The Saga of the Volsungs: The Norse Epic of Sigurd the Dragon Slayer (Penguin Classics)

by Jesse L. Byock

  Thus it is said:

  22. The fire began to flare

  And the earth to shudder

  And high flames

  To heaven towered.

  Few of the king’s men

  Had courage enough

  To ride into the fire

  Or to leap across it.

  23. Sigurd with his sword

  Spurred Grani on.

  The flames expired

  Before the prince,

  The fire all fell back

  Before the fame-hungry one.

  The harness was radiant

  Which Regin had owned.

  And when Sigurd got past the flames, he found a beautiful dwelling and inside it sat Brynhild. She asked who this man was. He called himself Gunnar, the son of Gjuki, “and with the consent of your father and the agreement of your foster father, you are my intended wife, provided I ride your wavering flame and if you should so decide.” “I hardly know how to respond,” she said. Sigurd stood straight upon the floor, resting on the hilt of his sword, and said to Brynhild: “I shall pay a generous marriage settlement of gold and precious treasures in return for your hand.”

  She answered gravely from her seat, like a swan on a wave, in her mail coat, with her sword in her hand and her helmet on her head. “Gunnar,” she said, “do not speak of such things to me, unless you surpass every other man and you will kill those who have asked for me in marriage, if you have the courage to do so. I was in battle with the king of Gardariki88 and our weapons were stained with the blood of men, and this I still desire.” He replied: “You have performed many splendid feats, but now call to mind your vow: that, if this fire were crossed, you would go with the man who did it.” She recognized the truth in his answer and the significance of his speech. She rose and received him well.

  He stayed there for three nights and they slept in one bed. He took the sword Gram and lay it unsheathed between them. She asked why he put it there. He said it was fated that he must celebrate his marriage in this manner or else die. He took from her the ring Andvaranaut, which he had given her, and gave her now another ring from Fafnir’s inheritance. After this he rode away through the same fire to his companions. Sigurd and Gunnar changed back into their own shapes and then rode to Hlymdale and related what had passed.

  That same day Brynhild journeyed home to her foster father. She told him in private that a king had come to her “and rode through my wavering flames, declaring he had come to win me. He called himself Gunnar. Yet when I swore the oath on the mountain, I had said that Sigurd alone could do that, and he is my first husband.” Heimir said that it would have to remain as it was. Brynhild said: “My daughter by Sigurd, Aslaug,89 shall be raised here with you.”

  The kings now went home, and Brynhild went to her father. Grimhild received them well and thanked Sigurd for his support. A feast was prepared and a great many people came. King Budli came with his daughter and his son Atli. And the feast lasted many days. When the celebration ended Sigurd remembered all his vows to Brynhild, although he did not let this be known. Brynhild and Gunnar sat together at the entertainment and drank good wine.

  30 DISPUTE OF THE QUEENS, BRYNHILD AND GUDRUN

  One day Brynhild and Gudrun went to bathe in the river Rhine. Then Brynhild waded farther out in the river. Gudrun asked what this meant. Brynhild said: “Why should I be your equal more in this than in other matters? I think my father is more powerful than yours, and my husband has accomplished many splendid feats and rode through the burning fire, but your husband was a thrall of King Hjalprek.” Gudrun answered angrily: “It would be wiser for you to hold your tongue than to insult my husband. Everyone agrees that no one at all like him has come into the world. It is not fitting for you to insult him, because he was your first man. He killed Fafnir and rode the wavering flames when you thought it was King Gunnar. He lay with you and took from your hand the ring Andvaranaut, which you can now see here for yourself.”

  Brynhild saw the ring, recognized it, and became as pale as death. Brynhild went home and spoke no word that evening. When Sigurd came to bed Gudrun asked: “Why is Brynhild so gloomy?” Sigurd replied: “I am not certain, but I suspect that we shall soon know more clearly.” Gudrun said: “Why does she not take delight in wealth and happiness and in the praise of all men, as she married the man she wanted?” Sigurd said: “Where was she when she said this, that she thought herself to have the best man or the one that she most wanted to marry?” Gudrun answered: “In the morning I shall inquire whom she most wants to marry.” “This I ask you not to do,” Sigurd replied, “for once done, you will repent it.”

