The Wayland-Dietrich Saga
How Sigmund found his wife again, and how he fought
with Hunding's sons and fell in battle (so all men
deemed). How Alf the Sea King carried off Siegelind,
thinking she was a bondmaid, and how, discovering her
true name by a trick, he wooed her, but without
success.
King Sigmund once rode out to hunt the boar,
And chased a monstrous beast the livelong day,
Yet ran it not to bay, but it sped far
Within the hidden coverts of that wood,
The haunted Swabian-wald. King Sigmund rode
Hot on its tracks and outstripped all his train;
Yet had he there two couples of his hounds,
Who, giving tongue, did lure him far within
The gloomy forest. Then seemed they at fault;
The scent was lost, nor could he find the spoor,
Search as he might; and now the sun was set.....
He sounded Forloyne, (1) but no answering call
Came to his listening ears, and he was left
In the dark dismal wood far from his friends,
His horse nigh foundered and his hounds fordone,
And he himself a weary downcast man......
Slinging two braches (2) 'cross his saddle-bow,
The other two slow limping at his side,
He rode a footpace through the darkling wood;
For now night fell with great obscurity,
Nor sign of castle nor of burgh saw he,
Nor any trace of men, till, as he rode,
He spied through the dense fir-trees faintly gleam
A spark of light, and by a narrow track,
That scarce his horse might brush through, he came out
Upon a forest clearing, where a hut,
Of osiers made, stood near a little stream,
Like silver glittering as shone out the moon.
Dismounting, he blew his horn, and thought
To see some forester's good buxom dame
Come to his call, but his astonished eyes,
Framed in the doorway, saw the fragile form
Of one he deemed long dead...... "It is her ghost,"
Shuddering he thought, and turned to fly that place,
Remembering her fate who was his wife.
But she with gentle voice cried, "Sigmund, stay!
Hast thou not come to fetch me, husband mine?
Why dost thou fear thy faithful loving wife,
That thou dost turn from her? O Sigmund, come!
I am no spirit, but am flesh and blood
Even as thou art, Sire....Come now within,
And I will tell thee all the truth at last"......
Then when he came within and heard the truth,
And looking in her face knew 'twas no lie,
He fell down at her feet like a dead man,
And craved her pardon, making heavy moan;
Nor could be comforted, for that his son
Had perished by his cruel want of faith
In her who had been aye his loving wife.
Then on the morrow the old forester
Shewed them the path that led from out the wood,
And Sigmund took his wife up on his horse,
So rode back to his palace.......With his hounds
Ran her white greyhound bounding joyfully.....
But the old hunter went back with rich gifts
Unto his cottage and his wondering wife.
Now the next Spring King Lyngvi, Hunding's son, (3)
Gathered a host and with his brethren came
To fall on Sigmund, whom they hated sore,
For that in all things he surpassed them;
And this stung worst of all, that he had won
The daughter of King Eylimi to wife.
Over the Volsungs they would fain prevail,
Crushing their pride and might into the dust.
So they rode in his realm, who was the head
Of the famed Volsung stock, and sent him word
They would not steal upon him in the night,
For that they thought it right unlikely he
Would slink away from them. Now at this time
King Eylimi in Sigmund's Burgh had come
To see his daughter. Then these two Kings raised
Their might to meet their foes, but sent the Queen
Into the forest with a bondmaid who
Loved well her Lady.........Sisibe her name......
And mighty wealth went with them. There they stayed
In the old hunter's hut while the hosts fought.
Then with o'erpowering force the Vikings rushed
Up from their ships and all before them bore.....
Sigmund the King and Eylimi set up
Their banners and let blow their battle-horns.......
Loud now did Sigmund blow his father's horn,
Egging on his brave men, but they were few......
Then was that battle fierce and Sigmund fought
Though not a young man, hardily that day;
Ever was he the foremost of his men,
No shield, no byrnie could 'gainst him prevail;
Ever he brake through his strong foemen's ranks
And none might tell the issue......Many a dart
And many an arrow flew apace that day......
Yet his wise spae-wrights (3A) wrought so well for him
That he gat ne'er a wound, and none may tell
The tale of them that fell before his might.....
For both his arms were to the shoulders red
With blood of foemen, such his battle rage.....
