The first poem about Sigurth is Gripisspa (“Gripir’s Prophecies”), in which Sigurth’s future is foretold to him by his uncle Gripir. Modern readers should be warned that the medieval attitude toward “spoilers” was more accepting than that of modern audiences; much of the action of Sigurth’s later life (as related in the following poems) is revealed here.
Gripir was the brother of Hjordis, Sigurth’s mother; they were the children of Eylimi. Gripir was a wiser ruler than all others, and he could see the future. Sigurth rode to Gripir’s hall alone. Sigurth was easy to recognize. He met a man named Geitir outside the hall and spoke with him. Sigurth greeted him and said:
“WHO IS IT WHO LIVES in this place? What name do men give to their king here?
Geitir said:
“Gripir is the name
of the leader of men
who rules this strong land
and all its legions.”
Sigurth said:
“Is the wise king home right now? Do you think he will talk to me? I’m a stranger who wants to speak with him. I must meet with Gripir soon.”
Geitir said:
“But the noble king will ask me what the name of this stranger is who wants to talk to him.”
Sigurth said:
“I am called Sigurth,
son of Sigmund,
and Hjordis
was my mother.”
Then Geitir went to Gripir and said: “A stranger has come here. He is an impressive man to look at, and, my lord, he wants to talk to you.”
The great king left his hall, and greeted his visitor well: “Welcome, Sigurth! I wish you’d come earlier. Geitir, take care of Sigurth’s horse, Grani.”
There was much talking, there was much speaking, when those two wise men had their meeting.
Sigurth said:
“Tell me, if you know,
my uncle,
what do you see
of my fate?”
Gripir said:
“You will become the most famous man beneath the sun, most honored of all kings, you will share your gold and show your courage, you will be a handsome man, and a master of words.”
Sigurth said:
“Tell me more, I want to know, wise king, if you know it: What will be my first journey, after I have left your home here?”
Gripir said:
“Warrior, first you will go avenge your father and get compensation for the suffering of your kin. You will kill the hard, brave sons of Hunding, and have a victory.”
Sigurth said:
“Tell me now, king. I, your nephew, want to hear the truth when we talk together. Do you see excellent deeds in my future to boast about, deeds that will be called the best beneath the heavens?”
Gripir said:
“You alone will kill the shining serpent, the greedy worm who lies on Gnitaheith. You will kill both brothers, Regin and Fafnir. I do not lie.”
Sigurth said:
“I’ll have plenty of gold if I go to battle against worthy foes, as you clearly foresee. Let your mind wander and see yet further; what sort of fate is waiting for me?”
Gripir said:
“You will find Gripir’s treasure, you will seize all that gold. You will put that gold on Grani’s back, then ride to the hall of great King Gjuki.”
Sigurth said:
“I hope that you will say even more than this, my wise, accomplished uncle: When I have visited Gjuki, and left his home, what sort of fate will be waiting for me?”
Gripir said:
“A beautiful princess, dressed in armor, sleeps on a mountain after the death of Helgi. You will free her with your sharp blade. You will cut her armor with the sword that killed Fafnir.”
Sigurth said:
“I’ll break her armor, and the girl will speak when she wakes from her sleep. But then, what will this wise girl say? Will she say something useful to me?”
Gripir said:
“She will teach you useful runes— everything that people most desire to know— she’ll teach you to speak in every language, and how to heal the suffering— live well, king!”
Sigurth said:
“That meeting will end, I’ll have learned much, and I’ll ride further along on my way. Let your mind wander and see yet further; what sort of fate will be waiting for me?”
Gripir said:
“You will come to Heimir’s halls. You’ll be a happy guest of that brave king’s. It’s all told, Sigurth, everything I wanted to say— please don’t ask me anything further.”
Sigurth said:
“Now your words cause me worry, for I think that you, wise king, see yet further: You know there is some great misfortune in store for me, and you don’t want to tell it.”
Gripir said:
“It was easy to see how your life would be in your blooming youth. But I am not a real wise man nor much of a prophet; I’ve forgotten what I knew.”
Sigurth said:
“I know of no one in the world who knows better how to see the future: Don’t conceal it, even if it’s terrible to hear, even if I’ll meet misfortune on my life’s path.”
Gripir said:
“Your life’s path is not written in mockery; let that at least stand out in your memory. As long as humans live on this earth, the name of famous Sigurth will live among them.”
Sigurth said:
“I think it’s wrong for me to part from you, my wise uncle, in this way, without hearing more. My fate will go as it must, no matter what— but show me how it will go, my honored uncle, if you will.”
Gripir said:
“Now Sigurth, my nephew, I will tell the whole truth, since you, young hero, want to force me into it. First, I’ll say something which you know is no lie: Your final day is appointed; death is coming.”
