and spoke. Do not weep, he said. Your brothers live close to cheer you. But

03:35:42.060 I have a son who is too young to be unguarded against his enemies, and they've done badly

03:35:48.100 for themselves. They'll not find a brother-in-law like me to ride in the army with them, nor

03:35:55.740 such a nephew should be managed to reach adulthood.

03:36:01.120 And what was long since prophesied has now come to pass.

03:36:05.500 I could never bring myself to believe it, but no one can fight against fate.

03:36:11.580 But Brynjord is responsible.

03:36:14.600 She loves me above all men.

03:36:18.300 But I can swear that I've never wronged Gunnar, and I kept the outsworn between us.

03:36:25.380 Or was I too close a friend of his wife's?

03:36:29.160 And I had known of this before, and got on my feet with my weapons.

03:36:33.980 Many would lose their lives before I fell, and the brothers would all be slain, and they

03:36:40.320 would find me harder to kill than the greatest bison or wild boar.

03:36:48.440 Then the king died, and Guthrin gave a deep moan.

03:36:53.140 Brynjörd heard it and laughed when she heard Guthrin sobbing.

03:36:59.080 Then Gunnar said, You're not laughing because you feel happy deep down in your heart, else

03:37:06.420 why does your color leave you? 1.00

03:37:08.960 You're a monster, and very likely a doomed woman, none more deserving than you to see 1.00

03:37:16.360 King Atli killed before your eyes, and you'd have to be present. 1.00

03:37:22.520 But I must watch, by my brother-in-law, and by my brother Slayer."

03:37:30.140 No one will complain that there's not been enough killing, she replied, but King Otli

03:37:36.780 cares nothing for your threats or anger, and he'll outlive you and wield great power.

03:37:44.640 When Brynheer prophesied, has now come to pass, said Hogni, and this evil deed which

03:37:54.100 we can never make undone.

03:37:58.960 My kinsmen have killed my husband, said Guthrun, now you will ride first in the army, and when

03:38:07.520 you do battle you'll find that Sigurd's not at your side.

03:38:12.160 And then you'll see that Sigurd was your luck and your strength, and if he'd had sons

03:38:18.280 like himself, he'd have been strengthened by his offspring and their kin."

03:38:24.920 No one then thought he could explain why Bryngurt had laughing, asked for what she was weeping

03:38:31.400 over.

03:38:33.900 She then spoke.

03:38:35.400 Gunnar, I dreamed that my bed was cold, and you were riding into the hands of your enemies,

03:38:44.000 and things would go badly with all your family, for you broke your trust.

03:38:49.720 Nor did you remember very clearly, when you betrayed him, how you and Sigurd mingled your

03:38:56.760 blood together, and you repaid him solely with evil for all that he did for you, and

03:39:04.840 for giving you a preeminent position, and when he came to me, he proved how he kept

03:39:12.240 his oath by laying between us that keen-edged, firm-tempered sword.

03:39:18.720 But you early did the wrong to him, and to me, when I was at home with my father and

03:39:25.160 had everything I wanted, not meaning that any one of you should be mine when you three

03:39:32.660 kings rode up to the stronghold. Then Ottli took me aside and asked if I would marry the

03:39:41.420 man Ronigrani, and he was not like you. Then I betrothed to King Sigmund's son and none

03:39:50.940 other. Things won't go smoothly for you, even though I die.

03:39:59.980 Then Gunnar stood up, and embraced her, and begged her to live, and to accept the riches,

03:40:08.080 and all the others urged her not to die, but she rebuffed all who came to her, and said

03:40:14.140 it was useless to try to turn her from her purpose.

03:40:18.460 Then Gunnar appealed to Hogni, and asked him for her advice, and told him to go, and see

03:40:24.160 if he might soothe her, and said it was now very necessary if her grief could be lessened

03:40:31.080 until time healed it.

03:40:33.120 Let no one tell her not to die, answered Hogni, for she's been no use to us or to anyone 0.73

03:40:41.000 else since she came here.

03:40:44.520 She now ordered a large amount of gold to be brought and ordered all those who desired 0.99

03:40:48.920 riches to approach.

03:40:52.320 Then she took a sword and stabbed herself in the arm and sank back against the cushions 0.62

03:40:58.560 and said, 0.59

03:40:59.760 If any of you want gold, here, take it now.

03:41:07.100 All were silent.

03:41:08.700 Accept the gold, said Brynhild, and enjoy it.

03:41:16.500 Brynhild spoke to Gunnar once more.

03:41:21.440 Now I shall tell you in brief what is going to happen.

03:41:26.880 On the advice of the sorceress Grimhild, you and Guthrun will soon be reconciled.

03:41:35.560 The daughter of Guthrun and Sigurd will be named Svanhild, and she will be far fairer

03:41:42.620 than any woman born.

03:41:45.540 Guthrun will be married to Atli against her will. 0.99

03:41:50.360 You will want to marry Aldrum, but Atli will forbid it. 0.75

03:41:56.740 Then you will have secret meetings together, and she will love you. 0.94

03:42:03.800 Atli will betray you and put you in a snake pit, and then Atli and his sons will be slain. 1.00

03:42:12.240 Guthrun will kill them. 0.99

03:42:15.020 Then mighty waves will carry her to King Jonakr's castle. 0.99

03:42:20.960 There she will bear noble sons.

03:42:24.860 Svanhird will be sent out of the country and married to King Jormunrik.

03:42:31.660 Vicky's plotting will be her downfall. 0.95

03:42:35.500 And then all Yurion will have passed away. 0.97

03:42:38.360 and Gultrin's sorrows will be the greater. 0.89

03:42:46.020 Chapter 33 I now ask you, Gunnar, to grant a last

03:42:53.500 request.

03:42:56.540 Have a great pyre built on the level ground for all of us, for myself, for Sigurd, and 0.90

03:43:05.080 And for those killed with him, Let there be a covering dyed in men's red blood, 0.96

03:43:12.580 And burned there at my side the hoonish king, And at his other side my men, 0.97

03:43:20.040 Two at his head, two at his feet, And two hawks in equal division. 0.85

03:43:28.360 Lay there between us a drawn sword as of old when we shared the same bed.

03:43:35.420 When we were called man and wife and if I accompanied him, the door will not swing shut

03:43:42.160 on his heels, nor will our funeral be paltry if five bondswoman and eight servants given

03:43:50.120 me by my father accompany him.

03:43:53.940 And also burned there those who were killed with Sigurd.

03:43:59.900 And I would say more if I were not wounded. 0.82

03:44:04.000 But now the wound is throtting, the gash opening, and I have told the truth."

03:44:12.940 So Sigurd's body was laid out according to ancient customs, and a great funeral pyre

03:44:19.660 was built.

03:44:20.660 And when it was properly alight, the body of Sigurd Fafnissbane was laid upon it, also

03:44:30.080 the body of his three-year-old son, whom Bryn Hird had ordered to be slain, and Guttorms.

03:44:39.520 And when the pyre was blazing, Bryn Hird went out on it, and told her maids-in-waiting to

03:44:46.700 to take the gold she desired to give them. And after that, Brynhild died, and was burnt

03:44:55.460 there with Sigurd, and so their days ended.

03:45:01.460 Volsunga Saga Part 17 of Minni Chapter 34

03:45:13.460 Now everyone who heard of these events said that there was surely not a man like him left

03:45:20.220 in the world, and that never again would there be born a man such as Sigurd was in every

03:45:27.220 respect, and his name would never be forgotten wherever German was spoken, nor yet in the

03:45:35.600 northern lands, as long as the world endured.

03:45:43.040 The story goes that one day Gudrun was sitting in her room and said,

03:45:50.940 I had a better life when I was married to Sigurd.

03:45:55.320 He outclassed all men, just as gold does iron, or garlic other herbs, or the stag other

03:46:04.340 animals.

03:46:05.340 Until my brothers grudged me a husband such as he, superior as all was to all. 0.98

03:46:15.100 They could not sleep until they had killed him.

03:46:19.320 made a terrible noise when he saw his lord wounded. Then I spoke to him as I would to

03:46:26.880 Amon, but he hung down his head to the ground and knew that Sigurd had fallen.

03:46:37.920 Then Guthrum vanished into the woods and heard all around her the howling of wolves and thought

03:46:46.420 it would be pleasanter to die.

03:46:49.820 Guthrun went on until she came to King Harf's Hall, and there in Denmark she dwelt with

03:46:56.800 Haken's daughter Dora for three and a half years, and was shown great hospitality.

