The Wayland-Dietrich Saga
How Sigurd went to see Gripir, his Mother's Brother. (1)
And egging on of Sigurd by his friends,
He was beloved by all at Hjalprek's Court......
Yea, not a child therein but wished him well......
Yet to none there spake he of his new sword.
Not long had it been forged ere he rode forth
Alone one morning and fared to the Hall
Of Gripir, who was son of Eylimi,
And Sieg'lind's brother, a most famous man,
Renowned for wisdom. He knew well indeed
How to foretell the future. He dwelt near
King Hjalprek's Realm, ruling o'er his own lands.
Few knew young Sigurd and he rode unmarked,
Until at last he came to Gripir's Hall;
Yet was not sure whose the great house might be,
For he had wandered far by devious ways.
The man who kept the door, Geitir by name,
Came forth to question him, whom Sigurd asked,
Speaking in courteous wise, "Who dwell within,
Lord of these towers, and what the Folk-King's name
Who ruleth in these parts?" Then Geitir said,
"Of this strong Burgh and folk is Gripir Lord."
Said Sigurd, "Say, is the wise King at home?
Will the High Prince give leave that I with him
May hold some speech, and speedily?......Wilt say
An unknown man craves audience with thy Lord.....
Go bear him word, my friend." But Geitir said,
"The noble King will ask his janitor
Who is this man who would with Gripir speak?"
"Sigurd my name, the son of Sigmund I......
Sieg'lind my mother's name, once Hjordis called."
Then went in Geitir to his Lord and said,
"Here hath come to thy Hall an unknown man,
Comely to look on, with a lordly air,
Who claims to be the son of Siegelind.
He would speak with thee, Sire".....Quoth the wise King,
As he went forth to meet the guest, who came
Towards his inner chamber, "Sigurd, Hail!
Step thou within.......Yet seemlier had it been
Hadst thou come sooner.......Geitir, take his horse,
Stable thou Grani for the Highborn Prince".......
Then when these Lords had met and kissed, they sat
Speaking in friendly wise of many things;
Till after much had passed young Sigurd said,
"Tell me, my Mother's Brother, thou who canst
Foresee the future, how my life shall wend"?
King Gripir said, "Beneath the all-seeing sun
Thou shalt be greatest, noble Prince, save one;
Him shalt thou find thy foe and yet thy friend.....
The Amal's (1A) thread of life with thine is twined......
Though thou the Hollow Land, he Lombardy,
Sundered shall rule, ye shall meet on the Rhine....
Noble the life-days of King Sigmund's son;
Generous in giving, slow to take to flight,
Lordly in bearing, wise in words of might"......
Quoth Sigurd smiling, "Say, thou generous Lord,
Canst thou not unto Sigurd clearer shew
His fate, if thou dost know it? What shall be
My first deed when I leave thy Hall?.......O speak!"
Quoth Gripir, "First thy Sire shalt thou revenge,
And Eylimi's hard fate.....The victory
Be thine over King Hunding's cruel sons......
Thereafter it doth seem to shine forth clear
That thou shalt slay the Dragon.....Thou alone,
O Sigurd, shalt the shimmering Worm destroy
That on the Glittering Heath broods greedily.....
Yea! 'Neath thy hand shall two fell brethren fall,
Who, being tangled in Greed's golden net,
Do to their bane desire that cursed Hoard.
So it appears, and Gripir aye speaks sooth"......
Said Sigurd eagerly, "A mighty power
Shall sure be mine an I fight thus with men,
And eke the Dragon slay......But further tell.....
Search now within my spirit and shew me
How shall I forward on life's journey go?.......
We speak as friends, my kinsman, so fear not
To tell me if thou seest more of my fate.....
Do Sigurd's mighty deeds reach upward still
Until they soar e'en to the highest Heaven?"
Said Gripir, "Thou shalt find the Dragon's lair,
The gleaming treasure thou shalt from it bear,
The gold on Grani's broad back shalt thou lay,
So rid'st thou thence and farest far away......
I see not clearly......But to Gibich's Hall
Thou com'st as guest.....A King renowned by all".....
Gripir's head drooped, as though by sleep o'ercome,
The trance seemed over, his voice fell and ceased.
Said Sigurd, urging him, "Say more, wise King......
A guest of Gibich's am I? Go I thence?
And how much longer is my span of life?"
