diff options
Diffstat (limited to '1151-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 1151-0.txt | 10280 |
1 files changed, 10280 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/1151-0.txt b/1151-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5d17886 --- /dev/null +++ b/1151-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10280 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1151 *** + +THE NIBELUNGENLIED + +By An Unknown Author + +Translated by Daniel B. Shumway + + +Originally written in Middle High German (M.H.G.), sometime around 1200 +A.D., although this dating is by no means certain. Author unknown. + +The text of this edition is based on that published as "The +Nibelungenlied", translated by Daniel B. Shumway (Houghton-Mifflin Co., +New York, 1909). + +PREPARER'S NOTE: In order to make this electronic edition easier to use, +the preparer has found it necessary to re-arrange the endnotes of Mr. +Shumway's edition, collating them with the chapters themselves and +substituting page references with footnote references. The preparer +takes full responsibility for these changes.--DBK. + + + + +SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY: + +OTHER TRANSLATIONS-- + +Hatto, A.T. (Trans.): "Nibelungenlied" (Penguin Classics, London, 1962). +Prose translation. + +Ryder, Frank G. (Trans.): "The Song of the Nibelungs" (Wayne State +University Press, Detroit, 1962). Verse translation. + +RECOMMENDED READING-- + +Anonymous: "Kudrun", Translated by Marion E. Gibbs & Sidney Johnson +(Garland Pub., New York, 1992). + +Anonymous: "Volsungasaga", Translated by William Morris and Eirikr +Magnusson (Walter Scott Press, London, 1888; Reissued by the Online +Medieval and Classical Library as E-Text #29, 1997). + +Saxo Grammaticus: "The First Nine Books of the Danish History", +Translated by Oliver Elton (London, 1894; Reissued by the Online +Medieval and Classical Library as E-Text OMACL #28, 1997). + + + + + +PREFACE + +This work has been undertaken in the belief that a literal translation +of as famous an epic as the "Nibelungenlied" would be acceptable to the +general reading public whose interest in the story of Siegfried has +been stimulated by Wagner's operas and by the reading of such poems as +William Morris' "Sigurd the Volsung". Prose has been selected as the +medium of translation, since it is hardly possible to give an accurate +rendering and at the same time to meet the demands imposed by rhyme +and metre; at least, none of the verse translations made thus far have +succeeded in doing this. The prose translations, on the other hand, +mostly err in being too continuous and in condensing too much, so that +they retell the story instead of translating it. The present translator +has tried to avoid these two extremes. He has endeavored to translate +literally and accurately, and to reproduce the spirit of the original, +as far as a prose translation will permit. To this end the language has +been made as simple and as Saxon in character as possible. An exception +has been made, however, in the case of such Romance words as were in use +in England during the age of the romances of chivalry, and which would +help to land a Romance coloring; these have been frequently employed. +Very few obsolete words have been used, and these are explained in the +notes, but the language has been made to some extent archaic, especially +in dialogue, in order to give the impression of age. At the request of +the publishers the Introduction Sketch has been shorn of the apparatus +of scholarship and made as popular as a study of the poem and its +sources would allow. The advanced student who may be interested in +consulting authorities will find them given in the introduction to the +parallel edition in the Riverside Literature Series. A short list of +English works on the subject had, however, been added. + +In conclusion the translator would like to thank his colleagues, C.G. +Child and Cornelius Weygandt, for their helpful suggestions in starting +the work, and also to acknowledge his indebtedness to the German edition +of Paul Piper, especially in preparing the notes. + +--DANIEL BUSSIER SHUMWAY. + +Philadelphia, February 15, 1909. + + + + +INTRODUCTORY SKETCH + +There is probably no poem of German literature that has excited such +universal interest, or that has been so much studied and discussed, as +the "Nibelungenlied". In its present form it is a product of the age +of chivalry, but it reaches back to the earliest epochs of German +antiquity, and embraces not only the pageantry of courtly chivalry, +but also traits of ancient Germanic folklore and probably of Teutonic +mythology. One of its earliest critics fitly called it a German "Iliad", +for, like this great Greek epic, it goes back to the remotest times and +unites the monumental fragments of half-forgotten myths and historical +personages into a poem that is essentially national in character, and +the embodiment of all that is great in the antiquity of the race. Though +lacking to some extent the dignity of the "Iliad", the "Nibelungenlied" +surpasses the former in the deep tragedy which pervades it, the tragedy +of fate, the inevitable retribution for crime, the never-dying struggle +between the powers of good and evil, between light and darkness. + +That the poem must have been exceedingly popular during the Middle Ages +is evinced by the great number of Manuscripts that have come down to us. +We possess in all twenty-eight more or less complete MSS., preserved +in thirty-one fragments, fifteen of which date from the thirteenth and +fourteenth centuries. Of all these MSS., but nine are so well preserved +that, in spite of some minor breaks, they can be considered complete. Of +this number three, designated respectively as A, B, C, are looked upon +as the most important for purposes of textual criticism, and around them +a fierce battle has been waged, which is not even yet settled. (1) It +is now generally conceded that the longest MS., C, is a later redaction +with many additional strophes, but opinions are divided as to whether +the priority should be given to A or B, the probabilities being that B +is the more original, A merely a careless copy of B. + +In spite of the great popularity of the "Nibelungenlied", the poem was +soon forgotten by the mass of the people. With the decay of courtly +chivalry and the rise of the prosperous citizen class, whose ideals and +tastes lay in a different direction, this epic shared the fate of many +others of its kind, and was relegated to the dusty shelves of monastery +or ducal libraries, there to wait till a more cultured age, curious +as to the literature of its ancestors, should bring it forth from +its hiding places. However, the figures of the old legend were not +forgotten, but lived on among the people, and were finally embodied in a +popular ballad, "Das Lied vom Hürnen Seyfrid", which has been preserved +in a print of the sixteenth century, although the poem itself is thought +to go back at least to the thirteenth. The legend was also dramatized by +Hans Sachs, the shoemaker poet of Nuremberg, and related in prose form +in a chap book which still exists in prints of the eighteenth century. +The story and the characters gradually became so vague and distorted, +that only a trained eye could detect in the burlesque figures of the +popular account the heroes of the ancient Germanic Legend. + +The honor of rediscovering the "Nibelungenlied" and of restoring it to +the world of literature belongs to a young physician by the name of J.H. +Obereit, who found the manuscript C at the castle of Hohenems in the +Tirol on June 29, 1755; but the scientific study of the poem begins with +Karl Lachmann, one of the keenest philological critics that Germany +has ever produced. In 1816 he read before the University of Berlin +his epoch-making essay upon the original form of the "Nibelungenlied". +Believing that the poem was made up of a number of distinct ballads +or lays, he sought by means of certain criteria to eliminate all parts +which were, as he thought, later interpolations or emendations. As a +result of this sifting and discarding process, he reduced the poem +to what he considered to have been its original form, namely, twenty +separate lays, which he thought had come down to us in practically the +same form in which they had been sung by various minstrels. + +This view is no longer held in its original form. Though we have every +reason to believe that ballads of Siegfried the dragon killer, of +Siegfried and Kriemhild, and of the destruction of the Nibelungs existed +in Germany, yet these ballads are no longer to be seen in our poem. They +formed merely the basis or source for some poet who thought to revive +the old heroic legends of the German past which were familiar to his +hearers and to adapt them to the tastes of his time. In all probability +we must assume two, three, or even more steps in the genesis of the +poem. There appear to have been two different sources, one a Low German +account, quite simple and brief, the other a tradition of the Lower +Rhine. The legend was perhaps developed by minstrels along the Rhine, +until it was taken and worked up into its present form by some Austrian +poet. Who this poet was we do not know, but we do know that he was +perfectly familiar with all the details of courtly etiquette. He seems +also to have been acquainted with the courtly epics of Heinrich von +Veldeke and Hartman von Ouwe, but his poem is free from the tedious and +often exaggerated descriptions of pomp, dress, and court ceremonies, +that mar the beauty of even the best of the courtly epics. Many +painstaking attempts have been made to discover the identity of the +writer of our poem, but even the most plausible of all these theories +which considers Kurenberg, one of the earliest of the "Minnesingers", +to be the author, because of the similarity of the strophic form of our +poem to that used by him, is not capable of absolute proof, and +recent investigations go to show that Kurenberg was indebted to +the "Nibelungen" strophe for the form of his lyric, and not the +"Nibelungenlied" to him. The "Nibelungen" strophe is presumably much +older, and, having become popular in Austria through the poem, was +adopted by Kurenberg for his purposes. As to the date of the poem, in +its present form it cannot go back further than about 1190, because of +the exactness of the rhymes, nor could it have been written later +than 1204, because of certain allusions to it in the sixth book of +"Parzival", which we know to have been written at this date. The two +Low German poems which probably form the basis of our epic may have been +united about 1150. It was revised and translated into High German and +circulated at South German courts about 1170, and then received its +present courtly form about 1190, this last version being the immediate +source of our manuscripts. + +The story of Siegfried, his tragic death, and the dire vengeance visited +upon his slayers, which lies at the basis of our poem, antedates the +latter by many centuries, and was known to all nations whose languages +prove by their resemblance to the German tongue their original identity +with the German people. Not only along the banks of the Rhine and the +Danube and upon the upland plains of Southern Germany, but also along +the rocky fjords of Norway, among the Angles and Saxons in their new +home across the channel, even in the distant Shetland Islands and on the +snow-covered wastes of Iceland, this story was told around the fires at +night and sung to the harp in the banqueting halls of kings and nobles, +each people and each generation telling it in its own fashion and adding +new elements of its own invention. This great geographical distribution +of the legend, and the variety of forms in which it appears, make it +difficult to know where we must seek its origin. The northern version is +in many respects older and simpler in form than the German, but still it +is probable that Norway was not the home of the saga, but that it took +its rise in Germany along the banks of the Rhine among the ancient +tribe of the Franks, as is shown by the many geographical names that are +reminiscent of the characters of the story, such as a Siegfried "spring" +in the Odenwald, a Hagen "well" at Lorsch, a Brunhild "bed" near +Frankfort, and the well-known "Drachenfels", or Dragon's Rock, on the +Rhine. It is to Norway, however, that we must go for our knowledge +of the story, for, singularly enough, with the exception of the +"Nibelungenlied" and the popular ballad, German literature has preserved +almost no trace of the legend, and such as exist are too late and too +corrupt to be of much use in determining the original features of the +story. + +Just when the legend emigrated to Skandinavia we do not know, but +certainly at an early date, perhaps during the opening years of the +sixth century. It may have been introduced by German traders, by slaves +captured by the Northmen on their frequent marauding expeditions, or, +as Mogk believes, may have been taken by the Heruli on their return +to Norway after their defeat by the Langobardi. By whatever channel, +however, the story reached the North, it became part and parcel of +Skandinavian folklore, only certain names still pointing to the original +home of the legend. In the ninth century, when Harald Harfagr changed +the ancient free constitution of the land, many Norwegians emigrated +to Iceland, taking with them these acquired legends, which were better +preserved in this remote island because of the peaceful introduction +of Christianity, than on the Continent, where the Church was more +antagonistic to the customs and legends of the heathen period. + +The Skandinavian version of the Siegfried legend has been handed down +to us in five different forms. The first of these is the poetic or +older "Edda", also called Saemund's "Edda", as it was assigned to the +celebrated Icelandic scholar Saemundr Sigfusson. The "Codex Regius", in +which it is preserved, dates from the middle of the thirteenth century, +but is probably a copy of an older manuscript. The songs it contains +were written at various times, the oldest probably in the first half of +the ninth century, the latest not much before the date of the earliest +manuscript. Most of them, however, belong to the Viking period, when +Christianity was already beginning to influence the Norwegians, that +is, between the years 800 and 1000. They are partly heroic, partly +mythological in character, and are written in alliterative strophes +interspersed with prose, and have the form of dialogues. Though the +legends on which these songs are based were brought from Norway, most of +them were probably composed in Iceland. Among these songs, now, we find +a number which deal with the adventures of Siegfried and his tragic end. + +The second source of the Siegfried story is the so-called +"Volsungasaga", a prose paraphrase of the "Edda" songs. The MS. dates +from the beginning of the thirteenth century, but the account was +probably written a century earlier. The adventures of Siegfried and his +ancestors are here related in great detail and his ancestry traced back +to Wodan. Although a secondary source, as it is based on the "Edda", the +"Volsungasaga" is nevertheless of great importance, since it supplies a +portion of the "Codex Regius" which has been lost, and thus furnishes us +with the contents of the missing songs. + +The third source is the prose "Edda", sometimes called the "Snorra +Edda", after the famous Icelander Snorri Sturluson (1178-1241), to whom +it was ascribed. The author was acquainted with both the poetic "Edda" +and the "Volsungasaga", and follows these accounts closely. The younger +"Edda" is not really a tale, but a book of poetics; it relates, however, +the Siegfried saga briefly. It is considered an original source, since +it evidently made use of songs that have not come down to us, especially +in the account of the origin of the treasure, which is here told more +in detail and with considerable differences. The "Nornagestsaga" or +"Nornageststhattr", the story of "Nornagest", forms the fourth source of +the Siegfried story. It is really a part of the Olaf saga, but contains +the story of Sigurd and Gunnar (the Norse forms of Siegfried and +Gunther), which an old man Nornagest relates to King Olaf Tryggvason, +who converted the Norwegians to Christianity. The story was written +about 1250 to illustrate the transition from heathendom to the Christian +faith. It is based on the "Edda" and the "Volsungasaga", and is +therefore of minor importance as a source. + +These four sources represent the early introduction of the Siegfried +legend into Skandinavia. A second introduction took place about the +middle of the thirteenth century, at the time of the flourishing of +the Hanseatic League, when the story was introduced together with other +popular German epics. These poems are products of the age of chivalry, +and are characterized by the romantic and courtly features of this +movement. The one which concerns us here, as the fifth source of the +Siegfried story, is the so-called "Thidreksaga", which celebrates +the adventures of the famous legendary hero, Dietrich of Berne, +the historical Theodorich of Ravenna. In as far as it contains the +adventures of the Nibelungs, it is also called the "Niflungasaga". The +"Thidreksaga" was written about 1250 by a Norwegian who, as he himself +tells us, heard the story from Germans in the neighborhood of Bremen +and Munster. Since it is thus based on Saxon traditions, it can be +considered an independent source of the legend, and, in fact, differs +from the earlier Norse versions in many important details. The author +was acquainted, however, with the older versions, and sought to +compromise between them, but mostly followed his German authorities. + +The story, as given in the older Norse versions, is in most respects +more original than in the "Nibelungenlied". It relates the history of +the treasure of the Nibelungs, tracing it back to a giant by the name of +"Hreithmar", who received it from the god "Loki" as a compensation for +the killing of the former's son "Otur", whom Loki had slain in the form +of an otter. Loki obtained the ransom from a dwarf named "Andwari", +who in turn had stolen it from the river gods of the Rhine. Andwari +pronounces a terrible curse upon the treasure and its possessors, and +this curse passes from Loki to the Giant Hreithmar, who is murdered when +asleep by his two sons "Fafnir" and "Regin". The latter, however, is +cheated out of the coveted prize by Fafnir, who carries it away to the +"Gnita" heath, where he guards it in the form of a dragon. + +This treasure, with its accompanying curse, next passes into the hands +of a human being named Sigurd (the Norse form of Siegfried, as we have +seen), a descendant of the race of the Volsungs, who trace their history +back to Wodan and are especially favored by him. The full story of +Siegfried's ancestry is far too long to relate here, and does not +especially concern us, as it has little or no influence on the later +development of the story. It is sufficient for our purpose to know that +Siegfried was the son of Siegmund, who was slain in battle before the +birth of his son. Sigurd was carefully reared by his mother "Hjordis" +and the wise dwarf Regin, who taught him the knowledge of runes and +of many languages. (2) At the suggestion of Regin, Sigurd asks for and +receives the steed "Grani" from the king, and is then urged by his tutor +to help him obtain the treasure guarded by the latter's brother Fafnir. +Sigurd promises, but first demands a sword. Two, that are given him by +Regin, prove worthless, and he forges a new one from the pieces of his +father's sword, which his mother had preserved. With this he easily +splits the anvil and cuts in two a flake of wool, floating down the +Rhine. He first avenges the death of his father, and then sets off with +Regin to attack the dragon Fafnir. At the advice of the former Sigurd +digs a ditch across the dragon's peth and pierces him from below with +his sword, as the latter comes down to drink. In dying the dragon warns +Sigurd against the treasure and its curse, and against Regin, who, he +says, is planning Sigurd's death, intending to obtain the treasure for +himself. + +When Regin sees the dragon safely dead, he creeps from his place of +concealment, drinks of the blood, and, cutting out the heart, begs +Sigurd to roast it for him. While doing so, Sigurd burns his fingers, +and, putting them in his mouth, understands at once the language of the +birds and hears them say that Sigurd himself should eat the heart and +then he would be wiser than all other men. They also betray Regin's evil +designs, and counsel the lad to kill his tutor. This Sigurd then does, +cutting off Regin's head, drinking the blood of both brothers, and +eating Fafnir's heart. (3) On the further advice of the birds Sigurd +first fetches the treasure from the cave, and then journeys to the +mountain "Hindarfjall", where he rescues the sleeping Valkyrie, +"Sigrdrifa" ("Brynhild", "Brunhild"), who, stung by the sleep thorn +of Wodan, and clad in full armor, lies asleep within a castle that is +surrounded by a wall of flame. With the help of his steed Grani, Sigurd +succeeds in penetrating through the fire to the castle. The sleeping +maiden awakes when he cuts the armor from her with his sword, for it +was as tight as if grown fast to the flesh. She hails her deliverer +with great joy, for she had vowed never to marry a man who knew fear. At +Sigurd's request she teaches him many wise precepts, and finally pledges +her troth to him. He then departs, after promising to be faithful to her +and to remember her teachings. + +On his journeyings Sigurd soon arrives at the court of "Giuki" (the +Norse form of the German "Gibicho", "Gibich"), a king whose court lay on +the lower Rhine. Giuki has three sons, "Gunnar", "Hogni", and "Gutthorm", +and a daughter "Gudrun", endowed with great beauty. The queen bears +the name of Grimhild, and is versed in magic, but possessed of an evil +heart. (4) Sigurd is received with great honor, for his coming had been +announced to Gudrun in dreams, which had in part been interpreted to her +by Brynhild. The mother, knowing of Sigurd's relations to the latter, +gives him a potion which produces forgetfulness, so that he no longer +remembers his betrothed, and accepts the hand of Gudrun, which the king +offers him at the queen's request. The marriage is celebrated with +great pomp, and Sigurd remains permanently attached to Giuki's court, +performing with the others many deeds of valor. + +Meanwhile Grimhild urges her son Gunnar to sue for the hand of Brynhild. +Taking with him Sigurd and a few others, Gunnar visits first Brynhild's +father "Budli", and then her brother-in-law "Heimir", from both of whom +he learns that she is free to choose whom she will, but that she will +marry no one who has not ridden through the wall of flame. With this +answer they proceed to Brynhild's castle, where Gunnar is unable to +pierce the flames, even when seated on Sigurd's steed. Finally Sigurd +and Gunnar change forms, and Sigurd, disguised as Gunnar, rides through +the wall of fire, announces himself to Brynhild as Gunnar, the son of +Giuki, and reminds her of her promise to marry the one who penetrated +the fire. Brynhild consents with great reluctance, for she is busy +carrying on a war with a neighboring king. Sigurd then passes three +nights at her side, placing, however, his sword Gram between them, as +a bar of separation. At parting he draws from her finger the ring, with +which he had originally pledged his troth to her, and replaces it with +another, taken from Fafnir's hoard. Soon after this the marriage of +Gunnar and Brynhild is celebrated with great splendor, and all return to +Giuki's court, where they live happily for some time. + +One day, however, when the ladies go down to the river to take a bath, +Brynhild will not bathe further down stream than Gudrun, that is, in the +water which flows from Gudrun to her, (5) giving as the reason, that her +father was mightier and her husband braver, since he had ridden through +the fire, while Sigurd had been a menial. Stung at this, Gudrun retorts +that not Gunnar but Sigurd had penetrated the flames and had taken from +her the fateful ring "Andvaranaut", which she then shows to her rival in +proof of her assertion. Brynhild turns deathly pale, but answers not +a word. After a second conversation on the subject had increased the +hatred of the queens, Brynhild plans vengeance. Pretending to be ill, +she takes to her bed, and when Gunnar inquires what ails her, she asks +him if he remembers the circumstances of the wooing and that not he but +Sigurd had penetrated the flames. She attempts to take Gunnar's life, as +she had pledged her troth to Sigurd, and is thereupon placed in chains +by Hogni. Seven days she sleeps, and no one dares to wake her. Finally +Sigurd succeeds in making her talk, and she tells him how cruelly she +has been deceived, that the better man had been destined for her, but +that she had received the poorer one. This Sigurd denies, for Giuki's +son had killed the king of the Danes and also Budli's brother, a great +warrior. Moreover, although he, Sigurd, had ridden through the flames, +he had not become her husband. He begs her therefore not to harbor a +grudge against Gunnar. + +Brynhild remains unconvinced, and plans Sigurd's death, and threatens +Gunnar with the loss of dominion and life, if he will not kill Sigurd. +After some hesitation, Gunnar consents, and, calling Hogni, informs +him that he must kill Sigurd, in order to obtain the treasure of the +Rhinegold. Hogni warns him against breaking his oath to Sigurd, when it +occurs to Gunnar, that his brother Gutthorm had sworn no oath and might +do the deed. Both now proceed to excite the latter's greed, and give him +wolf's and snake meat to eat to make him savage. Twice Gutthorm makes +the attempt, as Sigurd lies in bed, but is deterred by the latter's +penetrating glance. The third time he finds Sigurd asleep, and pierces +him with his sword. Sigurd, awakening at the pain, hurls his own sword +after his murderer, fairly cutting him in two. He then dies, protesting +his innocence and designating Brynhild as the instigator of his murder. +Brynhild at first laughs aloud at Gudrun's frantic grief, but later her +joy turns into sorrow, and she determines to share Sigurd's death. In +vain they try to dissuade her; donning her gold corselet, she pierces +herself with a sword and begs to be burned on Sigurd's funeral pyre. In +dying she prophesies the future, telling of Gudrun's marriage to "Atli" +and of the death of the many men which will be caused thereby. + +After Brynhild's death Gudrun in her sorrow flees to the court of King +"Half" of Denmark, where she remains seven years. Finally Grimhild +learns of the place of her daughter's concealment, and tries to bring +about a reconciliation with Gunnar and Hogni. They offer her much +treasure, if she will marry Atli. At first she refuses and thinks only +of revenge, but finally she consents and the marriage is celebrated in +Atli's land. After a time Atli, who is envious of Gunnar's riches, for +the latter had taken possession of Sigurd's hoard, invites him to his +court. A man named "Vingi", who was sent with the invitation, changes +the runes of warning, which Gudrun had given him, so that they, too, +read as an invitation. The brothers determine to accept the invitation, +and, though warned by many dreams, they set out for Atli's court, which +they reach in due time. Vingi now breaks forth into exultations, that he +has lured them into a snare, and is slain by Hogni with a battle axe. + +As they ride to the king's hall, Atli and his sons arm themselves for +battle, and demand Sigurd's treasure, which belongs by right to Gudrun. +Gunnar refuses to surrender it, and the fight begins, after some +exchange of taunting words. Gudrun tries at first to reconcile the +combatants, but, failing, arms herself and fights on the side of her +brothers. The battle rages furiously with great loss on both sides, +until nearly all of the Nibelungs are killed, when Gunnar and Hogni +are forced to yield to the power of numbers and are captured and bound. +Gunnar is asked, if he will purchase his life with the treasure. He +replies that he first wishes to see Hogni's bleeding heart. At first the +heart of a slave is cut out and brought to him, but Gunnar recognizes it +at once as that of a coward. Then they cut out Hogni's heart, who laughs +at the pain. This Gunnar sees is the right one, and is jubilant, for now +Atli shall never obtain the treasure, as Gunnar alone knows where it is +hid. In a rage Atli orders Gunnar to be thrown to the snakes. Though +his hands are bound, Gunnar plays so sweetly with his toes on the harp, +which Gudrun has sent him, that all the snakes are lulled to sleep, with +the exception of an adder, which stings him to the heart, so that he +dies. + +Atli now walks triumphantly over the dead bodies, and remarks to Gudrun +that she alone is to blame for what has happened. She refuses his offers +of peace and reconciliation, and towards evening kills her two sons +"Erp" and "Eitil", and serves them at the banquet, which the king gives +for his retainers. When Atli asks for his sons, he is told that he had +drunk their blood mixed with wine and had eaten their hearts. That night +when Atli is asleep, Gudrun takes Hogni's son "Hniflung", who desires +to avenge his father, and together they enter Atli's room and thrust a +sword through his breast. Atli awakes from the pain, only to be told +by Gudrun that she is his murderess. When he reproaches her with thus +killing her husband, she answers that she cared only for Sigurd. Atli +now asks for a fitting burial, and on receiving the promise of this, +expires. Gudrun carries out her promise, and burns the castle with +Atli and all his dead retainers. Other Edda songs relate the further +adventures of Gudrun, but they do not concern us here, as the +"Nibelungenlied" stops with the death of the Nibelungs. + +This in brief is the story of Siegfried, as it has been handed down to +us in the Skandinavian sources. It is universally acknowledged that +this version, though more original than the German tradition, does not +represent the simplest and most original form of the tale; but what the +original form was, has long been and still is a matter of dispute. Two +distinctly opposite views are held, the one seeing in the story the +personification of the forces of nature, the other, scouting the +possibility of a mythological interpretation, seeks a purely human +origin for the tale, namely, a quarrel among relatives for the +possession of treasure. The former view is the older, and obtained +almost exclusively at one time. The latter has been gaining ground of +recent years, and is held by many of the younger students of the legend. +According to the mythological view, the maiden slumbering upon the +lonely heights is the sun, the wall of flames surrounding her the +morning red ("Morgenrote"). Siegfried is the youthful day who is +destined to rouse the sun from her slumber. At the appointed time he +ascends, and before his splendor the morning red disappears. He awakens +the maiden; radiantly the sun rises from its couch and joyously greets +the world of nature. But light and shade are indissolubly connected; day +changes of itself into night. When at evening the sun sinks to rest +and surrounds herself once more with a wall of flames, the day again +approaches, but no longer in the youthful form of the morning to arouse +her from her slumber, but in the sombre shape of Gunther, to rest at her +side. Day has turned into night; this is the meaning of the change of +forms. The wall of flame vanishes, day and sun descend into the realm of +darkness. Under this aspect the Siegfried story is a day myth; but under +another it is a myth of the year. The dragon is the symbol of winter, +the dwarfs of darkness. Siegfried denotes the bright summer, his sword +the sunbeams. The youthful year grows up in the dark days of winder. +When its time has come, it goes forth triumphantly and destroys +the darkness and the cold of winter. Through the symbolization the +abstractions gain form and become persons; the saga is thus not a mere +allegory, but a personification of nature's forces. The treasure may +have entered the saga through the widespread idea of the dragon as the +guardian of treasure, or it may represent the beauty of nature which +unfolds when the season has conquered. In the last act of the saga, +Siegfried's death, Wilmanns, the best exponent of this view, sees again +a symbolic representation of a process of nature. According to him it +signifies the death of the god of the year in winter. In the spring he +kills the dragon, in the winter he goes weary to his rest and is foully +slain by the hostile powers of darkness. Later, when this act was +connected with the story of Gunther's wooing Brunhild, the real meaning +was forgotten, and Siegfried's death was attributed to the grief and +jealousy of the insulted queen. + +Opposed now to the mythological interpretation is the other view already +spoken of, which denies the possibility of mythological features, and +does not seek to trace the legend beyond the heroic stage. The best +exponent of this view is R. C. Boer, who has made a remarkable attempt +to resolve the story into its simplest constituents. According to him +the nucleus of the legend is an old story of the murder of relatives +("Verwandienmord"), the original form being perhaps as follows. Attila +(i.e., the enemy of Hagen under any name) is married to Hagen's sister +Grimhild or Gudrun. He invites his brother-in-law to his house, attacks +him in the hope of obtaining his treasure, and kills him. According +to this view Hagen was originally the king, but later sinks to a +subordinate position through the subsequent connection of the story with +the Burgundians. It is of course useless to hunt for the date of such +an episode in history. Such a murder could have frequently occurred, and +can be localized anywhere. Very early we find this Hagen story united +with the Siegfried legend. If the latter is mythological, then we have +a heterogeneous combination, a mythical legend grafted on a purely human +one. This Boer thinks unlikely, and presents a number of arguments to +disprove the mythical character of the Siegfried story, into which +we cannot enter here. He comes, however, to the conclusion, that the +Siegfried tale is likewise purely human, and consisted originally of the +murder of relatives, that is, a repetition of the Hagen title. Siegfried +is married to Hagen's sister, and is killed by his brother-in-law +because of his treasure. The kernel of the legend is, therefore, the +enmity between relatives, which exists in two forms, the one in which +the son-in-law kills his father-in-law, as in the "Helgi" saga, the +other in which Hagen kills his son-in-law and is killed by him, too, as +in the "Hilde" saga. The German tradition tries to combine the two by +introducing the new feature, that Kriemhild causes the death of her +relatives, in order to avenge her first husband. Boer is of the opinion +that both the Norse and the German versions have forgotten the original +connection between the two stories, and that this connection was nothing +more nor less than the common motive of the treasure. The same treasure, +which causes Hagen to murder Siegfried, causes his own death in turn +through the greed of Attila. There was originally, according to Boer, no +question of revenge, except the revenge of fate, the retribution which +overtakes the criminal. This feeling for the irony of fate was lost +when the motive, that Hagen kills Siegfried because of his treasure, +was replaced by the one that he does it at the request of Brunhild. This +leads Boer to the conclusion, that Brunhild did not originally belong to +the Siegfried story, but to the well-known fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty +("Erlosungsmurchen"), which occurs in a variety of forms. The type is +that of a hero who rescues a maiden from a magic charm, which may take +the form of a deep sleep, as in the case of Sleeping Beauty, or of being +sewed into a garment, as in No. 111 of Grimm's fairy tales. By the union +of the two stories, i.e., the Hagen-Siegfried saga with the Sleeping +Beauty tale, Siegfried stands in relation to two women; on the one hand +his relation to Sigrdrifa-Brynhild, the maiden whom he rescues on the +rock, on the other his marriage with Grimhild-Gudrun and his consequent +death. This twofold relation had to be disposed of, and since his +connection with Grimhild was decisive for his fate, his relation to +Brunhild had to be changed. It could not be entirely ignored, for it +was too well known, therefore it was given a different interpretation. +Siegfried still rescues a maiden from the rock, not for himself, +however, but for another. The exchange of forms on the part of +Siegfried and Gunther is a reminiscence of the older form. It gives the +impression, that Siegfried, and yet not Siegfried, won the bride. This +alteration probably took place when the Burgundians were introduced into +the legend. With this introduction an unlocalized saga of unknown heroes +of ancient times became one of events of world-wide importance; the fall +of a mighty race was depicted as the result of Siegfried's death. To +render this plausible, it was necessary on the one hand to idealize +the hero, so that his death should appear as a deed of horror demanding +fearful vengeance, and on the other, to make the king of the Burgundians +an active participator in Siegfried's death, for otherwise it would not +seem natural, that the whole race should be exterminated for a crime +committed by the king's brother or vassal. As the role of Brunhild's +husband had become vacant, and as Gunther had no special role, it was +natural that it should be given to him. Boer traces very ingeniously +the gradual development of this exchange of roles through the various +sources. + +Another method of explaining away Siegfried's relation to two women is +to identify them, and this has been done by the Seyfrid ballad. Here the +hero rescues Kriemhild from the power of the dragon, marries her, +and then is later killed by her brothers through envy and hatred. As +Brunhild and Kriemhild are here united in one person, there is no need +of a wooing for the king, nor of vengeance on the part of Brunhild, +accordingly the old motive of greed (here envy) reappears. + +As to the fight with the dragon, Boer believes that it did not +originally belong to the saga, for in none of the sources except the +popular ballad is the fight with the dragon connected with the release +of Brunhild. If the Siegfried-Hagen story is purely human, then the +dragon cannot have originally belonged to it, but was later introduced, +because of the widespread belief in the dragon as the guardian of +treasure, and in order to answer the question as to the provenience of +the hoard. This is, however, only one answer to the question. Another, +widespread in German legends, is that the treasure comes from the +Nibelungs, that is, from the dwarfs. Many identify the dwarfs and the +dragon, but this finds no support in the sources, for here the dwarfs +and Fafnir are never confused. The "Nibelungenlied" describes an +adventure with each, but the treasure is only connected with the dwarfs. +The "Thidreksaga" knows only the dragon fight but not the dwarfs, as is +likewise the case with the Seyfrid ballad. Only in the Norse sources +do we find a contamination. The story of Hreithmar and his sons, who +quarrel about the treasure, resembles that of Schilbung and Nibelung in +the "Nibelungenlied", and probably has the same source. One of the sons, +because of his guarding the treasure, is identified with the dragon, +and so we read that Fafnir becomes a dragon, after gaining the treasure. +Originally, however, he was not a dragon, but a dwarf. These two +independent forms can be geographically localized. The dwarf legend is +the more southern; it is told in detail in the "Nibelungenlied". The +dragon legend probably originated in the Cimbrian peninsula, where the +"Beowulf" saga, in which the dragon fight plays such an important part, +likewise arose. + +There thus stand sharply opposed to each other two theories, one seeing +in the Siegfried saga a personification of natural forces, the other +tracing it back to a purely human story of murder through greed. It may +be, that the true form of the original saga lies half way between +these two views. The story of the fall of the Nibelungs, that is, their +killing at Etzel's court, may go back to the tale of the murder of +relatives for money. On the other hand it is hard to believe that the +Siegfried saga is nothing but a repetition of the Attila motive, for +this is too brief a formula to which to reduce the long legend of +Siegfried, with its many deeds. Even if we discard the mythological +interpretation, it is the tale of a daring hero, who is brought up in +the woods by a cunning dwarf. He kills a dragon and takes possession of +his hoard, then rescues a maiden, imprisoned upon a mountain, as in the +older Norse version and the popular ballad, or in a tower, as in the +"Thidreksaga", and surrounded either by a wall of fire, as in the +Norse, or by a large body of water, as in the "Nibelungenlied". After +betrothing himself to the maiden, he sets forth in search of further +adventures, and falls into the power of an evil race, who by their +magic arts lure him to them, cause his destruction, and then obtain +his treasure and the maiden for themselves. By her very name Sigrdrifa +belongs to Siegfried, just as Gunther and Gudrun-Grimhild belong +together, and it seems hardly possible that she should have entered the +story later, as Boer would have us believe. After all, it is largely a +matter of belief, for it is impossible to prove positively that mythical +elements did or did not exist in the original. + +To the combined Siegfried-Nibelung story various historical elements +were added during the fifth century. At the beginning of this period the +Franks were located on the left bank of the Rhine from Coblenz downward. +Further up the river, that is, to the south, the Burgundians had +established a kingdom in what is now the Rhenish Palatinate, their +capital being Worms and their king "Gundahar", or "Gundicarius", as the +Romans called him. For twenty years the Burgundians lived on good terms +with the surrounding nations. Then, growing bolder, they suddenly +rose against the Romans in the year 436, but the rebellion was quietly +suppressed by the Roman general Aetius. Though defeated, the Burgundians +were not subdued, and the very next year they broke their oaths and +again sought to throw off the Roman yoke. This time the Romans called to +their aid the hordes of Huns, who had been growing rapidly in power and +were already pressing hard upon the German nations from the east. Only +too glad for an excuse, the Huns poured into the land in great numbers +and practically swept the Burgundian people from the face of the earth. +According to the Roman historians, twenty thousand Burgundians were +slain in this great battle of the Catalaunian Fields. Naturally this +catastrophe, in which a whole German nation fell before the hordes of +invading barbarians, produced a profound impression upon the Teutonic +world. The King Gundahar, the Gunther of the "Nibelungenlied", who also +fell in the battle, became the central figure of a new legend, namely, +the story of the fall of the Burgundians. + +Attila is not thought to have taken part in the invasion, still, after +his death in 454, his name gradually came to be associated with the +slaughter of the Burgundians, for a legend operates mainly with types, +and as Attila was a Hun and throughout the Middle Ages was looked upon +as the type of a cruel tyrant, greedy for conquest, it was but natural +for him to play the rôle assigned to him in the legend. Quite plausible +is Boer's explanation of the entrance of Attila into the legend. The +"Thidreksaga" locates him in Seest in Westphalia. Now this province once +bore the name of "Hunaland", and by a natural confusion, because of +the similarity of the names, "Huna" and "Huns", Attila, who is the +chief representative of Hunnish power, was connected with the legend +and located at Seest. This would show that the original extension of the +legend was slight, as Xanten, the home of Hagen, is but seventy miles +from Seest. The original form would then be that Hagen was slain by a +king of "Hunaland", then because history relates that the Burgundians +were slain by the Huns, the similarity of the names led to the +introduction of Attila and the identification of the Nibelungs with the +Burgundians. The fact, too, that the Franks rapidly took possession +of the district depopulated by the crushing defeat of the Burgundians +likewise aided the confusion, and thus the Franks became the natural +heirs of the legend concerning the death of Gunther, and so we read of +the fall of the Nibelungs, a name that is wholly Frankish in character. +This identification led also to Attila's being considered the avenger of +Siegfried's death. Poetic justice, however, demands that the slaughter +of the Burgundians at the hands of Attila be also avenged. The rumor, +that Attila's death was not natural, but that he had been murdered by +his wife Ildico ("Hildiko"), gave the necessary features to round out +the story. As Kriemhild was the sister of the Burgundian kings, it was +but natural to explain her killing of Attila, as described in the Norse +versions, by her desire to avenge her brothers. + +In our "Nibelungenlied", however, it is no longer Attila, but Kriemhild, +who is the central figure of the tragedy. Etzel, as he is called here, +has sunk to the insignificant role of a stage king, a perfectly passive +observer of the fight raging around him. This change was brought about +perhaps by the introduction of Dietrich of Berne, the most imposing +figure of all Germanic heroic lore. The necessity of providing him +with a role corresponding to his importance, coupled with a growing +repugnance on the part of the proud Franks to acknowledge defeat at the +hands of the Huns, caused the person of Attila to dwindle in importance. +Gradually, too, the role played by Kriemhild was totally changed. +Instead of being the avenger of her brothers, as depicted in the Norse +versions, she herself becomes the cause of their destruction. Etzel +is not only innocent of any desire to harm the Nibelungs, but is even +ignorant of the revenge planned by his wife. This change in her role was +probably due to the feeling that it was incumbent upon her to avenge the +murder of Siegfried. + +Our "Nibelungenlied" knows but little of the adventures of Siegfried's +youth as depicted in the Norse versions. The theme of the poem is no +longer the love of Sigurd, the homeless wanderer, for the majestic +Valkyrie Brunhild, but the love idyll of Siegfried, the son of the king +of the Netherlands, and the dainty Burgundian princess Kriemhild. +The poem has forgotten Siegfried's connection with Brunhild; it knows +nothing of his penetrating the wall of flames to awake and rescue her, +nothing of the betrothal of the two. In our poem Siegfried is carefully +reared at his father's court in the Netherlands, and sets out with great +pomp for the court of the Burgundians. In the Norse version he naturally +remains at Gunther's court after his marriage, but in our poem he +returns to the Netherlands with his bride. This necessitates the +introduction of several new scenes to depict his arrival home, the +invitation to the feast at Worms, and the reception of the guests on the +part of the Burgundians. + +In the "Nibelungenlied" the athletic sports, as an obstacle to the +winning of Brunhild, take the place of the wall of flames of the older +Norse versions. Siegfried and Gunther no longer change forms, but +Siegfried dons the "Tarnkappe", which renders him invisible, so that +while Gunther makes the motions, Siegfried really does the work, a thing +which is rather difficult to imagine. The quarrel of the two queens is +likewise very differently depicted in the "Nibelungenlied" from what it +is in the Norse version. In the latter it takes place while the +ladies are bathing in the river, and is brought on by the arrogance of +Brunhild, who refuses to stand lower down the stream and bathe in the +water flowing from Gudrun to her. In the "Thidreksaga" it occurs in the +seclusion of the ladies' apartments, but in our poem it culminates in +front of the cathedral before the assembled court, and requires as its +background all the pomp and splendor of medieval chivalry. With a master +hand and a wonderful knowledge of female character, the author depicts +the gradual progress of the quarrel until it terminates in a magnificent +scene of wounded pride and malignant hatred. Kriemhild, as usual, plays +the more important part, and, while standing up for her rights, tries in +every way to conciliate Brunhild and not to hurt her feelings. At +last, however, stung by the taunts of the latter, she in turn loses her +patience, bursts out with the whole story of the twofold deception to +which Brunhild has been subjected, and then triumphantly sweeps into +the church, leaving her rival stunned and humiliated by the news she +has heard. In the Norse tradition the scene serves merely to enlighten +Brunhild as to the deception played upon her. In the "Nibelungenlied" it +becomes the real cause of Siegfried's death, for Brunhild plans to kill +Siegfried to avenge the public slight done to her. She has no other +reason, as Siegfried swears that there had been no deception. Brunhild +appeals to us much less in the "Nibelungenlied" than in the Norse +version. In the latter she feels herself deeply wronged by Siegfried's +faithlessness, and resolves on his death because she will not be the +wife of two men. In our poem she has no reason for wishing his death +except her wounded pride. In the "Nibelungenlied", too, she disappears +from view after Siegfried's death, whereas in the Norse tradition she +ascends his funeral pyre and dies at his side. + +The circumstances of Siegfried's death are likewise totally different +in the two versions. In the Norse, as we have seen, he is murdered while +asleep in bed, by Gunnar's younger brother Gutthorm. In our poem he is +killed by Hagen, while bending over a spring to drink. This is preceded +by a scene in which Hagen treacherously induces Kriemhild to mark the +one vulnerable spot on Siegfried's body, on the plea of protecting +him. This deepens the tragedy, and renders Kriemhild's misery and +self-reproaches the greater. After Siegfried's burial his father, +who had also come to Worms with his son, vainly endeavors to persuade +Kriemhild to return with him to the Netherlands. Her refusal is +unnatural in the extreme, for she had reigned there ten years or +more with Siegfried, and had left her little son behind, and yet she +relinquishes all this and remains with her brothers, whom she knows to +be the murderers of her husband. This is evidently a reminiscence of +an earlier form in which Siegfried was a homeless adventurer, as in the +"Thidreksaga". + +The second half of the tale, the destruction of the Nibelungs, +is treated of very briefly in the early Norse versions, but the +"Nibelungenlied", which knows so little of Siegfried's youth, has +developed and enlarged upon the story, until it overshadows the first +part in length and importance and gives the name to the whole poem. +The main difference between the two versions is that in the older +Norse tradition it is Attila who invites the Nibelungs to his court and +attacks them in order to gain possession of the treasure, while Gudrun +(Kriemhild) first tries to reconcile the warring parties, and, not +succeeding in this, snatches up a sword and fights on the side of +her brothers and later kills her husband as an act of revenge. In the +"Thidreksaga" and the "Nibelungenlied", however, she is the instigator +of the fight and the cause of her brothers' death, and finally suffers +death herself at the hands of Master Hildebrand, who is furious that +such noble heroes should fall at a woman's hand. The second part of +the poem is grewsome reading at best, with its weltering corpses and +torrents of blood. The horror is relieved only by the grim humor of +Hagen and by the charming scene at Rudeger's court, where the young +prince Giselher is betrothed to Rudeger's daughter. Rudeger is without +doubt the most tragic figure of this part. He is bound on the one hand +by his oath of allegiance to Kriemhild and on the other by ties of +friendship to the Burgundians. His agony of mind at the dilemma in which +Kriemhild's command to attack the Burgundians places him is pitiful. +Divided between love and duty, the conviction that he must fulfill his +vow, cost what it may, gradually forces itself upon him and he rushes to +his death in combat with his dearest friends. + +Towering above all others in its gloomy grandeur stands the figure of +Hagen, the real hero of the second half of the poem. Fully aware that +he is going to his death, he nevertheless scorns to desert his +companions-in-arms, and awaits the fate in store for him with a stoicism +that would do honor to a Spartan. He calmly accepts the consequences of +his crime, and to the last mocks and scoffs at Kriemhild, until her fury +knows no bounds. No character shows so little the refining influences of +Christianity as does his. In all essential respects he is still the same +old gigantic Teuton, who meets us in the earliest forms of the legend. + +As to the various minor characters, many of which appear only in the +"Nibelungenlied", space will not permit of their discussion here, +although they will be treated of briefly in the notes. Suffice it to +say, that the "Nibelungenlied" has introduced a number of effective +scenes for the purpose of bringing some of them, especially Folker and +Dankwart, into prominence. Among the best of these are, first, the night +watch, when Folker first plays the Burgundians to sleep with his violin, +and then stands guard with Hagen, thus preventing the surprise planned +by Kriemhild; further, the visit to the church on the following morning, +when the men of both parties clash; and lastly the tournament between +the Huns and the Burgundians, which gives the author an excellent chance +to show the prowess of the various heroes. + +Let us pass now to the consideration of the strophic form of the +"Nibelungenlied". The two Danish ballads of "Grimhild's Revenge" +("Grimhild's Haevn"), which are based upon the first combination of +the Low German, i.e., Saxon, and the Rhenish traditions, prove that the +strophe is considerably older than the preserved redactions of our poem, +and that it was probably of Saxon origin. The metrical form goes back +most probably to the four-accented verse of the poet Otfrid of the ninth +century, although some have thought that Latin hymns, others that the +French epic verse, may have been of influence. The direct derivation +from Otfrid seems, however, the most plausible, as it accounts for the +importance of the caesura, which generally marks a pause in the +sense, as well as in the verse, and also for its masculine ending. The +"Nibelungen" strophe consists of four long lines separated by a caesura +into two distinct halves. The first half of each line contains four +accents, the fourth falling upon the last syllable. This last stress, +however, is not, as a rule as strong as the others, the effect being +somewhat like that of a feminine ending. On this account some speak of +three accents in the first half line, with a feminine ending. The fourth +stress is, however, too strong to be thus disregarded, but because of +its lighter character is best marked with a grave accent. The second +half of each line ends in a masculine rhyme. The first three lines have +each three stresses in the second half, while the second half of the +fourth line has four accents to mark the end of the strophe. This +longer fourth line is one of the most marked characteristics of the +"Nibelungen" strophe. The rhymes are arranged in the order of "a", "a", +"b", "b", though in a few isolated cases near the end of the poem but +one rhyme is used throughout the strophe. + +The opening lines of the poem may serve to illustrate the strophic form +and scansion, and at the same time will give the reader an idea of the +Middle High German language in which the poem is written: + + Uns ist in alten maeren wunders vil geseit + von heleden lobebaeron, von grozer arebeit, + von froude und hochgeziten, von weinen und von klagen, + von kuener recken striten muget ir nu wunder hoeren sagen. + + Ez wuochs in Burgonden ein edel magedin, + daz in allen landen niht schoeners mohte sin, + Kriemhild geheizen; si wart ein scoene wip, + darambe muosen degene vil verliesen den lip. + + Der minneclichen meide triuten wol gezam, + ir muotten kuene recken, niemen was ir gram, + ane ma zen schoene so was ir edel lip; + der iunevrouwen tugende zierten anderiu wip. + + Ir pflagen drie künege edel unde rich, + Gunther unde Gernot, die recken lobelich, + und Giselher der iunge, ein uz erwelter degen, + diu frouwe was ir swester, die fu'rsten hetens in ir + pflegen. + + Die herren waren milte, von arde hohe erborn, + mit kraft unmazen kuene, die recken uz erkorn, + dazen Burgonden so was ir lant genant, + si framden starkiu wunder sit in Etzelen lant. + + Ze Wormze bidem Rine si wenden mit ir kraft, + in diende von ir landen stolziu ritterscaft + mit lobelichen eren unz an ir endes zit, + sit sturben si inemerliche von zweier edelen frouwen nit. + +Some of the final rhymes with proper names, such as "Hagene": "degene" +(str. 84) or "Hagene": "tragene" (str. 300) appear to be feminine, but +it is really the final "e" that rhymes, and a scansion of the line in +question shows that the three accents are not complete without this +final "e". In this respect our poem differs from most of the Middle High +German poems, as this practice of using the final "e" in rhyme began to +die out in the twelfth century, though occasionally found throughout the +period. The rhymes are, as a rule, quite exact, the few cases of impure +rhymes being mainly those in which short and long vowels are rhymed +together, e.g. "mich": "rich" or "man": "han". Caesural rhymes are +frequently met with, and were considered by Lachmann to be the marks of +interpolated strophes, a view no longer held. A further peculiarity +of the "Nibelungen" strophe is the frequent omission of the unaccented +syllable in the second half of the last line of the strophe between the +second and third stresses. Examples of this will be found in the second, +third, and fifth strophes of the passage given above. + +The language of the "Nibelungenlied" is the so-called Middle High +German, that is, the High German written and spoken in the period +between 1100 and 1500, the language of the great romances of chivalry +and of the "Minnesingers". More exactly, the poem is written in the +Austrian dialect of the close of the twelfth century, but contains many +archaisms, which point to the fact of its having undergone a number of +revisions. + +In closing this brief study of the "Nibelungenlied", just a word or +two further with reference to the poem, its character, and its place in +German literature. Its theme is the ancient Teutonic ideal of "Treue" +(faithfulness or fidelity), which has found here its most magnificent +portrayal; faithfulness unto death, the loyalty of the vassal for his +lord, as depicted in Hagen, the fidelity of the wife for her husband, +as shown by Kriemhild, carried out with unhesitating consistency to the +bitter end. This is not the gallantry of medieval chivalry, which colors +so largely the opening scenes of the poem, but the heroic valor, the +death-despising stoicism of the ancient Germans, before which the +masters of the world, the all-conquering Romans, were compelled to bow. + +In so far as the "Nibelungenlied" has forgotten most of the history of +the youthful Siegfried, and knows nothing of his love for Brunhild, it +is a torso, but so grand withal, that one hardly regrets the loss of +these integral elements of the old saga. As it is a working over of +originally separate lays, it is not entirely homogeneous, and contains +not a few contradictions. In spite of these faults, however, which a +close study reveals, it is nevertheless the grandest product of Middle +High German epic poetry, and deservedly the most popular poem of older +German literature. It lacks, to be sure, the grace of diction found in +Gottfried von Strassburg's "Tristan und Isolde", the detailed and often +magnificent descriptions of armor and dress to be met with in the epics +of Hartman von Ouwe; it is wanting in the lofty philosophy of Wolfram +von Eschenbach's "Parzival", and does not, as this latter, lead the +reader into the realms of religious doubts and struggles. It is imposing +through its very simplicity, through the grandeur of the story, which +it does not seek to adorn and decorate. It nowhere pauses to analyze +motives nor to give us a picture of inner conflict as modern authors are +fond of doing. Its characters are impulsive and prompt in action, and +when they have once acted, waste no time in useless regret or remorse. + +It resembles the older "Spielmannsdichtung", or minstrel poetry, in the +terseness and vigor of its language and in the lack of poetic imagery, +but it is free from the coarseness and vulgar and grotesque humor of the +latter. It approaches the courtly epic in its introduction of the pomp +of courtly ceremonial, but this veneer of chivalry is very thin, and +beneath the outward polish of form the heart beats as passionately and +wildly as in the days of Herman, the Cheruscan chief. There are perhaps +greater poems in literature than the "Nibelungenlied", but few so +majestic in conception, so sublime in their tragedy, so simple in their +execution, and so national in their character, as this great popular +epic of German literature. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) A is a parchment MS. of the second half of the thirteenth + century, now found in Munich. It forms the basis of + Lachmann's edition. It is a parchment MS. of the middle of + the thirteenth century, belonging to the monastery of St. + Gall. It has been edited by Bartsch, "Deutsche Klassiker + des Mittelalters", vol. 3, and by Piper, "Deutsche National- + Literatur", vol. 6. C is a parchment MS., of the thirteenth + century, now in the ducal library of Donauesehingen. It is + the best written of all the MSS., and has been edited by + Zarncke. + (2) The "Thidreksaga" differs from the other Norse versions in + having "Sigfrod", as he is called here, brought up in + ignorance of his parents, a trait which was probably + borrowed from the widespread "Genoveva" story, although + thought by some to have been an original feature of our + legend. + (3) The "Thidreksaga", which has forgotten the enmity of the + brothers, and calls Sigurd's tutor "Mimr", tells the episode + in somewhat different fashion. The brothers plan to kill + Sigurd, and the latter is attacked by the dragon, while + burning charcoal in the forest. After killing the monster + with a firebrand, Sigurd bathes himself in the blood and + thus become covered with a horny skin, which renders him + invulnerable, save in one place between the shoulder blades, + which he could not reach. This bathing in the blood is also + related in the Seyfrid ballad and in the "Nibelungenlied", + with the difference, that the vulnerable spot is caused by a + linden leaf falling upon him. + (4) The fact that all but one of these names alliterate, shows + that the Norse version is here more original. Gunnar is the + same as Gunther (Gundaharius), Hogni as Hagen; Gutthorm + (Godomar) appears in the German version as Gernot. In this + latter the father is called Dancrat, the mother Uote, and + the name Grimhild is transferred from the mother to the + daughter. + (5) In the prose "Edda", in the water which drips from Gudrun's + hair. + + + + +THE NIBELUNGENLIED (1) + + + + +ADVENTURE I (2) + +Full many a wonder is told us in stories old, of heroes worthy of +praise, of hardships dire, of joy and feasting, of the fighting of bold +warriors, of weeping and of wailing; now ye may hear wonders told. + +In Burgundy there grew so noble a maid that in all the lands none fairer +might there be. Kriemhild (3) was she called; a comely woman she became, +for whose sake many a knight must needs lose his life. Well worth the +loving was this winsome maid. Bold knights strove for her, none bare her +hate. Her peerless body was beautiful beyond degree; the courtly virtues +of this maid of noble birth would have adorned many another woman too. + +Three kings, noble and puissant, did nurture her, Gunther (4) and +Gernot, (5) warriors worthy of praise, and Giselher, (6) the youth, a +chosen knight. This lady was their sister, the princes had her in their +care. The lordings were free in giving, of race high-born, passing bold +of strength were they, these chosen knights. Their realm hight Burgundy. +Great marvels they wrought hereafter in Etzel's (7) land. At Worms (8) +upon the Rhine they dwelt with all their power. Proud knights from out +their lands served them with honor, until their end was come. Thereafter +they died grievously, through the hate of two noble dames. + +Their mother, a mighty queen, was called the Lady Uta, (9) their father, +Dankrat, (10) who left them the heritage after his life was over; a +mighty man of valor that he was, who won thereto in youth worship full +great. These kings, as I have said, were of high prowess. To them owed +allegiance the best of warriors, of whom tales were ever told, strong +and brave, fearless in the sharp strife. Hagen (11) there was of Troneg, +thereto his brother Dankwart, (12) the doughty; Ortwin of Metz (13); +Gere (14) and Eckewart, (15) the margraves twain; Folker of Alzei, (16) +endued with fullness of strength. Rumolt (17) was master of the kitchen, +a chosen knight; the lords Sindolt and Hunolt, liegemen of these three +kings, had rule of the court and of its honors. Thereto had they many +a warrior whose name I cannot tell. Dankwart was marshal; his nephew, +Ortwin, seneschal unto the king; Sindolt was cupbearer, a chosen knight; +Hunolt served as chamberlain; well they wot how to fill these lofty +stations. Of the forces of the court and its far-reaching might, of +the high worship (18) and of the chivalry these lords did ply with joy +throughout their life, of this forsooth none might relate to you the +end. + +In the midst of these high honors Kriemhild dreamed a dream, of how she +trained a falcon, strong, fair, and wild, which, before her very eyes, +two eagles rent to pieces. No greater sorrow might chance to her in all +this world. This dream then she told to Uta her mother, who could not +unfold it to the dutiful maid in better wise than this: "The falcon +which thou trainest, that is a noble man, but thou must needs lose him +soon, unless so be that God preserve him." + +"Why speakest thou to me of men, dear brother mine? I would fain ever be +without a warrior's love. So fair will I remain until my death, that I +shall never gain woe from love of man." + +"Now forswear this not too roundly," spake the mother in reply. "If ever +thou shalt wax glad of heart in this world, that will chance through the +love of man. Passing fair wilt thou become, if God grant thee a right +worthy knight." + +"I pray you leave this speech," spake she, "my lady. Full oft hath it +been seen in many a wife, how joy may at last end in sorrow. I shall +avoid them both, then can it ne'er go ill with me." + +Thus in her heart Kriemhild forsware all love. Many a happy day +thereafter the maiden lived without that she wist any whom she would +care to love. In after days she became with worship a valiant here's +bride. He was the selfsame falcon which she beheld in her dream that her +mother unfolded to her. How sorely did she avenge this upon her nearest +kin, who slew him after! Through his dying alone there fell full many a +mother's son. