The Story of Siegfried | Page 9

shall restore the name and the fame of his
kin of the early days. And he shall be my bane; and in him shall the
race of heroes have an end."[EN#7]
Siegfried's heart was strangely stirred within him as he hearkened to
this story of ancient times and to the fateful words of the master, and
for a long time he sat in silent thought; and neither he nor Mimer
moved, or spoke again, until the darkness of the night had begun to
fade, and the gray light of morning to steal into the smithy. Then, as if
moved by a sudden impulse, he turned to the master, and said,--
"You speak of the Norns, dear master, and of their foretelling; but your
words are vague, and their meaning very broad. When shall that hero
come? and who shall he be? and what deeds shall be his doing?"
"Alas!" answered Mimer, "I know not, save that he shall be of the
Volsung race, and that my fate is linked with his."
"And why do you not know?" returned Siegfried. "Are you not that old
Mimer, in whom it is said the garnered wisdom of the world is stored?
Is there not truth in the old story that even Odin pawned one of his eyes
for a single draught from your fountain of knowledge? And is the
possessor of so much wisdom unable to look into the future with
clearness and certainty?"
"Alas!" answered Mimer again, and his words came hard and slow, "I
am not that Mimer, of whom old stories tell, who gave wisdom to the
All-Father in exchange for an eye. He is one of the giants, and he still
watches his fountain in far-off Jotunheim.[EN#2] I claim kinship with
the dwarfs, and am sometimes known as an elf, sometimes as a
wood-sprite. Men have called me Mimer because of my wisdom and

skill, and the learning which I impart to my pupils. Could I but drink
from the fountain of the real Mimer, then the wisdom of the world
would in truth be mine, and the secrets of the future would be no longer
hidden. But I must wait, as I have long waited, for the day and the deed
and the doom that the Norns have foretold."
And the old strange look of longing came again into his eyes, and the
wrinkles on his swarthy face seemed to deepen with agony, as he arose,
and left the smithy. And Siegfried sat alone before the smouldering fire,
and pondered upon what he had heard.

Adventure II. Greyfell.

Many were the pleasant days that Siegfried spent in Mimer's smoky
smithy; and if he ever thought of his father's stately dwelling, or of the
life of ease which he might have enjoyed within its halls, he never by
word or deed showed signs of discontent. For Mimer taught him all the
secrets of his craft and all the lore of the wise men. To beat hot iron, to
shape the fire-edged sword, to smithy war-coats, to fashion the slender
bracelet of gold and jewels,--all this he had already learned. But there
were many other things to know, and these the wise master showed him.
He told him how to carve the mystic runes which speak to the knowing
ones with silent, unseen tongues; he told him of the men of other lands,
and taught him their strange speech; he showed him how to touch the
harp-strings, and bring forth bewitching music: and the heart of
Siegfried waxed very wise, while his body grew wondrous strong. And
the master loved his pupil dearly.
But the twelve apprentices grew more jealous day by day, and when
Mimer was away they taunted Siegfried with cruel jests, and sought by
harsh threats to drive him from the smithy; but the lad only smiled, and
made the old shop ring again with the music from his anvil. On a day
when Mimer had gone on a journey, Veliant, the foreman, so far forgot
himself as to strike the boy. For a moment Siegfried gazed at him with
withering scorn; then he swung his hammer high in air, and brought it

swiftly down, not upon the head of Veliant, who was trembling with
expectant fear, but upon the foreman's anvil. The great block of iron
was shivered by the blow, and flew into a thousand pieces. Then,
turning again towards the thoroughly frightened foreman, Siegfried
said, while angry lightning-flashes darted from his eyes,--
"What if I were to strike you thus?"
Veliant sank upon the ground, and begged for mercy.
"You are safe," said Siegfried, walking away. "I would scorn to harm a
being like you!"
The apprentices were struck dumb with amazement and fear; and when
Siegfried had returned to his anvil they one