Part 29 (1/1)

There the king, the wise-hearted, Swept his harp-strings, For the might king Had ever mind That I to his helping Soon should come.

”But now was I gone Yet once again Unto Geirmund, Good feast to make; Yet had I hearing, E'en out from Hlesey, How of sore trouble The harp-strings sang.

”So I bade the bondmaids Be ready swiftly, For I listed to save The life of the king, And we let our s.h.i.+p Swim over the sound, Till Atli's dwelling We saw all clearly.

Then came the wretch (1) Crawling out, E'en Atli's mother, All sorrow upon her!

A grave gat her sting In the heart of Gunnar, So that no helping Was left for my hero.

”O gold-clad woman, Full oft I wonder How I my life Still hold thereafter, For methought I loved That light in battle, The swift with the sword, As my very self.

”Thou hast sat and hearkened As I have told thee Of many an ill-fate, Mine and theirs-- Each man liveth E'en as he may live-- Now hath gone forth The greeting of Oddrun.”

ENDNOTES: (1) Atli's mother took the form of the only adder that was not lulled to sleep by Gunnar's harp-playing, and who slew him.