But now when this hard fight had dured a while
There came into the press a one-eyed man
With slouching hat on his head, and cloaked in blue.....
A threat'ning figure with a spear in hand......
He came against King Sigmund and uphove
His spear against him. As the King smote down
Right fiercely with his sword it struck the steel
And burst asunder, falling into twain......
Therewith King Sigmund's luck went far from him,
And many of his men fell and were slain,
Till into his stout heart crept black dismay.
Yet naught the King would spare himself, but still
Cheered on his folk......But now was proved the saw
"No might 'gainst many"........In this hard-fought fight
Fell Eylimi the King, and Sigmund fell
E'en in the forefront of the battle line,
And with them the most part of their brave host.
Now did King Lyngvi hasten to the Burgh,
Thinking to take Queen Siegelind therein,
But here he failed.....Nor Queen nor wealth he found
In Sigmund's Halls........So fared he through the realm
And set his men to rule thereo'er, and deemed
That now no more for ever need he dread
The Volsung Kin, for all their line were dead.
But late that night came Sieg'lind 'midst the slain,
Seeking her mate, and found him lying there
Nigh unto death, sore stricken. Then she asked
If he might yet be healed, but he replied,
"Maybe some men might choose to live, sweet wife,
When hope has lessened or has vanished quite,
But now my luck has fled, for Odin wills
That I draw sword no more. Dost thou not see
That this his sword and mine, his gift to me,
Lies broken here as useless as am I,
And by his doing. Therefore will I not
Suffer that ye shall heal me. I must go
Where he doth call me......Let none hinder me.....
For lo! I have waged war while he so willed,
And now if he doth will, here must I die".......
Said she as she bent o'er him, "None so ill
I'd deem it, Sigmund, an thou mightst be healed.....
My father lies here dead and unavenged".......
But said the wounded King, and looked on her
With a great longing in his darkening eyes,
"That shall be given to another man......
I've had strange dreams as I lay stricken here......
I saw my sin 'gainst thee.......my want of faith......
And was sore grieved and troubled......dearest life.....
Came Odin to my side, methought, and he
Touched my dim eyes that they saw far beyond
This bloody battlefield and this dark hour......
Of that which is to come I was aware......
Yet all grows dim again.....I do forget.....
But one thing, wife, I still see clear and plain.....
Our little child......our son......my lawful heir,
Whom we deemed lost.....Lo! He shall come again
From the dark forest in the Gods' own time.
See that thou nourish him and with good heed,
For he shall be the noblest of our kin......
And these same shattered shards of my good sword
Keep well, for of this sword that is called Gram
Shall be made Balmung, a right goodly blade.
And this our son shall bear it, and therewith
Shall do great works such as the hand of time
Shall ne'er diminish, nor their fame grow less......
So let this comfort thee, mine own true wife.....
But I grow weary with my wounds.......I'll go
To seek our kin that have passed on before
Unto Allfather and Valhalla's Halls......
Nor shalt thou stay me".......Then spake he no more,
But Sieg'lind sat o'er him till came the dawn.
When the sun rose there lay he cold and pale
In the dim light of morning, and she thought
That unto Odin his brave soul had fled.......
Then looking up she saw where many ships
Were sailing to the land, and she arose,
With quick words to the handmaid bidding her,
"Let us now change our garments; thou shalt be
In my place for a while, good Sisibe,
And take my name and say thou art the Queen,
Eylimi's daughter"......Swiftly was it done.....
Then drew those Vikings near, and they beheld
Where many men had fallen in hard fight;
Also they saw two women flee away
Towards the wood. Then thought they to learn news
And leapt ashore, walking amidst the slain.
The leader of these men was Hjalprek's son,
Alf was he called, a warrior of great fame,
A goodly man to look on in his youth.
Then he bade seek these women, which they did,
And brought them to him, and he asked their names.
Then answered him the bondmaid all he asked,
And told of Sigmund and of Eylimi,
And of their fall, and of the other chiefs
Who lay there dead, and who had wrought that wrack.
And when King Alf asked of the dead man's wealth,
She guided them to where the treasure lay,
Which was exceeding great, so that men deemed
They ne'er had seen so much of priceless store
Heaped in one place as they then saw that day.
