The Saga of the Volsungs
Page 8
"I wore a terror-helmet against all men as long as I sat on my brother’s ransom, and I blew poison in every direction before me so that no man {33} dared to come near me, and I feared no weapon. I never faced so many men that I did not still feel myself much stronger than they were, and everyone feared me."
Sigurð said, "That terror-helmet you speak of will not grant anyone victory. Every man finds, when he comes among his enemies at the start of a battle, that there is no bravest man."
Fáfnir said, "I advise that you take your horse and ride away from here as fast as you can. It’s not unusual that a mortally wounded man still manages to avenge himself."
Sigurð said, "That’s your advice, but I’ll do something else. I’ll ride to your lair and take the great treasure of gold that has been the property of your kinsmen."
Fáfnir said, "You will ride there, and find all the gold, and it will be enough for all your days. And that gold will kill you, and everyone else who owns it."
Sigurð stood up and said, "I’d ride home and leave this treasure alone, if I knew that I would never die. But every bold man wants to have control of his wealth until his fated death-day.
"And you, Fáfnir, lie there in your life’s broken pieces, and may Hel have you." And with this, Fáfnir died.
Chapter 19. Sigurð Takes Fáfnir’s Treasure
[compare Fáfnismál (Fafnismal), st. 23–44, in the Poetic Edda]
After this Regin came to Sigurð and said, "Hail, my lord! You’ve won a great victory and killed Fáfnir. Before you, no one was brave enough even to sit in his path. Your bold adventure will be famous as long as the earth lasts."
But then Regin stood and looked down a long time. And then he said in great anger, "You have killed my brother, though I was not innocent in that crime."
Sigurð took his sword Gram and wiped the blood off the blade in the grass. He said to Regin, "You hid far away while I took a great risk and tested this sharp sword with my own hand. It was my strength that {34} was tested against the dragon’s, while you crept in the bushes and didn’t know which way was up or down."
Regin said, "This dragon might have dwelled in his lair a long time if you didn’t have the sword I made for you with my own hand, and then neither you nor anyone else would have accomplished this."
Sigurð said, "When men are in battle, a brave heart means more than a sharp sword."
Then Regin said in great anger, "You killed my brother, but I’m hardly innocent."
Now Sigurð cut the dragon’s heart out with the sword named Riðil. Then Regin drank Fáfnir’s blood and said, "Do me a favor, Sigurð, just a little favor. Take the dragon’s heart to the fire and grill it, and then give it to me to eat."
Sigurð put the heart on a spit to grill it. And when the blood had boiled out of it, he put his finger to the heart to test whether it was fully cooked. He then put his finger in his mouth, and when the blood from the dragon’s heart touched his tongue, he could understand the language of birds. He heard some wagtails talking in the branches above him.
One of the wagtails said, "There sits Sigurð cooking Fáfnir’s heart. He ought to be the one who eats it, and then he would be wiser than any other man."
Another bird said, "Over there is Regin. He’ll betray Sigurð, who trusts him."
A third wagtail said, "He should cut off Regin’s head, and then all the gold would be Sigurð’s alone."
A fourth one said, "He would be wiser if he took the advice you’ve given him, and rode to Fáfnir’s lair and took all the gold there. Then he ought to ride up to Hindarfjall, where Brynhild sleeps. There he could learn great wisdom if he took your advice and thought about what he needed. I always suspect a wolf, when I see a wolf’s ears sticking up."
A fifth said, "Sigurð isn’t as wise as I thought, if he lets one brother live free when he has killed the other!"
A sixth said, "It would be very wise if Sigurð killed Regin and took all the treasure."
Sigurð said, "I won’t stand for that poor fate, to be killed by Regin. I’d rather send both brothers in the same direction." Then he drew the sword Gram and cut off Regin’s head.
{35} Now Sigurð ate a part of the dragon’s heart, and kept another part of it. Then he mounted up on his horse Grani and followed Fáfnir’s tracks to his lair and found it open, and its doors were made of iron, as were the doorframes and all the pillars in the house, and they were dug deep into the earth. Sigurð found a great quantity of gold there and the sword Hrotti, and he took the terror-helmet and a golden suit of armor and many other precious treasures. He found so much gold there that he thought even two or three horses would hardly be enough to carry it. He took all the gold and put it into two large chests, and then he took his horse Grani by the bridle to walk him. The horse would not move and would not be driven along. Then Sigurð thought he knew what the horse wanted. He leapt on Grani’s back and struck him with his spurs, and then the horse ran as if he carried nothing at all.
Chapter 20. Sigurð Meets Brynhild
[compare Sigrdrífumál (Sigerdrifumal), st. 1–20, in the Poetic Edda]
Sigurð rode a long way, until he rode up on the mountain Hindarfjall and turned to go south toward Frankish lands. He saw a great light on the mountain, as though a fire burned there, and it glowed against the sky. When he came to it, he saw a fortress, and there were flags flying on top of it. Sigurð went into the fortress and saw a person sleeping there on the floor, fully armed. He took the helmet off first, and then he realized this person was a woman. Her chainmail was as tight as if it had grown to her skin. He cut the chainmail off, first cutting down the middle, and then down both sleeves, and his sword cut as if through cloth. Then Sigurð told her she had been sleeping long enough.
