So betwixt the earth and the water his son did Sigmund lay;
    But lo, when he fain would follow, there was neither ship nor man,
    Nor aught but his empty bosom beside that water wan,
    That whitened by little and little as the night’s face looked to the
      day. 
    So he stood a long while gazing and then turned and gat him away;
    And ere the sun of the noon-tide across the meadows shone
    Sigmund the King of the Volsungs was set in his father’s throne,
    And he hearkened and doomed and portioned, and did all the deeds of
      a king. 
    So the autumn waned and perished, and the winter brought the spring.

    Of the last battle of King Sigmund, and the death of him.

    Now is Queen Borghild driven from the Volsung’s bed and board,
    And unwedded sitteth Sigmund an exceeding mighty lord,
    And fareth oft to the war-field, and addeth fame to fame: 
    And where’er are the great ones told of his sons shall the people name;
    But short was their day of harvest and their reaping of renown,
    And while men stood by to marvel they gained their latest crown. 
    So Sigmund alone abideth of all the Volsung seed,
    And the folk that the Gods had fashioned lest the earth should lack
      a deed
    And he said:  “The tree was stalwart, but its boughs are old and worn. 
    Where now are the children departed, that amidst my life were born? 
    I know not the men about me, and they know not of my ways: 
    I am nought but a picture of battle, and a song for the people to
      praise. 
    I must strive with the deeds of my kingship, and yet when mine hour
      is come
    It shall meet me as glad as the goodman when he bringeth the last
      load home.”

    Now there was a king of the Islands, whom the tale doth Eylimi call,
    And saith he was wise and valiant, though his kingdom were but small: 
    He had one only daughter that Hiordis had to name,
    A woman wise and shapely beyond the praise of fame. 
    And now saith the son of King Volsung that his time is short enow
    To labour the Volsung garden, and the hand must be set to the plough: 
    So he sendeth an earl of the people to King Eylimi’s high-built hall,
    Bearing the gifts and the tokens, and this word in his mouth withal: 

    “King Sigmund the son of Volsung hath sent me here with a word
    That plenteous good of thy daughter among all folk he hath heard,
    And he wooeth that wisest of women that she may sit on his throne,
    And lie in the bed of the Volsungs, and be his wife alone. 
    And he saith that he thinketh surely she shall bear the kings of the
      earth,
    And maybe the best and the greatest of all who are deemed of worth. 
    Now hereof would he have an answer within a half-month’s space,
    And these gifts meanwhile he giveth for the increase of thy grace.”