Said dreaming Gripir, drowsily he spake,
"High in the mountains lieth sleeping yet,
In her bright mail, the maid whom Odin set
As punishment for disobedience,
After thy brother Helgi's valiant death,
In the flame-girdled Burgh.......Her shalt thou wake.....
The mail be broken by the blade that slew
The Dragon Fafnir"......Gripir ceased to speak,
Bowing his head, but Sigurd cried in haste,
"Broken her mail......The maid.....She wakes, she speaks,
What says she?......Words of counsel, magic runes?
Wise rede to guide a hero on his way?
Or sweet low words to cheer her lover's heart?
Say, Gripir say......Yet more to me impart."
"Nay, what know I of what the maid will say?
Doubtless great runes of wondrous power and might
In every tongue on earth to guard thy life.....
Farewell, my Prince, may the Gods prosper thee".....
Said Sigurd, "I am ready to ride hence.....
Let all befall as thou hast told me, Sire.....
Ended thy sayings, I have wisdom learnt......
I thank thee, Uncle.....Yet one word with thee,
I would but beg thee once more to search out
Thine inmost mind......Canst thou not further tell
Of my life's journey........Where? How far I go?"
Said Gripir slowly, "Thou shalt stand, my son,
In Heimir's dwelling and in Gibich's Hall.....
Two maidens see I who have claims on thee.....
Sigurd, I see no more.... A mist of blood
Rises before mine eyes.......This is the end
Of my prevision......Ask no more of me......
Gripir may not be questioned 'gainst his will"......
Said Sigurd sadly, "Now the words thou speakst
Bring trouble on me.....and meseems, O King,
Thou dost see further......Dost thou know perchance
Of some great woe that doth for Sigurd wait,
That thou, O Gripir, wouldst hide from his eyes?"
Quoth Gripir, "Clear before me lies thy youth,
That do I see in golden radiance shine......
But none henceforth shall call me wise of rede,
Nor yet far-sighted.......Ended now is all
That I may know.....The rest is sealed to me....
What boots to ask?" He closed his eyes and sighed.
Said Sigurd earnestly, "No man know I
Here on this earth below that more foresees,
Nor farther in the future prys than thou......
Conceal not, Gripir, what is contrary.....
If aught untoward in my fate appears......
Tell me the worst.......Doth some crime dog my steps?
Shall I be niddering that thou hid'st from me
What I would know?.......I do not fear my fate"......
Said Gripir, "Nay, no shame shall shadow thee......
Leve that unthought of, gallant Atheling!
As long as the world lasts endures thy fame,
Thou Battle-leader! All men praise thy name."
Said Sigurd doubtingly, "I think it ill.......
Yea, of all things the worst, to leave thee thus
Unwitting of my fate......Mine Uncle, all
Is fore-ordained....What must be, must befall.
If thou hast vision granted thee, O shew
The end of my life's journey and the way
That I must tread.....My Mother's Brother, hear!"
Said Gripir then, "I'll hide the truth no more,
O mighty Sigurd, since thou askest me.......
Yet have I lied not......Not all can I see....
But this is sure, thy doomsday comes on thee......
While thou art young and strong thou shalt taste death."
Quoth Sigurd smiling, "All must one day die....
Better to fall in battle hardily
When young and lusty still, than lingering lie,
Worn out and old, denied the boon of death.
I would not anger thee, most worthy King,
I hope good rede from Gripir's lips to learn,
But I would know for certain what my fate?
For good or ill what lies thwart Sigurd's path"?
Quoth Gripir, as in trance, "I see a maid.....
A warrior maid, fair faced yet with wild thoughts.....
Her eyes aflame.......in truth a Valkyrie......
A great King's daughter fostered in the plains
Where Heimir breeds his colts......The Hollow Land".....
Cried Sigurd, "Well, what is that maid to me
Whom Heimir fosters? Tell me more, O King,
Who seest all our fates".......Then Gripir said,
"She shall destroy thy peace in her hot love.....
The foster-daughter of old Heimir, fair
Of face and radiant though she be, shall bring
A curse on thee......Thou shalt sleep no sleep more
In peace, nor settle feuds.....All men thou'lt shun
So that thou seest the maid".....Quoth Sigurd then,
"But what my gain thereby? Shall I then give
A dowry for my bride?......Is this fair maid,
This King's daughter all glorious, to be
My wife? Speak, Gripir, an thou knowest aught!"
