《西格尔德短歌》的原典

Ár var, þats Sigurðr
sótti Gjúka,
Völsungr ungi,
er vegit hafði;
tók við tryggðum
tveggja bræðra,
seldusk eiða
eljunfræknir.

Mey buðu hánum
ok meiðma fjölð,
Guðrúnu ungu,
Gjúka dóttur;
drukku ok dæmðu
dægr margt saman
Sigurðr ungi
ok synir Gjúka.

Unz þeir Brynhildar
biðja fóru,
svá at þeim Sigurðr
reið í sinni
Völsungr ungi,
ok vega kunni;
hann of ætti,
ef hann eiga knætti.

Sigurðr inn suðræni
lagði sverð nökkvit,
mæki málfán,
á meðal þeirra;
né hann konu
kyssa gerði
né húnskr konungr
hefja sér at armi,
mey frumunga
fal hann megi Gjúka.

Hon sér at lífi
löst né vissi
ok at aldrlagi
ekki grand,
vamm þat er væri
eða vera hygði;
gengu þess á milli
grimmar urðir.

Ein sat hon úti
aftan dags,
nam hon svá margt
um at mælask:
"Hafa skal ek Sigurð,
- eða þó svelta, -
mög frumungan
mér á armi.

Orð mæltak nú,
iðrumk eftir þess:
kván er hans Guðrún,
en ek Gunnars;
ljótar nornir
skópu oss langa þrá."

Opt gengr hon innan
ills of fylld,
ísa ok jökla,
aftan hvern,
er þau Guðrún
ganga á beð
ok hana Sigurðr
sveipr í rifti,
konungr inn húnski
kván frjá sína.

"Vön geng ek vilja,
vers ok beggja,
verð ek mik gæla
af grimmum hug."

Nam af þeim heiftum
hvetjask at vígi:
"Þú skalt, Gunnarr,
gerst of láta
mínu landi
ok mér sjalfri;
mun ek una aldri
með öðlingi.

Mun ek aftr fara,
þars ek áðan vark
með nábornum
niðjum mínum;
þar mun ek sitja
ok sofa lífi,
nema þú Sigurð
svelta látir
ok jöfurr öðrum
æðri verðir.

Látum son fara
feðr í sinni,
skal-at ulf ala
ungan lengi.
Hveim verðr hölða
hefnd léttari
síðan til sátta,
at sonr lifi?"

Hryggr varð Gunnarr
ok hnipnaði,
sveip sínum hug,
sat of allan dag;
hann vissi þat
vilgi görla,
hvat hánum væri
vinna sæmst
eða hánum væri
vinna bezt,
alls sik Völsung
vissi firrðan
ok at Sigurð
söknuð mikinn.

Ýmist hann hugði
jafnlanga stund:
þat var eigi
afartítt,
at frá konungdóm
kvánir gengi.
Nam hann sér Högna
heita at rúnum,
þar átti hann
alls fulltrúa:

"Ein er mér Brynhildr
öllum betri,
of borin Buðla,
hon er bragr kvenna;
fyrr skal ek mínu
fjörvi láta
en þeirar meyjar
meiðmum týna.

Vildu okkr fylki
til fjár véla?
Gótt er at ráða
Rínar malmi
ok unandi
auði stýra
ok sitjandi
sælu njóta."

Einu því Högni
andsvör veitti:
"Samir eigi okkr
slíkt at vinna,
sverði rofna
svarna eiða,
eiða svarna,
unnar tryggðir.

Vitum-a vit á moldu
menn in sælli,
meðan fjórir vér
folki ráðum
ok sá inn húnski
her-Baldr lifir,
né in mætri
mægð á foldu,
ef vér fimm sonu
fæðum lengi,
áttumgóða
æxla knættim.

Ek veit görla,
hvaðan vegir standa:
eru Brynhildar
brek ofmikil."
Gunnarr kvað:

"Vit skulum Guthorm
gerva at vígi,
yngra bróður,
ofróðara;
hann var fyr útan
eiða svarna,
eiða svarna,
unnar tryggðir."

Dælt var at eggja
óbilgjarnan,
stóð til hjarta
hjörr Sigurði.

Réð til hefnda
hergjarn í sal
ok eftir varp
óbilgjörnum;
fló til Guthorms
Grams ramliga
kynbirt járn
ór konungs hendi.

Hné hans of dolgr
til hluta tveggja,
hendr ok höfuð
hné á annan veg,
en fóta hlutr
féll aftr í stað.

Sofnuð var Guðrún
í sæingu
sorgalaus
hjá Sigurði,
en hon vaknaði
vilja firrð,
er hon Freys vinar
flaut í dreyra.

