hou goest; each one
falls bloody on the prince's breast, wet, cold, and piercing, with
sorrow big.

44. We shall surely drink delicious draughts, though we have lost
life and lands. No one shall a song of mourning sing, though on my
breast he wounds behold. Now are women in the mound enclosed,
daughters of kings, with us the dead.

Sigrun prepares a bed in the mound.

35. Here, Helgi! have I for thee a peaceful couch prepared, for the
Ylfings' son. On thy breast I will, chieftain! repose, as in my hero's
lifetime I was wont.

_Helgi_.

46. Nothing I now declare unlooked for, at Sefafioll, late or early,
since in a corpse's arms thou sleepest, Hogni's fair daughter! in a
mound, and thou art living, daughter of kings!

47. Time 'tis for me to ride on the reddening ways: let the pale
horse tread the aerial path. I towards the west must go over
Vindhialm's bridge, ere Salgofnir awakens heroes.

Helgi and his attendants rode their way, but Sigrun and hers proceeded
to their habitation. The following evening Sigrun ordered her
serving-maid to hold watch at the mound; but at nightfall, when Sigrun
came thither, she said:

48. Now would he come, if he to come intended, Sigmund's son, from
Odin's halls. I think the hope lessens of the king's coming, since on
the ash's boughs the eagles sit, and all the folk to the dreams' tryst
are hastening.

_Serving-maid_.

49. Be not so rash alone to go, daughter of heroes! to the house of
draugs:[58] more powerful are, in the night-season, all dead warriors,
than in the light of day.

Sigrun's life was shortened by grief and mourning. It was a belief in
ancient times that men were regenerated, but that is now regarded as
an old crone's fancy. Helgi and Sigrun are said to have been
regenerated. He was then called Helgi Haddingiaskadi, and she Kara
Halfdan's daughter, as it is said in the songs of Kara; and she also
was a Valkyria.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 54: Slaughtering and carrying off the cattle on the
sea-shore.]

[Footnote 55: The Valkyriur.]

[Footnote 56: Dark words of deadly import.]

[Footnote 57: The superstition commemorated In this strophe is, no
doubt, the origin of some very beautiful ballads in the later
literature of Scandinavia and Germany referring to this superstition:

"When thou, my dear, art cheerful,
And easy in thy mind,
The coffin where I slumber
Is all with roses lined.

But oft as thou'rt in sorrow,
And bow