3-3“The Lay of Volund” Stanza 20–43

Volund Escapes into the Sky

What came of Volund's revenge?

While Volund was making treasures for the king, the king's sons came to visit. Gold and jewels in a chest caught their eyes. Volund invited them to return the next day without telling anyone. When they came back, he killed them.

He covered the sons' skulls in silver, made them into cups, and sent them to the king. He sent jewels made from their eyes to the queen. Ornaments made from their teeth went to the king's daughter, Bodvild.

The princess came to him with a broken ring and asked him to mend it. Volund gave her ale, and she fell asleep where she sat. Later, he rose into the sky, laughing. He told the king that he had killed his sons. He also revealed that the princess was carrying his child.

The king lamented that no one could shoot Volund down from high among the clouds. Volund flew away. When her father questioned her, the princess said that she had been powerless to resist.

Illustration of Volund Escapes into the Sky