The Wayland-Dietrich Saga
How Regin told Sigurd the Tale of the Nibelung Hoard,
and of the curse thereon. (1)
He was well greeted. Thus spake Hreidmar's son,
"Here cometh in my Hall the mighty one,
The son of Sigmund, who hath higher mood
Than many an older man......O battle-hope
Of this keen wolf-cub whom I've helped to rear
I hold in truth.......Nor think to be decieved......
Now Ingve's (2) sprig hath come among us, sure
This Prince will prove the mightiest 'neath the sun......
The shuttle's whirr that spins thy web of fate
Is heard throughout all lands........So welcome, son!"
Came Sigurd then and stood by Regin's side,
They two alone together........Regin asked,
"Knowst thou thy father did possess great wealth,
And knowst thou who his riches keepeth now"?
Quoth Sigurd, "Surely, that do the two Kings,
Hjalprek and Alf, what then?" Said Regin, low,
"And dost thou trust them thus far, Sigurd, say?"
He answered, "Aye, it well befits they should
Hold those same riches......It is best for all,
Far easier they guard this wealth than I."
No more said wily Regin at that time,
But on another day when they had speech
The one with other, mockingly he spake,
"It's passing wonderful, my lad, that thou
The Kings' horse-boy wilt be, a footman too
To run behind thy masters." "Nay," said he,
"It is not so, for they share all with me,
And whatsoe'er I want they grant my wish."
Quoth Regin, "Ask a horse of them, my son."
Quoth Sigurd, "Yea, that shall be when I will."
Thereafter went the lad unto the King,
Who said, "What wilt thou, youngster, of us Speak!"
Then answered Sigurd, "Give me for my play
A horse, fair Sire." Quoth Hjalprek graciously,
"Choose for thyself a horse, and all besides
That thy heart longs for, take thou from our goods."
Next day went Sigurd forth unto the wood,
And on the way he met an aged man,
Long-bearded, grey, one-eyed, whom he knew not,
Who asked him whither went he......Sigurd said,
"I'm off to choose a horse, wilt counsel me?"
He answered, "Go we drive the beasts, my son,
Down to the river that's called Busil-tarn."
So the twain drave the horses in mid-stream
Below the waterfall. (3) Then flung they stones,
So that the rushing water splashing up
Dashed in the horses' faces, daunting them,
That all swam back to land save one alone......
A stallion, grey of hue, young, great of growth
And beautiful, that no man e'er bestrode......
Quoth the old bearded carle, "This horse is come
Of Sleipnir's stock and must with heed be trained,
No better steed than he was ever seen."
When Sigurd turned to thank him he was gone,
Yet whither the lad saw not, nor knew he
That Odin's self spake with him in that hour.
Then Sigurd sprang on the good steed's broad back
And rode him home rejoicing in his might.
To the grey horse the lad gave a new name,
Grani, the best horse in this mortal world,
For so he deemed him. Yet I have heard say
That his two brethren were as good as he;
Grey Schemming, Witga's steed in after years,
And Falka, the fine bay that Dietrich rode......
Nor was there much amiss with the white horse
That was called Benig, which Monk Ilsan owned,
Nor Rispa, Heimir's stallion........These five steeds
Were Sleipnir's colts and justly were they famed
For beauty and for speed. Moreover, they
Had beyond other horses length of days;
Though not invulnerable, their lives' span
Was measured by the faeries' years, not ours;
Far beyond count of men their life-days ran.
Early next morning Sigurd rose and leapt
On Grani's back, so rode across the stream
To seek Smith Regin's house, which lay not far
From the great waterfall. He greeted him,
And those two once more spake alone. The Smith
Seemed gloomy and distraught, spake 'tween his teeth,
And dark his face grew, dark as his fell mood.......
"Too little goods hast thou; it grieveth me
That thou most like a village lad must roam,
Yet I could tell thee of a lucky chance
Whereby thou mightest win wealth untold, my son,
And therewithal great honour and fair fame
To be had in the getting an thou wilt."
