“I would indeed choose, but all the horses seem to me to be of equal beauty and strength.”
The stranger shook his head and said: “There is one horse here which far surpasses all the rest, for he came from Odin’s pastures on the sunny slopes of Asgard. He it is you must choose.”
“Gladly would I do so,” replied Siegfried, “but I am too ignorant to know which he is.”
“Drive all the horses into the river,” said the old man, “and I think you will then find the choice easy.”
So Siegfried drove them out of the meadow, and down a steep bank into the stream below. They all plunged in boldly, but soon began to struggle frantically against the current which was bearing them rapidly down the river upon a bank of rocks below. Some of the horses turned back when they felt the force of the water; some fought helplessly against it and were carried down toward the rocks; but one swam to the other side and sprang up on the green bank. Here he stopped a moment to graze, then he plunged again into the stream, and, breasting the current with apparent ease, he swam to the shore and stood at Siegfried’s side.
The youth stroked the stately head and looked into the large, beautiful eyes. Then turning to the stranger he said, “This is he.”
“Yes,” replied the old man, “this is he, and a better steed did man never have. His name is Greyfel,[46] and he is yours as a gift from Odin.”
[46] The horse is called Grani in the Volsunga Saga. [Back]
So saying, the strange visitor disappeared, and Siegfried returned to his forge full of joy and pride, for he knew that no other than the Father of the Gods himself had come to direct his choice.
When Regin heard of this second visit of Odin’s he said to Siegfried: “You are truly blest and favoured of the gods, and it may be that you are the one chosen to perform the task of which I have already spoken to you. I have cherished the hope for many years that in you I might find one brave enough to face the dragon, and restore the treasure to its rightful owner.” Then he told Siegfried of Andvari’s hoard, and of how it came to be guarded by the dragon Fafnir. “This monster,” he continued, “does not rest satisfied with the possession of his treasure, but must needs live upon the flesh of men; and he has thus become the terror of all the country round. Many brave men have sought to slay him for the sake of the gold, but they have only miserably perished; for the dragon breathes out fire which will consume ten men at a breath; and he spits forth poison so deadly that one drop of it can kill. He is, as I have told you, my brother, but nevertheless I bid you slay him.”