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Nibelungenlied", the lay of the Nibelungs. The ordinary + etymology of this name is 'children of the mist' + ("Nebelkinder", O.N. "Niflungar"), and it is thought to have + belonged originally to the dwarfs. Piper, I, 50, interprets + it as 'the sons of Nibul'; Boer, II, 198, considers + "Hniflungar" to be the correct Norse form and interprets it + as 'the descendants of Hnaef' (O.E. "Hnaef", O.H.G. + "Hnabi"), whose death is related in the "Finnsaga". + (2) "Adventure" (M.H.G. "aventiure", from O.F. "aventure", Lat. + "adventura"). The word meant originally a happening, + especially some great event, then the report of such an + event. Here it is used in the sense of the different cantos + or "fitts" of the poem, as in the "Gudrun" and other M.H.G. + epics. Among the courtly poets it also frequently denotes + the source, or is the personification of the muse of poetry. + (3) "Kriemhild" is the Upper German form of the Frankish + "Grimhild". In the MSS., the name generally appears with a + further shifting as "Chriemhilt", as if the initial + consonant were Germanic "k". On the various forms of the + name, which have never yet been satisfactorily explained, + see Mullenhoff, ZsfdA. xii, 299, 413; xv, 313; and + Bohnenberger, PB. Beit. xxiv, 221-231. + (4) "Gunther" is the historical "Gundahari", king of the + Burgundians in the fifth century. + (5) "Gernot" was probably introduced by some minstrel in place + of the historical "Godomar", who appears in the Norse + version as "Gutthormr", though the names are not + etymologically the same, as "Godomar" would be "Guthmarr" in + Old Norse. + (6) "Giselher" is the historical "Gislaharius". Although + mentioned by the "Lex Burgundionum" as one of the Burgundian + kings, he does not appear in the early Norse version, or in + other poems dealing with these persons, such as the + "Waltharius", the "Rabenschlacht", the "Rosengarten", etc., + and was probably introduced at a late date into the saga. + Originally no role was ascribed to him, and not even his + death is told. He probably came from some independent + source. + (7) "Etzel" is the German form for the historical "Attila" + (Norse "Atli"). A discussion of his connection with the + saga will be found in the introduction. + (8) "Worms" is the ancient "Borbetomagus", which in the first + century B.C. was the chief city of the German tribe of the + "Vangioni". In the fifth century it was the capital of the + Burgundian kingdom, but was destroyed by the Huns. The + Merovingians rebuilt it, and in the seventh century it + became a bishopric where Charlemagne at times held his + court. It was later noted as the meeting-place of many + imperial diets. It remained a free city till 1801. In the + "Thidreksaga" the name is corrupted into "Wernize". + (9) "Uta" (M.H.G. "Uote"). The name means ancestress, and is + frequently used for the mother of heroes. The modern German + form is "Ute", but in order to insure its being pronounced + with two syllables, the form "Uta" was chosen. + (10) "Dankrat" (M.H.G. "Dancrat") appears as the father only in + the "Nibelungenlied" and poems dependent on it, e.g., the + "Klage" and "Biterolf", elsewhere as "Gibiche" (Norse + "Giuki"). + (11) "Hagen of Troneg". Troneg is probably a corruption of the + name of the Latin colony, "colonia Trajana", on the Lower + Rhine, which as early as the fifth century was written as + "Troja", giving rise to the legend that the Franks were + descended from the ancient Trojans. "Troja" was then + further corrupted to "Tronje" and "Tronege". Hagen was + therefore originally a Frank and had no connection with the + Burgundian kings, as the lack of alliteration also goes to + show. Boer thinks that not Siegfried but Hagen originally + lived at Xanten (see note 3 to Adventure II), as this was + often called Troja Francorum. When the Hagen story was + connected with the Burgundians and Hagen became either their + brother or their vassal, his home was transferred to Worms + and Siegfried was located at Xanten, as he had no especial + localization. Thus Siegfried is never called Siegfried of + Troneg, as is Hagen. Other attempts to explain Troneg will + be found in Piper, I, 48. + (12) "Dankwart" is not an historical character nor one that + belonged to the early form of the legend. He may have come + from another saga, where he played the principal role as + Droege (ZsfdA. 48, 499) thinks. Boer considers him to be + Hagen's double, invented to play a part that would naturally + fall to Hagen's share, were he not otherwise engaged at the + moment. In our poem he is called "Dancwart der snelle", a + word that has proved a stumbling-block to translators, + because in modern German it means 'speedy', 'swift'. Its + original meaning was, however, 'brave', 'warlike', although + the later meaning is already found in M.H.G. In all such + doubtful cases the older meaning has been preferred, unless + the context forbids, and the word 'doughty' has been chosen + to translate it. + (13) "Ortwin of Metz" appears also in the "Eckenlied", + "Waltharius", and in "Biterolf". He is most likely a late + introduction (but see Piper, I, 44). Rieger thinks that he + belonged to a wealthy family "De Metis". Though the "i" is + long in the original, and Simrock uses the form "Ortewein" + in his translation, the spelling with short "i" has been + chosen, as the lack of accent tends to shorten the vowel in + such names. + (14) "Gere" is likewise a late introduction. He is perhaps the + historical Margrave Gere (965) of East Saxony, whom Otto the + Great appointed as a leader against the Slavs. See O. von + Heinemann, "Markgraf Gero", Braunschweig, 1860, and Piper, L + 43. + (15) "Eckewart" is also a late accession. He is perhaps the + historical margrave of Meissen (1002), the first of the + name. He, too, won fame in battle against the Slavs. + (16) "Folker of Alzei" (M.H.G. "Volker von Alzeije"), the + knightly minstrel, is hardly an historical personage, in + spite of the fact that Alzey is a well-known town in Rhine + Hesse on the Selz, eighteen miles southwest of Mainz. The + town has, to be sure, a violin in its coat of arms, as also + the noble family of the same name. It is most likely, + however, that this fact caused Folker to be connected with + Alzei. In the "Thidreksaga" Folker did not play the role of + minstrel, and it is probable that some minstrel reviser of + our poem developed the character and made it the + personification of himself. + (17) "Rumolt", "Sindolt", and "Hunolt" have no historical basis + and merely help to swell the retinue of the Burgundians. + (18) "Worship". This word has been frequently used here in its + older meaning of 'worth', 'reverence', 'respect', to + translate the M.H.G. "eren", 'honors'. + + + + +ADVENTURE II. Of Siegfried. + +In the Netherlands there grew the child of a noble king (his father had +for name Siegmund, (1) his mother Siegelind), (2) in a mighty castle, +known far and wide, in the lowlands of the Rhine: Xanten, (3) men called +it. Of this hero I sing, how fair he grew. Free he was of every blemish. +Strong and famous he later became, this valiant man. Ho! What great +worship he won in this world! Siegfried hight this good and doughty +knight. Full many kingdoms did he put to the test through his warlike +mood. Through his strength of body he rode into many lands. Ho! What +bold warriors he after found in the Burgundian land! Mickle wonders +might one tell of Siegfried in his prime, in youthful days; what honors +he received and how fair of body he. The most stately women held him +in their love; with the zeal which was his due men trained him. But of +himself what virtues he attained! Truly his father's lands were honored, +that he was found in all things of such right lordly mind. Now was he +become of the age that he might ride to court. Gladly the people saw +him, many a maid wished that his desire might ever bear him hither. Enow +gazed on him with favor; of this the prince was well aware. Full seldom +was the youth allowed to ride without a guard of knights. Siegmund and +Siegelind bade deck him out in brave attire. The older knights who were +acquaint with courtly custom, had him in their care. Well therefore +might he win both folk and land. + +Now he was of the strength that he bare weapons well. Whatever he needed +thereto, of this he had enow. With purpose he began to woo fair ladies; +these bold Siegfried courted well in proper wise. Then bade Siegmund +have cried to all his men, that he would hold a feasting with his loving +kindred. The tidings thereof men brought into the lands of other kings. +To the strangers and the home-folk he gave steeds and armor. Wheresoever +any was found who, because of his birth, should become a knight, these +noble youths were summoned to the land for the feasting. Here with the +youthful prince they gained the knightly sword. Wonders might one tell +of this great feast; Siegmund and Siegelind wist well how to gain great +worship with their gifts, of which their hands dealt out great store. +Wherefore one beheld many strangers riding to their realm. Four hundred +sword-thanes (4) were to put on knightly garb with Siegfried. Many a +fair maid was aught but idle with the work, for he was beloved of them +all. Many precious stones the ladies inlaid on the gold, which together +with the edging they would work upon the dress of the proud young +warriors, for this must needs be done. + +The host bade make benches for the many valiant men, for the midsummer +festival, (5) at which Siegfried should gain the name of knight. Then +full many a noble knight and many a high-born squire did hie them to +the minster. Right were the elders in that they served the young, as had +been done to them afore. Pastimes they had and hope of much good cheer. +To the honor of God a mass was sung; then there rose from the people +full great a press, as the youths were made knights in courtly wise, +with such great honors as might not ever lightly be again. Then they +ran to where they found saddled many a steed. In Siegmund's court the +hurtling (6) waxed so fierce that both palace (7) and hall were heard +to ring; the high-mettled warriors clashed with mighty sound. From young +and old one heard many a shock, so that the splintering of the shafts +reechoed to the clouds. Truncheons (8) were seen flying out before +the palace from the hand of many a knight. This was done with zeal. At +length the host bade cease the tourney and the steeds were led away. +Upon the turf one saw all to-shivered (9) many a mighty buckler and +great store of precious stones from the bright spangles (10) of the +shields. Through the hurtling this did hap. + +Then the guests of the host betook them to where men bade them sit. With +good cheer they refreshed them and with the very best of wine, of which +one bare frill plenty. To the strangers and the home-folk was shown +worship enow. Though much pastime they had throughout the day, many of +the strolling folk forsware all rest. They served for the largess, which +men found there richly, whereby Siegmund's whole land was decked with +praise. Then bade the king enfeoff Siegfried, the youth, with land +and castles, as he himself had done. Much his hand bestowed upon the +sword-companions. The journey liked them well, that to this land they +were come. The feasting lasted until the seventh day. Siegelind, +the noble queen, for the love of her son, dealt out ruddy gold in +time-honored wise. Full well she wot how to make him beloved of the +folk. Scarce could a poor man be found among the strolling mimes. Steeds +and raiment were scattered by their hand, as if they were to live not +one more day. I trow that never did serving folk use such great bounty. +With worshipful honors the company departed hence. Of the mighty barons +the tale doth tell that they desired the youth unto their lord, but of +this the stately knight, Sir Siegfried, listed naught. Forasmuch as both +Siegmund and Siegelind were still alive, the dear child of them twain +wished not to wear a crown, but fain would he become a lord against all +the deeds of force within his lands, whereof the bold and daring knight +was sore adread. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Siegmund" (M.H.G. "Sigemunt") was originally the hero of an + independent saga. See "Volsungasaga", chaps. 3-8. + (2) "Siegelind" (M.H.G. "Sigelint") is the correct name of + Siegfried's mother, as the alliteration shows. The Early + Norse version has "Hjordis", which has come from the "Helgi + saga". + (3) "Xanten" (M.H.G. "Santen" from the Latin "ad sanctos") is at + present a town in the Rhenish Prussian district of + Dusseldorf. It does not now lie on the Rhine, but did in + the Middle Ages. + (4) "Sword-thanes" (M.H.G. "swertdegene") were the young squires + who were to be made knights. It was the custom for a + youthful prince to receive the accolade with a number of + others. + (5) "Midsummer festival". The M.H.G. "sunewende" means + literally the 'sun's turning', i.e., the summer solstice. + This was one of the great Germanic festivals, which the + church later turned into St. John's Eve. The bonfires still + burnt in Germany on this day are survivals of the old + heathen custom. + (6) "Hurtling" translates here M.H.G. "buhurt", a word borrowed + from the French to denote a knightly sport in which many + knights clashed together. Hurtling was used in older + English in the same significance. + (7) "Palace" (M.H.G. "palas", Lat. "palatium") is a large + building standing alone and largely used as a reception + hall. + (8) "Truncheons" (M.H.G. "trunzûne", O.F. "tronçon)", 'lance + splinters', 'fragments of spears'. + (9) "To-shivered", 'broken to pieces', in imitation of the older + English to-beat, to-break, etc. + (10) "Spangles" (M.H.G. "spangen"), strips of metal radiating + from the raised centre of the shield and often set, as here, + with precious stones. + + + + +ADVENTURE III. How Siegfried Came to Worms. + +It was seldom that sorrow of heart perturbed the prince. He heard tales +told of how there lived in Burgundy a comely maid, fashioned wondrous +fair, from whom he thereafter gained much of joy, but suffering, too. +Her beauty out of measure was known far and wide. So many a here heard +of her noble mind, that it alone brought many a guest (1) to Gunther's +land. But however many were seen wooing for her love, Kriemhild never +confessed within her heart that she listed any for a lover. He was +still a stranger to her, whose rule she later owned. Then did the son of +Siegelind aspire to lofty love; the wooing of all others was to his but +as the wind, for well he wot how to gain a lady fair. In later days the +noble Kriemhild became bold Siegfried's bride. Kinsmen and liegemen enow +advised him, since he would have hope of constant love, that he woo +one who was his peer. At this bold Siegfried spake: "Then will I choose +Kriemhild, the fair maid of Burgundy, for her beauty beyond measure. +This I know full well, never was emperor so mighty, and he would have a +wife, that it would not beseem him to love this noble queen." + +Tidings of this reached Siegmund's ear; through the talk of the +courtiers he was made ware of the wish of his son. Full loth it was to +the king, that his child would woo the glorious maid. Siegelind heard it +too, the wife of the noble king. Greatly she feared for her child, for +full well she knew Gunther and his men. Therefore they sought to turn +the hero from this venture. Up spake then the daring Siegfried: "Dear +father mine, I would fain ever be without the love of noble dames, if I +may not woo her in whom my heart hath great delight; whatsoever any may +aver, it will avail but naught." + +"And thou wilt not turn back," spake the king, "then am I in sooth glad +of thy will and will help thee bring it to pass, as best I may. Yet hath +this King Gunther full many a haughty man. If there were none else but +Hagen, the doughty knight, he can use such arrogance that I fear me it +will repent us sore, if we woo this high-born maid." + +Then Siegfried made reply: "Wherefore need that hinder us? What I may +not obtain from them in friendly wise, that my hand and its strength can +gain. I trow that 1 can wrest from him both folk and land." + +To this Prince Siegmund replied: "Thy speech liketh me not, for if this +tale were told upon the Rhine, then durst thou never ride unto that +land. Long time have Gunther and Gernot been known to me. By force may +none win the maid, of this have I been well assured; but wilt thou ride +with warriors unto this land, and we still have aught of friends, they +shall be summoned soon." + +"It is not to my mind," spake again Siegfried, "that warriors should +follow me to the Rhine, as if for battle, that I constrain thereby the +noble maid. My single hand can win her well--with eleven (2) comrades +I will fare to Gunther's land; thereto shalt thou help me, Father +Siegmund." Then to his knights they gave for garments furs both gray and +vair. (3) + +Now his mother Siegelind also heard the tale. She began to make dole for +her loved child, whom she feared to lose through Gunther's men. Sorely +the noble queen gan weep. Lord Siegfried hied him straightway to where +he saw her; to his mother he spake in gentle wise: "Lady, ye must not +weep for me; naught have I to fear from all his fighting men. I pray +you, speed me on my journey to the Burgundian land, that I and my +warriors may have array such as proud heroes can wear with honor; for +this I will say you gramercy i' faith." + +"Since naught will turn thee," spake then the Lady Siegelind, "so will I +speed thee on thy journey, mine only child, with the best of weeds that +ever knight did wear, thee and thy comrades. Ye shall have enow." + +Siegfried, the youth, then made low obeisance to the queen. He spake: +"None but twelve warriors will I have upon the way. Let raiment be +made ready for them, I pray, for I would fain see how it standeth with +Kriemhild." + +Then sate fair ladies night and day. Few enow of them, I trow, did ease +them, till Siegfried's weeds had all been wrought. Nor would he desist +from faring forth. His father bade adorn the knightly garb in which his +son should ride forth from Siegmund's land. The shining breastplates, +too, were put in trim, also the stanch helmets and their shields both +fair and broad. Now their journey to the Burgundian land drew near; +man and wife began to fear lest they never should come home again. The +heroes bade lade their sumpters with weapons and with harness. Their +steeds were fair and their trappings red with gold. No need were there +to live more proudly than Siegfried and his men. Then he asked for leave +to journey to the land of Burgundy; this the king and queen sorrowfully +vouchsafed. Lovingly he comforted them twain. "For my sake," spake he, +"must ye not weep, nor have fear for me or for my life." + +The warriors, too, were sad and many a maiden wept; I ween, their hearts +did tell them rightly that many of their kinsmen would come to death +because of this. Just cause had they for wailing; need enow they had in +sooth. + +Upon the seventh morning, forth upon the river sand at Worms the brave +warriors pricked. Their armor was of ruddy gold and their trappings +fashioned fair. Smoothly trotted the steeds of bold Siegfried's men. +Their shields were new; gleaming and broad and fair their helmets, as +Siegfried, the bold, rode to court in Gunther's land. Never had such +princely attire been seen on heroes; their sword-points hung down +to their spurs. Sharp javelins were borne by these chosen knights. +Siegfried wielded one full two spans broad, which upon its edges cut +most dangerously. In their hands they held gold-colored bridles; their +martingales were silken: so they came into the land. Everywhere the folk +began to gape amazed and many of Gunther's men fared forth to meet them. +High-mettled warriors, both knight and squire, betook them to the lords +(as was but right), and received into the land of their lords these +guests and took from their hands the black sumpters which bore the +shields. The steeds, too, they wished to lead away for easement. How +boldly then brave Siegfried spake: "Let stand the mounts of me and of +my men. We will soon hence again, of this have I great desire. Whosoever +knoweth rightly where I can find the king, Gunther, the mighty, of +Burgundian land, let him not keep his peace but tell me." + +Then up spake one to whom it was rightly known: "Would ye find the king, +that can hap full well. In yon broad hall with his heroes did I but see +him. Ye must hither hie you; there ye may find with him many a lordly +man." + +To the king now the word was brought, that full lusty knights were come, +who wore white breastplates and princely garb. None knew them in the +Burgundian land. Much it wondered the king whence came these lordly +warriors in such shining array, with such good shields, both new and +broad. Loth was it to Gunther, that none could tell him this. Then +Ortwin of Metz (a bold and mighty man was he) made answer to the king: +"Since we know them not, ye should send for mine uncle Hagen, and let +him see them. To him are known (4) all kingdoms and foreign lands. If so +be he knoweth these lords, he will tell us straightway." + +Then bade the king that Hagen and his men be brought. One saw him with +his warriors striding in lordly wise unto the court. + +"What would the king of me?" asked Hagen. + +"There be come to my house strange warriors, whelm here none knoweth. If +ye have ever seen them, I pray you, Hagen, tell me now the truth." + +"That will I," spake then Hagen. He hied him to a window and over the +guests he let his glances roam. Well liked him their trappings and their +array, but full strange were they to him in the Burgundian land. He +spake: "From wheresoever these warriors be come unto the Rhine, they may +well be princes or envoys of kings, for their steeds are fair and +their garments passing good. Whencesoever they bear these, forsooth +high-mettled warriors be they." + +"I dare well say," so spake Hagen, "though I never have seen Siegfried, +yet can I well believe, however this may be, that he is the warrior that +strideth yonder in such lordly wise. He bringeth new tidings hither to +this land. By this here's hand were slain the bold Nibelungs, Schilbung +and Nibelung, (5) sons of a mighty king. Since then he hath wrought +great marvels with his huge strength. Once as the hero rode alone +without all aid, he found before a mountain, as I have in sooth been +told, by Nibelung's hoard full many a daring man. Strangers they were to +him, till he gained knowledge of them there. + +"The hoard of Nibelung was borne entire from out a hollow hill. Now hear +a wondrous tale, of how the liegemen of Nibelung wished to divide it +there. This the hero Siegfried saw and much it gan wonder him. So near +was he now come to them, that he beheld the heroes, and the knights +espied him, too. One among them spake: 'Here cometh the mighty +Siegfried, the hero of Netherland.' Passing strange were the tidings +that, he found among the Nibelungs. Schilbung and Nibelung greeted well +the knight; with one accord these young and noble lordings bade the +stately man divide the hoard. Eagerly they asked it, and the lord in +turn gan vow it to them. + +"He beheld such store of gems, as we have heard said, that a hundred +wains might not bear the lead; still more was there of ruddy gold from +the Nibelung land. All this the hand of the daring Siegfried should +divide. As a guerdon they gave him the sword of Nibelung, but they were +served full ill by the service which the good knight Siegfried should +render them. Nor could he end it for them; angry of mood (6) they grew. +Twelve bold men of their kith were there, mighty giants these. What +might that avail them! Siegfried's hand slew them soon in wrath, and +seven hundred warriors from the Nibelung land he vanquished with the +good sword Balmung. (7) Because of the great fear that, many a young +warrior had of the sword and of the valiant man, they made the land and +its castles subject to his hand. Likewise both the mighty kings he +slew, but soon he himself was sorely pressed by Alberich. (8) The +latter weened to venge straightway his masters, till he then discovered +Siegfried's mighty strength; for no match for him was the sturdy dwarf. +Like wild lions they ran to the hill, where from Alberich he won the +Cloak of Darkness. (9) Thus did Siegfried, the terrible, become master +of the hoard; those who had dared the combat, all lay there slain. Soon +bade he cart and bear the treasure to the place from whence the men of +Nibelung had borne it forth. He made Alberich, the strong, warden of the +hoard and bade him swear an oath to serve him as his knave; and fit he +was for work of every sort." + +So spake Hagen of Troneg: "This he hath done. Nevermore did warrior win +such mighty strength. I wot yet more of him: it is known to me that the +hero slew a dragon and bathed him in the blood, so that his skin became +like horn. Therefore no weapons will cut him, as hath full oft been +seen. All the better must we greet this lord, that we may not earn the +youthful warrior's hate. So bold is he that we should hold him as a +friend, for he hath wrought full many a wonder by his strength." + +Then spake the mighty king: "Thou mayst well have right. Behold how +valiantly he with his knights doth stand in lust of battle, the daring +man! Let us go down to meet the warrior." + +"That ye may do with honor," spake then Hagen; "he is of noble race, son +of a mighty king. God wot, methinks, he beareth him in such wise, that +it can be no little matter for which he hath ridden hither." + +"Now be he welcome to us," spake then the king of the land. "He is both +noble and brave, as I have heard full well. This shall stand him in good +stead in the Burgundian land." Then went Lord Gunther to where Siegfried +stood. + +The host and his warriors received the guest in such wise that full +little was there lack of worship. Low bowed the stately man, that they +had greeted him so fair. "It wondereth me," spake the king straightway, +"whence ye, noble Siegfried, be come unto this land, or what ye seek at +Worms upon the Rhine." + +Then the stranger made answer to the king: "This will I not conceal from +you. Tales were told me in my father's land, that here with you were the +boldest warriors that ever king did gain. This I have often heard, and +that I might know it of a truth, therefore am I come. Likewise do I hear +boasting of your valor, that no bolder king hath ever been seen. This +the folk relate much through all these lands. Therefore will I not turn +back, till it be known to me. I also am a warrior and was to wear a +crown. Fain would I bring it to pass that it may be said of me: Rightly +doth he rule both folk and land. Of this shall my head and honor be a +pledge. Now be ye so bold, as hath been told me, I reck not be it +lief or loth to any man, I will gain from you whatso ye have--land and +castles shall be subject to my hand." + +The king had likewise his men had marvel at the tidings they here heard, +that he was willed to take from them their land. The knights waxed +wroth, as they heard this word. "How have I earned this," spake Gunther, +the knight, "that we should lose by the force of any man that which my +father hath rules so long with honor? We should let it ill appear that +we, too, are used in knightly ways." + +"In no wise will I desist," spake again the valiant man. "Unless it be +that through thy strength thy land have peace, I will rule it all. And +shouldst thou gain, by thy strength, my ancestral lands, they shall +be subject to thy sway. Thy lands, and mine as well, shall lie alike; +whether of us twain can triumph over the other, him shall both land and +people serve." + +Hagen and Gernot, too, straightway gainsaid this. "We have no wish," +spake Gernot, "that we should conquer aught of lands, or that any man +lie dead at hero's hands. We have rich lands, which serve us, as is +meet, nor hath any a better claim to them than we." + +There stood his kinsmen, grim of mood; among them, too, Ortwin of Metz. +"It doth irk me much to hear these words of peace," spake he; "the +mighty Siegfried hath defied you for no just cause. Had ye and your +brothers no meet defense, and even if he led a kingly troop, I trow well +so to fight that the daring man have good cause to leave this haughty +mien." + +At this the hero of Netherland grew wonderly wroth. He spake: "Thy hand +shall not presume against me. I am a mighty king, a king's vassal thou. +Twelve of thy ilk durst not match me in strife." + +Then Ortwin of Metz called loudly for swords. Well was he fit to be +Hagen of Troneg's sister's son. It rued the king that he had held his +peace so long. Then Gernot, the bold and lusty knight, came in between. +He spake to Ortwin: "Now give over thy anger. Lord Siegfried hath done +us no such wrong, but that we may still part the strife in courteous +wise. Be advised of me and hold him still as friend; far better will +this beseem us." + +Then spake the doughty Hagen: "It may well grieve us and all thy knights +that he ever rode for battle to the Rhine. He should have given it over; +my lordings never would have done such ill to him." + +To this Siegfried, the mighty man, made answer: "Doth this irk you, Sir +Hagen, which I spake, then will I let you see that my hands shall have +dominion here in the Burgundian land." + +"I alone will hinder this," answered Gernot, and he forbade his knights +speak aught with haughtiness that might cause rue. Siegfried, too, then +bethought him of the noble maid. + +"How might it beseem us to fight with you?" spake Gernot anew. "However +really heroes should lie dead because of this, we should have scant +honor therefrom and ye but little gain." + +To this Siegfried, the son of Siegmund, made reply: "Why waiteth Hagen, +and Ortwin, too, that he hasteth not to fight with his kin, of whom he +hath so many here in Burgundy?" + +At this all held their peace; such was Gernot's counsel. Then spake +Queen Uta's son: "Ye shall be welcome to us with all your war-mates, who +are come with you. We shall gladly serve you, I and all my kin." + +Then for the guests they bade pour out King Gunther's wine. The master +of the land then spake: "All that we have, if ye desire it in honorable +wise, shall owe fealty to you; with you shall both life and goods be +shared." + +At this Lord Siegfried grew of somewhat gentler mood. Then they bade +that care be taken of the armor of the guests. The best of hostels that +men might find were sought for Siegfried's squires; great easement they +gave them. Thereafter they gladly saw the guest in Burgundy. Many a day +they offered him great worship, a thousand fold more than I can tell +you. This his prowess wrought; ye may well believe, full scant a one he +saw who was his foe. + +Whenever the lordings and their liegemen did play at knightly games, +Siegfried was aye the best, whatever they began. Herein could no one +match him, so mighty was his strength, whether they threw the stone or +hurled the shaft. When through courtesie the full lusty knights +made merry with the ladies, there were they glad to see the hero of +Netherland, for upon high love his heart was bent. He was aye ready for +whatso they undertook, but in his heart he bare a lovely maid, whom he +had never seen. She too, who in secret spake full well of him, cherished +him alone. Whenever the pages, squires, and knights would play their +games within the court, Kriemhild, the noble queen, watched them from +the windows, for no other pastime she needed on such days. Had he known +that she gazed on him thus, whom he bare within his heart, then had he +had pastime enough, I trow, for well I wot that no greater joy in all +this world could chance to him. + +Whenever he stood by the heroes in the court, as men still are wont to +do, for pastime's sake, so winsome was the posture of Siegelind's son, +that many a lady loved him for very joy of heart. But he bethought him +many a day: "How shall that hap, that I with mine own eyes may see the +noble maid, whom I do love with all my heart and so have done long time. +Sadly must I stand, sith she be still a stranger to me." + +Whenever the mighty kings fared forth into their land, the warriors all +must needs accompany them at hand, and Siegfried, too. This the lady +rued, and he, too, suffered many pangs for love of her. Thus he dwelt +with the lordings, of a truth, full a year in Gunther's land, and in all +this time he saw not once the lovely maid, from whom in later days there +happed to him much joy and eke much woe. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Guest" translates here the M.H.G. "gest", a word which may + mean either 'guest' or 'stranger,' and it is often + difficult, as here, to tell to which meaning the preference + should be given. + (2) "Eleven" translates the M.H.G. "selbe zwelfte", which means + one of twelve. The accounts are, however, contradictory, as + a few lines below mention is made of twelve companions of + Siegfried. + (3) "Vair" (O.F. "vair", Lat. "varius"), 'variegated', like the + fur of the squirrel. + (4) "Known". It was a mark of the experienced warrior, that he + was acquainted with the customs and dress of various + countries and with the names and lineage of all important + personages. Thus in the "Hildebrandslied" Hildebrand asks + Hadubrand to tell him his father's name, and adds: "If thou + tellest me the one, I shall know the other." + (5) "Schilbung" and "Nibelung", here spoken of as the sons of a + mighty king, were originally dwarfs, and, according to some + authorities, the original owners of the treasure. Boer, ix, + 199, thinks, however, that the name Nibelungs was + transferred from Hagen to these dwarfs at a late stage in + the formation of the saga. + (6) "Angry of mood". The reason of this anger is apparent from + the more detailed account in "Biterolf", 7801. The quarrel + arose from the fact that, according to ancient law, + Siegfried acquired with the sword the rights of the first + born, which the brothers, however, refused to accord to him. + (7) "Balmung". In the older Norse version and in the + "Thidreksaga" Siegfried's sword bore the name of Gram. + (8) "Alberich" is a dwarf king who appears in a number of + legends, e.g., in the "Ortnit saga" and in "Biterolf". + Under the Romance form of his name, "Oberon", he plays an + important role in modern literature. + (9) "Cloak of Darkness". This translates the M.H.G. + "tarnkappe", a word often retained by translators. It is + formed from O.H.G. tarni, 'secret' (cf. O.E. "dyrne"), and + "kappe" from late Latin "cappa", 'cloak'. It rendered the + wearer invisible and gave him the strength of twelve men. + + + + +ADVENTURE IV. How He Fought with the Saxons. (1) + +Now there came strange tales to Gunther's land, though messengers sent +them from afar--tales of unknown warriors, who bare them hate. When they +heard this word, in sooth it pleased them not. These warriors will +I name to you: there was Liudeger of Saxon land, a great and lordly +prince, and then from Denmark Liudegast, the king. For their journey +they had gathered many a lordly stranger. + +To Gunther's land were come the messengers his foes had sent. Men asked +the strangers for their tidings and bade them hie them soon to court +unto King Gunther. The king gave them greeting fair; he spake: "Be +ye welcome. I have not heard who sent you hither, but let that now be +told." So spake the right good king. But they feared full sore King +Gunther's warlike mood. + +"Will ye, O King, permit that we tell the tales we bring, then we shall +not hold our tongue, but name to you the lordings who have sent us +hither: Liudegast and Liudeger; they would march upon this land. Ye +have earned their wrath, indeed we heard that both lords bear you mortal +hate. They would harry at Worms upon the Rhine and have the aid of +many a knight; that may ye know upon our faith. Within twelve weeks the +journey must befall. And ye have aught of good friends, who will help +guard your castles and your lands, let this soon be seen. Here shall be +carved by them many a helm and shield. Or would ye parley with them, let +messengers be sent. Then the numerous bands of your mighty foes will +not ride so near you, to give you pain of heart, from which full many a +lusty knight and a good must die." + +"Now bide a time," spake the good king, "till I bethink me better; then +ye shall know my mind. Have I aught of trusty men, I will not withhold +from them these startling tales, but will make complaint thereof unto my +friends." + +To Gunther, the mighty king, it was loth enow, but in his heart he bare +the speech in secret wise. He bade Hagen be fetched and others of his +men, and sent eftsoon to court for Gernot. Then came the very best of +men that could be found. The king spake: "Men would seek us here in this +our land with mighty armies, now make ye wail for that." + +To this Gernot, a brave and lusty knight, made answer: "That will we +fend indeed with swords. Only the fey (2) will fall. So let them die; +for their sake I will not forget my honor. Let these foes of ours be +welcome to us." + +Then spake Hagen of Troneg: "This thinketh me not good. Liudegast and +Liudeger bear great arrogance; nor can we summon all our men in such +short time. Why tell ye not Siegfried of the thing?" So spake the +valiant knight. + +To the messengers they bade give lodging in the town. Whatever hate they +bore them, yet Gunther, the mighty, bade purvey them well, as was but +right, till he discovered of his friends who there was who would lend +him aid. Yet in his fears the king was ill at ease. Just then full +blithe a knight, who wot not what had happed, saw him thus sad and +prayed King Gunther to tell him of the matter. "Much it wondereth me," +spake Siegfried, for he it was, "that ye thus have changed your merry +wont, which ye have used thus far with us." + +To this Gunther, the stately knight, replied: "It liketh me not to tell +all folk the grievance which I must bear within my heart in secret wise. +Only to trusty friends should one confide his woe of heart." + +At this Siegfried's color waxed both pale and red. To the king he spake: +"I have denied you naught and will gladly help you turn aside your +woes. And ye seek friends, I will be one of them and trow well to deport +myself with honor until mine end." + +"Now God reward you, Sir Siegfried, your speech thinketh me good, and +though your prowess help me not, yet do I rejoice to hear that ye are +friend to me, and live I yet a while, I shall repay you well. I will +let you hear why I stand thus sad; from the messengers of my foes I +have heard that they would visit me with war, a thing which knights have +never done to us in all these lands." + +"Regard this lightly," spake then Siegfried, "and calm your mood. Do +as I pray you. Let me gain for you both worship and advantage and do ye +command your knights, that they gather to your aid. Should your mighty +foes be helped by thirty thousand (3) men, yet could I withstand them, +had I but a thousand; for that rely on me." + +Then spake King Gunther: "For this I'll serve you ever." + +"So bid me call a thousand of your men, since of mine own I have +but twelve, and I will guard your land. Faithfully shall the hand of +Siegfried serve you. Hagen shall help us and also Ortwin, Dankwart, +and Sindolt, your trusty men. Folker, the valiant man, shall also ride +along; he shall bear the banner, for to none would I liefer grant it. +Let now the envoys ride home to their masters' lands. Give them to +understand they soon shall see us, that our castles may rest in peace." + +Then the king bade summon both his kinsmen and his men. The messengers +of Liudeger betook them to the court. Fain they were that they should +journey home again. Gunther, the good king, made offrance of rich gifts +and gave them safe-convoy. At this their spirits mounted high. "Now say +unto my foes," spake then Gunther, "that they may well give over their +journey and stay at home; but if they will seek me here within my lands, +hardships shall they know, and my friends play me not false." + +Rich gifts men bare then for the envoys; enow of these had Gunther to +bestow, nor durst the men of Liudeger refuse them. When at last they +took their leave, they parted hence in merry mood. + +Now when the messengers were come to Denmark and King Liudegast had +heard how they parted from the Rhine, as was told him, much he rued, in +sooth, their (4) proud defiance. The envoys said that Gunther had full +many a valiant man-at-arms and among them they saw a warrior stand, +whose name was Siegfried, a hero from Netherland. Little liked it +Liudegast when he heard aright this tale. When the men of Denmark +had heard these tidings told, they hasted all the more to call their +friends; till Sir Liudegast had gathered for his journey full twenty +thousand knights from among his valiant men. Then King Liudeger, also, +of Saxon land, sent forth his summons, till they had forty thousand men +and more, with whom they thought to ride to the Burgundian land. + +Likewise at home King Gunther got him men-at-arms among his kin and the +liegemen of his brothers, and among Hagen's men whom they wished to lead +thence for battle. Much need of this the heroes had, but warriors soon +must suffer death from this. Thus they made them ready for the journey. +When they would hence, Folker, the daring, must bear the flag. In such +wise they thought to ride from Worms across the Rhine. Hagen of Troneg +was master of the troop; with them rode Sindolt and Hunolt, too, who +wist well how to merit Gunther's gold. Dankwart, Hagen's brother, and +Ortwin, too, well could they serve with honor in this war. + +"Sir King," spake then Siegfried, "stay ye at home; since that your +warriors are willed to follow me, remain ye with the ladies and keep +your spirits high. I trow well to guard for you both honor and estate. +Well will I bring it to pass that those who thought to seek you out at +Worms upon the Rhine, had better far have stayed at home. We shall ride +so nigh unto their land that their proud defiance shall be turned to +fear." + +From the Rhine they rode through Hesse with their warriors towards Saxon +land, where they later fought. With fire and pillage, too, they harried +all the countryside, so that the two kings did learn of it in dire +distress. Then came they to the border; the warriors marched along. +Siegfried, the strong, gan ask: "Who shall now guard here the troop?" +Forsooth never did men ride more scathfully to the Saxons. They spake: +"Let the valiant Dankwart guard the young upon the way, he is a doughty +knight. Thus shall we lose the less through Liudeger's men. Let him and +Ortwin guard the rear." + +"Then I myself will ride," spake Siegfried, the knight, "and play the +outlook toward the foe, until I discover aright where these warriors +be." Quickly the son of fair Siegelind donned his harness. The troop +he gave in charge to Hagen, when he would depart, and to Gernot, the +valiant man. Thus he rode hence into the Saxon land alone and many a +helmet band he cut to pieces on that day. Soon he spied the mighty host +that lay encamped upon the plain and far outweighed the forces of his +men. Forty thousand or better still there were. Full blithely Siegfried +saw this in lofty mood. Meantime a warrior full well arrayed had mounted +to the outlook 'gainst the foe. Him Sir Siegfried spied, and the bold +man saw him, too. Each began to watch the other in hostile wise. Who it +was, who stood on guard, I'll tell you now; a gleaming shield of gold +lay by his hand. It was the good King Liudegast, who was guarding here +his band. The noble stranger pricked along in lordly wise. + +Now had Sir Liudegast espied him with hostile eye. Into the flanks of +their horses they plunged the spurs; with all their might they couched +the spears against the shields. At this great fear befell the mighty +king. After the thrust the horses carried past each other the royal +knights, as though borne upon the wind. With the bridles they wheeled +in knightly wise and the two fierce champions encountered with their +swords. Then smote Sir Siegfried, so that the whole field did ring. +Through the hero's hand from out the helmets, as from firebrands, flew +the bright red sparks. Each in the other found his match. Sir Liudegast, +too, struck many a savage blow; the might of each broke full upon the +shields. Thirty of Liudegast's men stood there on guard, but ere they +could come to his aid, Siegfried had won the fight, with three groat +wounds which he dealt the king through his gleaming breastplate, the +which was passing good. The blood from the wounds gushed forth along +the edges of the sword, whereat King Liudegast stood in sorry mood. He +begged for life and made offrance of his lands and said that his name +was Liudegast. Then came his warrior's, who had witnessed what there had +happed upon the lookout. As Siegfried would lead his captive thence, he +was set upon by thirty of these men. With mighty blows the hero's hand +guarded his noble prize. The stately knight then wrought worse scathe. +In self-defense he did thirty unto death; only one he left alive, +who rode full fast to tell the tale of what here had chanced. By his +reddened helmet one might see the truth. It sorely grieved the men of +Denmark, when the tale was told them that their king was taken captive. +Men told it to his brother, who at the news began to rage with monstrous +wrath, for great woe it brought him. + +Liudegast, the warrior, then was led away by Siegfried's might to +Gunther's men and given to Hagen in charge. When that they heard it was +the king, full moderate was their dole. The Burgundians now were bidden +raise their banner. "Up, men," cried Siegfried, "here shall more be +done, ere the day end, and I lose not my life. Full many a stately dame +in Saxon land shall rue this fight. Ye heroes from the Rhine, give heed +to me, for I can guide you well to Liudeger's band. So shall ye see +helmets carved by the hands of goodly knights; ere we turn again, they +shall become acquaint with fear." + +To their horses Gernot and all his men now hasted, and soon the stalwart +minstrel, Sir Folker, grasped the battle-flag and rode before the band. +Then were all the comrades arrayed in lordly wise for strife; nor +had they more than a thousand men, and thereto Siegfried's twelve +men-at-arms. Now from the road gan rise the dust, as across the land +they rode; many a lordly shield was seen to gleam from out their midst. +There, too, were come the Saxons with their troops and well-sharpened +swords, as I since have heard. Sore cut these weapons in the heroes' +hands, for they would fain guard both their castles and their land +against the strangers. The lordings' marshals led on the troop. +Siegfried, too, was come with his men-at-arms, whom he had brought from +Netherland. In the storm of battle many a hand this day grew red with +blood. Sindolt and Hunolt and Gernot, too, slew many a knight in the +strife, ere these rightly knew the boldness of their foes. This many a +stately dame must needs bewail. Folker and Hagen and Ortwin, too, +dimmed in the battle the gleam of many a helm with flowing blood, these +storm-bold men. By Dankwart, too, great deeds were done. + +The men of Denmark proved well their hands; one heard many a shield +resounding from the hurtling and from the sharp swords as well, many of +which were wielded there. The battle-bold Saxons did scathe enow, but +when the men of Burgundy pressed to the fight, by them was really a wide +wound carved. Then down across the saddles the blood was seen to flow. +Thus they fought for honors, these knights both bold and good. Loud rang +the sharp weapons in the heroes' hands, as those of Netherland followed +their lording through the sturdy host. Valiantly they forced their way +in Siegfried's wake, but not a knight from the Rhine was seen to follow. +Through the shining helmets one could see flow the bloody stream, drawn +forth by Siegfried's hand, till at last he found Liudeger before his +men-at-arms. Thrice had he pierced the host from end to end. Now was +Hagen come, who helped him achieve in the battle all his mind. Before +them many a good knight must needs die this day. + +When the mighty Liudeger espied Siegfried and saw that he bore high in +hand the good sword Balmung and did slay so many a man, then waxed the +lording wroth and fierce enow. A mighty surging and a mighty clang of +swords arose, as their comrades pressed against each other. The two +champions tried their prowess all the more. The troops began to yield; +fierce grew the hate. To the ruler of the Saxons the tale was told that +his brother had been captured; great dole this gave him. Well he knew it +was the son of Siegelind who had done the deed. Men blamed Sir Gernot, +but later he learned the truth. + +So mighty were the blows of Liudeger that Siegfried's charger reeled +beneath the saddle. When the steed recovered, bold Siegfried took on a +frightful usance in the fray. In this Hagen helped him well, likewise +Gernot, Dankwart, and Folker, too. Through them lay many dead. Likewise +Sindolt and Hunolt and Ortwin, the knight, laid many low in strife; side +by side in the fray the noble princes stood. One saw above the helmets +many a spear, thrown by here's hand, hurtling through the gleaming +shields. Blood-red was colored many a lordly buckler; many a man in the +fierce conflict was unhorsed. At each other ran Siegfried, the brave, +and Liudeger; shafts were seen to fly and many a keen-edged spear. Then +off flew the shield-plates, struck by Siegfried's hand; the hero of +Netherland thought to win the battle from the valiant Saxons, wondrous +many of whom one saw. Ho! How many shining armor-rings the daring +Dankwart broke! + +Then Sir Liudeger espied a crown painted on the shield in Siegfried's +hand. Well he knew that it was Siegfried, the mighty man. To his friends +the hero loudly called: "Desist ye from the strife, my men, here I have +seen the son of Siegmund, Siegfried, the strong, and recognized him +well. The foul fiend himself hath sent him hither to the Saxon land." +The banners bade he lower in the fight. Peace he craved, and this was +later granted him, but he must needs go as hostage to Gunther's land. +This was wrung from him by valiant Siegfried's hand. With one accord +they then gave over the strife and laid aside the many riddled helmets +and the broad, battered bucklers. Whatever of these was found, bore the +hue of blood from the Burgundians' hand. They captured whom they would, +for this lay in their power. Gernot and Hagen, the full bold warriors, +bade bear away the wounded; five hundred stately men they led forth +captive to the Rhine. The worsted knights rode back to Denmark, nor had +the Saxons fought so well that one could give them aught of praise, and +this the heroes rued full sore. The fallen, too, were greatly mourned by +friends. + +Then they bade place the weapons on sumpters for the Rhine. Siegfried, +the warrior, and his heroes had wrought full well, as Gunther's men must +needs confess. Sir Gernot now sent messengers homeward to Worms in his +native land, and bade tell his kin what great success had happed to him +and to his men, and how these daring knights had striven well for +honor. The squirelings ran and told the tale. Then those who afore had +sorrowed, were blithe for joy at the pleasing tidings that were come. +Much questioning was heard from noble dames, how it had fared with +the liegemen of the mighty king. One of the messengers they bade go to +Kriemhild; this happed full secretly (openly she durst not), for she, +too, had amongst them her own true love. When she saw the messenger +coming to her bower, fair Kriemhild spake in kindly wise: "Now tell me +glad news, I pray. And thou dost so without deceit, I will give thee of +my gold and will ever be thy friend. How fared forth from the battle my +brother Gernot and others of my kin? Are many of them dead perchance? Or +who wrought there the best? This thou must tell me." + +Quickly then the envoy spake: "Ne'er a coward did we have, but, to tell +the truth, O noble queen, none rode so well to the strife and fray, +as did the noble stranger from Netherland. Mickle wonders the hand of +valiant Siegfried wrought. Whate'er the knights have done in strife, +Dankwart and Hagen and other men of the king, however much they strove +for honor, 'tis but as the wind compared with Siegfried, the son of +Siegmund, the king. They slew full many a hero in the fray, but none +might tell you of the wonders which Siegfried wrought, whenever he rode +into the fight. Great woe he did the ladies through their kin; upon the +field the love of many a dame lay dead. His blows were heard to ring so +loud upon the helmets, that from the wounds they drew forth the blood +in streams. In every knightly art he is a worthy knight and a brave. +Whatever Ortwin of Metz achieved (and he whom he could reach with his +good sword, fell sorely wounded, but mostly dead), yet your brother +wrought the direst woe that could ever chance in battle. One must say of +the chosen knights in truth, that these proud Burgundians acquitted +them so well that they can well preserve their honor from every taint +of shame. Through their hands we saw many a saddle bare, while the field +resounded with the flashing swords. So well rode the warriors from +the Rhine, that it were better for their foes had it been avoided. The +valiant men of Troneg, also, wrought dire woe, when in great numbers the +armies met. Bold Hagen's hand did many a one to death; of this full many +stories might be told here in the Burgundian land. Sindolt and Hunolt, +Gernot's men, Rumolt the brave, have done such deeds that it may well +ever rue Liudeger that he made war upon thy kinsmen by the Rhine. The +very best fight that happed from first to last, that one has ever seen, +was made full lustily by Siegfried's hand. Rich hostages he bringeth to +Gunther's land. He won them by his prowess, this stately man. Of this +King Liudegast must bear the loss and eke his brother Liudeger of Saxon +land. Now listen to my tale, most noble queen: by the hand of Siegfried +the twain were caught. Never have men brought so many hostages to this +land, as now are coming to the Rhine through him. Men are bringing +to our land five hundred or more unharmed captives; and of the deadly +wounded, my lady, know, not less than eighty blood-red biers. These men +were mostly wounded by bold Siegfried's hand. Those who in haughty +pride sent a challenge to the Rhine, must now needs be the captives of +Gunther, the king, and men are bringing them with joy unto this land." + +Still higher rose Kriemhild's color when she heard this tale. Her fair +face blushed a rosy red, that Siegfried, the youth, the stately knight, +had fared forth so joyfully from the dangerous strife. These tidings +could not have pleased her better. For her kinsmen, too, she rejoiced in +duty bound. Then spake the lovely maid: "A fair tale thou hast told me; +therefore shalt thou have as guerdon rich attire. Likewise I'll have +thee brought ten marks of gold." (5) Small wonder that such tales are +gladly told to noble dames. + +They gave him then his guerdon, the garments and the gold. Then many a +fair maid hied her to the casement and gazed upon the street, where many +high-mettled warriors were seen riding into the Burgundian land. There +came the champions, the wounded and the sound. Without shame they heard +the greetings of their friends. Merrily the host rode forth to meet his +guests, for his great sorrow had been turned to joy. Well greeted he +his vassals and the strangers, too; for it was only meet that the mighty +king in courtly wise should thank those who were come back to him, +because in the storm of battle they had won the fight with honor. +Gunther bade his kinsmen tell who had been slain upon the march; but +sixty had been lost, whom one must mourn, as is the wont with heroes. +Many a riven shield and battered helm the unharmed warriors brought to +Gunther's land. The men alighted from their steeds before the palace +of the king. Loud was heard the joyous sound of the merry welcome; +then order was given to lodge the warriors in the town. The king bade +minister well unto his guests, attend the wounded and give them good +easement. His courtesie was cleverly seen upon his foes. He spake to +Liudegast: "Now be ye welcome. Much damage have I ta'en because of you; +for this I shall now be repaid, if fortune favor. God reward my kinsmen, +for they have given me joy." + +"Well may ye thank them," answered Liudeger; "such noble hostages hath +king never gained afore. For fair treatment we offer great store of +wealth, that ye may act with mercy towards your foes." + +"I will let you both go free," spake Gunther, "but I must have surety +that my foes remain here with me, that they do not leave the land +against my will." To that Liudeger pledged his hand. + +Men brought them to their lodgings and gave them easement. The wounded +were bedded well, and for the sound were poured out good mead and wine. +Never could the comrades have been more merry. Their battered shields +were borne away for keeping, and enow there was of bloody saddles which +one bade hide away, that the ladies might not weep. Many a good knight +returned aweary from the fray. The king did make his guests great cheer. +His lands were full of strangers and of home-folk. He bade ease the +sorely wounded in kindly wise; their haughty pride was now laid low. Men +offered to the leeches rich rewards, silver without weight and thereto +shining gold, if they would heal the heroes from the stress of war. To +his guests the king likewise gave great gifts. Those that were minded to +set out for home, were asked to stay, as one doth to friends. The king +bethought him how he might requite his men, for they had brought to pass +his wish for fame and honor. + +Then spake Lord Gernot: "Let them ride away, but be it made known to +them that in six weeks they must come again for a mighty feast. By then +will many a one be healed who now lieth sorely wounded." + +Then Siegfried of Netherland also asked for leave, but when King Gunther +learned his wish, lovingly he bade him stay erstwhile. Were it not for +the king's sister, this were never done. He was too rich to take reward, +though he well deserved it and the king liked him well, as also did the +kinsmen, who had seen what happed in battle through his strength. For +the sake of one fair lady he thought to stay, if perchance he might espy +her. Later it was done, and according to his wish he met the maid. He +rode thereafter joyfully to Siegmund's land. + +At all times the host bade practice knighthood, and many a youthful +knight did this right gladly. Meanwhile he ordered seats prepared upon +the sand before the town of Worms for those who were to visit him in the +Burgundian land. At the time when they should come, fair Kriemhild heard +it said that the king would hold a feasting for the sake of his dear +friends. Then comely women hasted apace with robes and headgear which +they were to don. The noble Uta heard tales told of the proud warriors +who were to come. Then many rich dresses were taken from the press. To +please her children she bade make garments ready, that many ladies and +many maids might therewith be decked and many youthful knights of the +Burgundian land. Also for many of the strangers she bade fashion lordly +robes. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Saxons". This war with the Saxons does not appear in the + poetic "Edda", but was probably introduced into the story + later to provide the heroes with a suitable activity in the + period elapsing between Siegfried's marriage and the journey + to Brunhild's land. (In our poem it is placed before the + marriage.) It reflects the ancient feuds between the Franks + on the one hand and the Saxons and Danes on the other. + Originally Siegfried probably did not take part in it, but + was later introduced and made the leader of the expedition + in place of the king, in accordance with the tendency to + idealize him and to give him everywhere the most important + role. The two opposing leaders are "Liudeger", lord of the + Saxons, and "Liudegast", king of Denmark. In "Biterolf" + Liudeger rules over both Saxons and Danes, and Liudegast is + his brother. + (2) "Fey". This Scotch and older English word has been chosen + to translate the M.H.G. "veige", 'fated', 'doomed', as it is + etymologically the same word. The ancient Germans were + fatalists and believed only those would die in battle whom + fate had so predestined. + (3) "Thirty thousand". The M.H.G. epics are fond of round + numbers and especially of thirty and its multiples. They + will be found to occur very frequently in our poem. See + Lachmann, "Anmerkungen zu den Nibelungen", 474 1. + (4) "Their". The original is obscure here; the meaning is, + 'when he heard with what message they were come, he rued the + haughtiness of the Burgundians'. + (5) "Marks of gold". A mark (Lat. "mares") was half a pound of + gold or silver. + + + + +ADVENTURE V. How Siegfried First Saw Kriemhild. + +One saw daily riding to the Rhine those who would fain be at the +feasting. Full many of these who for the king's sake were come into the +land, were given steeds and lordly harness. Seats were prepared for all, +for the highest and the best, as we are told, for two and thirty princes +at the feast. For this, too, the fair ladies vied in their attire. +Giselher, the youth, was aught but idle; he and Gernot and all their +men received the friends and strangers. In truth, they gave the knights +right courtly greetings. These brought into the land many a saddle +of golden red, dainty shields and lordly armor to the feasting on the +Rhine. Many a wounded man was seen full merry since. Even those who lay +abed in stress of wounds, must needs forget the bitterness of death. +Men ceased to mourn for the weak and sick and joyed in prospect of the +festal day, and how well they would fare at the feasting of the king. +Pleasure without stint and overabundance of joy pervaded all the folk +which there were seen. Therefore great rejoicing arose throughout the +whole of Gunther's land. + +Upon a Whitsun morning five thousand or more brave men, clad in glad +attire, were seen going forth to the high festal tide. On all sides they +vied with each other in knightly sports. The host marked well, what he +already wet, how from his very heart the hero of Netherland did love his +sister, albeit he had never seen her, whose comeliness men praised above +all maids. Then spake the knight Ortwin to the king: "Would ye have full +honor at your feast, so should ye let be seen the charming maids, who +live in such high honors here in Burgundy. What were the joy of man, +what else could give him pleasure, but pretty maids and noble dames? +Pray let your sister go forth before the guests." To the joy of many a +hero was this counsel given. + +"This will I gladly do," spake then the king, and all who heard it were +merry at the thought. Then bade he say to the Lady Uta and her comely +daughter, that with their maidens they should come to court. From the +presses they took fair raiment and whatso of rich attire was laid away. +Of rings and ribbons, too, enow they had. Thus each stately maiden +decked herself with zeal. Full many a youthful knight upon that day was +of the mind that he was so fair to look upon for ladies, that he would +not exchange this chance for the lands of any mighty king. Gladly they +gazed on those whom till now they had not known. Then bade the mighty +king full a hundred of his men, who were his kin and hers, escort +his sister and serve her thus. These were the court retainers of the +Burgundian land and carried swords in hand. Soon one saw the noble Uta +coming with her child. Full hundred or more fair ladies had she taken +for her train, who wore rich robes. Likewise there followed her daughter +many a stately maid. When from out a bower men saw them come, there rose +a mighty press of knights who had the hope, if that might be, to gaze +with joy upon the noble maid. Now came she forth, the lovely fair, as +doth the red of dawn from out the lowering clouds. He then was reft +of many woes who bore her in his heart so long a time, when he saw the +lovely maid stand forth so glorious. How shone full many a precious +stone upon her robes! In lovely wise her rose-red hue appeared. Whatever +one might wish, he could not but confess that never in the world had +he beheld a fairer maid. As the radiant moon, whose sheen is thrown so +brightly on the clouds, doth stand before the stars, so stood she now +before full many a stately dame. Therefore higher rose the spirits of +the comely knights. Richly appareled chamberlains marched on in front, +while the high-mettled warriors forsooth must press where they might +see the lovely maid. At this Lord Siegfried felt both joy and dole. To +himself he thought: "How could that chance, that I should love thee? +That is a foolish dream. But if I now must lose thee, then were I better +dead." At thought of this his color came and went. There stood the son +of Siegmund in such dainty grace, as he were limned on parchment by +skillful master's art. Indeed 'twas said of him that never had so fair a +knight been seen. The escort of the ladies now bade everywhere give +way and many a man obeyed. These high-born hearts rejoiced full many a +wight, as thus so many a noble dame appeared in courtly bearing. + +Then spake Lord Gernot of Burgundy: "Dear brother Gunther, him who +offered service in such kindly wise, ye should in like manner requite +before these knights; nor shall I ever rue this counsel. Bid Siegfried +now approach my sister, that the maid may greet him; this will ever be +our gain. She who never greeted warrior shall greet him fair, that by +this means we now may win the stately knight." + +Then went the kinsmen of the host to fetch the hero. To the champion +from Netherland they spake: "You hath the king permitted to go to court; +his sister is to greet you. This hath he decreed to do you honor." + +At this the lord grew blithe of mood, for in his heart he bare joy +without alloy, that he thus should see fair Uta's child. With lovely +grace she greeted Siegfried then, but when she saw the haughty knight +stand thus before her, her cheeks flamed bright. "Be welcome, Sir +Siegfried, most good and noble knight," the fair maid spake, and at this +greeting his spirits mounted high. Courteously he made obeisance; she +took him by the hand. How gallantly he walked by the lady's side! Upon +each other this lord and lady gazed with kindling eyes. Full secretly +this happed. Was perchance a white hand there fervently pressed by +heart-felt love? That know I not; yet I cannot believe that this was +left undone, for soon had she betrayed to him her love. Nevermore in +summertide nor in the days of May bare he within his heart such lofty +joy as now he gained, when hand in hand he walked with her whom he fain +would call his love. + +Then thought full many a knight: "Had that but happed to me, to walk +thus with her hand in hand, as now I see him do, or to lie beside her, +I'd bear it willingly." + +Never has warrior better served to gain a queen. From whatever land the +guests were come, all gazed alike upon this pair alone. She then was +bidden kiss the stately man, to whom no such delight had ever happened +in this world. + +Then spake the king of Denmark: "Because of this high greeting many a +warrior lieth wounded (this wot I well), through Siegfried's hand. God +grant that he may never come again to my kingly lands." + +On all sides they bade make way for Kriemhild, as thus to church one saw +her go with many a valiant knight in courtly wise. Then soon the stately +knight was parted from her side. Thus went she to the minster, followed +by many a dame. So full of graces was this queenly maid that many a +daring wish must needs be lost. Born she was to be the eyes' delight +of many a knight. Siegfried scarce could wait till mass was sung. Well +might he think his fortune that she did favor him, whom thus he bare in +heart. Cause enow he had to love the fair. + +When she came forth from out the minster, they begged the gallant knight +again to bear her company, as he had done afore. Then first the lovely +maid began to thank him that he had fought so gloriously before so many +knights. "Now God requite you, Sir Siegfried," spake the comely maid, +"that ye have brought to pass with your service, that the warriors do +love you with such fealty as I hear them say." + +Then upon Dame Kriemhild he began to gaze in loving wise. "I will serve +them ever," spake then the knight, "and while life shall last, never +will I lay my head to rest till I have done their will; and this I do, +my Lady Kriemhild, to win your love." + +A twelfth-night long, on each and every day, one saw the winsome maid +beside the knight, when she should go to court to meet her kin. This +service was done from sheer delight. A great rout of joy and pleasure +was daily seen in front of Gunther's hall, without and eke within, from +many a daring man. Ortwin and Hagen began to do great marvels. Whatever +any wished to play, these lusty knights were fully ready; thus they +became well known to all the guests and so the whole of Gunther's land +was decked with honor. Those who had lain wounded were now seen coming +forth; they, too, would fain have pastime with the troop and guard +themselves with bucklers and hurl the shaft. Enow there were to help +them, for there was great store of men. + +At the feasting the host bade purvey them with the best of cheer. He +kept him free from every form of blame that might befall a king; men +saw him move in friendly wise among his guests. He spake: "Ye worthy +knights, ere ye go hence, pray take my gifts. I am minded to deserve it +of you ever. Do not disdain my goods, the which I'll share with you, as +I have great desire." + +Then up spake they of Denmark: "Ere we ride homeward to our land, we +crave a lasting peace; we knights have need thereof, for many a one of +our kinsmen lieth dead at the hands of your men-at-arms." + +Liudegast, the Saxon chief, was now cured of his wounds and had +recovered from the fray, though many dead they left within this land. +Then King Gunther went to find Sir Siegfried; to the knight he spake: +"Now tell me what to do. Our foes would fain ride early and beg for +lasting peace of me and of my men. Advise me now, Knight Siegfried, what +thinketh thee good to do? What the lordings offer me will I tell thee; +what of gold five hundred steeds can bear, that would they gladly give +me, and I set them free again." + +Then spake the mighty Siegfried: "That were done but ill. Let them ride +hence unhindered, but make each of the lordings give surety with his +hand, that their noble knights henceforth forbear all hostile riding +hither to your land." + +"This counsel will I follow." Herewith they parted, and to the king's +foes was told that no one craved the gold they proffered. For their +loved friends at home the battle-weary warriors longed. Many a shield +full of treasure was then brought forth which the king dealt out +unweighed to his many friends, to each five hundred marks of gold, and +to a few, still more. Gernot, the brave, had counseled Gunther this. +Then they all took leave, sith they would hence. One saw the guests +draw nigh to Kriemhild and also to where Dame Uta sate. Never yet were +knights dismissed in better wise. Lodgings grew empty as they rode away, +but still there stayed at home the king and all his kin and many a noble +liegeman. Daily they were seen as they went to Lady Kriemhild. The good +knight Siegfried now would likewise take his leave; he weened not to win +that on which his mind was set. The king heard said that he would hence, +but Giselher, the youth, quite won him from the journey. + +"Whither would ye ride now, noble Siegfried? Pray tarry with the +knights, I beg you, with Gunther the king and with his men. Here, too, +are many comely dames whom we shall gladly let you see." + +Then spake the mighty Siegfried: "Let stand the steeds. I listed to ride +hence, but now will I desist. The shields, too, bear away. To my land I +craved to go, in truth, but Giselher with his great love hath turned me +from it." + +So the valiant knight stayed on to please his friends, nor could he +have fared more gentilly in any land. This happed because he daily saw +Kriemhild, the fair; for the sake of her unmeasured beauty the lording +stayed. With many a pastime they whiled the hours away, but still her +love constrained him and often gave him dole. Because of this same love +in later days the valiant knight lay pitiful in death. + + + + +ADVENTURE VI. How Gunther Fared To Isenland (1) for Brunhild. + +New tidings came across the Rhine. 