Svá sló hon svárar
sínar hendr,
at rammhugaðr
reis upp við beð:
"Grát-a-ðu, Guðrún,
svá grimmliga,
brúðr frumunga,
þér bræðr lifa.

Á ek til ungan
erfinytja,
kann-at hann firrask
ór fjándgarði;
þeir sér hafa
svárt ok dátt
enn nær numit
nýlig ráð.

Ríðr-a þeim síðan,
þótt sjau alir,
systursonr
slíkr at þingi.
Ek veit görla,
hví gegnir nú:
ein veldr Brynhildr
öllu bölvi.

Mér unni mær
fyr mann hvern,
en við Gunnar
grand ekki vannk;
þyrmða ek sifjum,
svörnum eiðum,
síðr værak heitinn
hans kvánar vinr."

Kona varp öndu,
en konungr fjörvi,
svá sló hon svárar
sínar hendr,
at kváðu við
kálkar í vá
ok gullu við
gæss í túni.

Hló þá Brynhildr
Buðla dóttir
einu sinni
af öllum hug,
er hon til hvílu
heyra knátti
gjallan grát
Gjúka dóttur.

Hitt kvað þá Gunnarr
gramr haukstalda:
"Hlær-a þú af því,
heiftgjörn kona,
glöð á gólfi,
at þér góðs viti.
Hví hafnar þú
inum hvíta lit,
feikna fæðir?
Hygg ek, at feig séir.

Þú værir þess
verðust kvenna,
at fyr augum þér
Atla hjöggim,
sæir bræðr þínum
blóðugt sár,
undir dreyrgar
knættir yfir binda."
Brynhildr kvað:

"Frýr-a maðr þér engi,
hefir þú fullvegit;
lítt sésk Atli
ófu þína;
hann mun ykkar
önd síðari
ok æ bera
afl it meira.

Segja mun ek þér, Gunnarr,
- sjalfr veiztu görla, -
hvé er yðr snemma
til saka réðuð;
varð ek til ung
né ofþrungin,
fullgædd féi
á fleti bróður.

Né ek vilda þat,
at mik verr ætti,
áðr þér Gjúkungar
riðuð at garði,
þrír á hestum
þjóðkonungar,
en þeira för
þörfgi væri.

Þeim hétumk þá
þjóðkonungi,
er með gulli sat
á Grana bógum;
var-at hann í augu
yðr um líkr
né á engi hlut
at álitum,
þó þykkizk ér
þjóðkonungar.

Ok mér Atli þat
einni sagði,
at hvárki lézk
höfn of deila,
gull né jarðir,
nema ek gefask létak,
ok engi hlut
auðins féar,
þá er mér jóðungri
eigu seldi
ok mér jóðungri
aura talði.

Þá var á hvörfun
hugr minn um þat,
hvárt ek skylda vega
eða val fella
böll í brynju
um bróður sök;
þat myndi þá
þjóðkunnt vera
mörgum manni
at munar stríði.

Létum síga
sáttmál okkur
lék mér meir í mun
meiðmar þiggja,
bauga rauða
burar Sigmundar;
né ek annars manns
aura vildak.

Unnak einum
né ýmissum,
bjó-at of hverfan
hug men-Skögul;
allt mun þat Atli
eftir finna,
er hann mína spyrr
morðför görva,

at þeygi skal
þunngeð kona
annarrar ver
aldri leiða;
þá mun á hefndum
harma minna."

Upp reis Gunnarr
gramr verðungar,
ok um hals konu
hendr of lagði;
gengu allir
ok þó ýmissir
af heilum hug
hana at letja.

Hratt af halsi
hveim þar sér,
lét-a mann sik letja
langrar göngu.

Nam hann sér Högna
hvetja at rúnum:
"Seggi vil ek alla
í sal ganga
þína með mínum,
- nú er þörf mikil, -
vita, ef meini
morðför konu,
unz af méli
enn mein komi;
þá látum því
þarfar ráða."

Einu því Högni
andsvör veitti:
"Leti-a maðr hana
langrar göngu,
þars hon aftrborin
aldri verði;
hon kröng of komsk
fyr kné móður,
hon æ borin
óvilja til,
mörgum manni
at móðtrega."

Hvarf sér óhróðugr
andspilli frá,
þar er mörk menja
meiðmum deildi.

Leit hon of alla
eigu sína,
soltnar þýjar
ok salkonur;
gullbrynju smó,
- var-a gott í hug, -
áðr sik miðlaði
mækis eggjum.

Hné við bollstri
hon á annan veg
ok hjörunduð
hugði at ráðum:

"Nú skulu ganga,
þeir er gull vili
ok minni því
at mér þiggja;
ek gef hverri
of hróðit sigli,
bók ok blæju,
bjartar váðir."

