Drap Niflunga

                        The Slaughter of the Niflungs.

        Gunnar and Högni then took all the gold, Fafnir’s heritage. Dissension
prevailed afterwards between the Giúkungs and Atli. He charged them with being
the cause of Brynhild’s death. By way of reconciliation, it was agreed that
they should give him Gudrún in marriage, to whom they administered an oblivious
potion, before she would consent to espouse Atli. Atli had two sons, Erp and
Eitil, but Svanhild was the daughter of Sigurd and Gudrún. King Atli invited
gunnar and Högni to his residence, and sent to them Vingi, or Knefröd. Gudrún
was aware of the treachery, and sent them word in runes not to come; and to
Högni, as a token, she sent the ring Andvaranaut, in which she had tied some
wolf’s hair. Gunnar had sought the hand of Oddrún, Atli’s sister, but did not
obtain it. He then married Glaumvör, and Högni took Kostbera to wife. Their
sons were Sólar, Snævar, and Giúki. When the Giúkungs came to Atli, Gudrún
besought his sons to intercede for their lives, but they would not. The heart
of Högni was cut out, and Gunnar was cast into a pen of serpents. He struck his
harp and lulled the serpents, but an adder stung him in the liver.



                      <<_Previous_Page       Next_Page_>>