Of Sigurd’s Meeting with Brynhild on the Mountain.

By long roads rides Sigurd, till he comes at the last up on to Hindfell, and wends his way south to the land of the Franks; and he sees before him on the fell a great light, as of fire burning, and flaming up even unto the heavens; and when he came thereto, lo, a shield hung castle before him, and a banner on the topmost thereof: into the castle went Sigurd, and saw one lying there asleep, and all-armed. Therewith he takes the helm from off the head of him, and sees that it is no man, but a woman; and she was clad in a byrny as closely set on her as though it had gown to her flesh; so he rent it from the collar downwards; and then the sleeves thereof, and ever the sword bit on it as if it were cloth. Then said Sigurd that over-long had she lain asleep; but she asked —

“What thing of great might is it that has prevailed to rend my byrny, and draw me from my sleep?”

Even as sings the song 39

“What bit on the byrny,

Why breaks my sleep away,

Who has turned from me

My wan tormenting?”

“Ah, is it so, that here is come Sigurd Sigmundson, bearing Fafnir’s helm on his head and Fafnir’s bane in his hand?”

Then answered Sigurd —

“Sigmund’s son

With Sigurd’s sword

E’en now rent down

The raven’s wall.”

“Of the Volsung’s kin is he who has done the deed; but now I have heard that thou art daughter of a mighty king, and folk have told us that thou wert lovely and full of lore, and now I will try the same.”

Then Brynhild sang —

“Long have I slept

And slumbered long,

Many and long are the woes of mankind,

By the might of Odin

Must I bide helpless

To shake from off me the spells of slumber.

“Hail to the day come back!

Hail, sons of the daylight!

Hail to thee, dark night, and thy daughter!

Look with kind eyes a-down,

On us sitting here lonely,

And give unto us the gain that we long for.

“Hail to the Aesir,

And the sweet Asyniur! 40

Hail to the fair earth fulfilled of plenty!

Fair words, wise hearts,

Would we win from you,

And healing hands while life we hold.”

Then Brynhild speaks again and says, “Two kings fought, one hight Helm Gunnar, an old man, and the greatest of warriors, and Odin had promised the victory unto him; but his foe was Agnar, or Audi’s brother, and so I smote down Helm Gunnar in the fight; and Odin, in vengeance for that deed, stuck the sleep-thorn into me, and said that I should never again have the victory, but should be given away in marriage; but there against I vowed a vow, that never would I wed one who knew the name of fear.”

Then said Sigurd, “Teach us the lore of mighty matters!”

She said, “Belike thou cannest more skill in all than I; yet will I teach thee; yea, and with thanks, if there be aught of my cunning that will in anywise pleasure thee, either of runes or of other matters that are the root of things; but now let us drink together, and may the Gods give to us twain a good day, that thou mayst win good help and fame from my wisdom, and that thou mayst hereafter mind thee of that which we twain speak together.”

Then Brynhild filled a beaker and bore it to Sigurd, and gave him the drink of love, and spake —

“Beer bring I to thee,

Fair fruit of the byrnies’ clash,

Mixed is it mightily,

Mingled with fame,

Brimming with bright lays

And pitiful runes,

Wise words, sweet words,

Speech of great game.

“Runes of war know thou,

If great thou wilt be!

Cut them on hilt of hardened sword,

Some on the brand’s back,

Some on its shining side,

Twice name Tyr therein.

“Sea-runes good at need............