THE SCENE: The hero Sigurd was such an imposing figure that his would-be assassin, Guttorm, twice loses his nerve in his assassination attempts. When he finally works up the courage to strike, Guttorm immediately regrets it.
THE TEXT: Guttorm went into Sigurd’s room the next morning, while he was resting in his bed. But when he looked at him, Guttorm did not dare attack and turned back to leave the room. And so it happened a second time. Sigurd’s eyes flashed so sharply that few dared meet their gaze. But the third time he went in, Sigurd was asleep. Guttorm, drew his sword and struck at Sigurd so that the blade stuck in the bed beneath him. Sigurd woke up from the wound, as Guttorm was leaving by the door. Sigurd then took the sword Gram and cast it after Guttorm. It struck him in the back and cut him into two at the waist. His lower body fell one away and his head and arms fell back into the room.
– Saga of the Volsungs, 13th Century AD
