1. King Sigmund, the son of Volsung, had as wife Borghild, from Bralund. They named their son Helgi, after Helgi Hjorvarthsson; Hagal was Helgi's foster-father. Hunding was the name of a powerful king, and Hundland is named from him. He was a mighty warrior, and had many sons with him on his campaigns. There was enmity and strife between these two, King Hunding and

2. King Sigmund, and each slew the other's kinsmen. King Sigmund and his family were called Volsungs and Ylfings. Helgi went as a spy to the home of King Hunding in disguise. Haeming, a son of King Hunding's, was at home. When Helgi went forth, then he met a young herdsman, and said:

3. "Say to Haeming that Helgi knows Whom the heroes in armor hid; A gray wolf had they within their hall, Whom King Hunding Hamal thought."

4. Hamal was the name of Hagal's son. King Hunding

5. sent men to Hagal to seek Helgi, and Helgi could not save himself in any other way, so he put on the clothes of a bond-woman and set to work at the mill. They sought Helgi but found him not.

6. Then Blind spake out, the evil-minded: " Of Hagal's bond-woman bright are the eyes; Yon comes not of churls who stands at the quern; The millstones break, the boards are shattered.

7. "The hero has a doom full hard, That barley now he needs must grind; Better befits his hand to feel The hilt of the sword than the millstone's handle."

8. Hagal answered and said:

9. "Small is the wonder if boards are splintered By a monarch's daughter the mill is turned;

10. Once through clouds she was wont to ride, And battles fought like fighting men, (Till Helgi a captive held her fast; Sister she is of Sigar and Hogni, Thus bright are the eyes of the Ylfings' maid.)"

11. Helgi escaped and went to a fighting ship. He slew King Hunding, and thenceforth was called Helgi Hundingsbane.

12. He lay with his host in Brunavagar, and they had there a strand-slaughtering, and ate the flesh raw. Hogni was the name of a king. His daughter was Sigrun; she was a Valkyrie and rode air and water; she was Svava reborn. Sigrun rode to Helgi's ship and said:

13. "Who rules the ship by the shore so steep? Where is the home ye warriors have? Why do ye bide in Brunavagar, Or what the way that ye wish to try?"

14. Helgi: 6 "Hamal's the ship by the shore so steep, Our home in Hlesey do we have; For fair wind bide we in Brunavagar, Eastward the way that we wish to try."

15. Sigrun: "Where hast thou, warrior, battle wakened, Or gorged the birds of the sisters of Guth? Why is thy byrnie spattered with blood, Why helmed dost feast on food uncooked?"

16. Helgi: "Latest of all, the Ylfings' son On the western sea, if know thou wilt, Captured bears in Bragalund, And fed the eagles with edge of sword. Now is it shown why our shirts are bloody, And little our food with fire is cooked."

17. Sigrun: "Of battle thou tellest, and there was bent Hunding the king before Helgi down; There was carnage when thou didst avenge thy kin, And blood flowed fast on the blade of the sword."

18. Helgi: "How didst thou know that now our kin, Maiden wise, we have well avenged? Many there are of the sons of the mighty Who share alike our lofty race."

19. Sigrun: "Not far was I from the lord of the folk, Yester morn, when the monarch was slain; Though crafty the son of Sigmund, methinks, When he speaks of the fight in slaughter-runes.

20. "On the long-ship once I saw thee well, When in the blood-stained bow thou wast,

21. (And round thee icy waves were raging;) Now would the hero hide from me, But to Hogni's daughter is Helgi known."

22. Granmar was the name of a mighty king, who dwelt at Svarin's hill. He had many sons; one was named Hothbrodd, another Gothmund, a third Starkath. Hothbrodd was in a kings' meeting, and he won the promise of having Sigrun, Hogni's daughter, for his wife. But when she heard this, she rode with the Valkyries over air and sea to seek Helgi. Helgi was then at Logafjoll, and had fought with Hunding's sons; there he killed Alf and Eyolf, Hjorvarth and Hervarth. He was all weary with battle, and sat under the eagle-stone. There Sigrun found him, and ran to throw her arms about his neck, and kissed him, and told him her tidings, as is set forth in the old Volsung lay:

23. Sigrun the joyful chieftain sought, Forthwith Helgi's hand she took;

24. She greeted the hero helmed and kissed him, The warrior's heart to the woman turned.

25. From her heart the daughter of Hogni spake, Dear was Helgi, she said, to her; "Long with all my heart I loved Sigmund's son ere ever I saw him.

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