The Story of the Volsungs and Niblungs. The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.
The Story of the Volsungs and Niblungs
XXVIII. How the Queens Held Angry Converse Together at the Bathing
ON a day as the Queens went to the river to bathe them, Brynhild waded the farthest out into the river; then asked Gudrun what that deed might signify.
Brynhild said, “Yea, and why then should I be equal to thee in this matter more than in others? I am minded to think that my father is mightier than thine, and my true-love has wrought many wondrous works of fame, and hath ridden the flaming fire withal, while thy husband was but the thrall of King Hjalprek.”
Gudrun answered full of wrath, “Thou wouldst be wise if thou shouldst hold thy peace rather than revile my husband: lo now, the talk of all men it is, that none has ever abode in this world like unto him in all matters soever; and little it beseems thee of all folk to mock him who was thy first beloved: and Fafnir he slew, yea, and he rode thy flaming fire, whereas thou didst deem that he was Gunnar the King, and by thy side he lay, and took from thine hand the ring Andvari’s-loom;—here mayst thou well behold it!”
“Ah, yea!” said Sigurd, “and where in all the world was she then, when she said that she deemed she had the noblest of all men, and the dearest to her heart of all?”
Brynhild answers, “Ask such things only as are good for thee to know—matters meet for mighty dames. Good to love good things when all goes according to thy heart’s desire!”
Gudrun says, “Early days for me to glory in that; but this word of thine looketh toward some foreseeing. What ill dost thou thrust at us? I did naught to grieve thee.”
Brynhild answers, “For this shalt thou pay, in that thou hast got Sigurd to thee,—nowise can I see thee living in the bliss thereof, whereas thou hast him, and the wealth and the might of him.”
But Gudrun answered, “Naught knew I of your words and vows together; and well might my father look to the mating of me without dealing with thee first.”
“No secret speech had we,” quoth Brynhild, “though we swore oath together; and full well didst thou know that thou wentest about to beguile me; verily thou shalt have thy reward!”
“Ah,” says Brynhild, “she is the beginning of all this bale that biteth so; an evil drink she bare to Sigurd, so that he had no more memory of my very name.”
Brynhild answered, “Have thou joy of Sigurd according to the measure of the wiles wherewith ye have beguiled me! unworthily have ye conspired against me; may all things go with you as my heart hopes!”
Gudrun says, “More joy shall I have of him than thy wish would give unto me: but to no man’s mind it came, that he had aforetime his pleasure of me; nay not once.”
“Evil speech thou speakest,” says Brynhild; “when thy wrath runs off thou wilt rue it; but come now, let us no more cast angry words one at the other!”
Says Gudrun, “Thou wert the first to cast such words at me, and now thou makest as if thou wouldst amend it, but a cruel and hard heart abides behind.”
“Let us lay aside vain babble,” says Brynhild. “Long did I hold my peace concerning my sorrow of heart, and, lo now, thy brother alone do I love; let us fall to other talk.” Gudrun said, “Far beyond all this doth thine heart look.”
