The Völsunga Saga on Sigurd

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > With Excerpts From The Poetic Edda > Introduction

• attestation: Sigurd embodies all the virtues dear to northern hearts: brave, strong, generous, dignified, and utterly truthful

  "Brave, strong, generous, dignified, and utterly truthful, he moves amid a tangle of tragic events, overmastered by a mighty fate, and in life or death is still a hero without stain"

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

• attestation: Sigurd wooed Brynhild on behalf of Gunnar, wearing Gunnar's semblance

  "of the wooing of Brynhild for Gunnar"

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER XIII. Of the Birth and Waxing of Sigurd Fafnir's-bane.

• attestation: Sigurd tested Grani by driving horses into the river Busil-tarn; only Grani swam back

  "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"

• attestation: Sigurd was brought up in King Hjalprek's house in great love and honour

  "He was brought up in the house of King Hjalprek in great love and honour"

• attestation: Hjordis was betrothed to King Alf through Sigurd's agency

  "through him was Hjordis betrothed to King Alf, and jointure meted to her."

• attestation: Sigurd was sprinkled with water and named, and all agreed none was ever his like for growth and goodliness

  "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."

• attestation: Sigurd chose the horse Grani, descended from Sleipnir's kin, with the guidance of an old long-bearded man (Odin)

  "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"

• attestation: Sigurd knew of Fafnir's reputation as a huge and evil dragon that none dared challenge

  "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.""

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER XVI. The prophecy of Grifir.

• attestation: Sigurd said he must first avenge King Sigmund and his other kinsmen who fell in their last fight before slaying Fafnir

  "another is first to be done, the avenging of Sigmund the king and the other of my kinsmen who fell in that their last fight."

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER XVII. Of Sigurd's Avenging of Sigmund his Father.

• attestation: Sigurd asked the kings for support to avenge his father on the sons of Hunding

  "now will I away from the land and go meet the sons of Hunding, and do them to wit that the Volsungs are not all dead"

• attestation: Sigurd's army ravaged King Lyngi's lands with fire and sword, slaying men and burning homes

  "Then they let loose fire and sword, and slew men and burnt their abodes, and did waste all before them"

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER XIX. Of the Slaying of Regin, Son of Hreidmar.

• attestation: Sigurd struck off Regin's head with the sword Gram

  "Sigurd took his sword Gram and struck off the head of Regin"

• attestation: The birds prophesied Sigurd would find a sleeping maiden on Hindfell surrounded by fire

  "A high hall is there Reared upon Hindfell, Without all around it Sweeps the red flame aloft."

• attestation: The birds foretold Sigurd would go to the hall of Giuki where the king raises a daughter

  "Green go the ways Toward the hall of Giuki That the fates show forth To those who fare thither; There the rich king Reareth a daughter"

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER XX. Of Sigurd's Meeting with Brynhild on the Mountain.

• attestation: Inside the castle Sigurd found a sleeping warrior in full armor; removing the helm revealed a woman

  "into the castle went Sigurd, and saw one lying there asleep, and all-armed. Therewith he takes the helm from off the head of him, and sees that it is no man, but a woman"

• attestation: Sigurd rode to Hindfell in the land of the Franks and found a castle surrounded by flame with a banner on top

  "By long roads rides Sigurd, till he comes at the last up on to Hindfell, and wends his way south to the land of the Franks; and he sees before him on the fell a great light, as of fire burning"

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER XXII. Of the Semblance and Array of Sigurd Fafnir's-bane. (1)

• attestation: Sigurd bore a dragon emblem on his shield, helm, saddle, and coat-armour, all wrought in gold

  "many-folded is his shield, and blazing with red gold, and the image of a dragon is drawn thereon"

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER XXIV. Sigurd sees Brynhild at Hlymdale.

• attestation: Sigurd's hawk flew to a high tower and perched by a window, leading him to discover Brynhild

  "his hawk flew up to a high tower, and sat him down thereby on a certain window; then fared Sigurd after his hawk, and he saw where sat a fair woman"

• attestation: Sigurd declared Brynhild the fairest woman ever born and kissed her

  "Thou art the fairest that was ever born!"

