 11 CHAPTER XXXVI Now tells the tale of Gunnar that in the same wise it fared with him. For when they awoke Glamver, his wife, told him many dreams which seemed to her like to betoken Gael coming. But Gunnar a-readed them all in other wise. "'This was one of them,' said she. "'Me thought a bloody sword was born into the hall here, wherewith thou were thrust through, and at either end of that sword, wolves howled.' The king answered. "'Cur dogs shall bite me, be like. Blood-stained weapons oft betoken dogs, snappings.' She said, yet again I dreamed, that women came in heavy and drooping, and chose thee for their mate. May happen, these would be thy fateful women.' He answered, hard to a-read is this, and none may set aside the fated measure of his days, nor is it unlike that my time is short. So in the morning they arose, and were minded for the journey, but some letted them herein. Then cried Gunnar to the man who is called Fjarnir. "'Arise, and give us to drink goodly wine from great tons. Because may happen, this shall be very last of all our feasts. For be like if we die the old wolf shall come by the gold, and that bear shall no wise spear the bite of his war tusks.' Then all the folk of his household brought them on their way, weeping. The son of Hrgni said, "'Fare ye well with Mary Tide!' The more part of their folk were left behind. Solar and Snivar, the sons of Hrgni, feared with them, and a certain great champion named Orkni, who was the brother of Kostbera. So folk followed them down to the ships, and all letted them of their journey, but attained to not therein. Then spake Glamvar, and said, "'O Vingy, most like that great ill-hap will come of thy coming, and mighty and evil things shall betide in thy travelling.' He answered, "'Hark into my answer, that I lie not ought, and may the high gallows and all things of Grame have me, if I lie one word!' Then cried Kostbera, "'Fare ye well with Mary Days!' And Hrgni answered, "'Be glad of heart, howsoever it may fare with us!' And therewith they parted, each to their own fate. Then away they rode so hard and fast that Wellnigh the half of the keels slipped away from the ship, and so hard they laid on to the oars that Thol and Gunnel break. And when they came aland they made their ship fast. And then they rode awhile on their noble steeds through the murk Wildwood. And now they behold the king's army, and huge uproar and the clatter of weapons they hear from thence, and they see there a mighty host of men and the manifold array of them, even as they wrought there. And all the gates of the burg were full of men. So they rode up to the burg, and the gates thereof were shut. Then Hrgni break open the gates, and therewith they ride into the burg. Then spake Vingy, Well, my ye have left this deed undone. Go to now, by thee here, while I go seek your gallows-tree. Softly and sweetly I bade you hither, but an evil thing abode there under. Short while to bide, ere ye are tied up to that same tree. Hrgni answered, None the more shall we waver for that cause. For little me thinks if we shrunk aback when as men fell to fight, and not shall it avail thee to make us afeard, and for an ill-fate hast thou wrought. And therewith they cast him down to earth, and smote him with their ax-hammers till he died. CHAPTER 37 Then they rode unto the king's hall. And King Otley arrayed his host for battle. And the ranks were so set forth that a certain wall there was betwixt them and the brethren. Welcome hither, said he. Deliver unto me that plenteous gold which is mine of right, even the wealth which Sigurd once owned, and which is now Gudrun's of right. Gnar answered, Never get us thou that wealth, and men of might must thou meet here wherever we lay by life, if thou wilt deal with us in battle. Ah! But like thou set us forth this feast like a great man, and what's not hold thine hand from urn and wolf? Long ago I had it in my mind, said Otley, to take the lives of you, and be lord of the gold, and reward you for that deed of shame wherein you beguiled the best of all your affinity. But now shall I revenge him. Grigny answered. Little will it veil to lie long brooding over that reed, leaving the work undone. And therewith they fell to hard fighting, at the first brunt with shot. But therewithal came the tidings to Gudrun, and when she heard thereof she grew exceeding wroth, and cast her mantle from her, and ran out and greeted those newcomers, and kissed her brethren, and showed them all love, and the last of all greetings was that betwixt them. Then said she, I thought I had set forth councils whereby ye should not come hither, but none may deal with his shape and fate. And with all she said, Will it avail ought to seek for peace? But stoutly and grimly they said nay there too. So she sees that the game goeth sorely against her brethren, and she gathers to her great stoutness of heart, and does on her a mailcoat, and takes to her a sword, and fights by her brethren, and goes as far forward as the bravest of manfolk, and all spoke in one wise that never saw any fairer defence than in her. Now the men fell thick, and far before all