  That morning they sat in their bower, and Brynhild was silent. Then Gudrun said: “Be cheerful, Brynhild. Did our conversation distress you? What prevents your happiness?” Brynhild replied: “Malice alone brought you to this. You have a grim heart.” “Do not think that,” said Gudrun. “Tell me instead.”

  Brynhild answered: “Only ask what is best for you to know. That is suitable for noble women. And it is easy to be satisfied, while everything happens according to your desires.” Gudrun replied: “It is early yet to boast, but this is somehow prophetic. Why are you goading me? I have done nothing to grieve you.” “You shall pay for marrying Sigurd. I cannot bear that you enjoy him and that vast gold treasure,” Brynhild answered. “I did not know of your agreement,” said Gudrun, “and my father might well arrange a marriage for me without consulting you.”

  Brynhild replied: “Our talk was not secret and yet we had sworn oaths. You knew that you were betraying me. And that betrayal I shall avenge.” Gudrun answered: “You are better married than you deserve. But your pride will not easily subside and many will pay for this.” “I would have been content,” said Brynhild, “if you did not have the nobler man.” Gudrun answered: “You have such a noble husband with abundant wealth and power that it is uncertain who is the greater king.” Brynhild replied: “Sigurd fought Fafnir and that is worth more than all of Gunnar’s power,” as is told:

  24. Sigurd fought the dragon

  And that afterward will be

  Forgotten by no one

  While men still live.

  Yet your brother90

  Neither dared

  To ride into the fire

  Nor to leap across it.

  Gudrun replied: “Gram would not run the fire with King Gunnar on him, but Gunnar dared to ride into it. There is no need to challenge his courage.” “I do not hide my lack of goodwill for Grimhild,” Brynhild said. Gudrun answered: “Do not blame her, for she treats you like her own daughter.” Brynhild replied: “She contrived the whole onset of this misfortune that consumes us. She brought Sigurd the ruinous ale, so that he could not remember my name.” Gudrun answered: “You speak many unjust words—it is a great lie.”

  Brynhild replied: “Enjoy Sigurd as if you had not betrayed me. You are undeserving to live together. May things proceed for you as I foresee.” Gudrun answered: “I will enjoy more than you would wish. No one has reported that he was too good to me, not even once.” Brynhild answered: “You are spiteful in your speech. When you regain your composure, you will regret this conversation. Let us no longer bandy words of hate.” Gudrun said: “You first flung malicious words at me. Now you act in a conciliatory way, yet hatred is at the root of this.”

  “Let us stop this useless chatter,” said Brynhild. “I kept my silence for a long time about the sorrow in my breast, yet I love only your brother. Let us speak of other things.” Gudrun said: “Your thoughts see far beyond the present.”

  Great sorrow came to pass because they went to the river and Brynhild recognized the ring, from which their conversation arose.

  31 BRYNHILD’S GRIEF ONLY INCREASES

  After this conversation Brynhild took to her bed. King Gunnar received word that she was sick, and he went to see her, asking what vexed her. But she did not respond and lay as if dead. And when he persisted in the matter, she answered: “What did you do with the ring I gave you? K
ing Budli gave me this ring at our last parting, when you, the sons of King Gjuki, came to him and swore you would destroy and burn if you did not get me. He then took me aside and asked which man of those who had come I would choose. But I offered to defend the land and to be commander of a third of the army. There were then two choices at hand: either I would have to marry the man he wished or give up all wealth and his pledge of friendship. He said that his friendship was more profitable for me than his anger.

  “Then I debated with myself whether I should submit to his will or kill many men. I thought myself powerless to contend with him. So it happened that I betrothed myself to the one who would ride the horse Grani with Fafnir’s inheritance, to that one who would ride through my wavering flames and would kill those men who I decided should die. Now, no one dared to ride except Sigurd alone. He rode through the fire because he was not short of courage for the deed. He killed the dragon and Regin and five kings—unlike you, Gunnar, who blanched like a corpse. You are neither king nor champion. And I made this solemn vow at my father’s home that I would love that man alone who is the noblest man born, and that is Sigurd. Now I am a breaker of oaths, as I do not have him. Because of this I shall bring about your death, and I have Grimhild to reward in an evil fashion. There is no woman worse or more cowardly.”

