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Sigurtharkvitha en Skamma

as the original home of the poem (cf. introductory note to Atlakvitha), but the arguments for Iceland are even stronger; Norway in this case is practically out of the question.

The narrative features of the poem are based on the German rather than the Norse elements of the story (cf. introductory note to Gripisspo), but the poet has taken whatever material he wanted without much discrimination as to its source. By the year 1100 the story of Sigurth, with its allied legends, existed throughout the North in many and varied forms, and the poem shows traces of variants of the main story which do not appear elsewhere.

1.[1] Of old did Sigurth  Gjuki seek,The Volsung young,  in battles victor;Well he trusted  the brothers twain,With mighty oaths  among them sworn.
2. A maid they gave him,  and jewels many,Guthrun the young,  the daughter of Gjuki;They drank and spake  full many a day,Sigurth the young  and Gjuki's sons.
3.[2] Thereafter went they  Brynhild to woo,And so with them  did Sigurth ride,
  1. ↑ Gjuki: father of the brothers twain, Gunnar and Hogni, and of Guthrun. In this version of the story Sigurth goes straight to the home of the Gjukungs after his victory over the dragon Fafnir, without meeting Brynhild on the way (cf. Gripisspo, 13 and note). Volsung: Sigurth's grandfather was Volsung; cf. Fra Dautha Sinfjotla and note. Oaths: regarding the blood-brotherhood sworn by Sigurth, Gunnar, and Hogni cf. Brot, 18 and note.
  2. ↑ Brynhild: on the winning of Brynhild by Sigurth in Gunnar's shape cf. Gripisspo, 37 and note. The poet here omits de-

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