'Twas said that yonder many a fair +maid dwelt. The good king Gunther thought to win him one of these; high +therefore rose the warrior's spirits. There lived a queen beyond the +sea, whose like men knew not anywhere. Peerless was her beauty and great +her strength. With doughty knights she shot the shaft for love. The +stone she hurled afar and sprang far after it. He who craved her love +must win without fail three games from this high-born dame. When the +noble maid had done this passing oft, a stately knight did hear it by +the Rhine. He turned his thoughts upon this comely dame, and so heroes +must needs later lose their lives. + +One day when the king and his vassals sate and pondered to and fro in +many a wise, whom their lord might take to wife, who would be fit to be +their lady and beseem the land, up spake the lord of the Rhinelands: "I +will go down to the sea and hence to Brunhild, however it may go with +me. For her love I'll risk my life. I will gladly lose it and she become +not my wife." + +"Against that do I counsel you," spake then Siegfried, "if, as ye say, +the queen doth have so fierce a wont, he who wooeth for her love will +pay full dear. Therefore should ye give over the journey." + +Then spake King Gunther: "Never was woman born so strong and bold that I +might not vanquish her with mine own hand." + +"Be still," spake Siegfried, "ye little know her strength." + +"So will I advise you," spake Hagen then, "that ye beg Siegfried to +share with you this heavy task. This is my rede, sith he doth know so +well how matters stand with Brunhild." + +The king spake: "Wilt thou help me, noble Siegfried, to woo this lovely +maid? And thou doest what I pray thee and this comely dame become my +love, for thy sake will I risk both life and honor." + +To this Siegfried, the son of Siegmund, answered: "I will do it, and +thou give me thy sister Kriemhild, the noble queen. For my pains I ask +no other meed." + +"I'll pledge that, Siegfried, in thy hand," spake then Gunther, "and if +fair Brunhild come hither to this land, I'll give thee my sister unto +wife. Then canst thou live ever merrily with the fair." + +This the noble warriors swore oaths to do, and so the greater grew their +hardships, till they brought the lady to the Rhine. On this account +these brave men must later be in passing danger. Siegfried had to take +with him hence the cloak which he, the bold hero, had won 'mid dangers +from a dwarf, Alberich he hight. These bold and mighty knights now made +them ready for the journey. When Siegfried wore the Cloak of Darkness +he had strength enow: the force of full twelve men beside his own. With +cunning arts he won the royal maid. This cloak was fashioned so, that +whatsoever any wrought within it, none saw him. Thus he won Brunhild, +which brought him dole. + +"Now tell me, good Knight Siegfried, before our trip begin, shall we +not take warriors with us into Brunhild's land, that we may come with +passing honors to the sea? Thirty thousand men-at-arms can soon be +called." + +"However many men we take," quoth Siegfried, "the queen doth use so +fierce a wont that they must perish through her haughty pride. I'll give +thee better counsel, O brave and worthy king. Let us fare as wandering +knights adown the Rhine, and I will tell thee those that shall be of the +band. In all four knights, we'll journey to the sea and thus we'll woo +the lady, whatever be our fate thereafter. I shall be one of the four +comrades, the second thou shalt be. Let Hagen be the third (then have +we hope of life), Dankwart then the fourth, the valiant man. A thousand +others durst not match us in the fight." + +"Gladly would I know," spake then the king, "ere we go hence ('t would +please me much), what garments we should wear before Brunhild, which +would beseem us there. Pray tell this now to Gunther." + +"Weeds of the very best which can be found are worn all times in +Brunhild's land. We must wear rich clothes before the lady, that we feel +no shame when men shall hear the tidings told." + +The good knight spake: "Then will I go myself to my dear mother, if +perchance I can bring it to pass that her fair maids purvey us garments +which we may wear with honor before the high-born maid." + +Hagen of Troneg spake then in lordly wise: "Wherefore will ye pray your +mother of such service? Let your sister hear what ye have in mind, and +she'll purvey you well for your journey to Brunhild's court." + +Then sent he word to his sister, that he would fain see her, and Knight +Siegfried, too, sent word. Ere this happed the fair had clad her passing +well. That these brave men were coming, gave her little grief. Now were +her attendants, too, arrayed in seemly wise. The lordings came, and when +she heard the tale, from her seat she rose and walked in courtly wise to +greet the noble stranger and her brother, too. + +"Welcome be my brother and his comrade. I'd gladly know," so spake the +maid, "what ye lords desire, sith ye be thus come to court. Pray let me +hear how it standeth with you noble knights." + +Then spake king Gunther: "My lady, I'll tell you now. Maugre our lofty +mood, yet have we mickle care. We would ride a-wooing far into foreign +lands, and for this journey we have need of costly robes." + +"Now sit you down, dear brother," spake the royal maid, "and let me hear +aright who these ladies be whom ye fain would woo in the lands of other +kings." + +By the hand the lady took the chosen knights and with the twain she +walked to where she sate afore upon a couch, worked, as well I wot, with +dainty figures embossed in gold. There might they have fair pastime +with the ladies. Friendly glances and kindly looks passed now full oft +between the twain. In his heart he bare her, she was dear to him as +life. In after days fair Kriemhild became strong Siegfried's wife. + +Then spake the mighty king: "Dear sister mine, without thy help it may +not be. We would go for knightly pastime to Brunhild's land, and have +need of princely garb to wear before the dames." + +Then the noble maiden answered: "Dear brother mine, I do you now to wit, +that whatever need ye have of help of mine, that stand I ready to give. +Should any deny you aught, 't would please Kriemhild but ill. Most noble +knights, beseech me not with such concern, but order me with lordly +air to do whatso ye list. I stand at your bidding and will do it with a +will." So spake the winsome maid. + +"We would fain, dear sister, wear good attire, and this your noble hand +shall help to choose. Your maidens then must make it fit us, for there +be no help against this journey." Then spake the princess: "Now mark ye +what I say. Silks I have myself; see ye that men do bring us jewels upon +the shields and thus we'll work the clothes. Gunther and Siegfried, too, +gave glad assent. + +"Who are the comrades," spake the queen, "who shall fare with you thus +clad to court?" + +He spake: "I shall be one of four. My liegemen twain, Dankwart and +Hagen, shall go with me to court. Now mark ye well, my lady, what I say. +Each of us four must have to wear for four whole days three changes +of apparel and such goodly trappings that without shame we may quit +Brunhild's land." + +In fitting wise the lords took leave and parted hence. Kriemhild, the +queen, bade thirty of her maidens who were skillful in such work, come +forth from out their bowers. Silks of Araby, white as snow, and the +fair silk of Zazamanc, (2) green as is the clover, they overlaid with +precious stones; that gave garments passing fair. Kriemhild herself, the +high-born maiden, cut them out. Whatso they had at hand of well-wrought +linings from the skin of foreign fish, but rarely seen of folk, they +covered now with silk, as was the wont to wear. (3) Now hear great +marvels of these shining weeds. From the kingdom of Morocco and from +Libya, too, they had great store of the fairest silks which the kith of +any king did ever win. Kriemhild made it well appear what love she bore +the twain. Sith upon the proud journey they had set their minds, they +deemed ermine to be well fit. (4) Upon this lay fine silk as black as +coal. This would still beseem all doughty knights at high festal tides. +From out a setting of Arabian gold there shone forth many a stone. The +ladies' zeal, it was not small, forsooth; in seven weeks they wrought +the robes. Ready, too, were the weapons for the right good knights. + +When now they all stood dight, (5) there was built for them in haste +upon the Rhine a sturdy little skiff, that should bear them downward +to the sea. Weary were the noble maids from all their cares. Then the +warriors were told that the brave vestures they should wear were now +prepared; as they had craved it, so it now was done. Then no +longer would they tarry on the Rhine; they sent a message to their +war-companions, if perchance they should care to view their new attire, +to see if it be too long or short. All was found in fitting measure, +and for this they gave the ladies thanks. All who saw them could not but +aver that never in the world had they seen attire more fair. Therefore +they wore it gladly at the court. None wist how to tell of better +knightly weeds. Nor did they fail to give great thanks. Then the lusty +knights craved leave to go, and this the lordings did in courtly wise. +Bright eyes grew dim and moist thereat from weeping. + +Kriemhild spake: "Dear brother, ye might better tarry here a while and +pay court to other dames, where ye would not so risk your life; then +would I say well done. Ye might find nearer home a wife of as high a +birth." + +I ween their hearts did tell them what would hap. All wept alike, no +matter what men said. The gold upon their breasts was tarnished by their +tears, which thick and fast coursed downward from their eyes. + +She spake: "Sir Siegfried, let this dear brother of mine be commended +to your fealty and troth, that naught may harm him in Brunhild's land." +This the full brave knight vowed in Lady Kriemhild's hand. + +The mighty warrior spake: "If I lose not my life, ye may be free from +every care, my lady. I'll bring him to you sound again hither to the +Rhine; that know of a surety." The fair maid bowed her thanks. + +Men bare their gold-hued shields out to them upon the sands and brought +them all their harness. One bade lead up the steeds, for they would +ride away. Much weeping then was done by comely dames. The winsome maids +stood at the easements. A high wind stirred the ship and sails; the +proud war fellowship embarked upon the Rhine. + +Then spake King Gunther: "Who shall be the captain of the ship?" + +"That will I," quoth Siegfried, "I wot well how to steer you on the +flood. That know, good knights, the right water ways be well known to +me." + +So they parted merrily from out the Burgundian land. Siegfried quickly +grasped an oar and from the shore the stalwart man gan push. Bold +Gunther took the helm himself, and thus the worshipful and speedy +knights set forth from land. With them they took rich food and eke good +wine, the best that could be found along the Rhine. Their steeds stood +fair; they had good easement. Their ship rode well; scant harm did hap +them. Their stout sheet-rope was tightened by the breeze. Twenty leagues +they sailed, or ever came the night, with a good wind, downward toward +the sea. These hard toils later brought the high-mettled warriors pain. + +Upon the twelfth-day morning, as we hear say, the winds had borne them +far away to Isenstein in Brunhild's land. To none save Siegfried was +this known; but when King Gunther spied so many castles and broad +marches, too, how soon he spake: "Pray tell me, friend Siegfried, is it +known to you whose are these castles and this lordly land?" + +Siegfried answered: "I know it well. It is the land and folk of Brunhild +and the fortress Isenstein, as ye heard me say. Fair ladies ye may still +see there to-day. Methinketh good to advise you heroes that ye be of +one single mind, and that ye tell the selfsame tale. For if we go to-day +before Brunhild, in much jeopardy must we stand before the queen. When +we behold the lovely maiden with her train, then, ye far-famed heroes, +must ye tell but this single tale: that Gunther be my master and I his +man; then what he craveth will come to pass." Full ready they were for +whatever he bade them vow, nor because of pride did any one abstain. +They promised what he would; wherefrom they all fared well, when King +Gunther saw fair Brunhild. (6) + +"Forsooth I vow it less for thy sake than for thy sister's, the comely +maid, who is to me as mine own soul and body. Gladly will I bring it to +pass, that she become my wife." + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Isenland" translates here M.H.G. "Islant", which has, + however, no connection with Iceland in spite of the + agreement of the names in German. "Isen lant", the reading + of the MSS. BJh, has been chosen, partly to avoid confusion, + and partly to indicate its probable derivation from + "Isenstein", the name of Brunhild's castle. Boer's + interpretation of "Isen" as 'ice' finds corroboration in + Otfrid's form "isine steina" ('ice stones', i.e. crystals) + I, 1. 70. Isenstein would then mean Ice Castle. In the + "Thidreksaga" Brunhild's castle is called "Saegarthr" ('Sea + Garden'), and in a fairy tale (No. 93 of Grimm) "Stromberg", + referring to the fact that it was surrounded by the sea. + Here, too, in our poem it stands directly on the shore. + (2) "Zazamanc", a fictitious kingdom mentioned only here and a + few times in Parzival, Wolfram probably having obtained the + name from this passage. (See Bartsch, "Germanistische + Studien", ii, 129.) + (3) "Wont to wear". In the Middle Ages costly furs and + fish-skins were used as linings and covered, as here + described, with silk or cloth. By fish such amphibious + animals as otter and beaver were often meant. + (4) "Well fit". In this passage "wert", the reading of A and D, + has been followed, instead of unwert of B and C, as it seems + more appropriate to the sense. + (5) "Dight", 'arrayed'; used by Milton. + (6) "Brunhild". The following words are evidently a late + interpolation, and weaken the ending, but have been + translated for the sake of completeness. They are spoken by + Siegfried. + + + + +ADVENTURE VII. How Gunther Won Brunhild. + +Meanwhile their bark had come so near the castle that the king saw many +a comely maiden standing at the casements. Much it irked King Gunther +that he knew them not. He asked his comrade Siegfried: "Hast thou no +knowledge of these maidens, who yonder are gazing downward towards us on +the flood? Whoever be their lord, they are of lofty mood." + +At this Sir Siegfried spake: "I pray you, spy secretly among the +high-born maids and tell me then whom ye would choose, and ye had the +power." + +"That will I," spake Gunther, the bold and valiant knight. "In yonder +window do I see one stand in snow-white weeds. She is fashioned so fair +that mine eyes would choose her for her comeliness. Had I power, she +should become my wife." + +"Right well thine eyes have chosen for thee. It is the noble Brunhild, +the comely maid, for whom thy heart doth strive and eke thy mind and +mood." All her bearing seemed to Gunther good. + +When bade the queen her high-born maids go from the windows, for it +behooved them not to be the mark of strangers' eyes. Each one obeyed. +What next the ladies did, hath been told us since. They decked their +persons out to meet the unknown knights, a way fair maids have ever +had. To the narrow casements they came again, where they had seen the +knights. Through love of gazing this was done. + +But four there were that were come to land. Through the windows the +stately women saw how Siegfried led a horse out on the sand, whereby +King Gunther felt himself much honored. By the bridle he held the steed, +so stately, good and fair, and large and strong, until King Gunther had +sat him in the saddle. Thus Siegfried served him, the which he later +quite forgot. Such service he had seldom done afore, that he should +stand at any here's stirrup. Then he led his own steed from the ship. +All this the comely dames of noble birth saw through the casements. The +steeds and garments, too, of the lusty knights, of snow-white hue, were +right well matched and all alike; the bucklers, fashioned well, gleamed +in the hands of the stately men. In lordly wise they rode to Brunhild's +hall, their saddles set with precious stones, with narrow martingales, +from which hung bells of bright and ruddy gold. So they came to the +land, as well befit their prowess, with newly sharpened spears, with +well-wrought swords, the which hung down to the spurs of these stately +men. The swords the bold men bore were sharp and broad. All this +Brunhild, the high-born maid, espied. + +With the king came Dankwart and Hagen, too. We have heard tales told of +how the knights wore costly raiment, raven black of hue. Fair were their +bucklers, mickle, good and broad. Jewels they wore from the land of +India, the which gleamed gloriously upon their weeds. By the flood they +left their skiff without a guard. Thus the brave knights and good +rode to the castle. Six and eighty towers they saw within, three broad +palaces, (1) and one hall well wrought of costly marble, green as +grass, wherein Brunhild herself sate with her courtiers. The castle was +unlocked and the gates flung wide. Then ran Brunhild's men to meet them +and welcomed the strangers into their mistress' land. One bade relieve +them of their steeds and shields. + +Then spake a chamberlain: "Pray give us now your swords and your shining +breastplates, too." + +"That we may not grant you," said Hagen of Troneg; "we ourselves will +bear them." + +Then gan Siegfried tell aright the tale. "The usage of the castle, let +me say, is such that no guests may here bear arms. Let them now be taken +hence, then will all be well." + +Unwillingly Hagen, Gunther's man, obeyed. For the strangers men bade +pour out wine and make their lodgings ready. Many doughty knights were +seen walking everywhere at court in lordly weeds. Mickle and oft were +these heroes gazed upon. + +Then the tidings were told to Lady Brunhild, that unknown warriors were +come in lordly raiment, sailing on the flood. The fair and worthy maid +gan ask concerning this. "Pray let me hear," spake the queen, "who be +these unknown knights, who stand so lordly in my castle, and for whose +sake the heroes have journeyed hither?" + +Then spake one of the courtiers: "My lady, I can well say that never +have I set eyes on any of them, but one like Siegfried doth stand among +them. Him ye should give fair greetings; that is my rede, in truth. The +second of their fellowship is so worthy of praise that he were easily +a mighty king over broad and princely lands, and he had the power and +might possess them. One doth see him stand by the rest in such right +lordly wise. The third of the fellowship is so fierce and yet withal +so fair of body, most noble queen. By the fierce glances he so oft doth +east, I ween he be grim of thought and mood. The youngest among them +is worshipful indeed. I see the noble knight stand so charmingly, with +courtly bearing, in almost maiden modesty. We might all have cause +for fear, had any done him aught. However blithely he doth practice +chivalry, and howso fair of body he be, yet might he well make many a +comely woman weep, should he e'er grow angry. He is so fashioned that in +all knightly virtues he must be a bold knight and a brave." + +Then spake the queen: "Now bring me my attire. If the mighty Siegfried +be come unto this land through love of mine, he doth risk his life. I +fear him not so sore, that I should become his wife." + +Brunhild, the fair, was soon well clad. Then went there with her many a +comely maid, full hundred or more, decked out in gay attire. The stately +dames would gaze upon the strangers. With them there walked good knights +from Isenland, Brunhild's men-at-arms, five hundred or more, who bore +swords in hand. This the strangers rued. From their seats then the brave +and lusty heroes rose. When that the queen spied Siegfried, now hear +what the maid did speak. + +"Be ye welcome, Siegfried, here in this our land! What doth your journey +mean? That I fain would know." + +"Gramercy, my Lady Brunhild, that ye have deigned to greet me, most +generous queen, in the presence of this noble knight who standeth here +before me, for he is my liege lord. This honor I must needs forswear. By +birth he's from the Rhine; what more need I to say? For thy sake are we +come hither. Fain would he woo thee, however he fare. Methink thee now +betimes, my lord will not let thee go. He is hight Gunther and is a +lordly king. An' he win thy love, he doth crave naught more. Forsooth +this knight, so well beseen, did bid me journey hither. I would fain +have given it over, could I have said him nay." + +She spake: "Is he thy liege and thou his man, dare he assay the games +which I mete out and gain the mastery, then I'll become his wife; but +should I win, 't will cost you all your lives." + +Then up spake Hagen of Troneg: "My lady, let us see your mighty games. +It must indeed go hard, or ever Gunther, my lord, give you the palm. He +troweth well to win so fair a maid." + +"He must hurl the stone and after spring and cast the spear with me. Be +ye not too hasty. Ye are like to lose here your honor and your life as +well. Bethink you therefore rightly," spake the lovely maid. + +Siegfried, the bold, went to the king and bade him tell the queen +all that he had in mind, he should have no fear. "I'll guard you well +against her with my arts." + +Then spake King Gunther: "Most noble queen, now mete out whatso ye list, +and were it more, that would I all endure for your sweet sake. I'll +gladly lose my head, and ye become not my wife." + +When the queen heard this speech, she begged them hasten to the games, +as was but meet. She bade purvey her with good armor for the strife: a +breastplate of ruddy gold and a right good shield. A silken surcoat, (2) +too, the maid put on, which sword had never cut in any fray, of silken +cloth of Libya. Well was it wrought. Bright embroidered edging was seen +to shine thereon. + +Meanwhile the knights were threatened much with battle cries. Dankwart +and Hagen stood ill at ease; their minds were troubled at the thought of +how the king would speed. Thought they: "Our journey will not bring us +warriors aught of good." + +Meanwhile Siegfried, the stately man, or ever any marked it, had hied +him to the ship, where he found his magic cloak concealed. Into it he +quickly slipped and so was seen of none. He hurried back and there he +found a great press of knights, where the queen dealt out her lofty +games. Thither he went in secret wise (by his arts it happed), nor was +he seen of any that were there. The ring had been marked out, where +the games should be, afore many valiant warriors, who were to view them +there. More than seven hundred were seen bearing arms, who were to say +who won the game. + +Then was come Brunhild, armed as though she would battle for all royal +lands. Above her silken coat she wore many a bar of gold; gloriously her +lovely color shone beneath the armor. Then came her courtiers, who bare +along a shield of ruddy gold with large broad strips as hard as steel, +beneath the which the lovely maid would fight. As shield-thong there +served a costly band upon which lay jewels green as grass. It shone and +gleamed against the gold. He must needs be passing bold, to whom the +maid would show her love. The shield the maid should bear was three +spans thick beneath the studs, as we are told. Rich enow it was, of +steel and eke of gold, the which four chamberlains could scarcely carry. + +When the stalwart Hagen saw the shield borne forth, the knight of Troneg +spake full grim of mood: "How now, King Gunther? How we shall lose our +lives! She you would make your love is the devil's bride, in truth." + +Hear now about her weeds; enow of these she had; she wore a surcoat +of silk of Azagouc, (3) noble and costly. Many a lordly stone shone in +contrast to its color on the person of the queen. + +Then was brought forth for the lady a spear, sharp, heavy, and large, +the which she cast all time, stout and unwieldy, mickle and broad, +which on its edges cut most fearfully. Of the spear's great weight +hear wonders told. Three and one half weights (4) of iron were wrought +therein, the which scarce three of Brunhild's men could bear. The noble +Gunther gan be sore afraid. Within his heart he thought: "What doth this +mean? How could the devil from hell himself escape alive? Were I safe +and sound in Burgundy, long might she live here free of any love of +mine." + +Then spake Hagen's brother, the valiant Dankwart: "The journey to this +court doth rue me sore. We who have ever borne the name of knights, how +must we lose our lives! Shall we now perish at the hands of women in +these lands? It doth irk me much, that ever I came unto this country. +Had but my brother Hagen his sword in hand, and I mine, too, then should +Brunhild's men go softly in their overweening pride. This know for sure, +they'd guard against it well. And had I sworn a peace with a thousand +oaths, before I'd see my dear lord die, the comely maid herself should +lose her life." + +"We might leave this land unscathed," spake then his brother Hagen, "had +we the harness which we sorely need and our good swords as well; then +would the pride of this strong dame become a deal more soft." + +What the warrior spake the noble maid heard well. Over her shoulders she +gazed with smiling mouth. "Now sith he thinketh himself so brave, +bring them forth their coats-of-mail; put in the warriors' hands their +sharp-edged swords." + +When they received their weapons as the maiden bade, bold Dankwart +blushed for very joy. "Now let them play whatso they list," spake the +doughty man. "Gunther is unconquered, since now we have our arms." + +Mightily now did Brunhild's strength appear. Into the ring men bare a +heavy stone, huge and great, mickle and round. Twelve brave and valiant +men-at-arms could scarcely bear it. This she threw at all times, when +she had shot the spear. The Burgundians' fear now grew amain. + +"Woe is me," cried Hagen. "Whom hath King Gunther chosen for a love? +Certes she should be the foul fiend's bride in hell." + +Upon her fair white arm the maid turned back her sleeves; with her hands +she grasped the shield and poised the spear on high. Thus the strife +began. Gunther and Siegfried feared Brunhild's hate, and had Siegfried +not come to Gunther's aid, she would have bereft the king of life. +Secretly Siegfried went and touched his hand; with great fear Gunther +marked his wiles. "Who hath touched me?" thought the valiant man. Then +he gazed around on every side, but saw none standing there. + +"'Tis I, Siegfried, the dear friend of thine. Thou must not fear the +queen. Give me the shield from off thy hand and let me bear it and mark +aright what thou dost hear me say. Make thou the motions, I will do the +deeds." + +When Gunther knew that it was Siegfried, he was overjoyed. + +Quoth Siegfried: "Now hide thou my arts; tell them not to any man; then +can the queen win from thee little fame, albeit she doth desire it. See +how fearlessly the lady standeth now before thee." + +Then with might and main the noble maiden hurled the spear at a shield, +mickle, new, and broad, which the son of Siegelind bore upon his arm. +The sparks sprang from the steel, as if the wind did blow. The edge of +the mighty spear broke fully through the shield, so that men saw the +fire flame forth from the armor rings. The stalwart men both staggered +at the blow; but for the Cloak of Darkness they had lain there dead. +From the mouth of Siegfried, the brave, gushed forth the blood. Quickly +the good knight sprang back again and snatched the spear that she had +driven through his shield. Stout Siegfried's hand now sent it back +again. He thought: "I will not pierce the comely maid." So he reversed +the point and cast it at her armor with the butt, that it rang out +loudly from his mighty hand. The sparks flew from the armor rings, as +though driven by the wind. Siegmund's son had made the throw with might. +With all her strength she could not stand before the blow. In faith King +Gunther never could have done the deed. + +Brunhild, the fair, how quickly up she sprang! "Gunther, noble knight, +I cry you mercy for the shot." She weened that he had done it with +his strength. To her had crept a far more powerful man. Then went she +quickly, angry was her mood. The noble maid and good raised high the +stone and hurled it mightily far from her hand. After the cast she +sprang, that all her armor rang, in truth. The stone had fallen twelve +fathoms hence, but with her leap the comely maid out-sprang the throw. +Then went Sir Siegfried to where lay the stone. Gunther poised it, while +the hero made the throw. Siegfried was bold, strong, and tall; he threw +the stone still further and made a broader jump. Through his fair arts +he had strength enow to bear King Gunther with him as he sprang. The +leap was made, the stone lay on the ground; men saw none other save +Gunther, the knight, alone. Siegfried had banished the fear of King +Gunther's death. Brunhild, the fair, waxed red with wrath. To her +courtiers she spake a deal too loud, when she spied the hero safe and +sound at the border of the ring: "Come nearer quickly, ye kinsmen and +liegemen of mine, ye must now be subject to Gunther, the king." + +Then the brave knights laid aside their arms and paid their homage at +the feet of mighty Gunther from the Burgundian land. They weened that he +had won the games by his own strength alone. He greeted them in loving +wise; in sooth he was most rich in virtues. + +Then the lovely maiden took him by the hand; full power she granted him +within the land. At this Hagen, the bold and doughty knight, rejoiced +him. She bade the noble knight go with her hence to the spacious palace. +When this was done, they gave the warriors with their service better +cheer. With good grace Hagen and Dankwart now must needs submit. The +doughty Siegfried was wise enow and bare away his magic cloak. Then he +repaired to where the ladies sate. To the king he spake and shrewdly +did he this: "Why wait ye, good my lord? Why begin ye not the games, of +which the queen doth deal so great a store? Let us soon see how they be +played." The crafty man did not as though he wist not a whit thereof. + +Then spake the Queen: "How hath it chanced that ye, Sir Siegfried, have +seen naught of the games which the hand of Gunther here hath won?" + +To this Hagen of the Burgundian land made answer. He spake: "Ye have +made us sad of mind, my lady. Siegfried, the good knight, was by the +ship when the lord of the Rhineland won from you the games. He knoweth +naught thereof." + +"Well is me of this tale," spake Siegfried, the knight, "that your pride +hath been brought thus low, and that there doth live a wight who hath +the power to be your master. Now, O noble maiden, must ye follow us +hence to the Rhine." + +Then spake the fair-fashioned maid: "That may not be. First must my kith +and liegemen learn of this. Certes, I may not so lightly void my lands; +my dearest friends must first be fetched." + +Then bade she messengers ride on every side. She called her friends, +her kinsmen, and her men-at-arms and begged them come without delay to +Isenstein, and bade them all be given lordly and rich apparel. Daily, +early and late, they rode in troops to Brunhild's castle. + +"Welaway," cried Hagen, "what have we done! We may ill abide the coming +of fair Brunhild's men. If now they come into this land in force, then +hath the noble maid been born to our great rue. The will of the queen is +unknown to us; what if she be so wroth that we be lost?" + +Then the stalwart Siegfried spake: "Of that I'll have care. I'll not let +hap that which ye fear. I'll bring you help hither to this land, from +chosen knights the which till now ye have not known. Ye must not ask +about me; I will fare hence. Meanwhile may God preserve your honor. I'll +return eftsoon and bring you a thousand men, the very best of knights +that I have ever known." + +"Pray tarry not too long," spake then the king; "of your help we be +justly glad." + +He answered: "In a few short days I'll come again. Tell ye to Brunhild, +that ye've sent me hence." + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Palaces". See Adventure III, note 7. + (2) "Surcoat", which here translates the M.H.G. "wafenhemde", is + a light garment of cloth or silk worn above the armor. + (3) "Azagouc". See Zazamanc, Adventure VI, note 2. This + strophe is evidently a late interpolation, as it contradicts + the description given above. + (4) Weights. The M.H.G. "messe" (Lat. "massa") is just as + indefinite as the English expression. It was a mass or lump + of any metal, probably determined by the size of the + melting-pot. + + + + +ADVENTURE VIII. How Siegfried Fared To His Men-At-Arms, the Nibelungs. + +(1) + +Through the gate Siegfried hied him in his Cloak of Darkness down to the +sand, where he found a skiff. Secretly the son of Siegmund embarked and +drove it quickly hence, as though the wind did blow it on. None saw the +steersman; the bark fared fast, impelled by Siegfried's mighty strength. +They weened a seldom strong wind did drive it on. Nay, it was rowed +by Siegfried, the son of Siegelind, the fair. In the time of a day and +night with might and main he reached a land full hundred rests (2) away, +or more. The people hight Nibelungs, where he owned the mighty hoard. +The hero rowed alone to a broad isle, where the lusty knight now beached +the boat and made it fast full soon. To a hill he hied him, upon which +stood a castle, and sought here lodgment, as way-worn travelers do. He +came first to a gateway that stood fast locked. In sooth they guarded +well their honor, as men still do. The stranger now gan knock upon +the door, the which was closely guarded. There within he saw a giant +standing, who kept the castle and at whose side lay at all times his +arms. He spake: "Who is it who doth knock so rudely on the gate?" + +Then bold Siegfried changed his voice and spake: "I am a knight; do up +the door, else will I enrage many a one outside to-day, who would liefer +lie soft and take his ease." + +When Siegfried thus spake, it irked the warder. Meanwhile the giant had +donned his armor and placed his helm upon his head. Quickly the mighty +man snatched up his shield and opened wide the gate. How fiercely he +ran at Siegfried and asked, how he durst wake so many valiant men? Huge +blows were dealt out by his hand. Then the lordly stranger gan defend +him, but with an iron bar the warder shattered his shield-plates. Then +was the hero in dire need. Siegfried gan fear a deal his death, when the +warder struck such mighty blows. Enow his master Siegfried loved him for +this cause. They strove so sore that all the castle rang and the sound +was heard in Nibelung's hall. He overcame the warder and bound him, too. + +The tale was noised abroad in all the Nibelungs' land. Alberich, the +bold, a savage dwarf, heard the fierce struggle through the mountain. +He armed him quick and ran to where he found the noble stranger, as he +bound the mighty giant. Full wroth was Alberich and strong enow. On his +body he bare helmet and rings of mail and in his hand a heavy scourge of +gold. Swift and hard he ran to where Siegfried stood. Seven heavy knobs +(3) hung down in front, with which he smote so fiercely the shield upon +the bold man's arm, that it brake in parts. The stately stranger came in +danger of his life. From his hand he flung the broken shield and thrust +into the sheath a sword, the which was long. He would not strike his +servant dead, but showed his courtly breeding as his knightly virtue +bade him. He rushed at Alberich and with his powerful hands he seized +the gray-haired man by the beard. So roughly he pulled his beard, that +he screamed aloud. The tugging of the youthful knight hurt Alberich +sore. + +Loud cried the valiant dwarf: "Now spare my life. And might I be the +vassal of any save one knight, to whom I swore an oath that I would own +him as my lord, I'd serve you till my death." So spake the cunning (4) +man. + +He then bound Alberich as he had the giant afore. Full sore the strength +of Siegfried hurt him. The dwarf gan ask: "How are ye named?" + +"My name is Siegfried," he replied; "I deemed ye knew me well." + +"Well is me of these tidings," spake Alberich, the dwarf. "Now have I +noted well the knightly deeds, through which ye be by right the sovran +of the land. I'll do whatso ye bid, and ye let me live." + +Then spake Sir Siegfried: "Go quickly now and bring me the best of +knights we have, a thousand Nibelungs, that they may see me here." + +Why he wanted this, none heard him say. He loosed the bonds of Alberich +and the giant. Then ran Alberich swift to where he found the knights. In +fear he waked the Nibelung men. He spake: "Up now, ye heroes, ye must go +to Siegfried." + +From their beds they sprang and were ready in a trice. A thousand +doughty knights soon stood well clad. They hied them to where they saw +Sir Siegfried stand. Then was done a fair greeting, in part by deeds. +Great store of tapers were now lit up; they proffered him mulled wine. +(5) He gave them thanks that they were come so soon. He spake: "Ye must +away with me across the flood." + +Full ready for this he found the heroes brave and good. Well thirty +hundred men were come eftsoon, from whom he chose a thousand of the +best. Men brought them their helmets and other arms, for he would lead +them to Brunhild's land. He spake: "Ye good knights, this will I tell +you, ye must wear full costly garments there at court, for many lovely +dames shall gaze upon us. Therefore must ye deck yourselves with goodly +weeds." + +Early on a morn they started on their way. What a speedy journey +Siegfried won! They took with them good steeds and lordly harness, and +thus they came in knightly wise to Brunhild's land. The fair maids stood +upon the battlements. Then spake the queen: "Knoweth any, who they be +whom I see sailing yonder far out upon the sea? They have rich sails +e'en whiter than the snow." + +Quoth the king of the Rhineland: "They're men of mine, the which I left +hard by here on the way. I had them sent for, and now they be come, my +lady." All eyes were fixed upon the lordly strangers. + +Then one spied Siegfried standing at his vessel's prow in lordly weeds +and many other men. The queen spake: "Sir King, pray tell me, shall I +receive the strangers or shall I deny them greetings?" + +He spake: "Ye must go to meet them out before the palace, that they may +well perceive how fain we be to see them here." + +Then the queen did as the king advised her. She marked out Siegfried +with her greetings from the rest. Men purveyed them lodgings and took +in charge their trappings. So many strangers were now come to the land, +that everywhere they jostled Brunhild's bands. Now would the valiant men +fare home to Burgundy. + +Then spake the queen: "My favor would I bestow on him who could deal out +to the king's guests and mine my silver and gold, of which I have such +store." + +To this Dankwart, King Giselher's liegeman, answered: "Most noble +queen," spake the brave knight, "let me but wield the keys. I trow to +deal it out in fitting wise; whatso of blame I gain, let be mine own." +That he was bountiful, he made appear full well. + +When now Sir Hagen's brother took the keys in charge, the hero's hand +did proffer many a costly gift. He who craved a mark (6) received such +store that all the poor might lead a merry life. Full hundred pounds +he gave, nor did he stop to count. Enow walked before the hall in rich +attire, who never had worn afore such lordly dress. Full sore it rued +the queen when this she heard. She spake: "Sir King, I fain would have +your aid, lest your chamberlain leave naught of all my store of dress; +he squandereth eke my gold. If any would forfend this, I'd be his friend +for aye. He giveth such royal gifts, the knight must ween, forsooth, +that I have sent for death. I would fain use it longer and trow well +myself to waste that which my father left me." No queen as yet hath ever +had so bounteous a chamberlain. + +Then spake Hagen of Troneg: "My lady, be it told you that the king of +the Rhineland hath such great store of gold and robes to give, that we +have no need to carry hence aught of Brunhild's weeds." + +"Nay, and ye love me," spake the queen, "let me fill twenty traveling +chests with gold and silk as well, the which my hand shall give, when we +are come across to Gunther's land." + +Men filled her chests with precious stones, the while her chamberlains +stood by. She would not trust the duty to Giselher's men. Gunther and +Hagen began to laugh thereat. + +Then spake the queen: "With whom shall I leave my lands? This my hand +and yours must first decree." + +Quoth the noble king: "Now bid draw near whom ye deem fit and we will +make him steward." + +The lady spied near by one of her highest kin (it was her mother's +brother); to him the maiden spake: "Now let be commended to your care my +castles and my lands, till that King Gunther's hand rule here." + +Then twenty hundred of her men she chose, who should fare with her hence +to Burgundy, together with those thousand warriors from the Nibelung +land. They dressed their journey; one saw them riding forth upon the +sand. Six and eighty dames they took along and thereto a hundred maids, +their bodies passing fair. No longer now they tarried, for they were +fain to get them hence. Ho, what great wail was made by those they +left at home! In courtly wise she voided thus her land. She kissed her +nearest kinsmen who were found at court. After a fair leave-taking they +journeyed to the sea. To her fatherland the lady nevermore returned. +Many kinds of games were seen upon the way; pastimes they had galore. +A real sea breeze did help them on their voyage. Thus they fared forth +from the land fully merrily. She would not let her husband court her +on the way; this pleasure was deferred until their wedding-tide in +the castle, their home, at Worms, to which in good time she came right +joyfully with all her knights. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) Adventure VIII. This whole episode, in which Siegfried + fetches men to aid Gunther in case of attempted treachery on + Brunhild's part, is of late origin and has no counterpart in + the older versions. It is a further development of + Siegfried's fight in which he slew Schilbung and Nibelung + and became the ruler of the Nibelung land. The fight with + Alberich is simply a repetition of the one in the former + episode. + (2) "Rest" (M.H.G. "rast"), originally 'repose', then used as a + measure of distance, as here. + (3) "Knobs", round pieces of metal fastened to the scourge. + (4) "Cunning" is to be taken here in the Biblical sense of + 'knowing'. The M.H.G. "listig" which it here translates, + denotes 'skilled' or 'learned' in various arts and is a + standing epithet of dwarfs. + (5) "Mulled wine" translates M.H.G. "lutertranc", a claret + mulled with herbs and spice and left to stand until clear. + (6) "Mark". See Adventure V, note 5. + + + + +ADVENTURE IX. How Siegfried Was Sent To Worms. + +When they had thus fared on their way full nine days, Hagen of Troneg +spake: "Now mark ye what I say. We wait too long with the tidings for +Worms upon the Rhine. Our messengers should be e'en now in Burgundy." + +Then spake King Gunther: "Ye have told me true, and none be more fitting +for this trip than ye, friend Hagen; now ride ye to my land. None can +acquaint them better with our journey home to court." + +To this Hagen made answer: "I am no fit envoy. Let me play chamberlain, +I'll stay with the ladies upon the flood and guard their robes, until +we bring them to the Burgundian land. Bid Siegfried bear the message, he +knoweth how to do it well with his mighty strength. If he refuse you the +journey, then must ye in courtly and gentle wise pray him of the boon +for your sister's sake." + +Gunther sent now for the warrior, who came to where he stood. He spake: +"Sith we be now nearing my lands at home, it behooveth me to send a +messenger to the dear sister of mine and to my mother, too, that we draw +near the Rhine. This I pray you, Siegfried; now do my will, that I may +requite it to you ever," spake the good knight. + +Siegfried, the passing bold man, however said him nay, till Gunther +gan beseech him sore. He spake: "Ye must ride for my sake and for +Kriemhild's too, the comely maiden, so that the royal maid requite it, +as well as I." + +When Siegfried heard these words, full ready was the knight. "Now bid me +what ye will; naught shall be withheld. I will do it gladly for the fair +maid's sake. Why should I refuse her whom I bear in heart? Whatso ye +command for love of her, shall all be done." + +"Then tell my mother Uta, the queen, that we be of lofty mood upon this +voyage. Let my brothers know how we have fared. These tidings must ye +let our friends hear, too. Hide naught from my fair sister, give her +mine and Brunhild's greetings. Greet the retainers, too, and all my men. +How well I have ended that for which my heart hath ever striven! And +tell Ortwin, the dear nephew of mine, that he bid seats be built at +Worms along the Rhine. Let my other kinsmen know that I am willed to +hold with Brunhild a mighty wedding feast. And tell my sister, when she +hath heard that I be come with my guests to the land, that she give fair +greeting to my bride. For that I will ever render Kriemhild service." + +The good Lord Siegfried soon took leave of Lady Brunhild, as beseemed +him well, and of all her train; then rode he to the Rhine. Never might +there be a better envoy in this world. He rode with four and twenty +men-at-arms to Worms; he came without the king. When that was noised +about, the courtiers all were grieved; they feared their master had been +slain. + +Then they dismounted from their steeds, high stood their mood. Giselher, +the good young king, came soon to meet them, and Gernot his brother, +too. How quickly then he spake, when he saw not Gunther at Siegfried's +side: "Be welcome, Siegfried; pray let me know where ye have left the +king my brother? The prowess of Brunhild, I ween, hath ta'en him from +us. Great scathe had her haughty love then brought us." + +"Let be this fear. My battle-comrade sendeth greetings to you and to his +kin. I left him safe and sound. He sent me on ahead, that I might be his +messenger with tidings hither to this land. Pray have a care, however +that may hap, that I may see the queen and your sister, too, for I must +let them hear what message Gunther and Brunhild have sent them. Both are +in high estate." + +Then spake Giselher, the youth: "Now must ye go to her, for ye have +brought my much of joy. She is mickle fearful for my brother. I'll +answer that the maid will see you gladly." + +Then spake Sir Siegfried: "Howsoever I may serve her, that shall be +gladly done, in faith. Who now will tell the ladies that I would hie me +thither?" + +Giselher then became the messenger, the stately man. The doughty knight +spake to his mother and his sister too, when that he saw them both: "To +us is come Siegfried, the hero from Netherland; him my brother Gunther +hath sent hither to the Rhine. He bringeth the news of how it standeth +with the king. Pray let him therefore come to court. He'll tell you the +right tidings straight from Isenland." + +As yet the noble ladies were acquaint with fear, but now for their weeds +they sprang and dressed them and bade Sir Siegfried come to court. This +he did full gladly, for he was fain to see them. Kriemhild, the noble +maid, addressed him fair: "Be welcome, Sir Siegfried, most worshipful +knight. Where is my brother Gunther, the noble and mighty king? We ween +that we have lost him through Brunhild's strength. Woe is me, poor maid, +that ever I was born." + +Then spake the daring knight: "Now give me an envoy's guerdon, ye +passing fair ladies, ye do weep without a cause. I do you to wit, I left +him safe and sound. They have sent me with the tidings to you both. He +and his bride do send you kindly greetings and a kinsman's love, O noble +queen. Now leave off your weeping, they'll come full soon." + +In many a day she had not heard a tale so glad. With her snow-white +hem she wiped the tears from her pretty eyes and began to thank the +messenger for the tidings, which now were come. Thus her great sorrow +and her weeping were taken away. She bade the messenger be seated; full +ready he was for this. Then spake the winsome maid: "I should not rue +it, should I give you as an envoy's meed my gold. For that ye are too +rich, but I will be your friend in other ways." + +"And had I alone," spake he, "thirty lands, yet would I gladly receive +gifts from your fair hand." + +Then spake the courtly maid: "It shall be done." She bade her +chamberlain go fetch the meed for tidings. Four and twenty arm-rings, +set with goodly gold, she gave him as his meed. So stood the hero's mood +that he would not retain them, but gave them straightway to her nearest +maidens, he found within the bower. Full kindly her mother offered him +her service. "I am to tell you the tale," then spake the valiant man, +"of what the king doth pray you, when he cometh to the Rhine. If ye +perform that, my lady, he'll ever hold you in his love. I heard him +crave that ye should give fair greetings to his noble guests and grant +him the boon, that ye ride to meet him out in front of Worms upon the +strand. This ye are right truly admonished by the king to do." + +Then spake the winsome maid: "For this am I full ready. In whatsoever +wise I can serve the king, that will I not refuse; with a kinsman's +love it shall be done." Her color heightened for very joy. Never was the +messenger of any prince received more fair. The lady would have kissed +him, had she but dared. How lovingly he parted from the dames! + +The men of Burgundy then did as Siegfried counseled. Sindolt and Hunolt +and Rumolt, the knight, must needs be busy with the work of putting up +the seats outside of Worms upon the strand. The royal stewards, too, +were found at work. Ortwin and Gere would not desist, but sent to fetch +their friends on every side, and made known to them the feasting that +was to be. The many comely maids arrayed themselves against the feast. +Everywhere the palace and the walls were decked out for the guests. +Gunther's hall was passing well purveyed for the many strangers. Thus +began full merrily this splendid feast. + +From every side along the highways of the land pricked now the kinsmen +of these three kings, who had been called that they might wait upon +those who were coming home. Then from the presses great store of costly +weeds was taken. Soon tidings were brought that men saw Brunhild's +kinsmen ride along. Great jostling then arose from the press of folk in +the Burgundian land. Ho, what bold knights were found on either side! + +Then spake fair Kriemhild: "Ye maids of mine, who would be with me at +the greeting, seek out from the guests the very best of robes; then will +praise and honor be given us by the guests." Then came the warriors, +too, and bade the lordly saddles of pure red gold be carried forth, +on which the ladies should ride from Worms down to the Rhine. Better +trappings might there never be. Ho, what bright gold did sparkle on +the jet-black palfreys! From their bridles there gleamed forth many a +precious stone. The golden stepping-blocks were brought and placed on +shining carpets for the ladies, who were gay of mood. As I have said, +the palfreys now stood ready in the courtyard for the noble maids. One +saw the steeds wear narrow martingales of the best of silk, of which +tale might be told. Six and eighty ladies who wore fillets (1) in their +hair were seen come forth. The fair ones came to Kriemhild wearing +glittering robes. Then followed many a comely maid in brave attire, +fifty and four from the Burgundian land. They were eke the best that +might anywhere be found. Men saw them walking with their flaxen hair and +shining ribbons. That which the king desired was done with zeal. They +wore before the stranger knights rich cloth of silk, the best that +could be found, and so many a goodly robe, which well befit their ample +beauty. One found there many clothes of sable and ermine fur. Many an +arm and hand was well adorned with bracelets over the silken sleeves, +which they should wear. None might tell the story of this tiring to the +end. Many a hand played with well-wrought girdles, rich and long, above +gay colored robes, over costly ferran (2) skirts of silken cloth of +Araby. In high spirits were these maids of noble birth. Clasps (3) were +sewed in lovely wise upon the dress of many a comely maid. She had good +cause to rue it, whose bright color did not shine in contrast to her +weeds. No kingly race hath now such fair retainers. When now the lovely +maids had donned the garments they should wear, there then drew near a +mickle band of high-mettled champions. Together with their shields they +carried many an ashen spear. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Fillets" were worn only by married women. + (2) "Ferran", a gray colored cloth of silk and wool; from O.F. + "ferrandine". + (3) "Clasps" or "brooches" were used to fasten the dresses in + front. + + + + +ADVENTURE X. How Brunhild Was Received At Worms. + +Across the Rhine men saw the king with his guests in many bands pricking +to the shore. One saw the horse of many a maiden, too, led by the +bridle. All those who should give them welcome were ready now. When +those of Isenland and Siegfried's Nibelung men were come across in +boats, they hasted to the shore (not idle were their hands), where the +kindred of the king were seen upon the other bank. Now hear this tale, +too, of the queen, the noble Uta, how she herself rode hither with the +maidens from the castle. Then many a knight and maid became acquaint. +Duke Gere led Kriemhild's palfrey by the bridle till just outside +the castle gate. Siegfried, the valiant knight, must needs attend her +further. A fair maid was she! Later the noble dame requited well this +deed. Ortwin, the bold, rode by Lady Uta's side, and many knights and +maidens rode in pairs. Well may we aver that so many dames were never +seen together at such stately greeting. Many a splendid joust was +ridden by worshipful knights (not well might it be left undone) afore +Kriemhild, the fair, down to the ships. Then the fair-fashioned ladies +were lifted from the palfreys. The king was come across and many a +worthy guest. Ho, what stout lances brake before the ladies' eyes! One +heard the clash of many hurtling shields. Ho, what costly bucklers rang +loudly as they closed! The lovely fair stood by the shore as Gunther and +his guests alighted from the boats; he himself led Brunhild by the hand. +Bright gems and gleaming armor shone forth in rivalry. Lady Kriemhild +walked with courtly breeding to meet Dame Brunhild and her train. +White hands removed the chaplets, (1) as these twain kissed each other; +through deference this was done. + +Then in courteous wise the maiden Kriemhild spake: "Be ye welcome in +these lands of ours, to me and to my mother and to all the loyal kin we +have." + +Low bows were made and the ladies now embraced full oft. Such loving +greeting hath one never heard, as the two ladies, Dame Uta and her +daughter, gave the bride; upon her sweet mouth they kissed her oft. When +now Brunhild's ladies all were come to land, stately knights took many +a comely woman by the hand in loving wise. The fair-fashioned maids were +seen to stand before the lady Brunhild. Long time elasped or ever the +greetings all were done; many a rose-red mouth was kissed, in sooth. +Still side by side the noble princesses stood, which liked full well +the doughty warriors for to see. They who had heard men boast afore that +such beauty had ne'er been seen as these two dames possessed, spied now +with all their eyes and must confess the truth. Nor did one see upon +their persons cheats of any kind. Those who wot how to judge of women +and lovely charms, praised Gunther's bride for beauty; but the wise had +seen more clear and spake, that one must give Kriemhild the palm before +Brunhild. + +Maids and ladies now drew near each other. Many a comely dame was seen +arrayed full well. Silken tents and many rich pavilions stood hard by, +the which quite filled the plain of Worms. The kinsmen of the king came +crowding around, when Brunhild and Kriemhild and with them all the dames +were bidden go to where shade was found. Thither the knights from the +Burgundian land escorted them. + +Now were the strangers come to horse, and shields were pierced in many +royal jousts. From the plain the dust gan rise, as though the whole land +had burst forth into flames. There many a knight became well known as +champion. Many a maiden saw what there the warriors plied. Methinks, +Sir Siegfried and his knights rode many a turn afore the tents. He led a +thousand stately Nibelungs. + +Then Hagen of Troneg came, as the king had counseled, and parted in +gentle wise the jousting, that the fair maids be not covered with the +dust, the which the strangers willingly obeyed. Then spake Sir Gernot: +"Let stand the steeds till the air grow cooler, for ye must be full +ready when that the king will ride. Meanwhile let us serve the comely +dames before the spacious hall." + +When now over all the plain the jousts had ceased, the knights, on +pastime bent, hied them to the ladies under many a high pavilion in the +hope of lofty joys. There they passed the hours until they were minded +to ride away. + +Just at eventide, when the sun was setting and the air grew chill, no +longer they delayed, but man and woman hasted toward the castle. Many a +comely maiden was caressed with loving glances. In jousting great store +of clothes were torn by good knights, by the high-mettled warriors, +after the custom of the land, until the king dismounted by the hall. +Valiant heroes helped the ladies, as is their wont. The noble queens +then parted; Lady Uta and her daughter went with their train to a +spacious hall, where great noise of merriment was heard on every side. + +The seats were now made ready, for the king would go to table with his +guests. At his side men saw fair Brunhild stand, wearing the crown in +the king's domain. Royal enow she was in sooth. Good broad tables, with +full many benches for the men, were set with vitaille, as we are told. +Little they lacked that they should have! At the king's table many a +lordly guest was seen. The chamberlains of the host bare water forth in +basins of ruddy gold. It were but in vain, if any told you that men were +ever better served at princes' feasts: I would not believe you that. + +Before the lord of the Rhineland took the water to wash his hands, +Siegfried did as was but meet, he minded him by his troth of what he had +promised, or ever he had seen Brunhild at home in Isenland. He spake: +"Ye must remember how ye swore me by your hand, that when Lady Brunhild +came to this land, ye would give me your sister to wife. Where be now +these oaths? I have suffered mickle hardship on our trip." + +Then spake the king to his guest: "Rightly have ye minded me. Certes my +hand shall not be perjured. I'll bring it to pass as best I can." + +Then they bade Kriemhild go to court before the king. She came with her +fair maidens to the entrance of the hall. At this Sir Giselher sprang +down the steps. "Now bid these maidens turn again. None save my sister +alone shall be here by the king." + +Then they brought Kriemhild to where the king was found. There stood +noble knights from many princes' lands; throughout the broad hall one +bade them stand quite still. By this time Lady Brunhild had stepped +to the table, too. Then spake King Gunther: "Sweet sister mine, by thy +courtesie redeem my oath. I swore to give thee to a knight, and if he +become thy husband, then hast thou done my will most loyally." + +Quoth the noble maid: "Dear brother mine, ye must not thus entreat me. +Certes I'll be ever so, that whatever ye command, that shall be done. +I'll gladly pledge my troth to him whom ye, my lord, do give me to +husband." + +Siegfried here grew red at the glance of friendly eyes. The knight then +proffered his service to Lady Kriemhild. Men bade them take their stand +at each other's side within the ring and asked if she would take the +stately man. In maidenly modesty she was a deal abashed, yet such was +Siegfried's luck and fortune, that she would not refuse him out of hand. +The noble king of Netherland vowed to take her, too, to wife. When he +and the maid had pledged their troths, Siegfried's arm embraced eftsoon +the winsome maid. Then the fair queen was kissed before the knights. The +courtiers parted, when that had happed; on the bench over against the +king Siegfried was seen to take his scat with Kriemhild. Thither many +a man accompanied him as servitor; men saw the Nibelungs walk at +Siegfried's side. + +The king had seated him with Brunhild, the maid, when she espied +Kriemhild (naught had ever irked her so) sitting at Siegfried's side. +She began to weep and hot tears coursed down fair cheeks. Quoth the lord +of the land: "What aileth you, my lady, that ye let bright eyes grow +dim? Ye may well rejoice; my castles and my land and many a stately +vassal own your sway." + +"I have good cause to weep," spake the comely maid; "my heart is sore +because of thy sister, whom I see sitting so near thy vassal's side. I +must ever weep that she be so demeaned." + +Then spake the King Gunther: "Ye would do well to hold your peace. At +another time I will tell you the tale of why I gave Siegfried my sister +unto wife. Certes she may well live ever happily with the knight." + +She spake: "I sorrow ever for her beauty and her courtesie. I fain would +flee, and I wist whither I might; go, for never will I lie close by +your side, unless ye tell me through what cause Kriemhild be Siegfried's +bride." + +Then spake the noble king: "I'll do it you to wit; he hath castles +and broad domains, as well as I. Know of a truth, he is a mighty king, +therefore did I give him the peerless maid to love." + +But whatsoever the king might say, she remained full sad of mood. + +Now many a good knight hastened from the board. Their hurtling waxed so +passing hard, that the whole castle rang. But the host was weary of his +guests. Him-thought that he might lie more soft at his fair lady's side. +As yet he had not lost at all the hope that much of joy might hap to him +through her. Lovingly he began to gaze on Lady Brunhild. Men bade the +guests leave off their knightly games, for the king and his wife would +go to bed. Brunhild and Kriemhild then met before the stairway of the +hall, as yet without the hate of either. Then came their retinue. Noble +chamberlains delayed not, but brought them lights. The warriors, the +liegemen of the two kings, then parted on either side and many of the +knights were seen to walk with Siegfried. + +The lords were now come to the rooms where they should lie. Each of the +twain thought to conquer by love his winsome dame. This made them blithe +of mood. Siegfried's pleasure on that night was passing great. When Lord +Siegfried lay at Kriemhild's side and with his noble love caressed the +high-born maid so tenderly, she grew as dear to him as life, so that not +for a thousand other women would he have given her alone. No more I'll +tell how Siegfried wooed his wife; hear now the tale of