The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-07
\ LITERARY EVENT.
william Morris's Fpic Poem.

mated In an epic poem by the author OF Jason"
and tine Earthly Paradise" We would direct
careful attention to this work, The Story OF
Sigurd The Yolsun0 and the Eaa Of the Niblungs.
both because the sensuous, Pre- Rapbaoitic
treatment with which readers Of recent poetry
are fan'llSr. has here found consummate ex-
preston, and because the theme Is the fullest
and erandest with which poet Of our race
could deal
What Is this story which now, for the nrst
time Is nttnRy told In the English tongue7
The tale Of sigurd. as Morris reminded us In a
preliminary essay published some six years ago,
a tr nslatun OF the "v0lsunsa saga''-is the
great story OF the North which should be to all
our race what the tale OF Troy was to the
Greeks-to all our race first, and afterward,
when the change OF the world has made our
race nothing moro than a name Of what has
been-a story too-then should It be to those
That come after us no less than the tale OF Troy
has been to us. We cannot but think It q nota-
bic coincidence that this leg nd, or rather oycle
of heroic myths, after having we'll nigh faded
from tho memory OF the Teutonic folk since the
idiom OF the Nioelungen Ii d ceased to be read
lily intelleibe. should all at once, and almost 10
the same year, have found two such Interpret
ers rs Richard Wagner aud WILLIAM NORRIS.
The reader may find It interesting TO contrast
HE various treatment which the tale Of Sigurd.
tho V0lsung, has received from the nameless
Minnesinger VINO composed the core OF that re-
touched and recast work which Is known to US
as the Nibelungen Lied-in the dramatic form Of
Wagner's tetraiogy. and aually In this English
epic. For that purpose 1t NAV bo well to con-
dense from the "v6lsunGa saga" and the prose
Edda the cardinal features OF the original story
The three gods, Odin, Loki, and H0nir, In
bheir wandering through the world, come to
IL n n tpr Ia m nal
which he hns caught. Lok kills him with
Itoue and strips OF his hide. At nightfIll they
peek shelter with farmer. Hreidmar by name,
md show him the offers skin. freedman C lis
. his sons, Fafnlr aud Regin, and tells them that
bbeir brother Otter has been slain. wbereupon
They seize the gods and bind them. For blood.
money the father requires them to oil the skin
NTH gold aud cover 1t with tho same metal.
Loxi Is despatched to seek the ransom, and cap
lures In the water the dwarf Andvari (wearing
bhe form of a ASH whom he com pels to buy his
freedom with his treasures. Ono ring, which
would have enabled hun to duplicate the gold
lwasners Ring of the Nioelungen y, the
dwarf would keep back; and when Loki
lakes this also, pronounces curse
npon the hoard. Loki returns and ran
boms the gods. but HreldmM remarks
that one hair OF the otter's skin remains uncov-
cred, and, at his demand, the RUG IL added, and
with II passes the curse which rests upon the
possessor Of the treasure. The surviving Jro-
thers claim a share Of the gold, and when their
father refuses, they Kill bin. Fafnir. however,
seizcs the whole, aud, taking the form OF a ser.
pent. guards the hoard. Regin, become a fusi.
tive, temrts Sigutd, the son OF sigmund, 70
avenre him, and FORCES Tor him. from the fras-
ments OF his fathers weapon. a sword 40 we'll
tempered and sharp that 1t cleaves an anvil to
the ground, and, held In a running stream, sun
ders flock of wool which floats against II. ST.
Rurd goes to Fdfnir's abode, digs a pit 10 the
snakes path. and, from this ambush, thrusts his
sword through the reptile. Reein cuts on. his
brothers heart, aud bids sigurd cook II for rim.
The latter, wishing to see II the heart Is roasted
shrusts his finger In the fat, and then
puts Il in his mouth, whereupon
birds. and learns that Regin is plotting treachery
against him. The young man slavs Regin, and.
49, - - $500 "a 49, Fatal hoard rarri.a
Il away on bis horse Grant. He comes presently
30 a house on u mountain aud finds there
sleeping warri Or clad IN complete armor. whom.
after taking OF the helm, be discovers
30 he woman. This is Brynhnd, one OF
Odin's victory messengers, VINO N the god had
plunged In sleep because In certain contest
she had appordoned victory against his will.
The two swear truth to one anol her. and Bryn-
hiio teaches slgurd runes. Afterw lrd the latter
comes to the home Of Giuki, king yelling by
the Rhine, with whose sons, Gunnar, Holni. and
Guthorm, he strikes league OF friendship aud
takes part In their wars. Tho daughter OF
G.uki, Gudrun, to whom dreams have fore
told misfortune, by the advice OF her mother
offers Sigurd n love potion, wnicn causes him to
forget Brynhild and to wed Gudrun Gunnar
meanwhile Is minded TO marry Bryuhili, the sis
Tor Of Atli, Budli's son, ana Sigutd attends him
N Iltn r hi a -
by wall OF mes and only he who forces a
passage through them may have her TO wife.
Gunnar ESSAYS 1t, but his horse starts aside; and
only when sigurd, who has changed form with
his friend, mounts his own horse, GRAM, will the
latter consent to pass the DIRE. Sigurd passes the
night with Irynhild, but his sword lies between
them on the couch. In the morning they ex-
change rings. ssurd giving her that OF the
dwarf, Andvari. Thereupon he leaves the cas-
tie, resumes his own form, and Gunnar carries
Brynhild home as bis wife.
By and by II happens that Brynhild and Gu
drum are washing cir har In the Rhine, and the
former goes no sire IN that the water running
from Gudrun's locks may not touch her
head, seeing she has welded ,ne better man
They fall TO wranG ing about the worth Of their
husbands, and Gudrun discloses how Sigurd
had ridden through the flames OF behalf Of
Gunnar aud exchanged rings with the lItter's
bride. Brynhild goes home In silence. and for
seven days lies without sleep OF food. brood ng
upon her wrong. She urges Gudrun's brothers
TO STAY sieurd, and they stir up Guthorm to the
deed. The latter steals to the guests chamber,
but when Sigurd turns on him MS cleaning eyes
he dies. second attempt Is alike fruitloss,
but the third time Slgurd is sleep, and his as
sailant runs him through. sigurd, rousing
nngs his sword after his n,ing enemy
ana cuts him In twain. When Gudrun
wakes she finds her husband swimming
In blood, and Brynhild laughs to hear hen
riVais outcry. Gudrun sits fearless by
sieurd's body until, one Of her sisters drawing
the face cloth from the face, she kisses nini ana
weeps. Meanwhile Brynhild stats herself aud
is burned on The same pile with Sigurd. Gun.
mar and HOsni share the treasure, and Gudrun
Is subsequently married 10 Att, King Of Hun
land, Brynhild's brother. The Latter lids Gun.
mar and Hogni to feast, but before leaving
homo they bury the so-called hoard Of the
NlbelunGen In the Rhine, whence II was de tine
never TO be recovered. Gudrun attempts to
warn her brothers by message written Ia rune.
but neither this nor the ominous dreams OF
tuer own wives avail to deter them. Landing
from the ships they ride to Atli's castle, where