At the ship’s side

And at the shield’s edge,

At the horse’s foot

And at the sword’s edge

That thou killest not

The wife of Völund

Nor puttest to death

My bride.

(Völundarkvida, 33.)

Gudrun thus curses Atli, for having broken his solemn oath to her brothers, before she slays him in his bed and burns him and his men in his own hall:—