others was the fighting of those brethren, and the battle endured a long while unto midday. Gennar and Hergney went right through the folk of Otley, and so tells the tale that all the mead ran red with blood. The sons of Hergney withal said on stoutly, then spake Otley the king, A fair host and a great have we, and mighty champions with all, and yet have many of us fallen, and but evil am I a-paid, in that nineteen of my champions are slain, and but six left alive. And therewithal was there a lull in the battle. Then spake Otley the king. For brethren were we, and now am I left alone. Great affinity I get to me, and deed my fortune well sped thereby. A wife I had, fair and wise, high of mind and great of heart, but no joyance may I have of her wisdom, for little peace has betwixt us. But ye, ye have slain many of my kin, and beguiled me of realm and riches, and for the greatest of all woes have slain my sister with all. Quote Hergney, Why babblest thou thus? Thou art the first to break the peace, thou dits take my kin's woman and pine her to death by hunger, and dits murder her and take her wealth, an ugly deed for a king. Great for mocking and laughter I deem it, that thou must needs make long tale of thy woes. Rather will I give thanks to the gods that thou fallest into ill. CHAPTER XXXVIII Now King Otley eggs on his folk to set on fiercely, and eagerly they fight. But the Gukings fell on so hard that King Otley gave back into the hall, and within doors was the fight, and fierce beyond all fights. That battle was the death of many a man, but such was the ending thereof, that there fell all the folk of those brethren, and they twain alone stood up on their feet, and yet many more must fare to hell first before their weapons. And now they fell on Gunnar the king, and because of the host of men that set on him was hand laid on him, and he was cast into fetters. Afterwards fought Hergney with the stoutest heart and the greatest manlyhood, and he felled to earth twenty of the stoutest of the champions of King Otley, and many he thrust into the fire that burnt amidst the hall, and all were of one accord that such a man might scarce be seen, yet in the end was he borne down by many and taken. Then said King Otley, A marvellous thing! How many men have gone their ways before him! Cut the heart from out of him, and let that be his bane! Hergney said, Do according to thy will, merrily will I abide what so thou wilt do against me, and thou shalt see that my heart is not a dread. For hard matters have I made tri-love ere now, and all things that may try a man was I feigned to bear, whilst yet I was unhurt, but now sorely am I hurt, and thou alone henceforth will bear mastery in our dealings together. Then speak a counsellor of King Otley. Better read, I see there, too. Take we the thrall, heatley, and give respite to Hergney. For this thrall is made to die, since the longer he lives the less worth shall he be. The thrall harkened, and cried out aloft, and fled away any wither where he might hope for shelter, crying out that a hard portion was his because of their strife and wild doings, and an ill day for him were on he must be dragged to death from his sweet life and his swine-keeping. But they caught him, and turned a knife against him, and he yelled and screamed or ever he felt the point thereof. Then in such wise spake Hergney, as a man seldom speaketh who has fallen into hard need, for he prayed for the thrall's life, and said that these streaks he could not away with, and that it were a lesser matter to him to play out the play to the end. And therewithal the thrall got his life, as for that time. But Gunnar and Hergney are both laid in fetters. Then spake King Ottley with Gunnar the king, and bade him tell out concerning the gold and where it was, if he would have his life. But he answered, Nay, first will I behold the bloody heart of Hergney, my brother. So now they caught hold of the thrall again, and cut the heart from out of him, and bore it unto King Gunnar. And he said, The faint heart of the Ottley may ye here behold, little like the proud heart of Hergney, for as much as it trembleth now, more by the half it trembled when as it lay in the breast of him. So now they fell on Hergney, even as Ottley urged them, and cut the heart from out of him. But such was the might of his manhood that he'd laughed while he abode that torment, and all wondered at his worth, and in perpetual memory is it held sevens. Then they showed it to Gunnar, and he said, The mighty heart of Hergney, little like the faint heart of the Ottley, for little as it trembleth now, less it trembled when as in his breast it lay. But now, O Ottley, even as we die, so shall thou die. And lo, I alone what where the gold is, nor shall Hergney be to tell thereof now. To and fro played the matter in my mind whilst we both lived, but now have I myself determined for myself, and the Rhine river shall rule over the gold, rather than that the Huns shall bear it on the hands of them. Then said King Ottley, have away the bondsmen. And so they did. But Gudrun called to her men, and came to Ottley, and said, May