  Gunnar responded in such a manner that few heard: “You have spoken many false words, and you are a malicious woman to blame that woman who is far above you. She was not so discontent as you are, and she did not torment dead men.91 She murdered no one and she is praised.” Brynhild answered: “I have had no secret meetings, nor have I committed any crimes. My nature is different, and I might be more disposed to kill you.” Then she wanted to kill King Gunnar, but Hogni put her in fetters. Gunnar then said: “I do not want her to live in chains.”

  Brynhild answered: “Do not concern yourself about that, because from this day on you will never see me cheerful in your hall. I will neither drink nor play chess, speak entertainingly, embroider fair garments with gold, nor give you advice.” She declared it the most grievous sorrow that she was not married to Sigurd. She sat up and struck her tapestry so that it tore apart. She bid her chamber door be opened, so that her lamentations could be heard far away. Now the sorrow was boundless and was heard throughout the stronghold.

  Gudrun asked her servingwomen why they were so gloomy and sad: “What is wrong with you? Why do you go about like mad people? What panic has seized you?” Then a woman of the court, Svafrlod, answered: “This is an evil day. Our hall is full of grief.”

  Gudrun spoke to her friend: “Stand up, we have slept a long time. Wake Brynhild. We will go to our needlework92 and be cheerful.” “I will not do it,” she said. “I will neither wake her nor speak to her. For many days she has drunk neither mead nor wine and a godlike wrath is upon her.” Gudrun spoke to Gunnar: “Go visit her,” she said, “and say that her grief pains us.” Gunnar answered: “I am forbidden to see her or share her wealth.”

  Still Gunnar went to visit her and tried many directions of conversation with her, but he received nothing in the way of an answer. He went away now and met with Hogni, asking him to visit her. Hogni, though saying he was not eager to see her, went but got nothing from her. Then Sigurd was found and asked to visit her, but Sigurd did not reply. So matters stood that evening.

  The next day, when Sigurd returned home from hunting, he met with Gudrun and said: “I have come to see that this horror is full of portent, and Brynhild will die.” Gudrun answered: “My lord, strange and marvelous qualities are associated with her. She has now slept for seven days, so that none dare wake her.” Sigurd replied: “She is not sleeping. She is plotting harsh deeds against us.”

  Then Gudrun spoke tearfully: “It is an enormous grief to foresee your death. Go rather and visit her and see whether her vehemence will subside. Give her gold and so appease her anger.” Sigurd went out and found the hall open. He thought Brynhild asleep, drew back the bedcovers from her, and said: “Wake up, Brynhild. The sun is shining throughout the town, and you have slept enough. Throw off your sorrow and be happy.” She said: “How arrogant you are to come to see me! No one has behaved worse toward me in this treachery.”

  Sigurd asked: “Why do you not speak to people? What is vexing you?” Brynhild answered: “I will tell you of my anger.”

  Sigurd said: “You are bewitched if you believe I think harshly of you. And you received as your husband the one you chose.” “No,” she said. “Gunnar did not ride through the fire to me, nor did he pay me the marriage settlement in slain men. I wondered at the man who entered my hall, and I thought I recognized your eyes, but I could not perceive clearly because of the veil that lay over my fate.”

  Sigurd said: “I am no nobler a man than the sons of Gjuki. They killed the king of the Danes and a great prince, the brother of King Budli.” Brynhild answered: “I have many wrongs to discharge against them—do not remind me of my anguish. You, Sigurd, killed the serpent and rode through the fire for my sake. The sons of Gjuki did not do that.” Sigurd answered: “I did not become your husband nor you my wife, and a noble king paid your marriage settlement.” Brynhild replied: “I have never looked so upon Gunnar that my heart was gladdened. I loathe him, although I conceal it from others.”

