Page:Völsunga Saga (1888).djvu/157

 So when Sigurd came to bed to Gudrun she asked him why Brynhild’s joy was so departed.

He answered, “I know not, but sore I misdoubt me that soon we shall know thereof overwell.”

Gudrun said, “Why may she not love her life, having wealth and bliss, and the praise of all men, and the man withal that she would have?”

“Ah, yea!” said Sigurd, “and where in all the world was she then, when she said that she deemed she had the noblest of all men, and the dearest to her heart of all?”

Gudrun answers, “Tomorn will I ask her concerning this, who is the liefest to her of all men for a husband.”

Sigurd said, “Needs must I forbid thee this, and full surely wilt thou rue the deed if thou doest it.”

Now the next morning they sat in the bower, and Brynhild was silent; then spake Gudrun—

“Be merry, Biynhild! Grievest thou because of that speech of ours together, or what other thing slayeth thy bliss?”

Brynhild answers, “With naught but evil intent thou sayest this, for a cruel heart thou hast.”

“Say not so,” said Gudrun; “but rather tell me all the tale.”

Brynhild answers, “Ask such things only as are good for thee to know—matters meet for mighty dames. Good to love good things when all goes according to thy heart’s desire!”

Gudrun says, “Early days for me to glory in that; but this word of thine looketh toward some foreseeing. What ill dost thou thrust at us? I did naught to grieve thee.”

Brynhild answers, “For this shalt thou pay, in that thou hast got Sigurd to thee,—nowise can I see thee living in