1. Guthrun, Gjuki's daughter, avenged her brothers, as has become well known. She slew first Atli's sons, and thereafter she slew Atli, and burned the hall with his whole company. Concerning this was the following poem made:

2. Atli sent of old to Gunnar A keen-witted rider, Knefroth did men call him; To Gjuki's home came he and to Gunnar's dwelling, With benches round the hearth, and to the beer so sweet.

3. Then the followers, hiding their falseness, all drank Their wine in the war-hall, of the Huns' wrath wary; And Knefroth spake loudly, his words were crafty, The hero from the south, on the high bench sitting:

4. "Now Atli has sent me his errand to ride, On my bit-champing steed through Myrkwood the secret, To bid You, Gunnar, to his benches to come, With helms round the hearth, and Atli's home seek.

5. "Shields shall ye choose there, and shafts made of ash-wood, Gold-adorned helmets, and slaves out of Hunland,

6. Silver-gilt saddle-cloths, shirts of bright scarlet, With lances and spears too, and bit-champing steeds.

7. "The field shall be given you of wide Gnitaheith, With loud-ringing lances, and stems gold-o'er-laid, Treasures full huge, and the home of Danp, And the mighty forest that Myrkwood is called."

8. His head turned Gunnar, and to Hogni he said: "What thy counsel, young hero, when such things we hear? No gold do I know on Gnitaheith lying So fair that other its equal we have not.

9. "We have seven halls, each of swords is full,

10. (And all of gold is the hilt of each;) My steed is the swiftest, my sword is sharpest, My bows adorn benches, my byrnies are golden, My helm is the brightest that came from Kjar's hall, (Mine own is better than all the Huns' treasure.)"

11. Hogni: "What seeks she to say, that she sends us a ring, Woven with a wolf's hair? methinks it gives warning; In the red ring a hair of the heath-dweller found I, Wolf-like shall our road be if we ride on this journey."

12. Not eager were his comrades, nor the men of his kin,

13. The wise nor the wary, nor the warriors bold. But Gunnar spake forth as befitted a king, Noble in the beer-hall, and bitter his scorn:

14. "Stand forth now, Fjornir! and hither on the floor The beakers all golden shalt thou bring to the warriors.

15. "The wolves then shall rule the wealth of the Niflungs, Wolves aged and grey-hued, if Gunnar is lost, And black-coated bears with rending teeth bite, And make glad the dogs, if Gunnar returns not."

16. A following gallant fared forth with the ruler, Yet they wept as their home with the hero they left; And the little heir of Hogni called loudly: "Go safe now, ye wise ones, wherever ye will!"

17. Then let the bold heroes their bit-champing horses On the mountains gallop, and through Myrkwood the secret; All Hunland was shaken where the hard-souled ones rode, On the whip-fearers fared they through fields that were green.

18. Then they saw Atli's halls, and his watch-towers high,

19. On the walls so lofty stood the warriors of Buthli; The hall of the southrons with seats was surrounded, With targets bound and shields full bright.

20. Mid weapons and lances did Atli his wine In the war-hall drink, without were his watchmen, For Gunnar they waited, if forth he should go, With their ringing spears they would fight with the ruler.

21. This their sister saw, as soon as her brothers Had entered the hall,— little ale had she drunk: "Betrayed art thou, Gunnar! what guard hast thou, hero, 'Gainst the plots of the Huns? from the hall flee swiftly!

22. "Brother, 'twere far better to have come in byrnie, With thy household helmed, to see Atli's home,

23. And to sit in the saddle all day 'neath the sun, (That the sword-norns might weep for the death-pale warriors, And the Hunnish shield-maids might shun not the sword,) And send Atli himself to the den of the snakes; (Now the den of the snakes for thee is destined.

24. Gunnar: "Too late is it, sister, to summon the Niflungs, Long is it to come to the throng of our comrades, The heroes gallant, from the hills of the Rhine."

25. * * * * * *

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