with gold, and sewing therein the great deeds which Sigurd had
wrought, the slaying of the Worm, and the taking of the wealth of
him, and the death of Regin withal.

Now tells the tale, that on a day Sigurd rode into the wood with
hawk, and hound, and men thronging; and whenas he came home his
hawk flew up to a high tower and sat him down on a certain
window. Then fared Sigurd after his hawk, and he saw where sat a
fair woman, and knew that it was Brynhild, and he deems all
things he sees there to be worthy together, both her fairness,
and the fair things she wrought: and therewith he goes into the
hall, but has no more joyance in the games of the men folk.

Then spake Alswid, "Why art thou so bare of bliss; this manner of
thine grieveth us thy friends; why then wilt thou not hold to thy
gleesome ways? Lo, thy hawks pine now, and thy horse Grani
droops; and long will it be ere we are booted thereof?"

Sigurd answered, "Good friend, hearken to what lies on my mind;
for my hawk flew up into a certain tower; and when I came thereto
and took him, lo there I saw a fair woman, and she sat by a
needlework of gold, and did thereon, my deeds that are passed,
and my deeds that are to come,"

Then said Alswid, "Thou has seen Brynhild, Budli's daughter, the
greatest of great women."

"Yea, verily," said Sigurd; "but how came she hither?"

Aswid answered, "Short space there was betwixt the coming hither