Þögðu allir,
við því orði
ok allir senn
andsvör veittu:
"Ærnar soltnar,
munum enn lifa.
Verða salkonur
sæmð at vinna."

Unz af hyggjandi
hörskrýdd kona,
ung at aldri
orð viðr of kvað:
"Vilk-at ek mann trauðan
né torbænan
um óra sök
aldri týna.

Þó mun á beinum
brenna yðrum
færi eyrir,
þá er ér fram komið,
neitt Menju góð,
mín at vitja.

Sezktu niðr, Gunnarr,
mun ek segja þér
lífs örvæna
ljósa brúði;
mun-a yðvart far
allt í sundi,
þótt ek hafa
öndu látit.

Sátt munuð it Guðrún
snemr, en þú hyggir;
hefir kunn kona
við konungi
daprar minjar
at dauðan ver.

Þar er mær borin,
- móðir fæðir, -
sú mun hvítari
en inn heiði dagr
Svanhildr vera,
sólar geisla.

Gefa muntu Guðrúnu
góðra nökkurum
skeyti skæða
skatna mengi;
mun-at at vilja
versæl gefin;
hana mun Atli
eiga ganga,
of borinn Buðla,
bróðir minn.

Margs á ek minnask,
hvé við mik fóru,
þá er mik sára
svikna höfðuð,
vaðin at vilja
vark, meðan ek lifðak.

Muntu Oddrúnu
eiga vilja,
en þik Atli mun
eigi láta;
it munuð lúta
á laun saman,
hon mun þér unna
sem ek skyldak,
ef okkr góð of sköp
gerði verða.

Þik mun Atli
illu beita,
muntu í öngan
ormgarð lagiðr.

Þat mun ok verða
þvígit lengra,
at Atli mun
öndu týna,
sælu sinni,
ok sona lífi,
því at hánum Guðrún
grýmir á beð
snörpum eggjum
af sárum hug.

Sæmri væri Guðrún,
systir ykkur,
frumver sínum
at fylgja dauðum,
ef henni gæfi
góðra ráða
eða ætti hon hug
ossum líkan.

Ört mæli ek nú,
en hon eigi mun
of óra sök
aldri týna;
hana munu hefja
hávar bárur
til Jónakrs
óðaltorfu.

[Ala mun hún sér jóð,
erfivörðu ],
erfivörðu,
Jónakrs sonum;
mun hon Svanhildi
senda af landi,
sína mey
ok Sigurðar.

Hana munu bíta
Bikka ráð,
því at Jörmunrekkr
óþarft lifir;
þá er öll farin
ætt Sigurðar;
eru Guðrúnar
græti at fleiri.

Biðja mun ek þik
bænar einnar,
- sú mun í heimi
hinzt bæn vera -:
Láttu svá breiða
borg á velli,
at undir oss öllum
jafnrúmt séi,
þeim er sultu
með Sigurði.

Tjaldi þar um þá borg
tjöldum ok skjöldum,
valarift vel fáð
ok Vala mengi;
brenni mér inn húnska
á hlið aðra.

Brenni inum húnska
á hlið aðra
mína þjóna
menjum göfga:
tveir at höfðum
ok tveir haukar;
þá er öllu skipt
til jafnaðar.
68
Liggi okkar enn í milli
malmr hringvariðr,
egghvast járn,
sem endr lagit,
þá er vit bæði
beð einn stigum
ok hétum þá
hjóna nafni.
69
Hrynja hánum þá
á hæl þeygi
hlunnblik hallar
hringi litkuð,
ef hánum fylgir
ferð mín heðan;
þeygi mun ór för
aumlig vera.
70
Því at hánum fylgja
fimm ambáttir,
átta þjónar,
eðlum góðir,
fóstrman mitt
ok faðerni,
þat er Buðli gaf
barni sínu.
71
Margt sagða ek,
munda ek fleira,
er mér meir mjötuðr
málrúm gæfi;
ómum þverr,
undir svella,
satt eitt sagðak,
svá mun ek láta."

Of old did Sigurth Gjuki seek,
The Volsung young, in battles victor;
Well he trusted the brothers twain,
With mighty oaths among them sworn.

A maid they gave him, and jewels many,
Guthrun the young, the daughter of Gjuki;
They drank and spake full many a day,
Sigurth the young and Gjuki's sons.

Thereafter went they Brynhild to woo,
And so with them did Sigurth ride, The Volsung young, in battle valiant,—
Himself would have had her if all he had seen.

The southern hero his naked sword,
Fair-flashing, let between them lie;
(Nor would he come the maid to kiss;)
The Hunnish king in his arms ne'er held
The maiden he gave to Gjuki's sons.

Ill she had known not in all her life,
And nought of the sorrows of men she knew;
Blame she had not, nor dreamed she should bear it,
But cruel the fates that among them came.

