《西格爾德短歌》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."

昔日，西格爾德
前往吉烏基家，
那年輕的沃爾松後裔，
已曾斬殺強敵；
他接受兩兄弟
許下的信義，
幾位勇力過人的英雄
彼此立下誓言。

他們許給他一位少女，
以及眾多珍寶，
便是年輕的古德倫，
吉烏基的女兒；
他們一同飲酒議事，
共度許多日夜，
年輕的西格爾德
與吉烏基的兒子們。

直到他們動身，
去向布倫希爾德求婚，
西格爾德也隨他們
策馬同行，
那年輕的沃爾松後裔，
深諳征戰之道；
他本該娶她，
倘若能娶得她。

來自南方的西格爾德
取來一柄劍，
劍刃飾有紋彩，
橫在兩人之間；
他不曾親吻
那位女子，
這位匈人的君王
也不曾將她擁入懷裡，
他將這年輕的少女
交給吉烏基之子。

她不知自己一生
有過什麼過失，
也不知命運之中
有何傷害，
不曾有過恥辱，
也不曾料想會有；
其間卻有
殘酷的命運介入。

一日黃昏，
她獨坐屋外，
開始這般
喃喃自語：
「我一定要得到西格爾德，
——否則寧可死去——
讓那年輕的英雄
躺在我的臂彎裡。

這話我如今說出口，
往後必將悔恨：
古德倫是他的妻子，
我卻是貢納爾的；
可憎的諾恩
為我們注定了長久的渴望。」

她常在屋裡踱步，
滿懷苦惱，
心中盡是冰霜與寒川，
每到黃昏，
當古德倫與他
一同上床，
西格爾德便用被褥
裹住她的身體，
那匈人的君王
擁著自己心愛的妻子。

「我終日不得遂願，
丈夫與歡情，兩者皆無，
我必須撫慰自己，
排解這殘酷的心念。」

這些怨恨使她
決意煽動殺戮：
「貢納爾，你必將
全然失去
我的領土，
以及我本人；
我絕不會再與你
這位王侯安然共處。

我要回去，
回到從前住過的地方，
回到與我血脈相連的
親族身旁；
我會在那裡度日，
沉睡著耗盡此生，
除非你讓
西格爾德死去，
使你成為勝過
其他一切王侯的君王。

讓兒子也隨
父親一同上路，
不可把幼狼
養得太久。
若讓兒子活著，
又有哪個人的血仇
日後會更容易
以和解平息？」

貢納爾心生悲苦，
低垂著頭，
心思翻騰，
整整坐了一天；
他並不
十分清楚，
自己怎麼做
才最為合宜，
又怎麼做
才對自己最好，
因他知道自己將失去
那沃爾松後裔，
而西格爾德的離去
將留下深重的哀思。

他反覆思量，
如此又過了許久：
王后離開
自己的王國，
這並不是
尋常之事。
他便召來霍格尼，
與他密議，
因為他對此人
懷有全然的信任：

「對我而言，唯有布倫希爾德
勝過其他所有女子，
她是布德利的女兒，
是女子中的翹楚；
我寧願先
捨棄自己的性命，
也不願失去
這少女的珍寶。

你可願與我為了財寶，
設計謀害那位君王？
能掌有萊茵河的黃金，
豈不是美事，
滿心歡喜地
支配財富，
安然坐享
富貴榮華。」

霍格尼只作了
這樣的回答：
「我們不宜
做下這等事，
用刀劍斬斷
親口立下的誓言，
親口立下的誓言，
彼此許下的信義。

我們不知道世上
還有比我們更有福的人，
只要我們四人
仍統治著人民，
只要那位匈人的
戰陣巴德爾仍活著，
世上便沒有
比這更尊貴的姻親，
倘若我們能將五個兒子
長久撫育，
便能使這門第高貴的
家族更加興旺。

