Though plainly the product of a later age (twelfth century?) than even the preceding poems—as is evidenced by a number of legendary traits which have no parallel elsewhere and must be of the poet’s invention, and also by the minor key of a postheroic age—and though by no means among the best lays of the Edda, this poem accomplishes what is manifestly the aim of the preceding lays: the winning of our sympathy for Brynhild. Indeed, it may be styled a biographic justification, in an elegiac strain, against the accusations of the giantess, who represents a hostile world: there has been nothing in her life but woe. After an idyllic and harmless youth at Heimir’s court she unwittingly offends Óthin by aiding a young hero she loves against an old suitor; the youth is slain (no doubt—by Óthin’s spear?), and she is doomed to sleep behind the wall of flame until awakened by Sigurth. But here too she is cruelly betrayed and by a remorseless fate compelled to seek the death of the very hero she loves best. To her, it has been a world full of sorrow; but in a future and better life, Sigurth and she shall live together forever—clearly a Christian thought, foisted on an archheathen theme!1
The poem is not used in the paraphrase in the Vǫlsunga saga; but is (with one slight omission) cited in full in the Nornagests þáttr.
After the death of Brynhild two funeral piles were made, one for Sigurth, and that one was kindled first; but on the other, Brynhild was burned, and she was laid in a wain which was lined with cloth of gold.2 It is said that Brynhild rode in this wain on her way to Hel. She came to a dwelling place where lived a giantess.
(The giantess said:)
1. “Thy wain halt there! Thy way lies not through
my homestead, standing on stones upraised.3
’Twere better for thee in thy bower to weave,
than in Hel to hanker after Guthrún’s husband.
2. “Why would’st, wayward Welsh4 fair woman,
e’er drift into my lowly dwelling?
From thy hands hast thou, highborn lady,
washed the blood of warriors many.”
3. “Upbraid me not, thou bride of thurses,
that in many frays I fought with heroes;5
of us both, I ween, the better am I:
uncouth to mankind thy kin is ever.”
(The giantess said:)
4. “And thou, Brynhild, Buthli’s daughter,
to most woe wast thou of all women born:
to Gjúki’s offspring but ill thou broughtest,
and low didst lay their lordly house.”6
(Brynhild said:)
5. “As the wiser one from my wain I shall
tell thee, witless woman, if to wit thee list,
how Gunnar’s lies my love did steal,
how the false one’s guile faithless made me.
6. “(Was I nursed and raised in noble king’s hall,
beloved by most of lieges and thanes.)7
But in Hlymdale court was I hight ever
Hild8 beneath Helm by whoever knew me.
7. “The fearless king9 our feather coats took—10
eight sisters we— an oak beneath.
Was I winters twelve, if to wit thee list,
when to Agnar I dear oaths did swear.
8. “To Hel I sent Hjalmgunnar old,11
the Gothic12 king, all gashed with wounds,
but bestowed victory on stouthearted Agnar;
then Óthin wreaked his wrath on me.
9. “With shields he screened me in Skatalund;13
a ring he raised of red ones and white ones.14
and bade my sleep be sundered by him
who naught would fear, nor be faint of heart;
10. “Made the waster-of-wood,15 as the welkin high,
burn all about my bower to southward;
bade him only over it ride
who would fetch me the gold on which Fáfnir lay.
11. “The giver-of-gold16 rode Grani then
where my foster father his folk-land ruled;
did Sigurth seem, the sea king of Danes,17
among weapon-wielders worthiest of all.
12. “’Neath linen we twain did lie together,
as though born we were brother and sister:
in nights full eight neither of us
his hands did lay in love on the other.
13. “Yet Guthrún said, Gjúki’s daughter,
that I had slept in Sigurth’s arms;
then grew I aware, as I would not, rather,
how they beguiled me Gunnar to wed.
14. “Women and men to the world are born,
their lives to live in longing and sorrow;
our lives we should not have lived apart,18
Sigurth and I— sink now,19 thurs-bride!”