"Let us hear it all the same," said the King, "for you promised before that you would tell us your story." "If I tell you the history of this piece of gold," replied Guest, "I expect you will want to hear the rest of my story along with it." "I expect that that is just what will happen," said the King. IV. "Then I will tell you how once I went south into the land of the Franks. I wanted to see for myself what sort of a prince Sigurth the son of Sigmund was, and to discover if the reports which had reached me of his great beauty and courage were true. Nothing happened worth mentioning until I came to the land of the Franks and met King Hjalprek. He had a great court around him. Sigurth, the son of Sigmund, the son of Vˆlsung, and of Hjˆrdis, the daughter of Eylimi, was there at that time. Sigmund had fallen in battle against the sons of Hunding, and Hjˆrdis had married Alf the son of King Hjalprek. There Sigurth grew up together with all the other sons of King Sigmund. Among these were Sinfjˆtli and Helgi, who surpassed all men in strength and stature. Helgi slew King Hunding, thereby earning the name Hundingsbani. The third son was called Hamund. Sigurth, however, outstripped all his brothers, and it is a well-known fact that he was the noblest of all warrior princes, and the very model of a king in heathen times. At that time, Regin, the son of Hreithmar, had also come to King Hjalprek. He was a dwarf in stature, but there was no-one more cunning than he. He was a wise man, but malign and skilled in magic. Regin taught Sigurth many things and was devoted to him. He told him about his birth and his wondrous adventures. And when I had been there a little while, I entered Sigurth's service like many others. He was very popular with everybody, because he was friendly and unassuming, and generous to all. V. It chanced one day that we came to Regin's house and Sigurth was made welcome there. Then Regin spoke these verses: The son of Sigmund cometh to our hall, A valiant warrior. It must needs befall That I, less doughty and oppressed with age, Shall fall a victim to his wolfish rage. But I will cherish Yngvi's valorous heir, Since Fate hath sent him hither to our care, Train him to be, in valour and in worth, The mightiest and most famous prince on earth. At this time, Sigurth was constantly in Regin's company. Regin told him much about Fafnir--how he dwelt upon Gnitaheith in the form of a serpent, and also of his wondrous size. Regin made for Sigurth a sword called Gram. It was so sharp that when he thrust it into the River Rhine it cut in two a flock of wool which he had dropped into the river and which was drifting down stream, cutting it just as clean as it did the water itself. Later on, Sigurth clove Regin's stithy with the sword. After that Regin urged Sigurth to slay his brother Fafnir and Sigurth recited this verse: