The Story of Sigurd the Volsung and the Fall of the Niblungs by William Morris
page 65 of 442 (14%)
page 65 of 442 (14%)
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Of a king the breaker of troth, of a king the stealer of gear."
Then mad-wroth waxed King Gudrod, and he cried: "Stand up, my men! And slay this wood-abider lest he slay his brothers again!" But no sword leapt from its sheath, and his men shrank back in dread; Then Sinfiotli's brow grew smoother, and at last he spake and said: "Indeed thou art very brother of my father Sigmund's wife: Wilt thou do so much for thine honour, wilt thou do so much for thy life, As to bide my sword on the island in the pale of the hazel wands? For I know thee no battle-blencher, but a valiant man of thine hands." Now nought King Gudrod gainsayeth, and men dight the hazelled field, And there on the morrow morning they clash the sword and shield, And the fallow blades are leaping: short is the tale to tell, For with the third stroke stricken to field King Gudrod fell. So there in the holm they lay him; and plenteous store of gold Sinfiotli lays beside him amid that hall of mould; "For he gripped," saith the son of Sigmund, "and gathered for such a day." Then Sinfiotli and his fellows o'er the sea-flood sail away, And come to the land of the Volsungs: but Borghild heareth the tale, And into the hall she cometh with eager face and pale As the kings were feasting together, and glad was Sigmund grown Of the words of Sinfiotli's battle, and the tale of his great renown: And there sat the sons of Borghild, and they hearkened and were glad Of their brother born in the wild-wood, and the crown of fame he had. |
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