Memory-Erasing Drink

20 ‘Each wanted to pick out treasure for me,
pick out treasure and speak comforting words,
to see if they could, for my many sorrows,
offer trusty pledges: I could not come to trust them.

21 ‘Grimhild brought me a cup to drink from,
cool and bitter, so I should not remember the strife;*
that drink was augmented with fateful power,
with the cool sea, with sacrificial blood.

22 ‘In the drinking-horn were all kinds of runes,
cut and red-coloured—I could not interpret them—
a long heather-fish, an uncut corn-ear*
of the Haddings’ land, the entrails of beasts.*

23 ‘Many bad things were mixed into that beer,
the herbs of all the woodland, and burnt acorns,
the dew of the hearth, the innards from sacrifice,
boiled pig’s liver, since it blunted the strife.

24 ‘And then they forgot, those who drank it,
all the prince’s death in the hall;*
three kings came into my presence
before she addressed herself to me.

25 ‘ “Gold I will give you, Gudrun, as a gift,
a great deal of treasure from your dead father,
red-gold rings, Hlodver’s hall,
precious bed-hangings for the fallen prince;

26 ‘ “Hunnish girls to do your delicate weaving,
to work in gold for your pleasure;
you alone shall control the wealth of Budli,
be adorned with gold, and given to Atli.”

27 ‘ “I do not want to go to another man
nor to marry Brynhild’s brother;
it is not fitting for me to increase the family
of Budli’s son, nor to enjoy my life.”


- Poetic Edda, Guðrúnarkviða II