how King Gunther +lay by Lady Brunhild's side. The stately knight had often lain more +soft by other dames. The courtiers now had left, both maid and man. The +chamber soon was locked; he thought to caress the lovely maid. Forsooth +the time was still far off, ere she became his wife. In a smock of snowy +linen she went to bed. Then thought the noble knight: "Now have I here +all that I have ever craved in all my days." By rights she must needs +please him through her comeliness. The noble king gan shroud the lights +and then the bold knight hied him to where the lady lay. He laid him at +her side, and great was his joy when in his arms he clasped the lovely +fair. Many loving caresses he might have given, had but the noble dame +allowed it. She waxed so wroth that he was sore a-troubled; he weened +that they were lovers, but he found here hostile hate. She spake: "Sir +Knight, pray give this over, which now ye hope. Forsooth this may not +hap, for I will still remain a maid, until I hear the tale; now mark ye +that." + +Then Gunther grew wroth; he struggled for her love and rumpled all her +clothes. The high-born maid then seized her girdle, the which was a +stout band she wore around her waist, and with it she wrought the king +great wrong enow. She bound him hand and foot and bare him to a nail and +hung him on the wall. She forbade him love, sith he disturbed her sleep. +Of a truth he came full nigh to death through her great strength. + +Then he who had weened to be the master, began to plead. "Now loose my +bands, most noble queen. I no longer trow to conquer you, fair lady, and +full seldom will I lie so near your side." + +She reeked not how he felt, for she lay full soft. There he had to hang +all night till break of day, until the bright morn shone through the +casements. Had he ever had great strength, it was little seen upon him +now. + +"Now tell me, Sir Gunther, would that irk you aught," the fair maid +spake, "and your servants found you bound by a woman's hand?" + +Then spake the noble knight: "That would serve you ill; nor would it +gain me honor," spake the doughty man. "By your courtesie, pray let me +lie now by your side. Sith that my love mislike you so, I will not touch +your garment with my hands." + +Then she loosed him soon and let him rise. To the bed again, to the lady +he went and laid him down so far away, that thereafter he full seldom +touched her comely weeds. Nor would she have allowed it. + +Then their servants came and brought them new attire, of which great +store was ready for them against the morn. However merry men made, the +lord of the land was sad enow, albeit he wore a crown that day. As +was the usage which they had and which they kept by right, Gunther and +Brunhild no longer tarried, but hied them to the minster, where mass was +sung. Thither, too, Sir Siegfried came and a great press arose among the +crowd. In keeping with their royal rank, there was ready for them all +that they did need, their crowns and robes as well. Then they were +consecrated. When this was done, all four were seen to stand joyful +'neath their crowns. Many young squires, six hundred or better, were now +girt with sword in honor of the kings, as ye must know. Great joy rose +then in the Burgundian land; one heard spear-shafts clashing in the +hands of the sworded knights. There at the windows the fair maids sat; +they saw shining afore them the gleam of many a shield. But the king had +sundered him from his liegemen; whatso others plied, men saw him stand +full sad. Unlike stood his and Siegfried's mood. The noble knight and +good would fain have known what ailed the king. He hasted to him and gan +ask: "Pray let me know how ye have fared this night, Sir King." + +Then spake the king to his guest: "Shame and disgrace have I won; I have +brought a fell devil to my house and home. When I weened to love her, +she bound me sore; she bare me to a nail and hung me high upon a wall. +There I hung affrighted all night until the day, or ever she unbound me. +How softly she lay bedded there! In hope of thy pity do I make plaint to +thee as friend to friend." + +Then spake stout Siegfried: "That rueth me in truth. I'll do you this to +wit; and ye allow me without distrust, I'll contrive that she lie by you +so near this night, that she'll nevermore withhold from you her love." + +After all his hardships Gunther liked well this speech. Sir Siegfried +spake again: "Thou mayst well be of good cheer. I ween we fared unlike +last night. Thy sister Kriemhild is dearer to me than life; the Lady +Brunhild must become thy wife to-night. I'll come to thy chamber this +night, so secretly in my Cloud Cloak, that none may note at all my arts. +Then let the chamberlains betake them to their lodgings and I'll put out +the lights in the pages' hands, whereby thou mayst know that I be within +and that I'll gladly serve thee. I'll tame for time thy wife, that thou +mayst have her love to-night, or else I'll lose my life." + +"Unless be thou embrace my dear lady," spake then the king, "I shall be +glad, if thou do to her as thou dost list. I could endure it well, an' +thou didst take her life. In sooth she is a fearful wife." + +"I pledge upon my troth," quoth Siegfried, "that I will not embrace her. +The fair sister of thine, she is to me above all maids that I have ever +seen." + +Gunther believed full well what Siegfried spake. + +From the knightly sports there came both joy and woe; but men forbade +the hurtling and the shouting, since now the ladies were to hie them to +the hall. The grooms-in-waiting bade the people stand aside; the court +was cleared of steeds and folk. A bishop led each of the ladies, as they +should go to table in the presence of the kings. Many a stately warrior +followed to the seats. In fair hope the king sate now full merrily; well +he thought on that which Siegfried had vowed to do. This one day thought +him as long as thirty days, for all his thoughts were bent upon his +lady's love. He could scarce abide the time to leave the board. Now men +let fair Brunhild and Kriemhild, too, both go to their rest. Ho, what +doughty knights were seen to walk before the queens! + +The Lord Siegfried sate in loving wise by his fair wife, in bliss +without alloy. With her snow-white hands she fondled his, till that he +vanished from before her eyes, she wist not when. When now she no longer +spied him, as she toyed, the queen spake to his followers: "Much this +wondereth me, whither the king be gone. Who hath taken his hands from +mine?" + +She spake no other word, but he was gone to where he found many grooms +of the chamber stand with lights. These he gan snuff out in the pages' +hands. Thus Gunther knew that it was Siegfried. Well wist he what he +would; he bade the maids and ladies now withdraw. When that was done, +the mighty king himself made fast the door and nimbly shoved in place +two sturdy bolts. Quickly then he hid the lights behind the hangings of +the bed. Stout Siegfried and the maiden now began a play (for this there +was no help) which was both lief and loth to Gunther. Siegfried laid him +close by the high-born maid. She spake: "Now, Gunther, let that be, and +it be lief to you, that ye suffer not hardship as afore." + +Then the lady hurt bold Siegfried sore. He held his peace and answered +not a whit. Gunther heard well, though he could not see his friend a +bit, that they plied not secret things, for little ease they had upon +the bed. Siegfried bare him as though he were Gunther, the mighty king. +In his arms he clasped the lovely maid. She cast him from the bed upon +a bench near by, so that his head struck loudly against the stool. Up +sprang the valiant man with all his might; fain would he try again. When +he thought now to subdue her, she hurt him sore. Such defense, I ween, +might nevermore be made by any wife. + +When he would not desist, up sprang the maid. "Ye shall not rumple thus +my shift so white. Ye are a clumsy churl and it shall rue you sore, +I'll have you to know fall well," spake the comely maid. In her arms she +grasped the peerless knight; she weened to bind him, as she had done the +king, that she might have her case upon the bed. The lady avenged full +sore, that he had rumpled thus her clothes. What availed his mickle +force and his giant strength? She showed the knight her masterly +strength of limb; she carried him by force (and that must needs be) and +pressed him rudely 'twixt a clothes-press and the wall. + +"Alas," so thought the knight, "if now I lose my life at a maiden's +hands, then may all wives hereafter bear towards their husbands haughty +mien, who would never do it else." + +The king heard it well and feared him for his liegeman's life. Siegfried +was sore ashamed; wrathful he waxed and with surpassing strength he set +himself against her and tried it again with Lady Brunhild in fearful +wise. It thought the king full long, before he conquered her. She +pressed his hands, till from her strength the blood gushed forth from +out the nails: this irked the hero. Therefore he brought the high-born +maiden to the pass that she gave over her unruly will, which she +asserted there afore. The king heard all, albeit not a word he spake. +Siegfried pressed her against the bed, so that she shrieked aloud. +Passing sore his strength did hurt her. She grasped the girdle around +her waist and would fain have bound him, but his hand prevented it in +such a wise that her limbs and all her body cracked. Thus the strife was +parted and she became King Gunther's wife. + +She spake: "Most noble king, pray spare my life. I'll do thee remedy for +whatso I have done thee. I'll no longer struggle against thy noble +love, for I have learned full well that thou canst make thee master over +women." + +Siegfried let the maiden be and stepped away, as though he would do off +his clothes. From her hand he drew a golden finger ring, without that +she wist it, the noble queen. Thereto he took her girdle, a good stout +band. I know not if he did that for very haughtiness. He gave it to his +wife and rued it sore in after time. + +Then lay Gunther and the fair maid side by side. He played the lover, +as beseemed him, and thus she must needs give over wrath and shame. From +his embrace a little pale she grew. Ho, how her great strength failed +through love! Now was she no stronger than any other wife. He caressed +her lovely form in lover's wise. Had she tried her strength again, what +had that availed? All this had Gunther wrought in her by his love. How +right lovingly she lay beside him in bridal joy until the dawn of day! + +Now was Sir Siegfried gone again to where he was given fair greetings by +a woman fashioned fair. He turned aside the question she had thought to +put and hid long time from her what he had brought, until she ruled as +queen within his land. How little he refused to give her what he should! + +On the morn the host was far cheerier of mood than he had been afore. +Through this the joy of many a noble man was great in all his lands, +whom he had bidden to his court, and to whom he proffered much of +service. The wedding feast now lasted till the fourteenth day, so that +in all this while the sound never died away of the many joys which there +they plied. The cost to the king was rated high. The kinsmen of the +noble host gave gifts in his honor to the strolling folk, as the king +commanded: vesture and ruddy gold, steeds and silver, too. Those who +there craved gifts departed hence full merrily. Siegfried, the lord from +Netherland, with a thousand of his men, gave quite away the garments +they had brought with them to the Rhine and steeds and saddles, too. +Full well they wot how to live in lordly wise. Those who would home +again thought the time too long till the rich gifts had all been made. +Nevermore have guests been better eased. Thus ended the wedding feast; +Gunther, the knight, would have it so. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Chaplet" (O.F. "chaplet", dim. of "chapel", M.H.G. + "schapel" or "schapelin") or wreath was the headdress + especially of unmarried girls, the hair being worn flowing. + It was often of flowers or leaves, but not infrequently of + gold and silver. (See Weinhold, "Deutsche Frauen im + Mittelalter", i, 387.) + + + + +ADVENTURE XI. How Siegfried Journeyed Homeward With His Wife. + +When now the strangers had all ridden hence, Siegmund's son spake to his +fellowship: "We must make us ready, too, to journey to my lands." + +Lief was it to his wife, when the lady heard the tale aright. She spake +to her husband: "When shall we ride? I pray thee, make me not haste too +sore. First must my brothers share their lands with me." + +It was loth to Siegfried, when he heard this from Kriemhild. The +lordings hied them to him and all three spake: "Now may ye know, Sir +Siegfried, that our true service be ever at your bidding till our +death." + +Then he made obeisance to the knights, as it was proffered him in such +kindly wise. "We shall share with you," spake Giselher, the youth, "both +land and castles which we do own and whatever broad realms be subject to +our power. Of these ye and Kriemhild shall have a goodly share." + +The son of Siegmund spake to the princes, as he heard and saw the +lordings' will: "God grant that ye be ever happy with your heritage and +the folk therein. My dear bride can well forego in truth the share which +ye would give. There where she shall wear a crown, she shall be mightier +than any one alive, and live to see the day. For whatsoever else ye do +command, I stand ready to your bidding." + +Then spake the Lady Kriemhild: "Though ye forego my heritage, yet is +it not so light a matter with the Burgundian men-at-arms. A king might +gladly lead them to his land. Forsooth my brothers' hands must share +them with me." + +Then spake the Lord Gernot: "Now take whomsoever thou dost wish. Thou +wilt find here really a one who'll gladly ride with thee. We will +give thee a thousand of our thirty hundred warriors; be they thy court +retainers." + +Kriemhild then gan send for Hagen of Troneg and also for Ortwin, to ask +if they and their kinsfolk would be Kriemhild's men. + +At this Hagen waxed wonderly wroth. He spake: "Certes, Gunther may not +give us to any in the world. Let others follow as your train. Ye know +full well the custom of the men of Troneg: we must in duty bound remain +here with the kings at court. We must serve them longer, whom we till +now have followed." + +They gave that over and made them ready to ride away. Lady Kriemhild +gained for herself two and thirty maids and five hundred men, a noble +train. The Margrave Eckewart (1) followed Kriemhild hence. They all +took leave, both knights and squires and maids and ladies, as was mickle +right. Anon they parted with a kiss and voided merrily King Gunther's +land. Their kinsmen bare them company far upon the way and bade them +pitch their quarters for the night, whereso they listed, throughout the +princes' land. + +Then messengers were sent eftsoon to Siegmund, that he might know, +and Siegelind, too, that his son would come with Lady Uta's child, +Kriemhild, the fair, from Worms beyond the Rhine. Liefer tidings might +they never have. "Well for me," spake then Siegmund, "that I have +lived to see fair Kriemhild here as queen. My heritage will be thereby +enhanced. My son, the noble Siegfried, shall himself be king." + +Then the Lady Siegelind gave much red velvet, silver, and heavy gold; +this was the envoy's meed. The tale well liked her, which then she +heard. She clad her and her handmaids with care, as did beseem them. Men +told who was to come with Siegfried to the land. Anon they bade seats be +raised, where he should walk crowned before his friends. King Siegmund's +liegemen then rode forth to meet him. Hath any been ever better greeted +than the famous hero in Siegmund's land, I know not. Siegelind, the +fair, rode forth to meet Kriemhild with many a comely dame (lusty +knights did follow on behind), a full day's journey, till one espied the +guests. Home-folk and the strangers had little easement till they were +come to a spacious castle, hight Xanten, (2) where they later reigned. + +Smilingly Siegelind and Siegmund kissed Kriemhild many times for joy and +Siegfried, too; their sorrow was taken from them. All their fellowship +received great welcome. One bade now bring the guests to Siegmund's +hall, and lifted the fair young maids down from the palfreys. Many a +knight gan serve the comely dames with zeal. However great the feasting +at the Rhine was known to be, here one gave the heroes much better robes +than they had worn in all their days. Of their splender great marvels +might be told. When now they sate in lofty honors and had enow of all, +what gold-hued clothes their courtiers wore with precious stones well +worked thereon! Thus did Siegelind, the noble queen, purvey them well. + +Then to his friends Lord Siegmund spake: "I do all Siegfried's kin +to wit, that he shall wear my crown before these knights." Those of +Netherland heard full fain the tale. He gave his son the crown, the +cognizance, (3) and lands, so that he then was master of them all. When +that men went to law and Siegfried uttered judgment, that was done in +such a wise that men feared sore fair Kriemhild's husband. + +In these high honors Siegfried lived, of a truth, and judged as king, +till the tenth year was come, when his fair lady bare a son. This was +come to pass after the wish of the kinsmen of the king. They hastened +to baptize and name him Gunther for his uncle; nor had he need to be +ashamed of this. Should he grow like to his kinsman, he would fare full +well. They brought him up with care, as was but due. In these same times +the Lady Siegelind died, and men enow made wail when death bereft them +of her. Then the child of the noble Uta held withal the power over the +lands, which well beseemed such high-born dames. (4) + +Now also by the Rhine, as we hear tell, at mighty Gunther's court, in +the Burgundian land, Brunhild, the fair, had born a son. For the hero's +sake they named him Siegfried. With what great care they bade attend +him! The noble Gunther gave him masters who well wot how to bring him +up to be a doughty man. Alas, what great loss of kin he later suffered +through misfortune! + +Many tales were told all time, of how right worshipfully the lusty +knights dwelt alway in Siegmund's land. Gunther dealt the same with his +distinguished kin. The Nibelung land and Schilbung's knights and the +goods of both served Siegfried here (none of his kinsmen ever waxed +mightier than he). So much the higher rose the mood of the valiant man. +The very greatest heard that any hero ever gained, save those who owned +it aforetime, the bold man had, the which he had won by his own hand +hard by a hill, and for which he did many a lusty knight to death. He +had honors to his heart's desire, and had this not been so, yet one must +rightly aver of the noble champion, that he was one of the best that +ever mounted horse. Men feared his might and justly, too. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Eckewart", see Adventure I, note 15. + (2) "Xanten", see Adventure II, note 3. + (3) "Cognizance", 'jurisdiction.' + (4) "Dames", i.e., Siegelind and Kriemhild. + + + + +ADVENTURE XII. How Gunther Bade Siegfried To The Feasting. + +Now Gunther's wife thought alway: "How haughtily doth Lady Kriemhild +bear her! Is not her husband Siegfried our liegeman? Long time now hath +he done us little service." This she bare within her heart, but held her +peace. It irked her sore that they did make themselves such strangers +and that men from Siegfried's land so seldom served her. Fain would she +have known from whence this came. She asked the king if it might hap +that she should see Kriemhild again. Secretly she spake what she had in +mind. The speech like the king but moderately well. "How might we bring +them," quoth he, "hither to our land? That were impossible, they live +too far away; I dare not ask them this." + +To this Brunhild replied in full crafty wise: "However high and mighty +a king's vassal be, yet should he not leave undone whatsoever his lord +command him." + +King Gunther smiled when she spake thus. However oft he saw Siegfried, +yet did he not count it to him as service. + +She spake: "Dear lord, for my sake help me to have Siegfried and thy +sister come to this land, that we may see them here. Naught liefer might +ever hap to me in truth. Whenso I think on thy sister's courtesie and +her well-bred mind, how it delighteth me! How we sate together, when I +first became thy wife! She may with honor love bold Siegfried." + +She besought so long, till the king did speak: "Now know that I have +never seen more welcome guests. Ye need but beg me gently. I will send +my envoys for the twain, that they may come to see us to the Rhine." + +Then spake the queen: "Pray tell me then, when ye are willed to send for +them, or in what time our dear kinsmen shall come into the land. Give me +also to know whom ye will send thither." + +"That will I," said the prince. "I will let thirty of my men ride +thither." + +He had these come before him and bade them carry tidings to Siegfried's +land. To their delight Brunhild did give them full lordly vesture. + +Then spake the king: "Ye knights must say from me all that I bid you to +mighty Siegfried and the sister of mine; this must ye not conceal: that +no one in the world doth love them more, and beg them both to come to +us to the Rhine. For this I and my lady will be ever at your service. At +the next Midsummer's Day shall he and his men gaze upon many here, who +would fain do them great honor. Give to the king Siegmund my greetings, +and say that I and my kinsmen be still his friends, and tell my sister, +too, that she fail not to ride to see her kin. Never did feasting beseem +her better." + +Brunhild and Uta and whatever ladies were found at court all commended +their service to the lovely dames and the many valiant men in +Siegfried's land. With the consent of the kinsmen of the king the +messengers set forth. They rode as wandering knights; their horses and +their trappings had now been brought them. Then they voided the land, +for they had haste of the journey, whither they would fare. The king +bade guard the messengers well with convoys. In three weeks they came +riding into the land, to Nibelung's castle, in the marches of Norway, +(1) whither they were sent. Here they found the knight. The mounts of +the messengers were weary from the lengthy way. + +Both Siegfried and Kriemhild were then told that knights were come, who +wore such clothes as men were wont to wear at Burgundy. She sprang +from a couch on which she lay to rest and bade a maiden hie her to the +window. In the court she saw bold Gere standing, him and the fellowship +that had been sent thither. What joyful things she there found against +her sorrow of heart! She spake to the king: "Now behold where they +stand, who walk in the court with the sturdy Gere, whom my brother +sendeth us adown the Rhine." + +Spake Then the valiant Siegfried: "They be welcome to us." + +All the courtiers ran to where one saw them. Each of them in turn then +spake full kindly, as best he could to the envoys. Siegmund, the lord, +was right blithe of their coming. Then Gere and his men were lodged and +men bade take their steeds in charge. The messengers then went hence +to where Lord Siegfried sate by Kriemhild. This they did, for they had +leave to go to court. The host and his lady rose from their seats at +once and greeted well Gere of the Burgundian land with his fellowship, +Gunther's liegemen. One bade the mighty Gere go and sit him down. + +"Permit us first to give our message, afore we take our seats; let us +way-worn strangers stand the while. We be come to tell you tidings which +Gunther and Brunhild, with whom all things stand well, have sent you, +and also what Lady Uta, your mother, sendeth. Giselher, the youth, and +Sir Gernot, too, and your dearest kin, they have sent us hither and +commend their service to you from out the Burgundian land." + +"Now God requite them," quoth Siegfried; "I trow them much troth and +good, as one should to kinsfolk; their sister doth the same. Ye must +tell us more, whether our dear friends at home be of good cheer? Since +we have been parted from them, hath any done amiss to my lady's kinsmen? +That ye must let me know. If so, I'll ever help them bear it in duty +bound, until their foes must rue my service." + +Then spake the Margrave Gere, a right good knight: "They are in every +virtue of such right high mood, that they do bid you to a feasting by +the Rhine. They would fain see you, as ye may not doubt, and they do beg +my lady that she come with you, when the winter hath taken an end. They +would see you before the next Midsummer's Day." + +Quoth the stalwart Siegfried: "That might hardly hap." + +Then answered Gere from the Burgundian land: "Your mother Uta, Gernot, +and Giselher have charged you, that ye refuse them not. I hear daily +wail, that ye do live so far away. My Lady Brunhild and all her maids +be fain of the tidings, if that might be that they should see you +again; this would raise their spirits high." These tidings thought fair +Kriemhild good. + +Gere was of their kin; the host bade him be seated and had wine poured +out for the guests; no longer did they tarry. Now Siegmund was come +to where he saw the messengers. The lord said to the Burgundians in +friendly wise: "Be welcome, Sir Knights, ye men of Gunther. Sith now +Siegfried, my son, hath won Kriemhild to wife, one should see you more +often here in this our land, if ye would show your kinship." + +They answered that they would gladly come, when so he would. Of their +weariness they were cased with joyous pastime. Men bade the messengers +be seated and brought them food, of which Siegfried had them given +great store. They must needs stay there full nine days, till at last +the doughty knights made plaint, that they durst not ride again to their +land. + +Meantime king Siegfried had sent to fetch his friends; he asked them +what they counseled, whether or no they should to the Rhine. "My kinsman +Gunther and his kin have sent to fetch me for a feasting. Now I would +go full gladly, but that his land doth lie too far away. They beg +Kriemhild, too, that she journey with me. Now advise, dear friends, in +what manner she shall ride thither. Though I must harry for them through +thirty lands, yet would Siegfried's arm fain serve them there." + +Then spake his warriors: "And ye be minded to journey to the feasting, +we will advise what ye must do. Ye should ride to the Rhine with a +thousand knights, then can ye stand with worship there in Burgundy +land." + +Up spake then Lord Siegmund of Netherland: "Will ye to the feasting, why +make ye it not known to me? If ye scorn it not, I will ride thither with +you and will take a hundred knights, wherewith to swell your band." + +"And will ye ride with us, dear father mine," quoth brave Siegfried, +"glad shall I be of that. Within a twelfth night I will quit my lands." + +All who craved it were given steeds and vesture, too. + +Since now the noble king was minded for the journey, men bade the good +and speedy envoys ride again. He sent word to his wife's kindred on +the Rhine, that he would full fain be at their feasting. Siegfried and +Kriemhild, as the tale doth tell, gave the messengers such store of +gifts that their horses could not bear them to their native land. A +wealthy man was he. They drove their sturdy sumpters merrily along. + +Siegfried and Siegmund arrayed their men. Eckewart, the margrave, that +very hour bade seek out ladies' robes, the best that were at hand or +might be found throughout all Siegfried's land. Men gan prepare the +saddles and the shields. To knights and ladies who should go hence with +him was given whatso they would, so that they wanted naught. He brought +to his kinsfolk many a lordly stranger. + +The messengers pricked fast upon their homeward way. Now was Gere, the +knight, come to Burgundy and was greeted fair. Then they dismounted from +their steeds and from the nags in front of Gunther's hall. Young and old +did hie them, as people do, to ask the tidings. Quoth the good knight: +"When I tell them to the king, thou be at hand a hear." + +With his fellowship he went to where he found King Gunther. For very joy +the king sprang from his seat. Fair Brunhild cried them mercy, that they +were come so quick. Gunther spake to the envoys: "How fareth Siegfried, +from whom so much of gladness hath happed to me?" + +Brave Gere spake: "He blushed for joy, he and your sister; no truer +tidings did ever any man send to friends, than the Lord Siegfried and +his father, too, have sent to you." + +Then to the margrave spake the noble queen: "Now tell me, cometh +Kriemhild to us? Hath the fair still kept the graces which she knew how +to use?" + +"She cometh to you surely," quoth Gere, the knight. + +Then Uta bade the messenger come quickly to her. By her question one +might note full well that she was fain to hear if Kriemhild still were +well. He told how he had found her and that she would shortly come. Nor +were the gifts concealed by them at court, which Siegfried gave them, +gold and vesture; these they brought for the vassals of the three kings +to see. For their passing great bounty men gave them thanks. + +"He may lightly give great gifts," spake then Hagen; "he could not +squander all his wealth, and he should live for aye. His hand hath +closed upon the hoard of the Nibelungs. Ho, let him only come to the +Burgundian land!" + +All the courtiers were glad that they should come. Early and late the +men of the three kings were busy. Many benches they gan raise for the +folk. The valiant Hunolt and the knight Sindolt had little rest. All +time they had to oversee the stewards and the butlers and raise many a +bench. Ortwin helped them, too, at this, and Gunther said them thanks. +Rumolt, the master cook, how well he ruled his underlings! Ho, how many +a broad kettle, pot, and pan they had! They made ready the vitaille for +those who were coming to the land. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Norway". The interpolated character of the Adventures XI + to XIII, which are not found in the earlier versions, is + shown by the confusion in the location of Siegfried's court. + The poet has forgotten that Xanten is his capital, and + locates it in Norway. No mention is made, however, of the + messengers crossing the sea; on the contrary, Kriemhild + speaks of their being sent down the Rhine. + + + + +ADVENTURE XIII. How They Journeyed To The Feasting. + +Let us now take leave of all their bustling, and tell how Lady Kriemhild +and her maidens journeyed from the Nibelung land down toward the Rhine. +Never did sumpters bear so much lordly raiment. They made ready for +the way full many traveling chests. Then Siegfried, the knight, and the +queen as well, rode forth with their friends to where they had hope of +joys. Later it sped them all to their great harm. They left Siegfried's +little child, Kriemhild's son, at home. That must needs be. Great grief +befell him through their journey to the court. The bairn never saw his +father and his mother more. With them, too, there rode Lord Siegmund. +Had he known aright how he would fare at the feasting, no whit of it +would he have seen. No greater woe might ever hap to him in loving +friends. + +Messengers were sent ahead, who told the tale. Then with a stately band +there rode to meet them many of Uta's kith and Gunther's liegemen. The +host gan bestir him for his guests. He went to where Brunhild sate and +asked: "How did my sister greet you when ye came to our land? In like +manner must ye greet Siegfried's wife." + +"That will I gladly," quoth she, "for I have good cause to be her +friend." + +The mighty king spake further: "They come to us early on the morrow; if +ye would greet them, set quickly to work, that we abide them not within +the castle. At no time have such welcome guests ever come to see me." + +At once she bade her maids and ladies hunt out goodly raiment, the best +they had, the which her train should wear before the guests. One may +lightly say, they did this gladly. Gunther's men hasted also for to +serve them, and around him the host did gather all his knights. Then +the queen rode forth in princely wise and mickle greeting of the welcome +guests was done. With what great joy did they receive them! It thought +them as though Lady Kriemhild had not greeted Lady Brunhild so fair in +the Burgundian land. Those who had never seen her became acquaint with +lofty mood. + +Now was Siegfried come with his liegemen. One saw the heroes wending +to and fro upon the plain in unwieldy bands. None might guard him there +against the jostling and the dust. + +When that the ruler of the land spied Siegfried and Siegmund, how +lovingly he spake: "Now be ye full welcome to me and all my friends; we +shall be of good cheer because of this your journey to our court." + +"Now God requite you," quoth Siegmund, the honor-seeking man; "sith my +son Siegfried won you to kinsman, my heart hath urged that I should go +to see you." + +At this spake Gunther: "Now hath joy happed to me thereby." + +Siegfried was received with much great worship as beseemed him; none +bare him hatred there. Giselher and Gernot helped thereby with great +courtesie. I ween, never have guests been greeted in such goodly wise. + +Then the wives of the two kings drew near each other. Emptied were many +saddles, as fair ladies were lifted down by knightly hands upon the +sward. How busy were those who gladly served the dames! The lovely women +now drew near each other, and many a knight was blithe, that such fair +greeting passed between the twain. Then one saw great press of warriors +standing by the high-born maids. The lordly meiny (1) grasped each +other by the hand. Much courteous bowing was seen and loving kisses from +fair-fashioned dames. This liked well Gunther's and Siegfried's liegemen +for to see. They bided now no longer, but rode to town. The host +bade show his guests full well that all were fain to see them in the +Burgundian land. Many a royal joust took place before the high-born +maids. Hagen of Troneg and Ortwin, too, proved full well their prowess. +One durst not leave undone whatso they would command. Much service was +rendered by them to the welcome guests. Many shields were heard resound +from thrusts and blows before the castle gate. The host and his guests +tarried long time without, or ever they came within. Forsooth the hours +passed quickly for them with their sports. Merrily they rode before the +royal palace. Many cunning housings (2) of good cloth and well cut +were seen hanging on either side from the saddles of the fair-fashioned +dames. + +Then came Gunther's liegemen. Men bade lead the strangers quickly to +their easement. At times one saw Brunhild glance at Lady Kriemhild, who +was passing fair enow. Her color against the gold gave back the gleam +in lovely wise. On every side in Worms one heard the courtiers shout. +Gunther bade Dankwart, his marshal, have them in his care, who then +gan lodge the retinue in goodly wise. One let them eat within and eke +without. Never were stranger guests better cared for. Men gave them +gladly all they craved; so rich was the king, that not a wish was there +denied. Men served them in friendly wise without all hate. The host now +took his seat at table with his guests. One bade Siegfried be seated +where he sate afore. Then many a stately man went with him to the seats. +Twelve hundred warriors in sooth did sit at his round table. Brunhild +thought her that a vassal could not be mightier than he; yet she was +still so friendly to him that she did not wish his death. + +On an evening when the king was seated at the board, many costly robes +were wet with wine, as the butlers hied them to the tables. Full service +was given there with mickle zeal. As hath long been the wont at feasts, +men bade the ladies and the maids be given fair lodgment. From wherever +they were come, the host bare them right good will. One gave them all +enow with goodly honors. + +When the night had an end and the day appeared, many a precious stone +from the sumpter chests sparkled on goodly weeds, as they were touched +by woman's hand. Many a lordly robe was taken forth. Or ever the day had +fully dawned, many knights and squires came out before the hall. Then +rose a merry rout before the early mass, which was sung for the king. +There young heroes rode so well that the king did cry them mercy. Many +a trumpet rang out passing loud, and the noise of drums and flutes did +grow so great that the broad town of Worms reechoed with the sound. The +high-mettled heroes horsed them everywhere. Then there rose in the land +high knightly play from many a doughty champion; one saw a great rout +of them whose youthful hearts beat high, and many a dapper knight and a +good stood armed with shield. At the easements sate the high-born dames +and many comely maids, decked out in brave attire. They watched the +pastimes of the many valiant men. The host himself gan tilt there with +his friends. Thus they passed the time, the which seemed aught but long. + +Then from the dome was heard the sound of many bells. The palfreys came, +the ladies rode away; but many a bold man followed the noble queens. +They alighted on the green before the minster; Brunhild was still +friendly to her guests. Wearing crowns, they entered the spacious +church. Later their love was parted, which caused great hate. When they +had heard the mass, they rode away again with many honors and were soon +seen going merrily to table. Their pleasure at the feasting did not flag +until the eleventh day. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Meiny" (M.E. "meiny", O.F. "mesnee"), 'courtiers', 'serving + folk'. + (2) "Housings", 'saddle cloths'. + + + + +ADVENTURE XIV. How The Queens Reviled Each Other. + +On a day before the vesper tide a great turmoil arose, which many +knights made in the court, where they plied their knightly sports for +pastime's sake, and a great throng of men and women hasted there to +gaze. The royal queens had sat them down together and talked of two +worshipful knights. + +Then spake the fair Kriemhild: "I have a husband who by right should +rule over all these kingdoms." + +Quoth Lady Brunhild: "How might that be? If none other lived but he +and thou, then might these kingdoms own his sway, but the while Gunther +liveth, this may never hap." + +Kriemhild replied: "Now dost thou see, how he standeth, how right +royally he walketh before the knights, as the moon doth before the +stars? Therefore must I needs be merry of mood." + +Said Lady Brunhild: "However stately be thy husband, howso worthy and +fair, yet must thou grant the palm to Knight Gunther, the noble brother +of thine. Know of a truth, he must be placed above all kings." + +Then Kriemhild spake again: "So doughty is my husband, that I have not +lauded him without good cause. His worship is great in many things. Dost +thou believe it, Brunhild, he is easily Gunther's peer." + +"Forsooth thou must not take it amiss of me, Kriemhild, for I have not +spoken thus without good reason. I heard them both aver, when I saw them +first of all, and the king was victor against me in the games, and when +he won my love in such knightly wise, that he was liegeman to the king, +and Siegfried himself declared the same. I hold him therefore as my +vassal, sith I heard him speak thus himself." + +Then spake fair Kriemhild: "Ill had I then sped. How could my noble +brothers have so wrought, that I should be a mere vassal's bride? +Therefore I do beseech thee, Brunhild, in friendly wise, that for my +sake thou kindly leave off this speech." + +"I'll not leave it off," quoth the king's wife. "Why should I give up so +many a knight, who with the warrior doth owe us service?" + +Kriemhild, the passing fair, waxed wroth out of wit. "Thou must forego +that ho ever do you a vassal's service; he is worthier than my brother +Gunther, the full noble man. Thou must retract what I have heard thee +say. Certes, it wondereth me, sith he be thy vassal and thou hast so +much power over us twain, why he hath rendered thee no tribute so long a +time. By right I should be spared thy overweening pride." + +"Thou bedrest thee too high," spake the king's wife. "I would fain see +whether men will hold thee in such high honor as they do me." + +The ladies both grew wonderly wroth of mood. Then spake the Lady +Kriemhild: "This must now hap. Sith thou hast declared my husband for +thy liegeman, now must the men of the two kings perceive to-day whether +I durst walk before the queen to church. Thou must see to-day that I am +noble and free and that my husband is worthier than thine; nor will I +myself be taxed therewith. Thou shalt mark to-day how thy liegewoman +goeth to court before the knights of the Burgundian land. I myself +shall be more worshipful than any queen was known to be, who ever wore a +crown." Great hate enow rose then betwixt the ladies. + +Then Brunhild answered: "Wilt thou not be a liegewoman of mine, so +must thou sunder thee with thy ladies from my train when that we go to +church." + +To this Kriemhild replied: "In faith that shall be done." + +"Now array you, my maids," spake Siegfried's wife. "I must be here +without reproach. Let this be seen to-day, and ye do have rich weeds. +Brunhild shall fain deny what she hath here averted." + +They needed not much bidding, but sought rich robes and many a dame and +maid attired her well. Then the wife of the noble king went forth with +her train. Fair Kriemhild, too, was well arrayed and three and forty +maidens with her, whom she had brought hither to the Rhine. They wore +bright vesture wrought in Araby, and thus the fair-fashioned maids +betook them to the minster. All Siegfried's men awaited them before the +house. The folk had marvel whence it chanced that the queens were seen +thus sundered, so that they did not walk together as afore. From this +did many a warrior later suffer dire distress. Here before the minster +stood Gunther's wife, while many a good knight had pastime with the +comely dames whom they there espied. + +Then came the Lady Kriemhild with a large and noble train. Whatever kind +of clothes the daughters of noble knights have ever worn, these were but +the wind against her retinue. She was so rich in goods, that what the +wives of thirty kings could not purvey, that Kriemhild did. An' one +would wish to, yet he could not aver that men had ever seen such costly +dresses as at this time her fair-fashioned maidens wore. Kriemhild +had not done it, save to anger Brunhild. They met before the spacious +minster. Through her great hate the mistress of the house in evil wise +bade Kriemhild stand: "Forsooth no vassaless should ever walk before the +queen." + +Then spake fair Kriemhild (angry was her mood): "Couldst thou have held +thy peace, 'twere well for thee. Thou hast disgraced thee and the fair +body of thine. How might a vassal's leman (1) ever be the wife of any +king?" + +"Whom callest thou here leman?" spake the queen. + +"That call I thee," quoth Kriemhild. "Thy fair person was first caressed +by Siegfried, my dear husband. Certes, it was not my brother who won thy +maidhood. Whither could thy wits have wandered? It was an evil trick. +Wherefore didst thou let him love thee, sith he be thy vassal? I hear +thee make plaint without good cause," quoth Kriemhild. + +"I' faith," spake then Brunhild, "Gunther shall hear of this." + +"What is that to me?" said Kriemhild. "Thy pride hath bewrayed thee. +With words thou hast claimed me for thy service. Know, by my troth, it +will ever grieve me, for I shall be no more thy faithful friend." + +Then Brunhild wept. Kriemhild delayed no longer, but entered the minster +with her train before the queen. Thus there rose great hatred, from +which bright eyes grew dim and moist. + +Whatso men did or sang to God's service there, the time seemed far +too long for Brunhild, for she was sad of heart and mood. Many a brave +knight and a good must later rue this day. Brunhild with her ladies now +went forth and stopped before the minster. Her-thought: "Kriemhild must +tell me more of what this word-shrewd woman hath so loudly charged me. +Hath Siegfried made boast of this, 'twill cost his life." + +Now the noble Kriemhild came with many a valiant liegeman. Lady Brunhild +spake: "Stand still a while. Ye have declared me for a leman, that must +ye let be seen. Know, that through thy speech, I have fared full ill." + +Then spake the Lady Kriemhild: "Ye should have let me pass. I'll prove +it by the ring of gold I have upon my hand, and which my lover brought +me when he first lay at your side." + +Brunhild had never seen so ill a day. She spake: "This costly hoop of +gold was stolen from me, and hath been hid full long a time from me in +evil wise. I'll find out yet who hath ta'en it from me." + +Both ladies now had fallen into grievous wrath. + +Kriemhild replied: "I'll not be called a thief. Thou hadst done better +to have held thy peace, an' thou hold thine honor dear. I'll prove it +by the girdle which I wear about my waist, that I lie not. Certes, my +Siegfried became thy lord." + +She wore the cord of silk of Nineveh, set with precious stones; in sooth +'twas fair enow. When Brunhild spied it, she began to weep. Gunther and +all the Burgundian men must needs now learn of this. + +Then spake the queen: "Bid the prince of the Rhineland come hither. I +will let him hear how his sister hath mocked me. She saith here openly +that I be Siegfried's wife." + +The king came with knights, and when he saw his love a-weeping, how +gently he spake: "Pray tell me, dear lady, who hath done you aught?" + +She answered to the king: "I must stand unhappy; thy sister would fain +part me from all mine honors. I make here plaint to thee she doth aver +that Siegfried, her husband hath had me as his leman." + +Quoth King Gunther: "Then hath she done ill." + +"She weareth here my girdle, which I have lost, and my ring of ruddy +gold. It doth repent me sore that I was ever born, unless be thou +clearest me of this passing great shame, for that I'll serve thee ever." + +King Gunther spake: "Have him come hither. He must let us hear if +he hath made boast of this, or he must make denial, the hero of +Netherland." One bade fetch at once Kriemhild's love. + +When Siegfried saw the angry dames (he wist not of the tale), how +quickly then he spake: "I fain would know why these ladies weep, or for +what cause the king hath had me fetched." + +Then King Gunther spake: "It doth rue me sore, forsooth. My Lady +Brunhild hath told me here a tale, that thou hast boasted thou wast the +first to clasp her lovely body in thine arms; this Lady Kriemhild, thy +wife, doth say." + +Then spake Lord Siegfried: "And she hath told this tale, she shall rue +it sore, or ever I turn back, and I'll clear me with solemn oaths in +front of all thy men, that I have not told her this." + +Quoth the king of the Rhineland: "Let that be seen. The oath thou dost +offer, and let it now be given, shall free thee of all false charges." + +They bade the proud Burgundians form a ring. Siegfried, the bold, +stretched out his hand for the oath; then spake the mighty king: "Thy +great innocence is so well known to me, that I will free thee of that +of which my sister doth accuse thee and say, thou hast never done this +thing." + +Siegfried replied: "If it boot my lady aught to have thus saddened +Brunhild, that will surely cause me boundless grief." + +Then the lusty knights and good gazed one upon the other. "One should +so train women," spake again Siegfried, the knight, "that they leave +haughty words unsaid. Forbid it to thy wife, and I'll do the same to +mine. In truth, I do shame me of her great discourtesie." + +Many fair ladies were parted by the speech. Brunhild mourned so sore, +that it moved King Gunther's men to pity. Then came Hagen of Troneg to +his sovran lady. He found her weeping, and asked what grief she had. +She told him then the tale. On the spot he vowed that Kriemhild's lord +should rue it sore, or he would nevermore be glad. Ortwin and Gernot +joined their parley and these heroes counseled Siegfried's death. +Giselher, the son of the noble Uta, came hither too. When he heard the +talk, he spake full true: "Ye trusty knights, wherefore do ye this? +Siegfried hath not merited forsooth such hate, that he should therefore +lose his life. Certes, women oft grow angry over little things." + +"Shall we then raise cuckolds?" answered Hagen; "such good knights would +gain from that but little honor. Because he hath boasted of my liege +lady, I will rather die, an' it cost him not his life." + +Then spake the king himself: "He hath shown us naught but love and +honor, so let him live. What booteth it, if I now should hate the +knight? He was ever faithful to us and that right willingly." + +Knight Ortwin of Metz then spake: "His great prowess shall not in sooth +avail him aught. If my lord permit, I'll do him every evil." + +So without cause the heroes had declared a feud against him. In this +none followed, save that Hagen counselled all time Knight Gunther the +that if Siegfried no longer lived, then many kingly lands would own his +sway. At this the king grew sad, so they let it rest. + +Jousting was seen once more. Ho, what stout shafts they splintered +before the minster in the presence of Siegfried's wife, even down to the +hall! Enow of Gunther's men were now in wrath. The king spake: "Let be +this murderous rage, he is born to our honor and to our joy. Then, too, +the wonderly bold man is so fierce of strength, that none durst match +him, if he marked it." + +"No, not he," spake Hagen then, "Ye may well keep still; I trow to bring +it to pass in secret, that he rue Brunhild's tears. Certes, Hagen hath +broken with him for all time." + +Then spake King Gunther: "How might that chance?" + +To this Hagen made answer: "I'll let you hear. We'll bid messengers, +that be not known to any here, ride into our land, to declare war upon +us openly. Then do ye say before your guests that ye and your men will +take the field. When that is done, he will vow to serve you then and +from this he shall lose his life, an' I learn the tale from the bold +knight's wife." + +The king followed his liegeman Hagen in evil wise. These chosen knights +gan plan great faithlessness, or ever any one was ware. From two women's +quarreling full many a hero lost his life. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Leman" (M.E. "lemman", O.E. "leof mann", 'lief man', i.e., + 'dear one'), 'mistress' in a bad sense. + + + + +ADVENTURE XV. How Siegfried Was Betrayed. + +Upon the fourth morning two and thirty men were seen to ride to court +and the tale was brought to mighty Gunther that war had been declared. +The very direst woes befell fair women from a lie. They gained leave +to come before the king and say that they were Liudeger's men, whom +Siegfried's hand had conquered afore and had brought as hostages to +Gunther's land. He greeted then the messengers and bade them go and seat +them. One among them spake: "My lord, pray let us stand till we have +told the message we do bear you. This know, ye have of a truth many +a mother's son as foe. Liudegast and Liudeger, whom ye one time gave +grievous sores, declare a feud against you and are minded to ride with +an army to this land." The king waxed wroth when he heard This tale. + +Men bade lead the perjurers to their lodgings. How might Siegfried, or +any else against whom they plotted, ware himself against their wiles? +This later brought great sorrow to them all. The king walked whispering +with his friends; Hagen of Troneg never let him rest. Enow of the king's +liegemen would fain have parted the strife, but Hagen would not give +up his plan. On a day Siegfried found them whispering. The hero of +Netherland gan ask: "How go the king and his men so sadly? I'll help +avenge it, hath any done you aught." + +Then spake King Gunther: "I am rightly sad. Liudegast and Liudeger have +challenged me to war; they are minded to ride openly into my land." + +At this the bold knight said: "Siegfried's hand shall hinder that with +zeal, as beseemeth all your honors. I'll do yet to these knights as I +did before; I'll lay waste their lands, or ever I turn again. Be my head +your pledge of this. Ye and your warriors shall stay at home and let me +ride to meet them with those I have. I'll let you see how fain I serve +you. This know, through me it shall go evil with your foes." + +"Well is me of these tidings," spake then the king, as though he were +glad in earnest of this aid. With guile the faithless man bowed low. + +Quoth Lord Siegfried: "Ye shall have small care." + +Then they made ready for the journey hence with the men-at-arms. This +was done for Siegfried and his men to see. He, too, bade those of +Netherland get them ready. Siegfried's warriors sought out warlike +weeds. Then the stalwart Siegfried spake: "My father Siegmund, ye must +stay here. We shall return in short space hither to the Rhine, and God +give us luck. Ye must here make merry with the king." + +They tied fast their banners, as though they would away, and there were +enow of Gunther's men who wist not wherefore this was done. Great rout +of men was seen at Siegfried's side. They bound their helmets and their +breastplates upon the steeds, and many a stout knight made ready to +quit the land. Then Hagen of Troneg went to find Kriemhild and asked for +leave; sith they would void the land. + +"Now well is me," spake Kriemhild, "that I have won a husband who dare +protect so well my loving kinsfolk, as my Lord Siegfried doth here. +Therefore," spake the queen, "will I be glad of heart. Dear friend +Hagen, think on that, that I do serve you gladly and never yet did bear +you hate. Requite this now to me in my dear husband. Let him not suffer, +if I have done to Brunhild aught. I since have rued it," spake the noble +wife. "Moreover, he since hath beaten me black and blue; the brave hero +and a good hath well avenged that ever I spake what grieved her heart." + +"Ye'll be friends once more after some days. Kriemhild, dear lady, pray +tell me how I may serve you in your husband Siegfried. Liefer will I do +this for you than for any else." + +"I should be without all fear," quoth the noble dame, "that any one +would take his life in the fray, if he would not follow his overweening +mood; then the bold knight and a good were safe." + +"Lady," spake then Hagen, "an' ye do think that men might wound him, +pray let me know with what manner of arts I can prevent this. On foot, +on horse, will I ever be his guard." + +She spake: "Thou art my kinsman and I am thine. I'll commend to thee +trustingly the dear lover of mine, that thou mayst guard him well, +mine own dear husband." She made him acquaint with tales which had been +better left unsaid. She spake: "My husband is brave and strong enow. +When he slew the dragon on the hill, the lusty warrior bathed him of +a truth in the blood, so that since then no weapon ever cut him in +the fray. Yet am I in fear, whenever he standeth in the fight and many +javelins are cast by heroes' hands, that I may lose this dear husband of +mine. Alas, how oft I suffer sore for Siegfried's sake! Dear kinsman, in +the hope that thou wilt hold thy troth with me, I'll tell thee where +men may wound the dear lord of mine. I let thee hear this, 'tis done in +faith. When the hot blood gushed from the dragon's wounds and the bold +hero and a good bathed him therein, a broad linden leaf did fall betwixt +his shoulder blades. Therefore am I sore afraid that men may cut him +there." + +Then spake Hagen of Troneg: "Sew a small mark upon his coat, whereby I +may know where I must guard him, when we stand in battle." + +She weened to save her knight, but 'twas done unto his death. She spake: +"With fine silk I'll sew a secret cross upon his vesture. There, knight, +thy hand must guard my husband, when the strife is on and he standeth in +the battle before his foes." + +"That will I well, dear my lady," Hagen then replied. + +The lady weened that it would boot him aught, but Kriemhild's husband +was thereby betrayed. Hagen then took leave; merrily he hied him hence. +The king's liegeman was blithe of mood. I ween that nevermore will +warrior give such false counsel, as was done by him when Kriemhild +trusted in his troth. + +Next morning Siegfried with a thousand of his men rode merrily forth. He +weened he should avenge the grievance of his kinsmen. Hagen rode so +near him that he could eye his clothes. When he saw the sign, he sent +in secret twain of his men, who should tell another tale: that Gunther's +land should still have peace and that Liudeger had sent them to the +king. How loth Siegfried now rode home again, or ever he had avenged his +kinsmen's wrongs! Gunther's men could hardly turn him back. He rode then +to the king; the host gan thank him. "Now God requite you of your will, +friend Siegfried, that ye do so willingly what I bid you. For this +I'll ever serve you, as I rightly should. I trust you more than all my +friends. Now that we be rid of this foray, I am minded to ride a-hunting +for bears and boars to the Vosges forest, as I have done oft-time." That +Hagen, the faithless knight, had counseled. "Let it be told to all my +guests, that we ride betimes. Those that would hunt with me must make +them ready. If any choose to stay at home to court the ladies, that +liketh me as well." + +Then spake Sir Siegfried in lordly wise: "And ye would a-hunting, I'd +fain go with you. Pray lend me a huntsman and some brach, (1) and I will +ride to the pines." + +"Will ye have but one?" spake the king anon. "I'll lend you, an' ye +will, four men to whom both wood and paths be known where the game is +wont to go, and who will not let you miss the camp." + +Then rode the full lusty warrior to his wife, whilst Hagen quickly told +the king how he thought to trap the doughty knight. A man should never +use such faithlessness. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Brach", 'hunting dog', cognate with M.H.G. "bracke", used + here. + + + + +ADVENTURE XVI. How Siegfried Was Slain. + +Gunther and Hagen, the passing bold knights, faithlessly let cry +a-hunting in the woods, that with sharp spears they would hunt boars +and bears and bison. What might be braver? With them rode Siegfried +in lordly guise; many kinds of victual did they take along. At a cool +spring he later lost his life, the which Brunhild, King Gunther's wife, +had counseled. The bold knight then went to where he found Kriemhild. +His costly hunting garb and those of his fellowship were already bound +upon the sumpters, for they would cross the Rhine. Never could Kriemhild +have been more sorrowful. He kissed his love upon her mouth. "God let +me see thee, lady, still in health and grant that thine eyes may see me +too. Thou shalt have pastime with thy loving kinsmen. I may not stay at +home." + +Then she thought of the tale she had told to Hagen, though she durst not +say a whit. The noble queen began to rue that she was ever born. Lord +Siegfried's wife wept out of measure. She spake to the knight: "Let be +your hunting. I had an evil dream last night, how two wild boars did +chase you across the heath; then flowers grew red. I have in truth great +cause to weep so sore. I be much adread of sundry plans and whether we +have not misserved some who might bear us hostile hate. Tarry here, dear +my lord, that I counsel by my troth." + +He spake: "Dear love, I'll come back in a few short days. I wot not here +of people who bear me aught of hate. Each and all of thy kinsmen be my +friends, nor have I deserved it other of the knights." + +"No, no, Sir Siegfried, in truth I fear thy fall. I had last night an +evil dream, how two mountains fell upon thee. I saw thee nevermore. It +doth cut me to the heart, that thou wilt part from me." + +In his arms he clasped his courteous wife and kissed her tenderly. Then +in a short space he took his leave and parted hence. Alas, she never saw +him in health again. + +Then they rode from thence into a deep wood for pastime's sake. Many +bold knights did follow Gunther and his men, but Gernot and Giselher +stayed at home. Many laden sumpters were sent before them across the +Rhine, the which bare for the hunting fellowship bread and wine, meat +and fish, and great store of other things, which so mighty a king might +rightly have. They bade the proud huntsmen and bold halt before a green +wood over against the courses of the game, upon a passing broad glade +where they should hunt. The king was told that Siegfried, too, was come. +The hunting fellowship now took their stand on every side. Then the +bold knight, the sturdy Siegfried, asked: "Ye heroes bold and brave, who +shall lead us to the game within the wood?" + +"Let us part," spake Hagen, "ere we begin the chase. Thereby my lords +and I may know who be the best hunter on this woodland journey. Let us +divide the folk and hounds and let each turn whithersoever he list. He +who doth hunt the best shall have our thanks." Short time the huntsmen +bided by another after that. + +Then spake Lord Siegfried: "I need no dogs save one brach that hath +been trained that he can tell the track of the beasts through the pine +woods." Quoth Kriemhild's husband: "We'll find the game." + +Then an old huntsman took a good sleuth-hound and in a short space +brought the lord to where many beasts were found. Whatso rose from its +lair the comrades hunted as good hunters still are wont to do. Whatever +the brach started, bold Siegfried, the hero of Netherland, slew with his +hand. His horse did run so hard that none escaped him. In the chase he +gained the prize above them all. Doughty enow he was in all things. The +beast which he slew with his hands was the first, a mighty boar; after +which he found full soon a monstrous lion. (1) When the brach started +this from its lair, he shot it with his bow, in which he had placed a +full sharp arrow. After the shot the lion ran the space of but three +bounds. The hunting fellowship gave Siegfried thanks. Thereafter he +speedily slew a bison and an elk, four strong ure-oxen, (2) and a savage +shelk. (3) His horse bare him so swiftly that naught escaped him, nor +could hart or hind avoid him. Then the sleuth-hound found a mighty boar; +when he began to flee, at once there came the master of the hunt and +encountered him upon his path. Wrathfully the boar did run against the +valiant hero, but Kriemhild's husband slew him with his sword. Another +huntsman might not have done this deed so lightly. When he had felled +him, they leashed the sleuth-hound; his rich booty was soon well known +to the Burgundian men. + +Then spake his huntsman: "Sir Siegfried, if might so be, let us leave a +deal of the beasts alive. Ye'll empty both our hill and woods to-day." + +At this the brave knight and a bold gan smile. Then the calls of men and +the baying of hounds were heard on every side; so great was the noise +that both hill and pine woods echoed with the sound. The huntsmen had +let loose full four and twenty packs. Then passing many beasts must +needs lose their lives. Each man weened to bring it to pass that men +should give him the prize of the hunt; that might not be, for the +stalwart Siegfried was already standing by the fire. The chase was over, +and yet not quite. Those who would to the camp-fire brought with them +thither hides of many beasts and game in plenty. Ho, how much the king's +meiny bare then to the kitchen! + +Then bade the king announce to the huntsman that he would dismount. A +horn was blown full loud just once, that all might know that one might +find the noble prince in camp. Spake then one of Siegfried's huntsmen: +"My lord, I heard by the blast of a horn that we must now hie us to the +quarters; I'll now give answer." + +Thus by many blasts of horns they asked about the hunters. Then spake +Sir Siegfried: "Now let us leave the pine wood!" His steed bare him +smoothly and with him they hasted hence. With their rout they started +up a savage beast; a wild bear it was. Quoth then the knight to those +behind: "I'll give our fellowship a little pastime. Let loose the brach. +Forsooth I spy a bear which shall journey with us to the camp. Flee he +never so fast, he shall not escape us." + +The brach was loosed, the bear sprang hence; Kriemhild's husband would +fain overtake him. He reached a thicket, where none could follow. The +mighty beast weened now to escape from the hunter with his life, but the +proud knight and a good leaped from his steed and began to chase him. +The bear was helpless and could not flee away. At once the hero caught +it and bound it quickly with not a wound, so that it might neither +scratch nor bite the men. The doughty knight then tied it to his saddle +and horsed him quickly. Through his overweening mood the bold warrior +and a good brought it to the camp-fire as a pastime. In what lordly wise +he rode to the quarters! Mickle was his boar-spear, strong and broad. A +dainty sword hung downward to his spurs. The lord bare also a fair horn +of ruddy gold. Never heard I tale of better hunting weeds. One saw him +wear a coat of black and silky cloth and a hat of sable: rich enow it +was. Ho, what costly bands he wore upon his quiver! A panther's skin was +drawn over it for its sweet fragrance' (4) sake. He bare a bow, which +any but the hero must needs draw back with a windlass, and he would bend +it. His vesture was befurred with otter skin (5) from head to toe. From +the bright fur shone out on both sides of the bold master of the hunt +many a bar of gold. Balmung (6) he also bare, a good broad sword, that +was so sharp that it never failed when 'twas wielded 'gainst a helmet; +its edge was good. In high spirits was the lordly huntsman. Sith I must +tell you all the tale, his costly quiver was full of goodly darts, the +heads a full hand's breadth, on golden shafts. What he pierced therewith +must needs die soon. + +Thus the noble knight rode hence in hunter's garb. Gunther's men espied +him coming and ran out to meet him and took his horse in charge. On his +saddle he carried a large bear and a strong. When he had dismounted, he +loosed the bonds from feet and snout. Those of the pack bayed loudly, +that spied the bear. The beast would to the woods; the serving folk had +fear. Dazed by the din, the bear made for the kitchen. Ho, how he +drove the scullions from the fire! Many a kettle was upset and many a +firebrand scattered. Ho, what good victual men found lying in the ashes! +Then the lordings and their liegemen sprang from their scats. The bear +grew furious and the king bade loose the pack that lay enleashed. Had +all sped well, they would have had a merry day. No longer the doughty +men delayed, but ran for the bear with bows and pikes. There was such +press of dogs that none might shoot, but from the people's shouts the +whole hill rang. The bear began to flee before the dogs; none could +follow him but Kriemhild's husband, who caught and slew him with his +sword. Then they bore the bear again to the fire. Those that saw it, +averred he was a mighty man. + +Men bade now the proud hunting fellowship seat them at the tables. Upon +a fair mead there sate a goodly company. Ho, what rich viands they +bare there to the noble huntsmen! The butlers who should bring the wine +delayed; else might never heroes have been better served. Had they not +been so falsely minded, then had the knights been free of every blame. + +Now the Lord Siegfried spake: "Me-wondereth, since men do give us such +great store from the kitchen, why the butlers bring us not the +wine. Unless men purvey the hunters better, I'll be no more your +hunting-fellow. I have well deserved that they regard me, too." + +The king addressed him from his seat with guile: "We fain would do you +remedy of what we lack. It is Hagen's fault, who is willed to let us die +of thirst." + +Then spake Hagen: "Dear my lord, I weened that the hunt should be in the +Spessart (7) wood, therefore sent I thither the wine. Though we may not +drink to-day, how well will I avoid this in the future!" + +At this Lord Siegfried spake: "Small thanks ye'll get for that. One +should have brought me hither seven sumpter loads of mead and mulled +wine. (8) If that might not be, then men