University of Virginia Library

Said the Niblung: “Thee shall I heed, or the longing of thy pride?
I, who heeded Sigurd nothing, who thrust mine oath aside,
When the years were young and goodly and the summer bore increase!
Shall I crave my life of the greedy and pray for days of peace?
I, who whetted the sword for Sigurd, and bared the blade in the morn,
And smote ere the sun's uprising, and left my sister forlorn:
‘Yea I lied,’ quoth the God-loved Singer, ‘when the will of the Gods I told!’
—Stretch forth thine hand, O Mighty, and take thy Treasure of Gold!”