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Preface
Preface
The Names Of Those Who Are Most Noteworthy In This Story
Volsungs
Sigi, son of Odin.
Rerir, son of Sigi, king of Hunland.
Volsung, son of Rerir.
Sigmund, son of Volsung.
Signy, daughter of Volsung.
Sinfjotli, son of Sigmund and Signy.
Helgi, son of Sigmund by Borgny.
Sigurd Fafnir`s - Bane, posthumous son of Sigmund by Hjordis.
Svanhild, his daughter, by Gudrun, Giuki`s daughter.
People who deal with the Volsungs before Sigurd meets Brynhild
Siggeir, king of Gothland, husband of Signy.
Borgny, first wife of Sigmund.
Hjordis, his second wife.
King Eylimi, her father.
Hjalprek, king of Denmark.
Alf, his son, second husband of Hjordis.
Regin, the king`s smith.
Fafnir, his brother, turned into a dragon.
Otter, his brother, slain by Loki.
Hreidmar, the father of these brothers.
Andvari, a dwarf, first owner of the hoard of the Niblungs, on which he laid
a curse when it was taken from him by Loki.
[See Loki: The punishment of Loki. From the painting by J. Doyle Penrose,
R.H.A..]
Giukings or Niblungs
King Giuki.
Grimhild, his wife.
Gunnar, son of Giuki.
Hogni, son of Giuki.
Guttorm, son of Giuki.
Gudrun, daughter of Giuki, wife of Sigurd Fafnir`s - bane.
Budlungs
King Budli.
Atli, his son, second husband of Gudrun.
Brynhild, daughter of Budli, first betrothed and love of Sigurd Fafnir`s -
bane, wife of Gunnar, son of Giuki.
Bekkhild, daughter of Budli, wife of Heimir of Hlymdale.
Others who deal with Sigurd and the Giukings
Heimer of Hlymdale, foster - father of Brynhild.
Glaumvor, second wife of Gunnar.
Kostbera, wife of Hogni.
Vingi, an evil counsellor of King Atli.
Niblung, the son of Hogni, who helps Gudrun in the slaying of Atli.
Jormunrek, king of the Goths, husband of Swanhild.
Randver, his son.
Bikki, his evil counsellor.
Jonakr, Gudrun`s third husband.
Sorli, Hamdir, and Erp, the sons of Jonakr and Gudrun.
A Prologue In Verse
O hearken, ye who speak the English Tongue,
How in a waste land ages long ago,
The very heart of the North bloomed into song
After long brooding o`er this tale of woe!
Hearken, and marvel how it might be so,
That such a sweetness so well crowned could be
Betwixt the ice - hills and the cold grey sea.
Or rather marvel not, that those should cling
Unto the thoughts of great lives passed away,
Whom God has stripped so bare of everything,
Save the one longing to wear through their day,
In fearless wise; the hope the Gods to stay,
When at that last tide gathered wrong and hate
Shall meet blind yearning on the Fields of Fate.
Yea, in the first grey dawning of our race,
This ruth - crowned tangle to sad hearts was dear.
Then rose a seeming sun, the lift gave place
Unto a seeming heaven, far off, but clear;
But that passed too, and afternoon is here;
Nor was the morn so fruitful or so long
But we may hearken when ghosts moan of wrong.
For as amid the clatter of the town
When eve comes on with unabated noise,
The soaring wind will sometimes drop adown
And bear unto our chamber the sweet voice
Of bells that `mid the swallows do rejoice,
Half - heard, to make us sad, so we awhile
With echoed grief life`s dull pain may beguile.
Naught vague, naught base our tale, that seems to say, -
`Be wide - eyed, kind; curse not the hand that smites;
Curse not the kindness of a past good day,
Or hope of love; cast by all earth`s delights,
For very love: through weary days and nights,
Abide thou, striving howsoe`er in vain,
The inmost love of one more heart to gain!`
So draw ye round and hearken, English Folk,
Unto the best tale pity ever wrought!
Of how from dark to dark bright Sigurd broke,
Of Brynhild`s glorious soul with love distraught,
Of Gudrun`s weary wandering unto naught,
Of utter love defeated utterly,
Of grief too strong to give Love time to die!
William Morris.
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