Asked Sigurd, "Where, and who doth guard the same?"
Then answered Regin, "Fafnir is his name
Who wardeth this great treasure, and he lies
Not far from here encamped on Gnita Heath,
That men are used to call the Glittering Plain;
And when thou art come thither thou wilt say
That never hast thou seen more wealth of gold
Lie in one place, nor shalt thou e'er need more,
Though thou shouldst be of all Kings in this world
The oldest and most famous"........Sigurd said,
"I know the nature of this venomous worm,
Though I am but a youngster, and I've heard
That none dare venture 'gainst the loathsome beast
Because of his great size and wickedness."
But Regin answered, "Nay, it is not so;
The fashion and the growth of him, my son,
Are but as other lindworms........Over much
Is made of his great grimness than is truth......
So would at least thy forefathers have deemed.......
But thou.......Though thou be come of Volsung stock,
Yet 'tis not likely thou hast the same thoughts,
The noble heart and the quick daring mind
Of those who were for hero-deeds far-famed
In the first dawn of time........I feared as much".......
Said Sigurd, flushing hotly, "It may be
That of thier hardiness I have not much,
Nor share their mood; but thou hast little need
To scorn me thus, nor urge me to ride out
Who am scarce more than child; and wherefore now
Dost thou so busily thus egg me on?"
Said Regin softly, "Therein lies a tale
Which I must tell thee"........Sigurd said, "Say on.......
Let me now hear this, Regin." The Smith said,
"Thus then begins the tale: (4) My father's name
Was Hreidmar called by most men, and some say
He was the son of Mimer called the Old,
One time grim guardian of Ash Ygdrasil;
Mighty was he and rich, well skilled in runes,
And several sons had he, of whom the name
Of one was Fafnir, grasper of the gold;
Another Otter, Mimer was the third,
And I the fourth, and other kin had he
Who here concern us not. (5) I was most skilled,
Whate'er my brother Mimer chose to say,
In cunning smith's craft and to work in iron,
In silver or in gold, for I knew well
How to produce new things; but in bold deeds
And in a fair appearance, least of all.
My brother Otter had quite other gifts
And other nature......A great fisher he
And roamer of the wilds, not like most men;
By day he changed into an otter's shape,
And ever lurked within the river beds,
Drawing fish thence that he caught in his mouth.
His prey he brought unto his father's house,
And that availed him well for sustenance.
Mostly he wore his otter-gear, and so
Each night crept home and blinking ate alone,
For on dry land he was as good as blind.
Of Mimer thou knowst well the mode of life,
Dark Sindre, cunning Dvalin thou hast seen,
My father's brethren, who with Mimer toil,
Maybe the others, but of all our kin
Fafnir by far is greatest and most grim,
Who greedily would have all in his reach
Called his alone, and none dare say him nay."
Here Regin paused, and for a moment frowned,
Then said, "There was a dwarf Andvari called,
Who used to dwell in yon great waterfall,
That to this day is called Andvari's Force,
In likeness of a pike; nor lacked for meat,
For fish enough were found 'neath the great Fall.......
My brother Otter too fished in that force;
Bringing his prey out one by one to land,
He laid them on the bank.
About this time
Three of the Æsir had set out to see
This world of ours, to mark and learn its ways......
Odin and gentle Hœnir, who to men
Gave all that is worth having.......Gift divine
He gave to mortals, their immortal souls.......
With these twain wandered Laufa's evil son;
And ever envious Loki grudged to men
That gift of price. Then to this stream they came
Faring along its course unto the Fall,
Where on the bank near by an otter crouched,
That had a salmon caught from out the Force
Which it ate blinking, blinded by the sun.......
Loki picked up a stone and threw it hard
Against the otter, crushing in its skull......