By herself at the end of day she sat,
And in open words her heart she uttered:
"I shall Sigurth have, the hero young,
E'en though within my arms he die.

"The word I have spoken; soon shall I rue it,
His wife is Guthrun, and Gunnar's am I;
Ill Norns set for me long desire."

Oft did she go with grieving heart
On the glacier's ice at even-tide,
When Guthrun then to her bed was gone,
And the bedclothes Sigurth about her laid.

"(Now Gjuki's child to her lover goes,) And the Hunnish king with his wife is happy;
Joyless I am and mateless ever,
Till cries from my heavy heart burst forth."

In her wrath to battle she roused herself:
"Gunnar, now thou needs must lose
Lands of mine and me myself,
No joy shall I have with the hero ever.

"Back shall I fare where first I dwelt,
Among the kin that come of my race,
To wait there, sleeping my life away,
If Sigurth's death thou shalt not dare,
(And best of heroes thou shalt not be.)

"The son shall fare with his father hence,
And let not long the wolf-cub live;
Lighter to pay is the vengeance-price
After the deed if the son is dead."

Sad was Gunnar, and bowed with grief,
Deep in thought the whole day through; Yet from his heart it was ever hid
What deed most fitting he should find,
(Or what thing best for him should be,
Or if he should seek the Volsung to slay,
For with mighty longing Sigurth he loved.)

Much he pondered for many an hour;
Never before was the wonder known
That a queen should thus her kingdom leave;
In counsel then did he Hogni call,
(For him in truest trust he held.)

"More than all to me is Brynhild,
Buthli's child, the best of women;
My very life would I sooner lose
Than yield the love of yonder maid.

"Wilt thou the hero for wealth betray? 'Twere good to have the gold of the Rhine,
And all the hoard in peace to hold,
And waiting fortune thus to win."

Few the words of Hogni were:
"Us it beseems not so to do,
To cleave with swords the oaths we swore,
The oaths we swore and all our vows.

"We know no mightier men on earth
The while we four o'er the folk hold sway,
And while the Hunnish hero lives,
Nor higher kinship the world doth hold.

"If sons we five shall soon beget,
Great, methinks, our race shall grow; Well I see whence lead the ways;
Too bitter far is Brynhild's hate."

Gunnar spake: 20.
"Gotthorm to wrath we needs must rouse,
Our younger brother, in rashness blind;
He entered not in the oaths we swore,
The oaths we swore and all our vows."

It was easy to rouse the reckless one.
..............
The sword in the heart of Sigurth stood.

In vengeance the hero rose in the hall,
And hurled his sword at the slayer bold; At Gotthorm flew the glittering steel
Of Gram full hard from the hand of the king.

The foeman cleft asunder fell,
Forward hands and head did sink,
And legs and feet did backward fall.

Guthrun soft in her bed had slept,
Safe from care at Sigurth's side;
She woke to find her joy had fled,
In the blood of the friend of Freyr she lay.

So hard she smote her hands together
That the hero rose up, iron-hearted:
"Weep not, Guthrun, grievous tears,
Bride so young, for thy brothers live.

"Too young, methinks, is my son as yet,
He cannot flee from the home of his foes; Fearful and deadly the plan they found,
The counsel new that now they have heeded.

"No son will ride, though seven thou hast,
To the Thing as the son of their sister rides;
Well I see who the ill has worked,
On Brynhild alone lies the blame for all.

"Above all men the maiden loved me,
Yet false to Gunnar I ne'er was found;
I kept the oaths and the kinship I swore;
Of his queen the lover none may call me.

In a swoon she sank when Sigurth died;
So hard she smote her hands together
That all the cups in the cupboard rang,
And loud in the courtyard cried the geese.

Then Brynhild, daughter of Buthli, laughed,
Only once, with all her heart,
When as she lay full loud she heard
The grievous wail of Gjuki's daughter.

Then Gunnar, monarch of men, spake forth:
"Thou dost not laugh, thou lover of hate,
In gladness there, or for aught of good;
Why has thy face so white a hue,
Mother of ill? Foredoomed thou art.

"A worthier woman wouldst thou have been
If before thine eyes we had Atli slain;
If thy brother's bleeding body hadst seen
And the bloody wounds that thou shouldst bind."

Brynhild spake: 33.
"None mock thee, Gunnar! thou hast mightily fought,
But thy hatred little doth Atli heed;
Longer than thou, methinks, shall he live,
And greater in might shall he ever remain.

"To thee I say, and thyself thou knowest,
That all these ills thou didst early shape;
No bonds I knew, nor sorrow bore,
And wealth I had in my brother's home.

"Never a husband sought I to have,
Before the Gjukungs fared to our land;
Three were the kings on steeds that came,—
Need of their journey never there was.

