he will marry Atli. At first she refuses and thinks only
of revenge, but finally she consents and the marriage is celebrated in
Atli's land. After a time Atli, who is envious of Gunnar's riches, for
the latter had taken possession of Sigurd's hoard, invites him to his
court. A man named "Vingi", who was sent with the invitation, changes
the runes of warning, which Gudrun had given him, so that they, too,
read as an invitation. The brothers determine to accept the invitation,
and, though warned by many dreams, they set out for Atli's court, which
they reach in due time. Vingi now breaks forth into exultations, that he
has lured them into a snare, and is slain by Hogni with a battle axe.

As they ride to the king's hall, Atli and his sons arm themselves for
battle, and demand Sigurd's treasure, which belongs by right to Gudrun.
Gunnar refuses to surrender it, and the fight begins, after some
exchange of taunting words. Gudrun tries at first to reconcile the
combatants, but, failing, arms herself and fights on the side of her
brothers. The battle rages furiously with great loss on both sides,
until nearly all of the Nibelungs are killed, when Gunnar and Hogni
are forced to yield to the power of numbers and are captured and bound.
Gunnar is asked, if he will purchase his life with the treasure. He
replies that he first wishes to see Hogni's bleeding heart. At first the
heart of a slave is cut out and brought to him, but Gunnar recognizes it
at once as that of a coward. Then they cut out Hogni's heart, who laughs
at the pain. This Gunnar sees is the right one, and is jubilant, for now
Atli shall never obtain the treasure, as Gunnar alone knows where it is
hid. In a rage Atli orders Gunnar to be thrown to the snakes. Though
his hands are bound, Gunnar plays so sweetly with his toes on the harp,
which Gudrun has sent him, that all the snakes are lulled to sleep, with
the exception of an adder, which stings him to the heart, so that he
dies.

Atli now walks triumphantly over the dead bodies, and remarks to Gudrun
that she alone is to blame for what has happened. She refuses his offers
of peace and reconciliation, and towards evening kills her two sons
"Erp" and "Eitil", and serves them at the banquet, which the king gives
for his retainers. When Atli asks for his sons, he is told that he had
drunk their blood mixed with wine and had eaten their hearts. That night
when Atli is asleep, Gudrun takes Hogni's son "Hniflung", who des