her mother's lap, born in the world for ceaseless misery, for many a
man's heartfelt sorrow."
45. Downcast he from the meeting turned to where the lady treasures
distributed. She was viewing all she owned: hungry female thralls and
chamber-women. She put on her golden corslet--no good meditated--ere
herself she pierced, with the sword's point.
46. On the pillow she turned to> the other side, and, wounded with
the glave, on her last counsels thought.
47. "Now let come those who desire gold, and aught less precious, to
receive from me. To every one I give a gilded necklace,[76]
needle-work and coverlets, splendid weeds."
48. All were silent, thought on what to do, and all together answer
gave: "Too many are there dead: we will yet live, still be hungry
hall-servants, to do what fitting is."
49. At length after reflection, the lady linen-clad, young in years,
words in answer uttered: "I desire that none, dead to entreaty, should
by force, for our sake, lose their life.
50. Yet o'er your bones will burn fewer ornaments, Menia's good
meal,[77] when ye go hence me to seek.
51. Gunnar! sit down, I will tell to thee, that of life now hopeless
is thy bright consort. Thy vessel will not be always afloat, though I
shall have my life resigned.
52. With Gudrun thou wilt be reconciled, sooner than thou thinkest:
that wise woman has by the king sad memorials, after her consort's
death.
53. There is born a maid, which her mother rears; brighter far than
the clear day, than the sun's beam, will Svanhild be.
54. Gudrun thou wilt give to an illustrious one, a warrior, the bane
of many men: not to her wish will she be married; Atli will come her
to espouse, Budli's son, my brother.
55. Much have I in memory how I was treated, when ye me so cruelly
had deceived: robbed I was of happiness, while my life lasted.
56. Thou wilt desire Oddrun to possess, but Atli will permit it not;
in secret ye will each other meet. She will love thee, as I had done,
if us a better fate had been allotted.
57. Thee will Atli barbarously treat; in the narrow serpent-den wilt
thou be cast.
58. It will too come to pass, not long after, that Atli will his
soul resign, his prosperity, and cease to live; for Gudrun in her
vengeance him in his bed will slay, through bitterness of spirit, with
the sword's sharp edge.
59. More seemly would appear our sister Gudrun, had she in death her
first consort followed, had but good counsel been t
|