The  third  part  of  the  great  story  treats  of  the  history  of
Brynhild  especially.  Being  a  Valkyria,  she  has  power  to
see  much  of  the  future;  she  can  foretell  things  in  a  dim
way.  She  warns  Sigurd  that  there  is  danger  for  him  if  he
should  ever  be  untrue  to  her.  Sigurd  accepts  the  warning
in  the  noblest  spirit.  But  the  Fates  are  against  him.  He
goes  upon  a  warlike  expedition  to  the  kingdom  of  Niblung
in  the  North.  The  Niblung  family,  after  a  great  battle
which  Sigurd  has  helped  them  to  win,  wish  to  adopt  him
as  a  son,  and  the  beautiful  daughter  of  the  King  falls  in  love
with  him.  Her  father  and  her  brothers  wish  Sigurd  to
marry  the  girl,  whose  name  is  Gudrun.  But  Sigurd  remem-
bers his  promise  to  Brynhild.  Then  the  wicked  Queen
Grimhild,  the  mother  of  Gudrun,  gives  Sigurd  a  poisonous
drink  that  causes  him  to  forget  the  past;  and  while  he  is
under  the  influence  of  this  magical  drink  he  is  persuaded
to  marry  Gudrun.
But  this  is  not  the  worst  thing  that  he  is  obliged  to  do
through  the  magical  arts  of  Grimhild.  He  is  obliged  to
go  to  Brynhild,  and  persuade  her  to  become  the  wife  of
young  Gunnar,  the  brother  of  Gudrun.  He  rides  through
the  fire  again,  and  persuades  Brynhild  to  become  the  wife
of  Gunnar.  She  obeys  his  will,  but  the  result  is  the  destruc-
tion of  Sigurd  and  all  concerned.     For  the  two  women  pres-


272  WILLIAM  MORRIS

ently  begin  to  quarrel.  Brynhild  loves  Sigurd  with  a
supernatural  love,  and  he  knows  that  he  has  been  deceived.
