Each one falls bloody
On the prince’s breast,
Wet, cold, and piercing,
With sorrow big.”
Sæmund’s Edda (Thorpe’s tr.).
To still her beloved husband’s sufferings, Gudrun then ceased to weep, but her spirit soon joined his, which had ridden over Bifröst and entered Valhalla, where Odin made him leader of the Einheriar. Here Gudrun, a Valkyr once more, continued to wait upon him, darting down to earth at Odin’s command to seek new recruits for the army which her lord was to lead into battle when Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods, should come.
Death of Sinfiotli.
Sinfiotli, Sigmund’s eldest son, also came to an early death; for, having quarreled with and slain Borghild’s brother, she determined to poison him. Twice Sinfiotli detected the attempt and told his father there was poison in his cup. Twice Sigmund, whom no venom could injure, drained the bowl; but when Borghild made a third and last attempt, he bade Sinfiotli let the wine flow through his beard. Mistaking the meaning of his father’s words, Sinfiotli immediately drained the cup and fell to the ground lifeless, for the poison was of the most deadly kind.
“He drank as he spake the words, and forthwith the venom ran
In a chill flood over his heart, and down fell the mighty man