Guest replied: "I suspected before that you would want to hear another of my stories, if I told you what had happened about the gold." "You must certainly tell me some more," replied the King. IX. "I must tell you then," Guest began, "that I went north to Denmark and there settled down on my estate, for my father had died a short time before; and a little later I heard of the death of Sigurth and the sons of Gjuki, and I felt that that was news indeed." "What was the cause of Sigurth's death?" asked the King. Guest replied: "It is generally believed that Guthorm the son of Gjuki ran a sword through him while he was asleep in bed with Guthrun. On the other hand, Germans say that Sigurth was slain out in the forest. In the _Guthr˙nar-rÊtha_ again it is stated that Sigurth and the sons of Gjuki had ridden to a gathering and that they slew him then. But one thing is agreed by all--that they set on him when he was down and off his guard, and that they were guilty of gross treachery towards him." Then one of the retinue asked: "How did Brynhild behave then?" Guest answered: "Brynhild then slew seven of her slaves and five handmaidens, and ran herself through with a sword, commanding that she should be taken to the pyre along with these people and burned beside Sigurth. This was done, one pile being made for Sigurth and another for Brynhild, and he was burned first, and then Brynhild. She was taken in a chariot with a canopy of velvet and silk which was all ablaze with gold, and thus was she burnt." Then Guest was asked if Brynhild had chanted a lay after she was dead. He replied that she had, and they asked him to recite it if he could. Then Guest said: "As Brynhild was being driven to the pyre on the way to Hell, she was brought near some cliffs where an ogress dwelt. The ogress was standing outside the doors of her cave and wore a skin kirtle and was of a blackish hue. She carried a long faggot in her hand and cried: 'This will I contribute to your burning, Brynhild. It would have been better if you had been burned while you were still alive, before you were guilty of getting such a splendid man as Sigurth Fafnisbani slain. I was always friendly to him and therefore I shall attack you in a reproachful song which will make you hated by everybody who hears what you have done.' After that Brynhild and the ogress chanted to one another. The ogress sang as follows: Thou shalt not be suffered to pass through my courts With their pillars of stone in my mansion drear,-- Better far wert thou busied at home with thy needle! Not thine is the husband thou followest here. Inconstant soul, why comest thou hither? From the land of the Romans why visit'st thou me? Full many a wolf hast thou made be partaker Of the life-blood of men who were butchered by thee! Then cried Brynhild: