Page:Poeticedda00belluoft.djvu/533

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

Atlakvitha

The clashing of weapons,  and weeping of the Huns,
Save for Guthrun only,  she wept not ever
For her bear-fierce brothers,  or the boys so dear,
So young and so unhappy,  whom with Atli she had.

42.[1] Gold did she scatter,  the swan-white one,
And rings of red gold  to the followers gave she;
The fate she let grow,  and the shining wealth go,
Nor spared she the treasure  of the temple itself.

43.[2] Unwise then was Atli,  he had drunk to wildness,
No weapon did he have,  and of Guthrun bewared not;
Oft their play was better  when both in gladness
Each other embraced  among princes all.

44.[3] With her sword she gave blood  for the bed to drink,


    12 of the Guthrunarhvot. Weapons: the word literally means "good-weaving," and may refer to silken garments, but this hardly fits the noun here rendered "clashing." Wept not: cf. stanza 31 and note.

  1. Line 1 appears to be in Fornyrthislag. Guthrun distributes Atli's treasure among his followers apparently to prevent their wrath at the slaying of Erp and Eitil from turning against her; Atli, as stanza 43 shows, is too drunk to realize or prevent what she is doing.
  2. The second half of line 4 is apparently an error, but none of the editorial suggestions have improved it.
  3. Guthrun allows the dogs and the house-thralls, who had no part in Gunnar's death, to escape before she burns the dwell-

[497]