1. Sigurth rode up on Hindarfjoll and turned southward toward the land of the Franks. On the mountain he saw a great light, as if fire were burning, and the glow reached up to heaven. And when he came thither, there stood a tower of shields, and above it was a banner. Sigurth went into the shield-tower, and saw that a man lay there sleeping with all his war-weapons. First he took the helm from his head, and then he saw that it was a woman. The mail-coat was as fast as if it had grown to the flesh. Then he cut the mail-coat from the

2. head-opening downward, and out to both the arm-holes. Then he took the mail-coat from her, and she awoke, and sat up and saw Sigurth, and said:

3. "What bit through the byrnie? how was broken my sleep? Who made me free of the fetters pale?"

4. He answered: "Sigmund's son, with Sigurth's sword, That late with flesh hath fed the ravens."

5. Sigurth sat beside her and asked her name. She took a horn full of mead and gave him a memory-draught.

6. "Hail, day! Hail, sons of day! And night and her daughter now! Look on us here with loving eyes, That waiting we victory win.

7. "Hail to the gods! Ye goddesses, hail, And all the generous earth! Give to us wisdom and goodly speech, And healing hands, life-long.

8. "Long did I sleep, my slumber was long, And long are the griefs of life; Othin decreed that I could not break The heavy spells of sleep."

9. Her name was Sigrdrifa, and she was a Valkyrie. She said that two kings fought in battle; one was called Hjalmgunnar, an old man but a mighty warrior, and Othin had promised him the victory, and

10. The other was Agnar, brother of Autha, None he found who fain would shield him.

11. Sigrdrifa, slew Hjalmgunnar in the battle, and Othin pricked her with the sleep-thorn in punishment for this, and said that she should never thereafter win victory in battle, but that she should be wedded. "And I said to him that I had made a vow in my turn, that I would

12. never marry a man who knew the meaning of fear." Sigurth answered and asked her to teach him wisdom, if she knew of what took place in all the worlds. Sigrdrifa said:

13. "Beer I bring thee, tree of battle, Mingled of strength and mighty fame; Charms it holds and healing signs, Spells full good, and gladness-runes."

14. * * * * * *

15. Winning-runes learn, if thou longest to win, And the runes on thy sword-hilt write; Some on the furrow, and some on the flat, And twice shalt thou call on Tyr.

16. Ale-runes learn, that with lies the wife Of another betray not thy trust;

17. On the horn thou shalt write, and the backs of thy hands, And Need shalt mark on thy nails. Thou shalt bless the draught, and danger escape, And cast a leek in the cup; (For so I know thou never shalt see Thy mead with evil mixed.)

18. Birth-runes learn, if help thou wilt lend, The babe from the mother to bring; On thy palms shalt write them, and round thy joints, And ask the fates to aid.

19. Wave-runes learn, if well thou wouldst shelter The sail-steeds out on the sea; On the stem shalt thou write, and the steering blade, And burn them into the oars; Though high be the breakers, and black the waves, Thou shalt safe the harbor seek.

20. Branch-runes learn, if a healer wouldst be, And cure for wounds wouldst work;

21. On the bark shalt thou write, and on trees that be With boughs to the eastward bent.

22. Speech-runes learn, that none may seek To answer harm with hate; Well he winds and weaves them all, And sets them side by side, At the judgment-place, when justice there The folk shall fairly win.

23. Thought-runes learn, if all shall think Thou art keenest minded of men.

24. * * * * * *

25. Them Hropt arranged, and them he wrote, And them in thought he made,

33 more verses…