no empty days;
The Norns were my nursing mothers; I have won the people’s praise. 
When the Gods for one deed asked me I ever gave them twain;
Spendthrift of glory I was, and great was my life-days’ gain;
Now these shards have been my fellow in the work the Gods would have,
But today hath Odin taken the gift that once he gave. 
I have wrought for the Volsungs truly, and yet have I known full well
That a better one than I am shall bear the tale to tell: 
And for him shall these shards be smithied; and he shall be my son
To remember what I have forgotten and to do what I left undone. 
Under thy girdle he lieth, and how shall I say unto thee,
Unto thee, the wise of women, to cherish him heedfully. 
Now, wife, put by thy sorrow for the little day we have had;
For in sooth I deem thou weepest:  The days have been fair and glad: 
And our valour and wisdom have met, and thou knowest they shall not

    die: 

Sweet and good were the days, nor yet to the Fates did we cry
For a little longer yet, and a little longer to live: 
But we took, we twain in our meeting, all gifts that they had to give: 
Our wisdom and valour have kissed, and thine eyes shall see the fruit,
And the joy for his days that shall be hath pierced mine heart to

    the root. 

Grieve not for me; for thou weepest that thou canst not see my face
How its beauty is not departed, nor the hope of mine eyes grown base. 
Indeed I am waxen weary; but who heedeth weariness
That hath been day-long on the mountain in the winter weather’s stress,
And now stands in the lighted doorway and seeth the king draw nigh,
And heareth men dighting the banquet, and the bed wherein he shall

    lie?”

    Then failed the voice of Sigmund; but so mighty was the man,
    That a long while yet he lingered till the dusky night grew wan,
    And she sat and sorrowed o’er him, but no more a word he spake. 
    Then a long way over the sea-flood the day began to break;
    And when the sun was arisen a little he turned his head
    Till the low beams bathed his eyen, and there lay Sigmund dead. 
    And the sun rose up on the earth; but where was the Volsung kin
    And the folk that the Gods had begotten the praise of all people
      to win?

    How King Sigmund the Volsung was laid in mound on the sea-side of the
    Isle-realm.

    Now Hiordis looked from the dead, and her eyes strayed down to the sea,
    And a shielded ship she saw, and a war-dight company,
    Who beached the ship for the landing:  so swift she fled away,
    And once more to the depth of the thicket, wherein her handmaid lay: 
    And she said:  “I have left my lord, and my lord is dead and gone,
    And he gave me a charge full heavy, and here are we twain alone,
    And earls from the sea are landing:  give me thy blue attire,