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the fall of King Sigmund and King Eylimi, and many an- account is the noblest of the twain. other great man, and who they were withal who had wrought He answered: I too have misdoubted me, that she is little the deed. Then the king asks if they wotted where the wealth like a bondwoman, and when we first met, in seemly wise of the king was bestowed; and then says the bondmaid she greeted noble men. Lo now, we will make trial of the It may well be deemed that we know full surely thereof. thing. And therewith she guides them to the place where the trea- So on a time as men sat at the drink, the king sat down to sure lay: and there they found exceeding great wealth; so that talk with the women, and said: men deem they have never seen so many things of price heaped In what wise do ye note the wearing of the hours, whenas up together in one place. All this they bore to the ships of night grows old, if ye may not see the lights of heaven? King Alf, and Hjordis and bondmaid went them. Therewith Then says the bondwoman, This sign have I, that whenas these sail away to their own realm, and talk how that surely in my youth I was wont to drink much in the dawn, so now on that field had fallen the most renowned of kings. when I no longer use that manner, I am yet wont to wake up So the king sits by the tiller, but the women abide in the at that very same tide, and by that token do I know thereof. forecastle; but talk he had with the women and held their Then the king laughed and said, Ill manners for a king s 51 The Volsunga Saga daughter! And therewith he turned to Hjordis, and asked CHAPTER XIII her even the same question; but she answered My father erst gave me a little gold ring of such nature, Of the Birth and Waxing of Sigurd Fafnir s-bane that it groweth cold on my finger in the day-dawning; and that is the sign that I have to know thereof. HE TALE TELLS that Hjordis brought forth a man- The king answered: Enow of gold there, where a very child, who was straightly borne before King bondmaid bore it! But come now, thou hast been long enow THjalprek, and then was the king glad thereof, when hid from me; yet if thou hadst told me all from the begin- he saw the keen eyes in the head of him, and he said that few ning, I would have done to thee as though we had both been men would be equal to him or like unto him in any wise. So one king s children: but better than thy deeds will I deal with he was sprinkled with water, and had to name Sigurd, of whom thee, for thou shalt be my wife, and due jointure will I pay all men speak with one speech and say that none was ever his thee whenas thou hast borne me a child. like for growth and goodliness. He was brought up in the She spake therewith and told out the whole truth about house of King Hjalprek in great love and honour; and so it is, herself: so there was she held in great honour, and deemed the that whenso all the noblest men and greatest kings are named worthiest of women. in the olden tales, Sigurd is ever put before them all for might and prowess, for high mind and stout heart; wherewith he was far more abundantly gifted than any man of the northern parts of the wide world. So Sigurd waxed in King Hjalprek s house, and there was no child but loved him; through him was Hjordis betrothed to King Alf, and jointure meted to her. 52 The Volsunga Saga Now Sigurd s foster-father was hight Regin, the son of What wilt thou have of us? Hreidmar; he taught him all manner of arts, the chess play, Then said Sigurd, I would even a horse of thee for my and the lore of runes, and the talking of many tongues, even disport. as the wont was with kings sons in those days. But on a day Then said the king, Choose for thyself a horse, and whatso when they were together, Regin asked Sigurd, if he knew how thing else thou desirest among my matters. much wealth his father had owned, and who had the ward So the next day went Sigurd to the wood, and met on the thereof; Sigurd answered, and said that the kings kept the way an old man, long-bearded, that he knew not, who asked ward thereof. him whither away. Said Regin, Dost thou trust them all utterly? Sigurd said, I am minded to choose me a horse; come thou, Sigurd said, It is seemly that they keep it till I may do and counsel me thereon. somewhat therewith, for better they wot how to guard it than Well then, said he, go we and drive them to the river I do. which is called Busil-tarn. Another time came Regin to talk to Sigurd, and said They did so, and drave the horses down into the deeps of A marvellous thing truly that thou must needs be a horse- the river, and all swam back to land but one horse; and that boy to the kings, and go about like a running knave. horse Sigurd chose for himself; grey he was of hue, and young [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |