mine. Then gave I myself
to the sea, but the billows thereof cast me out aland, and to this king
then was I given; then gave I Swanhild away out of the land with mighty
wealth; and lo, my next greatest sorrow after Sigurd, for under horses'
feet was she trodden and slain; but the grimmest and ugliest of woes
was the casting of Gunnar into the Worm-close, and the hardest was the
cutting of Hogni's heart from him.

"Ah, better would it be if Sigurd came to meet me, and I went my ways
with him, for here bideth now behind with me neither son nor daughter
to comfort me. Oh, mindest thou not, Sigurd, the words we spoke when we
went into one bed together, that thou wouldst come and look on me; yea,
even from thine abiding place among the dead?"

And thus had the words of her sorrow an end.

ENDNOTE:
(1) Weed (A.S. "weodo"), clothing.
(2) Grave-ale, burial-feast.

CHAPTER XLIII. The Latter End of all the Kin of the Giukings.

Now telleth the tale concerning the sons of Gudrun, that she had arrayed
their war-raiment in such wise, that no steel would bite thereon; and
she bade them play not with stones or other heavy matters, for that it
would be to their scathe if they did so.

And now, as they went on their way, they met Erp, their brother, and
asked him in what wise he would help them.

He answered, "Even as hand helps hand, or foot helps foot."

But that they deemed naught at all, and slew him there and then. Then
they went their ways, nor was it long or ever Hamdir stumbled, and
thrust down his hand to steady himself, and spake therewith--

"Naught but a true thing spake Erp, for now should I have fallen, had
not hand been to steady me."

A little after Sorli stumbled, but turned about on his feet, and
so stood, and spake--

"Yea now had I fallen, but that I steadied myself with both feet."

And they said they had done evilly with Erp their brother.

But on they fare till they come to the abode of King Jormunrek, and they
went up to him and set on him forthwith, and Hamdir cut both hands from
him and Sorli both feet. Then spake Hamdir--

"Off were the head if Erp were alive; our brother, whom we slew on the
way, and found out our deed too late." Even as the Song says,--

"Off were the head
If Erp were alive yet,
Our brother the bold,
Whom we slew by the way,
The well-famed in warfare."

Now in this must they turn away from the words of their mother, whereas
they h