* * * * *
But he stood in the sight of the people, and sweet he was to see,
And no foe and no betrayer, and no envier now hath he:
But Gunnar the bright in the battle deems him his earthly friend,
And Hogni is fain of his fellow, howso the day's work end,
And Guttorm the young is joyous of the help and gifts he hath;
And all these would shine beside him in the glory of his path;
There is none to hate or hinder, or mar the golden day,
And the light of love flows plenteous, as the sun-beams hide the way.
_Of the Cup of evil drink that Grimhild the Wise-wife gave to Sigurd._
Now Gudrun the daughter of Giuki beheld Sigurd's glory and knew the
kindness of his heart, and set her love on him, not knowing that all
his thoughts were given to Brynhild. So Sigurd, seeing her sad and in
no wise guessing the cause of her grief, strove to comfort her with
kindly words, but her mood was still unchanged.
Then Grimhild the Queen, who was a witch-wife and a woman of crafty
mind, marked the love of Gudrun for Sigurd, and marked moreover how
his power and honour in the land would soon be greater than that of
her own sons. Therefore she cast about for some shift that might bind
Sigurd to serve with the Niblungs all his life-days.
Now it befell one night that Sigurd had returned from warring and sat
on the high-seat to sup with the Niblung kings.
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