The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga); with Excerpts from the Poetic Edda
General
The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga); with Excerpts from the Poetic Edda
Eddas -- Translations into English; Nibelungen -- Romances; Sagas -- Translations into English; Siegfried (Legendary character) -- Romances
Now oft they all ride abroad together, Sigurd and Gunnar and Hogni,
and ever is Sigurd far the foremost of them, mighty men of their hands
though they were.
But Grimhild finds how heartily Sigurd loved Brynhild, and how oft he
talks of her; and she falls to thinking how well it were, if he might
abide there and wed the daughter of King Giuki, for she saw that none
might come anigh to his goodliness, and what faith and goodhelp there
was in him, and how that he had more wealth withal than folk might tell
of any man; and the king did to him even as unto his own sons, and they
for their parts held him of more worth than themselves.
So on a night as they sat at the drink, the queen arose, and went before
Sigurd, and said--
"Great joy we have in thine abiding here, and all good things will
we put before thee to take of us; lo now, take this horn and drink
thereof."
So he took it and drank, and therewithal she said, "Thy father shall be
Giuki the king, and I shall be thy mother, and Gunnar and Hogni shall be
thy brethren, and all this shall be sworn with oaths each to each; and
then surely shall the like of you never be found on earth."
Sigurd took her speech well, for with the drinking of that drink all
memory of Brynhild departed from him. So there he abode awhile.
And on a day went Grimhild to Giuki the king, and cast her arms about
his neck, and spake--
"Behold, there has now come to us the greatest of great hearts that the
world holds; and needs must he be trusty and of great avail; give him
thy daughter then, with plenteous wealth, and as much of rule as he
will; perchance thereby he will be well content to abide here ever."
The king answered, "Seldom does it befall that kings offer their
daughters to any; yet in higher wise will it be done to offer her to
this man, than to take lowly prayers for her from others."
On a night Gudrun pours out the drink, and Sigurd beholds her how fair
she is and how full of all courtesy.
Five seasons Sigurd abode there, and ever they passed their days
together in good honour and friendship.
And so it befell that the kings held talk together, and Giuki said --
"Great good thou givest us, Sigurd, and with exceeding strength thou
strengthenest our realm."
Then Gunnar said, "All things that may be will we do for thee, so thou
abidest here long; both dominion shalt thou have, and our sister freely
and unprayed for, whom another man would not get for all his prayers."
Sigurd says, "Thanks have ye for this wherewith ye honour me, and
gladly will I take the same."
Therewith they swore brotherhood together, and to be even as if they
were children of one father and one mother; and a noble feast was
holden, and endured many days, and Sigurd drank at the wedding of him
and Gudrun; and there might men behold all manner of game and glee, and
each day the feast better and better.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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