"To the hero great my troth I gave
Who gold-decked sat on Grani's back;
Not like to thine was the light of his eyes,
(Nor like in form and face are ye,)
Though kingly both ye seemed to be.

"And so to me did Atli say
That share in our wealth I should not have, Of gold or lands, if my hand I gave not;
(More evil yet, the wealth I should yield,)
The gold that he in my childhood gave me,
(The wealth from him in my youth I had.)

"Oft in my mind I pondered much
If still I should fight, and warriors fell,
Brave in my byrnie, my brother defying;
That would wide in the world be known,
And sorrow for many a man would make.

"But the bond at last I let be made,
For more the hoard I longed to have,
The rings that the son of Sigmund won;
No other's treasure e'er I sought.

"One alone of all I loved,
Nor changing heart I ever had;
All in the end shall Atli know, When he hears I have gone on the death-road hence."

******

"Never a wife of fickle will
Yet to another man should yield.
..............
So vengence for all my ills shall come."

Up rose Gunnar, the people's ruler,
And flung his arms round her neck so fair;
And all who came, of every kind,
Sought to hold her with all their hearts.

But back she cast all those who came,
Nor from the long road let them hold her; In counsel then did he Hogni call:
"Of wisdom now full great is our need.

"Let the warriors here in the hall come forth,
Thine and mine, for the need is mighty,
If haply the queen from death they may hold,
Till her fearful thoughts with time shall fade."

(Few the words of Hogni were:)
"From the long road now shall ye hold her not,
That born again she may never be!
Foul she came from her mother forth,
And born she was for wicked deeds,
(Sorrow to many a man to bring.)"

From the speaker gloomily Gunnar turned,
For the jewel-bearer her gems was dividing; On all her wealth her eyes were gazing,
On the bond-women slain and the slaughtered slaves.

Her byrnie of gold she donned, and grim
Was her heart ere the point of her sword had pierced it;
On the pillow at last her head she laid,
And, wounded, her plan she pondered o'er.

"Hither I will that my women come
Who gold are fain from me to get;
Necklaces fashioned fair to each
Shall I give, and cloth, and garments bright."

Silent were all as so she spake,
And all together answer made:
"Slain are enough; we seek to live,
Not thus thy women shall honor win."

Long the woman, linen-decked, pondered,—
—Young she was,— and weighed her words:
"For my sake now shall none unwilling
Or loath to die her life lay down.

"But little of gems to gleam on your limbs
Ye then shall find when forth ye fare
To follow me, or of Menja's wealth.
..............

"Sit now, Gunnar! for I shall speak
Of thy bride so fair and so fain to die;
Thy ship in harbor home thou hast not,
Although my life I now have lost.

"Thou shalt Guthrun requite more quick than thou thinkest,
..............
Though sadly mourns the maiden wise
Who dwells with the king, o'er her husband dead.

"A maid shall then the mother bear;
Brighter far than the fairest day
Svanhild shall be, or the beams of the sun.

"Guthrun a noble husband thou givest,
Yet to many a warrior woe will she bring,
Not happily wedded she holds herself;
Her shall Atli hither seek,
(Buthli's son, and brother of mine.)

"Well I remember how me ye treated
When ye betrayed me with treacherous wiles;
..............
Lost was my joy as long as I lived.

"Oddrun as wife thou fain wouldst win,
But Atli this from thee withholds;
Yet in secret tryst ye twain shall love;
She shall hold thee dear, as I had done
If kindly fate to us had fallen.

"Ill to thee shall Atli bring,
When he casts thee down in the den of snakes.

"But soon thereafter Atli too
His life, methinks, as thou shalt lose,
(His fortune lose and the lives of his sons;)
Him shall Guthrun, grim of heart,
With the biting blade in his bed destroy.

"It would better beseem thy sister fair To follow her husband first in death,
If counsel good to her were given,
Or a heart akin to mine she had.

"Slowly I speak,— but for my sake
Her life, methinks, she shall not lose;
She shall wander over the tossing waves,
To where Jonak rules his father's realm.

"Sons to him she soon shall bear,
Heirs therewith of Jonak's wealth;
But Svanhild far away is sent,
The child she bore to Sigurth brave.

"Bikki's word her death shall be,
For dreadful the wrath of Jormunrek;
So slain is all of Sigurth's race,
And greater the woe of Guthrun grows.

"Yet one boon I beg of thee,
The last of boons in my life it is:
Let the pyre be built so broad in the field
That room for us all will ample be,
(For us who slain with Sigurth are.)

"With shields and carpets cover the pyre,
..............
Shrouds full fair, and fallen slaves,
And besides the Hunnish hero burn me.

