The Story of Sigurd the Volsung and the Fall of the Niblungs by William Morris
page 55 of 442 (12%)
page 55 of 442 (12%)
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Amazed the garth of murder stared deedless on his face;
Nor back nor forward moved he: but fierce Sinfiotli went Where the spears were set the thickest, and sword with sword was blent; And great was the death before him, till he slipped in the blood and fell: Then the shield-garth compassed Sigmund, and short is the tale to tell; For they bore him down unwounded, and bonds about him cast: Nor sore hurt is Sinfiotli, but is hoppled strait and fast. Then the Goth-folk went to slumber when the hall was washed from blood: But a long while wakened Siggeir, for fell and fierce was his mood, And all the days of his kingship seemed nothing worth as then While fared the son of Volsung as well as the worst of men, While yet that son of Signy lay untormented there: Yea the past days of his kingship seemed blossomless and bare Since all their might had failed him to quench the Volsung kin. So when the first grey dawning a new day did begin, King Siggeir bade his bondsmen to dight an earthen mound Anigh to the house of the Goth-kings amid the fruit-grown ground: And that house of death was twofold, for 'twas sundered by a stone Into two woeful chambers: alone and not alone Those vanquished thralls of battle therein should bide their hour, That each might hear the tidings of the other's baleful bower, Yet have no might to help him. So now the twain they brought And weary-dull was Sinfiotli, with eyes that looked at nought. But Sigmund fresh and clear-eyed went to the deadly hall, And the song arose within him as he sat within its wall; Nor aught durst Siggeir mock him, as he had good will to do, But went his ways when the bondmen brought the roofing turfs thereto. |
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