"
Gunnar grew sick at heart thereat, and might nowise see what
fearful thing lay beneath it all; he was bound to Sigurd by oath,
and this way and that way swung the heart within him; but at the
last he bethought him of the measureless shame if his wife went
from him, and he said within himself, "Brynhild is better to me
than all things else, and the fairest woman of all women, and I
will lay down my life rather than lose the love of her." And
herewith he called to him his brother and spake, --
"Trouble is heavy on me," and he tells him that he must needs
slay Sigurd, for that he has failed him where in he trusted him;
"so let us be lords of the gold and the realm withal."
Hogni answers, "Ill it behoves us to break our oaths with wrack
and wrong, and withal great aid we have in him; no kings shall be
as great as we, if so be the King of the Hun-folk may live; such
another brother-in-law never may we get again; bethink thee how
good it is to have such a brother-in-law, and such sons to our
sister! But well I see how things stand, for this has Brynhild
stirred thee up to, and surely shall her counsel drag us into
huge shame and scathe.
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