"Besides the Hunnish hero there
Slaves shall burn, full bravely decked,
Two at his head and two at his feet,
A brace of hounds and a pair of hawks,
For so shall all be seemly done.

"Let between us lie once more The steel so keen, as so it lay
When both within one bed we were,
And wedded mates by men were called.

"The door of the hall shall strike not the heel
Of the hero fair with flashing rings,
If hence my following goes with him;
Not mean our faring forth shall be.

"Bond-women five shall follow him,
And eight of my thralls, well-born are they,
Children with me, and mine they were
As gifts that Buthli his daughter gave.

"Much have I told thee, and more would say
If fate more space for speech had given;
My voice grows weak, my wounds are swelling;
Truth I have said, and so I die."

往昔，西格尔德
曾往访吉尤基，
这年轻的沃尔松后裔，
此前已征战杀敌；
他接受了
兄弟二人的盟誓，
几位勇武之士
彼此立下誓言。

他们许给他一位少女，
还有许多珍宝，
便是年轻的古德伦，
吉尤基的女儿；
他们一同饮酒议事，
度过许多日夜，
年轻的西格尔德
与吉尤基的儿子们。

直到他们动身，
去向布伦希尔德求婚，
西格尔德便这样
骑马与他们同行，
这年轻的沃尔松后裔，
深谙征战之道；
他本该拥有她，
倘若他能娶她。

南方来的西格尔德
放下一柄剑，
那花纹灿然的利刃，
横在他们之间；
他不曾亲吻
那女子，
这粪便人的君王
也不曾将她拥入怀中，
他把这青春少女
托付给吉尤基之子。

她自知一生
未曾有过过失，
在自己的命途中
也不曾遭受损害，
不曾有过污点，
也不曾想过会有；
残酷的命运
却横亘其间。

一天将尽时，
她独坐在户外，
开始这样
说出许多话：
“我定要得到西格尔德，
——否则宁愿死去——
把那青春少年
拥在我的怀里。

如今这话已出口，
我随后便会懊悔：
古德伦是他的妻，
而我是贡纳尔的妻；
丑恶的诺伦
为我们注定了长久的渴望。”

每到黄昏，
她常来回走动，
心中充满恶念、
寒冰与冰川，
那时古德伦与西格尔德
一同上床，
西格尔德用被褥
将她裹住，
那粪便人的君王
爱抚着自己的妻子。

“我走着，缺了欢悦，
也缺了丈夫，两者皆无，
我只得放声哀号，
发自这颗痛苦的心。”

她怀着这般仇恨，
开始怂恿杀戮：
“贡纳尔，你将会
彻底失去
我的土地，
也失去我本人；
我绝不会再与这位
王族男子安然相处。

我要回去，
回到从前住过的地方，
回到那些与我
血脉相连的亲族中；
我将在那里坐着，
沉睡着度过余生，
除非你让西格尔德
死去，
使你这位君王
高过其他所有人。

让儿子也去，
与父亲同行，
不可把幼狼
长久养大。
若让儿子活着，
日后要谋求和解，
对哪一个人而言，
偿付血仇会更容易？”

贡纳尔满怀忧伤，
垂头不语，
心绪辗转，
整日坐着；
他全然不知，
究竟怎样，
才是自己
最合宜的作为，
究竟怎样，
才对自己最好，
因为他知道自己
将失去沃尔松后裔，
失去西格尔德，
必会深深哀痛。

他反复思量，
又过了同样长的时光：
王后离开
自己的王国，
这样的事
并不多见。
他开始召来霍格尼，
要与他密议，
因为凡事他都
全心信赖此人：

“对我而言，唯有布伦希尔德
胜过其他所有人，
她是布德利的女儿，
是女子中的翘楚；
我宁可先
舍弃自己的性命，
也不愿失去
那少女的珍宝。

你可愿与我一同
为财富而谋害那君王？
掌有莱茵河的黄金，
是多么美好，
安然自在地
支配财宝，
闲坐着
享尽福泽。”

霍格尼只作了
这样一个回答：
“我们不该
做这样的事，
用剑斩断
已经立下的誓言，
已经立下的誓言，
已经许下的忠信。

只要我们四人
还统治着人民，
只要那粪便人的
战阵中的巴德尔还活着，
我们便不知道世上
还有谁更加幸福，
也不知道大地上
还有更尊贵的姻亲；
若我们长久养育
五个儿子，
便能让这高贵的
家族繁衍壮大。

我清楚知道，
祸事从何而来：
布伦希尔德的
妄为太过分了。”
贡纳尔说：

“我们该让古特霍姆
动手杀人，
他是年幼的弟弟，
心智尚不成熟；
他不曾参与
我们立下的誓言，
我们立下的誓言，
我们许下的忠信。”

