The Völsunga Saga on Volsung

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER II. Of the Birth of Volsung, the Son of Rerir, who was the Son

• attestation: The queen bore Volsung for six years before ordering him cut from her body, and she died after he kissed her

  "six winters wore away with the sickness still heavy on her; so that at the last she feels that she may not live long; wherefore now she bade cut the child from out of her"

• attestation: Volsung was named and became king over Hunland in his father's place

  "to him is a name given, and he is called Volsung; and he was king over Hunland in the room of his father."

• relationship: Volsung and Ljod had ten sons and one daughter; the eldest son was Sigmund and the daughter was Signy, who were twins

  "They had ten sons and one daughter, and their eldest son was hight Sigmund, and their daughter Signy; and these two were twins"

• attestation: Volsung built a great hall with a living oak tree called Branstock growing through it

  "king Volsung let build a noble hall in such a wise, that a big oak-tree stood therein, and that the limbs of the tree blossomed fair out over the roof of the hall, while below stood the trunk within it, and the said trunk did men call Branstock."

• attestation: Volsung was big, strong, daring, and became the greatest of warriors

  "From his early years he was big and strong, and full of daring in all manly deeds and trials, and he became the greatest of warriors"

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER IV. How King Siggeir wedded Signy, and bade King Volsung and his

• attestation: Volsung refused to break the betrothal, saying it would bring shame and that Siggeir would pay them back in evil if wronged

  "great shame will it be to him, yea, and to us also, to break troth with him, he being sackless"

The Story Of The Volsungs, (Volsunga Saga) > CHAPTER V. Of the Slaying of King Volsung.

• attestation: King Volsung and his sons sailed to Gothland in three ships at King Siggeir's invitation

  "King Volsung and his sons that they go at the time appointed to Gothland at the bidding of King Siggeir, and put off from the land in three ships"

• attestation: Volsung refused to flee, declaring he had vowed before birth never to flee from fire or sword

  "All people and nations shall tell of the word I spake, yet being unborn, wherein I vowed a vow that I would flee in fear from neither fire nor the sword"

• attestation: Volsung and his sons fought through Siggeir's army eight times before Volsung fell with all his men

  "King Volsung and his sons went eight times right through Siggeir's folk that day, smiting and hewing on either hand, but when they would do so even once again, King Volsung fell amidst his folk"

• attestation: All ten of Volsung's sons were captured, bound, and doomed to death

  "all his sons taken, and laid in bonds and led away"

• attestation: Volsung ordered Signy to return to her husband despite the treachery

  "Thou shalt surely go back to thine husband, and abide with him, howsoever it fares with us."

• attestation: Volsung declared that he had fought a hundred battles and always won, and would not flee or pray for peace

  "a hundred fights have I fought, and whiles I had more, and whiles I had less, and yet ever had I the victory, nor shall it ever be heard tell of me that I fled away or prayed for peace."