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 said, “Have thy will in this matter, O my lord, for it is seemly so to be.”

And now she holds the funeral feast for her brother by the aid and counsel of the king, and makes ready all things therefor in the best of wise, and bade thither many great men.

At that feast, Borghild the queen bare the drink to folk, and she came over against Sinfjotli with a great horn, and said—

“Fall to now and drink, fair stepson!”

Then he took the horn to him, and looked therein, and said—

“Nay, for the drink is charmed drink.”

Then said Sigmund, “Give it unto me then;” and therewith he took the horn and drank it off.

But the queen said to Sinfjotli, “Why must other men needs drink thine ale for thee?” And she came again the second time with the horn, and said, “Come now and drink!” and goaded him with many words.

And he took the horn, and said—

“Guile is in the drink.”

And thereon, Sigmund cried out—

“Give it then unto me!”

Again, the third time, she came to him, and bade him drink off his drink, if he had the heart of a Volsung; then he laid hand on the horn, but said—

“Venom is therein.”

“Nay, let the lip strain it out then, O son,” quoth Sigmund; and by then was he exceeding drunk with drink, and therefore spake he in that wise.

So Sinfjotli drank, and straightway fell down dead to the ground.

Sigmund rose up, and sorrowed nigh to death over him;