* * * * *

  But he stood in the sight of the people, and sweet he was to see,
  And no foe and no betrayer, and no envier now hath he: 
  But Gunnar the bright in the battle deems him his earthly friend,
  And Hogni is fain of his fellow, howso the day’s work end,
  And Guttorm the young is joyous of the help and gifts he hath;
  And all these would shine beside him in the glory of his path;
  There is none to hate or hinder, or mar the golden day,
  And the light of love flows plenteous, as the sun-beams hide the way.

Of the Cup of evil drink that Grimhild the Wise-wife gave to Sigurd.

Now Gudrun the daughter of Giuki beheld Sigurd’s glory and knew the kindness of his heart, and set her love on him, not knowing that all his thoughts were given to Brynhild.  So Sigurd, seeing her sad and in no wise guessing the cause of her grief, strove to comfort her with kindly words, but her mood was still unchanged.

Then Grimhild the Queen, who was a witch-wife and a woman of crafty mind, marked the love of Gudrun for Sigurd, and marked moreover how his power and honour in the land would soon be greater than that of her own sons.  Therefore she cast about for some shift that might bind Sigurd to serve with the Niblungs all his life-days.

Now it befell one night that Sigurd had returned from warring and sat on the high-seat to sup with the Niblung kings.  His heart was merry with victory and ever he thought of Hindfell and of Lymdale and the love of Brynhild.  The people waxed joyful, and the hangings whereon glowed figures of the gods were stirred with their song and shouting till Giuki called on Sigurd to take the harp and sing of deeds agone.  Then all men hearkened, hushed and happy, while Sigurd struck the strings and sang of his mighty kin, of Volsung, of Signy, and of Sigmund, their deeds and noble deaths.  At last the tale was ended and he fell silent thinking still of Brynhild.

Now came Grimhild bearing him a cup of wine and speaking fair words of praise, but in the wine she had mingled a fatal witch-drink.  So she stood by Sigurd and said:—­

  “There is none of the kings of kingdoms that may match thy goodlihead: 
  Lo now, thou hast sung of thy fathers; but men shall sing of thee,
  And therewith shall our house be remembered, and great shall our glory be. 
  I beseech thee hearken a little to a faithful word of mine,
  When thou of this cup hast drunken; for my love is blent with the wine.”

  He laughed and took the cup:  But therein with the blood of the earth
  Earth’s hidden might was mingled, and deeds of the cold sea’s birth,
  And things that the high Gods turn from, and a tangle of strange love,
  Deep guile and strong compelling, that whoso drank thereof
  Should remember not his longing, should cast his love away,
  Remembering dead desire but as night remembereth day.