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Dráp Niflunga The Fall of the Niflungs 1 Translation by Lee M. Hollander of Dráp Niflunga in the Poetic Edda, from which the following is taken. Back Source Texts Index |
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Then Gunnar and Hogni took all the gold which Fáfnir had owned. Feud arose between the Gjúkungs and Atli, for he laid Brynhild's death at their door. To atone for it, Guthrún was to be married to him, and they gave her a drink to blot out what had gone before ere she would be wedded to Atli. She bore Atli two sons, Erp and Eitil; but Svanhild was the daughter she had by Sigurð. Atli bade to him as his guests Gunnar and Hogni, and sent to them his man hight Vingi or else Knéfroeth. Guthrún had knowledge of his wiles, and sent word to them by runes that they should not come, and as a token she sent to Hogni the ring Andvaranaut, 2 and fastened within it a wolf's hari Gunnar had asked the hand of Oddrun, Atli's sister, but Atli said nay to that. Then wedded he 3 Glaumvor, but Hogni's wife was Kostbera. Their sons were hight Sólar, Snævar, and Gjúki. 4 But when the Gjúkungs came to Atli's court, Guthrún begged her sons to have the lives of the Gjúkungs spared, 5 but they would not. Hogni's heart was cut out of his breast, but Gunnar was thrown into a dungeon with serpents. He struck his harp and put the worms to sleep; but one adder bored into his liver.
Back to Top ________________________________________________________ The Poetic Edda Translated by Lee M Hollander © 1962 ISBN 0-292-76499-5 LCCCN 61-10045 Fifth paperback printing 1994 University of Texas Press Box 7819, Austin, Texas, 78713-7819 _______________________________________________________ Notes 1.That
is, the Gjúkungs, as possessors of the Niflung hoard. This awkwardly
written piece (separated by most editors form the following poem) was
on doubt meant by teh Collector to form a transition to the Atli lays.
It has not independent value whatever, its statements being, on the
face of them, derived from the following lays, especially from "Atlamál.".
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