aid Atli, "ye shall do it, or do no more
The deeds of the days of the living: ye shall render the garnered
store,
Ye shall give forth the Gold of Sigurd, the wealth of the uttermost
strand."

"To give a gift," cried Hogni, "we came to King Atli's land:
Tomorn for a little season thou shalt be the richest fool
Of all kings ever told of; and the rest let the high Gods rule."

"O King of the East," said Gunnar, "great gifts for thee draw nigh,
But the treasure of the Niblungs in their guarded house shall lie."

"What then will ye do?" quoth Atli; "have ye seen the fish in the net?"

"Eve telleth of deeds," said Gunnar, "and it is but the morning as
yet."

Said Atli: "Yea, will ye die? are there no deeds left you to do?"

"We shall smite with the sword," said the Niblung, "and tomorn will we
journey anew."

"Craftsmaster Hogni," said Atli, "where then are the shifts of the
wise?"

Said Hogni: "To smite with the sword, and go glad from the country of
lies."

"So died the fool," said Atli, "as Hogni dieth today."

"Smote the blind and the aimless," said Hogni, "and Baldur passed
away."

Said Atli: "Yet may ye live in the wholesome light of the sun,
And your latter days be as plenteous as the deeds your hands have
done."

"Dost thou hearken, O sword," said Gunnar, "and yet thou liest in
peace?
When then wilt thou look on the daylight, that the words of the
mocker may cease?"

"Thou, Hogni the wise," said Atli, "art thou weary of wisdom and lore,
Wilt thou die with these fools of the sword, and be mocked mid the
blind of the war?"

"Many things have I learned," said Hogni, "but today's task, easy it
is;
For men die every hour and they wage no master for this.
--Get hence, thou evil King, thou liar and traitor of kings,
Lest the edge of my sword be thy portion and not the ruddy rings!"

Then Atli shrank from before him, and the eyes of his intent,
And no more words he cast them, but forth from the hall he went,
And again were the Niblung children alone in the hall of their foes
With the wan and silent woman: but without great clamour arose,
And the clashing of steel against steel, and the crying of man unto
man,
And the wind of that summer morning through the Eastland banners ran:
Then so loud o'er all w