The Völsunga Saga on Grimhild

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > With Excerpts From The Poetic Edda > Translators' Preface.

• attestation: Grimhild's magic potion caused Sigurd to forget Brynhild and marry Gudrun

  "the magic potion of Grimhild, the wedding of Sigurd consequent on that potion"

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER XXVI. Sigurd comes to the Giukings and is wedded to Gudrun.

• attestation: Grimhild tells Gunnar to woo Brynhild, and Sigurd will ride with him; Gunnar is fain to win her

  "Grimhild to Gunnar her son, and spake--

"Fair blooms the life and fortune of thee, but for one thing only, and namely whereas thou art unwedded; go woo Brynhild; good rede is this, and Sigurd will ride with thee.""

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER XXXIII. Gudrun wedded to Atli.

• attestation: Grimhild came to Gudrun with sons and a great following, offering gold and atonement for Sigurd's death

  "Grimhild came to Gudrun"

• attestation: Grimhild offered Gudrun the land of the Huns and bade her drink a potion to forget her grief

  "Then Gudrun gat her gone into the wild woods"

• attestation: Grimhild perceived where Gudrun abode and took counsel on how to find her

  "Grimhild perceived where Gudrun abode"

• attestation: Grimhild offered Gudrun gold, rings, and bed-gear of the maids of the Huns, saying her husband is thus atoned for and she shall be given to Atli

  "I give thee gold and all kinds of good things to take to thee after thy father, dear-bought rings and bed-gear of the maids of the Huns, the most courteous and well dight of all women; and thus is thy husband atoned for; and thereafter shalt thou be given to Atli, the mighty king, and be mistress of all his might."

• attestation: Grimhild tells Gudrun it shall be as if Sigurd and Sigmund were alive when she bears sons

  "Grimhild says, "Nourish not thy wrath; it shall be to thee as if Sigurd and Sigmund were alive when thou hast borne sons.""

• attestation: In Grimhild's drink was blended the might of earth and sea with the blood of her son, with rune-letters cut and reddened with blood on the horn

  "But in that drink was blended the might of the earth and the sea with the blood of her son; and in that horn were all letters cut and reddened with blood"

• attestation: The potion contained blood of all the wood, brown-burnt acorns, black dew of the hearth, dead beast's inwards, and swine's liver

  "In that beer were mingled Many ills together, Blood of all the wood And brown-burnt acorns, The black dew of the hearth, The God-doomed dead beast's inwards, And the swine's liver sodden Because all wrongs that deadens."

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > Part Of The Lay Of Sigrdrifa (1) > The Lay Called The Short Lay Of Sigurd.

• attestation: Grimhild urges that no nobler kin shall be known if their five sons are fostered, and a goodly stem shall wax

  "And no nobler kin Shall be known afield, If our five sons We long may foster; Yea, a goodly stem Shall surely wax."