it fare ill with thee, now and from henceforth, even as thou hast ill held to thy word with me. So Gunnar was cast into a worm-close, and many worms abode him there, and his hands were fast bound. But Gudrun sent him a harp, and in such wise did he set forth his craft that wisely he smote the harp, smiting it with his toes. And so excellently well he played that few deemed they had heard such playing, even when the hand had done it. And with such might and power he played that all the worms fell asleep in the end, save one adder only, great and evil of aspect that crept unto him, and thrust its sting into him until it smote his heart. And in such wise, with great hardyhood, he ended his life-days. CHAPTER 39 Now thought Ottley the king that he had gained a mighty victory, and spake to Gudrun even as mocking her greatly, whereas making himself great before her. Gudrun, saith he, thus hast thou lost thy brethren, and thy very self hast brought it about. She answers, In good-liking livest thou, whereas thou thrustest these slayings before me, but may happen thou wilt rue it when thou hast tried what is to come hereafter, and of all I have the longest lift matter shall be the memory of thy cruel heart, nor shall it go well with thee whilst I live. He answered and said, Let there be peace betwixt us. I will atone for thy brethren with gold and dear-bought things, even as thy heart may wish. She answers, Hard for a long while have I been in our dealings together. And now I say that while Hugney was yet alive, thou mightest have brought it to pass, but now mayest thou never atone for my brethren in my heart. Yet oft must we women be overborn by the might of you men, and now are all my kindred dead and gone, and thou alone art left to rule over me. Wherefore now this is my counsel, that we make a great feast wherein I will hold the funeral of my brother and of thy kindred with all. In such wise did she make herself soft and kind in words, though far other things forsooth lay there under. But he hearkened to her gladly and trusted in her words, whereas she made herself sweet of speech. So Gudrun held the funeral feast for her brethren, and King Atley for his men, and exceeding proud and great was this feast. But Gudrun forgot not her woe, but brooded over it. How she might work some mighty shame against the King. And at nightfall she took to her the sons of King Atley and her as they played about the floor. The younglings waxed heavy of cheer, and asked what she would with them. "'Ask me not,' she said, "'ye shall die, the twain of you.' Then they answered, "'Thou mayest do with thy children even as thou wilt, nor shall any hinder thee, but shame there is to thee in the doing of this deed.' Yet for all that she cut the throats of them. Then the King asked where his sons were. And Gudrun answered, "'I will tell thee, and gladden thine heart by the telling. Lo now, thou didst make a great woe spring up from me in the slaying of my brethren. Now hearken and hear my reed and my deed. Thou hast lost thy sons, and their heads are become beakers on the board here. And thou thyself hast drunken the blood of them blended with wine. And their hearts I took and roasted them on a spit, and thou hast eaten thereof.' King Atley answered, "'Grimmarth thou, in that thou hast murdered thy sons, and given me their flesh to eat, and little space passes betwixt ill deed of thine, and ill deed.' Gudrun said, "'My heart is set on the doing to thee of as great shame as may be. Never shall the measure of ill be full to such a King as thou art.' The King said, "'Worcer deeds hast thou done than men have to tell of. And great unwisdom is there in such fearful reeds. Most meet art thou to be burned on bale when thou hast first been smitten to death with stones. For in such wise wits thou have what thou hast gone a weary way to seek.' She answered, "'Thine own death thou foretellest. But another death is fated for me.' And many other words they spake in their wrath. Now Hrgni had a son left alive, Hyte Niflung. And great wrath of heart he bear against King Atley. And he did Gudrun to wit that he would avenge his father. And she took his words well. And they fell to counsel together thereover. And she said it would be great good hap if it might be brought about. So on a night when the King had drunken he got him to bed. And when he was laid asleep, thither to him came Gudrun and the son of Hrgni. Gudrun took a sword and thrust it through the breast of King Atley. And they both of them set their hands to the deed, both she and the son of Hrgni. Then Atley the King awoke with the wound and cried out, "'No need of binding or solving here! Who art thou who has done the deed?' Gudrun says, "'Somewhat have I Gudrun wrought therein, and somewhat with all the son of Hrgni.' Atley said, "'Yeah, let beseem to thee to do this, though somewhat of wrong was between us. For thou wert wedded to me by the reed of thy kin, and dower paid I for thee. Yay! Thirty goodly knights, and seemly maidens, and many men besides. And yet were thou not content, but if thou shouldest rule over the lands King Boothly owned, and