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Now when he was fully come to man s estate, Hrimnir the
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The Volsunga Saga
CHAPTER III folk say that, whenas men sat by the fires in the evening, a
certain man came into the hall unknown of aspect to all men;
Of the Sword that Sigmund, Volsung s son, and suchlike array he had, that over him was a spotted cloak,
drew from the Branstock and he was bare-foot, and had linen-breeches knit tight even
unto the bone, and he had a sword in his hand as he went up
HERE WAS A KING called Siggeir, who ruled over to the Branstock, and a slouched hat upon his head: huge he
Gothland, a mighty king and of many folk; he was, and seeming-ancient, and one-eyed. (2) So he drew his
Twent to meet Volsung, the king, and prayed him sword and smote it into the tree-trunk so that it sank in up to
for Signy his daughter to wife; and the king took his talk the hilts; and all held back from greeting the man. Then he
well, and his sons withal, but she was loth thereto, yet she took up the word, and said
bade her father rule in this as in all other things that con- Whoso draweth this sword from this stock, shall have the
cerned her, so the king took such rede (1) that he gave her to same as a gift from me, and shall find in good sooth that
him, and she was betrothed to King Siggeir; and for the fulfill- never bare he better sword in hand than is this.
ing of the feast and the wedding, was King Siggeir to come to Therewith out went the old man from the hall, and none
the house of King Volsung. The king got ready the feast ac- knew who he was or whither he went.
cording to his best might, and when all things were ready, came Now men stand up, and none would fain be the last to lay
the king s guests and King Siggeir withal at the day appointed, hand to the sword, for they deemed that he would have the
and many a man of great account had Siggeir with him. best of it who might first touch it; so all the noblest went
The tale tells that great fires were made endlong the hall, thereto first, and then the others, one after other; but none
and the great tree aforesaid stood midmost thereof, withal
(2) The man is Odin, who is always so represented, because
he gave his eye as a pledge for a draught from the fountain of
(1) Rede (A.S. raed), counsel, advice, a tale or prophecy.
Mimir, the source of all wisdom.
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The Volsunga Saga
who came thereto might avail to pull it out, for in nowise CHAPTER IV
would it come away howsoever they tugged at it; but now up
comes Sigmund, King Volsung s son, and sets hand to the How King Siggeir wedded Signy, and bade
sword, and pulls it from the stock, even as if it lay loose be- King Volsung and his son to Gothland
fore him; so good that weapon seemed to all, that none
thought he had seen such a sword before, and Siggeir would OW IT IS TO BE TOLD that Siggeir goes to bed by
fain buy it of him at thrice its weight of gold, but Sigmund Signy that night, and the next morning the
said Nweather was fair; then says King Siggeir that he
Thou mightest have taken the sword no less than I from will not bide, lest the wind should wax, or the sea grow im-
there whereas it stood, if it had been thy lot to bear it; but passable; nor is it said that Volsung or his sons letted him herein,
now, since it has first of all fallen into my hand, never shalt and that the less, because they saw that he was fain to get him
thou have it, though thou biddest therefor all the gold thou gone from the feast. But now says Signy to her father
hast. I have no will to go away with Seggeir, neither does my
King Siggeir grew wroth at these words, and deemed heart smile upon him, and I wot, by my fore-knowledge, and
Sigmund had answered him scornfully, but whereas was a from the fetch (1) of our kin, that from this counsel will
wary man and a double-dealing, he made as if he heeded this great evil fall on us if this wedding be not speedily undone.
matter in nowise, yet that same evening he thought how he Speak in no such wise, daughter! said he, for great shame
might reward it, as was well seen afterwards. will it be to him, yea, and to us also, to break troth with him,
he being sackless; (2) and in naught may we trust him, and
no friendship shall we have of him, if these matters are bro-
(1) Fetch; wraith, or familiar spirit.
(2) Sackless (A.S. sacu , Icel. sok .) blameless.
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The Volsunga Saga
ken off; but he will pay us back in as evil wise as he may; for CHAPTER V
that alone is seemly, to hold truly to troth given.
So King Siggeir got ready for home, and before he went Of the Slaying of King Volsung
from the feast he bade King Volsung, his father-in-las, come
see him in Gothland, and all his sons with him whenas three OW TELLS THE TALE of King Volsung and his sons
months should be overpast, and to bring such following with that they go at the time appointed to Gothland
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