The Elder Eddas of Saemund Sigfusson; and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson
Sigurd clove in two Regin's anvil. After that Regin instigated Sigurd
to slay Fafnir. He said:
15. Loud will laugh Hunding's sons, they who Eylimi of life
deprived, if the prince is more desirous to seek red rings, than to
avenge his father.
King Hialprek collected a fleet to enable Sigurd to avenge his father.
They encountered a great storm, and were driven past a certain
promontory. A man was standing on the cliff who said:
16. Who ride yonder, on Rævils horses, the towering billows, the
roaring main: the sail-steeds are with sweat bedewed, the
wave-coursers will not the wind withstand.
_Regin_.
17. Here am I and Sigurd in sea-trees; a fair wind is given us for
death itself: higher than our prows the steep waves dash, the rolling
horses plunge. Who is it that inquires?
_Hnikar_.
18. They called me Hnikar, when I Hugin gladdened, young Volsung!
and battles fought. Now they mayest call me the ancient of the rock,
Feng, or Fiolnir.--I desire a passage.
They turn to the land, the old man goes on board, and the storm
abates. Sigurd said:
19. Tell me, Hnikar! since thou knowest the omens both of gods and
men, which omens are the best--if to fight 'tis needful--at the swing
of glaves?
_Hnikar_.
20. Good omens there are many, if men but knew them, at the swing of
glaves, a faithful fellowship, I think, is the dark raven's, with the
sworded warrior.
21. The second is, if, when thou art gone out, and about to depart,
thou seest two renown-seeking men standing in the fore-court.
22. The third omen is, if wolves thou hearest howl under the
ash-boughs, it will victory to thee announce over helmed warriors, if
thou seest them go before thee.
23. No man should fight against the moon's late-shining sister. They
have victory, who can see keenly at the play of swords, or to form the
wedge-array.
24. Most perilous it is, if with thy foot thou strikest, when thou
to battle goest. Wily Disir stand on either side of thee, and wish to
see thee wounded.
25. Combed and washed let every brave man be, and at morning fed;
for 'tis uncertain whither he at eve may come. 'Tis bad to succumb to
fate.
Sigurd fought a great battle with Lyngvi, Hunding's son, and his
brothers, in which Lyngvi and his three brothers fell. After the
battle Regin said:
26. Now is the bloody eagle, with the trenchant blade, graven on the
back of Sigmund's slayer. No son of king, who the earth reddens, and
the raven gladdens, is more excellent.
Sigurd returned home to Hialprek, when Regin instigated him to slay
Fafnir.
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 59: One of many periphrases for gold.]
[Footnote 60: To wit, _to avenge my death on your brothers_.]
[Footnote 61: Sigurd.]
[Footnote 62: A terrific helm or headpiece.]
THE LAY OF FAFNIR.
Sigurd and Regin went up to Gnitaheid, and there found Fafnir's slot,
or track, along which he crawled to the water. There on the way Sigurd
made a large pit, and went down into it. When Fafnir crawled from the
gold he blew forth venom, but it flew over Sigurd's head. When Fafnir
crept over the pit, Sigurd with his sword pierced him to the heart.
Fafnir shook himself, and beat with his head and tail. Sigurd leapt
from the pit, and each looked at the other. Fafnir said:
1. Young fellow! young fellow! by what fellow art thou begot? of
what people are thou the son? that thou in Fafnir reddenst thy
glittering falchion? Thy sword has pierced my heart.
Sigurd concealed his name, because it was the belief in those times,
that the words of dying persons were of great power, if they cursed an
enemy by his name.
_Sigurd_.
2. Gofugt-dyr I am called, but I have wandered a motherless child;
nor have I a father like the sons of men: alone I wander.
_Fafnir_.
3. If thou hast no father like the sons of men, by what wonder art
thou begotten?
_Sigurd_.
4. My race, I tell thee, is to thee unknown, and myself also.
Sigmund was my father named, my name is Sigurd, who with weapon have
assailed thee.
_Fafnir_.
5. Who has incited thee? why hast thou suffered thyself to be
incited to take my life? youth of the sparkling eyes! Thou hadst a
cruel father-- * * * *
_Sigurd_.
6. My heart incited me, my hands gave me aid, and my keen sword.
Rarely a man is bold, when of mature age, if in childhood he was
faint-hearted.
_Fafnir_.
7. I know if thou hadst chanced to grow in the lap of friends, they
would have seen thee fierce in fight. Now thou art a captive, taken in
war, and, 'tis said, slaves ever tremble.
_Sigurd_.
8. Why Fafnir! dost thou upbraid me that I am far from my paternal
home? I am not a captive, although in war I was taken: thou hast found
that I am free.
_Fafnir_.
9. Thou wilt account only as angry words all I to thee shall say,
but I will say the truth. The jingling gold, and the gleed-red
treasure, those rings, shall be thy bane.
_Sigurd_.
10. Treasure at command every one desires, ever till that one day;
for at some time each mortal shall hence to Hel depart.
_Fafnir_.
11. The Norns' decree thou wilt hold in contempt as from a witless
wight: In water thou shalt be drowned, if in wind thou rowest. All
things bring peril to the fated.
_Sigurd_.
12. Tell me, Fafnir! as thou art wise declared, and many things to
know: who those Norns are, who help in need, and from babes loose the
mothers.
_Fafnir_.
13. Very diversely born I take those Norns to be: they have no
common race. Some are of Æsir-race, some of Alfar-race, some are
Dvalin's daughters.
_Sigurd_.
14. Tell me, Fafnir! as thou art wise declared, and many things to
know, how that holm is called, where Surt and the Æsir will
sword-liquor together mingle?
_Fafnir_.
15. Oskopnir it is called; there shall the gods with lances play;
Bifrost shall be broken, when they go forth, and their steeds in the
river swim.
