C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

The Smithying of Sigfrid’s Sword

Translation of Elizabeth Craigmyle

SIGFRID was young, and haughty, and proud,

When his father’s home he disavowed.

In his father’s house he would not abide:

He would wander over the world so wide.

He met many a knight in wood and field

With shining sword and glittering shield.

But Sigfrid had only a staff of oak:

He held him shamed in sight of the folk.

And as he went through a darksome wood,

He came where a lowly smithy stood.

There was iron and steel in right good store;

And a fire that did bicker, and flame, and roar.

“O smithying-carle, good master of mine,

Teach me this forging craft of thine.

“Teach me the lore of shield and blade,

And how the right good swords are made!”

He struck with the hammer a mighty blow,

And the anvil deep in the ground did go.

He struck: through the wood the echoes rang,

And all the iron in flinders sprang.

And out of the last left iron bar

He fashioned a sword that shone as a star.

“Now have I smithied a right good sword,

And no man shall be my master and lord;

“And giants and dragons of wood and field,

I shall meet like a hero, under shield.”