There is a gap of eight manuscript pages in Codex Regius after Stanza 31, line 2 of "The Lay of Sigrdrifa." Then follows all that is left of a "Lay of Sigurth" (Brot). This is the so-called "Great Lacuna." * Of the poems thus lost to us, only "The Lay of Sigrdrifa" can be pieced out from several paper manuscripts--of unknown source----although it too is fragmentary. For the remainder we are dependent on the paraphrase of the Volsunga saga (Chaps. 21-29) which in all likelihood renders the substance of the missing pages. ** Unfortunately scholars have found it impossible to arrive at any agreement about what the Regius pages contained, because the author of the Volsunga saga has demonstrably rounded out his narrative with passages from the Thidhreks saga and paraphrases of "The Lay of Gripir."

* As the manuscript consists altogether of 45 pages it is evident that about one sixth of the whole is lost, or approximately 300 stanzas. However, one must reckon on more or less extensive prose passages.

** The four stanzas given below are quoted in the Volsunga saga.

However, we may be fairly sure that a major portion had as subject the winning of Brynhild for Gunnar, Sigurth's ride through the wall of flames (see Stanzas A and B below), and the deception practiced on her; another portion, the famous quarrel between the bathing queens, when Brynhild for the first time learns of the deception (these stanzas no doubt contained some magnificent lines), the continuation of the quarrel on the next morning (see Stanza C), and Sigurth's vain attempt to console Brynhild---also a powerful scene (see Stanza D). Then there was, possibly, a lay dealing with Guthrun's anxious dreams of her winning, but soon losing, Sigurth and of her remarriage to Atli.

(Gunnar attempts vainly to ride through the wall of flames. Then Sigurth urges on his steed Grani: the Volsunga saga. Chap. 27.)

A. The flickering flames upflared to the skies,

the earth quivered with awful fire;

but few * then dared of the folk-warders

to ride through the fire unflinchingly.

* That is, no one.

B. His Grani Sigurth with sword did urge:

the fire was quenched before the king,

the flames bated before the bold one,

the byrnie glistened, by Regin given.

(On the morrow after their quarrel Guthrun endeavors to reconcile Brynhild and to convince her that her husband Gunnar is second to no one; but Brynhild answers that it was Sigurth who slew the dragon and that this weighs more heavily with her than all of Gunnar's power: the Volsunga saga, Chap. 28).

C. "Will not ever after on earth be forgotten

how Sigurth slew the grim serpent;

but thy brother brooked in nowise

to ride through the fire unflichingly."

(Brynhild rejects all attempts on the part of Sigurth to console her: the Volsunga saga, Chap. 29).

D. From the talk turned him the trusted thane,

the son of Sigmund, sorrowing greatly

at his sides so that his sark did rive,

of iron woven, on the atheling.

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