68.  We were both nurtured in one house; many a play we played, and in the wood grew up; Grimhild us adorned with gold and necklaces; for my brothers’ death never wilt thou indemnify me, nor ever do what shall to me seem good.

69.  Mens’ too great power women’s lot oppresses; on the knee the hand sinks, if the arms wither; the tree inclines, if its root-fibres are severed.  Now, Atli! thou mayest alone over all here command.

70.  Most unwise it was, when to this the prince gave credit:  the guile was manifest, had he been on his guard.  Dissembling then was Gudrun, against her heart she could speak, made herself gay appear, with two shields she played.[114]

71.  A banquet she would prepare, her brothers’ funeral feast; the same would Atli also for his own do.

72.  With this they ended; the banquet was prepared; the feasting was too luxurious.  The woman great of heart was stern, she warred on Budli’s race; on her spouse she would cruel vengeance wreak.

73.  The young ones she enticed, and on a block laid them, the fierce babes were terrified, and wept not, to their mother’s bosom crept, asked what she was going to do.

74.  “Ask no questions, both I intend to kill; long have I desired to cut short your days.”

75.  “Slay as thou wilt thy children, no one hinders it; thy rage will have short peace, if thou destroyest us in our blooming years, thou desperate woman!” It fell out accordingly:  she cut the throats of both.

76.  Atli oft inquired whither his boys were gone to play, as he nowhere saw them?

Gudrun.

77.  Over I am resolved to go, and to Atli tell it.  Grimhild’s daughter will not conceal it from thee.  Little glad, Atli! wilt thou be, when all thou learnest; great woe didst thou raise up, when thou my brother slewest.

78.  Very seldom have I slept since they fell.  Bitterly I threatened thee:  now I have reminded thee.  “It is now morning,” saidst thou:  I yet it well remember; and it now is eve, when thou the like shalt learn.

79.  Thou thy sons hast lost, as thou least shouldest; know that their skulls thou hast had for beer-cups; thy drink I prepared, I their red blood have shed.

80.  I their hearts took, and on a spit staked them, then to thee gave them.  I said they were of calves,—­it was long of thee alone—­thou didst leave none, voraciously didst devour, well didst ply thy teeth.

81.  Thy children’s fate thou knowest, few a worse awaits.  I have my part performed, though in it glory not.

Atli.

82.  Cruel wast thou, Gudrun! who couldst so act, with thy children’s blood my drink to mingle.  Thou hast destroyed thy offspring, as thou least shouldest; and to myself thou leavest a short interval from ill.

Gudrun.

83.  I could still desire thyself to slay; rarely too ill it fares with such a prince.  Thou hast already perpetrated crimes unexampled among men of frantic cruelty, in this world:  now thou hast added what we have just witnessed.  A great misdeed hast thou committed, thy death-feast thou hast prepared.