Then much he praised his hunting that he won
With but one cast the otter and the fish,
So picking up his prey he brought it on,
First flaying off the otter's glossy skin;
And well content were all three Æsir then,
Not knowing by mischance a man was slain;
For Odin on this journey laid aside
His powers of divination and foresight,
Faring as mortal, thus to better mark
Men's ways of life, their joys and sorrows prove.
Nor long had he to wait ere trouble came,
For trouble follows swift in error's train.
The Æsir came that evening to the house
Wherein my father dwelt in yonder vale,
That now lies ruined, empty, desolate;
A haunted spot that men fear in the dark......
They begged night-lodging, saying laughingly
That they had victuals with them, and they shewed
Their host their booty......But when Hreidmar saw
The bleeding body of his well-loved son,
He called to Fafnir and to me to come,
And privily he told us of their deed;
How these chance wayfarers had done to death
Our brother Otter.......Swiftly came we then
And laid hands on the Æsir suddenly,
Ere they were well aware, so bound them fast;
Then told them they had slain our father's son.
This was the weregeld that we sternly claimed,
Whereby to ransom their own precious lives;
That they should pay as much gold as desired
The outraged father. To this they agreed,
And made it fast with the accustomed oaths.
Then Hreidmar with grim looks held up the skin;
Quoth he, "Fill up with good red gold this pelt
That once was my son's garb.......Aye! Heap it o'er
Till naught but gold be seen.........Be that your task
And this my recompense for Otter's death."
Then Odin sent forth Loki, whom I loosed,
To get the gold.......He hurried to the sea,
Seeking (6) Ran's hidden cave in its green depths,
Thence stole her net.........He had devised a plan
In his most cunning mind, as thou shalt hear.......
He came back to this land that then belonged
To the realm known once as Schwartzalfenheim,
Home of the Black Elves. In the waterfall
He cast the net so that the unwary pike
Was trapped therein. Between his sinewy hands
The Fire-god gripped him with a cruel smile,
"What sort of fish is this that swims in streams,
Yet cannot guard itself against a snare?
Wouldst thou redeem thy head from Helheim, speak!
Where shall I find the Water's gleaming Flame?
Give me thy hidden treasure." Said the pike,
"Andvari am I called, Oinn is my sire,
And many streams have I swum up and down,
For from the dawn of days mine evil fate
Hath doomed me to wade water evermore,
Since by a Norn I'm cursed"........Quoth Loki then,
"Tell me, Andvari, if thou now wouldst win
Leave yet to dwell awhile in earthly halls,
What pay is due unto the sons of men,
And for that matter also sons of dwarves,
Who break their word?" Then spake the pike,
Taking the form and nature of a dwarf,
And shivering as he met the keen hard eye
Of the fierce Fire-god shining balefully,
"Hard the reward of perjured sons of men......
Nor are the elves and dwarves from this exempt.......
They wade in Wadgelmir, the loathsome flood
That heavily doth roll its choked-up stream
Through Nastrond's realm that lies 'neath Nifelheim.
Here too the slanderers wallow........Hard indeed
The punishment of liars herein drenched."
Quoth Loki, "Be thou warned.......Give now to me
For thy life's ransom all the gold thou hast
Concealed within the rock"..........Andvari shewed
The greedy Fire-god all the wealth he had
And bare it forth, and it was a great store.
But in his hand the dwarf strove hard to hide
His dearest gem, a tiny golden ring.
This Loki saw........Roughly he bade him shew
What he hid there so slyly......... "Give it up!
That golden gaud thou shall in no wise keep!
Who knows what secret magic lurks within
Its gleaming circle?"........Then Andvari wept;
"Nay, take it not.......O let me keep my ring,
Lord of the Flames, it is but a small thing,
Yet would I not be utterly bereft.......
It comforts me who nothing else have left........
Moreover I can from this ring get more,
And thereby may replenish my lost store.
If I may keep it I will steal for thee
Gold in abundance........See, I kneel to thee.......
