3-13“The Lay of Fafnir” Stanza 1–22

Sigurd and the Dragon

What did the dragon say before he died?

Sigurd dug a pit in the path Fafnir took when he went to drink. There he waited for the dragon. Fafnir crawled off his gold, spewing poison. As he passed over the pit, Sigurd drove his sword up from below into the dragon's heart.

The wounded Fafnir thrashed about, lashing his head and tail. Sigurd leaped out of the pit. As he faced the dragon, Fafnir warned him that the gold and the ring would cost him his life. Even so, Sigurd still meant to take the gold.

Sigurd asked about the Norns who help children come into the world. The dragon answered that they did not all belong to the same family. Some were kin to the gods, and others were kin to the elves.

He also asked the name of the island where the gods would fight Surt. The answer was Oskopnir. As death drew near, Fafnir also warned Sigurd that Regin would betray him.

Illustration of Sigurd and the Dragon