Northern mythology

101 NORTHERN MYTHOLOGY.
with Atlij from vv^hicli she foreboded evil. They travelled
during four days on horseback, but the women were placed
in carriages; then four days in a ship, and again four
days by laud, ere they came to Atli^s residence, where the
nuptials were solemnized with great splendour : but Gudrun
never smiled on Atli.
One night Atli dreamed ill-boding dreams, but Gudi'un
interpreted them favourably. It then occurred to his remembrance
that the Giukings had kept possession of all
Sigurd^s gold, and he therefore sent Vingi to invite them
to a banquet; but Gudrun, who had noticed what had
passed between him and his messenger, cut runes and sent
them to her brothers, too'ether with a 2:old rin^, in which
some wolf^s hair was twined.
Vingi altered the runes before
he stept on shore. He made great promises to the
Giukings, if they would visit King Atli. Gunnar had but
little inclination
to it ;
for the journey, and Hogni was opposed
but being overcome by wine at the protracted feast
given to Vingi, Gunnar was led to pledge himself to the
journey.
In the mean time, Kostbera, Hogni's wife, had read the
runes sent by Gudrun, and discovered that they had been
falsified. She strove to dissuade her husband from the
journey, and related to him her terrific
dreams, which he
interpreted in a contrary sense. Glaumvor also, Gunnar^s
queen, dreamed of treachery, but Gunnar said that no one
could avert his destiny. Though all would dissuade them,
they, nevertheless, stept on board with Vingi, attended by
a few only of their own people. They rowed so lustily
that half the keel burst and their oars were broken. They
then travelled a while through a gloomy forest, where they
saw a powerful army, notwithstanding which they opened
norn Urd is here alluded to is extremely doubtful, and almost equally so
is the allusion to Son, though the vessel containing the skaldic or poetic
mead may be intended, for which see p. 40.