The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga)Norse MythologyLegend / Oral TraditionOld NorseShareThe Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 11Morris & Magnusson (1888) - EnglishMoreVersion - 1 availableMorris & Magnusson (1888)LanguageEnglishEspañol‹The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 1The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 2The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 3The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 4The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 5The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 6The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 7The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 8The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 9The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 10The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 11The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 12The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 13The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 14The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 15The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 16The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 17The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 18The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 19The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 20The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 21The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 22The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 23The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 24The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 25The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 26The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 27The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 28The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 29The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 30The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 31The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 32The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 33The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 34The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 35The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 36The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 37The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 38The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 39The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 40The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 41The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 42The Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 43›Of King Sigmund's last Battle, and of how he must yield up his Sword againThe Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 11ListenPlay this chapter in spoken English.Save chapterListen to chapterThere was a king called Eylimi, mighty and of great fame, and his daughter was called Hjordis, the fairest and wisest of womankind; and Sigmund hears it told of her that she was meet to be his wife, yea if none else were. So he goes to the house of King Eylimi, who would make a great feast for him, if so be he comes not thither in the guise of a foe. So messages were sent from one to the other that this present journey was a peaceful one, and not for war; so the feast was held in the best of wise and with many a man thereat; fairs were in every place established for King Sigmund, and all things else were done to the aid and comfort of his journey: so he came to the feast, and both kings hold their state in one hall; thither also was come King Lyngi, son of King Hunding, and he also is a-wooing the daughter of King Eylimi. Now the king deemed he knew that the twain had come thither but for one errand, and thought withal that war and trouble might be looked for from the hands of him who brought not his end about; so he spake to his daughter, and said-- "Thou art a wise woman, and I have spoken it, that thou alone shalt choose a husband for thyself; choose therefore between these two kings, and my rede shall be even as thine." "A hard and troublous matter," says she; "yet will I choose him who is of greatest fame, King Sigmund to wife, albeit he is well stricken in years." So to him was she betrothed, and King Lyngi gat him gone. Then was Sigmund wedded to Hjordis, and now each day was the feast better and more glorious than on the day before it. But thereafter Sigmund went back home to Hunland, and King Eylimi, his father-in-law, with him, and King Sigmund betakes himself to the due ruling of his realm. But King Lyngi and his brethren gather an army together to fall on Sigmund, for as in all matters they were wont to have the worser lot, so did this bite the sorest of all; and they would fain prevail over the might and pride of the Volsungs. So they came to Hunland, and sent King Sigmund word how that they would not steal upon him, and that they deemed he would scarce slink away from them. So Sigmund said he would come and meet them in battle, and drew his power together; but Hjordis was borne into the wood with a certain bondmaid, and mighty wealth went with them; and there she abode the while they fought. Now the vikings rushed from their ships in numbers not to be borne up against, but Sigmund the King, and Eylimi, set up their banners, and the horns blew up to battle; but King Sigmund let blow the horn his father erst had had, and cheered on his men to the fight, but his army was far the fewest. Now was that battle fierce and fell, and though Sigmund were old, yet most hardily he fought, and was ever the foremost of his men; no shield or byrny might hold against him, and he went ever through the ranks of his foemen on that day, and no man might see how things would fare between them; many an arrow and many a spear was aloft in air that day, and so his spae-wrights wrought for him that he got no wound, and none can tell over the tale of those who fell before him, and both his arms were red with blood, even to the shoulders. But now whenas the battle had dured a while, there came a man into the fight clad in a blue cloak, and with a slouched hat on his head, one-eyed he was, (1) and bare a bill in his hand; and he came against Sigmund the King, and have up his bill against him, and as Sigmund smote fiercely with the sword it fell upon the bill and burst asunder in the midst: thenceforth the slaughter and dismay turned to his side, for the good-hap of King Sigmund had departed from him, and his men fell fast about him; naught did the king spare himself, but the rather cheered on his men; but even as the saw says, "No might 'gainst many", so was it now proven; and in this fight fell Sigmund the King, and King Eylimi, his father-in-law, in the fore-front of their battle, and therewith the more part of their folk. ‹Previous chapterThe Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 10Next chapterThe Story of the Volsungs (Volsunga Saga) Chapter 12›Similar passagesBy tradition and source labelFind similarCompare selectedCompare with similarAsk Deep ThoughtSelect passages to search for parallels.Tap any verse to select it, then compare selected passages or ask Deep Thought. 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