He said, "O many mighty oaths thou'lt swear,
But few of these shalt keep when thou hast stayed
One night in Gibich's Halls......Forgotten then
The thought of Bodli's daughter, Heimir's ward;
Not all her loveliness shall then prevail
To keep thee true to her......Thou wilt forget"
Cried Sigurd, angered, "How! What sayest thou?
Dost deem me ignorant of kingly ways,
That I should break my word unto a maid
Whom it doth seem I shall love from my heart?"
Then Gripir said, "Through others' trickery,
And by the hand of Fate shalt thou be led
Unto thy ruin, Sigurd.......Ask no more,
For I can tell thee naught........I see but mist,
And a strange coil of fighting.......murder......death......
Hagen and Gunther, thy two new-made friends,
Shall find their doomsday, but thou first art sped.....
Evil their hearts shall be to Sigmund's son......
It seems to me that by their hands thou'lt fall."
Said Sigurd bitterly, "Ill deeds in truth
If thou seest right. O weak wanes Sigurd's will
When he doth fail the maiden that he loves!
And wherefore shall my friends wish ill to me?"
Quoth Gripir, "Oaths shall ye three make, and join
Your hands together......Gunther, Hagen, thou.....
Shape shalt thou change with Gunther, aiding him
To win a bride who loveth thee, not him.......
And in the end thereof shall come great woe.
To the fair maid thou shalt a traitor seem,
Forgetting her, thou shalt another wed."
Cried Sigurd, "Never would I work her ill,
Nor be false to my word. O Gripir, know
That Sigmund's son is faithful"......Gripir said,
"By magic spell, by potent draught shalt thou
Be made oblivious.....When thou dost recall
Thy plighted truth then shall it be too late.
This trouble cometh on thee from the lies
And craft of Gunther's mother, who shall wish
That thou shouldst wed her daughter"......Sigurd said,
"Then am I guilty here, or doth Fate err?
Are the decrees of the great Gods unjust?
Doth Heimir's foster-daughter sin or I?
King Gibich's daughter......Is she innocent?
Or art thou now mistaken? Tell me then,
O tell me, Gripir, that thou seest lies!"
Said Gripir sadly, "Nay, Fate has ordained
That thou must pass by this hard thorn-strewn way......
May be to test thee is her purpose grim.....
Who understands the whim of Destiny?
But for no fault of thine shalt thou be slain,
Nor shall dishonour rest upon thy name."
Said Sigurd, "Shall my friends, King Gibich's kin,
Redden their sword-points in their kinsman's blood?
Speak further, Gripir, how can these things be?
I'll not believe it"......Gripir slowly said,
And his eyes gleamed as though he saw afar,
"Grim-hearted Kriemhild doth her brethren sway,
Who are by Hagen lightly moved to wrath......
He shall advise thy death, but above all
Is Oda the Witch-Queen the source of harm.
Yet in one thing shalt thou take heart of grace.....
O Battle-leader, this fate has been laid
Upon thy kingly life, that never man
More famed than thou shall walk beneath the sun,
Treading the ways of earth, save one alone,
And he shall be thy rival, yet thy friend......
His enmity thou'lt prove, so gain his love.....
Yet even he, though sprung from Odin's stock,
For of the Amal's noble race he comes,
Shall not prevail to save thee from thy doom.
Seek not to further probe the mysteries
Of that which is to come......Thy fame secure,
Though short thy life, be thou content, my son."
Said Sigurd boldly, "Let us part in joy;
Nor be we troubled, kinsman, nor afraid......
No man may hope to overrule his fate......
Now hast thou, Gripir, done as I desired;
And I know well that willingly hadst thou
Foretold me happiness and a long life,
If thou hadst been allowed.......Farewell, O King,
Though my life shall prove short, may thine be long."
Then rode the Volsung home. Soon after he
And Regin met; said gloomy Hreidmar's son,
"Slay Fafnir as thou promised"......Sigurd said,
"That will I do, but first another thing.....
Namely, revenge King Sigmund and my kin,
Who fell in that hard battle long ago.
Wilt aid me, Regin, 'gainst King Hunding's sons?"
To which, though surlily, the Smith agreed.
Notes:
1. Elder Edda, ed. Gering, 4th
Ed. (Gripisspó), Völs. Saga, ch. XVI. 1A. Dietrich of Bern. [Back]
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