She asked what had been powerful enough to break her chainmail. "And who woke me? Is it Sigurð Sigmundsson who has come, carrying Fáfnir’s helmet and the sword that killed Fáfnir in his hands?"
Then Sigurð said, "I am a man of the Volsung family who has done this, and I have heard that you are the daughter of a mighty king. I have also been told of your beauty and wisdom, and I want to see them proven."
{36} Brynhild said that two kings had fought. One was named Hjálm-Gunnar; he was old and a great warrior, and Óðin had promised him victory. The other was named Agnar, brother of Auði. "I killed Hjálm-Gunnar in this battle. But Óðin stung me with a sleep-thorn in revenge for this, and said that I would never again have victory in battle and that I would have to marry. But I swore an oath in response that I would marry no man except one who knew no fear."
Sigurð said, "Teach me some wisdom in important matters."
She said, "You know better, but I will teach you gratefully if there is anything I know that may please you about runes or any other sort of thing. Let us drink together, and may the gods give us a good day and grant that you find something useful and wise in my knowledge, and that you’ll remember what you and I say."
Brynhild filled a cup and gave it to Sigurð, and then she said:
"I bring you beer,
warrior,
blended with strength
and fame.
It’s full of spells
and magic,
good enchantments
and happy words.
"You should carve victory-runes
if you want to have victory.
Carve some on the hilt of your sword,
carve some on the middle of the blade also,
some elsewhere on the sword,
and name Týr twice.
"You should make wave-runes
if you want to save ships
out on the wild water.
You should carve them on the ship’s bow
and on the steering-rudder,
and burn them into the oars.
{37} Then there won’t be any steep wave,
there won’t be any blue waves,
that you won’t escape from safely.
"You should learn speech-runes
from taking vengeance on you.
Wind them around,
weave them around,
set them all around,
at the court
where people go
for judgments.
"You should learn beer-runes
if you don’t want another man’s wife
to abuse your trust if you have a tryst.
Carve them on the drinking-horn
and on the back of your hand,
and carve the rune for ‘N’ on your fingernail.
"You should bless the drinking-horn;
then watch out for trouble
and throw garlic in the drink.
If you do this, I know
you’ll never drink mead
that’s blended with a curse.
"You should learn life-saving runes
if you want to save a woman’s life
when she is in the throes of childbirth.
Carve them on your palm,
and clasp them around your limbs,
and pray to your family spirits for help.
"You should learn limb-runes
if you want to be a healer
{38} and learn how to heal wounds.
Carve them on bark,
carve them on the needles of a pine
that bends eastward.
"You should learn mind-runes
if you want to be wiser
than any other man.
Óðin read them,
Óðin carved them,
Óðin thought them up.
"Runes were carved on the shield
that stood before the shining sun,
on the ears and hooves
of the horses that draw the sun,
on the wheel
of the chariot of Thór,
on the reins of Sleipnir,
on the reins of his sled.
"They were carved on a bear’s paw
and a poet’s tongue,
on a wolf’s claws
and an eagle’s beak,
on bloody wings
and a bridge’s beams,
on a helper’s palm
and a healer’s footprint.
"They were carved on glass
and gold, on treasures,
in wine and in beer
and a witch’s chair,
in a man’s flesh
and Óðin’s spearpoint
and a troll-woman’s breast,
{39} on a Norn’s fingernail
and the beak of an owl.
"All of them that were carved
were then shaved off,
and they were stirred into the holy mead
and sent far away.
Some are with the Æsir,
some are with the elves,
some are with the Vanir,
and mortal men have some.
"The beechtree-runes
and life-saving runes
and all the beer-runes
and the famous strength-runes
will be of good use
for everyone who knows them
completely and correctly.
Use them, if you know them,
till the gods die.
"Now you must choose
from the options you are offered,
you lord of sharp weapons.
Choose to speak,
or choose to remain silent:
Your fate is already decided."
Sigurð responded:
"I will never flee,
even if you know I am doomed to die.
I was not born a coward.
I want to have
all of your loving advice,
as long as I live."
{40} Chapter 21. Concerning the Counsel of Brynhild
[compare Sigrdrífumál (Sigerdrifumal), st. 21–37, in the Poetic Edda]
Sigurð said, "There has never been a wiser woman in all the world. Teach me more wisdom."
She said, "It’s fitting that I do as you say and give you more good advice, both because you ask for it and because you are yourself wise." She continued, "Behave faultlessly with your kin. Don’t avenge yourself on them, and bear their evils patiently, and you’ll live a long life in reward.
"Beware of evil things, either the love of a girl or another man’s wife. Bad things often come from them.
"Don’t be seen with fools when you’re in public. They often say worse things than they realize, and then you’ll be called a coward and others will think that their slander is true. Wait for another day to kill the fool, and then repay him for his lie.
