Det Dusinvis
posted by saurabh in Levity |I’m off to India tomorrow! See you in two months.
I got a copy of the Saga of the Volsungs, the Norse epic which Wagner based his “Ring” cycle on. Like its later medieval counterpart, the Nibelungenleid, it’s a bit strange to modern sensibilities, as exemplified by this early version of the Dozens, played between Sinfjotli, the progeny of the Volsung twins Sigmund and Signy, and Granmar, a rival king.
Sinfjotli stood up, his helmet shining like glass on his head, his coat of mail white as snow, his spear in his hand adorned with a magnificent banner, and his shield rimmed with gold before him. This man knew how to speak with kings.“When you have fed your pigs and hounds and you meet your wife, say that the Volsungs have come and King Helgi can be found here in the army, if Hodbrodd wants to meet him. And it is Helgi’s pleasure to fight with distinction while you kiss your bondwomen by the fire.”
Granmar answered: “You are not able to say much of worth or speak of ancient lore, since you lie about noble men. More likely it is that you long nourished yourself on the food of wolves out in the forest and killed your brothers. And it is strange that you dare to come in an army with good men, you who have sucked the blood of many cold corpses.”
Sinfjotli replied: “You probably do not remember clearly now when you were the witch on Varinsey and said that you wanted to marry a man and you chose me for the role of husand. And afterward you were a valkyrie in Asgard and all were on the verge of fighting for your sake. I sired nine wolves on you at Laganess, and I was the father of them all.” [Oh, snap! - ed]
Granmar responded: “You are a great liar. I do not think you could sire anyone because you were gelded by the giant’s daughters on Thrasness. You are the stepson of King Siggeir and you lay in the woods with wolves, and all misfortunes came to you one on top of the other. You killed your brothers and made for yourself an evil reputation.”
Sinfjotli answered: “Do you remember when you were a mare with the stallion Grani and I rode you at full speed on Bravoll? Afterward you were the goatherd of the giant Golnir.”
Granmar said: “I would rather feed the birds on your corpse than quarrel with you any longer.”
The strangest part of this exchange is that Granmar never manages to pull out the obvious, “Your momma is also your aunty!”
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