The Saga of the Volsungs 
The Norse Epic of Sigurd the Dragon Slayer

The Saga of the Volsungs is an Icelandic epic of special interest to admirers of Richard Wagner, who drew heavily upon this Norse source in writing his Ring Cycle and a primary source for writers of fantasy such as J. R. R. Tolkien and romantics such as William Morris.


A trove of traditional lore, it tells of love, jealousy, vengeance, war, and the mythic deeds of the dragonslayer, Sigurd the Volsung.


Byock’s comprehensive introduction explores the history, legends, and myths contained in the saga and traces the development of a narrative that reaches back to the period of the great folk migrations in Europe when the Roman Empire collapsed.

Spis treści

INTRODUCTION

Representations of the Volsung Story in Norse Art

Myths, Heroes, and Social Realities

History and Legend: Burgundians, Huns, Goths,

    and Sigurd the Dragon Slayer

Richard Wagner and the Saga of the Volsungs


NOTE ON THE TRANSLATION


THE SAGA OF THE VOLSUNGS

I. Odin Guides Sigi from the Otherworld*

2. The Birth of Volsung

3· Sigmund Draws the Sword from Barnstock*

4· Siggeir Plots Revenge*

5· The Fall of Volsung

6. Signy Plots Revenge*

7· Signy Gives Birth to Sinfjotli

8. Sigmund and Sinfjotli Don the Skins

9· Helgi Marries Sigrun

IO. Concerning the Volsungs

II. Sigmund Marries Hjordis*

I2 . Hjordis Remarries*

I3. The Birth of Sigurd

” Chapter tides with an asterisk have been supplied by the translator; all other tides

are in the original manuscript.

14· The Otter’s Ransom*

15. Regin Fashions Gram

16. Gripir Foretells Sigurd’s Future*

17. Sigurd Kills Lyngvi and Hjorvard and All

    the Others

18. Regin and Sigurd Go Riding

19. Regin Drinks Fafnir’s Blood

20. Sigurd Eats the Serpent’s Heart

21. Concerning Sigurd

22. Brynhild’s Wise Counsel

23. Concerning Sigurd’s Appearance

24. Sigurd Comes to Heimir

25. The Conversation between Sigurd and Brynhild

26. Concerning King Gjuki and His Sons

27. Brynhild Interprets Gudrun’s Dream

28. The Ale of Forgetfulness Is Blended for Sigurd

29. Sigurd Rides through the Wavering Flames of

    Brynhild, the Daughter of Budli

30. Dispute of the Queens, Brynhild and Gudrun

31. Brynhild’s Grief Only Increases

32. The Betrayal of Sigurd

33· Brynhild’s Request

34· The Disappearance of Gudrun

35. Gudrun Carves Runes

36. Hogni Interprets His Wife’s Dream

37· The Brothers’ Journey from Home

38. The Battle in the Fortress and the Victory

39· Hogni Is Captured

40. The Conversation between Atli and Gudrun

41. Concerning Gudrun

42. Svanhild Is Married and Trampled to Death

    under the Hooves of Horses

43· Gudrun Urges Her Sons to Avenge Svanhild

44· Concerning the Sons of Gudrun.

    The Final Chapter

    

NOTES


EDDIC POEMS USED BY THE SAGA AUTHOR


GLOSSARY


MAPS

I. The world of the Vikings (ca. IO00)

2. Migrations of the tribes central to The Saga of the

Volsungs up to the death of Attila the Hun

O autorze

Jesse L. Byock is Professor of Old Norse and Medieval Scandinavian Studies, Scandinavian Section, Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at the University of California, Los Angeles.