THE ELDER EDDA OF SAEMUND
was also Glaumvor, Gunnar's consort, the prudent dame her duty forgot not, she to the guests' need attended.
7. Hogni they home invited, if he would be pleased to go. Treachery was manifest, had they but reflected! Gunnar then promised, if only Hogni would, but Hogni refused what the other proposed.
8. The noble dames bore mead, of many things there was abundance, many horns passed round, until it seemed they had full drunken.
9. The household prepared their couches, as to them seemed best. Cunning was Kostbera, she could runes interpret; she the letters read by the bright fire;—her tongue she had to guard between both her gums—so perverted were they, it was difficult to understand them.
10. To their bed they went, she and Hogni. The gentle lady dreamed, and concealed it not, to the prince wisely said it as soon as she awoke.
11. "From home thou art going, Hogni! give ear to counsel; few are fully prudent: go another time.
12. I have the runes interpreted, which thy sister graved: that fair dame has not this time invited thee. At one thing I wonder most, I cannot even conceive, why so wise a woman so confusedly should grave; for it is so set down as if it intimated death to you both, if you should straightway come. Either she has left out a letter, or others are the cause."[1]
13. "They are," said Hogni, "all suspicious; I have no knowledge of them, nor will I into it inquire, unless
- ↑ It would seem that the original runes, as graved by Gudrun, had not been so completely erased as to leave no traces of them; but that they were still sufficiently legible to enable Kostbera to ascertain the real purport of the communication.
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