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Sinfjolti's Death Sigmund, son of Volsung, was king over Frankland. His eldest son was hight Sinfjotle, (2) the second, Helgi, and the third Hamund. Borghild, Sigmund's wife, had a brother called....; (3) but Sinfjotli, her stepson, and ........wooed the same woman. Therefore Sinfjotli slew him. When he returned, Borghild bade him betake himself away; but Sigmund offered weregild, and this she had to take. At the arvel, Borghild handed ale about. 1. This link, in very mediocre prose, was place here by the Collector to form a transition to the Sigurth lays. It might with equal justice be entitled "Of Sigurth's Origin." 2. See "Helgakvidha Hundingsbana" I, St. 33. 3. There is space left here in the manuscript for the insertion of theother suitor's name, which is not known to the Volsunga saga, either. She took poison, a big drinking horn full, and handed it to Sinfjotli. But when he looked into the horn he saw that there was poison in it and said to Sigmund, "Muddied is the ale, father!" Sigmund grasped the horn and finished it off. It is told of Sigmund that he was proof against poison, so that it would not harm him within nor without. But his sons could stand poison only without, on their skin. Borghild brought Sinfjotli another horn and bade him drink of it, and all happened as before. Still a third time she handed him the horn, shaming him if he drank not. Sinfjotli spoke as before to his father. Sigmund said: "Let you beard filter it, my son!" Sinfjotli drank, and forthwith fell down dead. Sigmund carried him a long way in his arms until he came to a firth which was both long and narrow. There lay a small boat, and in it was a man. He offered to ferry Sigmund over. But when Sigmund had borne the body into the boat there was no more room in it for another person. The man told Sigmund to walk around the firth; then he shoved the boat off and forthwith vanished.(4) 4. The ferryman is none other than Othin, who thus himself accompanies the hero on his journey to the realm of the dead. King Sigmund dwelled for a long time in Denmark in Borghild's realm, after marrying her; but afterwards he fared south to Frankland to the kingdom over which he himself had sway. There he married Hjordis, the daughter of King Eylimi, and their son was Sigurth. King Sigmund fell in battle against the sons of Hunding. Then Hjordis married Alf, the son of King Hjolprek. (5) 5. Of Denmark, according to the Volsunga saga. The name corresponds to that of the West Frankish king, Chilperich. In the Volsunga saga it is explained how this comes about: Alf happens to arrive on the scene of battle with his fleet, and there finds Hjordis and one of her maids by the side of the dying Sigmund. He carries them off as bondmaids, but later marries Hjordis when her true status becomes unknown. Her son by Sigmund, Sigurth, may thus be said to have been born in captivity: see "Fafnismal," Sts. 7-8. The boy Sigurth (6) grew up at his court. Both Sigmund and all his sons were far above other men in strength, in stature, in hardihood, and in all manly feats; but Sigurth was foremost of them all, and about him men are at one in the olden tales, that he was the noblest of men and the greatest of leaders in war. 6. "Warder of Victory." The German form Sigfrit means "Peace by Victory." |
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