我十分清楚，
禍事從何處而來：
布倫希爾德的怨懟
實在太深。」
貢納爾說：

「我們要使古托姆
動手殺人，
他是年幼的弟弟，
見識也較淺；
他不曾參與
我們立下的誓言，
我們立下的誓言，
彼此許下的信義。」

要煽動那暴戾的人，
是輕而易舉的事，
利劍直刺入
西格爾德的心臟。

那好戰的英雄在廳中
奮起復仇，
朝那暴戾之人
擲出寶劍；
格拉姆那精良的鋼刃
自君王手中
猛然飛出，
直奔古托姆。

他的仇敵倒下，
身軀斷成兩截，
雙手與頭顱
向一邊墜落，
下半身卻
往後倒回原地。

古德倫睡在
床榻之上，
無憂無慮，
依偎著西格爾德，
醒來時卻
已失去幸福，
她浸在弗雷友人的
鮮血之中。

她猛然拍打
自己的雙手，
那意志剛強的人
便在床上挺起身來：
「古德倫，別哭得
如此淒厲，
年輕的新娘啊，
你的兄弟們還活著。

我的繼承人
實在太年幼，
還不懂得逃離
仇敵的家園；
他們新近定下
這番計謀，
卻已為自己招來
深重而可怖的禍殃。

縱使你生下七個兒子，
往後也不會再有
如此出色的外甥，
騎馬陪他們出席集會。
我十分清楚，
如今這是為了什麼：
一切災禍，
全由布倫希爾德一人造成。

那少女愛我，
勝過世間任何男子，
但我不曾對貢納爾
做過任何傷害；
我恪守姻親之義，
恪守立下的誓言，
絕不該有人稱我為
他妻子的情人。」

妻子昏厥過去，
君王也斷了氣，
她猛然拍打
自己的雙手，
震得壁龕裡的
酒杯鏗然作響，
庭院中的鵝群
也高聲鳴叫。

那時布倫希爾德，
布德利的女兒，
縱情發出
一聲大笑，
因她躺在床上，
聽見了
吉烏基女兒
響亮的哀哭。

那時貢納爾，
戰士們的君王說道：
「你這好生怨恨的女人，
雖在廳中
歡然大笑，
這笑聲卻不為你預示好事。
你為何褪去
白皙的面色，
你這滋生禍患的人？
我想，你的死期將至。

在所有女人之中，
你最應受這般報應：
讓我們在你眼前
斬殺阿特利，
讓你看見兄長身上的
血淋淋的創口，
讓你親手包紮
那些流血的傷處。」
布倫希爾德說：

「沒人會說你膽怯，
你殺得夠多了；
阿特利並不怎麼
畏懼你的敵意；
他的性命必將
比你們兄弟更長久，
也永遠保有
更強大的力量。

貢納爾，我要告訴你，
——你自己也十分清楚——
你們多早以前
就已釀下這些爭端；
當時我年紀尚輕，
也不曾受人逼迫，
在兄長的廳堂裡，
財物豐足，一無所缺。

我原不願意
讓任何男子娶我，
直到你們吉烏基的子嗣
騎馬來到庭前，
三位統領人民的君王，
各乘一匹駿馬，
其實這一趟行程，
本無半點必要。

那時我向那位
萬民之王許下婚誓，
他滿披黃金，坐在
格拉尼的肩背上；
他的雙眼
與你們全然不同，
容貌也無一處
與你們相像，
縱然你們自以為
是萬民之王。

阿特利曾將這番話
單獨對我說起，
他說絕不肯
與我分產，
無論黃金或土地，
除非我肯出嫁，
就連命中應得的財富，
也不分給我一點，
那些他在我年幼時
交付給我的產業，
那些他在我年幼時
數給我的金銀。

那時我的心
為此反覆猶疑，
究竟該不該出戰，
讓戰士陣亡，
勇敢地身披鎧甲，
為兄長之事而戰；
那樣一來，
此事便會舉世皆知，
使許許多多的人
心中悲苦。

我們終於讓
彼此的婚約落定；
我心中更渴望
得到那些珍寶，
得到西格蒙德之子
赤金的臂環；
別的男人的金銀，
我一概不願要。

我只愛過一人，
從未移情別人，
佩項鍊的斯科古爾
從無反覆之心；
這一切，阿特利
日後都會明白，
當他聽說我已踏上
赴死的旅程，

便會知道，絕非
輕薄善變的女人
才會與另一個女人的丈夫
共赴死亡；
屆時我所受的悲苦
便得到了報償。」

貢納爾站起身來，
這位扈從之王，
伸出雙手
摟住妻子的頸項；
眾人紛紛前來，
身分各有不同，
全都一心一意
勸她回頭。

她把頸邊的手臂
一一推開，
不讓任何人攔阻她
踏上漫長的旅程。

他便催促霍格尼
與他密議：
「我要所有武士
都到廳中來，
你的人和我的人，
——如今實在急迫——
看看能否阻止
這女子赴死，
待時間消磨
她心中的苦痛；
就讓眼前的急務
決定我們的行動。」

霍格尼只作了
這樣一番回答：
「誰也別攔阻她
踏上漫長的旅程，
願她到了那裡，
永不再生；
她從母親膝前降生，
便帶著邪惡，
她生來便注定
惹人生厭，
使許許多多的人
心中悲傷。」