thy mother-in-law full off'd, thou letst sit a weeping.' Gudrun said, Many false words hast thou spoken, and if not I account them. Often deed was I fell of mood, but much did's thou add thereto. Full often this thy house did phrase befall, and kin fought kin, and friend fought friend, and made themselves big one against the other. Better days had I, when as I abode with Sigurd, when we slew kings, and took their wealth to us, but gave peace to whom so would, and the great men laid themselves under our hands, and might we gave to him of them who would have it. Then I lost him. And a little thing was it that I should bear a widow's name, but the greatest of griefs that I should come to thee. I who had a foretime the noblest of all kings, while for thee thou never barest out of the battle ought but the worser lot. King Otley answered, Not true are thy words, nor will this our speech better the lot of either of us, for all is fallen now to naught. But now do to me in seemly wise, and array my dead corpse in noble fashion. Ye that will I, she says, and let make for thee a goodly grave, and build for thee a worthy abiding place of stone, and wrap thee in fair linen, and care for all that needful is. So therewithal he died, and she did according to her word, and then they cast fire into the hall. And when the folk and men of estate awoke amid that dread and trouble, not would they abide the fire, but smote each the other down and died in such wise. So there Otley the king, at all his folk, ended their life-days. But Gudrun had no will to live longer after this deed so wrought. But nevertheless her ending day was not yet come upon her. Now the Volzungs and the Kyukings, as folk tell and tale, have been the greatest-hearted and the mightiest of all men, as ye may well behold written in the songs of old time. But now, with the tidings just told, were these troubles stayed. CHAPTER 40 Gudrun had a daughter by Sigurd, height Svanhild. She was the fairest of all women, eager-eyed as her father, so that few durst look under the brows of her. And as far did she excel other womankind as the sun excels the other lights of heaven. But on a day when Gudrun downed to the sea, and caught up stones in her arms and went out into the sea, for she had will to end her life. But mighty bellows drave her forth along the sea, and by means of their upholding was she born along till she came at the last to the berg of King Yonaker, a mighty king, and lord of many folk. And he took Gudrun to wife. And their children were Hamdir, and Sirli, and Erp. And there was Svanhild nourished with all. CHAPTER 41 Jermynrek was the name of a mighty king of those days, and his son was called Rondvair. Now this king called his son to talk with him, and said, Thou shalt fare on an errand of mine, to King Yonaker, with my counselor, Bicky. For with King Yonaker is nourished Svanhild, the daughter of Sigurth Fafnir's bane, and I know for sure that she is the fairest maid dwelling under the sun of this world. Her, above all others, would I have to my wife, and thou shalt go woo her for me. Rondvair answered, Meet, and write, fair lord, that I should go on thine errands. So the king set forth this journey in seemly wise, and they fare till they come to King Yonaker's abode, and behold Svanhild, and have many thoughts concerning the treasure of her goodliness. But on a day Rondvair called the king to talk with him, and said, Jermynrek the king would feign be thy brother-in-law, and he has heard tell of Svanhild, and his desire it is to have her to wife, nor may it be shown that she may be given to any mightier man than he is one. The king says, This is an alliance of great honour, for a man of fame he is. Gudrun says, A wavering trust, the trust in luck, that it change not. And because of the king's furthering, and all the matters that went herewith, is the wooing accomplished, and Svanhild went to the ship with a goodly company, and sat in the stern beside the king's son. Then spake Bikki to Rondvair. How good and right it were, if thou thyself had to wife so lovely a woman, rather than the old man there! Gudrun seemed that word to the heart of the king's son, and he spake to her with sweet words, and she to him and likewise. So they came a land, and go unto the king, and Bikki said unto him, Meet and write it is, Lord, that thou shalt know what is befallen, though hard it be to tell of, for the tale must be concerning thy beguiling, whereas thy son has gotten to him the full love of Svanhild, nor is she other than his harlot. But thou, let not the deed be unevenged! Now many an ill-read had he given the king or this, but of all his ill-reads did this sting home the most. And still would the king hearken to all his evil reads. Wherefore he, who might know wise still the wrath within him, tried out that Randver should be taken and tied up to the gallows tree. And as he was led to the gallows he took his hawk, and plucked the feathers from off it, and Bade show it to his father. And when the king saw it, then he said, Now may folk behold that he deemeth my honour to be gone away from me, even as the feathers of