03:47:06.020 And she wove a tapestry for her, showing on it many great deeds in noble sports, such

03:47:13.320 as were customary at the time, swords and coats of mail and all the equipment of a king,

03:47:22.360 and King Sigmund's ships as they sailed along the coast. And they worked in Sigur and Sigir

03:47:30.200 fighting south of Fjorn. This was their pastime, and Guthrun was now, to some extent, comfort

03:47:38.440 her in her grief. Grimhild heard what had become of Guthrun. She summoned her sons to

03:47:47.680 talk with her, and asked how they meant to compensate Guthrun for her son and husband,

03:47:55.180 saying that they were in duty bound to do so. Gunnar said he would give her gold and

03:48:02.200 in that way compensate her for her sorrows. They sent for their friends and made ready

03:48:08.020 their horses, helmets, shields, swords, and coats of mail and armor of every description.

03:48:16.260 The expedition was magnificently fitted, and no champion of any standing stayed behind.

03:48:24.660 Their horses were clad in mail, and each knight had either a gilt or a brightly polished helmet.

03:48:32.820 Grimhild accompanied them on the expedition, and said that their mission would be successful

03:48:38.940 as long as she did not stay behind.

03:48:42.780 They had five hundred men in all.

03:48:46.020 They also had famous men with them.

03:48:48.540 Waldemar of Denmark was there, and Imod and Jarosleef.

03:48:54.760 They entered Kingharth's Hall.

03:48:57.420 There were Lagobards, Franks, and Saxons there. 0.59

03:49:01.880 They journeyed with full equipment, and they wore red fur cloaks, as the lay says, short

03:49:09.300 coats of mail girt with short swords, high soaring helmets and sorrel haired.

03:49:16.980 They wanted to choose out fine gifts for their sister, and spoke kindly to her, but she would

03:49:23.820 trust none of them.

03:49:26.700 Then Grimhild brought her a doctored drink, and she had to take it, and afterwards she

03:49:32.940 had no memory of any of her wrongs.

03:49:37.860 That drink was mixed with the power of the earth, with the sea, and her son's blood.

03:49:47.460 In the horn characters of all kinds were engraved and reddened with blood.

03:49:54.460 As this verse says, There appeared in the horn all manner of letters,

03:50:00.420 graved and reddened.

03:50:03.300 Read them I could not, The longling fish of the land of the hottings,

03:50:09.540 Ear of corn uncut, Animals jaws.

03:50:15.020 Many were the ills mixed in with that ale, Herbs of all the wood and acorns scorched,

03:50:23.780 The dew of the hearth hallowed in trails, pig's liver boiled for blunting wrongs.

03:50:33.200 And after this, when they were agreed, there was great rejoicing.

03:50:40.060 Then when she found Guthrun, Grimhild said,

03:50:44.820 Greetings, my daughter! I will give you gold and treasures of all kinds, an inheritance

03:50:52.380 from your father, precious rings and the bed-hangings of the most graceful hung maidens, and then 0.92

03:51:00.300 your husband will be atoned for. Afterwards I shall give you in marriage to that powerful 0.95

03:51:07.780 King Otley. Then you'll have control of his wealth. And don't forsake your relatives for

03:51:15.560 the sake of one man. Do rather as we ask.

03:51:22.080 I will never marry King Otley, replied Guthrun. It would not be seemly for us to continue

03:51:29.400 the line together.

03:51:30.540 You must not think of your feud, answered Grimhild. Octus of Sigurd and Sigmund were

03:51:41.220 alive if you have sons. I cannot forget him, said Guthrun. He was superior to all.

03:51:52.140 You are destined to marry this king, said Grimhild, and you shall marry none other.

03:52:03.700 Don't force this king on me, said Guthrun.

03:52:07.620 From him there will be nothing but evil for this family, and he'll deal evilly with your

03:52:13.200 sons, and afterwards terrible vengeance will be taken on him.

03:52:19.880 Her arguments made Grimhird unhappy about her sons.

03:52:24.080 She said,

03:52:25.080 Do as we ask, and in return you shall have great honor, and our friendship, and the districts

03:52:33.640 of Vynbjörg and Valbjörg.

03:52:37.960 Her words carried such weight that it had to be so.

03:52:43.440 Then so it must be, said Gudrun, though against my will, and there'll be little cause for

03:52:53.020 rejoicing, but rather for grief.

03:52:58.700 Then the men mounted their horses, and the women were given carriages, and thus they

03:53:04.320 journeyed a week on horseback, another week on board ship, and a third overland, until

03:53:11.820 they reached a lofty hall. A great crowd went to meet her, and a magnificent feast had been

03:53:19.320 got ready there, word having previously passed between them, and it proceeded with great

03:53:25.640 pomp and circumstance. And Otley married Guthrun at this feast, but their heart never smiled

03:53:34.600 on him, and they had little happiness from their life together.

03:53:42.480 Chapter 35 Now the story goes that one night King Otli

03:53:51.160 awoke from his sleep.

03:53:53.920 He spoke to Guthrun.

03:53:55.840 I dreamed, he said, that you lunged at me with a sword.

03:54:04.660 Guthrun interrupted the dream and said that to dream of iron meant fire, and the conceit

03:54:13.840 of thinking yourself superior to everyone.

03:54:18.740 I had another dream, said Otley.

03:54:22.960 It seemed as if two reeds had sprung up here, and I wished never to harm them.

03:54:32.140 Then they were torn up by the roots and reddened in blood, and carried to the bench and given

03:54:38.960 me to eat.

03:54:41.740 I had another dream.

03:54:45.140 Two hawks flew from my wrist, but they found no prey and perished.

03:54:53.420 It seemed to me as if their hearts were mingled with honey, and I thought I ate of them.

03:55:02.000 Then it seemed to me as if there were fine young dogs lying before me, and at this they

03:55:10.940 They yelped aloud, and ate their flesh against my will.

03:55:15.560 These are not good dreams, said Guthrun, and though be fulfilled, your sons are surely

03:55:27.460 doomed and many trials will come upon us.

03:55:33.580 I had another dream, he said.

03:55:36.620 I was lying in bed, and my death had been plotted.

03:55:41.680 Then it was over, but they knew no affection in their life together.

03:55:48.680 King Otli then wondered what had become of all the gold that Sigurd had possessed,

03:55:54.460 but that was now known to King Gunnar and his brother.

03:55:59.440 Otli was a great and powerful king.

03:56:01.800 He was clever and had many subjects.

03:56:06.800 He now took counsel with his men as to how he should proceed.

03:56:12.320 He knew that Gunnar and his family had far greater riches and that no one could be compared

03:56:18.400 to them.

03:56:20.200 He now decided to send men to visit the brothers and to invite them to a feast and to honor

03:56:26.500 them in many ways.

03:56:29.040 They were led by a man named Vingy.

03:56:33.180 The queen knew of the private talks and suspected treachery against her brothers.

03:56:38.800 Guthrun carved the runes, and she took a gold ring and knotted to it a hair from a wolf,

03:56:46.220 and handed it so to the king's envoys.

03:56:50.280 They then set off as the king had commanded, but before they went ashore, Vingy saw the

03:56:56.940 runes and altered them, making it seem as if Guthrun urged them in the runes to come

03:57:02.880 and visit him. Then they came to King Gunnar's hall, and they were made welcome, and large

03:57:10.560 fires were looted for them. After that they drank merrily the best of the drink. Then

03:57:17.940 Then Vingy spoke, King Gottlieb sends me here, desiring you to visit him in great honor,

03:57:27.260 and to receive from him great honor hermits and shields and swords and coats of mail,

03:57:34.440 gold and fine apparel, troops and horses and broad lands in fee, and upon you both he declared

03:57:43.180 he is best pleased to bestow his power.

03:57:47.780 Then Gunnar turned his head and said to Hogni,

03:57:53.660 How are we to receive this offer?

03:57:56.840 He invites us to assume great power, but I know of no kings who possess as much gold

03:58:01.640 as we do, for we have all the gold that lay on Gnithahed, and we have great rooms full

03:58:08.860 of gold and the finest cutting weapons and armor of all kinds.

03:58:14.100 I know my horse is the finest, my sword the sharpest, and the gold fabulous.

03:58:21.600 I am surprised at his offer, replied Hogni, for he has seldom done this sort of thing,

03:58:31.060 and it would be irradvised to go and visit him.

03:58:35.120 And I was surprised to see a wolf's hair knotted to a gold ring when I looked at the jewels King Otley sent us,

03:58:41.640 and it may be that Guthrin thinks he has wolfish feelings towards us

03:58:46.900 and that she doesn't want us to go.

03:58:52.000 Vingy now showed him the runes which he had said Guthrin had sent.

03:58:58.320 Everyone now went to bed, but they remained drinking with a few men.