should have placed our benches +nearer to the Rhine." + +Then spake Hagen of Troneg: "Ye noble knights and bold, I wot near by a +good cold spring. Let us go thither, that ye wax not wroth." + +To the danger of many a knight was this counsel given. The pangs of +thirst now plagued the warrior Siegfried. He bade the tables be borne +away the sooner, for he would go to the spring in the mountains. With +false intent the counsel was then given by the knights. They bade the +game which Siegfried's hand had slain, be carried home on wains. Whoever +saw it gave him great laud. Hagen of Troneg now foully broke his troth +to Siegfried. When they would hence to the broad linden, he spake: "It +hath oft been told me, that none can keep pace with Kriemhild's husband +when he be minded for to race. Ho, if he would only let us see it here!" + +Bold Siegfried from Netherland then answered: "Ye can well test that, +and ye will run a race with me to the spring. When that is done, we call +give the prize to him who winneth." + +"So let us try it then," quoth Hagen, the knight. + +Spake the sturdy Siegfried: "Then will I lay me down on the green sward +at your feet." (9) + +How lief it was to Gunther, when he heard these words! Then the bold +knight spake again: "I'll tell you more. I'll take with me all my +trappings, my spear and shield and all my hunting garb." Around him he +quickly girded his quiver and his sword. + +Then they drew the clothes from off their limbs; men saw them stand in +two white shifts. Like two wild panthers through the clover they ran, +but men spied bold Siegfried first at the spring. In all things he bare +away the prize from many a man. Quickly he ungirt his sword and laid +aside his quiver and leaned the stout spear against a linden bough. +The lordly stranger stood now by the flowing spring. Passing great was +Siegfried's courtesie. He laid down his shield where the spring gushed +forth, but the hero drank not, albeit he thirsted sore until the king +had drunk, who gave him evil thanks. Cool, clear, and good was the +spring. Gunther stooped down then to the flowing stream, and when he had +drunken straightened up again. Bold Siegfried would fain also have done +the same, but now he paid for his courtesie. Hagen bare quite away from +him both bow and sword and bounded then to where he found the spear; +then he looked for the mark on bold Siegfried's coat. As Lord Siegfried +drank above the spring, he pierced him through the cross, so that +his heart's blood spurted from the wounds almost on Hagen's clothes. +Nevermore will hero do so foul a deed. Hagen left the spear a-sticking +in his heart and fled more madly than he ever in the world had run from +any man. + +When Lord Siegfried felt the mighty wound, up from the spring he started +in a rage. From betwixt his shoulder blades a long spear-shaft towered. +He weened to find his bow or his sword, and then had Hagen been repaid +as he deserved. But when the sorely wounded hero found no trace of his +sword, then had he naught else but his shield. This he snatched from the +spring and ran at Hagen; nor could King Gunther's man escape him. Albeit +he was wounded unto death, yet he smote so mightily that a plenty of +precious stones were shaken from the shield. The shield itself burst +quite apart. Fain would the lordly stranger have avenged him. Now was +Hagen fallen to the ground at his hands, and from the force of the blow +the glade rang loudly. Had he had a sword in hand, then had it been +Hagen's death, so sore enraged was the wounded man. Forsooth he had good +cause thereof. His hue grew pale, he could not stand; his strength of +body melted quite away, for in bright colors he bore the signs of death. +Thereafter he was bewailed by fair dames enow. + +Kriemhild's husband fell now among the flowers. Fast from his wounds his +blood was seen to gush. He began to rail, as indeed he had great cause, +at those who had planned this treacherous death. The deadly wounded +spake: "Forsooth, ye evil cowards, what avail my services now that ye +have slain me? This is my reward that I was always faithful to you. +Alas, ye have acted ill against your kinsmen. Those of them who are born +in after days will be disgraced. Ye have avenged your wrath too sore +upon me. With shame shall ye be parted from all good warriors." + +The knights all ran to where he lay slain. For enow of them it was a +hapless day. He was bewailed by those who had aught of loyalty, and +this the brave and lusty knight had well deserved. The king of the +Burgundians bemoaned his death. Quoth the deadly wounded: "There is no +need that he should weep who hath done the damage; he doth merit mickle +blame. It had been better left undone." + +Then spake the fierce Hagen: "Forsooth I wot not what ye now bewail. All +our fear and all our woe have now an end. We shall find scant few who +dare withstand us now. Well is me, that to his rule I have put an end." + +"Ye may lightly boast you," Siegfried then replied. "Had I wist your +murderous bent, I had well guarded my life against you. None doth rue +me so sore as Lady Kriemhild, my wife. Now may God have pity that I +ever had a son to whom the reproach will be made in after days, that his +kindred have slain a man with murderous intent. If I might," so spake +Siegfried, "I should rightly make complaint of this." Piteously the +deadly wounded spake again: "Noble king, if ye will keep your troth to +any in the world, then let my dear love be commended to your grace and +let it avail her that she be your sister. For the sake of your princely +courtesie protect her faithfully. My father and my men must wait long +time for me. Never was woman sorer wounded in a loving friend." + +The flowers on every side were wet with blood. With death he struggled, +but not for long, sith the sword of death had cut him all too sorely. +Then the lusty warrior and a brave could speak no more. + +When the lordings saw that the knight was dead, they laid him on a +shield of ruddy gold and took counsel how they might conceal that Hagen +had done the deed. Enow of them spake: "Ill hath it gone with us. Ye +must all hide it and aver alike that robbers slew Kriemhild's husband as +he rode alone a-hunting through the pine wood." + +Then Hagen of Troneg spake: "I'll bring him home; I care not if it be +known to her, for she hath saddened Brunhild's heart. Little doth it +trouble me however much she weep." + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Lion." It is hardly necessary to state that lions did not + roam at large in the forests of Germany. They were, + however, frequently exhibited in the Middle Ages, and the + poet introduced one here to enhance Siegfried's fame as a + hunter. + (2) "Ure-oxen", the auerochs, or European bison, now practically + extinct. + (3) "Shelk" (M.H.G. "schelch"), probably a species of giant + deer. + (4) "Fragrance". It was believed that the odor of the panther + attracted the game. Compare the description of the panther + in the older "Physiologus", where the odor is said to + surpass that of all ointments. + (5) "Otter" translates here M.H.G. "ludem", whose exact + connotation is not known. Some interpret it to meau the + fish otter, others the "Waldschrat", a kind of faun. + (6) "Balmung", see Adventure III, note 7. + (7) "Spessart wood" lies forty to fifty miles east of Worms and + is therefore too distant for a day's hunt, but such trifles + did not disturb the poet. + (8) "Mulled wine", see Adventure VIII, note 5. + (9) "Feet". This was probably done as a handicap. The time + consumed in rising to his feet would give his opponent quite + a start. + + + + +ADVENTURE XVII. How Kriemhild Mourned Her Husband And How He Was Buried. + +Then they waited for the night and crossed the Rhine. Never had heroes +hunted worse. Noble maids bewept the game they slew. Forsooth many good +warriors must needs atone for this in after days. Now ye may hear a tale +of great overweening and dire revenge. Hagen bade carry Siegfried of the +Nibelung land, thus dead, before the bower where Kriemhild lodged. He +bade place him stealthily against the door, that she might find him when +she went forth before the break of day to matins, which Lady Kriemhild +full seldom missed through sleep. + +Men rang the minster bells according to their custom. Lady Kriemhild, +the fair, now waked her many maids and bade them bring a light and her +vesture, too. Then came a chamberlain and found Siegfried there. He saw +him red with blood, his clothes all wet. He wist not it was his lord, +but with the light in his hand he hasted to the bower and through this +Lady Kriemhild learned the baneful tale. As she would set out with her +ladies for the minster, the chamberlain spake: "Pray stay your feet, +there doth lie before the chamber a knight, slain unto death." + +Kriemhild gan make passing sore wail, or ever she heard aright that it +was her husband. She began to think of Hagen's question, of how he might +protect him. Then first she suffered dole; she renounced all pleasure +at his death. To the earth she sank, not a word she spake, and here they +found lying the hapless fair. Passing great grew Kriemhild's woe. After +her faint, she shrieked, that all the chamber rang. Then her meiny said: +"Perchance it is a stranger knight." + +The blood gushed from her mouth, from dole of heart; she spake: "'Tis +Siegfried, mine own dear husband. Brunhild hath counseled this and Hagen +hath done the deed." + +The lady bade them lead her to where the hero lay. With her white hand +she raised his head, and though it was red with blood, she knew him +soon. There lay the hero of the Nibelung land in piteous guise. The +gracious queen cried sadly: "Oh, woe is me of my sorrow! Thy shield is +not carved with swords, thou liest murdered here. Wist I who hath done +the deed, I'd ever plot his death." + +All her maids made mourn and wailed with their dear lady, for they +grieved full sore for their noble lord whom they had lost. Hagen had +cruelly avenged the wrath of Brunhild. + +Then spake the grief-stricken dame: "Go now and wake with haste all +Siegfried's men. Tell Siegmund also of my grief, mayhap he'll help me +bewail brave Siegfried." + +A messenger ran quickly to where lay Siegfried's warriors from the +Nibelung land, and with his baleful tidings stole their joy. They could +scarce believe it, till they heard the weeping. Right soon the messenger +came to where the king did lie. Siegmund, the lord, was not asleep. I +trow his heart did tell him what had happed. Never again might he see +his dear son alive. + +"Awake, Sir Siegmund; Kriemhild, my lady, bade me go to fetch you. A +wrong hath been done her that doth cut her to the heart, more than all +other ills. Ye must help her mourn, for much it doth concern you." + +Siegmund sat up; he spake: "What are fair Kriemhild's ills, of which +thou tellest me?" + +Weeping the messenger spake: "I cannot hide them from you; alas, bold +Siegfried of Netherland is slain." + +Quoth Siegmund: "For my sake let be this jesting and such evil tales, +that thou shouldst tell any that he be dead, for I might never bewail +him fully before my death." + +"If ye will believe naught of what ye hear me say, then you may hear +yourself Kriemhild and all her maids bewailing Siegfried's death." + +Siegmund then was sore affrighted, as indeed he had great need. He and +a hundred of his men sprang from their beds and grasped with their hands +their long sharp swords. In sorrow they ran toward the sound of wail. +Then came a thousand men-at-arms, bold Siegfried's men. When they heard +the ladies wail so pitifully, some first grew ware that they should +dress them. Forsooth they lost their wits for very sorrow. Great +heaviness was buried in their hearts. + +Then King Siegmund came to where he found Kriemhild. He spake: "Alas +for the journey hither to this land! Who hath so foully bereft me of my +child and you of your husband among such good friends?" + +"Oh, if I knew him," spake the noble wife, "neither my heart nor soul +would ever wish him well. I would plan such ill against him that his kin +must ever weep because of me." + +Around the prince Lord Siegmund threw his arms. So great grew the sorrow +of his kin, that the palace, the hall, and the town of Worms resounded +from the mighty wail and weeping. None might now comfort Siegfried's +wife. They stripped off the clothes from his fair body; they washed his +wounds and laid him on the bier. Woe were his people from their mighty +grief. Then spake his warriors from the Nibelung land: "Our hands be +ever ready to avenge him; he liveth in this castle who hath done the +deed." + +All of Siegfried's men hasted then to arms. These chosen knights came +with their shields, eleven hundred men-at-arms, whom Lord Siegmund had +in his troop. He would fain avenge the death of his son, as indeed he +had great need. They wist not to whom they should address their strife, +unless it be to Gunther and his men, with whom Lord Siegfried had ridden +to the hunt. + +Kriemhild saw them armed, which rued her sore. However great her grief +and how dire her need, yet she did so mightily fear the death of the +Nibelungs at the hands of her brothers' liegemen, that she tried to +hinder it. In kindly wise she warned them, as kinsmen do to loving kin. +The grief-stricken woman spake: "My Lord Siegmund, what will ye do? Ye +wot naught aright; forsooth King Gunther hath so many valiant men, ye +will all be lost, and ye would encounter these knights." + +With their shields uncovered, the men stood eager for the fight. The +noble queen both begged and bade that the lusty knights avoid it. When +they would not give it over, sorely it grieved her. She spake: "Lord +Siegmund, ye must let it be until more fitting time, then I'll avenge my +husband with you. An' I receive proof who hath bereft me of him, I'll do +him scathe. There be too many haughty warriors by the Rhine, wherefore I +will not counsel you to fight. They have full well thirty men to each of +ours. Now God speed them, as they deserve of us. Stay ye here and bear +with me my dole. When it beginneth to dawn, help me, ye lusty knights, +to coffin the dear husband of mine." + +Quoth the knights: "That shall be done." + +None might tell you all the marvel of knights and ladies, how they were +heard to wail, so that even in the town men marked the sound of weeping. +The noble burghers hasted hither. With the guests they wept, for they, +too, were sore aggrieved. None had told them of any guilt of Siegfried, +or for what cause the noble warrior lost his life. The wives of the +worthy burghers wept with the ladies of the court. Men bade smiths haste +to work a coffin of silver and of gold, mickle and strong, and make it +firm with strips of good hard steel. Sad of heart were all the folk. + +The night was gone, men said the day was dawning. Then the noble lady +bade them bear Lord Siegfried, her loved husband, to the minster. +Whatever friends he had there were seen weeping as they went. Many bells +were ringing as they brought him to the church. On every side one heard +the chant of many priests. Then came King Gunther with his men and grim +Hagen also toward the sound of wail. He spake: "Alas for thy wrongs, +clear sister, that we may not be free from this great scathe. We must +ever lament for Siegfried's death." + +"That ye do without cause," spake the sorrow-laden wife. "Were this loth +to you, it never would have happed. I may well aver, ye thought not on +me, when I thus was parted from my dear husband. Would to God," quoth +Kriemhild, "that it had happed to me." + +Firmly they made denial. Kriemhild gan speak: "Whoso declareth him +guiltless, let him show that now. He must walk to the bier before all +the folk; thereby one may know the truth eftsoon." + +This is a great marvel, which oft doth hap; whenever the blood-stained +murderer is seen to stand by the dead, the latter's wounds do bleed, (1) +as indeed happed here, whereby one saw the guilt was Hagen's. The wounds +bled sore, as they had done at first. Much greater grew the weeping of +those who wailed afore. + +Then spake King Gunther: "I'd have you know that robbers slew him; Hagen +did not do the deed." + +"I know these robbers well," quoth she. "Now may God yet let his friends +avenge it. Certes, Gunther and Hagen, 'twas done by you." + +Siegfried's knights were now bent on strife. Then Kriemhild spake again: +"Now share with me this grief." + +Gernot, her brother, and young Giselher, these twain now came to where +they found him dead. They mourned him truly with the others; Kriemhild's +men wept inly. Now should mass be sung, so on every side, men, wives, +and children did hie them to the minster. Even those who might lightly +bear his loss, wept then for Siegfried. Gernot and Giselher spake: +"Sister mine, now comfort thee after this death, as needs must be. We'll +try to make it up to thee, the while we live." + +Yet none in the world might give her comfort. His coffin was ready well +towards midday. From the bier whereon he lay they raised him. The +lady would not have that he be buried, so that all the folk had mickle +trouble. In a rich cloth of silk they wound the dead. I ween, men found +none there that did not weep. Uta, the noble dame, and all her meiny +mourned bitterly the stately man. When it was noised abroad that men +sang in the minster and had encoffined him, then rose a great press of +folk. What offerings they made for his soul's sake! He had good friends +enow among these foes. Poor Kriemhild spake to her chamberlains: "Ye +must now be put to trouble for my sake, ye who wished him well and be my +friends. For Siegfried's soul shall ye deal out his gold." + +No child, however small, that had its wits, but must go to service, or +ever he was buried. Better than a hundred masses were sung that day. +Great throng was there of Siegfried's friends. + +When that mass was sung, the folk went hence. Then Lady Kriemhild spake: +"Pray let me not hold vigil over the chosen knight this night alone. +With him all my joys have come to fall. I will let him lie in state +three days and nights, until I sate me with my dear lord. What if God +doth bid that death should take me too. Then had ended well the grief of +me, poor Kriemhild." + +The people of the town returned now to their lodgings. She begged the +priests and monks and all his retinue, that served the knight, to stay. +They spent full evil nights and toilsome days; many a man remained +without all food and drink. For those who would partake, it was made +known that men would give them to the full. This Sir Siegmund purveyed. +Then were the Nibelungs made acquaint with mickle toil. During the three +days, as we hear tell, those who knew how to sing, were made to bear a +deal of work. What offerings men brought them! Those who were very poor, +grew rich enow. Whatever of poor men there were, the which had naught, +these were bid go to mass with gold from Siegfried's treasure chamber. +Since he might not live, many thousand marks of gold were given for his +soul. She dealt out well-tilled lands, wherever cloisters and pious folk +were found. Enow of gold and silver was given to the poor. By her deeds +she showed that she did love him fondly. + +Upon the third morning at time of mass, the broad churchyard by the +minster was full of weeping country folk. They served him after death, +as one should do to loving kin. In the four days, as hath been told, +full thirty thousand marks or better still were given to the poor for +his soul's sake. Yet his great beauty and his life lay low. When God +had been served and the chants were ended, much people fought 'gainst +monstrous grief. Men bade bear him from the minster to the grave. Those +were seen to weep and wail who missed him most. With loud laments the +people followed hence; none was merry, neither wife nor man. They sang +and read a service before they buried him. Ho, what good priests were +present at his burial! Ere Siegfried's wife was come to the grave, her +faithful heart was rung with grief, so that they must needs oft sprinkle +her with water from the spring. Her pain was passing great; a mickle +wonder it was that she ever lived. Many a lady helped her in her plaint. + +Then spake the queen: "Ye men of Siegfried, by your loyalty must ye +prove your love to me. Let me receive this little favor after all my +woe, that I may see once more his comely head." + +She begged so long, with griefs strong will, that they must needs break +open the lordly casket. Then men brought the lady to where he lay. With +her white hand she raised his fair head and kissed the noble knight and +good, thus dead. Tears of blood her bright eyes wept from grief. Then +there happed a piteous parting. Men bare her hence, she could not walk, +and soon they found the high-born lady lying senseless. Fain would the +lovely fair have died of grief. + +When they had now buried the noble lord, those who were come with him +from the Nibelung land were seen to suffer from unmeasured grief. Men +found Siegmund full seldom merry then. There were those that for three +days would neither eat nor drink for passing grief. Yet might they not +so waste away their bodies, but that they recovered from their sorrows, +as still happeneth oft enow. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Bleed". This was not only a popular superstition, but also + a legal practice in case of a murder when the criminal had + not been discovered, or if any one was suspected. The + suspected person was requested to approach the bier and + touch the body, in the belief that the blood would flow + afresh if the one touching the body were guilty. Our + passage is the first instance of its mention in German + literature. A similar one occurs in "Iwein", 1355-1364. + The usage was also known in France and England. See the + instances quoted by Jacob Grimm in his "Rechtsaltertumer", + 930. + + + + +ADVENTURE XVIII. How Siegmund Journeyed Home Again. + +Kriemhild's husband's father went to where he found her. Unto the queen +he spake: "We must unto our land; by the Rhine, I ween, we be unwelcome +guests. Kriemhild, dear lady, now journey with me to my lands. Albeit +treachery here in these lands hath bereft us of your noble husband, yet +should ye not requite this. I will be friendly to you for my dear son's +sake, of this shall ye have no doubt. Ye shall have, my lady, all the +power which Siegfried, the bold knight, gave you aforetime. The land and +also the crown shall be subject to you. All Siegfried's men shall serve +you gladly." + +Then the squires were told that they must ride away. A mickle hurrying +for steeds was seen, for they were loth to stay with their deadly foes. +Men bade dames and maidens seek their robes. When that King Siegmund +would fain have ridden forth, Kriemhild's mother gan beg her that she +stay there with her kindred. + +The royal lady answered: "That might hardly hap. How could I bear the +sight of him from whom such great wrong hath happed to me, poor wife?" + +Then spake young Giselher: "Dear sister mine, by thy troth thou shouldst +stay here with thy mother. Thou dost need no service of them that have +grieved thee and saddened thy mood. Live from my goods alone." + +To the warrior she spake: "Certes, it may not hap, for I should die of +dole whenever I should gaze on Hagen." + +"I'll give thee rede for that, dear sister mine. Thou shalt live with +thy brother Giselher, and of a truth I'll comfort thee of thy husband's +death." + +Then answered the hapless wife: "Of that hath Kriemhild need." + +When the youth had made her such kindly offer, then gan Uta and Gernot +and her faithful kin entreat. They begged her to tarry there, for but +little kith she had among Siegfried's men. + +"They be all strangers to you," spake Gernot; "none that liveth is so +strong but that he must come to die. Consider that, dear sister, and +console your mind. Stay with your kinsfolk; ye shall fare well in +truth." + +Then she made vow to Giselher that she would stay. The steeds were +brought for Siegfried's men, sith they would ride to the Nibelung land. +Also all the trappings of the knights were packed upon the sumpters. +Then the Lord Siegmund hied him to Kriemhild's side. To the lady he +spake: "Siegfried's men are waiting by the steeds. Now must we ride +away, for I be ill content in Burgundy." + +The Lady Kriemhild then replied: "All that I have of faithful kin advise +me that I stay here with them; I have no kith in the Nibelung land." + +Loth it was to Siegmund, when that he found Kriemhild of this mind. He +spake: "Let no one tell you that. Before all my kinsmen ye shall wear +the crown with such sovran power as ye did aforetime. Ye shall not +suffer, because we have lost the knight. Ride also with us home again, +for the sake of your little child. Lady, ye should not leave him +orphaned. When your son groweth up, he will comfort your heart. +Meanwhile many bold heroes and good shall serve you." + +"Sir Siegmund," quoth she, "forsooth I like not for to ride. Whatever +fortune, here must I tarry with my kindred, who help me mourn." + +These tales gan now displease the doughty warriors. All spake alike: "We +might well aver that now first hath ill befallen us. If ye would +stay here with our foes, then have heroes never ridden to court more +sorrowfully." + +"Ye shall journey free of care, commended unto God; ye shall be given +safe-conduct to Siegmund's land, I'll bid them guard you well. To the +care of you knights shall my dear child be given." + +When they marked that she would not go hence, then wept all of +Siegmund's men alike. How right sorrowfully Siegmund parted then from +Lady Kriemhild! He became acquaint with grief. "Woe worth this courtly +feasting," spake the noble king. "Through pastime will nevermore hap to +king or to his kinsmen, what here hath happed to us. Men shall see us +nevermore in Burgundy." + +Then Siegfried's men spake openly: "A journey to this land might still +take place, if we discovered aright him who slew our lord. Enow of his +kinsmen be their deadly foes." + +He kissed Kriemhild; how sorrowfully he spake, when he perceived aright +that she would stay: "Now let us ride joyless home unto our land, now +first do I feel all my sorrow." + +Down to the Rhine from Worms they rode without an escort. They were +surely of the mind that they, the bold Nibelungs, could well defend +them, should they be encountered in hostile wise. Leave they asked of +none, but Gernot and Giselher were seen to go to Siegmund in loving +wise. These brave and lusty knights convinced him that they mourned his +loss. Courteously Prince Gernot spake: "God in heaven knoweth well that +I be not to blame for Siegfried's death, nor heard I ever that any was +his foe. I mourn him justly." + +Giselher, the youth, gave them then safe-conduct. Sorrowly he led them +from the land home to Netherland. How few kinsman were found joyous +then! + +How they now fared at Worms I cannot tell. All time men heard Kriemhild +mourn, so that none might comfort her heart nor mind, save Giselher +alone; loyal he was and good. Brunhild, the fair, sate in overweening +pride. How Kriemhild wept, she recked not, nor did she ever show her +love or troth. Lady Kriemhild wrought her in after days the bitterest +woe of heart. + + + + +ADVENTURE XIX. How The Nibelung Hoard Was Brought to Worms. + +When the noble Kriemhild thus was widowed, the Margrave Eckewart with +his vassals stayed with her in the land, and served her alway. He also +often helped his mistress mourn his lord. At Worms, hard by the minster, +they built for her a dwelling, broad and passing large, costly and +great, where, with her maids, she since dwelt joyless. She liked for to +go to church and did this willingly. Where her love lay buried, thither +she went all time in mournful mood (how seldom she gave that over). She +prayed the good God to have mercy on her soul. With great fidelity she +bewept the knight full oft. Uta and her meiny comforted her all time, +but so sorely wounded was her heart, that it booted naught, whatever +comfort men did offer her. She had the greatest longing for her dear +love, that ever wife did have for loving husband. One might see thereby +her passing virtue; until her end she mourned, the while life lasted. In +after days brave Siegfried's wife avenged herself with might. + +Thus she dwelt after her sorrow, after her husband's death, and this is +true, well three and one half years, that she spake no word to Gunther, +nor did she see her foeman Hagen in all this time. + +Then spake Hagen of Troneg: "If ye could compass it to make your sister +friendly, then might come to these lands the gold of Nibelung. Of this +might ye win great store, an' the queen would be our friend." + +The king made answer: "Let us try. My brothers bide with her; we will +beg them to bring it to pass that she be our friend, if perchance she +might gladly see us win the hoard." + +"I trow not," spake Hagen, "that it will ever hap." + +Then he bade Ortwin and the Margrave Gere go to court. When that was +done, Gernot and Giselher, the youth, were also brought. They tried +it with the Lady Kriemhild in friendly wise. Brave Gernot of Burgundy +spake: "Lady, ye mourn too long for Siegfried's death. The king will +give you proof that he hath not slain him. We hear you mourn all time so +greatly." + +She spake: "None chargeth him with this. 'Twas Hagen's hand that struck +him, where he could be wounded. When he learned this of me, how could +I think that he did bear him hate? Else had I guarded against this full +well," spake the queen, "so that I had not betrayed his life; then would +I, poor wife, leave off my weeping. I'll never be a friend of him that +did the deed." Then Giselher, the full stately man, began implore. + +When at last she spake: "I will greet the king," men saw him stand +before her with his nearest kin, but Hagen durst not come before her. +Well he wot his guilt; 'twas he had caused her dole. When now she would +forego her hate of Gunther, so that he might kiss her, it had befitted +him better had she not been wronged by his advice; then might he have +gone boldly unto Kriemhild. Nevermore was peace between kindred brought +to pass with so many tears; her loss still gave her woe. All, save the +one man alone, she pardoned. None had slain him, had not Hagen done the +deed. + +Not long thereafter they brought it to pass that Lady Kriemhild gained +the hoard from the Nibelung land and brought it to the Rhine. It was +her marriage morning gift (1) and was hers by right. Giselher and Gernot +rode to fetch it. Kriemhild ordered eighty hundred men, that they should +bring it from where it lay hid, where it was guarded by the knight +Alberich (2) and his nearest kin. When they saw those from the Rhine +coming for the hoard, Alberich, the bold, spake to his friends: "Naught +of the treasure dare we withhold from her, sith the noble queen averreth +it to be her marriage morning gift. Yet should this never be done," +quoth Alberich, "but that with Siegfried we have foully lost the good +Cloud Cloak, for fair Kriemhild's love did wear it alway. Now, alas, +it hath fared ill with Siegfried, that the hero bereft us of the Cloud +Cloak and that all this land did have to serve him." + +Then went the warder to where he found the keys. Before the castle stood +Kriemhild's liegemen and a deal of her kinsfolk. Men bade carry the +treasure hence to the sea, down to the boats; one bare it then upon +the waves to the mountains on the Rhine. Now may ye hear marvels of the +hoard, the which twelve huge wains, packed full, were just able to bear +away from the hill in four days and nights and each must make the trip +three times a day. There was naught else but gems and gold, and had men +paid therewith the wage of all the world, not a mark less had it been +in worth. Forsooth Hagen did not crave it so without good cause. The +greatest prize of all was a wishing-rod (3) of gold. He who knew its +nature, might well be master over any man in all the world. + +Many of Alberich's kinsmen journeyed with Gernot hence. When they +stored away the hoard in Gunther's land and the queen took charge of +everything, chambers and towers were filled therewith. Never did men +hear tales told of such wondrous store of goods. And had it been a +thousand times as much, if the Lord Siegfried were but alive again, +Kriemhild would fain have stood empty-handed at his side. No more +faithful wife did hero ever win. Now that she had the hoard, she brought +many unknown warriors to the land. In truth the lady's hand gave in +such wise that men have never seen such bounty more. She used great +courtesie; men owned this of the queen. To the rich and the poor she +began to give so greatly that Hagen said, should she live yet a while, +she would gain so many a man for her service that they would fare full +ill. + +Then spake King Gunther: "Her life and her goods be hers. How shall I +hinder that she do with them as she will? Forsooth I hardly compassed +it, that she became thus much my friend. Let us not reck to whom she +deal out her silver and her gold." + +Spake Hagen to the king: "No doughty man should leave to any wife aught +of the heard. With her gifts she'll bring about the day when it well may +rue the brave Burgundians sore." + +Then spake King Gunther: "I swore an oath, that nevermore would I do her +harm, and will keep it further, for she is my sister." + +Spake then Hagen: "Let me be the guilty one." + +Few of their oaths were kept. From the widow they took the mighty +store and Hagen made him master of all the keys. This vexed her brother +Gernot, when he heard the tale aright. Lord Giselher spake: "Hagen hath +done my sister much of harm; I should prevent it. It would cost him his +life, were he not my kin." + +Siegfried's wife shed tears anew. Then spake the Lord Gernot: "Or ever +we be imperiled by the gold, we should have it sunk entirely in the +Rhine, that it belong to none." + +Full pitifully she went before her brother Giselher. She spake: "Dear +brother, thou shouldst think of me and be the guardian of both my life +and goods." + +Quoth he then to the lady: "That shall be done when we return again, for +now we think to ride." + +The king and his kindred voided then the land, the very best among them +that one might find. Only Hagen alone remained at home, through the +hatred he bare to Kriemhild, and did so willingly. Before the king was +come again, Hagen had taken the treasure quite and sunk it all at +Loche, (4) in the Rhine. He weened to use it, but that might not be. The +lordings came again and with them many men. With her maids and ladies +Kriemhild gan bewail her passing loss, for sore it grieved them. Gladly +would Giselher have helped in all good faith. All spake alike: "He hath +done wrong." + +Hagen avoided the princes' wrath, until he gained their favor. They +did him naught, but Kriemhild might never have borne him greater hate. +Before Hagen of Troneg thus hid the treasure, they had sworn with mighty +oaths that it should lie concealed as long as any one of them might +live. Later they could not give it to themselves or any other. + +Kriemhild's mind was heavy with fresh sorrow over her husband's end, and +because they had taken from her all her wealth. Her plaints ceased not +in all her life, down to her latest day. After Siegfried's death, and +this is true, she dwelt with many a grief full thirteen years, that she +could not forget the warrior's death. She was true to him, as most folk +owned. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Marriage morning gift" was the gift which it was customary + for the bridegroom to give the bride on the morning after + the bridal night. On this custom see Weinhold, "Deutsche + Frauen im Mittelalter", i, p. 402. + (2) "Alberich", see Adventure III, note 8. It is characteristic + of the poem that even this dwarf is turned into a knight. + (3) "Wishing-rod", a magic device for discovering buried + treasure. Cf. Grimm, "Deutsche Mythologie," ii, 813. + (4) "Loche", according to Piper, is the modern "Locheim" in the + Rhine province. + + + + +ADVENTURE XX. How King Etzel (1) Sent To Burgundy For Kriemhild. + +That was in a time when Lady Helca (2) died and the king Etzel sought +another wife, that his friends advised his marriage to a proud widow in +the Burgundian land, hight Lady Kriemhild. Since fair Helca was dead, +they spake: "Would ye gain a noble wife, the highest and the best king +ever won, then take this same lady; the stalwart Siegfried was her +husband." + +Then spake the mighty king: "How might that chance, sith I am heathen +and be christened not a whit, whereas the lady is a Christian and +therefore would not plight her troth? It would be a marvel, and that +ever happed." + +The doughty warriors answered: "What if she do it, perchance, for the +sake of your high name and your mickle goods? One should at least make a +trial for the noble dame. Well may ye love the stately fair." + +The noble king then spake: "Which of you be acquaint with the people and +the land by the Rhine?" + +Up spake then the good knight Rudeger of Bechelaren: (3) "I have known +from a child the three noble and lordly kings, Gunther and Gernot, the +noble knights and good; the third hight Giselher. Each of them doth use +the highest honors and courtesie, as their forebears, too, have always +done." + +Then answered Etzel: "Friend, I prithee, tell me whether she should wear +the crown in this my land. An' she be so fair, as hath been told me, it +shall never rue my dearest kin." + +"She compareth well in beauty with my Lady Helca, the royal queen. +Certes, there might not be in all this world a king's bride more fair. +He may well be of good cheer to whom she plight her troth." + +He spake: "So bring it to pass, Rudeger, as I be dear to thee; and if +ever I do lie at Kriemhild's side, I will requite thee for it as best +I may. Then hast thou done my will in fullest wise. From my treasure +chambers I will bid thee be given such store of horses, of clothes and +all thou wilt, that thou and thy fellowship may live full merrily. I'll +bid full plenty of these things be made ready against thine errand." + +To this the lordly margrave Rudeger replied: "Craved I thy goods, that +were not worthy of praise. With mine own goods, which I have from thy +hands, will I gladly be thy envoy to the Rhine." + +Then spake the mighty king: "Now when wilt thou ride for the fair? May +God keep thee and my lady in all worship on the journey. May fortune +help me, that she look with favor on my suit." + +Rudeger made answer: "Ere we void the land, we must first make ready +arms and trappings, that we may stand with honor before princes. I will +lead to the Rhine five hundred stately men, that wherever in Burgundy I +and mine be seen, all may say of thee: 'Never did any king send afar so +many men in better wise than thou hast done to the Rhine.' If thou, O +mighty king, wilt not turn back on this account, I'll tell thee that +her noble love was subject unto Siegfried, Siegmund's son. Him thou hast +seen here. (4) Men could in right truth ascribe to him great worship." + +Then spake King Etzel: "Tho' she was the warrior's wife, yet was the +noble prince so peerless that I should not disdain the queen. She liketh +me well for her passing beauty." + +The margrave answered: "Then I will tell thee that we will start hence +in four and twenty days. I'll send word to Gotelind, my dear lady, that +I myself will be the messenger to Kriemhild." + +Rudeger sent word to Bechelaren, at which the margravine grew both +sorrowful and proud. He told her he should woo for the king a wife. +Lovingly she thought on Helca, the fair. When the margravine heard the +message, a deal she rued it; weeping beseemed her at the thought whether +she should gain a lady as afore. When she thought on Helca, it grieved +her heart full sore. + +Rudeger should ride in seven days from Hungary; lusty and merry King +Etzel was at this. There in the town of Vienna men prepared their +weeds. Then might he no longer delay his journey. At Bechelaren Gotelind +awaited him; the young margravine, too, Rudeger's child, gladly saw her +father and his men. Many fair maids awaited them with joy. Ere the noble +Rudeger rode from the city of Vienna to Bechelaren, all their clothes +were placed upon the sumpters. They journeyed in such wise that not a +whit was taken from them. + +When they were come to tho town of Bechelaren, the host full lovingly +bade lodge his fellowship and ease them well. The noble Gotelind saw +the host come gladly, as likewise his dear daughter did, the young +margravine. To her his coming could not be liefer. How fain she was to +see the heroes from the Hunnish land! With smiling mien the noble maiden +spake: "Now be my father and his men full welcome here." + +Then great thanks were given to the young margravine by many a doughty +knight in courteous wise. Well wot Gotelind Sir Rudeger's mood. When at +night she lay close by his side, what kindly questions the margravine +put, whither the king of the Huns had sent him. He spake: "My Lady +Gotelind, I'll gladly make this known to thee. I must woo another +lady for my lord, sith that the fair Helca hath died. I will ride for +Kriemhild to the Rhine; she shall become a mighty queen here among the +Huns." + +"Would to God," spake Gotelind, "an' that might hap, sith we do hear +such speech of her many honors, that she might perchance replace our +lady for us in our old age, and that we might be fain to let her wear +the crown in Hungary." + +Then spake the margrave: "My love, ye must offer to those who are to +ride with me to the Rhine, your goods in loving wise. When heroes travel +richly, then are they of lofty mood." + +She spake: "There be none that taketh gladly from my hand, to whom I +would not give what well beseemeth him, or ever ye and your men part +hence." + +Quoth the margrave: "That doth like me well." + +Ho, what rich cloths of silk were borne from their treasure chambers! +With enow of this the clothing of the noble warriors was busily lined +from the neck down to their spurs. Rudeger had chosen only men that +pleased him well. + +On the seventh morning the host and his warriors rode forth from +Bechelaren. Weapons and clothes a plenty they took with them through the +Bavarian land. Seldom did men assail them on the highways for robbery's +sake, and within twelve days they reached the Rhine. Then might the +tidings not be hid; men told it to the king and to his liegemen, that +stranger guests were come. The host gan say, if any knew them, he should +tell him so. One saw their sumpters bear right heavy loads. 'Twas seen +that they were passing rich. + +Anon in the broad town men purveyed them quarters. When that the many +strangers had been lodged, these same lords were gazed upon full oft. +The people wondered from whence these warriors were come to the Rhine. +The host now sent for Hagen, if perchance they might be known to him. +Then spake the knight of Troneg: "None of them have I ever seen, but +when we now gaze upon them, I can tell you well from whence they ride +hither to this land. They must indeed be strangers, an' I know them not +full soon." (5) + +Lodgings were now taken for the guests. The envoy and his fellowship +were come in passing costly vesture. To the court they rode wearing good +garments, cut in full cunning wise. Then spake the doughty Hagen: "As +well as I can tell, for I have not seen the lord long time, they ride as +if 'twere Rudeger from the Hunnish land, a lordly knight and a brave." + +"How can I believe," spake at once the king, "that the lord of +Bechelaren be come to this land?" + +When King Gunther had ended his speech, Hagen, the brave, espied the +good knight Rudeger. He and his friends all ran to meet them. Then five +hundred knights were seen dismounting from their steeds. Fair were the +men from Hungary greeted; messengers had never worn such lordly clothes. +Then Hagen of Troneg spake full loudly: "Now be these knights, the lord +of Bechelaren and all his men, welcome in God's name." + +With worship the speedy knights were greeted. The next of kin to the +king went to where they stood. Ortwin of Metz spake to Rudeger: "Never +have we seen guests so gladly here at any time. This I can truly say." + +On all sides they thanked the warriors for their greeting. With all +their fellowship they hied them to the hall, where they found the +king and with him many a valiant man. The lords rose from their seats; +through their great chivalry this was done. How right courteously he met +the messengers! Gunther and Gernot greeted the stranger and his vassals +warmly, as was his due. He took the good knight Rudeger by the hand +and led him to the seat where he sat himself. Men bade pour out for the +guests (full gladly this was done) passing good mead and the best of +wine that one might find in the land along the Rhine. Giselher and Gere +both were come; Dankwart and Folker, too, had heard about the strangers. +Merry they were of mood and greeted before the king the noble knights +and good. + +Then spake Hagen of Troneg to his lord: "These thy knights should ever +requite what the margrave for our sake hath done; for this should the +husband of fair Gotelind receive reward." + +King Gunther spake: "I cannot hold my peace; ye must tell me how fare +Etzel and Helca of the Hunnish land." + +To this the margrave now made answer: "I'll gladly let you know." He +rose from his seat with all his men and spake to the king: "An' may that +be that ye permit me, O prince, so will I not conceal the tidings that I +bring, but will tell them willingly." + +Quoth the king: "The tidings that have been sent us through you, these +I'll let you tell without the rede of friends. Pray let me and my +vassals hear them, for I begrudge you no honor that ye here may gain." + +Then spake the worthy envoy: "My great master doth commend to you upon +the Rhine his faithful service and to all the kinsmen ye may have. This +message is sent in all good faith. The noble king bade complain to you +his need. His folk is joyless; my lady, the royal Helca, my master's +wife, is dead. Through her hath many a high-born maid been orphaned, +daughters of noble princes, whom she hath trained. Therefore it standeth +full piteously in his land; they have alas none that might befriend them +faithfully. The king's grief, I ween, will abate but slowly." + +"Now God reward him," spake Gunther, "that he so willingly commendeth +his service to me and to my kin. Full gladly have I here heard his +greeting, and this both my kindred and my men shall fain requite." + +Then spake the warrior Gernot of Burgundy: "The world must ever rue fair +Helca's death, for her many courtesies, which she well knew how to use." + +With this speech Hagen, the passing stately knight, agreed. + +Then answered Rudeger, the noble and lordly envoy: "Sith ye permit me, +O king, I shall tell you more, the which my dear lord hath hither sent +you, sith he doth live so right sorrowfully in longing after Helca. Men +told my lord that Kriemhild be without a husband, that Sir Siegfried be +dead. If this be so, then shall she wear a crown before Etzel's knights, +would ye but permit her. This my sovran bade me say." + +Then spake the mighty king, full courteous was his mood: "And she care +to do this, she shall hear my pleasure. This will I make known to you in +these three days. Why should I refuse King Etzel before I've learned her +wish?" + +Meanwhile men bade purvey good easement for the guests. They were served +so well that Rudeger owned he had good friends there among Gunther's men. +Hagen served him gladly, as Rudeger had done to him of yore. Till the +third day Rudeger thus remained. The king sent for his counsel (full +wisely he acted) to see whether his kinsmen would think it well that +Kriemhild take King Etzel to husband. All together they advised it, save +Hagen alone. He spake to Gunther, the knight: "Have ye but the right +wit, ye will take good care that ye never do this, tho' she were fain to +follow." + +"Why," spake then Gunther, "should I not consent? Whatever pleasure +happen to the queen, I should surely grant her this; she is my sister. +We ourselves should bring it to pass, if perchance it might bring her +honor." + +Then answered Hagen: "Give over this speech. Had ye knowledge of Etzel +as have I, and should she harry him, as I hear you say, then first hath +danger happed to you by right." + +"Why?" quoth Gunther. "I'll take good care that I come not so near +him that I must suffer aught of hatred on his part, an' she become his +wife." + +Said Hagen: "Never will I give you this advice." + +For Gernot and Giselher men bade send to learn whether the two lords +would think it well that Kriemhild should take the mighty and noble +king. Hagen still gainsaid, but no one other. Then spake the knight +Giselher of Burgundy: "Friend Hagen, ye may still show your fealty. Make +her to forget the wrongs that ye have done her. Whatever good fortune +she may have, this ye should not oppose. Ye have in truth done my sister +so many an ill," continued Giselher, the full lusty knight, "that she +hath good cause, if she be angry with you. Never hath one bereft a lady +of greater joys." + +Quoth Hagen: "I'll do you to wit what well I know. If she take Etzel and +live long enow, she'll do us still much harm in whatever way she can. +Forsooth full many a stately vassal will own her service." + +To this brave Gernot answered: "It may not happen, that we ever ride to +Etzel's land before they both be dead. Let us serve her faithfully, that +maketh for our honor." + +Again Hagen spake: "None can gainsay me, an' the noble Kriemhild wear +the crown of Helca, she will do us harm as best she may. Ye should give +it over, 'twould beseem you knights far better." + +Wrathfully then spake Giselher, fair Uta's son: "Let us not all act as +traitors. We should be glad of whatever honors may be done her. Whatever +ye may say, Hagen, I shall serve her by my troth." + +Gloomy of mood grew Hagen when he heard these words. Gernot and +Giselher, the proud knights and good, and Gunther, the mighty, spake at +last, if Kriemhild wished it, they would let it hap without all hate. + +Then spake Prince Gere: "I will tell the lady that she look with favor +upon King Etzel, to whom so many knights owe dread obedience. He can +well requite her of all the wrongs that have been done her." + +Then the doughty warrior hied him to where he saw Kriemhild. Kindly she +received him. How quickly then he spake: "Ye may well greet me gladly +and give me a messenger's meed. Fortune is about to part you from all +your woes. For the sake of your love, my lady, one of the very best that +ever gained a kingdom with great honors, or should wear a crown, hath +sent envoys hither. Noble knights be wooing; this my brother bade me +tell you." + +Then spake the sorrow-laden dame: "God should forbid you and all my +kinsmen that ye make a mock of me, poor woman. What could I be to a man +who had ever gained heartfelt love from a faithful wife?" + +Sorely she gainsaid it, but then came Gernot, her brother, and Giselher, +the youth, and lovingly bade her ease her heart. It would do her good in +truth, could she but take the king. + +None might persuade the lady that she should marry any man. Then the +knights begged: "If ye do naught else, pray let it hap that ye deign to +see the messengers." + +"I'll not deny," spake the noble dame, "but that I should gladly see +the Margrave Rudeger for his passing courtesie. Were he not sent hither, +whoever else might be the messenger, never should he become acquainted +with me. Pray bid him come to-morrow to my bower. I'll let him hear my +will in full and tell it him myself." At this her great laments brake +forth anew. + +The noble Rudeger now craved naught else but that he might see the +high-born queen. He wist himself to be so wise that she could not but +let the knight persuade her, if it should ever be. Early on the morrow +when mass was sung, the noble envoys came. A great press arose; of those +who should go to court with Rudeger, many a lordly man was seen arrayed. +Full sad of mood, the high-born Kriemhild bided the noble envoy and +good. He found her in the weeds she wore each day, whereas her handmaids +wore rich clothes enow. She went to meet him to the door and greeted +full kindly Etzel's liegeman. Only as one of twelve he went to meet her. +Men offered him great worship, for never were come more lofty envoys. +They bade the lording and his vassals seat them. Before her were seen to +stand the two Margraves Eckewart and Gere, the noble knights and good. +None they saw merry of mood, for the sake of the lady of the house. Many +fair women were seen to sit before her, but Kriemhild only nursed her +grief; her dress upon her breast was wet with scalding tears. This the +noble margrave noted well on Kriemhild. + +Then spake the high-born messenger: "Most noble princess, I pray you, +permit me and my comrades that are come with me, to stand before you and +tell you the tidings for the sake of which we have ridden hither." + +"Now may ye speak whatso ye list," spake the queen. "I am minded to hear +it gladly; ye be a worthy messenger." + +The others noted well her unwilling mood. + +Then spake Prince Rudeger of Bechelaren: "Etzel, a high-born king, +hath in good faith sent you a friendly greeting, my lady, by messengers +hither to this land. Many good knights hath he sent hither for your +love. Great joy without grief he doth offer you most truly. He is ready +to give you constant friendship, as he did afore to Lady Helca, who lay +within his heart. Certes, through longing for her virtues he hath full +often joyless days." + +Then spake the queen: "Margrave Rudeger, were there any who knew my +bitter sorrow, he would not bid me marry any man. Of a truth I lost the +best of husbands that ever lady won." + +"What may comfort grief," the bold knight replied, "but married joy. +When that any gan gain this and chooseth one who doth beseem him, naught +availeth so greatly for woe of heart. And ye care to love my noble +master, ye shall have power over twelve mighty crowns. Thereto my lord +will give you the lands of thirty princes, all of which his doughty hand +hath overcome. Ye shall become the mistress over many worthy liegemen, +who were subject to my Lady Helca, and over many dames of high and +princely race, who owned her sway." Thus spake the brave knight and +bold. "Thereto my lord will give you (this he bade me say), if ye would +deign to wear with him the crown, the very highest power which Helca +ever won; this shall ye rule before all Etzel's men." + +Then spake the queen: "How might it ever list me to become a hero's +bride? Death hath given me in the one such dole that I must ever live +joyless unto mine end." + +To this the Huns replied: "O mighty queen, your life at Etzel's court +will be so worshipful that it will ever give you joy, an' it come to +pass, for the mighty king hath many a stately knight. Helca's damosels +and your maids shall together form one retinue, at sight of which +warriors may well be blithe of mood. Be advised, my lady, ye will fare +well in truth." + +With courtesie she spake: "Now let be this speech until the morrow +early, when ye shall come here again. Then will I give you answer to +what ye have in mind." + +The bold knights and good must needs obey. + +When all were now come to their lodgings, the noble dame bade send for +Giselher and for her mother, too. To the twain she said, that weeping +did beseem her and naught else better. + +Then spake her brother Giselher: "Sister, it hath been told me, and I +can well believe it, that King Etzel would make all thy sorrows vanish, +and thou takest him to be thy husband. Whatever others may advise, this +thinketh me well done. He is well able to turn thy grief to joy," spake +Giselher again; "from the Rhone to the Rhine, from the Elbe down to the +sea, there be no other king as mighty as he. Thou mayst well rejoice, +an' he make thee his wife." + +She spake: "My dear brother, why dost thou advise me this? Weeping +and wailing beseem me better far. How should I go to court before his +knights? Had I ever beauty, of this I am now bereft." + +To her dear daughter the Lady Uta spake: "Whatever thy brothers counsel +thee, dear child, that do. Obey thy kindred and it will go well with +thee. I have seen thee now too long in thy great grief." + +Then she prayed God full oft to grant her such store of goods that she +might have gold, silver, and clothes to give, as at her husband's side +of yore, when that he was still alive and well. Else would she never +have again such happy hours. She thought within her mind: "And shall +I give my body to a paynim (6) (I am a Christian wife), forever in the +world must I bear shame. An' he gave me all the kingdoms in the world +still 1 would not do it." + +Thus she let the matter rest. All night until the break of day the lady +lay upon her bed in thought. Her bright eyes never grew dry, till on the +morn she went to matins. Just at the time for mass the kings were come +and took their sister again in hand. In truth they urged her to wed the +king of the Hunnish land; little did any of them find the lady merry. +Then they bade fetch hither Etzel's men, who now would fain have taken +their leave, whatever the end might be, whether they gained or lost +their suit. Rudeger came now to court; his heroes urged him to learn +aright the noble prince's mind. To all it seemed well that this be done +betimes, for long was the way back into their land. Men brought Rudeger +to where Kriemhild was found. Winningly the knight gan beg the noble +queen to let him hear what message she would send to Etzel's land. I +ween, he heard from her naught else than no, that she nevermore would +wed a man. The margrave spake: "That were ill done. Why would ye let +such beauty wither? Still with honor may ye become the bride of a worthy +man." + +Naught booted that they urged, till Rudeger told the noble queen in +secret that he would make amends for all that ever happed to her. At +this her great sorrow grew a deal more mild. To the queen he spake: "Let +be your weeping. If ye had none among the Huns but me and my faithful +kin and liegemen, sore must he repent it who had ever done you aught." + +At this the lady's mood grew gentler. She spake: "Then swear me an +oath, that whatever any do to me that ye will be the first to amend my +wrongs." + +Quoth the margrave: "For this, my lady, I am ready." + +Rudeger with all his vassals swore that he would ever serve her +faithfully and pledged his hand, that the noble knights from Etzel's +land would ne'er refuse her aught. + +Then the faithful lady thought: "Sith I, wretched wife, have won so many +friends, I'll let the people say whatso they choose. What if my dear +husband's death might still be avenged?" She thought: "Sith Etzel hath +so many men-at-arms, I can do whatso I will, an' I command them. He is +likewise so rich that I shall have wherewith to give; the baleful Hagen +hath bereft me of my goods." + +To Rudeger she spake: "Had I not heard that he were a paynim, gladly +would I go whithersoever he listed and would take him to my husband." + +Then spake the margrave: "Lady, give over this speech. He hath so many +knights of Christian faith, that ye'll ever be joyful at his court. +What if ye bring it to pass, that he should let himself be christened? +Therefore may ye fain become King Etzel's wife." + +Then her brothers spake again: "Now pledge your troth, dear sister. Ye +should now give over your sadness." + +They begged her till she sadly vowed before the heroes to become King +Etzel's bride. She spake: "I will obey you, I poor queen, and fare to +the Huns as soon as ever that may be, whenever I have friends who will +take me to his land." + +Of this fair Kriemhild pledged her hand before the knights. + +Then spake the margrave: "If ye have two liegemen, I have still more. +'Twill be the best, that with worship we escort you across the Rhine. +No longer, lady, shall ye tarry here in Burgundy. I have five hundred +vassals and kinsmen, too; they shall serve you, lady, and do whatso ye +bid, both here and there at home. I'll do by you the same whenever ye +do mind me of the tale and never feel ashamed. Now bid the housings for +your horses be made ready (Rudeger's counsel will never irk you) and +tell it to your maids, whom ye would take along, for many a chosen +knight will meet us on the road." + +She still had harness with which they rode afore in Siegfried's time, so +that she might take with her many maidens now with worship, whenever she +would hence. Ho, what good saddles they fetched for the comely dames! +Albeit they had aye worn costly robes, many more were now made ready, +for much had been told them of the king. They opened up the chests, +which stood afore well locked. For four and one half days they were +aught but idle; from the presses they brought forth the stores that lay +therein. Kriemhild now began to open up her treasure rooms, she fain +would make all Rudeger's liegemen rich. Of the gold from the Nibelung +land she still had such store that a hundred horses might not bear it; +she weened her hand should deal it out among the Huns. + +This tale Hagen heard told of Kriemhild. He spake: "Sith Kriemhild will +not become my friend, so Siegfried's gold must stay behind. For why +should I give to my foes such great store of goods? Well I wot what +Kriemhild will do with this hoard. I can well believe, an' she take it +with her, that it will be doled out to call forth hate against me. Nor +have they steeds enow to bear it hence. Hagen doth intend to keep it, +pray tell Kriemhild that." + +When that she heard this tale, it irked her sore. It was likewise told +to all three kings. Fain would they have changed it, but as this did not +hap, the noble Rudeger spake full blithely: "Mighty queen, why mourn ye +for the gold? King Etzel doth bear you such great love, that when his +eyes do light upon you, such store he'll give you that ye can never +spend it all; this will I swear to you, my lady." + +Then spake the queen: "Most noble Rudeger, never hath king's daughter +gained such wealth as that, of which Hagen hath bereft me." + +Then came her brother Gernot to the treasure chamber. By leave of the +king in the door he thrust the key. Kriemhild's gold was handed forth, a +thousand marks or more. He bade the strangers take it; much this pleased +King Gunther. + +Then spake Gotelind's knight from Bechelaren: "And had my Lady Kriemhild +all the hoard that was brought from the Nibelung land, little of it +would mine or the queen's hand touch. Now bid them keep it, for I will +none of it. Forsooth I brought from home such store of mine that we can +lightly do without this on the road, for we be furnished for the journey +in full lordly wise." + +Afore this her maids had filled twelve chests at leisure with the very +best of gold that anywhere might be. This they took with them and great +store of women's trinkets, which they should wear upon the road. Her +thought too great the might of Hagen. Of her gold for offerings (7) she +had still a thousand marks. For her dear husband's soul she dealt it +out. This Rudeger thought was done in faithful love. Then spake the +mournful lady: "Where be now my friends who for my sake would live in +exile? Let those who would ride with me to the Hunnish land, take now my +treasure and purchase horses and trappings." + +Then spake the margrave Eckewart to the queen: "Since the day I first +became your vassal, I have served you faithfully," spake the knight, +"and aye will do the same by you until mine end. I will take with +me also five hundred of my men and place them in your service right +loyally. Naught shall ever part us, save death alone." + +For this speech Kriemhild bowed her thanks; forsooth she had full need. + +Men now led forth the palfreys; for they would ride away. Then many +tears were shed by kinsfolk. Royal Uta and many a comely maiden showed +that they were sad at Kriemhild's loss. A hundred high-born maids she +took with her hence, who were arrayed as well befit them. Then from +bright eyes the tears fell down, but soon at Etzel's court they lived +to see much joy. Then came Lord Giselher and Gernot, too, with their +fellowship, as their courtesie demanded. Fain would they escort their +dear sister hence; of their knights they took with them full a thousand +stately men. Then came Ortwin and the doughty Gere; Rumolt, the master +of the kitchen, must needs be with them, too. They purveyed them night +quarters as far as the Danube's shore, but Gunther rode no further than +a little from the town. Ere they fared hence from the Rhine, they had +sent their messengers swiftly on ahead to the Hunnish land, who +should tell the king that Rudeger had gained for him to wife the noble +high-born queen. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Etzel", see Adventure I, note 7. + (2) "Helca" (M.H.G. "Helche") or "Herka", Etzel's wife, is the + daughter of king "Oserich" or "Osantrix", as the + "Thidreksaga" calls him. In the latter work (chap. 73-80) + we read how Rudeger (Rodingeir) took her by force from her + father and brought her to Etzel to be the latter's bride. + On her identity with the historical "Kerka" of Priscus, see + Bleyer, PB. "Beit." xxxi, 542. + (3) "Rudeger of Bechelaren", or, as the name reads in the + "Thidreksaga", "Rodingeir of Bakalar", is probably not an + historical personage, but the hero of a separate legend. + Evidence of this is seen in the fact that he calls himself + an exile, though he is Etzel's mightiest vassal, with + castles and lands in fief. He may have been introduced, as + Wilmanns ("Anz." xviii 101) thinks, to play a role + originally assigned to Dietrich, who is also an exile. + Mullenhoff considered him to have been a mythical person. + Bechelaren, or Pechlarn, lies at the junction of the Erlach + with the Danube. + (4) "hast seen here". "Biterolf", 9471, relates that Dietrich + had carried Siegfried, when young, by force to Etzel's + court. + (5) "full soon". See Adventure III, note 4. + (6) "Paynim" (O F. "paienime", late Latin "paganismus"), + 'heathen'. + (7) "gold for offerings". This was the gold to be used as + offering when masses were sung for Siegfried's soul. + + + + +ADVENTURE XXI. How Kriemhild Journeyed To The Huns. + +Let now the messengers ride. We will do you to wit, how the queen +journeyed through the lands and where Giselher and Gernot parted from +her. They had served her as their fealty bade them. Down to Vergen (1) +on the Danube they rode; here they gan crave leave of the queen, for +they would ride again to the Rhine. Without tears these faithful kinsmen +might not part. Doughty Giselher spake then to his sister: "Whenever, +lady, thou shouldst need me, when aught doth trouble thee, let me but +know, and I will ride in thy service to Etzel's land." + +Those who were her kin she kissed upon the mouth. Lovingly they took +their leave of Margrave Rudeger's men. The queen had with her many a +fair-fashioned maid, full a hundred and four, that wore costly robes +of rich, gay-colored silks. Many broad shields were borne close by the +ladies on the road, but many a lordly warrior turned then from her. + +They journeyed soon from thence down through Bavarian land. Here the +tale was told that many unknown strangers had gathered there, where +still a cloister standeth and where the Inn floweth into the Danube. In +the town of Passau, where lived a bishop, lodgings were soon emptied and +the prince's court as well, as they hurried forth to meet the strangers +in the Bavarian land, where the Bishop Pilgrim (2) found fair Kriemhild. +The knights of the land were little loth, when in her train they saw so +many comely maids; with their eyes they courted the daughters of noble +knights. Later good lodgings were given the noble guests. + +With his niece the bishop rode toward Passau. When it was told the +burghers of the town that Kriemhild was come, their prince's sister's +child, well was she greeted by the merchants. The bishop had the hope +that they would stay. Then spake Sir Eckewart: "That may not be. We must +fare further down to Rudeger's land. Many knights await us, for all wot +well the news." + +Well wist fair Gotelind the tale. She tired her and her noble child with +care. Rudeger had sent her word that it thought him good that she should +cheer the mind of the queen by riding forth, with his vassals to the +Enns (3) for to meet her. When this message had been given, one saw +on every side the roads alive; on foot and horse they hastened to meet +their guests. Now was the queen come to Efferding. (4) Enow there were +from the Bavarian land who might perchance have done the guests much +harm, had they robbed upon the roads, as was their wont. That had been +forestalled by the lordly margrave: he led a thousand knights or more. + +Now Gotelind, the wife of Rudeger, was come; with her there rode many a +noble knight in lordly vise. When they were come across the Traun, (5) +upon the plain by Enns, one saw erected huts and tents, where the guests +should have their lodgings for the night. Rudeger gave the vitaille to +his guests. Fair Gotelind left her lodgings far behind her; along the +road there trotted many a shapely palfrey with jingling bridle. Fair +was the welcome; right well was Rudeger pleased. Among those who rode to +meet them on the way, on either side, in praiseworthy wise, was many a +knight. They practised chivalry, the which full many a maiden saw. Nor +did the service of the knights mislike the queen. When that Rudeger's +liegemen met the guests, many truncheons (6) were seen to fly on high +from the warriors' hands in knightly custom. As though for a prize they +rode before the ladies there. This they soon gave over and many warriors +greeted each other in friendly wise. Then they escorted fair Gotelind +from thence to where she saw Kriemhild. Scant leisure had they who wot +how to serve the ladies. + +The lord of Bechelaren rode now to his wife. Little it irked the noble +margravine that he was come so well and sound from the Rhine. In part +her cares had given way to joy. When she had welcomed him, he bade +her dismount with the ladies of her train upon the sward. Many a +noble knight bestirred him and served the ladies with eager zeal. Then +Kriemhild spied the margravine standing with her meiny. No nearer she +drew, but checked the palfrey with the bridle and bade them lift her +quickly from the saddle. Men saw the bishop with Eckewart lead his +sister's child to Gotelind. All stood aside at once. Then the exiled +queen kissed Gotelind upon the mouth. Full lovingly spake Rudeger's +wife: "Now well is me, dear lady, that I have ever seen with mine own +eyes your charming self in these our lands. Naught liefer might hap to +me in all these times." + +"Now God requite you," quoth Kriemhild, "most noble Gotelind. Shall I +and Botelung's (7) son remain alive and well, it may be lief to you that +ye have seen me here." + +Neither knew what must needs later hap. Many maidens went to meet each +other in courtly wise. The warriors, too, were full ready with their +service. After the greeting they sat them down upon the clover. With +many they became acquaint, who were full strange to them aforetime. As +it was now high noon, men bade pour out wine for the ladies. The +noble meiny no longer tarried, but rode to where they found many broad +pavilions; there ample service stood ready for the guests. + +That night they had repose till early on the morn. Those from Bechelaren +made ready for to lodge the worthy guests. So well had Rudeger planned, +that little enow they lacked. The embrasures in the walls stood open, +the castle at Bechelaren was opened wide. In rode the guests whom men +were fain to see; the noble host bade purvey them proper easement. Most +lovingly Rudeger's daughter with her meiny went to welcome the queen. +There, too, stood her mother, the margrave's wife; many a high-born maid +was greeted with delight. They took each other by the hand and hied +them hence to a broad hall, fashioned full fair, under which the Danube +flowed along. Towards the breeze they sate and held great pastime. What +more they did I cannot tell, save that Kriemhild's men-at-arms were +heard to grumble that they fared so slowly on their way, for much it +irked them. Ho, what good knights rode with them hence from Bechelaren! + +Rudeger offered them much loving service. The queen gave Gotelind's +daughter twelve ruddy armlets, and raiment too, as good as any that she +brought to Etzel's land. Although the Nibelung gold was taken from her, +yet she did win the hearts of all that saw her with the little she still +might have. Great gifts were given to the courtiers of the host. In +turn the Lady Gotelind offered the guests from the Rhine worship in such +friendly wise, that men found passing few of the strangers that did not +wear her jewels or her lordly robes. + +When they had eaten and should depart, faithful service was proffered by +the lady of the house to Etzel's bride. The fair young margravine, too, +was much caressed. To the queen she spake: "Whenso it thinketh you +good, I know well that my dear father will gladly send me to you to +the Hunnish land." How well Kriemhild marked that the maiden loved her +truly. + +The steeds were harnessed and led before the castle of Bechelaren +and the noble queen took leave of Rudeger's wife and daughter. With +a greeting many a fair maid parted too. Full seldom did they see each +other since these days. From Medelick (8) the folk bare in their hands +many a rich cup of gold, in which they offered wine to the strangers +on the highway. Thus they made them welcome. A host dwelt there, hight +Astolt, (9) who showed them the road to the Austrian land, towards +Mautern (10) down the Danube. There the noble queen was later served +full well. From his niece the bishop parted lovingly. How he counseled +her that she should bear her well and that she should purchase honor +for herself, as Helca, too, had done! Ho, what great worship she later +gained among the Huns! + +To the Traisem (11) they escorted hence the guests. Rudeger's men +purveyed them zealously, until the Huns came riding across the land. +Then the queen became acquaint with mickle honor. Near the Traisem the +king of the Hunnish land did have a mighty castle, hight Zeisenmauer, +(12) known far and wide. Lady Helca dwelt there aforetime and used such +great virtues that it might not lightly ever hap again, unless it be +through Kriemhild. She wist so how to give, that after all her sorrow +she had the joy that Etzel's liegemen gave her great worship, of which +she later won great store among the heroes. Etzel's rule was known far +and wide, so that all time one found at his court the boldest warriors +of whom men ever heard, among Christian or among paynim. They were all +come with him. All time there were at his court, what may not so lightly +hap again, Christian customs and also heathen faith. In whatsoever wise +each lived, the bounty of the king bestowed on all enow. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Vergen" is the modern Pforing, below Ingolstadt. A ferry + across the river existed here from ancient times. + (2) "Pilgrim", or "Pilgerin", as he is variously called, is an + historical personage. He was bishop of Passau from 971 to + 991. Without doubt he is a late introduction, according to + Boer between 1181 and 1185. See Boer, ii, 204, and E.L. + Dummler, "Pilgrim von Passau", Leipzig, 1854. + (3) "Enns" (M.H.G. "Ens") is one of the tributaries of the + Danube, flowing into it about eleven miles southeast of + Linz. + (4) "Efferding" (M.H.G. "Everdingen") is a town on the Danube, + about thirteen miles west of Linz. + (5) "Traun" (M.H.G. "Trune") is a river of Upper Austria, + forty-four miles southeast of Linz. + (6) "Truncheons", see Adventure II, note 8. + (7) "Botelung's son" is Attila, who is so called in our poem, in + the "Klage", and in "Biterolf". In the earlier Norse + version "Atli" is the son of "Budli". (On this point see + Mullenhoff, "Zur Geschichte der Nibelungensage", p. 106, and + Zsfd A., x, 161, and Bleyer, PB. Beit. xxxi, 459, where the + names are shown to be identical.) + (8) "Medelick" is the modern Mölk, or Melk, a town on the Danube + near the influx of the Bilach. It lies at the foot of a + granite cliff on which stands a famous Benedictine abbey. + (9) "Astolt" appears only in this passage; nothing else is known + of him. + (10) "Mautern" is situated at the influx of the Flanitz, opposite + Stein in Lower Austria. + (11) "Traisem", Traisen, is a tributary of the Danube in Lower + Austria, emptying near Traismauer. + (12) "Zeisenmauer" (M.H.G. "Zeizenmure"). All the MSS. but C and + D have this reading. The latter have "Treysenmoure" and + "treisem moure", which corresponds better to the modern + name, as Zeiselmauer lies between Tulln and Vienna. It is + possible, however, that the town on the Traisem was + originally called Zeiselmauer, as the road leading from + Traismauer to Tulln still bears the name of Zeiselstrasse. + See Lachmann, "Anmerkungen", 1272, 3, and Piper, ii, 289, + note to str. 1333. + + + + +ADVENTURE XXII. How Etzel Made Kriemhild His Bride. + +Until the fourth day she stayed at Zeisenmauer. The while the dust upon +the highway never came to rest, but rose on every side, as if it were +burning, where King Etzel's liegemen rode through Austria. Then the +king was told aright how royally Kriemhild fared through the lands; at +thought of this his sorrows vanished. He hasted to where he found the +lovely Kriemhild. Men saw ride before King Etzel on the road many bold +knights of many tongues and many mighty troops of Christians and of +paynims. When they met the lady, they rode along in lordly wise. Of +the Russians and the Greeks there rode there many a man. The right good +steeds of the Poles and Wallachians were seen to gallop swiftly, as they +rode with might and main. Each did show the customs of his land. +From the land of Kiev (1) there rode many a warrior and the savage +Petschenegers. (2) With the bow they often shot at the birds which flew +there; to the very head they drew the arrows on the bows. + +By the Danube there lieth in the Austrian land a town that men call +Tulna. (3) There she became acquaint with many a foreign custom, the +which size had never seen afore. She greeted there enow who later came +through her to grief. Before Etzel there rode a retinue, merry and +noble, courtly and lusty, full four and twenty princes, mighty and of +lofty birth. They would fain behold their lady and craved naught more. +Duke Ramung (4) of Wallachia, with seven hundred vassals, galloped up +before her; like flying birds men saw them ride. Then came Prince Gibeck +with lordly bands. The doughty Hornbog, (5) with full a thousand men, +wheeled from the king away towards the queen. Loudly they shouted after +the custom of their land. Madly too rode the kinsmen of the Huns. Then +came brave Hawart (6) of Denmark and the doughty Iring, (7) free of +guile was he, and Irnfried (8) of Thuringia, a stately man. With twelve +hundred vassals, whom they had in their band, they greeted Kriemhild, +so that she had therefrom great worship. Then came Sir Bloedel, (9) +King Etzel's brother, from the Hunnish land, with three thousand men. +In lordly wise he rode to where he found the queen. Then King Etzel +came and Sir Dietrich, too, with all his fellowship. There stood many +worshipful knights, noble, worthy, and good. At this Dame Kriemhild's +spirits rose. + +Then Sir Rudeger spake to the queen: "Lady, here will I receive the +high-born king; whomso I bid you kiss, that must ye do. Forsooth ye may +not greet alike King Etzel's men." + +From the palfrey they helped the royal queen alight. Etzel, the mighty, +bode no more, but dismounted from his steed with many a valiant man. +Joyfully men saw them go towards Kriemhild. Two mighty princes, as we +are told, walked by the lady and bore her train, when King Etzel went +to meet her, where she greeted the noble lording with a kiss in gracious +wise. She raised her veil and from out the gold beamed forth her rosy +hue. Many a man stood there who vowed that Lady Helca could not have +been more fair than she. Close by stood also Bloedel, the brother of the +king. Him Rudeger, the mighty margrave, bade her kiss and King Gibeck, +too. There also stood Sir Dietrich. Twelve of the warriors the king's +bride kissed. She greeted many knights in other ways. + +All the while that Etzel stood at Kriemhild's side, the youthful +warriors did as people still are wont to do. One saw them riding many a +royal joust. This Christian champions did and paynim, too, according +to their custom. In what right knightly wise the men of Dietrich made +truncheons from the shafts fly through the air, high above the shields, +from the hands of doughty knights! Many a buckler's edge was pierced +through and through by the German strangers. Great crashing of breaking +shafts was heard. All the warriors from the land were come and the +king's guests, too, many a noble man. + +Then the mighty king betook him hence with Lady Kriemhild. Hard by them +a royal tent was seen to stand; around about the plain was filled with +booths, where they should rest them after their toils. Many a comely +maid was shown to her place thereunder by the knights, where she then +sate with the queen on richly covered chairs. The margrave had so well +purveyed the seats for Kriemhild, that all found them passing good; at +this King Etzel grew blithe of mood. What the king there spake, I know +not. In his right lay her snow-white hand; thus they sate in lover's +wise, since Rudeger would not let the king make love to Kriemhild +secretly. + +Then one bade the tourney cease on every side; in courtly wise the +great rout ended. Etzel's men betook them to the booths; men gave them +lodgings stretching far away on every side. The day had now an end; they +lay at ease, till the bright morn was seen to dawn again, then many a +man betook him to the steeds. Ho, what pastimes they gan ply in honor of +the king! Etzel bade the Huns purvey all with fitting honors. Then they +rode from Tulna to the town of Vienna, where they found many a dame +adorned. With great worship these greeted King Etzel's bride. There was +ready for them in great plenty whatever they should have. Many a lusty +hero rejoiced at prospect of the rout. + +The king's wedding feast commenced in merry wise. They began to lodge +the guests, but quarters could not be found for all within the town. +Rudeger therefore begged those that were not guests to take lodgings in +the country round about. I ween men found all time by Lady Kriemhild, +Sir Dietrich and many another knight. Their rest they had given over +for toil, that they might purvey the guests good cheer. Rudeger and his +friends had pastime good. The wedding feast fell on a Whitsuntide, +when King Etzel lay by Kriemhild in the town of Vienna. With her first +husband, I trow, she did not win so many men for service. Through +presents she made her known to those who had never seen her. Full many +among them spake to the guests: "We weened that Lady Kriemhild had +naught of goods, now hath she wrought many wonders with her gifts." + +The feasting lasted seventeen days. I trow men can no longer tell of any +king whose wedding feast was greater. If so be, 'tis hidden from us. +All that were present wore brand-new garments. I ween, she never dwelt +before in Netherland with such retinue of knights. Though Siegfried was +rich in goods, I trow, he never won so many noble men-at-arms, as she +saw stand 'fore Etzel. Nor hath any ever given at his own wedding feast +so many costly mantles, long and wide, nor such good clothes, of which +all had here great store, given for Kriemhild's sake. Her friends and +the strangers, too, were minded to spare no kind of goods. Whatever any +craved, this they willingly gave, so that many of the knights through +bounty stood bereft of clothes. Kriemhild thought of how she dwelt with +her noble husband by the Rhine; her eyes grew moist, but she hid it full +well, that none might see it. Great worship had been done her after +many a grief. Whatever bounty any used, 'twas but a wind to that of +Dietrich. What Botelung's son had given him, was squandered quite. +Rudeger's lavish hand did also many wonders. Prince Bloedel of Hungary +bade empty many traveling chests of their silver and their gold; all +this was given away. The king's champions were seen to live right +merrily. Werbel and Swemmel, (10) the minstrels of the king, each gained +at the wedding feast, I ween, full thousand marks, or even better, when +fair Kriemhild sate crowned at Etzel's side. + +On the eighteenth morning they rode forth from Vienna. Many shields were +pierced in tilting by spears, which the warriors bare in hand. Thus King +Etzel came down to the Hunnish land. They spent the night at ancient +Heimburg. (11) No one might know the press of folk, or with what force +they rode across the land. Ho, what fair women they found in Etzel's +native land! At mighty Misenburg (12) they boarded ship. The water which +men saw flowing there was covered with steeds and men, as if it were +solid earth. The wayworn ladies had their ease and rest. Many good ships +were lashed together, that neither waves nor flood might do them harm. +Upon them many a goodly tent was spread, as if they still had both land +and plain. + +From thence tidings came to Etzelburg, (13) at which both men and +wives therein were glad. Helca's meiny, that aforetime waited on their +mistress, passed many a happy day thereafter at Kriemhild's side. There +many a noble maid stood waiting, who had great grief through Helca's +death. Kriemhild found still seven royal princesses there, through whom +all Etzel's land was graced. For the meiny the high-born maiden Herrat +(14) cared, the daughter of Helca's sister, beseen with many courtly +virtues, the betrothed of Dietrich, a royal child, King Nentwin's (15) +daughter; much worship she later had. Blithe of heart she was at the +coming of the guests; for this, too, mighty treasures were prepared. +Who might tell the tale of how the king held court? Never had men lived +better among the Huns with any queen. + +When that the king with his wife rode from the shore, the noble +Kriemhild was told full well who each one was; she greeted them the +better. Ho, how royally she ruled in Helca's stead! She became acquaint +with much loyal service. Then the queen dealt out gold and vesture, silk +and precious stones. Whatever she brought with her across the Rhine to +Hungary must needs be given all away. All the king's kinsmen and all +his liegemen then owned her service, so that Lady Helca never ruled so +mightily as she, whom they now must serve till Kriemhild's death. The +court and all the land lived in such high honors, that all time men +found the pastimes which each heart desired, through the favor of the +king and his good queen. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Kiev" (M.H.G. "Kiew") is now a government in the + southwestern part of Russia. Its capital of the same name, + situated on the Dnieper, is the oldest of the better known + cities of Russia, and in the latter Middle Ages was an + important station of the Hanseatic league. + (2) "Petschenegers", a Turkish tribe originally dwelling to the + north of the Caspian. By conquest they acquired a kingdom + extending from the Don to Transylvania. They were feared + for their ferociousness and because they continually invaded + the surrounding countries, especially Kiev. + (3) "Tulna" (M.H.G. "Tulne") is the modern Tulln, a walled town + of Lower Austria, seventeen miles northwest of Vienna on the + Danube. + (4) "Ramung and Gibeck" (M.H.G. "Gibeche") appear only in our + poem, nothing else is known of them. + (5) "Hornbog" is frequently mentioned in the "Thidreksaga", but + nothing otherwise is known of him. + (6) "Hawart" is perhaps identical with the Saxon duke Hadugot, + who is reputed to have played an important part in the + conquest of Thuringia. He evidently comes from the Low + German version. + (7) "Iring" is considered by Wilmanns to have been originally an + ancient deity, as the Milky Way is called "Iringe straze" or + "Iringi". He occurs in a legend of the fall of the + Thuringian kingdom, where he played such a prominent role + that the Milky Way was named after him. See W. Grimm, + "Heldensage", p. 394, who thinks, however, that the + connection of Iring with the Milky Way is the result of a + confusion. + (8) "Irnfried" is considered to be Hermanfrid of Thuringia, who + was overthrown and killed in A.D. 535 by Theuderich with the + aid of the Saxons. See Felix Dahn, "Urgeschichte", iii, + 73-79. He, too, comes from the Low German tradition. + (9) "Bloedel" is Bleda, the brother of Attila, with whom he + reigned conjointly from A.D. 433 to 445. In our poem the + name appears frequently with the diminutive ending, as + "Bloedelin". + (10) "Werbel and Swemmel", who doubtless owe their introduction + to some minstrel, enjoy special favor and are intrusted with + the important mission of inviting the Burgundians to Etzel's + court, an honor that would hardly be accorded to persons of + their rank. Swemmel appears mostly in the diminutive form + "Swemmelin". + (11) "Heimburg" lies on the Danube near the Hungarian border. + (12) "Misenburg" is the modern Wieselburg on the Danube, + twenty-one miles southeast of Pressburg. + (13) "Etzelburg" was later identified with the old part of + Budapest, called in German "Ofen", through the influence of + Hungarish legends, but, as G. Heinrich has shown, had no + definite localization in the older M.H.G. epics. See + Bleyer, PB. Belt. xxxi 433 and 506. The name occurs in + documents as late as the fifteenth century. + (14) "Herrat", the daughter of King "Nentwin" is frequently + mentioned in the "Thidreksaga" as Dietrich's betrothed. She + is spoken of as the exiled maid. + (15) "Nentwin" is not found in any other saga, and nothing else + is known of him. See W. Grimm, "Heldensage", 103. + + + + +ADVENTURE XXIII. How Kriemhild Thought To Avenge Her Wrongs. + +With great worship of a truth they lived together until the seventh +year. In this time the queen was delivered of a son, at which King Etzel +could not have been more joyful. She would not turn back, until she +brought it to pass that Etzel's child was christened after the Christian +rite. Men named it Ortlieb; (1) at this great joy arose over all of +Etzel's lands. Whatever courtly breeding Lady Helca had possessed, Dame +Kriemhild practiced this full many a day. Herrat, the exiled maid, who +in secret grieved full sore for Helca, taught her the customs. Well was +she known to the strangers and the home-folk. They vowed that never had +a kingdom had a better or more bounteous queen. This they held for true. +She bare this praise among the Huns until the thirteenth year. Now wot +she well, that none would thwart her, as royal men-at-arms still do to a +prince's wife, and that all time she saw twelve kings stand before +her. Over many a wrong she brooded, that had happed to her at home. She +thought likewise on the many honors in the Nibelung land, which she +had there enjoyed and of which Hagen's hand had quite bereft her at +Siegfried's death, and if perchance she might not make him suffer for +his deed. "That would hap, if I might but bring him to this land." She +dreamed that Giselher, her brother, walked often with her hand in hand. +Alway she kissed him in her gentle slumber; later suffering came to +both. I ween, the foul fiend did counsel Kriemhild this, that she +withdrew her friendship from Giselher, whom for forgiveness' sake she +had kissed in the Burgundian land. At this hot tears again gan soil her +robe. Early and late it lay within her heart, how without fault of hers +they had made her wed a heathen man. Hagen and Gunther had brought her +to this pass. This wish she seldom gave over in her heart. She thought: +"I am so mighty and have such great wealth, that I can do my foes an +injury yet. Full ready would I be for this towards Hagen of Troneg. My +heart doth often yearn for my faithful kin. Might I be with those who +did me wrong, my lover's death would be well avenged. Scarce can I abide +this," spake Etzel's wife. + +All the king's men, Kriemhild's warriors, bare her love in duty bound. +Of the chamber Eckewart had charge, which won him friends. None might +gainsay Dame Kriemhild's will. All time she thought: "I will beg the +king, that he in kindly wise may grant me to bring my kinsmen to the +Hunnish land." None marked the evil purpose of the queen. One night when +she lay by the king, and he did hold her in his arms, as he was wont +to love the noble dame, who was dear to him as life, the high-born lady +thought her of her foes. To the king she spake: "Dear my lord, I would +fain beseech you, by your grace, that ye would show me that ye did love +my kinsfolk, if I have earned the favor." + +Then spake the king (true was his heart): "I'll give you to know however +well the knights may fare, I may well have joy of this, for never have I +won better kin through woman's love." + +Again the queen spake: "It hath been well told you, that I have +high-born kin; therefore do I grieve that they so seldom reck to see me +here. I hear the folk aver that I be banished." + +Then spake king Etzel: "Dear lady mine, and it think you not too far, +I'll bid hither to my lands, from across the Rhine, whomso ye be fain to +see." + +The lady joyed her when she heard his will. She spake: "Would ye show me +your faith, my lord, then send envoys to Worms across the Rhine, through +whom I may tell my kinsfolk what I have in mind. Thus there will come +hither to our land many a noble knight and a good." + +He answered: "It shall hap whenso ye bid. Ye might not be more glad to +see your kin than I to see the sons of the noble Uta. It doth irk me +sore, that they have been strangers to us so long a time. If it please +you, dear lady mine, I would fain send my minstrels for your kinsmen to +the Burgundian land." + +He bade the good minstrels be fetched straightway. Quickly they hasted +to where the king sate by the queen. He told the twain they should be +envoys to the Burgundian land and bade full lordly weeds be made ready +for them. Clothing was prepared for four and twenty warriors, and the +message was told them by the king, how they should bid Gunther and his +liegemen hither. Kriemhild, the queen, talked with them apart. Then +spake the mighty king: "I'll tell you what to say. I offer to my kin my +love and service, that it may please them to ride hither to my land. But +few such welcome guests have I known, and if they perchance will fulfill +my wish, tell Kriemhild's kinsmen that they must not fall to come this +summer to my feast, for much of my joy doth lie upon the kinsmen of my +wife." + +Then spake the minstrel, the proud Swemmel: "When shall your feasting be +in these lands, that I may tell it yonder to your kin?" + +King Etzel answered: "On next midsummer's day." + +"We'll do as ye command," spake then Werbel. + +The queen bade them be brought secretly unto her bower, where she +then talked with the envoys. From this but little joy happed to many a +knight. To the two messengers she spake: "Now earn ye mickle goods, in +that ye do my pleasure full willingly and give the message which I send +to my native land. I'll make you rich in goods and give you the lordly +robes. And if ye see any of my kin at Worms upon the Rhine, ye must not +tell them that ye ever saw me sad of heart. Tender my service to the +heroes brave and good. Beg that they do as the king doth bid and thus +part me from all my grief. The Huns ween, I be without kith and kin. +Were I a knight, I'd visit them myself at times. And say to Gernot, too, +the noble brother of mine, that none in the world doth love him more. +Beg him to bring with him to this land our best of friends, that it may +be to our honor. Say also to Giselher, that he remember well, I never +gained grief through fault of his. Therefore would mine eyes fain sue +him. For his great loyalty I would gladly have him here. Tell my mother +also of the honors which I have, and if Hagen of Troneg be minded to +stay at home, who then should lead them through the lands? From a child +he knoweth the roads to Hungary." (2) + +The envoys wist not, why it was done, that they should not let Hagen of +Troneg stay upon the Rhine. Later it repented them full sore. With him +many a knight was doomed to a savage death. Letters and messages had now +been given them. They rode forth rich in goods, and well could lead a +sumptuous life. Of Etzel and his fair wife they took their leave, their +persons adorned full well with goodly weeds. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Ortlieb" is not historical, and in the "Thidreksaga" + Etzel's son is called Aldrian. Bleyer, "Die germanischen + Elemente der ungarischen, Hunnensage", PB. Beit. xxxi, 570, + attempt to prove the identity of the names by means of a + form "Arda", giving on the one hand Hungarian "Aladar", + "Aldrian", on the other German "Arte", "Orte". + (2) "Hungary". According to the account in "Waltharius", Hagen + spent his youth as a hostage at Etzel's court. + + + + +ADVENTURE XXIV. How Werbel And Swemmel Brought The Message. + +When that Etzel had sent his envoys to the Rhine, these tidings flew +from land to land. Through full speedy messengers he begged and bade to +his high feasting. From this many a one met there his death. The envoys +rode away from the Hunnish land to Burgundy. They were sent thither for +three noble kings and for their men, that these should come to Etzel; +therefore all gan haste. To Bechelaren they came a-riding, where served +them gladly. Rudeger and Gotelind and the child of them twain delayed +not to send their service through the envoys to the Rhine. Nor did +they let them part hence without gifts, that Etzel's men might fare +the better. To Uta and her sons Rudeger sent word that they had no more +loyal margrave than he. To Brunhild, also, they tendered service and +good wishes, constant fealty and a loving mind. When they heard the +speech that the envoys would ride, the margravine begged God in heaven +to keep them well. + +Before the messengers were quite come through Bavarian land, the doughty +Werbel sought out the good Bishop Pilgrim. What word he sent to his kin +upon the Rhine, that I know not, but naught but ruddy gold he gave the +messengers for love and let them ride. + +Then spake the bishop: "And might I see them here, my sister's sons, I +should be blithe of mood, for full seldom can I come to them upon the +Rhine." + +What roads they traveled to the Rhine, I cannot tell. None robbed them +of their silver and their weeds; men feared their master's wrath. Certes +the noble high-born king was a mighty lord. + +Within a twelfth night Werbel and Swemmel came to the Rhine, to the land +of Worms. To the kings and their liegemen tidings were told that there +came strange messengers. Gunther, the lord of the Rhineland, gan ask: +"Who will do us to wit, from whence these strangers ride into our land?" + +This none wist, till Hagen of Troneg saw them, who then spake to +Gunther: "New tidings be come to us, as I will vouch, for I have seen +King Etzel's minstrels here. Them your sister hath sent to the Rhine; +for their master's sake we must give them a kindly welcome." + +Already they were riding up before the palace; never did a prince's +minstrels journey in more lordly wise. Straightway the king's meiny +bade them welcome. Men gave them lodgings and bade take in charge their +trappings. Their traveling clothes were rich and so well fashioned that +with honor they might come before the king, but they would not wear them +longer there at court, and asked if there were any that desired them. +At the selfsame moment folk were found who fain would take them, and to +these they were sent. Then the strangers donned far better weeds, such +as well befitted king's messengers for to wear. + +Then Etzel's retainers went by leave to where the king was sitting; men +saw this gladly. Hagen sprang courteously towards the messengers and +greeted them in loving wise. For this the squires did say him thanks. +That he might know their tidings, he gan ask how Etzel fared and all his +men. Then spake the minstrel: "Never did the land stand better, nor were +the folk more merry; now know that of a truth." + +To the host they went; the hall was full. There men received the guests, +as one must do by right, when kindly greetings be sent to the lands of +other kings. Werbel found full many warriors there at Gunther's side. +In courteous wise the king gan greet them: "Ye minstrels of the Huns +and all your fellowship, be ye welcome. Hath the mighty Etzel sent you +hither to the Burgundian land?" + +To the king they bowed; then spake Werbel: "My dear lord, and also +Kriemhild, your sister, do send you loyal service to this land. They +have sent us to you knights in all good faith." + +Spake the mighty prince: "Merry am I at this tale. How fareth Etzel," so +asked the knight, "and Kriemhild, my sister, of the Hunnish land?" + +Quoth the minstrel: "This tale I'll tell you; ye should know that never +have folk fared better than the twain and all their followers, their +kinsmen and their vassals. They joyed them of the journey, as we +departed hence." + +"Gramercy for his greetings which he hath sent me, and for those of +my sister, sith it standeth so that the king and his men live thus in +happiness, for I did ask the news in fear and trembling." + +The two young princes were now also come, for they had but just heard +the tale. For the sake of his sister Giselher, the youth, was fain to +see the envoys. He spake to them in loving wise: "Ye messengers, be +very welcome to us. An' ye would ride more often hither to the Rhine, +ye would find friends here whom ye would be glad to see. Little of harm +shall hap you in this land." + +"We trust you in all honor," spake then Swemmel. "I could not convey to +you with all my wits, how lovingly king Etzel and your noble sister, who +live in such great worship, have sent their greetings. The queen doth +mind you of your love and fealty, and that your heart and mind did ever +hold her dear. But first and foremost we be sent to the king, that ye +may deign to ride to Etzel's land. The mighty Etzel enjoined us strictly +to beg you this and sent the message to you all, that if ye would not +let your sister see you, he fain would know what he had done you that +ye be so strange to him and to his lands. An' ye had never known the +queen, yet would he fain bring it to pass that consent to come and see +him. It would please him well if that might hap." + +Then spake King Gunther: "In a sennight I will tell you the tale of what +I have bethought me with my friends. Meanwhile hie you to your lodgings +and rest you well." + +Quoth Werbel again: "And could that be that we might see my lady, the +royal Uta, afore we take our easement?" + +The noble Giselher spake then full courteously: "None shall hinder that. +An' ye would go before her, ye will do in full my mother's wish, for she +will gladly see you for my sister's sake, the Lady Kriemhild; she will +make you welcome." + +Giselher led them to where they found the queen. Gladly she gazed upon +the envoys from the Hunnish land. Through her courtesie she gave them +gentle greeting. The good and courtly messengers then told their tale. +"My lady offereth you of a truth," so spake Swemmel, "her love and duty. +Might that be that she could see you oft, ye may well believe she had no +better joy in all the world." + +Then spake the queen: "That may not be. However gladly I would often +see the dear daughter of mine, yet doth the wife of the noble king live, +alas, too far from me. May she and Etzel be ever blessed. Pray let me +know before ye leave, when ye would hence again; not in a long time have +I seen messengers so gladly as I have you." The squires vowed that this +should hap. + +Those from the Hunnish land now rode to their lodgings. Meanwhile the +mighty king had sent to fetch his friends. The noble Gunther asked his +liegemen how they liked the speech. Many a one gan say that the king +well might ride to Etzel's land. The very best among them advised him +this, save Hagen alone; him misliked it sore. Privily he spake to the +king: "Ye fight against yourself; ye know full well what we have done. +We may well be ever on our guard with Kriemhild, for with mine own hand +I slew her husband to death. How durst we ride to Etzel's land?" + +Then spake the mighty king: "My sister gave over her wrath; with a kiss +she lovingly forgave what we had done her, or ever she rode away. Unless +be that the feud doth stand against you alone." + +Quoth Hagen: "Now let the messengers from the Huns beguile you not, +whatsoever they say. Would ye visit Kriemhild, easily may ye lose there +both life and honor. Full long of vengeance is King Etzel's wife." + +Then spake Prince Gernot to the council: "Why should we give it over, +because ye rightly fear death in the Hunnish lands? It were an ill deed +not to go to see our sister." + +Then spake Prince Giselher to the knight: "Sith ye know you to be +guilty, friend Hagen, ye should stay at home and guard you well, and let +those who dare ride with us to my sister." + +At this the knight of Troneg grew wroth of mood. "I will not that ye +take any with you on the way, who durst better ride to court than I. +Sith ye will not turn you, I will well show you that." + +Then spake the master of the kitchen, Rumolt, the knight: "Ye can well +have the strangers and the home-folk cared for here, after your own +desire, for ye have full store of goods. I ween, Hagen hath never given +you for a hostage; (1) but if ye will not follow him, Rumolt adviseth +you, for I be bound to you in fealty and duty, that for my sake ye abide +here and leave King Etzel there with Kriemhild. How might it fare more +gently with you in all the world? Ye be well able to stand before your +foes; so deck your body out with brave attire, drink the best of wine, +and pay court to stately ladies. Thereto ye be served with the best of +food that ever king did gain in the world. And were this not so, yet +should ye tarry here for your fair wife's sake, before ye risk your life +so childishly. Wherefore I do counsel you to stay at home. Your lands be +rich, and one can redeem his pledges better at home than among the Huns. +Who knoweth how it standeth there? Ye should stay at home, Sire, that is +Rumolt's counsel." + +"We will not stay," quoth Gernot. "Sith my sister and the mighty Etzel +have bidden us in such friendly wise, why should we not accept? He that +liketh not to go may stay at home." + +To This Hagen answered: "Take not my speech amiss, however ye may fare. +In all truth I counsel you, would ye guard your lives, then ride to the +Huns well armed. Sith ye will not turn you, send for your men-at-arms, +the best ye have or can find in any part; from among them all I'll +choose a thousand doughty knights. Then Kriemhild's evil mood can bring +you naught of harm." + +"This rede I'll gladly follow," spake straightway the king. He then +bade messengers ride far and wide throughout his lands. Three thousand +champions or more they fetched. Little they weened to gain such grievous +woe. Full merrily they rode to Gunther's court. Men bade give all that +were to ride forth from Burgundy both steeds and trappings. The king +gained full many a one with willing mood. Then Hagen of Troneg bade his +brother Dankwart lead eighty of their warriors to the Rhine. In knightly +guise they came; these doughty men took with them harness and trappings +into Gunther's land. Then came bold Folker, a noble minstrel he, +with thirty of his men for the journey to Kriemhild's court. They had +clothing such as a king might wear. Gunther bade make known, he would to +the Hunnish land. I'll do you now to wit who Folker was. He was a noble +lord, the liege of many doughty knights in Burgundy. A minstrel he was +called, for that he wist how to fiddle. Hagen chose a thousand whom +he well knew; oft had he seen what their hands had wrought in press of +battle, or in whatever else they did. None might aver aught else of them +than doughtiness. + +The tarrying irked Kriemhild's envoys sore, for great was their fear of +their lord. Daily they craved leave to go; this Hagen would not grant +through craftiness. To his master he spake: "We should well guard +against letting them ride away, until we ourselves fare forth a sennight +later to Etzel's land. If any beareth us ill will, the better shall we +wot it. Nor may Lady Kriemhild then make ready that through any plan of +hers, men do us harm. An' this be her will, she'll fare full ill, for +many a chosen liegeman had we hence." + +Shields and saddles, and all the garments that they would take with them +to Etzel's land, were now full ready for many a brave man-at-arms. Now +men bade Kriemhild's messengers go before King Gunther. When they were +come, Gernot spake: "The king will do as Etzel asked us, we will gladly +come to his high feast to see our sister; be no more in doubt of that." + +Then King Gunther spake: "Wist ye how to tell us, when this feast shall +be, or in what time we should go thither?" + +Swemmel replied: "Of a truth it shall be on next midsummer's day." + +The king gave them leave (this had not happed as yet), if they would +fain see Lady Brunhild, to go before her with his free will. This Folker +hindered, which pleased her much. "Forsooth, my Lady Brunhild is not +so well of mood, that ye may see her," spake the good knight. "Bide the +morrow, and men will let you see her." When they weened to gaze upon +her, it might not hap. + +Then the mighty prince, who liked the envoys well, through his own +courtesie, bade his gold be carried forth on the broad shields of which +he had great store. Rich gifts were also given them by his kinsmen +Giselher and Gernot, Gere and Ortwin. Well they showed, that they were +generous, too. They offered the messengers such rich gifts, that for +fear of their lord they durst not take them. + +Now spake the envoy Werbel to the king: "Sir King, let your gifts stay +here at home. We may carry none away; our lord forbade that we take +aught of gifts. Then too, there is but little need." + +Then the ruler of the Rhine waxed wroth, that they should thus refuse +the gifts of so mighty a king. At last they were forced to take his gold +and weeds, the which they later bare to Etzel's land. They would fain +see the Lady Uta, or ever they departed hence, so the doughty Giselher +brought the minstrels before his mother Uta. The lady sent the message, +that whatever honors her daughter had, this gave her joy. Then the queen +bade give the minstrels of her edgings and her gold, for the sake of +King Etzel and Kriemhild whom she loved. Gladly they took the gifts; in +good faith 'twas done. + +The messengers had now taken their leave from thence, from wives and +men. Merrily they rode away to Swabia. Thither Gernot bade his knights +escort them, that none might do them harm. When they parted from those +who should have them in their care, Etzel's power did guard them on all +their ways, so that none bereft them of either horse or trappings. With +great speed they hasted towards Etzel's land. To all the friends they +wot of, they made known that in a short time the Burgundians would come +hither from the Rhine to the Hunnish land. To the Bishop Pilgrim too, +the tale was told. As they rode adown the highway before Bechelaren, men +delayed not to tell Rudeger and Gotelind, the margrave's wife. Merry she +grew that she should see them. Men saw the minstrels hasting with the +tidings. They found King Etzel in the town of Gran. (2) Greeting after +greeting they gave the king, of which full many had been sent him. He +blushed for very joy. + +Happy of mood was the queen, when she heard the tale aright that her +brothers should come into the land. She gave the minstrels great gifts +as meed. This was done for honor's sake. She spake: "Now tell me, both +of you, Werbel and Swemmel, which of my kin are minded to be at the +feast? Will the best of those we bade come hither to this land? Pray +tell me what Hagen said when he heard the tale." + +The minstrel answered: "He came on a morning early to the council, +and but little of fair speech he spake thereby. When they pledged the +journey hither to the Hunnish lands, that was as words of death to the +wrathful Hagen. Your brothers, the three kings, will come in lordly +mood. Whoever else may come, this tale I know not of a surety. The brave +minstrel Folker vowed to ride along." + +"Little do I reck," spake the queen, "whether I ever see Folker here. Of +Hagen I be fond, he is a doughty hero. My spirits stand high that we may +see him here." + +Then the queen went to where she saw the king. How lovingly Dame +Kriemhild spake: "How like you these tales, dear my lord? What I have +ever craved, shall now be brought to pass." + +"Thy wish is my joy," spake then the king. "Never have I been so blithe +of mine own kin, when they should come hither to my lands. Through the +kindness of thy kinsmen my care hath fled away." + +King Etzel's officers bade everywhere palace and hall be purveyed with +benches for the guests which were to come. Thereafter the king heard +from them mickle weeping. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Hostage", i.e., he has never betrayed you to your enemies. + (2) "Gran", royal free city of Hungary, on the right bank of the + Danube opposite the influx of the Gran, twenty-four miles + northwest of Budapest. + + + + +ADVENTURE XXV. How The Lords All Journeyed To The Huns. + +Now let us leave the tale of how they lived at Etzel's court. More +high-mettled warriors never rode in such lordly wise to the land of any +king; they had whatever they listed, both of weapons and of weeds. The +ruler of the Rhineland clad his men, a thousand and sixty knights, (1) +as I have heard, and nine thousand footmen, for the courtly feast. Those +they left at home bewailed it in after time. The trappings were now +borne across the court at Worms; then spake an aged bishop from Speyer +to fair Uta: "Our friends would journey to the feasting. May God +preserve their honor there." + +The noble Lady Uta then spake to her sons: "Pray tarry here, good +knights. Me-dreamed last night of direst woe, how all the fowls in this +land lay dead." + +"Who recketh aught of dreams," quoth Hagen, "he wotteth not how to say +the proper words, when 'twould bring him great store of honors. I wish +that my lord go to court to take his leave. We must gladly ride to +Etzel's land. The arms of doughty heroes may serve kings there full +well, where we shall behold Kriemhild's feast." + +Hagen counseled the journey, but later it rued him sore. He would have +advised against it, but that Gernot encountered him with such rude +words. Of Siegfried, Lady Kriemhild's husband, he minded him; he spake: +"Because of him Hagen will not make the journey to the court." + +At this Hagen of Troneg spake: "I do it not from fear. Heroes, when +it please you, begin the work. Certes I will gladly ride with you to +Etzel's land." Later he carved to pieces many a helm and shield. + +The skiffs were now made ready; many a knight stood there. Thither men +bare whatever clothes they had. Busy they were until the even tide, then +full merrily they set forth from home. Tents and pavilions were raised +upon the green beyond the Rhine. When this had happed, the king bade +his fair wife tarry with him. That night she still embraced her stately +knight. Trumpeting and fluting rose early on the morn, as sign that they +should ride. Then to the work they went. Whoso held in his arms his love +caressed the fair. Later King Etzel's wife parted them with woe. + +Fair Uta's sons, they had a liegeman, brave and true. When they would +hence, he spake to the king in secret wise his mind. Quoth he: "I must +bewail that ye make this journey to the court." He was hight Rumolt and +was a hero of his hands. He spake: "To whom will ye leave your folk and +lands? O that none can turn you warriors from your mind! These tidings +from Kriemhild have never thought me good." + +"Be the land and my little child, too, commended to thy care; serve well +the ladies, that is my wish. Comfort any thou dost see in tears. Certes +King Etzel's bride will never do us harm." + +The steeds were now ready for the kings and their men. Many a one who +lived there high of spirit, parted thence with loving kisses. This many +a stately dame must later needs bewail. When the doughty knights were +seen go toward the steeds, men spied full many ladies standing sadly +there. Their hearts did tell them that this long parting boded them +great harm. This doth never ease the heart. + +The doughty Burgundians started on their way. Then in the land a mighty +turmoil rose; on either side of the mountains there wept both men and +wives. But however the folk might bear them, the knights jogged merrily +along. With them rode the men of Nibelung, a thousand hauberks strong, +who had left many comely dames at home whom they never saw again. +Siegfried's wounds gave Kriemhild pain. + +Gunther's liegemen now wended their way towards the river Main, up +through Eastern Frankland. (2) Thither Hagen led them, for well he wot +the way. Dankwart was their marshal, the hero from Burgundian land. As +they rode away from the Eastern Frankland towards Swanfield, (3) men +could tell the princes and their kin, the worshipful knights, by their +lordly bearing. On the twelfth morning the king came to the Danube. +Hagen of Troneg rode foremost of them all, giving to the Nibelungs +helpful cheer. On the sandy shore the bold knight dismounted and bound +his steed full soon to a tree. The river was swollen, the skiffs hidden +away. Great fear the Nibelungs had, as to how they might come across, +for the stream was much too broad. Full many a lusty knight alighted on +the ground. + +"Ill may it lightly hap with thee here," quoth Hagen, "O ruler of the +Rhine. Now mayst thou thyself see the river is swollen, its flood is +mighty. Certes, I ween, we shall lose here many a worthy knight to-day." + +"Why dost thou rebuke me, Hagen?" spake the lordly king. "For thine own +prowess' sake discomfit me no more, but seek us the ford across to the +other bank, that we may take hence both steeds and trappings." + +"Forsooth," quoth Hagen, "I be not so weary of life, that I would drown +me in these broad waves. Sooner shall men die by my hands in Etzel's +lands. That will I well. Stay by the water's side, ye proud knights and +good, and I will seek the ferryman myself along the stream, who shall +ferry us across to Gelfrat's (4) land." + +Then the stalwart Hagen seized his good shield. Well was he armed. The +shield he bare along, his helmet bound upon his head, bright enow it +was. Above his breastplate he bare a sword so broad that most fiercely +it cut on either edge. To and fro he sought the ferryman. He heard the +splash of water and began to listen. In a fair spring wise women (5) +were bathing for to cool them off. Now Hagen spied them and crept toward +them stealthily. When they grew ware of this, they hurried fast to +escape him; glad enow they were of this. The hero took their clothes, +but did them naught else of harm. + +Then spake one of the mermaids (Hadburg she was called): "Sir Knight +Hagen, we'll do you here to wit, an' ye give us our weeds again, bold +knight, how ye will fare upon this journey to the Hunnish court." + +Like birds they floated before him on the flood. Therefore him-thought +their senses strong and good; he believed the more what they would tell +him. Well they answered what he craved of them. Hadburg spake again: "Ye +may safely ride to Etzel's land. I'll stake my troth at once as pledge, +that heroes never rode better to any realm for such great honors. Now +believe that in truth." + +In his heart Hagen was joyous at this rede. He gave them back their +clothes and no longer tarried. As they donned their strange attire, they +told him rightly of the journey to Etzel's land. The other mermaid spake +(Siegelind she hight): "I will warn thee, Hagen, son of Aldrian. (6) For +the sake of her weeds mine aunt hath lied to thee. An' thou comest to +the Huns, thou wilt be sore deceived. Time is, that thou shouldst turn +again, for ye heroes be bidden, that ye may die in Etzel's land. Whose +rideth hither, hath taken death by the hand." + +Answered Hagen: "Ye deceive us needlessly. How might it come to pass +that we should all die there, through anybody's hate?" + +Then gan they tell him the tale still more knowingly. The same one spake +again: "It must needs be that none of you shall live, save the king's +chaplain; this we know full well. He will come again safe and sound to +Gunther's land." + +Then spake bold Hagen, fierce of mood: "It were not well to tell my +lords that we should all lose our lives among the Huns. Now show us over +the stream, thou wisest of all wives." + +She answered: "Sith ye will not turn you from the journey, up yonder +where an inn doth stand, by the waterside, there is a ferryman and +elsewhere none." + +At once he ceased to ask for further tidings. After the angry warrior +she called: "Pray bide a time, Sir Hagen! Forsooth ye are too much in +haste. List further to the tale of how ye may cross to the other bank. +The lord of these marches beareth the name of Else. (7) His brother is +hight Knight Gelfrat, a lord in the Bavarian land. 'Twill go hard with +you, an' ye will cross his land. Ye must guard you well and deal full +wisely with the ferryman. So grim of mood is he that he'll not let you +live, unless be that ye have your wits about you with the knight. An' +ye will that he guide you, then give him his meed. He guardeth this land +and is liegeman unto Gelfrat. And cometh he not betimes, so call across +the flood and say, ye hight Amelrich. (8) He was a doughty here that; +because of a feud did void this land. The ferryman will come when he +heareth this name." + +Haughty Hagen bowed then to the dames; he spake no more, but held his +peace. Then by the river he hied him higher up upon the sandy shore, +to where he found an inn upon the other bank. Loudly he began to call +across the flood: "Now come and fetch me, ferryman," quoth the good +knight, "and I will give thee as meed an arm ring of ruddy gold. Know, +that of this passage I have great need in truth." + +So noble was the ferryman that it behooved him not to serve, therefore +he full seldom took wage of any wight. His squires, too, were full lofty +of mood. All this time Hagen still stood alone, this side of the flood. +He called with might and main, that all the water rang, for mickle and +great was the hero's strength. "Now fetch me. I am Amelrich, Else's +liegeman, that because of a great feud did void these lands." + +High upon his spear (9) he offered him an arm band, bright and fair it +was, of ruddy gold, that one should ferry him over to Gelfrat's land. +The haughty ferryman, the which was newly wed himself, did take the oar +in hand. As he would earn Hagen's gold so red, therefore he died the +sword-grim death at the hands of the knight. The greed for great goods +(10) doth give an evil end. Speedily the boatman rowed across to the +sandy bank. When he found no trace of him whose name he heard, wroth he +grew in earnest. When he spied Hagen, with fierce rage he spake to the +hero: "Ye may perchance hight Amelrich, but ye are not like him whom +I weened here. By father and by mother he was my brother. Sith ye have +bewrayed me, ye may stay on this hither shore." + +"No, by the mighty God," spake then Hagen, "I am a stranger knight and +have warriors in my care. Now take ye kindly my meed to-day and ferry me +over. I am in truth your friend." + +The ferryman replied: "This may not be. My dear lords have foes, +wherefore I never ferry strangers to this land. If ye love your life, +step out quickly on the sand." + +"Now do it not," spake Hagen; "sad is my mind. Take this good gold from +me as a token of my love and ferry us across: a thousand horse and just +as many men." + +The grim boatman answered: "'Twill ne'er be done." He raised a mighty +rudder oar, mickle and broad, and struck at Hagen (full wroth he grew +at this), so that he fell upon his knees in the boat. The lord of Troneg +had never met so fierce a ferryman. Still more the boatman would vex the +haughty stranger. He smote with an oar, so that it quite to-broke (11) +over Hagen's head (a man of might was he); from this the ferryman of +Else took great harm. Hagen, fierce of mood, seized straightway his +sheath, wherein he found his sword. His head he struck off and cast +it on the ground. Eftsoon these tidings were made known to the proud +Burgundians. At the very moment that he slew the boatman, the skiff gan +drifting down the stream. Enow that irked him. Weary he grew before he +brought it back. King Gunther's liegeman pulled with might and main. +With passing swift strokes the stranger turned it, until the sturdy oar +snapped in his hand. He would hence to the knights out upon the shore. +None other oar he had. Ho, how quickly he bound it with a shield strap, +a narrow band! Towards a wood he floated down the stream, where he found +his sovran standing by the shore. + +Many a stately man went down to meet him. The doughty knights and good +received him with a kindly greeting. When they beheld in the skiff the +blood reeking from a gaping wound which he had dealt the ferryman, Hagen +was plied enow with questions by the knights. When that King Gunther +spied the hot blood swirling in the skiff, how quickly he spake: +"Wherefore tell ye me not, Hagen, whither the ferryman be come? I ween +your prowess hath bereft him of his life." + +At this he answered craftily: "When I found the skiff hard by a willow +tree, I loosed it with my hand. I have seen no ferryman here to-day, nor +hath harm happed to any one through fault of mine." + +Then spake Sir Gernot of Burgundy: "I must needs fear the death of dear +friends to-day. Sith we have no boatmen here at hand, how shall we come +over? Therefore I must perforce stand sad." + +Loudly then called Hagen: "Ye footmen, lay the trappings down upon the +grass. I bethink me that once I was the very best of boatmen that one +might find along the Rhine. I trow to bring you all safe across to +Gelfrat's land." + +They struck the horses, that these might the sooner come across the +flood; passing well they swam, for the mighty waves bereft them of not +a one. Some few drifted far adown the stream, as did befit their +weariness. Then the knights bare to the skiff their gold and weeds, sith +there was no help for the crossing. Hagen played the steersman, and so +he ferried full many mighty warriors over to the sandy shore, into the +unknown land. First he took across a thousand noble knights, then his +own men-at-arms. Still there were more to come. Nine thousand footmen he +ferried over to the land. Aught but idle was Hagen's hand that day. When +he had carried them all safe across the flood, the doughty knight and +good bethought him of the strange tales which the wild mermaids had told +him afore. For this cause the king's chaplain near lost his life. He +found the priest close by the chapel luggage, leaning with his hand upon +the relics. Little might that boot him. When Hagen spied him, ill fared +it with the hapless priest; he threw him from the skiff in haste. Enow +of them called out: "Hold on, Sir Hagen, hold!" + +Giselher, the youth, gan rage, but Hagen let none come between. Then +spake Sir Gernot of Burgundy: "What availeth you now, Hagen, the +chaplain's death? Had another done the deed, 'twould have irked you +sore. For what cause have ye sworn enmity to the priest?" + +The clerk (12) now tried to swim with might and main, for he would fain +save his life, if perchance any there would help him. That might not be, +for the stalwart Hagen was wroth of mood. He thrust him to the bottom, +the which thought no one good. When the poor priest saw naught of help, +he turned him back again. Sore was he discomfited, but though he could +not swim, yet did God's hand help him, so that he came safe and sound +to the land again. There the poor clerk stood and shook his robe. Hagen +marked thereby that naught might avail against the tidings which the +wild mermaids told him. Him-thought: "These knights must lose their +lives." + +When the liegemen of the three kings unloaded the skiff and had borne +all away which they had upon it, Hagen brake it to pieces and threw it +in the flood, at which the bold knights and good did marvel much. + +"Wherefore do ye that, brother," quoth Dankwart, "how shall we come +over, when we ride homeward from the Huns, back to the Rhine?" + +Later Hagen told him that might not be. The hero of Troneg spake: "I +do it in the hope that if we have a coward on this journey, who through +faint-heartedness would run away, that in this stream he may die a +shameful death." + +They had with them from Burgundy land a hero of his hands, the which +was named Folker. Wisely he spake all his mind. Whatever Hagen did, +it thought the fiddler good. Their steeds were now ready, the sumpters +laden well. On the journey they had taken no harm that irked them, save +the king's chaplain alone. He must needs wander back on foot to the +Rhine again. