engeance. Pretending to be ill,
she takes to her bed, and when Gunnar inquires what ails her, she asks
him if he remembers the circumstances of the wooing and that not he but
Sigurd had penetrated the flames. She attempts to take Gunnar's life, as
she had pledged her troth to Sigurd, and is thereupon placed in chains
by Hogni. Seven days she sleeps, and no one dares to wake her. Finally
Sigurd succeeds in making her talk, and she tells him how cruelly she
has been deceived, that the better man had been destined for her, but
that she had received the poorer one. This Sigurd denies, for Giuki's
son had killed the king of the Danes and also Budli's brother, a great
warrior. Moreover, although he, Sigurd, had ridden through the flames,
he had not become her husband. He begs her therefore not to harbor a
grudge against Gunnar.

Brynhild remains unconvinced, and plans Sigurd's death, and threatens
Gunnar with the loss of dominion and life, if he will not kill Sigurd.
After some hesitation, Gunnar consents, and, calling Hogni, informs
him that he must kill Sigurd, in order to obtain the treasure of the
Rhinegold. Hogni warns him against breaking his oath to Sigurd, when it
occurs to Gunnar, that his brother Gutthorm had sworn no oath and might
do the deed. Both now proceed to excite the latter's greed, and give him
wolf's and snake meat to eat to make him savage. Twice Gutthorm makes
the attempt, as Sigurd lies in bed, but is deterred by the latter's
penetrating glance. The third time he finds Sigurd asleep, and pierces
him with his sword. Sigurd, awakening at the pain, hurls his own sword
after his murderer, fairly cutting him in two. He then dies, protesting
his innocence and designating Brynhild as the instigator of his murder.
Brynhild at first laughs aloud at Gudrun's frantic grief, but later her
joy turns into sorrow, and she determines to share Sigurd's death. In
vain they try to dissuade her; donning her gold corselet, she pierces
herself with a sword and begs to be burned on Sigurd's funeral pyre. In
dying she prophesies the future, telling of Gudrun's marriage to "Atli"
and of the death of the many men which will be caused thereby.

After Brynhild's death Gudrun in her sorrow flees to the court of King
"Half" of Denmark, where she remains seven years. Finally Grimhild
learns of the place of her daughter's concealment, and tries to bring
about a reconciliation with Gunnar and Hogni. They offer her much
treasure, if s