03:59:03.740 Then Hogni's wife, whose name was Kostbera,

03:59:06.560 a very beautiful woman, went up and looked at the runes.

03:59:10.320 Gunnar's wife was named Graumvor.

03:59:14.880 She was of great presence and character.

03:59:18.200 The women poured out, and the kings became very drunk.

03:59:23.140 Vingi noticed this and spoke,

03:59:25.700 There's no hiding the fact that King Atlee is very infirm, and very advanced in years

03:59:33.600 for defending his kingdom, and his sons are young and fit for nothing.

03:59:39.820 He now desires to give you control of the kingdom, while they are so young.

03:59:47.880 It is you he wishes to profit by this."

03:59:53.500 Now it happened that Gunnar was very drunk, and also the great power had been offered.

04:00:01.100 Nor could he fight against destiny.

04:00:04.360 He now promised to take the journey, and informed his brother Hogni.

04:00:09.740 Your decision will have to stand, he answered, and I shall accompany you, but am not enthusiastic

04:00:18.520 about the journey.

04:00:21.220 And when the men had drunk all they wanted, they went to bed.

04:00:25.960 Kostbera began looking at the runes and read the characters, and saw that something different

04:00:31.900 had been carved over them from what was underneath, and the runes were confusing, but by reason

04:00:40.220 of her astuteness she managed to see through them.

04:00:45.420 After this she went to bed and lay at her husband's side, and when they awoke she said

04:00:51.880 to hogni you will mean to set off but that's unwise better go another time and you're not so

04:01:03.320 good at reading runs if you think your sister is sending for you on this occasion i read the

04:01:10.920 rooms and i'm surprised if such a clever woman caught them in such a confused way but underneath

04:01:18.920 Your death seems to be shown, and either she missed out the weather, or else others tampered

04:01:27.040 with them.

04:01:28.920 And now you must hear my dream.

04:01:34.300 CHAPTER 36

04:01:37.800 I dreamed that the raging river seemed to sweep in, and it smashed up the partition

04:01:43.420 posts in the hall.

04:01:45.920 You're often distrustful, he answered, but I've no mind to expect evil from people

04:01:53.580 without cause.

04:01:56.000 He will welcome us.

04:01:58.300 You'll find out, she said, but there's nothing friendly about the offer.

04:02:06.340 I again dreamed that the nether river swept the rage again, and it smashed up all the

04:02:11.380 beaches in the hall, and it smashed your legs in your brother's, and that must mean something.

04:02:21.540 Cornfields run where you thought there was a river, he answered, and when we go through

04:02:28.900 a cornfield, big husks often cling to our legs. I dreamed, she said, that your bedclothes were

04:02:38.660 blazing and that fire was shooting up from the hall i know just what that is he answered

04:02:49.780 our clothes are lying here carelessly and these are what will burn through your thoughts

04:02:55.620 were running on our bedclothes i thought a bear came in she said and smashed up the king's dais

04:03:04.900 and menaced us with his paws

04:03:06.580 so that we were all frightened.

04:03:10.240 And he had all of us in his mouth together

04:03:12.660 so that we were helpless.

04:03:15.460 And this caused great terror.

04:03:19.000 A violent storm will come, he answered.

04:03:23.060 Well, you thought there was a polar bear.

04:03:27.720 I thought an eagle came in, she said,

04:03:31.640 right down the hall and spattered me.

04:03:33.900 and all of us with blood, and that foreshadows evil, for it looked at me like the fetch of King Otley.

04:03:47.200 We do a lot of slaughtering, he answered, and we kill large beasts for our enjoyment,

04:03:53.860 and dreaming about an eagle has to do with oxen, and Otley is sure to be well disposed towards us.

04:04:01.700 And now, they stopped talking about it.

04:04:08.700 Chapter 37

04:04:12.700 Of Gunnar, we are now told, that when they woke up, the same thing happened.

04:04:18.700 Granvor, Gunnar's wife, told of her many dreams, which to her seemed to point to treachery.

04:04:26.700 But Gunnar gave an opposite explanation.

04:04:30.700 "'This was one of them,' she said.

04:04:34.800 "'I thought a bloody sword was brought into the hall,

04:04:38.180 "'and you will run through with the sword.

04:04:41.120 "'And at both ends of the sword there were howling wolves.

04:04:46.800 "'Small hounds will snap at me,

04:04:49.260 "'and blood-stained weapons often stand for the snarrowing of dogs,'

04:04:52.880 "'answered the king.

04:04:55.460 "'Then again,' she said, 0.99

04:04:57.960 "'I thought the women came in.

04:04:59.980 They looked downcast, and they chose you as their husband.

04:05:04.560 They may have been your desir.

04:05:08.440 It's now getting harder to give an interpretation, he replied,

04:05:12.800 and no one can escape his fate, nor is it unlikely that I'm soon to die.

04:05:20.240 And in the morning they jumped up and wanted to be off, but others tried to dissuade them.

04:05:25.960 Then Gunnar addressed a man called Fjörnir.

04:05:30.960 Up, and give us great goblets of good wine to drink.

04:05:36.120 This may be our last festive occasion.

04:05:39.240 And now the old wolf will get the gold if he we die, nor will the bear be slow to use

04:05:46.400 his fangs.

04:05:49.400 Then amidst weeping the retainers sent them on their way.

04:05:53.900 Hogni's son said, Farewell, and good luck.

04:06:01.800 The majority of the retainers stayed behind.

04:06:05.240 Hogni's sons, Soror and Snivar, went, as did a man named Orkning, a great warrior.

04:06:13.480 He was Bera's brother.

04:06:16.600 The household went with them to the ships, and all tried to dissuade them from the journey,

04:06:22.240 but without a veil.

04:06:24.680 Then Glomvor spoke.

04:06:27.360 Viggy, she said, it's very likely that your arrival here has felt disaster.

04:06:35.320 Great events will follow from your departure.

04:06:39.620 I swear I'm not lying, he answered, and may a high gallows and all the fanes take me if

04:06:47.660 I'm telling a single word of a lie.

04:06:51.400 And he didn't in the least spare himself in the use of such expressions.

04:06:57.280 Then Bera spoke, Farewell, and good luck go with you.

04:07:05.500 Be cheerful, said Hogni, however things go with us.

04:07:12.060 There they departed, each following his destiny. 1.00

04:07:17.440 They rode with might and main so stoutly that were nigh half the Kyrr came away from the 1.00

04:07:24.080 ship. 1.00

04:07:25.080 They pulled at the oars with such great sweeps that oar looms and gunware pins broke, and

04:07:33.540 when they reached land they did not make fast their ships.

04:07:39.720 Then for a while they rode on their noble horses through a dark wood.

04:07:44.940 They now saw the royal dwelling.

04:07:48.780 They heard a great din from there and a clatter of arms,

04:07:53.260 and saw a large number of men there and the great preparations they were making.

04:08:00.120 And the castle gates were crowded with men.

04:08:03.880 They rode up to the castle, but it was shut.

04:08:08.360 Hogney forced open the gate, and now they rode into the castle.

04:08:13.120 Then Vingy spoke.

04:08:17.120 You'll want to be had.

04:08:20.120 Well advised not to do this.

04:08:23.120 And now wait here while I seek out the gallows tree for you.

04:08:28.120 I asked you to come here in friendly fashion.

04:08:32.120 But there was the seat behind it.

04:08:36.120 It won't be long now before you're strung up.

04:08:40.120 We're not here to you, answered Hogney, and I hardly think we would shrink back where

04:08:51.180 men should fight, and frightening us won't help you, and this is going to turn out badly

04:09:00.900 for you.

04:09:04.240 Then they knocked him down and beat him to death with the back of their axes.

04:09:11.740 Volsunga Saga Part 18 of Minni

04:09:19.580 Chapter 38 They now rode up to the king's hall.

04:09:27.160 King Otli drew up his men for battle.

04:09:30.560 The troops so positioned that there was a courtyard between them.

04:09:36.740 Welcome among us, he said, and give up all the gold, to which I am entitled.

04:09:46.600 The treasure that was Sigurd's, and is now Guteran's.

04:09:51.680 You'll never get the treasure, said Gunnar, and you'll find intrepid men here before we

04:10:00.680 die.

04:10:01.680 If you show us hostility, it may be that you will furnish this feast sumptuously with little 0.93

04:10:10.300 stinting of eagle or wolf.

04:10:13.680 It's long been in my mind to bring about your death, said Otley, and get control of

04:10:22.920 the gourd and reward you for your infamy in betraying your distinguished brother-in-law,

04:10:32.240 and I shall avenge him. 0.54

04:10:35.180 You're the worst in having planned this for a long time, answered Hogni, and yet you are

04:10:45.900 now ready for nothing.