16. An Oegis-helm I bore among the sons of men, while I o'er the
treasures lay; stronger than all I thought myself to be; stronger I
found not many!
_Sigurd_.
17. An Oegis-helm is no protection, where men impelled by anger
fight: soon he finds, who among many comes, that no one is alone the
boldest.
_Fafnir_.
18. Venom I blew forth, when on my father's great heritage I lay.
_Sigurd_.
19. Thou, glistening serpent! didst a great belching make, and wast
so hard of heart. Fierceness so much the greater have the sons of men,
when they possess that helm.
_Fafnir_.
20. Sigurd! I now counsel thee, do thou take my counsel; and hence
ride home. The jingling gold, and the gleed-red treasure, those rings,
shall be thy bane.
_Sigurd_.
21. Counsel regarding thee is taken, and I to the gold will ride, on
the heath that lies. But lie thou, Fafnir! in the pangs of death,
until Hel have thee!
_Fafnir_.
22. Regin betrayed me, he will thee betray, he of us both will be
the bane. Fafnir must, I trow, let forth his life: thine was the
greater might!
Regin had gone away while Sigurd slew Fafnir, but came back as Sigurd
was wiping the blood from his sword. He said:
23. Hail to thee now, Sigurd! Now hast thou victory won and Fafnir
slain: of all the men who tread the earth, thou art, I say, the
bravest born.
_Sigurd_.
24. Uncertain 'tis to know, when we all come together, sons of
victorious heroes, which is the bravest born. Many a one is bold, who
sword has never broken in another's breast.
_Regin_.
25. Glad are thou now, Sigurd! and in thy gain rejoicing, while
Gram, in the grass thou driest. My brother thou to death hast wounded,
yet in some degree was I the cause.
_Sigurd_.
26. Thou didst me counsel, that I should ride o'er high fells
hither. Treasure and life had still possess'd that glistening serpent,
hadst thou my anger not excited.
Regin then approached Fafnir and cut out his heart with a sword named
Ridill, and afterwards drank blood from his wound. He said:
27. Sit now, Sigurd!--but I must go to sleep--and Fafnir's heart
hold to the fire. Of this refection I would fain partake, after that
drink of blood.
_Sigurd_.
28. Thou wentst far off, while I in Fafnir my keen sword reddened.
With my strength I strove against the serpent's might, while in the
ling thou layest.
_Regin_.
29. Long hadst thou allowed in the ling to lie that Jotun old, hadst
thou the sword not used that I forged for thee, thy keen-edged glave.
_Sigurd_.
30. Valour is better than might of sword, when foes embittered
fight; for a brave man I have ever seen gain victory with a dull
sword.
31. For the brave 'tis better than for the timid to join in the game
of war; for the joyous it is better than for the sad, let come
whatever may.
Sigurd took Fafnir's heart and roasted it on a stick. When he thought
it roasted enough, and the blood frothed from it, he touched it with
his finger, to try whether it were quite done. He burnt his finger and
put it in his mouth; and when Fafnir's heart's blood touched his
tongue he understood the language of birds. He heard the eagles
chattering among the branches. One eagle said:
38. There sits Sigurd sprinkled with blood; Fafnir's heart at the
fire he roasts. Wise methinks were the ring-dispenser, if he the
glistening life-pulp ate.
_Second eagle_.
33. There lies Regin communing with himself; he will beguile the
youth, who in him trusts: in rage he brings malicious words together,
the framer of evil will avenge his brother.
_Third eagle_.
34. By the head shorter, let him the hoary babbler send hence to
Hel; then can he all the gold possess alone, the mass that under
Fafnir lay.
_Fourth eagle_.
35. He would, methinks, be prudent, if he could have your friendly
counsel, my sisters! If he would bethink himself, and Hugin gladden.
There I expect the wolf, where his ears I see.
_Fifth eagle_.
36. Not so prudent is that tree of battle, as I that martial leader
had supposed, if he one brother lets depart, now he the other has of
life bereft.
_Sixth eagle_.
37. He is most simple, if he longer spares that people's pest. There
lies Regin, who has betrayed him.--He cannot guard against it.
_Seventh eagle_.
38. By the head shorter let him make the ice-cold Jotun, and of his
rings deprive him; then of that treasure thou,[63] which Fafnir owned,
sole lord wilt be!
_Sigurd_.
39. Fate shall not so resistless be, that Regin shall my death-word
bear; for the brothers both shall speedily go hence to Hel.
Sigurd cut off the head of Regin, and then ate Fafnir's heart, and
drank the blood of both Regin and Fafnir. He then heard the eagles
saying:
40. Bind thou, Sigurd! the red-gold rings. It is not kingly many
things to fear. I a maid know by far the fairest, with gold adorned.
Couldst thou but her obtain!
_Second eagle_.
41. To Giuki lead all-verdant ways; the fates point out to
wayfarers where the good king a born daughter has; her wilt thou,
Sigurd! purchase with bridal gifts.
_Third eagle_.
42. There stands a hall on the high Hindarfiall, without 'tis all
with fire surrounded; sagacious men have it constructed of the
resplendent radiance of the flood.[64] _Fourth eagle_.
43. On the fell I know a warrior maid to sleep, over her waves the
linden's bane.[65] Ygg whilom stuck a sleep-thorn in the robe of the
maid who would heroes choose.
44. Thou, youth! mayest see the helmed maiden, her whom Vingskornir
from battle bore. May not Sigrdrifa's slumber break the son of
warriors,[66] against the Norns' decrees.
Sigurd rode along Fafnir's track to his lair, which he found open. The
doors and door-posts were of iron; of iron also were all the beams in
the house; but the treasure was buried in the earth. Sigurd found
there a great quantity of gold, and filled two chests with it. He took