Sigurth said:
“I don’t want to make you angry, I only want to get your good advice. I have to know for certain what awaits, even if it’s evil; I want to know what fate has in store for me.”
Gripir said:
“There is a beautiful woman who is living at Heimir’s, and her name will be remembered as Brynhild. She is the daughter of Buthli, but the brave king Heimir fosters that hard-hearted girl.”
Sigurth said:
“So what does it matter if there is a beautiful woman growing up at Heimir’s place? Now I need you to delve deeper, for I think that you have foreseen all my fate.”
Gripir said:
“That beautiful woman who is growing up at Heimir’s will deprive you of all of your happiness. She will make you sleepless, she will make you senseless, you’ll pay attention to nothing unless you’re with that girl.”
Sigurth said:
“Tell me, Gripir, what can I do to find some medicine to heal this illness? Will this beautiful girl I intend to marry, be given to me in marriage?”
Gripir said:
“The two of you will swear oaths to one another, but will keep few of them. You will be a guest at Gjuki’s one night, and then you will forget Brynhild, daughter of Buthli.”
Sigurth said:
“But Gripir, how will this happen to me? Am I made with such a weak mind? Will I betray her, when she has captured my whole heart?”
Gripir said:
“Others will trick you into this treachery. You will be trapped by Queen Grimhild. You will ask for the hand of her bright-haired daughter; she will fool you into it.”
Sigurth said:
“So then I will be brother-in-law of great Gunnar, married to Guthrun. It seems this would be a very good marriage, if I didn’t suspect there’s more bad to come.”
Gripir said:
“Grimhild will terribly deceive you, she will ask you to court Brynhild for the bride of Gunnar, that king of the Goths. And you will promise to go upon that journey.”
Sigurth said:
“Clearly I can see that pain awaits me. And this is the worst, that I must court the famous woman I love most of all to be the fair bride of another man.”
Gripir said:
“You will swear many oaths, you and Gunnar, together with Hogni. You and Gunnar will magically trade appearances on the journey. I am not lying.”
Sigurth said:
“What will that gain me? Why will we two change appearances on this journey? Some other evil must follow all this other evil— tell me more, Gripir!”
Gripir said:
“You will look like Gunnar, you will act as if you were Gunnar, but you’ll have your own mind and your own courage; you will woo Brynhild, foster-daughter of Heimir, for Gunnar, and nothing will prevent it.”
Sigurth said:
“I think the worst part is that people will call me an evildoer when they hear of this. I do not wish to woo the princess, the best woman I know, with trickery.”
Gripir said:
“You will sleep next to the young woman, but only as if she had been your mother. Because of this, for a long time people on this earth will speak the famed name of Sigurth.”
Sigurth said:
“Will the famous King Gunnar marry this girl, even after the wise princess has slept next to me for three nights? Answer me, Gripir!”
Gripir said:
“Two bridegrooms, you and Gunnar, will toast your weddings in Gjuki’s hall, on the same day. You’ll exchange appearances again when you come home, and have the same souls as before.”
Sigurth said:
“Will my brother-in-law and I stay in good friendship? Tell me, Gripir! Will Gunnar later rejoice for these weddings, or will I?”
Gripir said:
“You’ll remember your oaths, and you will be silent; you will live happily with your wife Guthrun. But Brynhild will learn about the deception, and she will plot her revenge on you.”
Sigurth said:
“And what repayment will Brynhild accept, from me and the others who deceived her? All she’ll have from me are the oaths I swore and later broke, and her unhappy fortune.”
Gripir said:
“She will tell Gunnar that you were not true to him. She will tell Gunnar, son of Gjuki, that he was wrong to place his trust in you.”
Sigurth said:
“What is this? Gripir, tell me honestly, will her story be true? Is it true I’ll be faithless? Or will the famous woman be telling lies about what she and I did? Tell me, Gripir!”
Gripir said:
“Because of her anger, the girl will lie about you, she’ll cause you this heartbreak. Even though you were not the cause, the princess will know she was won through treachery.”
Sigurth said:
“Will Gunnar be fooled by her? Will Gotthorm be fooled, and Hogni too? Will my brothers-in-law redden their swords in my flesh? Tell me, Gripir!”
Gripir said:
“The pain will go to Guthrun’s heart when her brothers kill you. She will never be happy, she will never love again; it will all be Grimhild’s fault.
“But Sigurth, leader of warriors, there is one comfort in your fate: A better man will never walk upon the earth beneath the sun than you.”
Sigurth said:
“I part from you in friendship. My fate will be what it will. You have done what I asked you to do, and I think you would have happily told me I would have a better fate, if that had been my true destiny.”