04:10:49.160 A fierce battle now begun, and there was a first shower of missiles, and now the news

04:10:57.100 released Guthrun, and when she heard about it, she grew angry and flung off her mantle.

04:11:04.700 After that, she went out and greeted those who had come, and kissed her brothers, and

04:11:10.940 showed them affection, and this was their last exchange of greetings.

04:11:18.700 Then she spoke.

04:11:21.640 I thought I'd found a way to stop you coming, but no one can fight against destiny.

04:11:29.560 Then she said, is there any use in trying for reconciliation?

04:11:36.960 But to this they all flatly said no.

04:11:41.940 She now saw that her brothers were having a hard time of it, and so she decided on stern

04:11:48.380 action.

04:11:50.460 She put on a coat of mail, took up a sword, and fought alongside her brothers, and advanced

04:11:57.560 to the attack as boldly as the boldest man, and everyone said the same, that they were

04:12:05.340 hardly see a stouter defense than that.

04:12:10.420 Casualties were now heavy, but the valor of the brothers surpassed that of all others.

04:12:17.520 Now the battle went on for a long time, until well past midday.

04:12:23.320 Gunnar and Hogni fought their way through King Atli's troops, and it is said that the

04:12:29.780 field was all running with blood.

04:12:33.660 Hogni's sons now pressed forward fiercely.

04:12:36.560 Oh, I had a large and splendid body of men, and great champions, said King Atli, but many

04:12:48.500 of us have now fallen, and we have great evil to thank you for. Nineteen of my champions

04:12:56.960 slain and only eleven left. And then there was a lull in the fighting. Then King Otley

04:13:05.260 spoke. There were four of us brothers, and now I alone am left. I allied myself by marriage

04:13:17.760 to a great family, and thought it would be to my advantage.

04:13:23.820 I had a wife.

04:13:25.720 She was beautiful and wise, magnanimous and resolute, but I cannot profit by her wisdom,

04:13:32.720 for we are rarely on good terms.

04:13:36.740 Now you have slain many of my kinsmen, cheated me of my dominion and riches, and brought

04:13:43.420 about to my sister's debt.

04:13:46.300 And this it is that greaves me most.

04:13:51.740 Why talk like that? said Hogney.

04:13:55.860 You were the first to break the peace.

04:14:00.000 You seized my kinswoman and starved her to death, murdering her and seizing her wealth. 0.97

04:14:08.000 And that was no kingly act, and I think it's ridiculous for you to enlarge on your grief. 1.00

04:14:15.540 And I'll thank the gods that things are going badly with you.

04:14:25.120 Chapter 39

04:14:28.320 And now King Atli urged on his troops to make a violent onslaught. 0.98

04:14:34.640 Now they fought gallantly, but the Gyrkins attacked so strongly that King Atli was forced 0.99

04:14:39.920 back into the hall.

04:14:41.880 And now they fought inside and the battle was fierce.

04:14:45.500 The fighting was accompanied by great slaughter, and it ended it with all the brothers' troops

04:14:50.740 falling, so that just the two of them were left standing, and many a man soon went down

04:14:56.980 before their weapons.

04:15:00.000 King Gunnar was now the object of attack, and because of overwhelming odds he was taken

04:15:05.520 prisoner and put in irons.

04:15:09.440 King Hogni fought with great valor and courage, and fared King Otley's greatest champions,

04:15:16.120 twenty of them.

04:15:18.460 Many he thrust into the fire that was burning in the hall.

04:15:22.480 On one point they were all agreed that they hardly ever saw a man like him, yet in the

04:15:28.680 end he was overpowered and taken prisoner.

04:15:33.300 Hognatly spoke, It's astounding, quite, how many men have met the doom at his hands. 0.99

04:15:42.980 Now cut out his heart, and so let him die. 0.98

04:15:48.020 Hognatly spoke, Do as you please. 0.99

04:15:54.080 I'll cheerfully await what you intend to do, and you'll see that my heart is unafraid,

04:16:00.580 and have experienced grim ordeals before, and unwounded I readily submitted to trials

04:16:08.740 of valor. But I am now badly wounded, and you alone will settle the account."

04:16:16.860 Then a counselor of King Otli spoke, 0.91

04:16:21.260 I've a better plan, let's see Sjalli the Thrall instead, and spare Hogni. 0.95

04:16:32.780 The Thrall deserves to die, he'd not live long enough to be anything but contemptible. 0.94

04:16:40.740 The Thrall heard, screamed loudly and ran off to where he thought he'd likely be safe. 0.99

04:16:46.900 He said he was suffering for their quarrels, and thus he paid for his hard life.

04:16:52.960 He said it was an evil day if he was to die, and leave his good food and his pig keeping.

04:16:59.800 They seized him and turned a knife on him.

04:17:03.020 He screamed loudly before he fell to them.

04:17:06.980 Then Hogni spoke in a way that not many are accustomed to do when they get into sore straits.

04:17:16.140 He pleaded for the Thrall's life.

04:17:21.140 He didn't want to hear the streaking, he said and declared it was an easier matter for him to play out the game himself.

04:17:32.140 So the Thrall's life was spared. Gunnar and Hogni were now both put in irons.

04:17:41.140 King Atli then told King Gunnar that he must reveal the whereabouts of the gold if he wanted his life spared.

04:17:51.360 I must first see my brother Hogni's bloody heart, he answered.

04:17:59.780 And now they seized the thrall again, cut out his heart, and brought it to King Gunnar. 1.00

04:18:06.100 What we can see here, he answered, is the heart of that coward Hjali. 0.99

04:18:17.600 It's not like gallant Hogni's heart, for it is quaking violently now, and did so far 1.00

04:18:24.100 more when in his breast. 0.86

04:18:28.420 Then urged on by Otli, they made for Hogni and cut out his heart. 0.65

04:18:34.480 And so great was his valor that he stood the agony laughing, and they were all astounded

04:18:40.480 at his courage, and it has never been forgotten.

04:18:46.060 They showed Gunnar Hogni's heart.

04:18:50.320 Here we can see the gallant Hogni's heart, he answered.

04:18:55.360 And it's not like the heart of that coward Hjalli, for it is not trembling much now, 0.76

04:19:01.800 did so still less when in his breast. And you, Utli, will lose your life as we are now 0.97

04:19:10.440 losing ours. And now I alone know where the gold is, and Hogni won't tell you. My mind

04:19:21.160 was uneasy while we were both alive, but now the decision is mine alone. The Rhine shall

04:19:29.360 have the gourd, before Huns wear it on their arms. 0.96

04:19:34.800 Away with the prisoner! said King Otley.

04:19:46.680 Guthrun now called on some men to go with her, sought out Otley, and said, May things

04:19:56.320 now go badly for you, in the way that you kept your word to me and Gunnar.

04:20:06.260 King Gunnar was now put into a snake pit, where there were many snakes, and his hands

04:20:12.660 were tightly bound together.

04:20:15.820 Guthrun sent a harp to him, and he showed his skill in that he strut the strings with

04:20:21.720 his toes, playing with great skill, and he performed so outstandingly, that few thought

04:20:30.760 he'd they'd heard playing such as that even with the hands, and he plied this art until

04:20:37.680 all the snakes fell asleep, except for one large, vicious odour, that slid up to him,

04:20:48.760 and dug in its snout, until it struck into his heart, and he died there with great courage.

04:21:00.560 Volsunga Saga Part 19 of Minni

04:21:07.240 Chapter 40 King Otli thought now that he had won a great

04:21:13.320 victory, and he spoke to Guthrun, somewhat mockingly, or as if he were boasting.

04:21:21.080 Guthrun, he said, you've lost your brothers now, and it's your own doing.

04:21:29.400 You're telling me of these killings now, she answered, but you may be sorry when you find

04:21:36.200 out what is to follow unceasing malice is your legacy that will longest survive and while i'm

04:21:45.480 alive things won't go well for you we must now be reconciled he said and i'll compensate you for

04:21:56.840 your brothers with gold and costly treasures in accordance with your own wishes

04:22:06.200 For a long time, I have not been easy to get on with, she replied.

04:22:11.480 But it wasn't too bad as long as Hogni was alive.

04:22:16.200 And you will never pay compensation for my brothers so as to satisfy me.

04:22:22.520 But we women are often subdued by your strength.

04:22:26.680 My kinsmen are now all dead, and you alone have jurisdiction over me.

04:22:32.560 I shall now accept the situation, and let us now give a great feast to honor the memory of my brothers, and of your kinsmen too.

04:22:44.540 And she now spoke agreeably, though at heart she was unchanged.