this hawk! Therewith he Bade delivered him from the gallows. But in that while had Bicky wrought his will, and Randver was dead slain. And moreover Bicky spake, Against none hast thou more wrongs to avenge thee of than against Svanhild. Let her die a shameful death! Yay! said the king. We will do after thy counsel. So she was bound in the gate of the burg, and horses were driven at her to tread her down. But when she opened her eyes wide, then the horses durst not trample her. So when Bicky beheld that, he Bade draw a bag over the head of her. And they did so. And therewith she lost her life. CHAPTER 42 Now Guthrun heard of the slaying of Svanhild, and spake to her sons. Why sit ye here in peace amid merry words? Whereas Jörmán Rekkath slain your sister, and trodden her under foot of horses, in shameful whys? No heart ye have in you, like to Gunnar or Hrgni, verily they would have avenged their kin's woman. Hamther answered. Little didst thou praise Gunnar and Hrgni, whereas they slew Siggeth, and thou wert reddened in the blood of him. And ill were thy brethren avenged by the slaying of thine own sons. Yet not so ill a deed were it for us to slay King Jörmán Rekk, and so hard thou pushest us on to this that we may not abide thy hard words. Guthrun went about laughing now, and gave them to drink from mighty beakers, and thereafter she got for them great burnies and good, and all other weed of war. Then spake Hamther. Lo now, this is our last parting, for thou shalt hear tidings of us, and drink one grave ale over us and over Svánhild. So therewith they went their ways. But Guthrun went under her bower, with hearts swollen with sorrow, and spake. The three men was I wedded, and first to Siggeth Fafnir's bane, and he was berayed and slain, and of all griefs was that the greatest grief. Then was I given to King Otley, and so fell was my heart toward him that I slew in the fury of my grief his children and mine. Then gave I myself to the sea, but the billows thereof cast me out of land, and to this king then was I given. Then gave I Svánhild away out of the land with mighty wealth and low. My next greatest sorrow after Siggeth, for under horse's feet was she trodden and slain, but the grimest and ugliest of woes was the casting of Gunnar into the worm-clothes, and the hardest was the cutting of Herkney's heart from him. Ah, better would it be if Siggeth came to meet me, and I went my ways with him. For here Bideth now behind with me neither son nor daughter to comfort me. O mindest thou not, Siggeth, the words we spoke when we went into one bed together, that thou wouldst come and look on me, yay, even from thine abiding place among the dead? And thus had the words of her sorrow an end. CHAPTER 43 Now telleth the tale concerning the sons of Gudrun that she had arrayed their war-raiment in such wise that no steel would bite thereon, and she bade them play not with stones or other heavy matters, for that it would be to their skave if they did so. And now, as they went on their way, they met Erp, their brother, and asked him in what wise he would help them. He answered, Even his hand helps hand, or foot helps foot. But that they deemed not at all, and slew him there and then. Then they went their ways. Nor was it long or ever Hamdir stumbled, and thrust down his hand to steady himself, and spake therewith. Not but a true thing, spake Erp, for now should I have fallen had not hand been to steady me. A little after, surly stumbled, but turned about on his feet and so stood, and spake, Yay! Now had I fallen, but that I steadied myself with both feet! And they said they had done evilly with Erp, their brother. But on they fear till they come to the abode of King Yarmulrach, and they went up to him, and set on him forthwith. And Hamdir cut both hands from him, and surly both feet. Then spake Hamdir, Off with the head if Erp were alive, our brother whom we slew on the way, and found out our deed too late. Even as the song says, Off with the head if Erp were alive yet, our brother the bold whom we slew by the way, the well famed in warfare. Now in this must they turn away from the words of their mother, whereas they had to deal with stones. For now men fell on them, and they defended themselves in good and manly wise, and were the scathe of many a man, nor would iron bite on them. But there came there too a certain man, old of aspect, and one-eyed, and he spake. No wise men are ye, whereas ye cannot bring these men to their end. Then the king said, Give us a reed there too, if thou canst. He said, Ther skuluth ber yath thou grotty e hail. Smite them to the death with stones. In such wise was it done. For the stones flew thick and fast from every side, and that was the end of their life-days, and now has come to an end the whole root and stem of the kukings. Now may all earls be bettered in mind. May the grief of all maidens ever be diminished. For this tale of trouble so told to its ending. Ullum urlum, othal batni, snotrum urlum, sorg at minni, at theta tregrof of talet vairi. End of section 12 End of Volsunga saga by Anonymous Translated by Erikan Magnusson and William Morris