THE ELDER EDDA OF SAEMUND
am I so no longer, as I alone survive. Rhine shall possess men's baleful metal, the mighty stream, the As-known Niflungs' heritage. In the rolling water the choice rings shall glitter, rather than on the hands of the Huns' children shine.
28. "Drive your wheel-chariots, the captive is now in bonds."
29. Atli the mighty, their sister's husband, rode with resounding steeds, with strife-thorns[1] surrounded. Gudrun perceived the heroes' peril, she from tears refrained, on entering the hall of tumult.
30. "So be it with thee, Atli! as towards Gunnar thou hast held the oft-sworn oaths, formerly taken—by the southward verging sun, and by Sigty's hill, the secluded bed of rest, and by Ullr's ring." Yet thence the more did the bit-shaker[2] the treasure's guardian, the warrior chief, drag to death.
31. The living prince then did a host of men into a pen cast down, which was within with serpents over-crawled. But Gunnar there alone a harp in wrathful mood with his hand struck: the strings resounded. So should a daring chief, a ring-dispenser, gold from, men withhold.
32. Atli turned his brass-shod[3] steed, his home to revisit, back from the murder. Din was in the court with horses thronged, men's weapon-song, from the heath they were come.
33. Out then went Gudrun, Atli to meet, with a golden cup to do her duty to the king. "Thou canst, O
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