CHAP. XX.
Of Sigurd’s Meeting with Brynhild on the Mountain.
BY long roads rides Sigurd, till he comes at the last up on to Hindfell, and wends his way south to the land of the Franks; and he sees before him on the fell a great light, as of fire burning, and flaming up even unto the heavens; and when he came thereto, lo, a shield-hung castle before him, and a banner on the topmost thereof: into the castle went Sigurd, and saw one lying there asleep, and all-armed. Therewith he takes the helm from off the head of him, and sees that it is no man, but a woman; and she was clad in a byrny as closely set on her as though it had grown to her flesh; so he rent it from the collar downwards; and then the sleeves thereof, and ever the sword bit on it as if it were cloth. Then said Sigurd that over-long had she lain asleep; but she asked—
“What thing of great might is it that has prevailed to rend my byrny, and draw me from my sleep?”
Even as sings the song[1]—
- ↑ The stanzas on the two following pages were inserted here from Sigdrifasmál by the translators.
