46. Grim then was Guthrun, | the grief when she heard,
With necklaces fair, | and she flung them all from her,
(The silver she hurled | so the rings burst asunder.)
47. Then out did she go, | she flung open the doors,
All fearless she went, | and the guests did she welcome;
To the Niflungs she went-- | her last greeting it was,--
In her speech truth was clear, | and much would she speak.
48. "For your safety I sought | that at home ye should stay;
None escapes his fate, | so ye hither must fare."
Full wisely she spake, | if yet peace they might win,
But to nought would they hearken, | and "No" said they all.
49. Then the high-born one saw | that hard was their battle,
In fierceness of heart | she flung off her mantle;
Her naked sword grasped she | her kin's lives to guard,
Not gentle her hands | in the hewing of battle.
50. Then the daughter of Gjuki | two warriors smote down,
Atli's brother she slew, | and forth then they bore him;
(So fiercely she fought | that his feet she clove off;)
[46. This stanza is conformed from Bellows original stanza 43 lines 3-5
47. Niflungs: regarding the application of this term to the Burgundians cf. Atlakvitha, 11, and Brot, 17, and notes. The manuscript here
spells the name with an initial N, as elsewhere, but in stanza 83 the son of Hogni appears with the name "Hniflung." In consequence, some
editors change the form in this stanza to "Hniflungs," while others omit the initial H in both cases. I have followed the manuscript, though
admittedly its spelling is illogical.
49. The warlike deeds of Guthrun represent an odd transformation of the German tradition. Kriemhild, although she did no actual fighting in the
Nibelungenlied, was famed from early times for her cruelty and fierceness of heart, and this seems to have inspired the poet of the Atlamol to
make his Guthrun into a warrior outdoing Brynhild herself. Kriemhild's ferocity of course, was directed against Gunther and especially Hagene, for
whose slaying she rather than Etzel was responsible; here, on the other hand, Guthrun's is devoted to the defense of her brothers.
50. Line 3 is very likely an interpolation. The manuscript marks line 4 as the beginning of a new stanza, and some editions make a separate stanza of
lines 4-5. Atli's brother: doubtless a reminiscence of the early tradition represented in the Nibelungenlied by the slaying of Etzel's brother, Blœdelin
(the historical Bleda), by Dancwart. *Note*: This stanza has been conformed consisting of Bellows original stanza 47 lines 1-3 to match the ON.]
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46. Ötul var þá Guðrún, er hon ekka heyrði,
hlaðin halsmenjum, hreytti hon þeim gervöllum,
slöngði svá silfri, at í sundr hrutu baugar.
47. Út gekk hon síðan, yppði-t lítt hurðum,
fór-a fælt þeygi ok fagnaði komnum,
hvarf til Niflunga, sú var hinzt kveðja,
fylgði saðr slíku, sagði hon mun fleira:
48. "Leitaða ek í líkna at letja ykkr heiman,
sköpum viðr manngi, ok skuluð þó hér komnir."
Mælti af mannviti, ef mundu sættask;
ekki at reðusk, allir ní kváðu.
49. Sá þá sælborin, at þeir sárt léku,
hugði á harðræði ok hrauzk ór skikkju;
nökðan tók hon mæki ok niðja fjör varði,
hæg var-at hjaldri, hvars hon hendr festi.
50. Dóttir lét Gjúka drengi tvá hníga,
bróður hjó hon Atla, bera varð þann síðan,
skapði hon svá skæru, skelldi fót undan.
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