27. Sit now, Sigurd!--but I must go to sleep--and Fafnir"s heart hold to the fire. Of this refection I would fain partake, after that drink of blood.
_Sigurd_.
28. Thou wentst far off, while I in Fafnir my keen sword reddened.
With my strength I strove against the serpent"s might, while in the ling thou layest.
_Regin_.
29. Long hadst thou allowed in the ling to lie that Jotun old, hadst thou the sword not used that I forged for thee, thy keen-edged glave.
_Sigurd_.
30. Valour is better than might of sword, when foes embittered fight; for a brave man I have ever seen gain victory with a dull sword.
31. For the brave "tis better than for the timid to join in the game of war; for the joyous it is better than for the sad, let come whatever may.
Sigurd took Fafnir"s heart and roasted it on a stick. When he thought it roasted enough, and the blood frothed from it, he touched it with his finger, to try whether it were quite done. He burnt his finger and put it in his mouth; and when Fafnir"s heart"s blood touched his tongue he understood the language of birds. He heard the eagles chattering among the branches. One eagle said:
38. There sits Sigurd sprinkled with blood; Fafnir"s heart at the fire he roasts. Wise methinks were the ring-dispenser, if he the glistening life-pulp ate.
_Second eagle_.
33. There lies Regin communing with himself; he will beguile the youth, who in him trusts: in rage he brings malicious words together, the framer of evil will avenge his brother.
_Third eagle_.
34. By the head shorter, let him the h.o.a.ry babbler send hence to Hel; then can he all the gold possess alone, the ma.s.s that under Fafnir lay.
_Fourth eagle_.
35. He would, methinks, be prudent, if he could have your friendly counsel, my sisters! If he would bethink himself, and Hugin gladden.
There I expect the wolf, where his ears I see.
_Fifth eagle_.
36. Not so prudent is that tree of battle, as I that martial leader had supposed, if he one brother lets depart, now he the other has of life bereft.
_Sixth eagle_.
37. He is most simple, if he longer spares that people"s pest. There lies Regin, who has betrayed him.--He cannot guard against it.
_Seventh eagle_.
38. By the head shorter let him make the ice-cold Jotun, and of his rings deprive him; then of that treasure thou,[63] which Fafnir owned, sole lord wilt be!
_Sigurd_.
39. Fate shall not so resistless be, that Regin shall my death-word bear; for the brothers both shall speedily go hence to Hel.
Sigurd cut off the head of Regin, and then ate Fafnir"s heart, and drank the blood of both Regin and Fafnir. He then heard the eagles saying:
40. Bind thou, Sigurd! the red-gold rings. It is not kingly many things to fear. I a maid know by far the fairest, with gold adorned.
Couldst thou but her obtain!
_Second eagle_.
41. To Giuki lead all-verdant ways; the fates point out to wayfarers where the good king a born daughter has; her wilt thou, Sigurd! purchase with bridal gifts.
_Third eagle_.
42. There stands a hall on the high Hindarfiall, without "tis all with fire surrounded; sagacious men have it constructed of the resplendent radiance of the flood.[64] _Fourth eagle_.
43. On the fell I know a warrior maid to sleep, over her waves the linden"s bane.[65] Ygg whilom stuck a sleep-thorn in the robe of the maid who would heroes choose.
44. Thou, youth! mayest see the helmed maiden, her whom Vingskornir from battle bore. May not Sigrdrifa"s slumber break the son of warriors,[66] against the Norns" decrees.
Sigurd rode along Fafnir"s track to his lair, which he found open. The doors and door-posts were of iron; of iron also were all the beams in the house; but the treasure was buried in the earth. Sigurd found there a great quant.i.ty of gold, and filled two chests with it. He took thence the Oegis-helm, a golden corslet, the sword named Hrotti, and many precious things, all which he laid on Grani; but the horse would not proceed until Sigurd had mounted on his back.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 63: I.e., Sigurd; a transition from the 3d person to the 2nd.]
[Footnote 64: Another periphrasis for gold.]
[Footnote 65: A periphrasis for fire.]
[Footnote 66: Of Skioldungs.]
THE LAY OF SIGRDRIFA.
Sigurd rode up the Hindarfiall, and directed his course southwards towards Frankland. In the fell he saw a great light, as if a fire were burning, which blazed up to the sky. On approaching it, there stood a "skialdborg," and over it a banner. Sigurd went into the skialdborg, and saw a warrior lying within it asleep, completely armed. He first took the helmet off the warrior"s head, and saw that it was a woman.
Her corslet was as fast as if it had grown to her body. With his sword Gram he ripped the corslet from the upper opening downwards, and then through both sleeves. He then took the corslet off from her, when she awoke, sat up and, on seeing Sigurd, said:
1. What has my corslet cut? why from sleep have I started? who has cast from me the fallow bands?
_Sigurd_.
Sigmund"s son has just now ript the raven"s perch,[67] with Sigurd"s sword.
_She_.
2. Long have I slept, long been with sleep oppressed, long are mortals" sufferings! Odin is the cause that I have been unable to cast off torpor.
Sigurd sat down and asked her name. She then took a horn filled with mead, and gave him the _minnis-cup_.