Third eagle.

42.  There stands a hall on the high Hindarfiall, without ’tis all with fire surrounded; sagacious men have it constructed of the resplendent radiance of the flood.[64] Fourth eagle.

43.  On the fell I know a warrior maid to sleep, over her waves the linden’s bane.[65] Ygg whilom stuck a sleep-thorn in the robe of the maid who would heroes choose.

44.  Thou, youth! mayest see the helmed maiden, her whom Vingskornir from battle bore.  May not Sigrdrifa’s slumber break the son of warriors,[66] against the Norns’ decrees.

Sigurd rode along Fafnir’s track to his lair, which he found open.  The doors and door-posts were of iron; of iron also were all the beams in the house; but the treasure was buried in the earth.  Sigurd found there a great quantity of gold, and filled two chests with it.  He took thence the Oegis-helm, a golden corslet, the sword named Hrotti, and many precious things, all which he laid on Grani; but the horse would not proceed until Sigurd had mounted on his back.

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 63:  I.e., Sigurd; a transition from the 3d person to the 2nd.]

[Footnote 64:  Another periphrasis for gold.]

[Footnote 65:  A periphrasis for fire.]

[Footnote 66:  Of Skioldungs.]

THE LAY OF SIGRDRIFA.

Sigurd rode up the Hindarfiall, and directed his course southwards towards Frankland.  In the fell he saw a great light, as if a fire were burning, which blazed up to the sky.  On approaching it, there stood a “skialdborg,” and over it a banner.  Sigurd went into the skialdborg, and saw a warrior lying within it asleep, completely armed.  He first took the helmet off the warrior’s head, and saw that it was a woman.  Her corslet was as fast as if it had grown to her body.  With his sword Gram he ripped the corslet from the upper opening downwards, and then through both sleeves.  He then took the corslet off from her, when she awoke, sat up and, on seeing Sigurd, said: 

1.  What has my corslet cut? why from sleep have I started? who has cast from me the fallow bands?

Sigurd.

Sigmund’s son has just now ript the raven’s perch,[67] with Sigurd’s sword.

She.

2.  Long have I slept, long been with sleep oppressed, long are mortals’ sufferings!  Odin is the cause that I have been unable to cast off torpor.

Sigurd sat down and asked her name.  She then took a horn filled with mead, and gave him the minnis-cup.

She.

3.  Hail to Day!  Hail to the sons of Day!  To Night and her daughter hail!  With placid eyes behold us here, and here sitting give us victory.

4.  Hail to the AEsir!  Hail to the Asyniur!  Hail to the bounteous earth!  Words and wisdom give to us noble twain, and healing hands[68] while we live.