Gušrun sat over the dead Siguršr. She did not weep like other women, but she was ready to burst from sorrow. Both women and men went to comfort her, but that was not easily done. - Men say that Gušrun had eaten of Fafnir's heart and she understood the speech of birds. - This is yet said of Gušrun:
1.
It was early when Gušrun
prepared herself to die,
when she sat sorrowful
over Siguršr;
she made no weeping,
nor wrung her hands,
nor cried out
like other women.2.
The all-wise earls
went before,
they who (wished to) ease
her heavy heart.
Gušrun was silent,
could not weep,
she was so sad
as to burst.3.
The noble brides
of the earls sat,
adorned with gold,
before Gušrun;
each of them told
(of) a time of sorrow,
which had been
bitterest to bide.4.
Then spoke Gjaflaug,
Gjuki's sister:
"I know that I must be
the most miserable on earth:
I have suffered the loss
of five husbands,
three daughters,
three sisters,
eight brothers -
but I live yet!"5.
Gušrun was silent,
could not weep,
she was so sad
at the youth's death
and heavy-souled
over the folk-leader's corpse.6.
Then spoke thus Herborg,
Hunland's queen:
"I have harder
sorrows to say:
my seven sons,
in southern lands,
(my) husband the eighth,
fell in battle;7.
"father and mother,
four brothers,
wind played over
them on the sea,
waves struck
against the bulwarks.8.
"I myself had to adorn,
I myself had to bury,
I myself had to handle
their corpses.
I suffered all that
in one half-year,
so that no one tried
to give me comfort.9.
"Then I was bound
and battle-taken
afterwards in
the same half-year;
I had to wash
and bind shoes onto
the warleader's woman
every morning.10.
"She set me in fear
from jealousy,
and drove me
with heavy blows;
I never found
a better house-master,
nor any worse
housewife."11.
Gušrun was silent,
could not weep,
she was so sad
at the youth's death,
and heavy-souled
over folk-leader's corpse.12.
Then Gullrond,
Gjuki's daughter, spoke thus:
"Few of you know, foster-mothers,
though you be wise,
(how) to bear comforting speech
to a young wife!" She had them uncover
the folk-leader's corpse.13.
She unwrapped the blanket
from Siguršr
and brought the cushon
before the wife's knees:
"Look on the beloved,
lay your mouth to his mustache,
as you embraced
the hale leader!"14.
Gušrun looked upon (him)
one time:
she saw the day-bright's hair
running with blood,
the gleaming eyes
of folk-leader dimmed,
boar's soul-burg
sheared by sword.15.
Then Gušrun sank
bent onto the cushion,
hair loosened,
cheeks reddened,
and drops of rain
ran down to knees.16.
Then Gušrun,
Gjuki's daughter, wept,
so that tears flowed
along tresses,
and the geese cried out
in their dwelling,
many birds
which the maiden owned.17.
Then Gullrond,
Gjuki's daughter, spoke thus:
"I know that the greatest love
was (given) to you
of all people
above the earth!
You were never content,
without or within,
my sister,
except beside Siguršr!"
Gušrun said:
18.
"So was my Siguršr
beside Gjuki's sons,
as (if he) were the garlic
growing above the grass,
or were a bright stone
set in a band,
arkenstone
among athelings!19.
"Among the
folk-leader's men
I seemed higher than any
of Herjan's disir;
now I am little
as leaves are
many on laurel-tree,
at the boar's death.20.
"I miss in seat
and in bed
my speech-friend -
the kin of Gjuki ruled it!
The kin of Gjuki
ruled my evil,
and their sister's
sore weeping!21.
"Be it so to your hosts,
your lands emptied,
as you carried out
your sworn oaths!
You shall not enjoy
the gold, Gunnar,
the rings shall
become your bane
since you swore
oaths to Siguršr.22.
"There was much greater
joy in the garth,
when my Sigurdhr
saddled Grani,
and they fared to ask
for Brynhildr,
evil wight,
to ill-luck!"23.
Then Brynhildr,
Bušli's daughter spoke thus:
"(May) that witch
lack husband and children,
who made it possible
for you, Gušrun, to shed tears
and gave you speech-runes
this morning!"24.
Then Gullrond,
Gjuki's daughter spoke thus:
"Still your words,
folk-loathed!
you have ever been
wyrd to athelings,
and everyone recks
your life-age ill-shaped,
sore sorrow
to seven kings,
and greatest
friend-destroyer to wives!"25.
Then Brynhildr,
Bušli's daughter spoke thus:
"Atli alone ruled
all this evil,
my brother,
born of Bušli,26.
"when we two in the hall
of the Hunnish folk
saw the wyrm-bed's
fire on the boar -
I have paid
for that journey since,
I see
that sight ever!"27.
She stood under the pillar,
made fast her strength,
from the eyes of Brynhildr,
Bušli's daughter,
fire burned,
poison frothed out,
when she looked
at the wounds on Siguršr.
Gušrun went afterwards outside into the woods and wastelands and fared to Denmark and was there with Thora, Hakon's daughter, seven half-years. Brynhildr did not wish to live after Siguršr. She let eight of her thralls and five bondsmaids be slain. Then she laid a sword to herself as bane, as is said in "The Short Lay of Siguršr".
Note: This translation and others in this collection are the sole work of Stephan Grundy and are here with his permission. They are under his copyright. They are freely reproducible and quotable as long as this notice is attached if these are being reproduced or due credit is given to him for his translation if they are being quoted in another work.