gazing upon the shadow of her beauty in the mirror of the water, sighed
and sighed again, while Eric looked at her with a bursting heart, for as
yet he could find no words to say.

Now she spoke aloud. "Of what use to be so fair?" she said. "Oh,
wherefore was I born so fair to bring death to many and sorrow on myself
and him I love?" And she shook her golden hair about her arms of snow,
and, holding the napkin to her eyes, wept softly. But it seemed to Eric
that between her sobs she called upon his name.

Now Eric could no longer bear the sight of Gudruda weeping. While she
wept, hiding her eyes, he rose from behind the screen of reeds and stood
beside her in such fashion that his shadow fell upon her. She felt the
sunlight pass and looked up. Lo! it was no cloud, but the shape of Eric,
and the sun glittered on his golden helm and hair.

"Eric!" Gudruda cried; "Eric!" Then, remembering how she was attired,
snatching her cloak, she threw it about her arms and thrust her wet feet
into her shoes. "Out upon thee!" she said; "is it not enough, then, that
thou shouldst break thy troth for Swanhild's sake, that thou shouldst
slay my brother and turn my hall to shambles? Wouldst now steal upon me
thus!"

"Methought that thou didst weep and call upon my name, Gudruda," he said
humbly.

"By what right art thou here to hearken to my words?" she answered.
"Is it, then, strange that I should speak the name of him who slew my
brother? Is it strange that I should weep over that brother whom thou
didst slay? Get thee gone, Brighteyes, before I call my folk to kill