Take not my ring, good Loki, I implore."
Quoth Loki harshly, "Nay, thou shalt not keep
A stiver back that is for ransom due........
Give me the ring!" He roughly snatched the gaud
From the dwarf's trembling fingers, with a laugh.
Then went Andvari moaning horribly
And crouched behind the rock. Thence he cried out
With a high voice exceeding pitiful.......
"Now shall the gold, that the Smith shall hold,
Bring many a man to death.
My ring shall breed ire, the son slay sire,
Three (7) brethren must die, eight heroes thereby
In strife spend their last breath.
The theft of my ring on thee shall bring
Naught but ill, nor shall aught of this gold
Bless any who own it, but woe manifold
Shall it bring for ever........Friends shall it sever.......
For my curse now I lay on the gold."
Then with a howl he cursed the mocking God,
Who smiling said, "I thought as much, and I,
Andvari, I will do my part that this
Thy prophecy fail not, for I will help
To set the coming owners of this wealth
About the ears........I love them not, my friend.......
Nor would I see these mortals happy men.
For mine own share my head can help my hand,
Nor do I fear thy curse." He turned away,
While long Andvari's screams rang in his ears,
His wailing voice still cried, "The Water's Flame,
The gleaming gold thou stealest, shall be bane
Of all who own it henceforth evermore".......
The Fire-god came to Hreidmar's house again
And found the Æsir sitting free, unharmed,
For we had loosed them from their grievous bonds
When they had sworn the oaths no Northman breaks.
Loki shewed Odin his great treasure-trove,
So heavy scarcely he might bear its weight.
Upon the Fire-god's finger glowed the ring;
Allfather saw the gaud, and it appeared
A fair and precious gem. He took it then
From Loki's hand, but all the other gold
He gave to Hreidmar. The Smith took the skin,
Which he stuffed full of earth, then propping it,
Set it upright. 'Twas Odin's part to try
To cover all the pelt with heaped up gold;
Which having done he called the sullen Smith
To see he had fulfilled the pledge......By gold
The skin was hidden........Hreidmar walked around,
Stooping, he searched with careful prying eyes,
And found a muzzle hair that yet appeared
Uncovered by the gold. Quoth he, and sneered,
"Fulfil your bargain, Æsir, cover this
With gold as ye did promise, or ye have
Your solemn pledge now broken, and ye die."
But all the gold was used, there seemed naught left.
Odin from off his finger drew the ring
And hid therewith the hair. He slowly said,
"Now are we quit of blood-guilt.......We have paid
The recompense for Otter, thy dead son."
Odin took up his spear, Loki his shoes
Set on his feet, Hœnir his cloak drew on.
They thought to leave that place.......Then Loki sang,
As spitefully he turned and eyed my sire:
"Thine is the gold now; gold enow hast thou
Got for the weregeld
Redeeming my head.......
Yet little the blessing, great the oppressing......
This gold shall bring to thee
A doom dire and dread:
Thy sons' bane and thine 'twill be,
Soon thou'lt lie dead.
Death lurks in the gold; whoso thinks it to hold
Finds a curse manifold;
By it murder is bred."
Said Hreidmar fiercely, "Dar'st thou curse me then?
That thou thus pratest, gabbling?........No love-gift
Expect I from thy hands, O false of heart!
But had I sooner heard thy curse, thy life
Had been but little worth........I had it ta'en".......
Sang mocking Loki, with his jeering smile,
"Worse is to come, nor may I be dumb,
My heart is foreboding of horror and strife,
When kinsfolk are striving; aye, and the wife
Shall be widow ere all shall be done......
The curse of Andvari shall fall on the son
And the son's sons, of races untold
Of those who hope vainly to keep Gullveig's gold.
Yet unknown are the Princes, yet undreamt of is their fate,
Whom the Hoard shall egg to murder, when the love of gold breeds hate."
Quoth Hreidmar, laughing scornfully, "Have done!