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

• attestation: Sigurd arrived at King Giuki's hall with all his treasure on Grani, appearing like a god

  "Sure it may be deemed that here is come one of the Gods, for his array is all done with gold"

• attestation: Sigurd gave serpent's heart to Gudrun and she ate it, becoming greater-hearted and wiser; their son was called Sigmund

  "Sigurd gave of the serpent's heart to Gudrun, and she ate thereof, and became greater-hearted, and wiser than ere before: and the son of these twain was called Sigmund."

• attestation: They swore brotherhood together as if children of one father and one mother, and Sigurd married Gudrun at a noble feast

  "they swore brotherhood together, and to be even as if they were children of one father and one mother; and a noble feast was holden, and endured many days, and Sigurd drank at the wedding of him and Gudrun"

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER XXVIII. How the Queens held angry converse together at the

• attestation: Gudrun quoted a verse saying Sigurd slew the worm and his renown would never fade while the world endures

  "The worm Sigurd slew, Nor e'er shall that deed Be worsened by age While the world is alive"

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER XXIX. Of Brynhild's great Grief and Mourning.

• attestation: Sigurd told Brynhild he was not her husband and a famed king had paid her bride-price

  "Sigurd answers, "I am not thy husband, and thou art not my wife; yet did a farfamed king pay dower to thee.""

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER XXX. Of the Slaying of Sigurd Fafnir's-bane.

• attestation: Even mortally wounded, Sigurd seized the sword Gram and hurled it at Guttorm, cutting him in two at the waist

  "Sigurd awoke with that wound, and Guttorm gat him unto the door; but therewith Sigurd caught up the sword Gram, and cast it after him, and it smote him on the back, and struck him asunder in the midst"

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER XXXII. Of the Ending of Brynhild.

• attestation: Sigurd laid a sharp-edged sword made hard in venom between himself and Brynhild when he came to her bed

  "he came to me and laid betwixt us the sharp-edged sword that in venom had been made hard"

• attestation: Brynhild recalls that Sigurd gave Gunnar the power to be the mightiest of men

  "whereas he gave unto thee to be the mightiest of men"

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER XXXII. Of the Ending of Brynhild. > Endnotes:

• attribution: The original text has 'raudu manna blodi' (red-dyed in blood of men), which the translators note is the Sagaman's error dealing with 'Valaript'

  "The original has "raudu manna blodi", red-dyed in the blood of men; the Sagaman's original error in dealing with the word "Valaript" in the corresponding passage of the short lay of Sigurd."

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

• attestation: The narrator declares Sigurd was unmatched in the world and his name shall never diminish in the Dutch Tongue or Northern Lands while the world stands

  "no such an one as was Sigurd was left behind him in the world, nor ever was such a man brought forth because of all the worth of him, nor may his name ever minish by eld in the Dutch Tongue nor in all the Northern Lands, while the world standeth fast."

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

• attestation: Sigurd sought the dwelling of Giuki as the young Volsung after fight won, and took troth from the two brethren

  "Sigurd of yore, Sought the dwelling of Giuki, As he fared, the young Volsung, After fight won; Troth he took From the two brethren"

• relationship: The Giukings gave Sigurd their sister Gudrun the young, Giuki's daughter, and wealth manifold

  "A may they gave to him And wealth manifold, Gudrun the young, Giuki's daughter"

• attestation: Sigurd and the sons of Giuki drank and gave doom many days together, then went to woo Brynhild

  "They drank and gave doom Many days together, Sigurd the young, And the sons of Giuki.

  Until they wended For Brynhild's wooing"

• attestation: Southlander Sigurd laid a naked bright sword between himself and Brynhild, winning no kiss from her

  "Southlander Sigurd A naked sword, Bright, well grinded, Laid betwixt them; No kiss he won From the fair woman"

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > Part Of The Lay Of Sigrdrifa (1) > Hogni Said:

• attestation: Sigurd lay slain on the south of the Rhine and a raven croaked that Atli shall yet redden edges on the warriors

  "Sigurd lay slain On the south of the Rhine High from the fair tree Croaked forth the raven, "Ah, yet shall Atli On you redden edges"