那凶暴之人
很容易受到煽动，
利剑刺入了
西格尔德的心脏。

那好战的英雄
在厅中奋起复仇，
朝那凶暴之人
掷出了剑；
格拉姆剑那精良
而光亮的铁刃，
从君王手中猛然飞出，
直扑古特霍姆。

他的仇敌倒下，
身躯断成两截，
双手与头颅
倒向一边，
双腿连着下半身
向后跌回原地。

古德伦已然睡去，
躺在床榻上，
无忧无虑，
依偎着西格尔德；
可她醒来时，
欢悦已被夺去，
她浮在鲜血中，
那是弗雷之友的血。

她悲痛地
拍击双手，
使那意志刚强的人
在床上撑起身来：
“古德伦，别哭得
这样凄惨，
年轻的新娘，
你的兄弟还活着。

我的继承人
实在太年幼，
他还不会逃离
仇敌的家园；
他们近来又为自己
定下新的谋划，
那谋划阴险可怖，
而他们却欣然接受。

往后纵然你生下七个儿子，
也不会再有这样的
姐妹之子
骑马伴他们赴集会。
我清楚知道，
如今为何落到这般境地：
唯有布伦希尔德
酿成这一切灾祸。

那少女爱我，
胜过世上所有男人，
但我不曾对贡纳尔
做过半点亏心事；
我敬重姻亲之谊，
敬重立下的誓言，
免得被人称作
他妻子的情人。”

女子昏厥过去，
君王也断了气，
她悲痛地
拍击双手，
震得壁龛里的
酒杯叮当作响，
院子里的鹅群
也随之高声鸣叫。

那时布伦希尔德，
布德利的女儿，
发出一声笑，
笑得畅快淋漓，
因为她躺在床上，
听见了
吉尤基女儿
响亮的哭号。

那时贡纳尔，
勇士们的君王，说道：
“嗜好仇恨的女人，
你在厅中欣然发笑，
这笑声可不能
为你预示好事。
你这灾祸的生母，
为何褪去白皙的面色？
我想，你已命不久矣。

在所有女人中，
你最该得到这样的报应：
让我们在你眼前
砍杀阿特利，
让你看见兄长
血淋淋的伤口，
让你亲手包扎
那些流血的创伤。”
布伦希尔德说：

“谁也不能指责你怯懦，
你杀得已经够多；
阿特利可不怎么
在意你的怒火；
他的气息必将
比你们二人更长久，
他的力量也将永远
胜过你们。

贡纳尔，我要告诉你，
——你自己也清楚知道——
你们怎样早早
便种下了争端；
那时我还很年轻，
不曾受到逼迫，
住在兄长的厅堂里，
财物丰足。

在你们吉尤基的儿子们
骑马来到庭院以前，
我从未想过
要嫁给一个男人，
那时三位统治人民的君王
骑在马上前来，
可他们这一趟远行，
本是全无必要。”

那时我许身于
那位万民之王，
他身披黄金，坐在
格拉尼的肩背上；
他的眼神
与你们全不相似，
他的容貌
也无一处相像，
尽管你们自以为
也是万民之王。

阿特利曾把这话
只对我一人说：
他说绝不会
分给我财产，
无论黄金还是土地，
除非我肯出嫁；
连命定归我的财富，
也丝毫不给，
那些在我幼年时
他交给我的财产，
那些在我幼年时
他数给我的金钱。

那时我的心
为此反复犹疑，
是否该奋起交战，
或是杀倒敌手，
勇敢地披上铠甲，
与兄长争斗；
那样的事便会
传遍天下，
使许多人
心中悲苦。

我们终于订下
彼此的盟约；
我心中更渴望
接受那些珍宝，
那些赤金指环，
来自西格蒙德之子；
旁人的钱财，
我从来不想要。

我只爱过一人，
不曾移情别恋，
佩项链的斯科古尔
不曾心意反复；
阿特利终将
明白这一切，
当他听说我
踏上了死亡之路，

心意轻浮的女人
也绝不该
把另一个女人的丈夫
引上自己的床；
这样，我所受的苦痛
便得到了报偿。”

贡纳尔站起身，
那位亲兵之主，
伸出双手，
搂住妻子的脖颈；
众人都走上前，
一个接着一个，
全都真心实意，
劝她打消死念。

她从自己颈边
推开了每一个人，
不让任何人劝阻她
踏上漫长的旅程。

他便唤来霍格尼，
要与他密议：
“我要所有勇士
都走进厅堂，
你的人和我的人，
——如今急需他们——
看能否阻止
这女人赴死，
待时日流逝，
她的痛苦消退；
就让眼前的急需
决定我们的行动。”

霍格尼只给了他
这样一个回答：
“别让人阻拦她
踏上漫长的旅程，
愿她从此永远
不再投生归来；
她从母亲膝下出生时，
便已心性乖戾，
她生来就要
招惹祸患，
给许多人
带来心头的悲苦。”

