The Völsunga Saga on Sinfjotli

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER VII. Of the Birth of Sinfjotli the Son of Sigmund.

• relationship: The child of Signy and Sigmund was named Sinfjotli, who grew big, strong, and fair, much resembling the Volsung kin

  "Signy brings forth a man-child, who was named Sinfjotli, and when he grew up he was both big and strong, and fair of face, and much like unto the kin of the Volsungs"

• attestation: Sinfjotli passed Sigmund's serpent-bread test by kneading the venomous creature into the dough without hesitation

  "I have kneaded it all up together, both the meal and that which was therein, whatsoever it was."

• attestation: When flayed, Sinfjotli declared that Volsung would have felt no pain from such a wound

  "Full little would Volsung have felt such a smart this."

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER VIII. The Death of King Siggeir and of Signy.

• attestation: Sinfjotli killed eleven men alone without calling for help, boasting of his prowess

  "Sinfjotli said, "I was loth to call for thy help for the slaying of eleven men.""

• attestation: Sinfjotli killed Signy's two children without hesitation and cast their bodies before Siggeir

  "Sinfjotli made little enow of it, but drew his sword and slew them both, and cast them into the hall at King Siggeir's feet."

• attestation: Sinfjotli discovered the sword hidden in the meat by handling the flesh

  "Sinfjotli said to Sigmund, "Belike we shall scarce need meat for a while, for here has the queen cast swine's flesh into the barrow, and wrapped it round about on the outer side with straw.""

• attestation: Sinfjotli and Sigmund sawed through the great stone dividing their barrow using Sigmund's sword

  "Sinfjotli drave the point of the sword up into the big stone, and drew it hard along, and the sword bit on the stone. With that Sigmund caught the sword by the point, and in this wise they sawed the stone between them"

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER IX. How Helgi, the son of Sigmund, won King Hodbrod and his

• attestation: Sinfjotli engaged in a flyting (insult contest) with Granmar, the brother of King Hodbrod

  "Then up stands Sinfjotli, with a helm on his head, bright shining as glass, and a byrny as white as snow"

• attestation: Sinfjotli taunted Granmar by announcing the Volsungs had arrived and challenging Hodbrod to fight

  "here are come the Volsungs, and in this company may King Helgi be found, if Hodbrod be fain of finding him"

• attestation: Sinfjotli countered by claiming Granmar had been a witch-wife and a Valkyrie in Asgard

  "thou wert a witch-wife on Varinsey, and wouldst fain have a man to thee, and chose me to that same office of all the world; and how thereafter thou wert a Valkyria (1) in Asgarth"

• attestation: Sinfjotli was described wearing a glass-bright helm, snow-white byrny, and carrying a gold-rimmed shield

  "a helm on his head, bright shining as glass, and a byrny as white as snow; a spear in his hand, and thereon a banner of renown, and a gold-rimmed shield hanging before him"

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER X. The ending of Sinfjotli, Sigmund's Son.

• attestation: Sinfjotli slew the brother of Borghild (Sigmund's queen) in a quarrel over a woman they both desired

  "that same woman was wooed also of the brother of Borghild, the king's wife: and this matter they fought out betwixt them, and Sinfjotli slew that king"

• attestation: Sinfjotli detected poison in the first two drinks and Sigmund drank them for him, being immune to venom

  "Then he took the horn to him, and looked therein, and said--

"Nay, for the drink is charmed drink""

• attestation: Sinfjotli had earned great renown through warfare and returned with many ships and abundant wealth

  "he harried far and wide, and had many a battle and even gained the day; and he became hereby honoured and renowned above all men"