Then Atli the king awoke with the wound, and cried out; "No need
of binding or salving here! -- who art thou who hast done the
deed?"
Gudrun says, "Somewhat have I, Gudrun, wrought therein, and
somewhat withal the son of Hogni."
Atli said, "Ill it beseemed to thee to do this, though somewhat
of wrong was between us; for thou wert wedded to me by the rede
of thy kin, and dower paid I for thee; yea, thirty goodly
knights, and seemly maidens, and many men besides; and yet wert
thou not content, but if thou should rule over the lands King
Budli owned: and thy mother-in-law full oft thou lettest sit
a-weeping."
Gudrun said, "Many false words hast thou spoken, and of naught I
account them; oft, indeed, was I fell of mood, but much didst
thou add thereto. Full oft in this thy house did frays befall,
and kin fought kin, and friend fought friend, and made themselves
big one against the other; better days had I whenas I abode with
Sigurd, when we slew kings, and took their wealth to us, but gave
peace to whomso would, and the great men laid themselves under
our hands, and might we gave to him of them who would have it;
then I lost him, and a little thing was it that I should bear a
widow's name, but the greatest of griefs that I should come to
thee -- I who had aforetime the noblest of all kings, while for
thee, thou never barest out of the battle aught but the worser
lot.
Pages:
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225