他闷闷不乐地
离开了交谈的人，
走向那位佩项链的女子，
她正在分赠珍宝。

她看遍了自己
所有的财产，
死去的女奴
和厅中的侍女；
她穿上黄金铠甲，
——心中满是愁苦——
然后把自己的身躯
交给了剑刃。

她侧过身子，
倒在枕头上，
身受剑伤，
思量着自己的安排：

“如今都走过来吧，
凡愿从我这里
接受黄金
和较小赠礼的人；
我给每个女人
一枚精美的胸饰，
绣毯和薄纱，
光鲜的衣裳。”

听见这番话，
众人都沉默了，
随后又一齐
开口回答：
“死去的人已经够多，
我们还要活下去。
厅中的侍女
还要挣得尊荣。”

直到那身披麻衣的女人
经过一番思量，
年纪尚轻的她
说出了这番话：
“我不愿让心有不甘
或须苦苦哀求的人，
为了我们的缘故
丢掉性命。

不过，将来在你们
尸骨上焚烧的金钱，
必定更少，
当你们动身前来，
不会有梅尼娅的财富，
伴你们来探望我。

坐下吧，贡纳尔，
我要向你诉说，
我这不再指望活命的
美丽新娘；
你们的航程
还远未安稳，
尽管我已
断绝了气息。

你与古德伦将会和解，
比你想的还要早；
那聪慧的女人
在王的身旁，
怀着悲苦的回忆，
哀念死去的丈夫。

将有一个女孩降生，
——由母亲生下——
她将比
晴朗的白昼更皎洁，
那斯万希尔德，
比太阳的光芒更明亮。

你将把古德伦
嫁给一位显贵，
她会成为凶险的飞矢，
射向成群的勇士；
她不会心甘情愿地
获得幸福的婚姻；
阿特利将来
娶她为妻，
那布德利所生的儿子，
我的兄长。

我有许多事要记起，
你们怎样对待我，
怎样使我悲痛，
怎样将我欺骗；
只要我还活着，
我的心愿就任人践踏。

你将想要
迎娶奥德伦，
但阿特利
不会准许；
你们两人将
暗中相会，
她将爱你，
如同我本该爱你那样，
倘若你我
能有美好的命运。

阿特利将会
残酷地对待你，
你将被投进
狭窄的蛇窟。

再过不久，
还会发生这件事：
阿特利将会
丧失性命，
失去自己的福运，
也失去儿子们的生命，
因为古德伦将
在他的床上袭击他，
用锋利的剑刃，
怀着受伤的心。

古德伦，你们的姊妹，
本该更有尊严，
追随她的第一任丈夫
一同死去，
倘若有人给她
良好的劝告，
或是她有一颗
与我们相似的心。

如今我说得急切，
但她绝不会
为了我们的缘故
丢掉性命；
高高的波涛
将把她托起，
送往约纳克尔
祖传的土地。

[她将养育自己的儿女，
传承家业的后嗣]，
传承家业的后嗣，
约纳克尔的儿子们；
她将把斯万希尔德
送离故土，
那是她与
西格尔德的女儿。

比基的计谋
将会伤害她，
因为约尔蒙雷克
活着只会带来祸害；
到那时，西格尔德的
血脉将全部断绝；
古德伦又有了
更多流泪的缘由。

我要向你
求最后一件事，
——这将是我在人世
最后的请求——：
请在原野上
堆起宽阔的柴垛，
让我们所有人躺下时
都一样宽敞，
让那些与西格尔德
一同死去的人安卧。

用帷幔和盾牌
围起那座柴垛，
铺上精美的异国织物，安放瓦尔人的众仆役；
将我焚烧在那位粪便族勇士的
另一侧。

在那位粪便族勇士的
另一侧焚烧
我的仆从，
用项链装点他们：
两人安放在头旁，
再加两只鹰；
这样一切便都
分配得均匀。
68
让我们之间再次横放
那柄缠饰圆环的剑，
那刃口锋利的铁器，
如当初横放的那样，
那时我们两人
同登一张床，
那时我们
以夫妻相称。
69
那时，殿堂的门扉
绝不会在他脚跟后
轰然落下，
那门上装饰着圆环，
只要我的随从
伴他从这里出发；
我们的旅程
绝不会寒酸。
70
因为将有五名女奴
随他同行，
还有八名仆人，
出身良好，
有伴我长大的家奴，
还有父亲留下的奴仆，
那是布德利
赠给自己女儿的。
71
我已说了许多，
还会说得更多，
倘若命运再给我
更多说话的时间；
我的声音渐弱，
伤口正在肿胀，
我说的全是真话，
我就这样死去。”