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Poetic Edda

On the walls so lofty  stood the warriors of Buthli;
The hall of the southrons  with seats was surrounded,
With targets bound  and shields full bright.

15.[1] Mid weapons and lances  did Atli his wine
In the war-hall drink,  without were his watchmen,
For Gunnar they waited,  if forth he should go,
With their ringing spears  they would fight with the ruler.

16. This their sister saw,  as soon as her brothers
Had entered the hall,—  little ale had she drunk:
"Betrayed art thou, Gunnar!  what guard hast thou, hero,
'Gainst the plots of the Huns?  from the hall flee swiftly!

17.[2] "Brother, 'twere far better  to have come in byrnie,
With thy household helmed,  to see Atli's home,


    the Hamthesmol, placing it between stanzas 16 and 17; it seems more likely, however, that "Bikki" was a scribal error for "Buthli." Regarding Bikki cf. Sigurtharkvitha en skamma, 63 and note. Line 4 is apparently in Fornyrthislag.

  1. Line 1 in the manuscript is apparently incorrectly copied, and some editions omit "Mid weapons and lances" and assume a gap in either line 1 or line 3.
  2. This may be the remains of two stanzas; the manuscript marks line 5 as beginning a new stanza. Editorial conjectures are

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