All this unto Alf's ships they bore and took
The women also with them, so set sail
For their own land......But first they searched the field
And found the body of King Eylimi,
So laid in howe; but Sigmund's they found not,
And wondering left that place. Then as they sailed
They talked of his great deeds and thought that there
Had surely fallen a right famous King.
Now sat King Alf in his great long-ship's stern
Near to the tiller, but the women he
Let bide within the fore-room; (4) yet would he
Send often for them both to talk with him,
Finding their counsel good and of account;
So came he to his home with store of gold.
Now Alf was deemed a man exceeding fair,
Goodly to look on, one to women dear......
Not long was he at home ere came the Queen
His Mother, Hjalprek's wife, who asked her son
Concerning these two women......"Why," said she,
"Has then the fairer woman fewer rings
And goes in poor attire? I deem, my son,
That she whom ye think least of is worth more,
And is the nobler of the twain." Said he,
"I too have much misdoubted me.......In truth,
Little is she like bondwoman or thrall.....
She knew well us to greet in seemly wise,
Whereas the other giggling spake with us
When first we met......Lo! We will test this now"......
So when it chanced men sat at drink one day,
King Alf sat with these women, and said he,
Idly, as though scarce thinking of his words,
Turning unto the bondmaid, "Fairest Dame,
How dost thou mark the passing of the hours,
When night is ageing ere yet comes the dawn,
An ye see not the shining lights of Heaven?"
Quoth Sisibe, loud laughing, "By this sign:
When I was but a lass and rose o'morns,
Good sooth, but I was thirsty, and would drink
As much as I might get, and even now,
Though I rise not betimes, yet am I wont
To wake at that same hour and crave for drink;
And by that token, Sir, I know the time."
Merrily laughed the King, and said, "In truth
Ill manners that for King's daughter, meseems"......
So turned he to where Sieg'lind sat and asked,
"And thou, my lass, how tellest thou the hours?"
Then she, unwitting of his purpose, said,
"When I was but a child my father gave
Me for a keepsake a wee golden ring;
And such its nature that it ever lay
Cold on my finger at the dawn of day;
Then I would wake and hear the bugles sound
And rise to go a hunting with my Sire;
So by that sign I knew that it was morn."
Smiling said Alf, "Come now, my Lady, say
When and where gold is in such plenty found
That bondmaids wear it? And indeed, fair Dame,
When go maidservants hunting with their Sires?
Come, come! It's long enow thou hid'st from me.....
Why, if thou'dst told me all e'en from the start,
Dost think I would have harmed thee? No, by Thor!
But thou shouldst have been as my father's child,
And I thy brother truly......Now, fair Queen,
Better than have been thy deeds unto me
Will I requite thee with, for thou shalt be
My wife, sweet Lady, and due jointure I
Will pay thee down when thou bear'st me a child."
Then she spake out and told the truth unshamed,
And was betrothed to Alf........Yet 'gainst her will......
For still she loved King Sigmund's memory,
And ever she some apt excuse devised
To stay the wedding.....Thus she grew well-skilled,
Pricked by her sorrow's need and her great grief,
In finding how to sway men to her will.
At Hjalprek's Court in honour she was held,
And thought the worthiest of noble dames;
Nor would King Alf wed her against her wish,
But for her love he tarried; yet oft sought
To move her steadfast mind, though all in vain.
So dwelt she there in peace for some long time.
Notes:
1. Forloyne Hunting call when lost, or when the quarry,
or hounds, outrun the hunter. [Back]
2. Cf. Roman des Loherain's 87, c. 20ff. [Back]
3. Cf. Völsunga Saga, ch. XII. [Back]
3A. Spae-wrights = wizards. [Back]
4. Forecastle. [Back]
© 2004-2007 Northvegr.
Most of the material on this site is in the public domain. However, many people have worked very hard to bring these texts to you so if you do use the work, we would appreciate it if you could give credit to both the Northvegr site and to the individuals who worked to bring you these texts. A small number of texts are copyrighted and cannot be used without the author's permission. Any text that is copyrighted will have a clear notation of such on the main index page for that text. Inquiries can be sent to info@northvegr.org. Northvegr™ and the Northvegr symbol are trademarks and service marks of the Northvegr Foundation.
|