04:22:50.740 He was easily taken in, and trusted her words, when she made herself cheerful of speech.

04:22:56.660 Guthrin now gave the funeral feast for her brothers, and King Otli did so for his men,

04:23:03.660 and it was a turbulent banquet.

04:23:07.660 Then Guthrin thought of her wrongs and watched for an opportunity

04:23:12.660 to inflict some grievous shame upon the king.

04:23:16.660 And in the evening she seized hold of the sons she'd had by King Otli,

04:23:21.660 As they were playing along the wall bench, they were frightened and asked what was to happen to them.

04:23:29.180 Don't ask that, she asked. 1.00

04:23:32.080 I'm going to kill you both. 1.00

04:23:36.020 You can do what you like with your own children, they answered. 1.00

04:23:41.080 No one will prevent you, but this deed will bring shame upon you. 0.97

04:23:47.400 Then she cut their throats. 0.81

04:23:49.840 The king inquired where his sons were.

04:23:54.840 I'll tell you, replied Guthrun, and gladden your heart.

04:24:01.840 You caused me great suffering when you killed my brothers.

04:24:06.840 Now you shall hear my words. 0.78

04:24:10.840 You've lost your sons, and here are their skulls used as drinking cups,

04:24:17.840 and you yourself drank their blood mixed with wine. 0.84

04:24:22.640 Then I took their hearts and roasted them on a spit,

04:24:26.600 and you've eaten them. 1.00

04:24:29.600 You're a cruel woman, replied the king, 1.00

04:24:34.540 murdering your sons and giving me their flesh to eat, 1.00

04:24:38.360 and you live little interval between your evil deeds. 0.99

04:24:43.340 "'My heart would indeed be bent on bringing deep disgrace upon you,' said Guthrun.

04:24:52.200 "'There's no treatment bad enough for a king like you.'

04:24:57.200 "'The evil you've done is worse than any precedent men know of,' said the king.

04:25:04.360 "'And there's great folly in such harshness, 0.99

04:25:07.560 and you deserve to be burnt on a pyre after first being stoned to death. 1.00

04:25:15.080 Then you have got to where your path is leading. 1.00

04:25:20.020 You make this prophecy of yourself, she replied, and I shall die a different death.

04:25:29.260 Many bitter words passed between them.

04:25:33.740 Hogni left a son called Nifrung.

04:25:36.300 He felt a deep hatred towards King Atli, and told Guthrun that he wanted to avenge his

04:25:43.220 father.

04:25:45.020 She received this favorably, and they made their plans.

04:25:50.060 She said it would be greatly to their advantage if it could be done, and in the evening, when

04:25:55.380 the king had done with drinking, he went to bed, and when he was asleep, Guthrun came

04:26:01.720 and Hogni's son.

04:26:03.960 Gutheran seized a sword and thrust it through King Otley's breast.

04:26:09.060 The two had a hand in it, she and Hogni's son.

04:26:13.940 King Otley awoke with the wound.

04:26:16.600 No need here for bandaging or treatment, he said.

04:26:24.340 Who inflicted this hurt on me?

04:26:29.660 I had a hand in it, and so did Hogni's son, said Guthrum.

04:26:36.980 There was no honor for you in doing this, said King Otley.

04:26:44.640 Though you had some cause, but you were married to me with your family's consent,

04:26:51.940 and I made you a marriage portion of thirty good horsemen and maidens such as befit you.

04:26:59.660 and many other men, yet you said it would not be proper unless you had charge of the 0.62

04:27:07.020 lands that King Bootley had possessed, and you often had your mother-in-law in tears."

04:27:15.660 "'You've told many untruths,' said Guthrun,

04:27:20.540 "'but I don't care about that, and I was often in an evil mood. But you greatly added to it.

04:27:27.740 Here in your house there's often been a lot of trouble.

04:27:33.980 Friends and kinsmen often fought, and each provoked the other, and I had a better life

04:27:40.060 when I was with Sigurd.

04:27:42.840 We slew kings and did as we pleased with their domains, and we gave quarter to those who

04:27:48.860 wanted it and great men made submission to us and we raised up any for the asking

04:27:58.540 then i lost him but to bear the name of a widow was nothing what grieves me most is that i came to

04:28:06.620 you while before i was married to the noblest king but you never came out of the battle without

04:28:15.580 not having had the worst of it.

04:28:18.180 That is not true, replied King Otley.

04:28:23.200 But arguing like this will improve neither your fate nor mine, for I have come off badly.

04:28:33.200 Now act honorably towards me and see that I have a splendid funeral.

04:28:39.860 I shall have a magnificent tomb made for you, she said, and a splendid stone sarcophagus,

04:28:48.060 and wrap you in fine cloths, and think of everything needful for you.

04:28:53.820 After this, he died, and she did as she had promised.

04:29:00.540 She then had the hall set on fire, and when the king's bodyguard awoke in terror,

04:29:07.800 the men would not face the fire, but cut each other down, and in that way met their death.

04:29:15.800 And this was the end of King Atli, and of all of his followers.

04:29:21.420 Guthrun had now no wish to live after these deeds, but her last day had not yet come. 1.00

04:29:29.600 The Varsungs and Gyokings were, as people say, eminent men, and the most dauntless, 0.98

04:29:38.360 and this is found in all the ancient leis. 0.97

04:29:42.640 And that is how, with these events, the strife now ended.

04:29:49.480 CHAPTER 41

04:29:53.220 Guthrun had a daughter by Sigurd, whose name was Svanhild.

04:29:58.960 She was the most beautiful of all women, and she had her father's piercing eyes, so that

04:30:05.340 few dared look her in the face.

04:30:08.640 In her beauty she outshone other women, as does the sun the other heavenly bodies.

04:30:15.980 Guthrun once went to the sea, took up an armful of stones, and walked into the sea, intending 0.99

04:30:23.380 to do away with herself.

04:30:26.820 Then huge waves bore her along over the sea, and with their aid she was carried away and

04:30:34.380 came at length to the castle of King Jonakr.

04:30:38.780 He was a powerful king with a great following.

04:30:43.060 He married Guthrun.

04:30:45.340 Their children were Hamdir, Sorli, and Ert.

04:30:50.240 Svanhird was brought up there.

04:30:55.440 Chapter 42

04:30:58.940 There was a king called Jormunrek.

04:31:02.300 He was a powerful king of those days.

04:31:05.720 His son's name was Rondvir.

04:31:09.460 The king summoned his son to an audience.

04:31:12.840 You must go on a mission for me to King Jonakr, he said, and Vicky, my counsellor, should

04:31:23.420 go too.

04:31:25.420 Svan here, the daughter of Sigurd Fafnissban, has been brought up there.

04:31:31.920 I know her for the most beautiful maiden under the sun.

04:31:38.240 She it is whom I would marry above all others, and you shall ask for her hand on my behalf."

04:31:47.360 "'It is my duty, sir, that I should go on your mission,' he said."

04:31:56.180 He now had worthy preparations made for their journey.

04:32:00.640 They now traveled until they reached King Jonakr.

04:32:04.420 They saw Svanhird and were most impressed with her beauty.

04:32:09.560 Ranvur sought an audience of the king and said,

04:32:13.360 King Jormunrik wishes to offer you an alliance by marriage.

04:32:19.280 He is heard of Svanhird and wishes to choose her as his wife, and there is no certainty

04:32:26.420 that she would be married to a man more powerful than he is.

04:32:32.420 The king said it was a magnificent match, and he is greatly renowned.

04:32:40.760 It's unreliable to trust to good luck not breaking, said Guthran.

04:32:46.800 But due to the urging of the king and all that went with it, this was now agreed on,

04:32:53.300 and Svanhird now went to the ship with a magnificent retinue and sat on the stern deck at the prince's side.

04:33:02.420 Then Bickey spoke to Ronver, It would be more fitting for you than for such an old man to possess so beautiful a woman.

04:33:16.760 This was greatly to his liking, and he spoke to her tenderly, as she did to him.

04:33:24.240 They arrived back to their country and went to the king.

04:33:27.760 It is only right, sir, said Bickey, that you should know what is going on, though it is

04:33:37.620 not so easy to speak of it.

04:33:40.940 It is a question of trickery, whereby your son has enjoyed to the full Svanhild's love,

04:33:48.740 and she is his mistress.

04:33:52.700 Don't let this go unpunished.

04:33:55.220 He had already given much him evil advice, but of all his evil advice, this was the crown.

04:34:05.360 The king listened to his many wicked counsels. 0.71

04:34:09.020 He could not contain himself for anger, and said that the randvr should be seized and

04:34:14.300 hung on the gallows, and when he was led to the gallows, he took a hawk and plucked out

04:34:20.260 all the feathers and said that it was to be shown to his father.

