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Atlakvitha

2.[1] Then the followers, hiding  their falseness, all drankTheir wine in the war-hall,  of the Huns' wrath wary;And Knefröth spake loudly,  his words were crafty,The hero from the south,  on the high bench sitting:
3.[2] "Now Atli has sent me  his errand to ride,On my bit-champing steed  through Myrkwood the secret,To bid you, Gunnar,  to his benches to come,With helms round the hearth,  and Atli's home seek.
4.[3] "Shields shall ye choose there,  and shafts made of ash-wood,Gold-adorned helmets,  and slaves out of Hunland,
  1. ↑ Falseness: i.e., Gunnar's followers concealed their fear and hatred of the Huns at the feast; but the word may mean "fear of treachery." War-hall: the word used is "Valhall," the name of Othin's hall of slain warriors.
  2. ↑ Myrkwood the secret (the adjective is literally "unknown"): the forest which divided Atli's realm from that of the Gjukungs; cf. Oddrunargratr, 23 and note. Around the hearth: the adjective is the same one which is applied to "benches" in stanza 1 (cf. note); it may be an error here, or it may possibly have the force of "of your followers," i.e., Gunnar is to arm the men of his household (those who are round his hearth) for the journey.
  3. ↑ Slaves, etc.: some editions have "swords in plenty." Scarlet: the word apparently means "slaughter-red," "blood-red," but it may mean something entirely different.

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