Northern mythology

NORTHERN MYTHOLOGY. 105
the gate of the fastness and rode in. Vingi now gave them
to understand that they had been beguiled^ whereupon
they slew him with their maces.
King Atli now commanded his people to seize them in
the hall. On hearing the clash of arms, Gudrun cast her
mantle aside, entered the hall, and having embraced her
brothers, endeavoured to mediate, but in vain. She then
put on a corselet, took a sword, and shared in the conflict
like the stoutest champion. The battle lasted long, Atli
lost many of his warriors. At length, the two brothei s
alone survived of their whole party : they were overpowered
and bound. Atli commanded Hogni^s heart to be cut out,
though his counsellors would have taken that of the thrall
Hialli ; but as he cried out when they were about to lay
hands on him, Hogni said it was a game he recked little
of, so the thrall for the moment escaped. Gunnar and
Hogni were set in chains. It was Atli^s wish that Gunnar
should save his life by disclosing where the gold was deposited;
but he answered, " Sooner would I see my brother
Hogni^s bloody heart.^^ They then again seized on
the thrall, cut out his heart, and laid it before Gunnar.
'^ This,^^ said he, " is the heart of a coward, unlike the
brave Hogni's ; for even now it trembles, though less by
half than when in its owner^s breast.'^
They then cut out
the heart of Hogni, who laughed under the process.
On
seeing that it did not tremble, Gunnar recognised it for
Hogni^s, and said that now he alone knew where the gold
was hidden, and that the Rhine should possess it rather
than his enemies wear it on their fingers. Gunnar was
then confined, with his hands bound, in a yard filled with
serpents. Gudrun sent him a harp, which he played with
his feet, so that all the serpents were lulled to sleep save
one viper, which fixed itself on him and stung him to the
hearth
^ This was Atli's mother so transformed. See Oddrunar Gratr, Str. 30.
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