Page:The Prose Edda (1916 translation by Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur).pdf/186

 of birds, and he understood what the nuthatches were saying which were sitting in the trees. Then one spake:


 * There sits Sigurdr
 * Blood-besprinkled,
 * Fáfnir's heart
 * With flame he roasteth:
 * Wise seemed to me
 * The Spoiler of Rings
 * If the gleaming
 * Life-fibre he ate.


 * There lies Reginn&mdash;sang another&mdash;
 * Rede he ponders,
 * Would betray the youth
 * Who trusteth in him:
 * In his wrath he plots
 * Wrong accusation;
 * The smith of bale
 * Would avenge his brother.

Then Sigurdr went over to Reginn and slew him, and thence to his horse, which was named Grani, and rode till he came to Fáfnir's lair. He took up the gold, trussed it up in his saddle-bags, laid it upon Grani's back, mounted up himself, and then rode his ways. Now the tale is told why gold is called Lair or Abode of Fáfnir, or Metal of Gnita Heath, or Grani's Burden.

XLI. "Then Sigurdr rode on till he found a house on the mountain, wherein a woman in helm and birnie lay sleeping. He drew his sword and cut the birnie from her: she