04:34:24.740 And when the king saw it, he said,

04:34:27.400 This shows to he thinks I'm just bereft of honour as the hawk of feathers.

04:34:36.640 And he ordered him to be taken down from the gallows.

04:34:40.220 But in the meantime, Bickey had been at work there, and he was dead.

04:34:46.420 Said Bickey again,

04:34:49.000 There's no one you have to be harsh towards.

04:34:52.660 then swan yelled let her die shamefully i shall take this advice said the king she was then tied

04:35:04.920 in the gateway of the castle and horses were made to charge at her but when she opened wide her eyes

04:35:12.260 the horses dared not trample her and when biggie saw this he said that a bag should be thrown down

04:35:19.180 over her head. This was done, and then she met her death.

04:35:27.020 Chapter 43 Guthrun now heard of Svanhild's death, and

04:35:35.920 spoke to her sons. Why do you sit there so calmly, and talk so cheerfully when Jormann

04:35:44.820 has killed his sister, shamefully trampling her to death beneath the host's hoofs.

04:35:51.620 If neither of you the spirit of Gunnar or Hogni, they would avenge their kinswoman.

04:36:00.500 You had little praise for Gunnar and Hogni when they killed Sigurd, and you were smeared with

04:36:06.260 his blood, answered Hamdir, and the killing of your sons was an evil vengeance for your brothers,

04:36:12.660 And we shouldn't be better able to kill Jormenrik if all of us were together.

04:36:18.440 And we cannot stand your taunts.

04:36:21.380 So hard do you press us?

04:36:24.400 Gudrun went laughing and gave them to drink from great goblets.

04:36:29.480 And after this she sought out for them large and excellent coats of mail and other armor.

04:36:35.780 Then Hamdir said,

04:36:38.160 We shall part here for the last time.

04:36:41.000 And you'll hear the news, and then you can give a funeral feast for us, and for Svanhild."

04:36:49.340 After this they set out, and Guthrun, in her sorrow the greater, went to her room and said,

04:36:56.240 I have married to three husbands, first to Sigurd Fafnysbane.

04:37:02.880 He was betrayed, and that was my greatest sorrow.

04:37:07.320 Then I was wedded to King Otley, and my heart was so ill-disposed towards him that I slew

04:37:13.820 our sons in my grief.

04:37:16.820 Then I walked into the sea, and waves carried me ashore, and then I was wedded to this king.

04:37:23.780 Afterwards I married off Svanhird into a foreign land with great wealth, and the keenest of

04:37:30.820 my sorrows after Sigurd was when she was trampled down beneath the horse's hoofs, and most bitter

04:37:39.300 when Gunnar was put in the snake pit, and the hardest when Hogni's heart was cut out.

04:37:46.500 It would be better if Sigurd were to come to me, and I to go to him. No son or daughter

04:37:54.120 is now left to comfort me here remember sigarth what we said when we shared the same bed

04:38:02.440 that you would visit me from the underworld and wait for me there and here her lamentations ceased

04:38:11.960 The story now tells of Guthrun's sons, how she had so treated their armor that no iron

04:38:26.480 could bite home, but she told them to do no damage to stones or other large objects, and

04:38:33.780 said it would be a bad thing for them if they did not do as she said.

04:38:39.460 Then after they started out, they came across their brother, Earp, and asked how he would

04:38:45.020 help them.

04:38:46.020 Like hands help hand, or foot helps foot, he answered.

04:38:53.960 They thought this meant not at all, and they killed him.

04:38:59.080 Then they went on, and it was only a short while before Hamdir tripped, thrust out a

04:39:04.480 hand and said, Earp must have spoken the truth. I'd have fallen then if I hadn't

04:39:11.820 steadied myself with my hand. Shortly afterwards, sorely tripped, shut out his

04:39:18.560 foot, managed to recover his balance, and said, I'd have fallen then if I hadn't

04:39:26.320 steadied myself with both feet. They now declared that they had acted wrongly

04:39:32.220 towards the brother Erp. They traveled now until they reached King Jormenrik. They came

04:39:38.900 into his presence and immediately attacked him. Hamdir struck off both his hands and

04:39:45.160 sorely both his feet. Then Hamdir said, His head would now be off if our brother Erp,

04:39:54.220 whom we killed on the way, were alive. But we found this out too late. As the verse has

04:40:01.720 it. Of now were his head, if Earp alive, our brothers brave in battle, whom we butchered

04:40:10.940 on the way. They disregarded their mother's instructions by causing damage to stones.

04:40:19.500 They were now attacked, and they defended themselves valiantly and well, and were the

04:40:24.020 death of many a man no iron bit home then a gray-haired man of aged appearance and with one

04:40:32.260 eye came up and said you people aren't clever if you don't know how to slay these men

04:40:42.500 give us advice about it if you can replied the king 1.00

04:40:46.500 You should stone them to death, he said. 0.98

04:40:52.620 So it was done, and stones flew at them from all quarters, and this ended was their death. 0.97

04:41:02.000 Vulsunga Saga, Part 20 of 20

04:41:08.240 Appendices and Glossary

04:41:12.380 Appendix A

04:41:16.500 To visit Odin

04:41:19.940 Atsukja heim Odin and similar expressions such as Hja Odni Gista,

04:41:27.460 all meaning literally to visit Odin or be Odin's guest, are used in the sense of to die in battle

04:41:36.980 Odin was known as Volfodr, father of the slain. This ensuring entering Odin's hall,

04:41:44.980 Valhalla, Valhul, Hall of the Slain, which was certainly a good thing, see page 3, from

04:41:54.220 the heroic pagan point of view. Snorri tells us in Ingsaka, chapter 10, gaffan tha sumum

04:42:04.100 In sumum bowth han til sin, Thoti hivart vegi coster gother.

04:42:15.180 To some he then gave victory, others he called to him.

04:42:19.860 Either way seen good.

04:42:22.600 Breer does not die in battle, but of sickness, and there are grounds for the belief, see

04:42:29.380 H. M. Chadworth, the court of Odin, London, 1899, that a man mortally ill might be marked

04:42:36.680 with the point of a javelin, being thereby dedicated to Odin, the javelin was a weapon

04:42:42.740 especially associated with him, and thus presumably made one of the Einherjar, the dead heroes

04:42:49.640 who spend their days in fighting, carousing with Odin in Valhalla, see Snorri Zedda Girdfagening,

04:42:56.820 chapter 41, until the doom of the gods is at hand, see Snorri's Gilfagnin, chapter 51.

04:43:06.500 Appendix B. Aslaug and Heimir.

04:43:12.900 Heimir heard the news in Hlidlir that Sigurd and Brynhild were dead, and Aslaug, their daughter,

04:43:20.740 was then 3 years old. He knew they would seek to kill the girl and her family. So great

04:43:30.240 was his grief for his foster daughter Brynhild that he gave no heed to kingdom or wealth.

04:43:38.360 He now saw that he would be unable to hide the girl. So he had a heart made big enough

04:43:44.460 for him to get the girl into it along with many treasures of gold and silver, and then

04:43:50.880 he went away, journeying far and wide, and eventually came up here to the northern countries.

04:43:58.500 His harp was so skillfully made that he could take it apart and put it together again at

04:44:03.400 the joints, and during the day when he was near watercourses and nowhere in the neighborhood

04:44:09.260 of dwellings, he was accustomed to take the harp apart and wash the girl.

04:44:15.540 And he had a certain herb, and gave her to eat of it.

04:44:19.400 And such is the nature of this herb, that the man may live for a long time, even if

04:44:25.160 he has no other food.

04:44:27.980 And when the girl cried, he played the harp, and she would then grow quiet, for Hymir was

04:44:33.840 highly skilled in the arts then practiced.

04:44:37.600 He also had many magnificent garments and a great deal of gold with her in the harp.

04:44:43.740 And now he journeyed until he came to Norway, to a small farmstead called Sparngårdheid,

04:44:51.640 where then he lived a man called Aki.

04:44:56.440 He had a wife, and she was named Grima.

04:45:00.100 Apart from them, there were no other people there.

04:45:03.920 That day the man had gone into the woods, but the woman was at home and greeted Jaime

04:45:08.800 and asked who he was.

04:45:11.080 He said he was a beggar and asked the woman for shelter.

04:45:15.160 She declared that so few people came there that, as she said, she would welcome him if

04:45:21.260 he thought he needed to stay there.

04:45:24.460 After that, a while, he said, he would think it most hospitable if a fire were to be lit

04:45:29.960 for him, and if he were then shown to the room he was to sleep in.