The red gold stays beneath my sway, I hope
So long as I shall live.......Thy scolding threats
I fear not, Loki. Not a fig care I
For thy vain outpourings..........Go, get thee hence!
Sheer off! Begone!" Then Loki laughing went
To seek the other Gods gone on before.
Henceforth was gold oft known as "Ottergild,"
Or "Æsirs' Need," or the "Red Earth of Strife,"
For this same cause; and in the end may be
All shall befall as Dwarf Andvari said......
The curse has worked already........Hreidmar took
The whole of that great store in recompense
For his son's death, though Fafnir murmuring craved,
As I did too, our share as Otter's kin.
But Hreidmar grudged (8) us any of the gold,
And that was our undoing and his own,
Since for this cause our father met his death
At Fafnir's hands, nor did I seek to stay
That murderous deed........As our sire soundly slept
Fafnir drew nigh unheard, and ran him through
With his great sword.......The dying Hreidmar called
Unto his daughters, "Haste ye.......Hither run......
Lyngheide here! O Lofnheide come!
Mine end is on me, slain by mine own son...........
O see ye not, my daughters, the foul crime?
The direful crime! Ah! doth it not demand
A fearful vengeance?" But Lyngheide said,
"Few are the sisters who would brother harm
E'en though they lose a father".......and she sneered.....
Groaned Hreidmar, "Naught but daughters bear thou then,
Wolf-hearted maid! Let ne'er to thee be born
A son when thou dost wed........For sure a son
Would ready be to 'venge his mother's harm,
An she by chance had need of his strong arm.......
Now am I sped".........So died my sire. The gold
Fafnir did seize on for himself alone.
Then was I fain that of the golden store
Fafnir should give me half, my lawful share.
But he spake harshly, and his blazing eyes
Belied the icy coldness of his voice,
Revealing in their furious glare the fire
That lurked deep in his sullen mind.......His look,
Fiercely bent on me, drave my trembling blood
In terror through my veins, and my heart quailed,
As in a deep and threat'ning voice he growled,
"But little hope hast thou to share with me.........
Dost think I for my brother's sake have slain
Our father? Hence! Thou sorry fool! Get hence!
Ere Hreidmar's fate be thine".........He snarling spake,
And turning from me went unto the Hoard;
There crouching sat and handled the bright gold,
With loving fingers turned it o'er and o'er,
Muttering the while......I sought my sister's side,
"Lyngheide, tell me how to get my share
Of mine inheritance that Fafnir steals?
If we two fight, it well may chance I fall."
Then whispered she, "Softly and sweetly now
Speak thou unto our brother.......Take ye thought,
Not seemly were it that with Fafnir thou
Shouldst wrangle sword in hand." But when I went
To urge my claim with friendly soothing words,
Lo! Fafnir grim appeared. He had now ta'en
The helm that once was Hreidmar's, and had set
The glittering "Ægirhelm" upon his head,
That frighted all who looked upon its gleam.
It had belonged to Ægir, the Sea-god;
For from his store came all this wealth and gear
Andvari had in charge; which he did steal,
So some have thought, or else had as award
From old King Nibel who once owned the gold.
How Nibel got the Hoard is known to none,
Though some folk say it was in this way won.......
That he the Sea-god's daughter had to wife
Who was called Foam of Waves.......From Fog and Foam
'Tis very sure have sprung the Nib'lung race......
Children of mist and fantasy are they.......
As for the gold, King Nibel lost it soon,
Save some small portion that his sons retained,
Who quarrelled over it till they grew old,
And so far as I know they wrangled yet.
A third part of it was by Hirder seized,
The Amalung Prince who late ruled over Spain,
And now his grandson, Akki Harlunstrust,
Holds this share which is called the Harlungs' Hoard,
For Hirder was called Harlung in old days.
