The Story of Sigurd the Volsung

to rowing towards shore: and almost with the fi

heart. Raven's Son, thou art standing up; tell me if thou canst see wha

ng, the women are putting off their shoon, and girding up their raiment, as if they would wade the water toward us; and the c

ftain on his bed and got him forth from the boat and went toward the strand with him; and the landsfolk met them where the water was shallower, and took him from their hands and bore him forth on to the yellow sand, and laid him down out of rea

d them, and saw that they were of the stature of the maidens of his own land; they were exceeding fair of skin and shapely of fashion, so that the nakedness of their limbs under their gir

llblithe, but not mockingly; and her fellows also laughed, as though it was strange for him to be there. Then they did on their shoon again, and with the carle laid their hands to the bed whereon the old man lay, and lifted him up, and bore him forth on to the grass, turning their faces toward the flowery wood aforesaid; and they went a little way and then laid him down again and rested; and so on

r fellows lifted the old man once more, and

sea; and Hallblithe went thereto and could see that there was but little ebb and flow of the tide on that shore; for the water of the stream was clear as glass, and the grass and flowers grew right down to its water; so he put off his helm and drank of the stream and washed his face and his hands therein, and then did on his helm again and turned back again toward the wood, feeling very strong and merry; and he looked out seaward and saw the Ship of the Isle of Ransom lessening fast; for a l

hat if we did not know of thee, our wonder would be great tha

; "I will tell thee presently wherefore I come hither.

e how the sun shineth on it? Just so it shine

t the land is marvellous; and fair though these meadows be, they are not ma

ht but hearsay of other lands. If we e

his land called also t

lows grew pale, and she said: "Hold thy peace of such words! They are not law

ave pardon for

and looked on him lovingly; but he drew a little aback from them and said: "I hav

again, "Mayst thou find it, thou lovely

ed and grey-eyed, kind of countenance, soft of speech, yet outspoken and nought timorous; tall according

nd the black-haired damsel spake: "We know of no s

and grief, and he bent his brows upon them, for they seeme

ft hand fondly. But now she said: "Nay, look not on us so bitterly! If the woman be not in the land, this cometh not of our malice. Yet maybe she is here. For such as come h

somewhat; and he said: "Are t

," said th

drew near to him again and took his hands and kissed them; and the black-haired dams

yours," said he, "

King," said

ther name?" s

thou shalt see him soon, that there is