The Sigemund Matter (874-897)

(adapted from Beowulf by Howell D. Chickering, Jr)

The first part of the Sigemund passage alludes to the great tale of revenge  later immortalized in the Old Norse Vǫlsunga saga (c. 1200) chapters 2-8. According to this text, Sigmundr, the eldest son of King Vǫlsungr of Hunaland, has a twin sister, Signý, who is married against her will to King Siggeirr of Gautland. At her wedding feast Odin appears as a one-eyed stranger, wearing a grey cloak. He plunges a sword into a tree trunk and offers to give it to the man who can draw it out. As in the story of Arthur and Excalibur, only Sigmundr can draw it and King Siggeirr is publicly shamed.

Later on King Siggeirr invites the Vǫlsungs to a feast, treacherously kills King Vǫlsungr, and takes his ten sons prisoner. His wife, Signý asks him to set his brothers in stocks out in the woods, rather than be slain outright. One by one they are killed and eaten by an old she-wolf, until on the tenth night only Sigmundr is left.

Trying to save Sigmundr, Signý asks one of her servants to go to the forest with a handful of honey to smear on his face and mouth. The wolf licks his face clean and stretches her tongue into his mouth. He bites into her tongue and the wolf tries to pull it away but he holds on till the wolf’s tongue is torn out by the roots and dies. Now Sigmundr is free and lives secretly in the forest.

Meanwhile Signý bears King Siggeirr two sons, and when each turns ten years old she sends them to the forest to help her brother, Sigemundr, to take revenge. However, neither passes tests of valour and she bids Sigmundr kill them, which he does.

Some time later Signý exchanges shape with a witch, goes into the forest and asks Sigmundr to give her shelter overnight. During the night she turns into a young and fair lady. He takes her to bed for three nights and then she returns home to her true shape. In due time she bears their child, Sinfjǫtli. (O.N. Fitela)

When Sinfjǫtli is ten his mother makes sure he is ready to visit Sigmundr by stitching his kirtle to his arms. When she strips the kirtle off him, so that the skin came away with the sleeves, he does not flinch. Later on Sinfjǫtli joins his father in the forest and passes the tests of valour the others failed.

While they are together in the forest, Sigmundr thinks Sinfjǫtli is King Siggeirr’s son. For a time they have many adventures and range far and wide killing men for their wealth.

One day they come to Siggeirr’s homestead to take revenge, but they are discovered by the king’s two young children who tell their father. Signý, overhearing, takes them out and bids Sigmundr kill them. He refuses to harm the children, but Sinfjǫtli kills them both and throws their bodies down in front of Siggeirr.

After a fight the two Vǫlsungs are overpowered and imprisoned in a stone burial mound to starve to death. Just as the mound is being closed, Signý smuggles Sigmundr’s sword  down to them and with such a powerful weapon they are able to see their way out through the stones. Once they have escaped from their imprisonment they set fire to the hall.

Sigmundr asks Signý to come out before the blaze rises higher, but she refuses revealing  Sinfjǫtli’s parentage and all she has done. She kisses them both and walks into the flames where she meets her death with Siggeirr and all his men.