As for the origin of all this gold
Nothing is known for certain, though 'tis said
That Ægir had the Hoard from Gullveig's hands,
The crafty witch whose name on earth is Heid,
And that the Sea-god for her sake forsook
His truth wife Ran, whereby she, bitter grown,
Doth show her malice dire in brewing storms......
Which may be sooth or not, but this is true,
This gold brings naught to Gods or men but woe,
And trouble dire to all who hold the Hoard.
Yet if one knew the secret, how to keep
This wealth, in wisdom making use of it,
That none be lost and ever there grew more,
Methinks but little need were of regret,
And I, for one, would gladly take the risk.
With Ægir's shining fright-compelling helm
Fafnir seized also Hroth, death-dealing sword.
For my part I had girt unto my side
Refil, the sword I wear, a right good blade.......
Yet was I filled with horrid fear; meseemed
The eyes of Fafnir balefully now gleamed
More like a venomous serpent's than a man's.
I dare not speak to him but fled that place,
Leaving him crouched upon the heaped-up gold.
When I had gone, my brother rose and went
From out the house and took with him the Hoard,
As much as he might carry at one time.......
A mighty load that tired e'en his great strength......
Unto a gloomy cave 'mongst the steep crags
That shut out Heaven from the Glittering Heath,
Which men call Gnita Heath in the Norse tongue.
Here made he his safe lair hid from men's eyes,
And brought the treasure to it day by day
Till all was piled therein, then thereon lay
And brooded darkly, till it came to pass
All semblance of a human form he lost,
And took the body of a creeping snake,
A lindworm, like a dragon of the deep.
Not of his own freewill or wise design
Took place this frightful change, but rather caused
By the insatiable love of gain
That, like a canker rooted in his soul,
Grew rank till his whole being it possessed......
For poison lurks within that golden Hoard,
And potent venom.......Thus his heart became
Like to a serpent's nature, full of guile.
For my part I went North and stayed awhile
With Nithad, Lord of Niars, whom I served,
Being my kinsman. Not long since I came
Unto King Hjalprek's Court to work as Smith,
Until he gave me charge to foster thee.
That is my tale, and that is how I lost
My share of weregeld for dead Otter's blood,
And mine inheritance......All, all is gone".....
Said Sigurd musing, "Much now hast thou lost,
And right malicious have thy kinsmen been!
Come! Make me a good sword by thy Smith's craft,
E'en as I once asked Mimer.......Such a sword
As never was, nor shall be forged again,
That I great deeds therewith may bring to pass......
If I have mood thereto, and if thou wouldst
That I should slay this dragon once a man,
Fafnir thy brother".......Regin quickly said,
"Trust me for that, I will provide a sword
Wherewith thou shalt slay Fafnir easily."
Quoth Sigurd, "Forge the sword, then all thy will
I shall perform, and thereto take an oath......
But first will I my father's death revenge......
Tell me who slew him, Regin?" Regin smiled,
"Ask thou thy mother, lad.........It's not for me
To send thee to thy death across the waves.......
If she hath told thee not, I know not why
Thou askest me who hath thy father slain."
Sigurd thereat, quick redd'ning, held his peace,
So for that time they sundered.......Sigurd went
Home to King Hjalprek's Hall, on the High Seat
Sat with the Kings in honour drinking wine,
Thence to his bed, and sleeping, dreamed great dreams.
Notes:
1. Faroe Islands Ballads. Sn. Edda, Sigurtharkvitha II.
1-14 (Reginsmol), Völsunga Saga, ch. 13, 14. [Back]
2. Ingve: Ancestor of the Shieldings and Volsungs. [Back]
3. See Faroe Island Ballads = (Sjurdslieder "Regin der Smied.")
[Back]
4. The Nibelung Hoard, Sn. Edda. [Back]
5. Cf. Rydberg. Teut. Myth., p. 487. [Back]
6. Ægir's wife, the Sea-goddess. [Back]
7. Fafnir, Mimer, Regin. [Back]
8. Cf. Sn. Edda. [Back]
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