This poem, which was probably composed fairly late, involves Oddrun, a sister of Brynhild and Attila who had an ill-fated love affair with Gunnar. In this poem, Oddrun assists another woman named Borgny in giving birth to twins, and then Oddrun proceeds to tell her tragic love story. The poem suggests that this affair was part of Attila’s motivation in killing Gunnar, and that Borgny’s otherwise unknown lover Vilmund was the killer of Hogni (st. 8).
Concerning Borgny and Oddrun
A king was named Heithrek, his daughter was named Borgny, and her lover was named Vilmund. Borgny struggled to give birth till Oddrun, who was Attila’s sister and Gunnar’s lover, came to her. This poem is about that story.
I HEARD TELL in old sagas that a woman came to Hunland, to do what no other woman on earth could do, to assist Heithrek’s daughter in childbirth.
Oddrun, Attila’s sister, had learned that this woman had a hard pregnancy. She went out for her horse in the stable, set her black saddle on him.
She rode over the dark swamps, she came to the high hall, and there she dismounted. She took the saddle from the worn-out horse, she walked across the hall to its end, and then she said this to the people there:
“What is the news? What is the latest that has happened in the land of the Huns?” A servant said: “Borgny is pregnant, and in pain. She is your friend, Oddrun, and needs your help.”
Oddrun said, “Who is the father? Who caused Borgny to have this difficulty?”
The servant said, “Vilmund was the name of her lover; he spread the warm blankets for the girl, hidden from her father for five winters.”
Nothing more was said of this. Oddrun sat gently at Borgny’s side. She sang loud, she sang powerfully, she sang great spells for Borgny.
A boy and a girl were born to Borgny; two healthy children for the killer of Hogni. When their weakened mother first regained speech, this is what she said first of all:
“May all the goddesses, Freyja and Frigg and all the others, help you, Oddrun, since you have saved me from death in childbirth.”
Oddrun said, “I did not come here because I thought you were worth my help. I have sworn that I will always give help when it is needed to those who share my noble rank, and I honor my oath.”
Then Oddrun sat down, and began to recount the troubles of her long, sad life:
“I was brought up in princely halls; most people were happy at my father Buthli’s court. I enjoyed carefree happiness and wealth for five joyful years till my father died.
“The last thing my father said before he died was this: He said they should provide a dowry of gold for me, send me south to marry Gunnar.
“He said a greater woman would never be born, unless fate had some disaster in store for me.”
Borgny said, “You are mad, Oddrun, you’re out of your wits, if you come to me to speak these words in anger. I have been like a devoted cousin to you, as if we were daughters of two brothers.”
Oddrun said, “I still remember what you said one evening, when I served a drink to Gunnar. You said no other unmarried woman would make such a mistake with a man, except for me.
“While Brynhild wove in her room, she had power over men and lands. And there was a loud noise— earth and heaven shook, when Sigurth came to her tower.
“He fought a battle with his excellent sword, and the tower was broken, and Brynhild was his. But the peace did not last long before she learned of all their trickery.
“She devoted herself to taking revenge, and we’ve all lived through enough of the results. The rumor of it has traveled the whole world, everyone knows she went to Hel alongside Sigurth.
“But I fell in love with Gunnar. I loved that warrior like Brynhild should have. But our father had given a helmet to Brynhild, he said long before that she would be a Valkyrie.
“They offered Attila golden rings, he would get no small price if he married me to Gunnar. They offered him fifteen farms, and even a part of Fafnir’s treasure, if he would consent to the marriage.
“But Attila said he would never accept money for me from Gunnar. I begged my brother with my head bowed low, but my love for Gunnar could not win him over.
“Many of my kinsmen spoke against me, they said they had witnessed our secret meetings. But my brother Attila said I had no faults, he said that I had done no wrong.
“But you should never deny such things before a witness, not when love is concerned.
“Attila sent his messengers through Mirkwood to spy on me. And they found us where they never should have— they found me and Gunnar beneath the same blanket.
“We offered precious rings to those men, begged them not to tell Attila. But they hurried home swiftly, eagerly, and they told Attila about our forbidden love.
“But they hid the affair from Guthrun; she already had guessed the half of it.
“What a noise we heard when Gunnar and Hogni came! They rode their golden-hoofed horses to Attila’s hall. The Huns cut out Hogni’s heart, and they put Gunnar in a pit of serpents.
“I was gone at the time, I was serving Geirmund his fill of drink. But clever Gunnar played a harp, he thought I would come to his aid, the noble-born king I loved thought I’d come to him.
“I was at Hlesey, but I heard him playing his harp with all his war-hardened courage. I told the serving-girls to get ready, I wanted to save the life of my love, King Gunnar.
“We set sail over the sea, we came to where I saw the home of Attila.
“Then a miserable mother of vipers came forth, slithering— I wish she would rot! But that snake bit famous Gunnar in the heart, before I could come— I could not help my lover.
“I often wonder, Borgny, fellow woman, how I continue to hold on to life, since I loved that madly daring prince of warriors like I love my own life.
“Well, you sat, and you listened while I told you all the terrible troubles I and others have endured. We all live according to what seems right to us.” That is the end of the weeping of Oddrun.