Sigurd.

14.  Tell me, Fafnir! as thou art wise declared, and many things to know, how that holm is called, where Surt and the AEsir will sword-liquor together mingle?

Fafnir.

15.  Oskopnir it is called; there shall the gods with lances play; Bifrost shall be broken, when they go forth, and their steeds in the river swim.

16.  An Oegis-helm I bore among the sons of men, while I o’er the treasures lay; stronger than all I thought myself to be; stronger I found not many!

Sigurd.

17.  An Oegis-helm is no protection, where men impelled by anger fight:  soon he finds, who among many comes, that no one is alone the boldest.

Fafnir.

18.  Venom I blew forth, when on my father’s great heritage I lay.

Sigurd.

19.  Thou, glistening serpent! didst a great belching make, and wast so hard of heart.  Fierceness so much the greater have the sons of men, when they possess that helm.

Fafnir.

20.  Sigurd!  I now counsel thee, do thou take my counsel; and hence ride home.  The jingling gold, and the gleed-red treasure, those rings, shall be thy bane.

Sigurd.

21.  Counsel regarding thee is taken, and I to the gold will ride, on the heath that lies.  But lie thou, Fafnir! in the pangs of death, until Hel have thee!

Fafnir.

22.  Regin betrayed me, he will thee betray, he of us both will be the bane.  Fafnir must, I trow, let forth his life:  thine was the greater might!

Regin had gone away while Sigurd slew Fafnir, but came back as Sigurd was wiping the blood from his sword.  He said: 

23.  Hail to thee now, Sigurd!  Now hast thou victory won and Fafnir slain:  of all the men who tread the earth, thou art, I say, the bravest born.

Sigurd.

24.  Uncertain ’tis to know, when we all come together, sons of victorious heroes, which is the bravest born.  Many a one is bold, who sword has never broken in another’s breast.

Regin.

25.  Glad are thou now, Sigurd! and in thy gain rejoicing, while Gram, in the grass thou driest.  My brother thou to death hast wounded, yet in some degree was I the cause.

Sigurd.

26.  Thou didst me counsel, that I should ride o’er high fells hither.  Treasure and life had still possess’d that glistening serpent, hadst thou my anger not excited.

Regin then approached Fafnir and cut out his heart with a sword named Ridill, and afterwards drank blood from his wound.  He said: 

27.  Sit now, Sigurd!—­but I must go to sleep—­and Fafnir’s heart hold to the fire.  Of this refection I would fain partake, after that drink of blood.

Sigurd.

28.  Thou wentst far off, while I in Fafnir my keen sword reddened.  With my strength I strove against the serpent’s might, while in the ling thou layest.