a great warrior—­but Brunhild did not cease to lament, and planned Sigurd’s death, threatening Gunnar with the loss of his dominions and his life if he would not kill Sigurd.  Gunnar hesitated for a long time, but at length consented, and calling Hogni, ordered him to slay Sigurd that they might thus obtain the treasure of the Rhinegold.  Hogni was aghast at this, and reminded him that they had pledged their oaths to Sigurd.

Then Gunnar remembered that his brother Gutthorm had sworn no oath of loyalty to Sigurd, and so might perform the deed.  They plied him with wolf and snake meat to eat, so that he might become savage by nature, and they tried to excite his greed with tales of the Rhinegold treasure.  Twice did Gutthorm make the attempt as Sigurd lay in bed, but twice he was deterred from slaying him by the hero’s penetrating glance.  The third time, however, he found him asleep and pierced him with his sword.  Sigurd awoke and hurled his own sword after Gutthorm, cutting him in two.  He then died, stating that he knew Brunhild to be the instigator of the murder.  Gudrun’s grief was frantic, and at this Brunhild laughed aloud as if with joy; but later she became more grief-stricken than Sigurd’s wife herself, and determined to be done with life.  Donning her richest array, she pierced herself with a sword.  As she expired she requested to be burned on Sigurd’s funeral pyre, and also prophesied that Gudrun would marry Atli, and that the death of many heroes would be caused thereby.

Gudrun’s Adventure

Gudrun in her great sorrow fled to the court of King Half of Denmark, at which she tarried for seven years.  Her mother Grimhild learned of her place of concealment and attempted to bring about a reconciliation between her and Gunnar.  She was offered much treasure if she would marry Atli, King of the Huns, and finally she consented.  Atli became covetous of Gunnar’s wealth—­for the latter had taken possession of the Rhinegold—­and invited him to his court.  But Gudrun sent a message of warning to her brother.  The runes which composed this, however, were so manipulated by Vingi, one of the messengers, that they read as a harmless invitation instead of a warning, and this Gunnar and Hogni determined to accept.  They reached Atli’s court in due season, and as they arrived Vingi disclosed his true character, stating that he had lured them into a snare.  Hogni slew him, and as they rode to Atli’s dwelling the Hunnish king and his sons armed themselves for battle and demanded Sigurd’s treasure, which they declared belonged by right to Gudrun.  Gunnar refused to part with it, and a great combat began.  Gudrun armed herself and fought on the side of her brothers.  A fierce battle raged with great loss on both sides, until nearly all the Nibelungs were slain, and Gunnar and Hogni, forced to yield to the power of numbers, were captured and bound.