他悶悶不樂地
離開交談之人，
走向項鍊之樹
分贈珍寶的地方。

她環顧自己
所有的財產，
死去的女奴
與廳中的侍女；
她穿上金甲，
——心中毫無喜悅——
然後將自己交給
利劍的鋒刃。

她朝一側
倒在枕上，
身受劍傷，
思量自己的安排：

「如今，凡想要黃金，
想從我這裡
領取紀念之物的人，
都上前來；
我給每個女子
精心裝飾的頸飾，
繡織的布匹與面紗，
光鮮的衣裳。」

聽了這番話，
眾人一片沉默，
隨後又一齊
開口回答：
「死去的人已經夠多，
我們還要活下去。
廳中的侍女
自當掙得榮耀。」

終於，那身披亞麻的女子
經過思量，
年紀尚輕的她
開口說道：
「我不願任何不情願、
不肯受勸的人，
為了我們的緣故
喪失性命。

然而，當你們走上前來，
前來探望我時，
你們的骨骸上
將少有金銀焚燒，
也不會有多少
梅妮雅的財寶。

坐下吧，貢納爾，
我要向你說話，
我這美麗的新娘，
已無生還的指望；
你們的航程
不會一帆風順，
縱然我已經
嚥下最後一口氣。

你和古德倫
和好的日子，會比你想的更早；
那明理的女子
留在國王身旁，
心中仍懷著
亡夫的悲傷記憶。

那裡將有個女孩出生，
——母親將她養育——
她會比晴朗的白晝
更加皎潔，
斯萬希爾德會比
陽光更加明亮。

你將把古德倫
嫁給一位良人，
她會成為眾多勇士
致命的禍害；
她將違背自己的心願，
嫁得一位好丈夫；
前來迎娶她的人
將是阿特利，
布德利所生的兒子，
我的兄長。

我有許多事要記起，
記起你們如何待我，
你們曾如何欺騙我，
使我深受創傷；
只要我還活著，
我的心願便任人踐踏。

你將想要
迎娶奧德倫，
但阿特利
不會准許；
你們兩人將
暗中相會，
她會愛你，
如同我本該愛你那樣，
倘若美好的命運
能降臨在我倆身上。

阿特利將會
狠毒地對待你，
你將被投入
狹窄的蛇牢。

此後也不會
相隔多久，
阿特利便會
喪失性命，
喪失他的福祉，
以及兒子們的生命，
因為古德倫將懷著
受創的心，
用銳利的鋒刃
在床上殺死他。

你們的姊妹
古德倫若能
追隨死去的元配，
那才更為光榮，
倘若有人能給她
良好的勸告，
或是她有一顆
與我相同的心。

如今我說得急切，
但她不會
為了我們的緣故
喪失性命；
高高的波浪
將載著她，
前往約納克的
祖傳領地。

［她將為自己養育兒女，
繼承家業的人］，
繼承家業的人，
約納克的兒子們；
她將把斯萬希爾德
送往異國，
那是她與西格爾德
所生的女兒。

比基的計謀
將會傷害她，
因為耶爾蒙雷克
活著只會為害；
到那時，西格爾德的
血脈便全數斷絕；
古德倫又將有
更多流淚的緣由。

我只向你
提出一個請求，
——這將是我在人世
最後的請求——：
請在原野上
築起寬廣的柴堆，
讓我們所有人
都有同樣充裕的位置，
讓那些與西格爾德
一同死去的人安身。

在那柴堆四周
張起帷帳，列上盾牌，
鋪上精美的異國織物，安置瓦拉人的隨從；
讓我在那匈人英雄
一側焚燒。

在那匈人英雄
另一側焚燒的，
應是我的僕從，
佩著華美的項鍊：
兩人在頭旁，
還有兩隻獵鷹；
如此便將一切
分配得均等。
68
讓我倆之間
再放上那柄纏環的劍，
那鋒刃銳利的鐵，
如同從前放置的那樣，
那時我倆
同上一張床，
那時我們
被稱作夫妻。
69
那時，廳堂的門扉
閃著彩環的光澤，
便不會落下來
撞上他的腳跟，
只要我的隨從
陪他一同離開此地；
我們這一行
絕不會寒酸。
70
因為隨他而去的，
將有五名女奴，
八名男僕，
全都出身良好，
還有與我一同長大的奴僕，
以及我父親留下的產業，
那是布德利
贈給自己孩子的。
71
我已說了許多，
本還能說得更多，
倘若命運肯再給我
多一點說話的時間；
我的聲音漸弱，
傷口漸漸腫脹，
我說的句句是真，
我就這樣死去。」