But no long while with Sigmund dwelt remembrance of that night; Amid his kingly longings and his many deeds of might It fled like the dove in the forest or the down upon the blast: Yet heavy and sad were the years, that even in suchwise passed, As here it is written aforetime. Thence were ten years worn by When unto that hidden river a man-child drew anigh, And he looked and beheld how Sigmund wrought on a helm of gold By the crag and the stony dwelling where the Dwarf-kin wrought of old. Then the boy cried: "Thou art the wood-wight of whom my mother spake; Now will I come to thy dwelling." So the rough stream did he take, And the welter of the waters rose up to his chin and more; But so stark and strong he waded that he won the further shore: And he came and gazed on Sigmund: but the Volsung laughed, and said: "As fast thou runnest toward me as others in their dread Run over the land and the water: what wilt thou, son of a king?"
But the lad still gazed on Sigmund, and he said: "A wondrous thing! Here is the cave and the river, and all tokens of the place: But my mother Signy told me none might behold that face, And keep his flesh from quaking: but at thee I quake not aught: Sure I must journey further, lest her errand come to nought: Yet I would that my foster-father should be such a man as thou."
But Sigmund answered and said: "Thou shalt bide in my dwelling now; And thou mayst wot full surely that thy mother's will is done By this token and no other, that thou lookedst on Volsung's son And smiledst fair in his face: but tell me thy name and thy years: And what are the words of Signy that the son of the Goth-king bears?"
"Sinfiotli they call me," he said, "and ten summers have I seen; And this is the only word that I bear from Signy the Queen, That once more a man she sendeth the work of thine hands to speed, If he be of the Kings or the Gods thyself shalt know in thy need."
So Sigmund looked on the youngling and his heart unto him yearned; But he thought: "Shall I pay the hire ere the worth of the work be earned? And what hath my heart to do to cherish Siggeir's son; A brand belike for the burning when the last of its work is done?"
But there in the wild and the thicket those twain awhile abode, And on the lad laid Sigmund full many a weary load, And thrust him mid all dangers, and he bore all passing well, Where hardihood might help him; but his heart was fierce and fell; And ever said Sigmund the Volsung: The lad hath plenteous part In the guile and malice of Siggeir, and in Signy's hardy heart: But why should I cherish and love him, since the end must come at last?