On a day as the Queens went to the river to bathe
them, Brynhild waded the farthest out into the river; then asked Gudrun
what that deed might signify.
Brynhild said, "Yea, and why then should I be equal
to thee in this matter more than in others? I am minded to think that
my father is mightier than thine, and my true love has wrought many
wondrous works of fame, and hath ridden the flaming fire withal, while
thy husband was but the thrall of King Hjalprek."
Gudrun answered full of wrath, "Thou wouldst be wise
if thou shouldst hold thy peace rather than revile my husband: lo now,
the talk of all men it is, that none has ever abode in this world like
unto him in all matters soever; and little it beseems thee of all folk
to mock him who was thy first beloved: and Fafnir he slew, yea, and
he rode thy flaming fire, whereas thou didst deem that he was Gunnar
the King, and by thy side he lay, and took from thine hand the ring
Andvari's-loom; -- here mayst thou well behold it!"
Then Brynhild saw the ring and knew it, and waxed as
wan as a dead woman, and she went home and spake no word the evening
long.
So when Sigurd came to bed to Gudrun she asked him why
Brynhild's joy was so departed.
He answered, "I know not, but sore I misdoubt me that
soon we shall know thereof overwell."
Gudrun said, "Why may she not love her life, having
wealth and bliss, and the praise of all men, and the man withal that
she would have?"
"Ah, yea!" said Sigurd, "and where in all the world
was she then, when she said that she deemed she had the noblest of all
men, and the dearest to her heart of all?"
Gudrun answers, "Tomorn will I ask her concerning this,
who is the liefest to her of all men for a husband."
Sigurd said, "Needs must I forbid thee this, and full
surely wilt thou rue the deed if thou doest it."
Now the next morning they sat in the bower, and Brynhild
was silent; then spake Gudrun --
"Be merry, Brynhild! Grievest thou because of that speech
of ours together, or what other thing slayeth thy bliss?"
Brynhild answers, "With naught but evil intent thou
sayest this, for a cruel heart thou hast."
"Say not so," said Gudrun; "but rather tell me all the
tale."
Brynhild answers, "Ask such things only as are good
for thee to know -- matters meet for mighty dames. Good to love good
things when all goes according to thy heart's desire!"
Gudrun says, "Early days for me to glory in that; but
this word of thine looketh toward some foreseeing. What ill dost thou
thrust at us? I did naught to grieve thee."
Brynhild answers, "For this shalt thou pay, in that
thou hast got Sigurd to thee, -- nowise can I see thee living in the
bliss thereof, whereas thou hast him, and the wealth and the might of
him."
But Gudrun answered, "Naught knew I of your words and
vows together; and well might my father look to the mating of me without
dealing with thee first."
"No secret speech had we," quoth Brynhild, "though we
swore oath together; and full well didst thou know that thou wentest
about to beguile me; verily thou shalt have thy reward!"
Says Gudrun, "Thou art mated better than thou are worthy
of; but thy pride and rage shall be hard to slake belike, and there
for shall many a man pay."
"Ah, I should be well content," said Brynhild, "if thou
hadst not the nobler man!"
Gudrun answers, "So noble a husband hast thou, that
who knows of a greater king or a lord of more wealth and might?"
Says Brynhild, "Sigurd slew Fafnir, and that only deed
is of more worth than all the might of King Gunnar."
(Even as the song says) --
"The worm Sigurd slew,
Nor ere shall that deed
Be worsened by age
While the world is alive.
But thy brother the King
Never durst, never bore
The flame to ride down
Through the fire to fare."
Gudrun answers, "Grani would not abide the fire under Gunnar
the King, but Sigurd durst the deed, and thy heart may well abide without
mocking him."
Brynhild answers, "Nowise will I hide from thee that
I deem no good of Grimhild."
Says Gudrun, "Nay, lay no ill words on her, for in all
things she is to thee as to her own daughter."
"Ah," says Brynhild, "she is the beginning of all this
hale that biteth so; an evil drink she bare to Sigurd, so that he had
no more memory of my very name."
"All wrong thou talkest; a lie without measure is this,"
quoth Gudrun.
Brynhild answered, "Have thou joy of Sigurd according
to the measure of the wiles wherewith ye have beguiled me! Unworthily
have ye conspired against me; may all things go with you as my heart
hopes!"
Gudrun says, "More joy shall I have of him than thy
wish would give unto me: but to no man's mind it came, that he had aforetime
his pleasure of me; nay not once."
"Evil speech thou speakest," says Brynhild; "when thy
wrath runs off thou wilt rue it; but come now, let us no more cast angry
words one at the other!"
Says Gudrun, "Thou wert the first to cast such words
at me, and now thou makest as if thou wouldst amend it, but a cruel
and hard heart abides behind."
"Let us lay aside vain babble," says Brynhild. "Long
did I hold my peace concerning my sorrow of heart, and, lo now, thy
brother alone do I love; let us fall to other talk."
Gudrun said, "Far beyond all this doth thine heart look."
And so ugly ill befell from that going to the river,
and that knowing of the ring, wherefrom did all their talk arise.