The tale tells that Hjordis brought forth a man-child,
who was straightly borne before King Hjalprek, and then was the king glad
thereof, when he saw the keen eyes in the head of him, and he said that
few men would be equal to him or like unto him in any wise. So he was
sprinkled with water, and had to name Sigurd, of whom all men speak with
one speech and say that none was ever his like for growth and goodliness.
He was brought up in the house of King Hjalprek in great love and honour;
and so it is, that whenso all the noblest men and greatest kings are named
in the olden tales, Sigurd is ever put before them all for might and prowess,
for high mind and stout heart; wherewith he was far more abundantly gifted
than any man of the northern parts of the wide world.
So Sigurd waxed in King Hjalprek's house, and there
was no child but loved him; through him was Hjordis betrothed to King
Alf, and jointure meted to her.
Now Sigurd's foster-father was hight Regin, the son
of Hreidmar; he taught him all manner of arts, the chess play, and the
lore of runes, and the talking of many tongues, even as the wont was
with kings' sons in those days. But on a day when they were together,
Regin asked Sigurd, if he knew how much wealth his father had owned,
and who had the ward thereof; Sigurd answered, and said that the kings
kept the ward thereof.
Said Regin, "Dost thou trust them all utterly?"
Sigurd said, "It is seemly that they keep it till I
may do somewhat therewith, for better they wot how to guard it than
I do."
Another time came Regin to talk to Sigurd, and said
--
"A marvellous thing truly that thou must needs be a
horse-boy to the kings, and go about like a running knave."
"Nay," said Sigurd, "it is not so, for in all things
I have my will, and whatso thing I desire is granted me with good will."
"Well, then," said Regin, "ask for a horse of them."
"Yea," quoth Sigurd, "and that shall I have, whenso
I have need thereof."
Thereafter Sigurd went to the king, and the king said
--
"What wilt thou have of us?"
Then said Sigurd, "I would even a horse of thee for
my disport."
Then said the king, "Choose for thyself a horse, and
whatso thing else thou desirest among my matters."
So the next day went Sigurd to the wood, and met on
the way an old man, long-bearded, that he knew not, who asked him whither
away.
Sigurd said, "I am minded to choose me a horse; come
thou, and counsel me thereon."
"Well then," said he, "go we and drive them to the river
which is called Busil-tarn."
They did so, and drave the horses down into the deeps
of the river, and all swam back to land but one horse; and that horse
Sigurd chose for himself; grey he was of hue, and young of years, great
of growth, and fair to look on, nor had any man yet crossed his back.
Then spake the grey-beard, "From Sleipnir's kin is this
horse come, and he must be nourished heedfully, for it will be the best
of all horses;" and therewithal he vanished away.
So Sigurd called the horse Grani, the best of all the
horses of the world; nor was the man he met other than Odin himself.
Now yet again spake Regin to Sigurd, and said --
"Not enough is thy wealth, and I grieve right sore,
that thou must needs run here and there like s churl's son; but I can
tell thee where there is much wealth for the winning, and great name
and honour to be won in getting of it."
Sigurd asked where that might be, and who had watch
and ward over it.
Regin answered, "Fafnir is his name, and but a little
way hence he lies, on the waste of Gnita-heath; and when thou comest
there thou mayst well say that thou hast never seen more gold heaped
together in one place, and that none might desire more treasure, though
he were the most ancient and famed of all kings."
"Young am I," says Sigurd, "yet know I the fashion of
this worm, and how that none durst go against him, so huge and evil
is he."
Regin said, "Nay it is not so, the fashion and the growth
of him is even as of other lingworms, (1) and an over great tale men
make of it; and even so would thy forefathers have deemed; but thou,
though thou be of the kin of the Volsungs, shalt scarce have the heart
and mind of those, who are told of as the first in all deeds of fame."
Sigurd said, "Yea, belike I have little of their hardihood
and prowess, but thou hast naught to do, to lay a coward's name upon
me, when I am scarce out of my childish years. Why dost thou egg me
on hereto so busily?"
Regin said, "Therein lies a tale which I must needs
tell thee."
"Let me hear the same," said Sigurd.