04:45:35.880 And when the woman had lit the fire, he placed the harp beside him on the seat.

04:45:40.720 But the woman was very talkative.

04:45:43.920 She often glanced at the harp, for the fringe of the valuable piece of clothing was protruding

04:45:48.860 from the harp.

04:45:51.020 And when he warmed himself with the fire, she saw a valuable ring appear from beneath

04:45:55.340 his rags, for he was poorly clad.

04:46:00.340 And when he had warmed himself as much as he thought was necessary, he had his supper.

04:46:05.860 And after this he asked the woman to show him to where he was to spend the night.

04:46:10.840 The woman then said that he would be better off outside rather than inside.

04:46:17.340 Because when my husband comes home, the two of us often talk a lot.

04:46:23.880 He said she knew best, so he went out, and so did she.

04:46:29.220 He took the harp and kept it by him.

04:46:32.300 Going out, the woman went over to a barley barn, showed him to it, and said that he was

04:46:37.800 to bed down there, adding that she expected he would sleep well there, and now the woman

04:46:45.640 went away and busied herself with necessary tasks, and he settled down to sleep.

04:46:52.640 in the evening the man came home, but the woman had got through very few of her tasks.

04:46:58.900 And he was weary when he came home, and surely a man, for all the things she would have been

04:47:04.580 seeing to wear were not done. The man said there was a great difference in the happiness

04:47:11.120 of his lot and hers. Every day he worked more than his strength allowed, while she would

04:47:18.260 never get on with anything useful.

04:47:20.940 Don't be angry, husband, she said, because perhaps you might quickly contrive for us

04:47:27.620 to be happy all our days.

04:47:30.760 How? said the man.

04:47:34.240 A man has come to our home, the woman replied, and I imagine he has a great deal of wealth

04:47:41.220 along with him, and he's stricken in years and must have been a mighty champion.

04:47:47.240 But now he's very weary, and I don't think I've ever seen his light.

04:47:53.080 But I imagine he's exhausted and sleepy."

04:47:58.120 Then the man said,

04:47:59.620 "'I don't think it's wise to betray a few people that come here.'

04:48:04.680 "'You'll be a nobody for a long time,' she answered,

04:48:09.360 "'because you've got scruples about everything. 1.00

04:48:13.580 And now do one thing or the other, either you kill him, or I shall take him for my husband, 1.00

04:48:22.040 and the two of us will drive you away. 1.00

04:48:25.580 And I can tell you the words he spoke to me this very evening, but you won't care.

04:48:31.780 He spoke to me amorously, and my plan will be to take him for my husband, and to drive 0.99

04:48:37.960 you away, or kill you if you won't do as I wish. 0.99

04:48:43.160 And it is said that the man was hen-pecked, and she kept on about it until he gave way 1.00

04:48:48.720 to her goatings. 0.63

04:48:50.820 He took his axe and put a good keen edge on it, and when he was ready the woman showed

04:48:56.360 him to where the high mirror was sleeping, and there was a loud snoring.

04:49:01.740 The woman told her husband to attack him the best he might.

04:49:06.400 And might off quickly, for you will not be able to stand his shrieks and screams if he

04:49:11.980 He gets his hands on you." 0.96

04:49:14.620 She picked up the harp and ran off with it.

04:49:17.760 Then the man went up to where Heimiel was sleeping.

04:49:20.840 He struck at him, making a deep wound, but dropped his axe.

04:49:25.800 He immediately made off as quickly as he could.

04:49:30.180 He awoke with the wound, and it had done for him completely, and it is told that he made

04:49:36.480 such an uproar in his death throes, that the supports in the house gave way, and the whole

04:49:42.740 house collapsed, and there was a violent earthquake, and there his life ended. But man now went

04:49:50.420 to the woman, and now told her that he had killed him.

04:49:56.440 Though for a time I didn't know how things would turn out, and the man was very strong,

04:50:02.160 but I expect that he's now in the underworld.

04:50:06.240 The woman said that she thanked him for his deed, and I expect that we've now ample wealth,

04:50:13.780 and we'll find out whether I've told the truth.

04:50:19.320 They now kindled a fire, and the woman took hold of the harp and tried to open it.

04:50:25.860 She had no choice but to break it open, for she hadn't the skin.

04:50:31.040 Now she managed to get the harp open, and there she saw a little girl, the like of whom

04:50:37.280 she thought she'd never seen before.

04:50:40.360 And there was also a large amount of treasure in the harp.

04:50:44.560 The man now said,

04:50:46.360 It's going to turn out badly.

04:50:49.460 It often does when you betray a person who trusts you.

04:50:53.560 It looks to me as if we have a helpless waif on our hands.

04:51:00.060 That is not what I thought, answered the woman, but will not complain about it now.

04:51:08.040 And now she asked who her family was, but the young girl made no reply, as if she had

04:51:15.000 never learned to speak.

04:51:17.300 It's just what I thought, said the man, that things would go badly for us.

04:51:24.380 We've committed a terrible crime.

04:51:27.260 What are we to do with this child?"

04:51:30.100 That's easy, said Grima.

04:51:34.000 She shall be called Krakka after my mother.

04:51:38.560 Then the man said,

04:51:40.400 What shall we do with this child? 0.99

04:51:44.440 I have a good plan, answered the woman.

04:51:48.660 We'll say she is our daughter and we'll bring her up.

04:51:53.440 No one will ever believe it, said the man.

04:51:56.920 The child is far more attractive than either of us.

04:52:00.680 We are both very ugly, and no one will think it likely that we would have a child like 0.95

04:52:06.720 this, queer-looking as we both are. 0.97

04:52:10.860 The old woman now said, You don't know but what I may have a trick or two to make it

04:52:17.940 seem not improbable.

04:52:21.040 I shall shave her head and rub it in tar and other things, making it unlikely that any 0.63

04:52:27.080 hair would grow. 0.83

04:52:29.400 She shall have a long hood, and she won't be well dressed either. 0.86

04:52:34.600 Then we shall look more like each other.

04:52:37.540 Perhaps people will believe that I was very pretty when I was young. 0.99

04:52:41.940 She shall also do the worst chores." 0.69

04:52:46.080 And a man and his wife thought that she couldn't talk because she never answered them.

04:52:52.120 What the old woman had planned was now done.

04:52:55.440 She now grew up there in great poverty.

04:53:06.320 Appendix C. The general correspondence between Vursunga Saga and its extant literary sources.

04:53:15.760 Appendix C is full of various notes and directions, numbers and letters, all a bit much to read

04:53:23.720 out in this.

04:53:27.580 Glossary of Technical Terms

04:53:30.640 Alphar

04:53:35.320 It is possible that the Alphar were originally the souls of the dead, or the souls of the

04:53:41.940 unborn or those awaiting rebirth, though they have also been thought of as fertility spirits.

04:53:51.300 The term came to signify a class of mythical beings who were occasionally mentioned together

04:53:57.540 with the Isil and were possessed of supernatural powers, but in some respects akin to men and

04:54:06.620 and capable of forming intimate relationships with them.

04:54:10.940 Example in Hroth's saga Kroka, King Hergis' daughter Skuld is born of an Elf-woman.

04:54:19.860 In Thitryk's saga, Hogni's father is an Elf.

04:54:25.680 And finally confused with the Dwarfs, see glossary about Dveggar.

04:54:33.560 in Snorrizzetta, Glitfagening, Chapter 17, divides the elves into Hyrosalphal, White

04:54:42.100 elves, who dwell in Alfheim, and are fairer than the sun, and Docalphal, who dwell in

04:54:50.240 the earth and are blacker than pitch. The god Frey is associated with Alfheim in Grimnismal,

04:54:59.240 C. de Vírys, Ætganam, Religion 1, 257, and N. K. Chadwick, Norse Ghosts, Folklore, 57, 1946, page 58.

04:55:19.740 These were supernatural female beings who acted as guardian spirits and may have come

04:55:31.020 to be considered as dead members of the same family.

04:55:35.440 At one time they probably enjoyed a cult of their own. 0.86

04:55:40.120 The Desir often merged into other supernatural Norse women. 0.75

04:55:45.200 As protective spirits, they are akin to the Ætarfjörgöl and the Fjörgölkmer.

04:55:53.040 At times, they are thought of as herping in childbirth and performing other functions

04:55:58.440 often ascribed to the Norns.

04:56:01.760 The appearance of the dísir could also herald battle and death.

04:56:06.900 It is probable that they were originally spirits connected with fertility.