"If you go where evil spirits live, be careful. Don’t sleep near the road, even if darkness is setting on you outside, because there are often evil spirits who dull men’s minds living there.
"Don’t let pretty women tempt you, even if you’re at a party, because they’ll keep you from sleeping, or else they’ll make you miserable. And don’t try to seduce them with kisses or with pretty words.
"If you hear drunk men saying something stupid, don’t talk to them. They’re drunk and their wits are gone. Such conversations will often cause sorrow or death.
"Fight your enemies right away. Never wait for them to burn you inside your own home.
"Never swear a false oath. Grim vengeance comes to oathbreakers.
"Respect a dead body, whether the death was from sickness, or drowning at sea, or from violence. Prepare the body carefully.
"You should never believe someone if you have killed his father, or his brother, or any other close relative of his, even if he is a young man. There’s often a wolf that lurks in a dead man’s young son.
"Beware of being deceived by your own friends.
"And I cannot see much of your future, if I am wrong in saying you can expect to be hated by your brothers-in-law."
{41} Sigurð said, "I think there is no one wiser than you. I swear I will marry you, and you’re a good match for me."
She said, "I would choose you even if I could choose from all men." And they sealed these words with oaths.
Chapter 22. Description of Sigurð, Killer of Fáfnir
Now Sigurð rode away. He carried a shield in a convex shape, and it was plated with pure gold with a design in the shape of a dragon set into it. The shield was charred dark brown on top but painted bright red at the bottom, and his helmet, saddle, and leather jacket were colored the same way. He wore a golden shirt of chainmail, and all his weapons were trimmed with gold, and on all his weapons was the design of a dragon, so that everyone who saw him who had heard the story would know that it was he who had killed the mighty dragon called Fáfnir by the Norse. And all of his weapons were trimmed in gold and colored chestnut brown because he was far above all other men in noble birth and courtly manners and in almost every other way. And when all the greatest champions and the most outstanding chieftains are counted, he will always be counted first, and his name is famous in all the languages spoken north of the Mediterranean, and it will be so as long as the world lasts.
Sigurð had chestnut-colored hair that flowed in beautiful long locks. He had a well-trimmed, thick beard of the same color. He had a high nose, a broad, big-boned face, and his eyes were so bright that there were few men who dared to look under his brow. He was so broad across the shoulders that it was like looking at two men. Every part of his body was big and tall and as good-looking as it could be. And it is a sign of his great height that when he carried his sword Gram in the scabbard at his belt—and the sword was three and a half feet long—if he happened to walk in a field of full-grown rye, then the bottom point of his scabbard would touch the top of the plants.
And Sigurð’s strength was even greater than his size would suggest. He knew how to fight with a sword and how to throw a long or short {42} spear and how to hold a shield, how to shoot an arrow and ride a horse, and he learned many other noble arts in his youth.
He was a wise man who could see the future befor
e it happened, and he understood the language of birds, and because of talents like these there were few events that caught him by surprise.
He could give a good, long speech, and he was so clever with words that he could not begin to speak for some cause without convincing everyone who heard him, before he had finished, that there was no other way to see the matter. And his joy was in giving help to his men and in testing himself in great deeds, and in taking treasure from his enemies and giving it in turn to his friends. He had no lack of courage, and he was never afraid.
Chapter 23. Sigurð Stays with Heimir
Sigurð now rode until he came to a large town, which was ruled by the great chieftain named Heimir. Heimir was married to Brynhild’s sister, who was named Bekkhild. She was named Bekkhild (Hild of the bench) because she stayed at home and learned women’s arts while her sister was named Brynhild (Hild of the armor) because she went out to battle in helmet and armor. Heimir and Bekkhild had a son named Alsvið, the noblest of men.
Some men were playing outside, and when they saw the man riding into town, they stopped their game and marveled at the man because they had never seen his like. They went and greeted him well. Alsvið invited Sigurð to stay with him and to be served whatever he wanted, which Sigurð accepted. Everything was arranged so that Sigurð was served in magnificent fashion. Four men took the gold from his horse Grani, and another was assigned to take good care of Grani. They could see many precious and rare treasures among all the gold. They entertained themselves looking at the helmets and suits of chainmail and the big rings and the wonderfully large golden cups and the weapons of every kind.
Sigurð stayed there a long time in great honor. His famous deed of killing the horrible dragon had now become famous in every land.
{43} These noblemen enjoyed themselves well, and they were loyal to one another. They enjoyed themselves by preparing their weapons and making arrows, and hunting with their hawks.
Chapter 24. Sigurð Meets Brynhild
At this time Brynhild, Heimir’s foster-daughter, came home. She sat in a room with her serving-women, and she was more skillful with her hands than other women. She made a tapestry of gold and sewed into it scenes that depicted all of Sigurð’s great deeds, the killing of Fáfnir and the winning of the treasure and the death of Regin.
It is told that one day Sigurð rode to the forest with his dogs and hawks and a large entourage. And when he came home, his hawk flew up high on a tall tower and sat beside a window there. Sigurð followed the hawk, and he looked through the window and saw that it was Brynhild within. Her tapestry impressed him as much as her beauty.