  “It is terrible,” said Sigurd, “not to love such a king. But what troubles you most? It seems to me that his love would be worth more than gold to you.” Brynhild answered: “It is the most grievous of all my sorrows that I cannot bring it about that a sharp blade be reddened with your blood.” Sigurd said: “Hold your judgment. It is a short wait until a biting sword will stick in my heart, and you could not ask for worse for yourself, because you will not live after me. From here on few days of life are left to us.”

  Brynhild answered: “Your words do not come from little distress, since you cheated me of all delight; I care not about my life.” Sigurd replied: “Live, and love King Gunnar and me, and I will give all my treasure so that you do not die.” Brynhild said: “You do not altogether know my character. You surpass all men, yet no woman has become more loathsome to you than I.”

  “Something else is closer to the truth,” replied Sigurd. “I love you more than myself, although I was the object of the deceit that cannot now be changed. Always when my mind was my own,93 it pained me that you were not my wife. But I bore it as well as I could since I lived in the king’s hall. Yet I was happy that we were all together. It may be that what was earlier foretold will have to happen, but it shall not be feared.” Brynhild answered: “You have delayed too long in telling me that my sorrow grieves you, and now I shall find no comfort.” “I should like us both to enter one bed,” said Sigurd, “and you to be my wife.”

  Brynhild answered: “Such things are not to be said. I will not have two kings in one hall. And sooner would I die before I would deceive King Gunnar.” Now she recalled their meeting on the mountain and sworn oaths—“but now everything has changed and I do not want to live.” “I could not remember your name,” said Sigurd. “I did not recognize you until you were married. And that is my deepest sorrow.”

  Then Brynhild spoke: “I swore an oath to marry that man who would ride through my wavering flames, and that oath I would hold to or else die.” “Rather than have you die, I will forsake Gudrun and marry you,” said Sigurd. And his sides swelled so that the links of his mail burst. “I do not want you,” said Brynhild, “or anyone else.” Sigurd went away.

  As it is told in the “Lay of Sigurd,”

  25. Out went Sigurd

  Leaving talk,

  Heroes” worthy friend,

  And grieved so deeply

  That the heaving breast

  Of the battle-eager one

  Sheared from his sides

  The iron-woven shirt.

  And when Sigurd entered the hall, Gunnar asked if he knew what Brynhild’s affliction was and whether she had recovered her speech. Sigurd said she was able to speak. And now Gunnar went to visit her
again and asked what her sorrow meant and whether there was a cure for it. “I do not want to live,” said Brynhild, “because Sigurd has betrayed me, and he betrayed you no less, when you let him come into my bed. Now I do not want to have two husbands at the same time in one hall. This shall be Sigurd’s death or yours or mine, because he has told Gudrun everything, and she reviles me.”

  32 THE BETRAYAL OF SIGURD

  After this Brynhild went out and sat under her chamber wall. She lamented grievously, declaring everything, both land and power, hateful to her, since she did not have Sigurd. And Gunnar came to her again. Then Brynhild said: “You shall lose both power and wealth, life and me, and I shall journey home to my kin and remain there in sorrow unless you kill Sigurd and his son. Do not raise the wolf cub.”

  Gunnar now became very distressed. He thought he did not know the best course to pursue, for he was bound by oath to Sigurd. And various thoughts shifted in his mind, but he thought the worst dishonor would be if his wife left him. Gunnar said: “Brynhild is more precious to me than anything else, and she is the most renowned of all women. I would forfeit my life rather than lose her love.”

  And he called his brother Hogni to him and said: “I am confronted with a difficult choice.” He said that he wanted to kill Sigurd, that Sigurd had betrayed his trust: “We will then also control the gold and have all the power.” Hogni said: “It is not fitting for us to violate our oaths by breaching the peace. And we have had much support from him. No kings are our equal as long as this king of Hunland lives. And we will never get such a brother-in-law again. Consider how valuable it would be for us to have such a brother-in-law and nephews, too. But I see how this problem arose. Brynhild stirred it up, and her advice will lead us to disgrace and destruction.”