04:56:12.180 De Vries, Atgarm, Religion II, 297 Dverlgar

04:56:21.800 These were the dwarfs, mythical beings of small stature, human in shape, and held to 0.75

04:56:29.000 dwell on the ground or in rocks and cliffs, and to shun the light.

04:56:35.520 They were renowned as metal workers.

04:56:39.700 According to one source, Poetic Era Verluspa, stanza 10, the Aesir created the first pair

04:56:47.980 of dwarfs, who then seemingly fashioned more of their own kind from the earth.

04:56:54.520 According to Snorri , they originated as maggots in the flesh of 0.87

04:57:02.320 the primeval giant Ymir, out of whose body the world was created.

04:57:08.940 They appear to be later more sophisticated representations of what were originally the

04:57:15.260 Spirits of the Dead or Nature Spirits.

04:57:19.560 See De Vries, Outgang, Religion 1, 252.

04:57:25.820 Fylgja, a personification of the essential nature or power of an individual or family.

04:57:35.700 It often appeared in the form of an animal whose nature corresponded to the name or character

04:57:42.300 of the individual it represented.

04:57:45.940 The family race, Otar-Firgir, were protective spirits who were often seen in female form.

04:57:55.800 De Vries, Outcome, Religion 1, 224-228 G. Turve Petre, Ligia, Fyrgyr, Thynar,

04:58:06.960 Till Iceland, Saga Book of the Viking Society, 12, 1937-45, p. 119-126.

04:58:22.360 The word hamingya could mean the luck that the given person is born with and which could

04:58:30.920 be transferred to others.

04:58:33.640 At the same time, it seems to have had a rather more concrete connotation, and to have been

04:58:39.260 thought of as a kind of guardian spirit.

04:58:43.360 The word may derive from hamir, combining its two meanings of the external visible shape

04:58:50.800 the spirit could assume, and call see De Vries, Altgerm, religion 1, 174, and 222.

04:59:03.540 Hell, often used simply to connote death, was the dread goddess of the principal underworld

04:59:12.060 known to Norse mythology. Snorri, in Snorri's article Fagening, chapter 34, describes her 0.50

04:59:19.740 as ruling over those who die of sickness or old age,

04:59:25.400 thus making a neat contrast with the description of Odin's Hull, Valhull,

04:59:31.760 the abode of those slain in battle, Snorri's Eric Dufagnin, Chapter 20,

04:59:37.060 though literary art, rather than genuine belief, may be uppermost.

04:59:43.100 The name Hell is also given to the underworld itself.

04:59:47.180 Snorri, perhaps, due to Christian influence, hinting at a degree of misery probably absent from actual pagan belief.

04:59:57.960 Snorri Zeta, Geertwagoning, Chapter 34

05:00:00.500 Morth

05:00:03.220 Murder, Morth, as opposed to manslaughter, Vig, was considered to be a particularly odious crime, which put the perpetrator outside the law.

05:00:15.220 The distinction between Morth and Vig did not lie in the presence or absence of Marisa forethoughts, but in that Viglissing, the immediate avowal of the deed at one of the three nearest houses to the scene of the crime.

05:00:31.300 Killing without such a vow was considered to be moorth, unless, according to Gisela Saga

05:00:39.120 Chapter 13, an identifiable weapon were left in the wound, in which case the Launvig secret

05:00:48.360 manslaughter was used.

05:00:51.920 Vig could be atoned for by paying compensation to the brave family, or if none existed to

05:00:59.020 to those prosecuting the suit, if they were agreeable. This was not normally the case

05:01:05.960 with Murth, which carried with it the penalty of outlawry. See Fritzner, Urdbald, 2, 731,

05:01:15.780 Kries wie Wigfusen, 434, Hülps, 4, 342.

05:01:23.520 Munder The marriage settlement on Munder was an agreed

05:01:31.020 sum payable by the groom for his bride, without which no marriage was valid, and which became

05:01:39.720 her personal property.

05:01:42.520 Nofenfester The formal naming of a child called Nofenfester

05:01:49.200 was normally preceded by the sprinkling of the child with water, also born Vazni, a pagan

05:01:57.660 rite distinct from, but having certain elements in common with, Christian baptism, Skön,

05:02:05.060 and followed by the bestowal then or later of a gift, also called Norfenfester. This pagan 0.86

05:02:13.160 pagan baptism may ultimately owe its origins to early contacts between pagan northmen and

05:02:19.480 Christian and gross Saxons. It certainly had a legal significance since until the ceremony

05:02:26.620 was performed the child could be exposed and did not have full legal rights. For a full

05:02:34.220 discussion see K. Mauer over the Wasserwehe des Germanischen Hadentumis Abhandlungen der

05:02:44.960 Königinnen Bayernschenes Akademie der Wissenschaften, Philosophisch-Philosophisch-Klasse 15, 1881.

05:03:00.320 Perhaps the idea of a Christian origin strongly supports the theory of a Christian

05:03:19.560 provenance.

05:03:22.560 The Norns were a personified expression of the Norse conception of fate .

05:03:32.120 They were sometimes thought of as female supernatural beings who were present at every birth, both

05:03:37.880 to render assistance as midwives and also to shape the child's destiny .

05:03:49.300 There seems to have been an indefinite number of these supernatural women, but they tend

05:03:53.420 to appear in groups of three.

05:03:56.900 A second conception arising partly out of this belief was akin to that of the Roman

05:04:02.100 Parcai.

05:04:04.540 There were in particular three Norns, known as Ulthr, Verthandi, and Skull, who were held

05:04:13.680 to determine men's fate, and who at times, like their classical counterparts, seem to

05:04:20.760 be associated with weaving and spinning. See Poetic Era, Helge Kvitha, Hundingsbana I,

05:04:29.740 stanza III, or Regnismor, stanza XIV. The Norns, as is the case with most of the supernatural

05:04:39.960 or supernaturally endowed women of Norse literature, do not form a clear-cut conception.

05:04:48.040 Sometimes they are called desir or spadesir, which is also used occasionally of Valkyries,

05:04:56.000 who exercise some influence on men's faiths.

05:05:02.860 Seth Kona 0.88

05:05:03.900 The Sith Kona was a woman Kona, highly skilled in the exercise of the magic art, Sator, whereby 0.99

05:05:13.040 she could effect an exchange of appearances, or lay a curse on an enemy, cause madness, 1.00

05:05:20.000 foretell the future, etc. She was not seldom malignant. The Sith Kona had a male counterpart

05:05:29.780 in the Sith Marder. 0.98

05:05:33.780 Troll

05:05:35.780 Trolls were generally conceived of as monstrous, gigantic beings, usually, if not always, 0.59

05:05:43.780 evilly disposed. 0.84

05:05:45.780 Tro-Hafi-Thik was a pagan equivalent of Go to the Devil. 0.79

05:05:51.780 They were not clearly distinguishable from Jotnar and Tursar, the giants.

05:05:58.780 The origin of trolls and giants is not clear. They may be, in part, personified aspects of natural phenomena. In part, they may be the result of hallucinatory images produced by various conditions, such as hunger.

05:06:16.780 They figure largely in Norse mythology as the enemies of the gods, and as the primary

05:06:23.960 inhabitants of the world.

05:06:26.660 In the beginning was Ymir, the giants.

05:06:30.100 A good account of giants and trolls in the Norse and more general Germanic setting is

05:06:36.500 given by De Vries, Altgerm, Religion 1, p. 241.

05:06:42.200 The word basically signifies chooser of the slain.

05:06:53.860 The Valkyries were Odin's handmaidens, whose main duty it was to sway the course of battles

05:07:00.680 and conduct the slain to Valhalla.

05:07:04.240 The conception of Valkyries as armed, mounted, supernatural warrior maidens is very probably

05:07:11.300 a poetic development of an earlier and cruder belief in savage elemental beings who rejoiced

05:07:18.480 in bloodshed and carnage. See Hoops 4, 475. Nora Kaye, Chadwick, The Monsters, and Beowulf

05:07:28.280 in The Anglo-Saxons. Studies presented to Bruce Dickens. 1959, page 171. In Norse literature,

05:07:38.340 the Valkyries are sometimes confused with Skaldmeier, shieldmaidens, a conception akin

05:07:46.300 to the Amazon idea. From the earliest Germanic times, women had taken part in battles, see

05:07:52.980 Tacitus, Germania, Chapter 8. VULVA 0.94

05:07:58.380 The Vulva was a sedkona who exercised a predominantly mantic function. She 1.00

05:08:08.260 She always carried a staff which may well account for her name.

05:08:14.700 An excellent description of the vulva and her art is to be found in Eirik Saga Rautha

05:08:21.700 Chapter 4

Asatru Folk Assembly - February 07, 2024

Völsunga Saga, a reading

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