Fra Dautha Sinfjotla: Three Poisoned Horns and the Fjord

Chapters

1. 01

   A Brother Left Unnamed

   The prose first gives Borghild a brother whose name is left blank; he and Sinfjotli both court an unnamed woman.

   BorghildSinfjotliSigmund
2. 02

   Sinfjotli Kills and Returns Home

   Sinfjotli kills Borghild’s brother. The text supplies neither the dead man’s name nor a fuller account of the rivalry.

   SinfjotliBorghild
3. 03

   Demand for Departure and Atonement

   Borghild tells Sinfjotli to leave; Sigmund offers compensation, which she must accept.

   BorghildSinfjotliSigmund
4. 04

   The Father Drinks the First Horn

   At the funeral feast Borghild brings poison. Sinfjotli sees something wrong in the drink, and Sigmund drinks it for him.

   BorghildSinfjotliSigmund
5. 05

   The Second Horn Is Turned Aside Again

   When the second horn comes, Sinfjotli again calls it muddy, and Sigmund drinks again.

   BorghildSinfjotliSigmund
6. 06

   The Third Horn and the Beard

   At the third horn Sinfjotli warns his father again, but Sigmund tells him to let the drink run through his beard.

   SigmundSinfjotliBorghild
7. 07

   Sinfjotli Dies at Once

   Sinfjotli dies at once after drinking; the text does not supply Sigmund’s thoughts at that moment.

   SinfjotliSigmundBorghild
8. 08

   The Boat Disappears on the Fjord

   Sigmund carries the body to a fjord. An unnamed ferryman takes it, tells him to go around the inner end, and the boat disappears.

   SigmundSinfjotli

Ancient sources

MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.

• Anonymous; translated by Henry Adams Bellows, The Poetic Edda: Fra Dautha Sinfjotla, Opening prose: the death of Borghild’s unnamed brother, her demand that Sinfjotli leave, and Sigmund’s compensation.
• Anonymous; translated by Henry Adams Bellows, The Poetic Edda: Fra Dautha Sinfjotla, Funeral-feast prose: Borghild brings three poisoned horns; Sigmund drinks the first two, and Sinfjotli dies after the third.
• Anonymous; translated by Henry Adams Bellows, The Poetic Edda: Fra Dautha Sinfjotla, Closing prose: Sigmund carries the body to a fjord; an unnamed ferryman takes it away and disappears, before the prose turns to Sigmund and Sigurth.
• Anonymous; translated by Henry Adams Bellows, The Poetic Edda: Fra Dautha Sinfjotla, Introduction: the connection of Helgi, Volsung, and Sigurth material, and this passage’s role as a manuscript prose bridge.