The Story of Sigurd the Volsung and the Fall of the Niblungs | Page 7

And sure she whispered him somewhat ere she passed forth toward the deck,?Though nought I know to tell it: then Siggeir hailed them fair, And called forth many a blessing on the hearts that bode his snare. Then were the gangways shipped, and blown was the parting horn, And the striped sails drew with the wind, and away was Signy borne White on the shielded long-ship, a grief in the heart of the gold; Nor once would she turn her about the strand of her folk to behold.
Thenceforward dwelt the Volsungs in exceeding glorious state, And merry lived King Volsung, abiding the day of his fate; But when the months aforesaid were well-nigh worn away?To his sons and his folk of counsel he fell these words to say: "Ye mind you of Signy's wedding and of my plighted troth To go in two months' wearing to the house of Siggeir the Goth: Nor will I hide how Signy then spake a warning word?And did me to wit that her husband was a grim and guileful lord, And would draw us to our undoing for envy and despite?Concerning the Sword of Odin, and for dread of the Volsung might. Now wise is Signy my daughter and knoweth nought but sooth: Yet are there seasons and times when for longing and self-ruth The hearts of women wander, and this maybe is such;?Nor for her word of Siggeir will I trow it overmuch,?Nor altogether doubt it, since the woman is wrought so wise; Nor much might my heart love Siggeir for all his kingly guise. Yet, shall a king hear murder when a king's mouth blessing saith? So maybe he is bidding me honour, and maybe he is bidding me death: Let him do after his fashion, and I will do no less.?In peace will I go to his bidding let the spae-wrights ban or bless; And no man now or hereafter of Volsung's blenching shall tell. But ye, sons, in the land shall tarry, and heed the realm right well, Lest the Volsung Children fade, and the wide world worser grow."
But with one voice cried all men, that they one and all would go To gather the Goth-king's honour, or let one fate go over all If he bade them to battle and murder, till each by each should fall. So spake the sons of his body, and the wise in wisdom and war. Nor yet might it otherwise be, though Volsung bade full sore That he go in some ship of the merchants with his life alone in his hand;?With such love he loved his kindred, and the people of his land. But at last he said:
"So be it; for in vain I war with fate, Who can raise up a king from the dunghill and make the feeble great. We will go, a band of friends, and be merry whatever shall come, And the Gods, mine own forefathers, shall take counsel of our home."
So now, when all things were ready, in the first of the autumn tide Adown unto the swan-bath the Volsung Children ride;?And lightly go a shipboard, a goodly company,?Though the tale thereof be scanty and their ships no more than three: But kings' sons dealt with the sail-sheets and earls and dukes of war Were the halers of the hawsers and the tuggers at the oar. So they drew the bridges shipward, and left the land behind, And fair astern of the longships sprang up a following wind; So swift o'er ?gir's acre those mighty sailors ran,?And speedier than all other ploughed down the furrows wan. And they came to the land of the Goth-folk on the even of a day; And lo by the inmost skerry a skiff with a sail of grey That as they neared the foreshore ran Volsung's ship aboard, And there was come white-hand Signy with her latest warning word.
"O strange," she said, "meseemeth, O sweet, your gear to see, And the well-loved Volsung faces, and the hands that cherished me. But short is the time that is left me for the work I have to win, Though nought it be but the speaking of a word ere the worst begin. For that which I spake aforetime, the seed of a boding drear, It hath sprung, it hath blossomed and born rank harvest of the spear; Siggeir hath dight the death-snare; he hath spread the shielded net. But ye come ere the hour appointed, and he looks not to meet you yet. Now blest be the wind that wafted your sails here over-soon, For thus have I won me seaward 'twixt the twilight and the moon, To pray you for all the world's sake turn back from the murderous shore.?--Ah take me hence, my father, to see my land once more!"
Then sweetly