Every man disowns thee, Thou evil being! Sore sorrow Of seven kings, And the greatest spoiler Of wives’ friends.[358] Then said Brynhild, The daughter of Budli: Atli alone causes All the misery; The son or Budli, My brother, When we in the hall Of the Hunnish people Saw with the king The fire of the serpent lair[359] I have paid since For that journey; Of that sight I was not afraid. She stood at the door-post; She clasped the alder-tree;[360] Fire flashed Out of the eyes Of Brynhild, Budli’s daughter; Venom gushed from her When she saw the wounds Of Sigurd. Gudrun’s second song to King Thjodrek at the hird of Atli. I was a maiden of maidens, My bright mother Raised me in her house; I loved my brothers well, Till Gjuki endowed me with gold, And gave me to Sigurd. So was Sigurd Among the sons of Gjuki As a green leek Grown high in the grass, Or a long-legged hart Among the swift deer, Or ruddy gold Amidst grey silver. Until my brothers Begrudged me A husband, Who was the foremost of all; They could not sleep Nor judge law-cases Till they had slain Sigurd. Grani[361] ran from the Thing; The noise (of his hoofs) was heard; But then Sigurd Himself did not come. All the saddle-deer[362] Were soiled with blood, And wearied Under their murderers. I went in my tears To talk to Grani; With wet cheeks I asked him to speak. Grani drooped his head, Bowed it down to the grass; The steed knew His owner was no more. A long while I wavered, Long was my mind divided Before I asked The people-defender For news of the king.