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "a thousand and sixty". This does not agree with the + account in Adventure XXIV, where we read of a thousand of + Hagen's men, eighty of Dankwart's, and thirty of Folker's. + The nine thousand foot soldiers mentioned here are a later + interpolation, as the "Thidreksaga" speaks of only a + thousand all told. + (2) "Eastern Frankland", or East Franconia, is the ancient + province of "Franconia Orientalis", the region to the east + of the Spessart forest, including the towns of Fulda, + Würzburg and Barnberg. In _Biterolf_ Dietlieb journeys + through Eastern Frankland to the Danube. + (3) "Swanfield" (M.H.G. "Swanevelde") is the ancient province of + "Sualafeld" between the Rezat and the Danube. + (4) "Gelfrat" is a Bavarian lord and the brother of "Else", + mentioned below. Their father's name was also Else. + (5) "Wise women", a generic name for all supernatural women of + German mythology. While it is not specifically mentioned, + it is probable that the wise women, or mermaids, as they are + also called here, were 'swan maidens', which play an + important role in many legends and are endowed with the gift + of prophecy. They appear in the form of swans, and the + strange attire of the wise women mentioned here refers to + the so-called swan clothes which they wore and which enabled + Hagen to recognize them as supernatural beings. On bathing + they lay aside this garment, and he who obtains possession + of it has them in his power. This explains their eagerness + to give Hagen information, if he will return their garments + to them. For an account of them see Grimm's "Mythologie", + 355. + (6) "Aldrian" is not an historical personage; the name is merely + a derivative of "aldiro", 'the elder', and signifies + 'ancestor', just as Uta means 'ancestress'. In the + "Thidreksaga" Aldrian is the king of the Nibelung land and + the father of Gunther, Giselher, and Gernot, whereas Hagen + is the son of an elf by the same mother. + (7) Else appears also in "Biterolf"; in the "Thidreksaga" he is + called "Elsung", the younger, as his father bore the same + name. See Adventure XXV, note 4. + (8) "Amelrich" is the ferryman's brother. + (9) "Spear". It was the custom to offer presents on a spear + point, perhaps to prevent the recipient from treacherously + using his sword. Compare the similar description in the + "Hildebrandslied", 37, where we are told that gifts should + be received with the spear. + (10) "Goods". In the "Thidreksaga" the ferryman desires the ring + for his young wife, which explains better the allusion to + marriage and the desire for wealth. + (11) "To-broke", see Adventure II, note 9. + (12) "Clerk", 'priest'. + + + + +ADVENTURE XXVI (1) How Gelfrat Was Slain By Dankwart. + +Now when all were come upon the shore, the king gan ask: "Who will show +us the right roads through this land, that we go not astray?" + +Then the sturdy Folker spake: "For this I alone will have a care." + +"Now hold," quoth Hagen, "both knight and squire. Certes, me-thinketh +right that we should heed our friends. With full monstrous tales I'll +make you acquaint: we shall never come again to the Burgundian land. +Two mermaids told me early in the morning that we should not come back +again. I will now counsel you what ye do: ye must arm you, ye heroes, +for we have mighty foes. Ye must guard you well and ride in warlike +guise. I thought to catch these mermaids in a lie. They swore that none +of us would come home safe and sound, save the chaplain alone. Therefore +would I fain have drowned him to-day." + +These tidings flew from band to band and valiant heroes grew pale from +woe, as they began to fear a grewsome death on this journey to Etzel's +court. Forsooth they had great need. When they had crossed at Moering, +(2) where Else's ferryman had lost his life, Hagen spake again: "Sith I +have gained me foes upon the way, we shall surely be encountered. I slew +this same ferryman early on the morn to-day. Well they wot the tale. Now +lay on boldly, so that it may go hard with Gelfrat and Else, should they +match our fellowship here to-day. I know them to be so bold that 'twill +not be left undone. Let the steeds jog on more gently, that none ween we +be a-fleeing on the road." + +"This counsel I will gladly follow," quoth Giselher, the knight; "but +who shall guide the fellowship across the land?" + +They answered: "This let Folker do; the valiant minstrel knoweth both +road and path." + +Ere the wish was fully spoken, men saw the doughty fiddler standing +there well armed. On his head he bound his helmet, of lordly color was +his fighting gear. On his spear shaft he tied a token, the which was +red. Later with the kings he fell into direst need. + +Trustworthy tidings of the ferryman's death were now come to Gelfrat's +ears. The mighty Else had also heard the tale. Loth it was to both; they +sent to fetch their heroes, who soon stood ready. In a passing short +time, as I'll let you hear, one saw riding towards them those who +had wrought scathe and monstrous wounds in mighty battles. Full seven +hundred or more were come to Gelfrat. When they began to ride after +their savage foes, their lords did lead them, of a truth. A deal too +strong they hasted after the valiant strangers; they would avenge their +wrath. Therefore many of the lordings' friends were later lost. + +Hagen of Troneg had well planned it (how might a hero ever guard his +kinsmen better), that he had in charge the rear guard, with his liegemen +and his brother Dankwart. This was wisely done. + +The day had passed away; the night was come. For his friends he feared +both harm and woe, as beneath their shields they rode through the +Bavarian land. A short time thereafter the heroes were assailed. On +either side of the highway and in the rear hard by they heard the beat +of hoofs. Their foes pressed on too hard. Then spake hold Dankwart: +"They purpose to attack us here, so hind on your helmets, for that be +well to do." + +They stayed their journey, as though it must needs he; in the gloom +they spied the gleam of shining shields. Hagen would no longer keep his +peace; he called: "Who chaseth us upon the highway?" + +To this Gelfrat must needs give answer. Quoth the margrave of Bavaria: +"We seek our foes and have galloped on behind you. I know not who slew +my ferryman to-day, but it doth rue me enow, for he was a hero of his +hands." + +Then spake Hagen of Troneg: "And was then the ferryman thine? The fault +was mine, he would not ferry us over, so I slew the knight. Forsooth I +had great need, for I had sheer gained at his hands my death. As meed I +offered him gold and trappings, that he ferry me across to thy land, Sir +Knight. This angered him so greatly that he smote me with a mighty oar. +At this I waxed grim enow. I seized my sword and fended him his anger +with a grievous wound. Thus the hero met his death. I'll make amends, as +doth think thee best." + +"Well I wist," spake Gelfrat, "when Gunther and his fellowship rode +hither, that Hagen of Troneg would do us harm. Now he shall not live; +the knight must stand for the ferryman's life." + +Over the bucklers Gelfrat and Hagen couched their spears for the thrust; +each would charge the other. Else and Dankwart rode full gloriously; +they tested who they were, fierce was the fight. How might heroes ever +prove each other better? From a mighty thrust Hagen was unhorsed by +Gelfrat's hand. His martingale snapped, he learnt what it was to fall. +The crash of shafts resounded from their fellowship. Hagen, who from the +thrust afore had come to earth, down on the grass, sprang up again. I +trow, he was not gentle of mood towards Gelfrat then. Who held their +steeds, I know not; both Hagen and Gelfrat had alighted on the sand and +rushed together. Their fellowship helped thereby and became acquaint +with strife. Albeit Hagen sprang at Gelfrat fiercely, the noble margrave +smote from his shield a mickle piece, so that the sparks flew wide. Full +nigh did Gunther's liegeman die therefrom. He began to call to Dankwart: +"O help, dear brother! Certes, a hero of his hands hath matched me, he +will not spare my life." + +At this hold Dankwart spake: "I'll play the umpire here." + +The hero then sprang nearer and with a sharp sword smote Gelfrat such a +blow that he fell down dead. Else then would fain avenge the knight, but +he and his fellowship parted from the fray with scathe. His brother had +been slain, he himself was wounded; full eighty of his knights remained +with grim death behind upon the field. Their lord must needs turn in +flight from Gunther's men. + +When those from the Bavarian land gave way and fled, one heard the +savage blows resound behind them. Those of Troneg chased their foes; +they were in passing haste, who had not weened to make amends. Then +spake Dankwart, the knight, in their pursuit: "Let us turn soon on this +road and let them ride, for they be wet with blood. Haste we to our +friends, this I advise you of a truth." + +When they were come again, where the scathe had happed, Hagen of Troneg +spake: "Heroes, prove now what doth fail us here, or whom we have lost +in the strife through Gelfrat's wrath." + +Four they had lost whom they must needs bewail. But they had been paid +for dearly; for them a hundred or better from the Bavarian land were +slain. From their blood the shields of the men of Troneg were dimmed +and wet. Through the clouds there partly broke the gleam of the shining +moon, as Hagen spake again: "Let none make known to my dear lords what +we have wrought here to-day. Let them rest without care until the morn." + +When those who just had fought were now come again, the fellowship was +full weary from the way. "How long must we still ride?" asked many a +man. + +Then spake the bold Dankwart: "We may not find lodgings here, ye must +all ride until the day be come." + +The doughty Folker, who had charge of the fellowship, bade ask the +marshal: "Where may we find a place to-night, where our steeds may rest +and our dear lords as well?" + +Bold Dankwart answered: "I cannot tell you that, we may not rest till +it begin to dawn. Wherever then we find a chance, we'll lay us down upon +the grass." + +How loth it was to some when they heard this tale! They remained +unmarked with their stains of warm red blood, until the sun shot his +gleaming light against the morn across the hills. Then the king beheld +that they had fought. Wrathfully the hero spake: "How now, friend Hagen? +I ween, ye scorned to have me with you when your rings grew wet with +blood? Who hath done this?" + +Quoth he: "This Else did, who encountered us by night. We were attacked +because of his ferryman. Then my brother's hand smote Gelfrat down. Else +soon escaped us, constrained thereto by mickle need. A hundred of them +and but four of ours lay dead in the strife." + +We cannot tell you where they laid them down to rest. All of the folk +of the land learned soon that the sons of the noble Uta rode to court. +Later they were well received at Passau. The uncle of the noble king, +the Bishop Pilgrim, was blithe of mood, as his nephews came to his land +with so many knights. That he bare them good will, they learned full +soon. Well were they greeted, too, by friends along the way, sith men +could not lodge them all at Passau. They had to cross the stream to +where they found a field on which they set up pavilions and costly +tents. All one day they must needs stay there, and a full night too. +What good cheer men gave them! After that they had to ride to Rudeger's +land, to whom the tidings were brought full soon. When the way-worn +warriors had rested them and came nearer to the Hunnish land, they found +a man asleep upon the border, from whom Hagen of Troneg won a sturdy +sword. The same good knight hight Eckewart (3) in truth; sad of mood he +grew, that he lost his weapon through the journey of the knights. They +found Rudeger's marches guarded ill. + +"Woe is me of this shame," spake Eckewart. "Certes this journey of the +Burgundians rueth me full sore. My joy hath fled, sith I lost Knight +Siegfried. Alas, Sir Rudeger, how I have acted toward thee!" + +When Hagen heard the noble warrior's plight, he gave him back his sword +and six red arm bands. "These keep, Sir Knight, as a token that thou art +my friend. A bold knight thou art, though thou standest alone upon the +marches." + +"God repay you for your arm bands," Eckewart replied. "Yet your journey +to the Huns doth rue me sore. Because ye slew Siegfried, men hate you +here. I counsel you in truth, that ye guard you well." + +"Now may God protect us," answered Hagen. "These knights, the kings and +their liegemen, have forsooth no other care, save for their lodgement, +where we may find quarters in this land to-night. Our steeds be spent by +the distant way and our food run out," quoth Hagen, the knight. "We +find naught anywhere for sale, and have need of a host, who through his +courtesie would give us of his bread to-night." + +Then Eckewart made answer: "I'll show you a host so good that full +seldom have ye been lodged so well in any land, as here may hap you, an' +ye will seek out Rudeger, ye doughty knights. He dwelleth by the highway +and is the best host that ever owned a house. His heart giveth birth to +courtesie, as the sweet May doth to grass and flowers. He is aye merry +of mood, when he can serve good knights." + +At this King Gunther spake: "Will ye be my messenger and ask whether my +dear friend Rudeger will for my sake keep us, my kinsmen and our men? I +will repay thee this, as best I ever can." + +"Gladly will I be the messenger," Eckewart replied. With a right good +will he gat him on the road and told Rudeger the message he had heard, +to whom none such pleasing news had come in many a day. + +At Bechelaren men saw a knight pricking fast. Rudeger himself descried +him; he spake: "Upon the road yonder hasteth Eckewart, a liegeman of +Kriemhild." + +He weened the foes had done him scathe. Before the gate he went to meet +the messenger, who ungirt his sword and laid it from his hand. The +tales he brought were not hidden from the host and his friends, but were +straightway told them. To the margrave he spake: "Gunther, the lord of +the Burgundian land, and Giselher, his brother, and Gernot, too, have +sent me hither to you. Each of the warriors tendered you his service. +Hagen and Folker, too, eagerly did the same in truth. Still more I'll +tell you, that the king's marshal sendeth you by me the message, that +the good knights have passing need of your lodgement." + +Rudeger answered with a smile: "Now well is me of these tales, that +the high-born kings do reck of my service. It shall not be denied them. +Merry and blithe will I be, an' they come unto my house." + +"Dankwart, the marshal, bade let you know whom ye should lodge in your +house with them: sixty doughty champions, a thousand good knights, and +nine thousand men-at-arms." + +Merry of mood grew Rudeger; he spake: "Now well is me of these guests, +that these noble warriors be coming to my house, whom I have served as +yet full seldom. Now ride ye forth for to meet them, my kinsmen and my +men." + +Knights and squires now hied them to their horses; it thought them +right, which their lord did bid. All the more they hasted with their +service. As yet Lady Gotelind wist it not, who sate within her bower. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Adventure XXVI". This adventure is a late interpolation, + as it is not found in the "Thidreksaga". Originally the + river must be thought of as separating them from Etzel's + kingdom. + (2) "Moering" (M.H.G. "Moeringen") lies between Pforing and + Ingolstadt. In the "Thidreksaga" we are told that the + mermaids were bathing in a body of water called "Moere", + whereas in our poem they bathe in a spring. This may be the + original form of the account and the form here contaminated. + See Boer, i, 134. + (3) "Eckewart", see Adventure I, note 15. It will be remembered + that he accompanied Kriemhild first to the Netherlands, then + stayed with her at Worms after Siegfried's death, and + finally journeyed with her to Etzel's court. Originally he + must be thought of as guarding the boundary of Etzel's land. + Without doubt he originally warned the Burgundians, as in + the early Norse versions, where Kriemhild fights on the side + of her brothers, but since this duty was given to Dietrich, + he has nothing to do but to announce their arrival to + Rudeger. His sleeping here may, however, be thought to + indicate that it was too late to warn Gunther and his men. + + + + +ADVENTURE XXVII. How They Came To Bechelaren. + +Then the margrave went to where he found the ladies, his wife with his +daughter, and told them straightway the pleasing tidings he had heard, +that the brothers of their lady were coming thither to their house. +"My dearest love," quoth Rudeger, "ye must receive full well the noble +high-born kings, when they come here to court with their fellowship. Ye +must give fair greeting, too, to Hagen, Gunther's man. With them there +cometh one also, hight Dankwart; the other is named Folker, well beseen +with courtesie. Ye and my daughter must kiss these and abide by the +knights with gentle breeding." This the ladies vowed; quite ready they +were to do it. From the chests they hunted out the lordly robes in which +they would go to meet the warriors. Fair dames were passing busy on +that day. Men saw but little of false colors on the ladies' cheeks; +upon their heads they wore bright bands of gold. Rich chaplets (1) these +were, that the winds might not dishevel their comely hair, and this is +true i' faith. + +Let us now leave the ladies with these tasks. Much hasting over the +plain was done by Rudeger's friends, to where one found the lordings, +whom men then received well into the margrave's land. When the margrave, +the doughty Rudeger, saw them coming toward him, how joyfully he spake: +"Be ye welcome, fair sirs, and your liegemen, too. I be fain to see you +in my land." Low obeisance the knights then made, in good faith, without +all hate. That he bare them all good will, he showed full well. Hagen +he gave a special greeting, for him had he known of yore. (2) To Folker +from Burgundy land he did the same. Dankwart he welcomed, too. The bold +knight spake: "Sith ye will purvey us knights, who shall have a care for +our men-at-arms whom we have brought?" + +Quoth the margrave: "A good night shall ye have and all your fellowship. +I'll purvey such guard for whatever ye have brought with you, of steeds +and trappings, that naught shall be lost, that might bring you harm, not +even a single spur. Ye footmen pitch the tents upon the plain. What ye +lose I'll pay in full. Take off the bridles, let the horses run." + +Seldom had host done this for them afore. Therefore the guests made +merry. When that was done, the lordings rode away and the footmen laid +them everywhere upon the grass. Good ease they had; I ween, they never +fared so gently on the way. The noble margravine with her fair daughter +was come out before the castle. One saw stand by her side the lovely +ladies and many a comely maid. Great store of armlets and princely +robes they wore. The precious stones gleamed afar from out their passing +costly weeds. Fair indeed were they fashioned. + +Then came the guests and alighted there straightway. Ho, what great +courtesie one found among the Burgundian men! Six and thirty maids and +many other dames, whose persons were wrought as fair as heart could +wish, went forth to meet them with many a valiant man. Fair greetings +were given there by noble dames. The young margravine kissed all three +kings, as did her mother, too. Close at hand stood Hagen. Her father +bade her kiss him, but when she gazed upon him, he seemed so fearful +that she had fain left it undone. Yet she must needs perform what the +host now bade her do. Her color changed first pale then red. Dankwart, +too, she kissed, and then the minstrel. For his great prowess was this +greeting given. The young margravine took by the hand Knight Giselher +of the Burgundian land. The same her mother did to Gunther, the valiant +man. Full merrily they went hence with the heroes. The host walked at +Gernot's side into a broad hall, where the knights and ladies sate them +down. Soon they bade pour out for the guests good wine. Certes, heroes +might never be better purveyed than they. Rudeger's daughter was gazed +upon with loving glances, so fair she was. Forsooth many a good knight +caressed her in his mind. And well did she deserve this, so high she was +of mood. The knights thought what they would, but it might not come to +pass. Back and forth shot the glances at maids and dames. Of them sate +there enow. The noble fiddler bare the host good will. + +Then they parted after the custom, knights and ladies going to different +sides. In the broad hall they set up the tables and served the strangers +in lordly wise. For the sake of the guests the noble margravine went +to table, but let her daughter stay with the maidens, where she sate by +right. The guests saw naught of her, which irked them sore, in truth. + +When they had eaten and drunk on every side, men brought the fair again +into the hall; nor were merry speeches left unsaid. Many such spake +Folker, this brave and lusty knight. Before them all the noble minstrel +spake: "Mighty margrave, God hath dealt full graciously with you, for +he hath given you a passing comely wife and thereto a life of joy. An' +I were a prince," quoth the minstrel, "and should wear a crown, I would +fain have to wife your comely daughter. This my heart doth wish. She is +lovely for to see, thereto noble and good." + +Then answered the margrave: "How might that be, that king should ever +crave the dear daughter of mine? My wife and I are exiles; what booteth +in such ease the maiden's passing comeliness?" + +To this Gernot, the well-bred man, made answer: "An' I might have a love +after mine own desire, I should be ever glad of such a wife." + +Hagen, too, replied in full kindly wise: "My lord Giselher must take +a wife. The margravine is of such high kin that I and all his liegemen +would gladly serve her, should she wear a crown in Burgundy land." + +This speech thought Rudeger passing good, and Gotelind too, indeed +it joyed their mood. Then the heroes brought to pass that the noble +Giselher took her to wife, as did well befit a king. Who may part what +shall be joined together? Men prayed the margravine to go to court, and +swore to give him the winsome maid. He, too, vowed to wed the lovely +fair. For the maiden they set castles and land aside, and this the hand +of the noble king did pledge with an oath, and Lord Gernot, too, that +this should hap. + +Then spake the margrave: "Sith I have naught of castles, I will +ever serve you with my troth. As much silver and gold will I give my +daughter, as an hundred sumpters may barely carry, that it may please +the hero's kin in honor." + +After the custom men bade them stand in a ring. Over against her many a +youth stood, blithe of mood. In their minds they harbored thoughts, +as young folk still are wont to do. Men then gan ask the winsome maid +whether she would have the knight or no. Loth in part she was, and yet +she thought to take the stately man. She shamed her of the question, as +many another maid hath done. Her father Rudeger counseled her to answer +yes, and gladly take him. In a trice young Giselher was at her side, and +clasped her in his white hands, albeit but little time she might enjoy +him. + +Then Spake the margrave: "Ye noble and mighty kings, when ye now ride +again (that is the custom) home to Burgundy, I will give you my child, +that ye may take her with you." + +This then they vowed. Now men must needs give over all the noisy joy. +They bade the maiden hie her to her bower, and bade the guests to sleep +and rest them against the day. Meanwhile men made ready the food; the +host purveyed them well. + +When now they had eaten, they would ride hence to the Hunnish lands. +"I'll guard against that well," spake the noble host. "Ye must tarry +still, for full seldom have I gained such welcome guests." + +To this Dankwart replied: "Forsooth this may not be. Where would ye find +the food, the bread and wine, that ye must have for so many warriors +another night?" + +When the host heard this, he spake: "Give o'er this speech. My dear +lords, ye must not say me nay. Forsooth I'd give you vittaile for a +fortnight, with all your fellowship that is come hither with you. King +Etzel hath taken from me as yet full little of my goods." + +However much they demurred, still they must needs tarry there until the +fourth morning, when such deeds were done by the bounty of the host that +it was told after. He gave his guests both mounts and robes. No longer +might they stay, they must fare forth. Through his bounty bold Rudeger +wot how to save but little. Naught was denied that any craved, it could +not but please them all. Their noble meiny now brought saddled before +the gate the many steeds, and to them came forth thee stranger knights. +In their hands they bare their shields, for they would ride to Etzel's +land. Before the noble guests come forth from the hall, the host had +proffered everywhere his gifts. He wist how to live bountifully, in +mickle honors. To Giselher he had given his comely daughter; to Gunther, +the worshipful knight, who seldom took a gift, he gave a coat of mail, +which the noble and mighty king wore well with honor. Gunther bowed low +over noble Rudeger's hand. Then to Gernot he gave a weapon good enow, +the which he later bare full gloriously in strife. Little did the +margrave's wife begrudge him the gift, but through it good Rudeger was +forced to lose his life. Gotelind offered Hagen a loving gift, as well +befit her. He took it, sith the king had taken one, that he should +not fare forth from her to the feasting, without her present. Later he +gainsayed it. "Of all that I have ever seen," quoth Hagen, "I crave to +bear naught else save that shield on yonder wall; fain would I take that +with me into Etzel's land." + +When the margravine heard Hagen's speech, it minded her of her +grief--tears became her well. She thought full dearly on Nudung's (3) +death, whom Wittich had slain; from this she felt the stress of sorrow. +To the knight she spake: "I'll give you the shield. Would to God in +heaven, that he still lived who bare it once in hand. He met his death +in battle; for him must I ever weep, which giveth me, poor wife, dire +woe." + +The noble margravine rose from her seat and with her white hands she +seized the shield. To Hagen the lady bare it, who took it in his hand. +This gift was worthily bestowed upon the knight. A cover of shining silk +concealed its colors, for it was set with precious stones. In sooth the +daylight never shone on better shield. Had any wished to buy it at its +cost, 'twere well worth a thousand marks. (4) Hagen bade the shield be +borne away. + +Then Dankwart came to court. To him the margrave's daughter gave great +store of rich apparel, the which he later wore among the Huns in passing +lordly wise. However many gifts were taken by them, naught would have +come into the hands of any, save through the kindness of the host, +who proffered them so fair. Later they became such foes that they were +forced to strike him dead. + +Now the doughty Folker went courteously with his fiddle and stood before +Gotelind. He played sweet tunes and sang to her his songs. Thus he took +his leave and parted from Bechelaren. The margravine bade fetch a chest. +Now hear the tale of friendly gifts! Twelve rings she took out and +placed them on his hand. "These ye must bear hence to Etzel's land and +wear them at court for my sake, whithersoever ye turn, that men may tell +me how ye have served me yonder at the feast." What the lady craved, he +later carried out full well. + +Then spake the host to his guests: "Ye shall journey all the gentlier, +for I myself will guide you and bid guard you well, that none may harm +you on the road." + +Then his sumpters were laden soon. The host was well beseen with five +hundred men with steeds and vesture. These he took with him full +merrily hence to the feasting. Not one of them later ever came alive +to Bechelaren. With a loving kiss the host parted hence; the same did +Giselher, as his gentle breeding counseled him. In their arms they +clasped fair wives. This many a high-born maid must needs bewail in +later times. On every side they opened the casements, for the host with +his liegemen would now mount their steeds. I ween their hearts did tell +them of the bitter woes to come. Then wept many a dame and many a comely +maid. They pined for their dear kinsmen, whom nevermore they saw in +Bechelaren. Yet these rode merrily across the sand, down along the +Danube to the Hunnish land. + +Then noble Rudeger, the full lusty knight, spake to the Burgundians: +"Certes, the tidings that we be coming to the Huns must not be left +unsaid, for king Etzel hath never heard aught that pleased him more." + +So down through Austria the envoy sped, and to the folk on every side +'twas told that the heroes were coming from Worms beyond the Rhine. +Naught could have been liefer to the courtiers of the king. On before +the envoys hasted with the tidings, that the Nibelungs were already in +the Hunnish land. + +"Thou must greet them well, Kriemhild, lady mine. Thy dear brothers be +coming in great state to visit thee." + +Within a casement window Lady Kriemhild stood and looked out to see +her kin, as friend doth for friend. Many a man she spied from her +fatherland. The king, too, learned the tale and laughed for very +pleasure. "Now well is me of my joys," quoth Kriemhild, "my kinsmen +bring with them many a brand-new shield and white coat of mail. He who +would have gold, let him bethink him of my sorrows, and I'll ever be his +friend." + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Chaplets", see Adventure 10, note 1. + (2) "Of yore", see Adventure 23, note 2. + (3) "Nudung" was slain, according to the "Thidreksaga", chap. + 335, by "Vidga" (here Wittich, M.H.G. "Witege", the son of + Wielant, the smith, in the battle of Gronsport. There, + chap. 369, he is Gotelind's brother, but in "Biterolf" and + the "Rosengarten" he is her son. + (4) "Marks", see Adventure V, note 5. + + + + +ADVENTURE XXVIII. How The Burgundians Came To Etzel's Castle. + +When the Burgundians were come to the land, old Hildebrand (1) of Berne +did hear the tale, and sore it rued him. He told his lord, who bade him +welcome well the lusty knights and brave. The doughty Wolfhart (2) bade +fetch the steeds; then many a sturdy warrior rode with Dietrich, to +where he thought to meet them on the plain where they had pitched full +many a lordly tent. When Hagen of Troneg saw them riding from afar, to +his lords he spake in courteous wise: "Now must ye doughty warriors rise +from your seats and go to meet them, who would greet you here. Yonder +cometh a fellowship I know full well, they be full speedy knights from +the Amelung land, (3) whom the lord of Berne doth lead--high-mettled +warriors they. Scorn not the service that they proffer." + +Then with Dietrich there alighted from the steeds, as was mickle right, +many a knight and squire. Towards the strangers they went, to where +they found the heroes; in friendly wise they greeted those from the +Burgundian land. Ye may now hear what Sir Dietrich said to the sons of +Uta, as he saw them coming toward him. Their journey rued him sore; he +weened that Rudeger wist it, and had told them the tale. "Be ye welcome, +fair sirs, Gunther and Giselher, Gernot and Hagen, likewise Folker and +the doughty Dankwart. Know ye not that Kriemhild still mourneth sorely +for the hero of the Nibelung land?" + +"Let her weep long time," quoth Hagen. "He hath lain these many years, +done to death. Let her love now the Hunnish king. Siegfried cometh not +again, he hath long been buried." + +"Let us not talk of Siegfried's wounds, but if Kriemhild still live, +scathe may hap again," so spake Sir Dietrich, the lord of Berne. "Hope +of the Nibelungs, guard thee well against this." + +"Why should I guard me?" spake the high-born king. "Etzel sent us envoys +(why should I question more?) to say that we should ride to visit him, +hither to this land. My sister Kriemhild sent us many a message, too." + +"Let me counsel you," quoth Hagen, "to beg Sir Dietrich and his good +knights to tell you the tidings further, and to let you know the Lady +Kriemhild's mood." + +Then the three mighty kings, Gunther and Gernot and Sir Dietrich, too, +went and spake apart. "Pray tell us, good and noble knight of Berne, +what ye do know of the queen's mood?" + +Answered the lord of Berne: "What more shall I tell you? Every morning I +hear King Etzel's wife wail and weep with piteous mind to the mighty God +of heaven over the stalwart Siegfried's death." + +"That which we have heard," spake bold Folker, the fiddler, "cannot be +turned aside. We must ride to court and abide what may hap to us doughty +knights among the Huns." + +The brave Burgundians now rode to court. In lordly wise they came after +the fashion of their land. Many a brave man among the Huns wondered what +manner of man Hagen of Troneg be. It was enough that men told tales, +that he had slain Kriemhild's husband the mightiest of all heroes. For +that cause alone much questioning about Hagen was heard at court. The +knight was fair of stature, that is full true; broad he was across the +breast; his hair was mixed with gray; his legs were long, and fierce his +glance; lordly gait he had. + +Then one bade lodge the Burgundian men, but Gunther's fellowship was +placed apart. This the queen advised, who bare him much hate, and +therefore men later slew the footmen in their lodgings. Dankwart, +Hagen's brother, he was marshal. The king earnestly commended to him his +followers, that he purvey them well and give them enow to eat; The hero +of Burgundy bare them all good will. Kriemhild, the fair, went with her +maids-in-waiting to where, false of mood, she greeted the Nibelungs. +Giselher alone she kissed and took by the hand. That Hagen of Troneg +saw, and bound his helmet tighter. "After such a greeting," quoth Hagen, +"doughty knights may well bethink them. One giveth kings a greeting +different from their men. We have not made a good journey to this +feast." (4) + +She spake: "Be welcome to him that be fain to see you; I greet you not +for your kinship. Pray tell me what ye do bring me from Worms beyond the +Rhine, that ye should be so passing welcome to me here?" + +"Had I known," quoth Hagen, "that knights should bring you gifts, I had +bethought me better, for I be rich enow to bring you presents hither to +this land." + +"Now let me hear the tale of where ye have put the Nibelung hoard? It +was mine own, as ye well know, and ye should have brought me that to +Etzel's land." + +"I' faith, my Lady Kriemhild, it is many a day sith I have had the care +of the Nibelung hoard. My lords bade sink it in the Rhine, and there it +must verily lie till doomsday." + +Then spake the queen: "I thought as much. Ye have brought full little of +it hither to this land, albeit it was mine own, and I had it whilom in +my care. Therefore have I all time so many a mournful day." + +"The devil I'll bring you," answered Hagen. "I have enough to carry with +my shield and breastplate; my helm is bright, the sword is in my hand, +therefore I bring you naught." + +Then the queen spake to the knights on every side: "One may not bring +weapons to the hall. Sir Knights, give them to me, I'll have them taken +in charge." + +"I' faith," quoth Hagen, "never shall that be done. In sooth I crave not +the honor, O bounteous princess, that ye should bear my shield and other +arms to the lodgings; ye be a queen. This my father did not teach me, I +myself will play the chamberlain." + +"Alack for my sorrows," spake Lady Kriemhild. "Why will Hagen and my +brother not let their shields be taken in charge? They be warned, and +wist I, who hath done this, I'd ever plan his death." + +To this Sir Dietrich answered in wrath: "'Tis I, that hath warned the +noble and mighty princes and the bold Hagen, the Burgundian liegeman. Go +to, thou she-devil, thou durst not make me suffer for the deed." + +Sore abashed was King Etzel's wife, for bitterly she feared Sir +Dietrich. At once she left him, not a word she spake, but gazed with +furious glance upon her foes. Two warriors then grasped each other +quickly by the hand, the one was Sir Dietrich, the other Hagen. With +gentle breeding the lusty hero spake: "Forsooth I rue your coming to the +Huns, because of what the queen hath said." + +Quoth Hagen: "There will be help for that." + +Thus the two brave men talked together. King Etzel saw this, and +therefore he began to query: "Fain would I know," spake the mighty +king, "who yonder warrior be, whom Sir Dietrich greeteth there in such +friendly wise. He carrieth high his head; whoever be his father, he is +sure a doughty knight." + +A liegeman of Kriemhild made answer to the king: "By birth he is from +Troneg, his father hight Aldrian; however blithe he bear him here, a +grim man is he. I'll let you see full well that I have told no lie." + +"How shall I know that he be so fierce?" replied the king. As yet he +wist not the many evil tricks that the queen should later play upon her +kin, so that she let none escape from the Huns alive. + +"Well know I Aldrian, for he was my vassal (5) and here at my court +gained mickle praise and honor. I dubbed him knight and gave hint of my +gold. The faithful Helca loved him inly. Therefore I have since known +Hagen every whit. Two stately youths became my hostages, he and Walther +of Spain. (6) Here they grew to manhood; Hagen I sent home again, +Walther ran away with Hildegund." + +He bethought him of many tales that had happed of yore. He had spied +aright his friend of Troneg, who in his youth had given him yeoman +service. Later in his old age he did him many a dear friend to death. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Hildebrand" is the teacher and armor bearer of Dietrich. + He is the hero of the famous "Hildebrandslied". + (2) "Wolfhart" is Hildebrand's nephew. In the "Thidreksaga" he + falls in the battle of Gronsport. + (3) "Amelung land" is the name under which Dietrich's land + appears. Theodorich, the king of the East Goths, belonged + to the race of the Amali. + (4) "Feast". That Kriemhild kissed only Giselher, who was + innocent of Siegfried's death, aroused Hagen's suspicions. + (5) "Vassal". No other account speaks of Aldrian as being at + Etzel's court. He is probably confused here with his son, + for Hagen's stay with Etzel in various legends, as also in + our poem a few lines further down. + (6) "Walther of Spain" is Walther of Aquitania, a legendary + personage of whom the O.E. fragment "Waldere", the Latin + epic "Waltharius", a M.H.G. epic, and the "Thidreksaga" + tell. He flees with Hildegund, the daughter of the + Burgundian King Herrich, from Etzel's court, as related + here, but has to fight for his life against overpowering + numbers, in the "Thidreksaga" against the pursuing Huns, in + the other sources against the Burgundians. In both cases + Hagen is among his foes, but takes no part in the fight at + first, out of friendship for Walther. + + + + +ADVENTURE XXIX. How Hagen Would Not Rise For Kriemhild. + +Then the two worshipful warriors parted, Hagen of Troneg and +Sir Dietrich. Over his shoulder Gunther's liegeman gazed for a +comrade-at-arms, whom he then quickly won. Folker he saw, the cunning +fiddler, stand by Giselher, and begged him to join him, for well he knew +his savage mood. He was in all things a bold knight and a good. Still +they let the lordings stand in the court, only these twain alone men saw +walk hence far across the court before a spacious palace. These chosen +warriors feared the hate of none. They sate them down upon a bench +before the house over against a hall, the which belonged to Kriemhild. +Upon their bodies shone their lordly weeds. Enow who gazed upon them +would than have known the knights; as wild beasts the haughty heroes +were stared upon by the Hunnish men. Etzel's wife, too, gazed upon +them through a window, at which fair Kriemhild waxed sad again. Of her +sorrows it minded her and she began to weep. Much it wondered Etzel's +men what had so quickly saddened her mood. Quoth she: "That Hagen hath +done, ye heroes brave and good." + +To the lady they spake: "How hath that happed, for but newly we did see +you joyful? None there be so bold, an' he hath done you aught, but it +will cost him his life, if ye bid us venge you." + +"Ever would I requite it, if any avenged my wrongs. I would give him all +he craved. Behold me at your feet," spake he queen; "avenge me on Hagen, +that he lose his life." + +Then sixty bold men made them ready eftsoon for Kriemhild's sake. They +would hence to slay the bold knight Hagen and the fiddler, too. With +forethought this was done. When the queen beheld the band so small, grim +of mood she spake to the knights: "What ye now would do, ye should give +over. With so few durst ye never encounter Hagen. And however strong +and bold Hagen of Troneg be, he who sitteth by his side, Folker, the +fiddler, is stronger still by far. He is an evil man. Certes, ye may not +so lightly match these knights." + +When they heard this, four hundred doughty warriors more did make them +ready. The noble queen craved sore to do them harm. Thereby the heroes +later fell in mickle danger. When she saw her followers well armed, the +queen spake to the doughty knights: "Now bide a while, ye must stand +quite still in truth. Wearing my crown, I will go to meet my foes. List +ye to the wrongs that Hagen of Troneg, Gunther's man, hath done me. I +know him to be so haughty that he'll not deny a whit. Little I reek what +hap to him on this account." + +Then the fiddler, a bold minstrel, spied the noble queen walk down the +flight of steps that led downward from a house. When bold Folker saw +this, to his comrade-at-arms he spake: "Now behold, friend Hagen, how +she walketh yonder, who hath faithlessly bidden us to this land. I have +never seen with a queen so many men bearing sword in hand march in such +warlike guise. Know ye, friend Hagen, whether she bear you hate? If +so be, I counsel you to guard the better your life and honor. Certes, +methinks this good. They be wroth of mood, as far as I can see, and +some be so broad of chest that he who would guard himself should do so +betimes. I ween there be those among them who wear bright breastplates. +Whom they would attack, I cannot say." + +Then, angry of mood, the brave knight Hagen spake: "Well I wot that all +this be done against me, that they thus bear their gleaming swords in +hand. For aught of them, I still may ride to the Burgundian land. +Now tell me, friend Folker, whether ye will stand by me, if perchance +Kriemhild's men would fight me? Pray let me hear that, if so be ye hold +me dear. I'll aid you evermore with faithful service." + +"I'll help you surely," spake the minstrel; "and should I see the king +with all his warriors draw near us, not one foot will I yield from fear +in aiding you, the while I live." + +"Now may God in heaven requite you, noble Folker; though they strive +against me, what need I more? Sith ye will help me, as I hear you say, +let these warriors come on full-armed." + +"Let us rise now from our seats," spake the minstrel. "Let us do her +honor as she passeth by, she is a high-born dame, a queen. We shall +thereby honor ourselves as well." + +"For my sake, no," quoth Hagen. "Should I go hence, these knights would +think 'twas through fear. Not for one of them will I ever rise from my +seat. It beseemeth us both better, forsooth, to leave this undone, for +why should I honor one who doth bear me hatred? Nor will I do this, the +while I live; I reck not how King Etzel's wife doth hate me." + +Haughty Hagen laid across his knees a gleaming sword from whose pommel +a sparkling jasper, greener than grass, did shine. Its hilt was golden, +its sheath an edging of red. That it was Siegfried's, Kriemhild knew +full well. She must needs grow sad when that she knew the sword, for it +minded her of her wrongs; she began to weep. I ween bold Hagen had done +it for this cause. Folker, the bold, drew nearer to the bench a fiddle +bow, strong, mickle, and long, like unto a broad, sharp sword, and there +the two lusty knights sate undaunted. These two brave men did think +themselves so lordly, that they would not leave their seats through fear +of any man. The noble queen walked therefore to their very feet and gave +them hostile greeting. She spake: "Now tell me, Hagen, who hath sent for +you, that ye durst ride hither to this land, sith ye know full well what +ye have done me? Had ye good wits, ye should have left it undone, by +rights." + +"No one sent for me," quoth Hagen. "Men bade to this land three knights, +who hight my lords. I am their liegeman, and full seldom have I stayed +behind when they journeyed to any court." + +Quoth she: "Now tell me further, why ye did this, through the which ye +have earned my hate? Ye slew Siegfried, my dear husband, for which I +have cause enow to weep until mine end." + +Quoth he: "What booteth more, enow is already said. It is just I, Hagen, +who slew Siegfried, a hero of his hands. How sorely did he atone that +Lady Kriemhild railed at comely Brunhild. 'Tis not to be denied, O +mighty queen, I alone am to blame for this scathful scathe. (1) Let him +avenge it who will, be he wife or man. Unless be I should lie to you, I +have dons you much of harm." + +Quoth she: "Now hear, ye knights, how he denieth no whit of my wrongs. +Men of Etzel, I care not what hap to him from this cause." + +The proud warriors all gazed at one another. Had any began the fight, +it would have come about that men must have given the honors to the two +comrades, for they had oft wrought wonders in the fray. What the Huns +had weened to do must now needs be left undone through fear. + +Then spake one of the men-at-arms: "Why gaze ye thus at me? What I afore +vowed, I will now give over. I will lose my life for no man's gift. +Forsooth King Etzel's wife would fain lead us into wrong." + +Quoth another hard by: "Of the selfsame mind am I. An' any give me +towers of good red gold, I would not match this fiddler, for his fearful +glances, the which I have seen him cast. Hagen, too, I have known from +his youthful days, wherefore men can tell me little of this knight. +I have seen him fight in two and twenty battles, through which woe of +heart hath happed to many a dame. He and the knight from Spain trod many +a war path, when here at Etzel's court they waged so many wars in honor +of the king. Much this happed, wherefore one must justly honor Hagen. At +that time the warrior was of his years a lad. How gray are they who then +were young! Now is he come to wit and is a man full grim. Balmung, (2) +too, he beareth, the which he won in evil wise." + +Therewith the strife was parted, so that no one fought, which mightily +rued the queen. The warriors turned them hence; in sooth they feared +their death at the fiddler's hands, and surely they had need of this. +Then spake the fiddler: "We have now well seen that we shall find foes +here, as we heard tell afore. Let us go to court now to the kings, then +dare none match our lords in fight. How oft a man doth leave a thing +undone through fear, the which he would not do, when friend standeth by +friend in friendly (3) wise, an' he have good wits. Scathe to many a man +is lightly warded off by forethought." + +Quoth Hagen: "Now will I follow you." + +They went to where they found the dapper warriors standing in the court +in a great press of welcoming knights. + +Bold Folker gan speak loudly to his lords: "How long will ye stand and +let yourselves be jostled? Ye must go to court and hear from the king of +what mind he be." + +Men then saw the brave heroes and good pair off. The prince of Berne +took by the hand the mighty Gunther of Burgundian land. Irnfried (4) +took the brave knight Gernot, while Rudeger was seen to go to court with +Giselher. But however any paired, Folker and Hagen never parted, save +in one fray, when their end was come, and this noble ladies must needs +greatly bewail in after time. With the kings one saw go to court a +thousand brave men of their fellowship, thereto sixty champions that +were come with them, whom the bold Hagen had taken from his land. Hawart +and Iring, (5) two chosen men, were seen to walk together near the +kings. Men saw Dankwart and Wolfhart, a peerless knight, display their +chivalry before all eyes. + +When the lord of the Rhine had entered the hall, the mighty Etzel +delayed no longer, but sprang from his throne when he saw him +come. Never did so fair a greeting hap from any king. "Be welcome, +Sir Gunther, and Sir Gernot, too, and your brother Giselher. I sent +you truly my faithful service to Worms beyond the Rhine. All your +fellowship, too, I welcome. Now be ye passing welcome, ye two knights, +Folker, the brave, and Sir Hagen likewise, to me and to my lady, here in +this our land. She sent you many a messenger to the Rhine." + +Then spake Hagen of Troneg: "I heard much talk of that, and were I not +come to the Huns for the sake of my lords, I should have ridden in your +honor to this land." + +The noble host then took his dear guests by the hand and led them to the +settle where he sate himself. Busily they poured out for the guests in +broad bowls of gold, mead, morat, (6) and wine and bade those far from +home be welcome. Then spake King Etzel: "Let me tell you this; it might +not liefer hap to me in all this world, than through you heroes, that +ye be come to see me. Through this much sadness is also taken from the +queen. Me-wondereth greatly what I have done you noble strangers, that +ye never recked to come into my land. My sadness is turned to joy, since +now I see you here." + +To this Rudeger, a high-mettled knight, made answer: "Ye may be glad to +see them. Good is the fealty which the kinsmen of my lady wot how to use +so well. They bring also to your house many a stately knight." + +Upon a midsummer's eve the lords were come to the court of the mighty +Etzel. Seldom hath there been heard such lofty greeting as when he +welcomed the heroes. When now the time to eat was come, the king went +with them to the board. Never did host sit fairer with his guests. Men +gave them meat and drink to the full. All that they craved stood ready +for them, for mickle wonders had been told about these knights. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Scathful scathe" here imitates the M.H.G. "scaden + scedelich". + (2) "Balmung", see Adventure III, note 7. + (3) "friend... friendly". This repetition occurs in the + original. + (4) "Irnfried", see Adventure XXII, note 8. + (5) "Hawart" and "Iring", Adventure XXII, notes 6 and 7. + (6) "Morat" (M.H.G. "moraz") from late Latin "moratum", mulberry + wine, is a beverage composed of honey flavored with + mulberry-juice. + + + + +ADVENTURE XXX. How They Kept The Watch. + +The day had now an end, and the night drew nigh. Care beset the wayworn +travelers, as to when they should go to bed and rest them. This Hagen +bespake with Etzel, and it was told them soon. + +Gunther spake to the host: "God be with you, we would fain go to our +sleep, pray give us leave. We will come early on the morrow, whensoever +ye bid." + +Etzel parted then full merrily from his guests. Men pressed the +strangers on every side, at which brave Folker spake to the Huns: "How +dare ye crowd before the warriors' feet? An' ye will not leave this, ye +will fare full ill. I'll smite some man so heavy a fiddle blow, that +if he have a faithful friend he may well bewail it. Why give ye not way +before us knights? Methinks 'twere well. All pass for knights, but be +not of equal mettle." + +As the fiddler spake thus in wrath, Hagen, the brave, looked behind him. +He spake: "The bold gleeman doth advise you right, ye men of Kriemhild, +ye should hie you to your lodgings. I ween none of you will do what ye +are minded, but would ye begin aught, come early on the morrow, and +let us wanderers have peace to-night. Certes, I ween that it hath never +happed with such good will on the part of heroes." + +Then the guests were brought into a spacious hall, which they found +purveyed on every side with costly beds, long and broad, for the +warriors. Lady Kriemhild planned the very greatest wrongs against them. +One saw there many a cunningly wrought quilt from Arras (1) of shining +silken cloth and many a coverlet of Arabian silk, the best that might be +had; upon this ran a border that shone in princely wise. Many bed covers +of ermine and of black sable were seen, beneath which they should have +their ease at night, until the dawn of day. Never hath king lain so +lordly with his meiny. + +"Alas for these night quarters," spake Giselher, the youth, "and alas +for my friends, who be come with us. However kindly my sister greeted +us, yet I do fear me that through her fault we must soon lie dead." + +"Now give over your care," quoth Hagen, the knight. "I'll stand watch +myself to-night. I trow to guard us well, until the day doth come. +Therefore have no fear; after that, let him survive who may." + +All bowed low and said him gramercy. Then went they to their beds. A +short while after the stately men had laid them down, bold Hagen, the +hero, began to arm him. Then the fiddler, Knight Folker, spake: "If it +scorn you not, Hagen, I would fain hold the watch with you to-night, +until the early morn." + +The hero then thanked Folker in loving wise: "Now God of heaven requite +you, dear Folker. In all my cares, I would crave none other than you +alone, whenever I had need. I shall repay you well, and death hinder me +not." + +Both then donned their shining armor and either took his shield in hand, +walked out of the house and stood before the door. Thus they cared for +the guests in faithful wise. The doughty Folker leaned his good shield +against the side of the hall, then turned him back and fetched his +fiddle and served his friends as well befit the hero. Beneath the door +of the house he sate him down upon a stone; bolder fiddler was there +never. When the tones of the strings rang forth so sweetly, the proud +wanderers gave Folker thanks. At first the strings twanged so that the +whole house resounded; his strength and his skill were both passing +great. Then sweeter and softer he began to play, and thus many a +care-worn man he lulled to sleep. When he marked that all had fallen +asleep, the knight took again his shield and left the room and took +his stand before the tower, and there he guarded the wanderers against +Kriemhild's men. + +'Twas about the middle of the night (I know not but what it happed a +little earlier), that bold Folker spied the glint of a helmet afar in +the darkness. Kriemhild's men would fain have harmed the guests. Then +the fiddler spake: "Sir Hagen, my friend, it behooveth us to bear these +cares together. Before the house I see armed men stand, and err I not, I +ween, they would encounter us!" + +"Be silent," quoth Hagen, "let them draw nearer before they be ware +of us. Then will helmets be dislodged by the swords in the hands of us +twain. They will be sent back to Kriemhild in evil plight." + +One of the Hunnish warriors (full soon that happed) marked that the door +was guarded. How quickly then he spake: "That which we have in mind may +not now come to pass. I see the fiddler stand on guard. On his head he +weareth a glittering helmet, shining and hard, strong and whole. His +armor rings flash out like fire. By him standeth Hagen; in sooth the +guests be guarded well." + +Straightway they turned again. When Folker saw this, wrathfully he spake +to his comrade-at-arms: "Now let me go from the house to the warriors. I +would fain put some questions to Lady Kriemhild's men." + +"For my sake, no," quoth Hagen. "If ye leave the house, the doughty +knights are like to bring you in such stress with their swords, that I +must aid you even should it be the death of all my kin. As soon as we +be come into the fray, twain of them, or four, would in a short time run +into the house and would bring such scathe upon the sleepers, that we +might never cease to mourn." + +Then Folker answered: "Let us bring it to pass that they note that I +have seen them, so that Kriemhild's men may not deny that they would +fain have acted faithlessly." + +Straightway Folker then called out to them: "How go ye thus armed, ye +doughty knights? Would ye ride to rob, ye men of Kriemhild? Then must ye +have the help of me and my comrade-at-arms." + +To this none made reply. Angry grew his mood. "Fy! Ye evil cowards," +spake the good knight, "would ye have murdered us asleep? That hath been +done full seldom to such good heroes." + +Then the queen was told that her messengers had compassed naught. +Rightly it did vex her, and with wrathful mood she made another plan. +Through this brave heroes and good must needs thereafter perish. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Arras", the capital of Artois in the French Netherlands. + In older English "arras" is used also for tapestry. + + + + +ADVENTURE XXXI. (1) How They Went To Church. + +"My coat of mail groweth cold," said Folker. "I ween the night hath run +its course. By the air I mark that day is near." + +Then they waked the many knights who still lay sleeping. The light of +dawn shone into the hall upon the strangers. On all sides Hagen gan wake +the warriors, if perchance they would fain go to the minster for +mass. Men now loudly rang the bells in Christian fashion. Heathens and +Christians did not sing alike, so that it was seen full well that they +were not as one. Gunther's liegemen now would go to church, and all +alike had risen from their beds. The champions laced them into such +goodly garments, that never did hero bring better clothes to the land of +any king. This vexed Hagen. He spake: "Heroes, ye should wear here other +clothes. Certes, ye know full well the tales. Instead of roses, bear +weapons in your hands; instead of jeweled chaplets, your bright helms +and good, sith ye know full well the wicked Kriemhild's mood. Let +me tell you, we must fight to-day, so instead of silken shirts, wear +hauberks, and instead of rich cloaks, good shields and broad, so that if +any grow angry with you, ye be full armed. Dear my lords, and all my kin +and liegemen, go willingly to church and make plaint to the mighty God +of your fears and need, for know full sure that death draweth nigh us. +Nor must ye forget to confess aught that ye have done and stand full +zealously before your God. Of this I warn you, noble knights, unless God +in heaven so will, ye'll never more hear mass." + +So the princes and their liegemen went to the minster. In the holy +churchyard bold Hagen bade them halt, that they might not be parted. +He spake: "Of a truth none knoweth what will hap to us from the Huns. +Place, my friends, your shields before your feet, and if any proffer +you cold greeting, repay it with deep and mortal wounds. That is Hagen's +counsel, that ye may so be found as doth befit your honor." + +Folker and Hagen, the twain, then hied them to the spacious minster. +This was done that the queen might press upon them in the crowd. Certes, +she was passing grim. Then came the lord of the land and his fair wife, +her body adorned with rich apparel; Doughty warriors, too, were seen to +walk beside her. One saw the dust rise high from Kriemhild's band. When +mighty Etzel spied the kings and their fellowship thus armed, how quick +he spake: "Why do I see my friends thus go with helmets? Upon my troth, +it grieveth me, and hath any done them aught, I shall gladly make +amends, as doth think them good. Hath any made heavy their hearts or +mood, I'll show them well, that it doth irk me much. I am ready for +whatever they command me." + +To this Hagen answered: "None hath done us aught; it is the custom of my +lordings that they go armed at all high feasts for full three days. We +should tell Etzel, had aught been done us." + +Kriemhild heard full well what Hagen spake. How right hostilely she +gazed into his eyes! She would not tell the custom of their land, albeit +she had known it long in Burgundy. However grim and strong the hate +she bare them, yet had any told Etzel the truth, he would have surely +hindered what later happed. Because of their great haughtiness they +scorned to tell him. When the great crowd went past with the queen, +these twain, Hagen and Folker, would not step back more than two +hand-breadths, the which irked the Huns. Forsooth they had to jostle +with the lusty heroes. This thought King Etzel's chamberlains not good. +Certes, they would have fain angered the champions, but that they durst +not before the noble king. So there was much jostling, but nothing more. + +When they had worshiped God and would hence again, many a Hunnish +warrior horsed him passing soon. At Kriemhild's side stood many a comely +maid, and well seven thousand knights rode with the queen. Kriemhild +with her ladies sate her down at the easements by the side of the mighty +Etzel, which was him lief, for they would watch the lusty heroes joust. +Ho, what stranger knights rode before them in the court! Then was come +the marshal with the squires. Bold Dankwart had taken to him his lord's +retainers from the Burgundian land; the steeds of the Nibelungs they +found well saddled. When now the kings and their men were come to horse, +stalwart Folker gan advise that they should ride a joust after the +fashion of their land. At this the heroes rode in lordly wise; none it +irked what the knight had counseled. The hurtling and the noise waxed +loud, as the many men rode into the broad court. Etzel and Kriemhild +themselves beheld the scene. To the jousts were come six hundred knights +of Dietrich's men to match the strangers, for they would have pastime +with the Burgundians. Fain would they have done it, had he given them +leave. Ho, what good champions rode in their train! The tale was told to +Sir Dietrich and he forbade the game with Gunther's men; he feared for +his liegemen, and well he might. + +When those of Berne had departed thence, there came the men of Rudeger +from Bechelaren, five hundred strong, with shields, riding out before +the hall. It would have been lief to the margrave, had they left it +undone. Wisely he rode then to them through the press and said to his +knights, that they were ware that Gunther's men were evil-minded toward +them. If they would leave off the jousting, it would please him much. +When now these lusty heroes parted from them, then came those of +Thuringia, as we are told, and well a thousand brave men from Denmark. +From the tilting one saw many truncheons (2) flying hence. Irnfried and +Hawart now rode into the tourney. Proudly those from the Rhine awaited +them and offered the men of Thuringia many a joust. Many a lordly shield +was riddled by the thrusts. Thither came then Sir Bloedel with three +thousand men. Well was he seen of Etzel and Kriemhild, for the knightly +sports happed just before the twain. The queen saw it gladly, that the +Burgundians might come to grief. Schrutan (3) and Gibecke, Ramung and +Hornbog, (4) rode into the tourney in Hunnish wise. To the heroes from +Burgundian land they addressed them. High above the roof of the royal +hall the spear-shafts whirled. Whatever any there plied, 'twas but a +friendly rout. Palace and hall were heard resounding loud through the +clashing of the shields of Gunther's men. With great honor his meiny +gained the meed. Their pastime was so mickle and so great, that from +beneath the housings of the good steeds, which the heroes rode, there +flowed the frothy sweat. In haughty wise they encountered with the Huns. + +Then spake the fiddler, Folker the minstrel: "I ween these warriors +dare not match us. I've aye heard the tale, that they bear us hate, and +forsooth it might never fortune better for them than now." Again Folker +spake: "Let our steeds be now led away to their lodgings and let us +joust again toward eventide, and there be time. Perchance the queen may +accord to the Burgundians the prize." + +Then one was seen riding hither so proudly, that none of all the Huns +could have done the like. Certes, he must have had a sweetheart on the +battlements. As well attired he rode as the bride of any noble knight. +At sight of him Folker spake again: "How could I give this over? This +ladies' darling must have a buffet. None shall prevent me and it shall +cost him dear. In truth I reck not, if it vex King Etzel's wife." + +"For my sake, No," spake straightway King Gunther. "The people will +blame us, if we encounter them. 'Twill befit us better far, an' we let +the Huns begin the strife." + +King Etzel was still sitting by the queen. + +"I'll join you in the tourney," quoth Hagen then. "Let the ladies and +the knights behold how we can ride. That will be well, for they'll give +no meed to King Gunther's men." + +The doughty Folker rode into the lists again, which soon gave many a +dame great dole. His spear he thrust through the body of the dapper Hun; +this both maid and wife were seen thereafter to bewail. Full hard and +fast gan Hagen and his liegemen and sixty of his knights ride towards +the fiddler, where the play was on. This Etzel and Kriemhild clearly +saw. The three kings would not leave their minstrel without guard amidst +the foe. Cunningly a thousand heroes rode; with haughty bearing they did +whatso they would. When now the wealthy Hun was slain, men heard his kin +cry out and wail. All the courtiers asked: "Who hath done this deed?" + +"That the fiddler did, Folker, the valiant minstrel." + +The margrave's kindred from the Hunnish land called straightway for +their swords and shields, and would fain have done Folker to death. Fast +the host gan hasten from the windows. Great rout arose from the folk on +every side. The kings and their fellowship, the Burgundian men, alighted +before the hall and drove their horses to the rear. Then King Etzel came +to part the strife. From the hand of a kinsman of the Hun he wrenched +a sturdy weapon and drove them all back again, for full great was his +wrath. "Why should my courtesie to these knights go all for naught? +Had ye slain this minstrel at my court," spake King Etzel, "'twere evil +done. I saw full well how he rode, when he thrust through the Hun, that +it happed through stumbling, without any fault of his. Ye must let my +guests have peace." + +Thus he became their safe-guard. To the stalls men led away the steeds; +many a varlet they had, who served them well with zeal in every service. +The host now hied him to his palace with his friends, nor would he let +any man grow wroth again. Then men set up the tables and bare forth +water for the guests. Forsooth the men from the Rhine had there enow of +stalwart foes. 'Twas long before the lords were seated. + +Meanwhile Kriemhild's fears did trouble her passing sore. She spake: "My +lord of Berne, I seek thy counsel, help, and favor, for mine affairs do +stand in anxious wise." + +Then Hildebrand, a worshipful knight, made answer to her: "And any slay +the Nibelungs for the sake of any hoard, he will do it without my aid. +It may well repent him, for they be still unconquered, these doughty and +lusty knights." + +Then Spake Sir Dietrich in his courteous wise: "Let be this wish, O +mighty queen. Thy kinsmen have done me naught of wrong, that I should +crave to match these valiant knights in strife. Thy request honoreth +thee little, most noble queen, that thou dost plot against the life of +thy kinsfolk. They came in hope of friendship to this land. Siegfried +will not be avenged by Dietrich's hand." + +When she found no whit of faithlessness in the lord of Berne, quickly +she promised Bloedel a broad estate, that Nudung (5) owned aforetime. +Later he was slain by Hagen, so that he quite forgot the gift. She +spake: "Thou must help me, Sir Bloedel, forsooth my foes be in this +house, who slew Siegfried, my dear husband. Ever will I serve him, that +helpeth me avenge this deed." + +To this Bloedel replied: "My lady, now may ye know that because of Etzel +I dare not, in sooth, advise to hatred against them, for he is fain to +see thy kinsmen at his court. The king would ne'er forget it of me, and +I did them aught of wrong." + +"Not so, Sir Bloedel, for I shall ever be thy friend. Certes, I'll give +thee silver and gold as guerdon and a comely maid, the wife of Nudung, +whose lovely body thou mayst fain caress. I'll give thee his land and +all his castles, too, so that thou mayst always live in joy, Sir knight, +if thou dost now win the lands where Nudung dwelt. Faithfully will I +keep, whatso I vow to thee to-day." + +When Sir Bloedel heard the guerdon, and that the lady through her beauty +would befit him well, he weened to serve the lovely queen in strife. +Because of this the champion must needs lose his life. To the queen +he spake: "Betake you again to the hall, and before any be aware, +I'll begin a fray and Hagen must atone for what he hath done you. I'll +deliver to you King Gunther's liegeman bound. Now arm you, my men," +spake Bloedel. "We must hasten to the lodgings of the foes, for King +Etzel's wife doth crave of me this service, wherefore we heroes must +risk our lives." + +When the queen left Bloedel in lust of battle, she went to table with +King Etzel and his men. Evil counsels had she held against the guests. +Since the strife could be started in no other wise (Kriemhild's ancient +wrong still lay deep buried in her heart), she bade King Etzel's son +be brought to table. How might a woman ever do more ghastly deed for +vengeance' sake? Four of Etzel's men went hence anon and bare Ortlieb, +(6) the young prince, to the lordings' table, where Hagen also sat. +Because of this the child must needs die through Hagen's mortal hate. + +When now the mighty king beheld his son, kindly he spake to the kinsmen +of his wife: "Now see, my friends, this is the only son of me and of +your sister. This may be of profit to you all, for if he take after +his kinsmen, he'll become a valiant man, mighty and noble, strong and +fashioned fair. Twelve lands will I give him, and I live yet a while. +Thus may the hand of young Ortlieb serve you well. I do therefore +beseech you, dear friends of mine, that when ye ride again to your +lands upon the Rhine, ye take with you your sister's son and act full +graciously toward the child, and bring him up in honor till he become +a man. Hath any done you aught in all these lands, he'll help you to +avenge it, when he groweth up." + +This speech was also heard by Kriemhild, King Etzel's wife. + +"These knights might well trust him," quoth Hagen, "if he grew to be a +man, but the young prince doth seem so fey, (7) that I shall seldom be +seen to ride to Ortlieb's court." + +The king glanced at Hagen, for much the speech did irk him; and though +the gentle prince said not a word, it grieved his heart and made him +heavy of his mood. Nor was Hagen's mind now bent on pastime. But all the +lordings and the king were hurt by what Hagen had spoken of the child; +it vexed them sore, that they were forced to hear it. They wot not the +things as yet, which should happen to them through this warrior. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Adventure XXXI". This adventure is of late origin, being + found only in our poem. See the introduction. + (2) "Truncheons", see Adventure II, note 8. + (3) "Schrutan". This name does not occur elsewhere. Piper + suggests, that perhaps a Scotchman is meant, as "Skorottan" + appears in the "Thidreksaga", chap. 28, as an ancient name + of Scotland. + (4) "Gibecke", "Ramung" and "Hornbog", see Adventure XXII, notes + 4 and 5. + (5) "Nudung", see Adventure XXVII, note 3. + (6) "Ortlieb". In the "Thidreksaga" Etzel's son is called + Aldrian. There, however, he is killed because he strikes + Hagen in the face, here in revenge for the killing of the + Burgundian footmen. + (7) "Fey", see Adventure V, note 2. + + + + +ADVENTURE XXXII (1) How Bloedel Was Slain. + +Full ready were now Bloedel's warriors. A thousand hauberks strong, they +hied them to where Dankwart sate at table with the squires. Then the +very greatest hate arose among the heroes. When Sir Bloedel drew near +the tables, Dankwart, the marshal, greeted him in courteous wise. +"Welcome, Sir Bloedel, in our house. In truth me-wondereth at thy +coming. What doth it mean?" + +"Forsooth, thou needst not greet me," so spake Bloedel; "for this coming +of mine doth mean thine end. Because of Hagen, thy brother, by whom +Siegfried was slain, thou and many other knights must suffer here among +the Huns." + +"Not so, Sir Bloedel," quoth Dankwart, "else this journey to your court +might rue us sore. I was but a little child when Siegfried lost his +life. I know not what blame King Etzel's wife could put on me." + +"Of a truth, I wot not how to tell you of these tales; thy kinsmen, +Gunther and Hagen, did the deed. Now ward you, ye wanderers, ye may not +live. With your death must ye become Kriemhild's pledge." + +"And ye will not turn you," quoth Dankwart, "then do my entreaties rue +me; they had better far been spared." + +The doughty knight and brave sprang up from the table; a sharp weapon, +mickle and long, he drew and dealt Bloedel so fierce a sword-stroke that +his head lay straightway at his feet. "Let that be thy marriage morning +gift," (2) spake Dankwart, the knight, "for Nudung's bride, whom thou +wouldst cherish with thy love. They call betroth her to another man upon +the morn. Should he crave the dowry, 'twill be given to him eftsoon." +A faithful Hun had told him that the queen did plan against them such +grievous wrongs. + +When Bloedel's men beheld their lord lie slain, no longer would they +stand this from the guests. With uplifted swords they rushed, grim of +mood, upon the youthful squires. Many a one did rue this later. Loudly +Dankwart called to all the fellowship: "Ye see well, noble squires, how +matters stand. Now ward you, wanderers! Forsooth we have great need, +though Kriemhild asked us here in right friendly wise." + +Those that had no sword reached down in front of the benches and lifted +many a long footstool by its legs. The Burgundian squires would now +abide no longer, but with the heavy stools they dealt many bruises +through the helmets. How fiercely the stranger youths did ward them! +Out of the house they drove at last the men-at-arms, but five hundred +of them, or better, stayed behind there dead. The fellowship was red and +wet with blood. + +These grievous tales were told now to Etzel's knights; grim was their +sorrow, that Bloedel and his men were slain. This Hagen's brother and +his squires had done. Before the king had learned it, full two thousand +Huns or more armed them through hatred and hied them to the squires +(this must needs be), and of the fellowship they left not one alive. +The faithless Huns brought a mickle band before the house. Well the +strangers stood their ground, but what booted their doughty prowess? +Dead they all must lie. Then in a few short hours there rose a fearful +dole. Now ye may hear wonders of a monstrous thing. Nine thousand yeomen +lay there slain and thereto twelve good knights of Dankwart's men. One +saw him stand alone still by the foe. The noise was hushed, the din had +died away, when Dankwart, the hero, gazed over his shoulders. He spake: +"Woe is me, for the friends whom I have lost! Now must I stand, alas, +alone among my foes." + +Upon his single person the sword-strokes fell thick and fast. The wife +of many a hero must later mourn for this. Higher he raised his shield, +the thong he lowered; the rings of many an armor he made to drip with +blood. "Woe is me of all this sorrow," quoth Aldrian's son. (3) "Give +way now, Hunnish warriors, and let me out into the breeze, that the air +may cool me, fight-weary man." + +Then men saw the warrior walk forth in full lordly wise. As the +strife-weary man sprang from the house, how many added swords rang on +his helmet! Those that had not seen what wonders his hand had wrought +sprang towards the hero of the Burgundian land. "Now would to God," +quoth Dankwart, "that I might find a messenger who could let my brother +Hagen know I stand in such a plight before these knights. He would help +me hence, or lie dead at my side." + +Then spake the Hunnish champions: "Thou must be the messenger thyself, +when we bear thee hence dead before thy brother. For the first time +Gunther's vassal will then become acquaint with grief. Passing great +scathe hast thou done King Etzel here." + +Quoth he: "Now give over these threats and stand further back, or I'll +wot the armor rings of some with blood. I'll tell the tale at court +myself and make plaint to my lords of my great dole." + +So sorely he dismayed King Etzel's men that they durst not withstand +him with their swords, so they shot such great store of darts into his +shield that he must needs lay it from his hand for very heaviness. Then +they weened to overpower him, sith he no longer bare a shield. Ho, what +deep wounds he struck them through their helmets! From this many a brave +man was forced to reel before him, and bold Dankwart gained thereby +great praise. From either side they sprang upon him, but in truth a many +of them entered the fray too soon. Before his foes he walked, as doth a +boar to the woods before the dogs. How might he be more brave? His path +was ever wet with reeking blood. Certes, no single champion might ever +fight better with his foes than he had done. Men now saw Hagen's brother +go to court in lordly wise. Sewers (4) and cupbearers heard the ring of +swords, and full many a one cast from his hand the drink and whatever +food he bare to court. Enow strong foes met Dankwart at the stairs. + +"How now, ye sewers," spake the weary knight. "Forsooth ye should serve +well the guests and bear to the lords good cheer and let me bring the +tidings to my dear masters." + +Those that sprang towards him on the steps to show their prowess, he +dealt so heavy a sword-stroke, that for fear they must needs stand +further back. His mighty strength wrought mickle wonders. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) Adventure XXXII. The details of the following scenes differ + materially in the various sources. A comparative study of + them will be found in the works of Wilmanns and Boer. + (2) "Marriage morning gift" (M.H.G. "morgengabe") was given by + the bridegroom to the bride on the morning after the + wedding. See Adventure XIX, note 1. + (3) "Aldrian's son", i.e., Dankwart. + (4) "Sewers" (O.F. "asseour", M.L. "adsessor" 'one who sets the + table'; cf. F. "asseoir" 'to set', 'place', Lat. "ad + sedere"), older English for an upper servant who brought on + and removed the dishes from the table. + + + + +ADVENTURE XXXIII. How The Burgundians Fought The Huns. + +When brave Dankwart was come within the door, he bade King Etzel's meiny +step aside. His garments dripped with blood and in his hand he bare +unsheathed a mighty sword. Full loud he called out to the knight: +"Brother Hagen, ye sit all too long, forsooth. To you and to God in +heaven do I make plaint of our woe. Our knights and squires all lie dead +within their lodgements." + +He called in answer: "Who hath done this deed?" + +"That Sir Bloedel hath done with his liegemen, but he hath paid for +it dearly, as I can tell you, for with mine own hands I struck off his +head." + +"It is but little scathe," quoth Hagen, "if one can only say of a knight +that he hath lost his life at a warrior's hands. Stately dames shall +mourn him all the less. Now tell me, brother Dankwart, how comes it that +ye be so red of hue? Ye suffer from wounds great dole, I ween. If there +be any in the land that hath done you this, 'twill cost his life, and +the foul fiend save him not." + +"Ye see me safe and sound; my weeds alone are wet with blood. This hath +happed from wounds of other men, of whom I have slain so many a one +to-day that, had I to swear it, I could not tell the tale." + +"Brother Dankwart," he spake, "guard us the door and let not a single +Hun go forth. I will hold speech with the warriors, as our need +constraineth us, for our meiny lieth dead before them, undeserved." + +"If I must be chamberlain," quoth the valiant man, "I well wet how to +serve such mighty kings and will guard the stairway, as doth become mine +honors." Naught could have been more loth to Kriemhild's knights. + +"Much it wondereth me," spake Hagen, "what the Hunnish knights be +whispering in here. I ween, they'd gladly do without the one that +standeth at the door, and who told the courtly tale to us Burgundians. +Long since I have heard it said of Kriemhild, that she would not leave +unavenged her dole of heart. Now let us drink to friendship (1) and pay +for the royal wine. The young lord of the Huns shall be the first." + +Then the good knight Hagen smote the child Ortlieb, so that the blood +spurted up the sword towards his hand and the head fell into the lap of +the queen. At this there began a murdering, grim and great, among +the knights. Next he dealt the master who taught the child a fierce +sword-stroke with both his hands, so that his head fell quickly beneath +the table to the ground. A piteous meed it was, which he meted out to +the master. Hagen then spied a gleeman sitting at King Etzel's board. +In his wrath he hied him thither and struck off his right hand upon the +fiddle. "Take this as message to the Burgundian land." + +"Woe is me of my hand," spake the minstrel Werbel. "Sir Hagen of Troneg, +what had I done to you? I came in good faith to your masters' land. How +can I now thrum the tunes, sith I have lost my hand?" + +Little recked Hagen, played he nevermore. In the hall he dealt out +fierce deadly wounds to Etzel's warriors, passing many of whom he slew. +Enow of folk in the house he did to death. The doughty Folker now sprang +up from the board; loud rang in his hands his fiddle bow. Rudely did +Gunther's minstrel play. Ho, what foes he made him among the valiant +Huns! The three noble kings, too, sprang up from the table. Gladly would +they have parted the fray, or ever greater scathe was done. With all +their wit they could not hinder it, when Folker and Hagen gan rage so +sore. When that the lord of the Rhine beheld the fray unparted, the +prince dealt his foes many gaping wounds himself through the shining +armor rings. That he was a hero of his hands, he gave great proof. Then +the sturdy Gernot joined the strife. Certes, he did many a hero of +the Huns to death with a sharp sword, the which Rudeger had given him. +Mighty wounds he dealt King Etzel's warriors. Now the young son of Lady +Uta rushed to the fray. Gloriously his sword rang on the helmets of +Etzel's warriors from the Hunnish land. Full mickle wonders were wrought +by bold Giselher's hand. But how so doughty they all were, the kings and +their liegemen, yet Folker was seen to stand before them all against +the foe; a good hero he. Many a one he made to fall in his blood through +wounds. Etzel's men did fend them, too, full well, yet one saw the +strangers go hewing with their gleaming swords through the royal hall +and on every side was heard great sound of wail. Those without would now +fain be with their friends within, but at the entrance towers they found +small gain. Those within had gladly been without the hall, but Dankwart +let none go either up or down the steps. Therefore there rose before +the towers a mighty press, and helmets rang loudly from the sword-blows. +Bold Dankwart came into great stress thereby; this his brother feared, +as his loyalty did bid him. + +Loudly then Hagen called to Folker: "See ye yonder, comrade, my brother +stand before the Hunnish warriors amid a rain of blows? Friend, save my +brother, or ever we lose the knight." + +"That will I surely," quoth the minstrel, and through the palace he went +a-fiddling, his stout sword ringing often in his hand. Great thanks were +tendered by the warriors from the Rhine. Bold Folker spake to Dankwart: +"Great discomfiture have ye suffered to-day, therefore your brother bade +me hasten to your aid. Will ye stand without, so will I stand within." + +Sturdy Dankwart stood without the door and guarded the staircase against +whoever came, wherefore men heard the swords resound in the heroes' +hands. Folker of Burgundy land performed the same within. Across +the press the bold fiddler cried: "Friend Hagen, the hall is locked; +forsooth King Etzel's door is bolted well. The hands of two heroes guard +it, as with a thousand bars." When Hagen of Troneg beheld the door so +well defended, the famous hero and good slung his shield upon his back +and gan avenge the wrongs that had been done him there. His foes had now +no sort of hope to live. + +When now the lord of Berne, the king of the Amelungs, (2) beheld aright +that the mighty Hagen broke so many a helm, upon a bench he sprang and +spake: "Hagen poureth out the very worst of drinks." + +The host, too, was sore adread, as behooved him now, for his life was +hardly safe from these his foes. O how many dear friends were snatched +away before his eyes! He sate full anxious; what booted it him that he +was king? Haughty Kriemhild now cried aloud to Dietrich: "Pray help me +hence alive, most noble knight, by the virtues of all the princes of the +Amelung land. If Hagen reach me, I shall grasp death by the hand." + +"How shall I help you, noble queen?" spake Sir Dietrich. "I fear for +myself in sooth. These men of Gunther be so passing wroth that at this +hour I cannot guard a soul." + +"Nay, not so, Sir Dietrich, noble knight and good. Let thy chivalrous +mood appear to-day and help me hence, or I shall die." Passing great +cause had Kriemhild for this fear. + +"I'll try to see if I may help you, for it is long since that I have +soon so many good knights so bitterly enraged. Of a truth I see blood +spurting through the helmets from the swords." + +Loudly the chosen knight gan call, so that his voice rang forth as from +a bison's horn, until the broad castle resounded with his force. Sir +Dietrich's strength was passing great in truth. + +When Gunther heard this man cry out in the heated strife, he began to +heed. He spake: "Dietrich's voice hath reached mine ears, I ween our +champions have bereft him of some friend to-day. I see him on the table, +he doth beckon with his hand. Ye friends and kinsmen from Burgundian +land, give over the strife. Let's hear and see what here hath fortuned +to the knight from my men-at-arms." + +When Gunther thus begged and bade in the stress of the fray, they +sheathed their swords. Passing great was his power, so that none struck +a blow. Soon enow he asked the tidings of the knight of Berne. He spake: +"Most noble Dietrich, what hath happed to you through these my friends? +I am minded to do you remedy and to make amends. If any had done you +aught, 'twould grieve me sore." + +Then spake Sir Dietrich: "Naught hath happed to me, but I pray you, let +me leave this hall and this fierce strife under your safe-guard, with my +men. For this favor I will serve you ever." + +"How entreat ye now so soon," quoth Wolfhart (3) then. "Forsooth the +fiddler hath not barred the door so strong, but what we may open it enow +to let us pass." + +"Hold your tongue," spake Sir Dietrich; "the devil a whit have ye ever +done." + +Then: spake King Gunther: "I will grant your boon. Lead from the hall as +few or as many as ye will, save my foes alone; they must remain within. +Right ill have they treated me in the Hunnish land." + +When Dietrich heard these words, he placed his arm around the high-born +queen, whose fear was passing great. On his other side he led King Etzel +with him hence; with Dietrich there also went six hundred stately men. + +Then spake the noble Margrave Rudeger: "Shall any other who would gladly +serve you come from this hall, let us hear the tale, and lasting peace +shall well befit good friends." + +To this Giselher of the Burgundian land replied: "Peace and friendship +be granted you by us, sith ye are constant in your fealty. Ye and all +your men, ye may go hence fearlessly with these your friends." + +When Sir Rudeger voided the hall, there followed him, all told, five +hundred men or more, kinsmen and vassals of the lord of Bechelaren, from +whom King Gunther later gained great scathe. Then a Hunnish champion +spied Etzel walking close by Dietrich. He, too, would take this chance, +but the fiddler dealt him such a blow that his head fell soon before +King Etzel's feet. When the lord of the land was come outside the house, +he turned him about and gazed on Folker. "Woe is me of these guests. +This is a direful need, that all my warriors should lie low in death +before them. Alas for the feasting," quoth the noble king. "Like a +savage boar there fighteth one within, hight Folker, who is a gleeman. I +thank my stars that I escaped this fiend. His glees have an evil sound, +the strokes of his how draw blood; forsooth his measures fell many a +hero dead. I wot not, with what this minstrel twitteth us, for I have +never had such baleful guest." + +They had permitted whom they would to leave the hall. Then there arose +within a mighty uproar; sorely the guests avenged what there had happed +them. Ho, what helmets bold Folker broke! The noble King Gunther turned +him toward the sound. "Hear ye the measures, Hagen, which Folker +yonder fiddleth with the Huns, when any draweth near the towers? 'Tis a +blood-red stroke he useth with the bow." + +"It rueth me beyond all measure," quoth Hagen, "that in this hall I sate +me down to rest before the hero did. I was his comrade and he was mine; +and come we ever home again, we shall still be so, in loyal wise. Now +behold, most noble king, Folker is thy friend, he earneth gladly thy +silver and thy gold. His fiddle bow doth cut through the hardest steel, +on the helmets he breaketh the bright and shining gauds! (4) Never have +I seen fiddler stand in such lordly wise as the good knight Folker hath +stood to-day. His glees resound through shield and helmet. Certes he +shall ride good steeds and wear lordly raiment." + +Of all the kinsmen of the Huns within the hall, not one of these +remained alive. Thus the clash of arms died out, since none strove with +them longer. The lusty knights and bold now laid aside their swords. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Friendship" translates the M.H.G. "minne trinken" 'to drink + to the memory of a person', an old custom originating with + the idea of pouring out a libation to the gods. Later it + assumed the form of drinking to the honor of God, of a + saint, or of an absent friend. See Grimm, "Mythologie", p. + 48. + (2) "Amelungs", see Adventure XXVIII, note 3. + (3) "Wolfhart", see Adventure XXVIII, note 2. + (4) "Gauds", ornaments. + + + + +ADVENTURE XXXIV. How They Cast Out The Dead. + +The lordings sate them down for weariness. Folker and Hagen came forth +from the hall; upon their shields the haughty warriors leaned. Wise +words were spoken by the twain. Then Knight Giselher of Burgundy spake: +"Forsooth, dear friends, ye may not ease you yet; ye must bear the +dead from out the hall. I'll tell you, of a truth, we shall be attacked +again. They must no longer lie here beneath our feet. Ere the Huns +vanquish us by storm, we'll yet how wounds, which shall ease my heart. +For this," quoth Giselher, "I have a steadfast mind." + +"Well is me of such a lord," spake then Hagen. "This rede which my young +master hath given us to-day would befit no one but a knight. At this, +Burgundians, ye may all stand glad." + +Then they followed the rede, and to the door they bare seven thousand +dead, the which they cast outside. Down they fell before the stairway +to the hall, and from their kinsmen rose a full piteous wall. Some there +were with such slight wounds that, had they been more gently treated, +they would have waxed well again; but from the lofty fall, they must +needs lie dead. Their friends bewailed this, and forsooth they had good +cause. + +Then spake Folker, the fiddler, a lusty knight: "Now I mark the truth of +this, as hath been told me. The Huns be cravens, like women they wail; +they should rather nurse these sorely wounded men." + +A margrave weened, he spake through kindness. Seeing one of his kinsmen +lying in the blood, he clasped him in his arms and would have borne +him hence, when the bold minstrel shot him above the dead to death. The +flight began as the others saw this deed, and all fell to cursing this +selfsame minstrel. He snatched javelin, sharp and hard, the which had +been hurled at him by a Hun, and cast it with might across the court, +far over the folk. Thus he forced Etzel's warriors to take lodgement +further from the hall. On every side the people feared his mighty +prowess. + +Many thousand men now stood before the hall. Folker and Hagen gan speak +to Etzel all their mind, wherefrom these heroes bold and good came +thereafter into danger. Quoth Hagen: "'Twould well beseem the people's +hope, if the lords would fight in the foremost ranks, as doth each of +my lordings here. They hew through the helmets, so that the blood doth +follow the sword." + +Etzel was brave; he seized his shield. "Now fare warily," spake Lady +Kriemhild, "and offer the warriors gold upon your shield. If Hagen doth +but reach you there, ye'll be hand in hand with death." + +The king was so bold he would not turn him back, the which doth now +seldom hap from so mighty a lord. By his shield-thong they had to draw +him hence. Once again grim Hagen began to mock him. "It is a distant +kinship," quoth Hagen, the knight, "that bindeth Etzel and Siegfried. He +loved Kriemhild, or ever she laid eyes on thee. Most evil king, why dost +thou plot against me?" + +Kriemhild, the wife of the noble king, heard this speech; angry she grew +that he durst thus revile her before King Etzel's liegemen. Therefore +she again began to plot against the strangers. She spake: "For him that +slayeth me Hagen of Troneg and bringeth me his head, I will fill King +Etzel's shield with ruddy gold, thereto will I give him as guerdon many +goodly lands and castles." + +"Now I know not for what they wait," spake the minstrel. "Never have I +seen heroes stand so much like cowards, when one heard proffered such +goodly wage. Forsooth King Etzel should never be their friend again. +Many of those who so basely eat the lording's bread, and now desert him +in the greatest need, do I see stand here as cravens, and yet would pass +for brave. May shame ever be their lot!" + + + + +ADVENTURE XXXV. How Iring Was Slain. + +Then cried Margrave Iring of Denmark: "I have striven for honor now long +time, and in the storm of battle have been among the best. Now bring me +my harness, for in sooth I will encounter me with Hagen." + +"I would not counsel that," spake Hagen, "but bid the Hunnish knights +stand further back. If twain of you or three leap into the hall, I'll +send them back sore wounded down the steps." + +"Not for that will I give it over," quoth Iring again. "I've tried +before such daring things; in truth with my good sword I will encounter +thee alone. What availeth all thy boasting, which thou hast done in +words?" + +Then were soon arrayed the good Knight Iring and Irnfried of Thuringia, +a daring youth, and the stalwart Hawart and full a thousand men. +Whatever Iring ventured, they would all fain give him aid. Then the +fiddler spied a mighty troop, that strode along well armed with Iring. +Upon their heads they bare good helmets. At this bold Folker waxed a +deal full wroth of mood. "See ye, friend Hagen, Iring striding yonder, +who vowed to match you with his sword alone? How doth lying beseem +a hero? Much that misliketh me. There walk with him full a thousand +knights or more, well armed." + +"Say not that I lie," spake Hawart's liegeman. "Gladly will I perform +what I have vowed, nor will I desist therefrom through any fear. However +frightful Hagen be, I will meet him single-handed." + +On his knees Iring begged both kinsmen and vassals to let him match the +knight alone. This they did unwillingly, for well they knew the haughty +Hagen from the Burgundian land. But Iring begged so long that at last +it happed. When the fellowship beheld his wish and that he strove for +honor, they let him go. Then a fierce conflict rose between the twain. +Iring of Denmark, the peerless high-born knight, bare high his spear and +covered him with his shield. Swiftly he rushed on Hagen before the hall, +while a great shout arose from all the knights around. With might and +main they cast the spears with their hands through the sturdy shields +upon their shining armor, so that the shafts whirled high in air. Then +the two brave men and fierce reached for their swords. Bold Hagen's +strength was mickle and great, but Iring smote him, that the whole hall +rang. Palace and towers resounded from their blows, but the knight could +not achieve his wish. + +Iring now left Hagen stand unharmed, and hied him to the fiddler. He +weened to fell him by his mighty blows, but the stately knight wist how +to guard bin, well. Then the fiddler struck a blow, that the plates of +mail whirled high above the buckler's rim. An evil man he was, for +to encounter, so Iring let him stand and rushed at Gunther of the +Burgundian land. Here, too, either was strong enow in strife. The blows +that Gunther and Iring dealt each other drew no blood from wounds. This +the harness hindered, the which was both strong and good. + +He now let Gunther be, and ran at Gernot, and gan hew sparks of fire +from his armor rings. Then had stalwart Gernot of Burgundy nigh done +brave Iring unto death, but that he sprang away from the prince (nimble +enow he was), and slew eftsoon four noble henchmen of the Burgundians +from Worms across the Rhine. At this Giselher might never have waxed +more wroth. "God wot, Sir Iring," spake Giselher, the youth, "ye must +pay me weregild (1) for those who have fallen dead this hour before +you." + +Then at him he rushed and smote the Dane, so that he could not stir a +step, but sank before his hands down in the blood, so that all did ween +the good knight would never deal a blow again in strife. But Iring lay +unwounded here before Sir Giselher. From the crashing of the helmet +and the ringing of the sword, his wits had grown so weak that the brave +knight no longer thought of life. Stalwart Giselher had done this with +his might. When now the ringing gan leave his head, the which he had +suffered from the mighty stroke, he thought: "I am still alive and +nowhere wounded. Now first wot I of Giselher's mighty strength." On +either side he heard his foes. Wist they the tale, still more had happed +him. Giselher, too, he marked hard by; he bethought him, how he might +escape his foes. How madly he sprang up from the blood! Well might he +thank his nimbleness for this. Out of the house he ran to where he again +found Hagen, whom he dealt a furious blow with his powerful hand. + +Hagen thought him: "Thou art doomed. Unless be that the foul fiend +protect thee, thou canst not escape alive." + +Yet Iring wounded Hagen through his crest. This the hero wrought with +Waska, (2) a passing goodly sword. When Sir Hagen felt the wound, wildly +he brandished his weapon in his hand. Soon Hawart's liegeman was forced +to yield his ground, and Hagen gan pursue him down the stairs. Brave +Iring swung his shield above his head, but had the staircase been the +length of three, Hagen would not have let him strike a blow the while. +Ho, what red sparks did play above his helmet! + +Iring returned scatheless to his liegemen. Then the tidings were brought +to Kriemhild, of that which he had wrought in strife with Hagen of +Troneg. For this the queen gan thank him highly. "Now God requite thee, +Iring, thou peerless hero and good. Thou hast comforted well my heart +and mind. I see that Hagen's weeds be wet with blood." For very joy +Kriemhild herself relieved him of his shield. + +"Be not too lavish of your thanks," spake Hagen. "'Twould well befit a +knight to try again. A valiant man were he, if he then came back alive. +Little shall the wound profit you, which I have at his bands; for that +ye have seen the rings wet with blood from my wound doth urge me to the +death of many a man. Now first am I enraged at Hawart's liegeman. Small +scathe hath Knight Iring done me yet." + +Meanwhile Iring of Denmark stood in the breeze; he cooled his harness +and doffed his casque. All the folk then praised his prowess, at which +the margrave was in passing lofty mood. Again Sir Iring spake: "My +friends, this know; arm me now quickly, for I would fain try again, if +perchance I may not conquer this overweening man." + +His shield was hewn to pieces, a better one he gained; full soon the +champion was armed again. Through hate he seized a passing heavy spear +with which he would encounter Hagen yonder. Meantime the death-grim +man awaited him in hostile wise. But Knight Hagen would not abide his +coming. Hurling the javelin and brandishing his sword, he ran to meet +him to the very bottom of the stairs. Forsooth his rage was great. +Little booted Iring then his strength; through the shields they smote, +so that the flames rose high in fiery blasts. Hagen sorely wounded +Hawart's liegeman with his sword through shield and breastplate. Never +waxed he well again. When now Knight Iring felt the wound, higher above +his helmet bands he raised his shield. Great enow he thought the scathe +he here received, but thereafter King Gunther's liegeman did him more of +harm. Hagen found a spear lying now before his feet. With this he shot +Iring, the Danish hero, so that the shaft stood forth from his head. +Champion Hagen had given him a bitter end. Iring must needs retreat +to those of Denmark. Or ever they unbound his helmet and drew the +spear-shaft from his head, death had already drawn nigh him. At this his +kinsmen wept, as forsooth they had great need. + +Then the queen came and bent above him. She gan bewail the stalwart +Iring and bewept his wounds, indeed her grief was passing sharp. At this +the bold and lusty warrior spake before his kinsmen: "Let be this wail, +most royal queen. What availeth your weeping now? Certes, I must lose +my life from these wounds I have received. Death will no longer let me +serve you and Etzel." To the men of Thuringia and to those of Denmark he +spake: "None of you must take from the queen her shining ruddy gold as +meed, for if ye encounter Hagen, ye must gaze on death." + +Pale grew his hue; brave Iring bare the mark of death. Dole enow it +gave them, for no longer might Hawart's liegeman live. Then the men +of Denmark must needs renew the fray. Irnfried and Hawart with well a +thousand champions leaped toward the hall. On every side one heard a +monstrous uproar, mighty and strong. Ho, what sturdy javelins were cast +at the Burgundian men! Bold Irnfried rushed at the minstrel, but gained +great damage at his hands. Through his sturdy helmet the noble fiddler +smote the landgrave. Certes, he was grim enow! Then Sir Irnfried dealt +the valiant gleeman such a blow that his coat of mail burst open and +his breastplate was enveloped with a bright red flame. Yet the landgrave +fell dead at the minstrel's hands. Hawart and Hagen, too, had come +together. Wonders would he have seen, who beheld the fight. The swords +fell thick and fast in the heroes' hands. Through the knight from the +Burgundian land Hawart needs must die. When the Thuringians and the +Danes espied their lordings dead, there rose before the hall a fearful +strife, before they gained the door with mighty hand. Many a helm and +shield was hacked and cut thereby. + +"Give way," spake Folker, "and let them in, for else what they have in +mind will not be ended. They must die in here in full short time. With +death they'll gain what the queen would give them." + +When these overweening men were come into the hall, the head of many a +one sank down so low that he needs must die from their furious strokes. +Well fought the valiant Gernot, and the same did Giselher, the knight. A +thousand and four were come into the hall and many a whizzing stroke +of the swords was seen flash forth, but soon all the warriors lay slain +therein. Mickle wonders might one tell of the Burgundian men. The hall +grew still, as the uproar died away. On every side the dead men's blood +poured through the openings down to the drain-pipes. This the men from +the Rhine had wrought with their passing strength. + +Those from the Burgundian land now sate them down to rest and laid aside +their swords and shields. But still the valiant minstrel stood guard +before the hall. He waited, if any would perchance draw near again in +strife. Sorely the king made wail, as did the queen. Maids and ladies +were distraught with grief. Death, I ween, had conspired against them, +wherefore many of the warriors perished through the guests. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Weregild" (O.E. "wer", 'a man', "gild", 'payment of + money'), legal term for compensation paid for a man killed. + (2) "Waska". In "Biterolf" it is the name of the sword of + Walther of Wasgenstein and is connected with the old German + name, "Wasgenwald", for the Vosges. + + + + +ADVENTURE XXXVI. How The Queen Gave Orders To Burn the Hall. + +"Now unbind your helmets," spake the good Knight Hagen. "I and my +comrade will guard you well, and should Etzel's men be minded to try +again, I'll warn my lords as soon as I ever can." + +Then many a good knight bared his head. They sate them down upon the +wounded, who had fallen in the blood, done to death at their hands. Evil +looks were cast upon the noble strangers. Before the eventide the king +and the queen brought it to pass that the Hunnish champions tried +again. Men saw full twenty thousand warriors stand before them, who must +perforce march to the fray. Straightway there rose a mighty storming +towards the strangers. Dankwart, Hagen's brother, the doughty knight, +sprang from his lordings' side to meet the foes without the door. +All weened that he were dead, yet forth he stood again unscathed. +The furious strife did last till nightfall brought it to a close. As +befitted good knights, the strangers warded off King Etzel's liegemen +the livelong summer day. Ho, how many a bold knight fell doomed before +them! This great slaughter happed upon midsummer's day, when Lady +Kriemhild avenged her sorrow of heart upon her nearest kin and upon many +another man, so that King Etzel never again gained joy. + +The day had passed away, but still they had good cause for fear. They +thought, a short and speedy death were better for them, than to be +longer racked with monstrous pain. A truce these proud and lusty knights +now craved; they begged that men would bring the king to see them. Forth +from the hall stepped the heroes, bloody of hue, and the three noble +kings, stained from their armor. They wist not to whom they should make +plaint of their mighty wounds. Thither both Etzel and Kriemhild went; +the land was theirs and so their band waxed large. He spake to the +strangers: "Pray tell me, what ye will of me? Ye ween to gain here +peace, but that may hardly be. For damage as great as ye have done me, +in my son and in my many kinsmen, whom ye have slain, peace and pardon +shall be denied you quite; it shall not boot you aught, an' I remain +alive." + +To this King Gunther answered: "Dire need constrained us; all my +men-at-arms lay dead before thy heroes in the hostel. How did I deserve +such pay? I came to thee in trust, I weened thou wast my friend." + +Young Giselher of Burgundy likewise spake: "Ye men of Etzel, who still +do live, what do ye blame me with? What have I done to you, for I rode +in friendly wise into this land of yours." + +Quoth they: "From thy friendliness this castle is filled with grief and +the land as well. We should not have taken it ill, in sooth, if thou +hadst never come from Worms beyond the Rhine. Thou and thy brothers have +filled this land with orphans." + +Then spake Knight Giselher in angry mood: "And ye will lay aside this +bitter hate and make your peace with us stranger knights, 'twere best +for either side. We have not merited at all what Etzel here doth do us." + +Then spake the host to his guests: "Unlike are my wrongs and yours. The +mickle grievance from the loss and then the shame, which I have taken +here, are such that none of you shall e'er go hence alive." + +At this mighty Gernot spake to the king: "May God then bid you act in +merciful wise. Slay, if ye will, us homeless knights, but let us first +descend to you into the open court. That will make to you for honor. +Let be done quickly whatever shall hap to us. Ye have still many men +unscathed, who dare well encounter us and bereave us storm-weary men of +life. How long must we warriors undergo these toils?" + +King Etzel's champions had nigh granted this boon and let them leave the +hall, but Kriemhild heard it and sorely it misliked her. Therefore the +wanderers were speedily denied the truce. "Not so, ye Hunnish men. I +counsel you in true fealty, that ye do not what ye have in mind, and let +these murderers leave the hall, else must your kinsmen suffer a deadly +fall. Did none of them still live, save Uta's sons, my noble brothers, +and they came forth into the breeze and cooled their armor rings, ye +would all be lost. Bolder heroes were never born into the world." + +Then spake young Giselher: "Fair sister mine, full evil was my trust, +when thou didst invite me from across the Rhine hither to this land, to +this dire need. How have I merited death here from the Huns? I was aye +true to thee; never did I do thee wrong, and in the hope that thou wast +still my friend, dear sister mine, rode I hither to thy court. It cannot +be but that thou grant us mercy." + +"I will not grant you mercy, merciless is my mood. Hagen of Troneg hath +done me such great wrongs that it may never be amended, the while I +live. Ye must all suffer for this deed," so spake King Etzel's wife. +"And ye will give me Hagen alone as hostage, I will not deny that I will +let you live, for ye be my brothers and children of one mother, and will +counsel peace with these heroes that be here." + +"Now God in heaven forbid," spake Gernot; "were there here a thousand of +us, the clansmen of thy kin, we'd rather all lie dead, than give thee a +single man as hostage. Never shall this be done." + +"We all must die," spake then Giselher, "but none shall hinder that we +guard us in knightly wise. We be still here, if any list to fight us; +for never have I failed a friend in fealty." + +Then spake bold Dankwart (it had not beseemed him to have held his +peace): "Forsooth my brother Hagen standeth not alone. It may yet rue +those who here refuse the truce. I'll tell you of a truth, we'll make +you ware of this." + +Then spake the queen: "Ye full lusty heroes, now go nigher to the stairs +and avenge my wrongs. For this I will ever serve you, as I should by +right. I'll pay Hagen well for his overweening pride. Let none at all +escape from the house, and I will bid the hall be set on fire at all +four ends. Thus all my wrongs shall be well avenged." + +Soon were King Etzel's champions ready still stood without into the hall +with blows and shots. Mickle waxed the din, yet the lordings and their +liegemen would not part. For very fealty they could not leave each +other. Etzel's queen then bade the hall be set on fire, and thus they +racked the bodies of the knights with fire and flame. Fanned by the +breeze, the whole house burst into flames full soon. I ween, no folk +did ever gain such great distress. Enow within cried out: "Alack this +plight! We would much rather die in stress of battle. It might move God +to pity, how we all are lost! The queen now wreaketh monstrously on us +her wrath." + +Quoth one of them within: "We must all lie dead. What avail us now the +greetings which the king did send us? Thirst from this great heat giveth +me such dole, that soon, I ween, my life must ebb away in anguish." + +Then spake Hagen of Troneg: "Ye noble knights and good, let him whom +pangs of thirst constrain, drink here this blood. In such great heat, +'tis better still than wine. We can purvey us at this time none better." + +One of the warriors hied him then to where he found a corpse, and knelt +him down beside the wound; then he unbound his helmet and began to drink +the flowing blood. However little wont to such a drink, him thought it +passing good: "Sir Hagen, now God requite you," spake the weary man, +"that I have drunk so well at your advice; seldom hath better wine been +proffered me. And I live yet a while, I shall ever be your friend." + +When now the others heard this, it thought them good, and soon there +were many more that drank the blood. From this the body of each gained +much of strength; but many a stately dame paid dear for this through +the loss of loving kin. Into the hall the fire fell thick and fast upon +them, but with their shields they turned it from them to the ground. +Both the heat and the smoke did hurt them sore; in sooth, I ween, that +nevermore will such anguish hap to heroes. + +Again Hagen of Troneg spake: "Stand by the sides of the hall. Let not +the firebrands fall upon your helmet bands, but stamp them with your +feet down deeper in the blood. Forsooth it is an evil feast which the +queen doth give us here." + +In such dire woes the night did wear away at last, and still the brave +minstrel and his comrade Hagen stood before the hall, a-leaning on their +shields. More scathe they awaited from those of Etzel's band. Then spake +the fiddler: "Now go we into the hall. Then the Huns will ween, that we +all be dead from the torture that hath been done us here. They'll yet +see us go to meet them in the strife." + +Now spake Giselher of Burgundy, the youth: "I trow the day dawneth, a +cooling wind doth blow. May God in heaven let us live to see a liefer +time, for my sister Kriemhild hath given us here an evil feast." + +Again one spake: "I see the day. Sith we cannot hope for better things, +so arm you, heroes, think on your life. Certes, King Etzel's wife will +come to meet us soon again." + +The host weened well, that his guests were dead from their toil and the +pangs of fire; but yet within the hall six hundred brave men, as good as +any knight that king ever gained, were still alive. Those set to guard +the strangers had well seen that the guests still lived, despite the +damage and the dole that had been done both to the lordings and their +men. In the hall one saw them stand full safe and sound. They then told +Kriemhild that many were still alive, but the queen replied: "It could +never be, that any should have lived through such stress of fire. Rather +will I believe that all lie dead." + +The lordings and their men would still fain have lived, had any listed +to do them mercy, but they could find none among those of the Hunnish +land. So with full willing hand they avenged their dying. On this same +day, towards morning, men proffered them a fierce attack as greeting, +which brought the champions in stress again. Many a stout spear was +hurled upon them, but the bold and lordly warriors warded them in +knightly wise. High rose the mood of Etzel's men at the thought that +they should earn Queen Kriemhild's gold. Thereto they were minded to +perform whatso the King did bid them. Many of them because of this +must soon needs gaze on death. Of pledges and of gifts one might tell +wonders. She bade the ruddy gold be carried forth on shields and gave +it to whomsoever craved it and would take it. Certes, greater wage was +nevermore given against foes. To the hall a mickle force of well-armed +warriors marched. + +Then cried bold Folker: "We're here again, ye see. Never saw I heroes +more gladly come to fight than these that have taken the king's gold to +do us scathe." + +Then enow did call: "Nearer, heroes, nearer, that we may do betimes what +we must bring to an end. Here dieth none that is not doomed to die." + +Soon their shields were seen sticking full of darts that had been +thrown. What more can I say? Full twelve hundred men tried hard to match +them, surging back and forth. The strangers cooled well their mood with +wounds. None might part the strife, and so blood was seen to flow from +mortal wounds, many of which were dealt. Each one was heard to wail for +friends. All the great king's doughty warriors died, and loving kinsmen +mourned them passing sore. + + + + +ADVENTURE XXXVII. How Margrave Rudeger Was Slain. + +The strangers had done full well at dawn. Meanwhile Gotelind's husband +came to court. Bitterly faithful Rudeger wept when he saw the grievous +wounds on either side. "Woe is me," quoth the champion, "that I was ever +born, sith none may stay this mickle grief! However fain I would make +for peace, the king will not consent, for he seeth ever more and more +the sufferings of his men." + +Then the good Knight Rudeger sent to Dietrich, if perchance they might +turn the fate of the high-born kings. The king of Berne sent answer: +"Who might now forfend? King Etzel will let none part the strife." + +Then a Hunnish warrior, that saw Rudeger stand with weeping eyes, and +many tears had he shed, spake to the queen: "Now behold how he doth +stand, that hath the greatest power at Etzel's court and whom both lands +and people serve. Why have so many castles been given to Rudeger, of +which he doth hold such store from the king in fief? Not one sturdy +stroke hath he dealt in all this strife. Methinks, he recketh not how it +fare here at court, sith he hath his will in full. Men say of him, he be +bolder than any other wight. Little hath that been seen in these parlous +(1) days." + +Sad in heart the faithful vassal gazed at him whom he heard thus speak. +Him-thought: "Thou shalt pay for this. Thou sayest, I be a craven, and +hast told thy tale too loud at court." + +His fist he clenched, then ran he at him and smote the Hunnish man +so mightily that he lay dead at his feet full soon. Through this King +Etzel's woe grew greater. + +"Away, thou arrant coward," cried Rudeger, "forsooth I have enow of +grief and pain. How dost thou taunt me, that I fight not here? Certes, +I have good cause to hate the strangers, and would have done all in my +power against them, had I not led the warriors hither. Of a truth I was +their safeguard to my master's land. Therefore the hand of me, wretched +man, may not strive against them." + +Then spake Etzel, the noble king, to the margrave: "How have ye helped +us, most noble Rudeger! We have so many fey (2) in the land, that we +have no need of more. Full evil have ye done." + +At this the noble knight made answer: "Forsooth he grieved my mood and +twitted me with the honors and the goods, such store of which I have +received from thy hand. This hath cost the liar dear." + +The queen, too, was come and had seen what fortuned to the Huns through +the hero's wrath. Passing sore she bewailed it; her eyes grew moist as +she spake to Rudeger: "How have we deserved that ye should increase the +sorrows of the king and me? Hitherto ye have told us, that for our sake +ye would risk both life and honor. I heard full many warriors accord +to you the palm. Let me mind you of your fealty and that ye swore, when +that ye counseled me to Etzel, good knight and true, that ye would serve +me till one of us should die. Never have I, poor woman, had such great +need of this." + +"There's no denying that I swore to you, my lady, for your sake I'd +risk both life and honor, but I did not swear that I would lose my soul. +'Twas I that bade the high-born lordings to this feast." + +Quoth she: "Bethink thee, Rudeger, of thy great fealty, of thy +constancy, and of thine oaths, that thou wouldst ever avenge mine +injuries and all my woes." + +Said the margrave: "Seldom have I denied you aught." + +Mighty Etzel, too, began implore; upon their knees they sank before +the knight. Men saw the noble margrave stand full sad. Pitifully the +faithful warrior spake: "Woe is me, most wretched man, that I have +lived to see this day. I must give over all my honors, my fealty, and +my courtesie, that God did bid me use. Alas, great God of heaven, that +death will not turn this from me! I shall act basely and full evil, +whatever I do or leave undone. But if I give over both, then will all +people blame me. Now may he advise me, who hath given me life." + +Still the king and the queen, too, begged unceasingly. Through this +warriors must needs thereafter lose their lives at Rudeger's hands, when +the hero also died. Ye may well hear it now, that he deported him full +pitifully. He wist that it would bring him scathe and monstrous woe. +Gladly would he have refused the king and queen. He feared full sore +that if he slew but one of the strangers, the world would bear him hate. + +Then the brave man addressed him to the king: "Sir King, take back +again all that I have from you, my land with its castles, let not a whit +remain to me. On foot will I wander into other lands." + +At this King Etzel spake: "Who else should help me then? I'll give thee +the land and all its castles, as thine own, that thou mayst avenge me on +my foes. Thou shalt be a mighty king at Etzel's side." + +Then answered Rudeger: "How shall I do this deed? I bade them to my +house and home; in friendly wise I offered them both food and drink +and gave them gifts. How may I counsel their death? People will lightly +ween, that I be craven. No service of mine have I refused these noble +lordings and their men. Now I rue the kinship I have gained with them. I +gave my daughter to Giselher, the knight; to none in all the world could +she have been better given, for courtesie and honor, for fealty and +wealth. Never have I seen so young a prince of such right courteous +mind." + +Then Kriemhild spake again: "Most noble Rudeger, take pity on our +griefs, on mine and on the king's. Bethink thee well, that king did +never gain such baneful guests." + +To the noble dame the margrave spake: "Rudeger's life must pay to-day +for whatsoever favors ye and my lord have shown me. Therefore must I +die; no longer may it be deferred. I know full well, that my castles and +my lands will be voided for you to-day through the hand of one of these +men. To your mercy I commend my wife and children and the strangers (3) +who be at Bechelaren." + +"Now God requite thee, Rudeger," spake the king, and both he and the +queen grew glad. "Thy people shall be well commended to our care. For +mine own weal I trust thou too shalt go unscathed." + +Etzel's bride began to weep. Then body and soul he staked upon the +venture. He spake: "I must perform what I have vowed. Alas for my +friends, whom I am loth to fight." + +Men saw him go sadly from the presence of the king. Close at hand he +found his warriors standing. He spake: "Ye must arm you all, my men, +for, alas, I must needs encounter the bold Burgundians." + +They bade the squires run nimbly to where lay their arms. Whether it +were helm or buckler, 'twas all brought forth to them by their meiny. +Later the proud strangers heard told baleful tales. Rudeger was +now armed, and with him five hundred men; thereto he gained twelve +champions, who would fain win renown in the stress of battle. They +wist not that death drew nigh them. Then Rudeger was seen to march with +helmet donned. The margrave's men bare keen-edged swords, and their +bright shields and broad upon their arms. This the fiddler saw; greatly +he rued the sight. When young Giselher beheld his lady's father walk +with his helm upon his head, how might he know what he meant thereby, +save that it portended good? Therefore the noble prince waxed passing +merry of mood. + +"Now well is me of such kinsmen," spake Knight Giselher, "whom we have +won upon this journey; from my wife we shall reap much profit here. Lief +it is to me, that this betrothal hath taken place." + +"I know not whence ye take your comfort," spake then the minstrel; "when +have ye seen so many heroes walk with helmets donned and swords in hand, +for the sake of peace? Rudeger doth think to win his castles and his +lands in fight with us." + +Or ever the fiddler had ended his speech, men saw the noble Rudeger +before the house. At his feet he placed his trusty shield, and now both +service and greeting he must needs refuse his friends. Into the hall +the noble margrave called: "Ye doughty Nibelungs, now guard you well +on every side. Ye were to profit by me, now I shall bring you scathe. +Aforetime we were friends, but of this troth I now would fain be rid." + +The hard-pressed men were startled at this tale, for none gained aught +of joy, that he whom they did love would now fain fight them. From their +foes they had already suffered mickle stress of war. "Now God of heaven +forbid," spake Gunther, the knight, "that ye should give over your love +of us and your great fealty, on which we counted of a truth. Better +things I trow of you, than that ye should ever do this deed." + +"Alas, I cannot give it over, but must fight you, for I have vowed it. +Now ward you, brave heroes, and ye love your life. King Etzel's wife +would not release me from mine oath." + +"Ye declare this feud too late," spake the high-born king. "Now may God +requite you, most noble Rudeger, for all the love and fealty that ye +have shown us, if ye would only act more kindly at the end. I and my +kinsmen, we ought ever to serve you for the noble gifts ye gave us, when +ye brought us hither faithfully to Etzel's land. Now, noble Rudeger, +think on this." + +"How gladly would I grant you," spake Knight Rudeger, "that I might +weigh out my gifts for you with full measure, as willingly as I had +hoped, if I never should be blamed on that account." + +"Turn back, noble Rudeger," spake then Gernot, "for host did never give +his guests such loving cheer as ye did us. This shall profit you well, +and we remain alive." + +"Would to God," spake Rudeger, "most noble Gernot, that ye were on the +Rhine and I were dead with passing honor, sith I must now encounter you! +Never did friends act worse to heroes." + +"Now God requite you, Sir Rudeger," answered Gernot, "for your passing +rich gifts. Your death doth rue me, if such knightly virtues shall be +lost with you. Here I bear your sword that ye gave me, good knight and +true. It hath never failed me in all this need. Many a knight fell +dead beneath its edges. It is bright and steady, glorious and good; +nevermore, I ween, will warrior give so rich a gift. And will ye not +turn back, but come to meet us, and slay aught of the friends I still +have here, with your own sword will I take your life. Then will ye rue +me, Rudeger, ye and your high-born wife." + +"Would to God, Sir Gernot, that this might come to pass, that all your +will might here be done, and that your kinsmen escaped unscathed! Then +both my daughter and my wife may trust you well, forsooth." + +Then of the Burgundians there spake fair Uta's son: "Why do ye so, Sir +Rudeger? Those that be come with us, do all like you well. Ye encounter +us in evil wise; ye wish to make your fair daughter a widow far too +soon. If ye and your warriors match me now with strife, how right +unkindly do ye let it appear, that I trust you well above all other men +and therefore won me your daughter to wife." + +"Think on your fealty, most noble and high-born king. And God let you +escape," so spake Rudeger, "let the maiden suffer not for me. For your +own virtue's sake, vouchsafe her mercy." + +"That I should do by right," spake the youthful Giselher, "but if +my noble kinsmen here within must die through you, then my steadfast +friendship for you and for your daughter must be parted." + +"Now may God have mercy on us," answered the valiant man. Then they +raised their shields, as though they would hence to fight the guests in +Kriemhild's hall, but Hagen cried full loud adown the steps. "Pray tarry +awhile, most noble Rudeger," so spake Hagen; "I and my lords would fain +have further parley, as doth befit our need. What can the death of us +wanderers avail King Etzel? I stand here in a fearful plight; the shield +that Lady Gotelind gave me to bear hath been cut to pieces by the Huns. +I brought it with friendly purpose into Etzel's land. O that God in +heaven would grant, that I might bear so good a shield as that thou hast +in thy hand, most noble Rudeger! Then I should no longer need a hauberk +in the fray." + +"Gladly would I serve thee with my shield, durst I offer it before +Kriemhild. Yet take it, Hagen, and bear it on thine arm. Ho, if thou +couldst only wield it in the Burgundian land!" + +When he so willingly offered to give the shield, enow of eyes grew +red with scalding tears. 'T was the last gift that ever Rudeger of +Bechelaren gave to any knight. However fierce Hagen, and however stern +of mood, the gift did touch him, which the good hero, so near to death, +had given. Many a noble knight gan mourn with him. + +"Now God in heaven requite you, most noble Rudeger. Your like will +nevermore be found, who giveth homeless warriors such lordly gifts. God +grant that your courtesie may ever live." Again Hagen spake: "Woe is me +of these tales, we had so many other griefs to bear. Let complaint be +made to heaven, if we must fight with friends." + +Quoth the margrave: "Inly doth this grieve me." + +"Now God requite you, for the gift, most noble Rudeger. Howso these +high-born warriors deport them toward you, my hand shall never touch you +in the fight, and ye slew them all from the Burgundian land." + +Courteously the good Sir Rudeger bowed him low. On every side they wept, +that none might soothe this pain of heart. That was a mighty grief. In +Rudeger would die the father of all knightly virtues. + +Then Folker, the minstrel, spake from out the hall: "Sith my comrade +Hagen hath made his peace with you, ye shall have it just as steadfastly +from my hand, for well ye earned it, when we came into this land. Most +noble margrave, ye shall be mine envoy, too. The margravine gave me +these ruddy arm rings, that I should wear them here at the feasting. +These ye may yourself behold, that ye may later be my witness." + +"Now God of heaven grant," spake Rudeger, "that the margravine may give +you more! I'll gladly tell these tales to my dear love, if I see her in +health again. Of this ye shall not doubt." + +When he had vowed him this, Rudeger raised high his shield. No longer +he bided, but with raging mood, like a berserker, he rushed upon the +guests. Many a furious blow the noble margrave struck. The twain, Folker +and Hagen, stepped further back, as they had vowed to him afore. Still +he found standing by the tower such valiant men, that Rudeger began the +fight with anxious doubts. With murderous intent Gunther and Gernot let +him in, good heroes they! Giselher stood further back, which irked him +sore, in truth. He voided Rudeger, for still he had hope of life. Then +the margrave's men rushed at their foes; in knightly wise one saw them +follow their lord. In their hands they bare their keen-edged swords, +the which cleft there many a helm and lordly shield. The tired warriors +dealt the men of Bechelaren many a mighty blow, that cut smooth and deep +through the shining mail, down to the very quick. + +Rudeger's noble fellowship was now come quite within. Into the fight +Folker and Hagen sprang anon. They gave no quarter, save to one man +alone. Through the hands of the twain the blood streamed down from +the helmets. How grimly rang the many swords within! The shield plates +sprang from their fastenings, and the precious stones, cut from the +shields, fell down into the gore. So grimly they fought, that men will +never do the like again. The lord of Bechelaren raged to and fro, as +one who wotteth how to use great prowess in the fray. Passing like to +a worshipful champion and a bold did Rudeger bear him on that day. Here +stood the warriors, Gunther and Gernot, and smote many a hero dead in +the fray. Giselher and Dankwart, the twain, recked so little, that +they brought full many a knight to his last day of life. Full well did +Rudeger make appear that he was strong enow, brave and well-armed. Ho, +what knights he slew! This a Burgundian espied; perforce it angered him, +and thus Sir Rudeger's death drew near. + +The stalwart Gernot accosted the hero; to the margrave he spake: "It +appeareth, ye will not leave my men alive, most noble Rudeger. That +irketh me beyond all measure, no longer can I bear the sight. So may +your present work you harm, sith ye have taken from me such store of +friends. Pray address you unto me, most noble man and brave, your gift +shall be paid for as best I can." + +Or ever the margrave could reach his foe, bright armor rings must needs +grow dull with blood. Then at each other sprang these honor-seeking men. +Either gan guard him against mighty wounds. So sharp were their swords, +that naught might avail against them. Then Rudeger, the knight, smote +Gernot a buffet through his helmet, the which was as hard as flint, so +that the blood gushed forth. But this the bold knight and good repaid +eftsoon. High in his hand he now poised Rudeger's gift, and though +wounded unto death, he smote him a stroke through his good and trusty +shield down to his helmet band. And so fair Gotelind's husband was done +to death. Certes, so rich a gift was never worse repaid. So fell alike +both Gernot and Rudeger, slain in the fray, through each other's hand. + +Then first waxed Hagen wroth, when he saw the monstrous scathe. Quoth +the hero of Troneg: "Evil hath it fared with us. In these two men we +have taken a loss so great that neither their land nor people will e'er +recover from the blow. Rudeger's champions must answer to us homeless +men." + +"Alas for my brother, who hath here been done to death. What evil tales +I hear all time! Noble Rudeger, too, must ever rue me. The loss and the +grievous wounds are felt on either side." + +When Lord Giselher saw his betrothed's father dead, those within the +hall were forced to suffer need. Fiercely death sought his fellowship; +not one of those of Bechelaren escaped with life. Gunther and Giselher +and Hagen, too, Dankwart and Folker, the right good knights, went to +where they found the two men lying. Then by these heroes tears of grief +were shed. + +"Death doth sorely rob us," spake Giselher, the youth. "Now give over +your weeping and go we bite the breeze, that the mailed armor of us +storm-weary men may cool. Certes, I ween, that God in heaven vouchsafeth +us no more to live." + +This champion was seen to sit and that to lean against the wall, but all +again were idle. Rudeger's heroes lay still in death. The din had died +away; the hush endured so long, it vexed King Etzel. + +"Alack for such services," spake the queen. "They be not so true, that +our foes must pay with their life at Rudeger's hands. I trow, he doth +wish to lead them back to the Burgundian land. What booteth it, King +Etzel, that we have given him whatso he would? The knight hath done +amiss, he who should avenge us, doth make his peace." + +To this Folker, the full dapper knight, made answer: "This is not true, +alas, most noble queen. Durst I give the lie to such a high-born dame, +then had ye most foully lied against Rudeger. He and his champions be +cozened in this peace. So eagerly he did what the king commanded, +that he and all his fellowship lie here in death. Now look around you, +Kriemhild, to see whom ye may now command. The good Knight Rudeger hath +served you to his end. And ye will not believe the tale, we'll let you +see." + +To their great grief 'twas done; they bare the slain hero to where the +king might see him. Never had there happed to Etzel's men a grief so +great. When they saw the margrave borne forth dead, no scribe might +write or tell the frantic grief of men and women, which there gan show +itself from dole of heart. King Etzel's sorrow waxed so great that the +mighty king did voice his woe of heart, as with a lion's roar. Likewise +did his queen. Beyond all measure they bewailed the good Knight +Rudeger's death. + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Parlous", older English for 'perilous'. + (2) "Fey", 'doomed to death', here in the sense of 'already + slain'. See Adventure V, note 2. + (3) "Strangers", i.e., those who are sojourning there far from + home. + + + + +ADVENTURE XXXVIII. How All Sir Dietrich's Warriors Were Slain. + +On every side one heard a grief so great, that the palace and the towers +rang with the wailing. Then a liegeman of Dietrich heard it, too. How +quickly he gan haste him with the fearful tales! To the lording he +spake: "Hear, my lord, Sir Dietrich, however much I've lived to see till +now, yet heard I never such a monstrous wail, as now hath reached mine +ears. I ween, King Etzel himself hath come to grief. How else might all +be so distressed? One of the twain, the king or Kriemhild, hath sorely +been laid low by the brave strangers in their wrath. Full many a dapper +warrior weepeth passing sore." + +Then spake the Knight of Borne: "My faithful men, now haste ye not +too fast. Whatever the homeless warriors may have done, they be now in +mickle need. Let it profit them, that I did offer them my peace." + +At this brave Wolfhart spake: "I will hie me hence and ask for tidings +of what they have done, and will tell you then, my most dear lord, just +as I find it, what the wail may be." + +Then spake Sir Dietrich: "Where one awaiteth wrath, and rude questions +then are put, this doth lightly sadden the lofty mood of warriors. In +truth, I will not, Wolfhart, that ye ask these questions of them." + +Then he told Helfrich (1) to hasten thither speedily, and bade him find +from Etzel's men or from the guests themselves, what there had fortuned, +for men had never seen from folks so great a grief. The messenger gan +ask: "What hath here been done?" + +At this one among them spake: "Whatever of joy we had in the Hunnish +land hath passed away. Here lieth Rudeger, slain by the Burgundians' +hands; and of those who were come with him, not one hath 'scaped +alive." + +Sir Helfrich could never have had a greater dole. Sorely weeping, the +envoy went to Dietrich. Never was he so loth to tell a tale. "What +have ye found for us?" quoth Dietrich. "Why weep ye so sore, Knight +Helfrich?" + +Then spake the noble champion: "I have good cause for wail. The +Burgundians have slain the good Sir Rudeger." + +At this the hero of Berne made answer: "Now God forbid. That were a +fearful vengeance, over which the foul fiend would gloat. Wherewith hath +Rudeger deserved this at their hands? I know full well, forsooth, he is +the strangers' friend." + +To this Wolfhart answered: "And have they done this deed, 'twill cost +them all their lives. 'Twould be our shame, should we let this pass, for +of a truth the hand of the good knight Rudeger hath served us much and +oft." + +The lord of the Amelungs bade learn it better. In bitter grief he sate +him at a window and begged Hildebrand to hie him to the strangers, that +he might find from them what had been done. The storm-brave warrior, +Master Hildebrand, (2) bare neither shield nor weapon in his hand. In +courtly wise he would hie him to the strangers; for this he was chided +by his sister's son. Grim Wolfhart spake: "And ye will go thither so +bare, ye will never fare without upbraiding; ye must return with shame. +But if ye go there armed, each will guard against that well." + +Then the wise man armed him, through the counsel of youth. Or ever he +was ware, all Dietrich's warriors had donned their war-weeds and held +in their hands their swords. Loth it was to the hero, and he would have +gladly turned their mind. He asked whither they would go. + +"We will hence with you. Perchance Hagen of Troneg then will dare the +less to address him to you with scorn, which full well he knoweth how to +use." When he heard this, the knight vouchsafed them for to go. + +Soon brave Folker saw the champions of Berne, the liegemen of Dietrich, +march along, well armed, begirt with swords, while in their hands they +bare their shields. He told it to his lords from out the Burgundian +land. The fiddler spake: "Yonder I see the men of Dietrich march along +in right hostile wise, armed cap-a-pie. They would encounter us; I ween +'twill go full ill with us strangers." + +Meanwhile Sir Hildebrand was come. Before his feet he placed his shield, +and gan ask Gunther's men: "Alas, good heroes, what had Rudeger done +you? My Lord Dietrich hath sent me hither to you to say, that if the +hand of any among you hath slain the noble margrave, as we are told, we +could never stand such mighty dole." + +Then spake Hagen of Troneg: "The tale is true. How gladly could I wish, +that the messenger had told you false, for Rudeger's sake, and that he +still did live, for whom both man and wife may well ever weep." + +When they heard aright that he was dead, the warriors made wail for +him, as their fealty bade them. Over the beards and chins of Dietrich's +champions the tears were seen to run. Great grief had happened to them. + +Siegstab, (3) the Duke of Berne, then spake: "Now hath come to an end +the cheer, that Rudeger did give us after our days of dole. The joy of +all wayfaring folk lieth slain by you, sir knights." + +Then spake the Knight Wolfwin (4) of the Amelungs: "And I saw mine own +father dead to-day, I should not make greater dole, than for his death. +Alas, who shall now comfort the good margrave's wife?" + +Angry of mood Knight Wolfhart spake: "Who shall now lead the warriors +to so many a fight, as the margrave so oft hath done? Alas, most noble +Rudeger, that we should lose thee thus!" + +Wolfbrand (5) and Helfrich and Helmnot, too, with all their men bewailed +his death. For sighing Hildebrand might no longer ask a whit. He spake: +"Sir knights, now do what my lord hath sent you here to do. Give us +the corse of Rudeger from out the hall, in whom our joy hath turned to +grief, and let us repay to him the great fealty he hath shown to us and +to many another man. We, too, be exiles, just as Rudeger, the knight. +Why do ye let us wait thus? Let us bear him away, that we may yet +requite the knight in death. More justly had we done it, when he was +still alive." + +Then spake King Gunther: "Never was there so good a service as that, +which a friend doth do to a friend after his death. When any doeth that, +I call it faithful friendship. Ye repay him but rightly, for much love +hath he ever shown you." + +"How long shall we still beseech?" spake Knight Wolfhart. "Sith our best +hope hath been laid low in death by you, and we may no longer have him +with us, let us bear him hence to where the warrior may be buried." + +To this Folker made answer: "None will give him to you. Fetch ye him +from the hall where the warrior lieth, fallen in the blood, with mortal +wounds. 'Twill then be a perfect service, which ye render Rudeger." + +Quoth brave Wolfhart: "God wot, sir minstrel, ye have given us great +dole and should not rouse our ire. But that I durst not for fear of my +lord, ye should all fare ill. We must perforce abstain, sith he forbade +us strife." + +Then spake the fiddler: "He hath a deal too much fear who doth abstain +from all that one forbiddeth him. That I call not a real hero's mood." +This speech of his war comrade thought Hagen good. + +"Long not for that," answered Wolfhart, "or I'll play such havoc with +your fiddle strings, that ye'll have cause to tell the tale, when ye +ride homeward to the Rhine. I cannot brook in honor your overweening +pride." + +Quoth the fiddler: "If ye put out of tune my strings, then must the +gleam of your helmet grow dim from this hand of mine, however I ride to +the Burgundian land." + +Then would he leap at him, but his uncle Hildebrand grasped him firmly. +"I ween, thou wouldst rage in thy silly anger. Then hadst thou lost +forever the favor of my lord." + +"Let go the lion, master, he is so fierce of mood," quoth the good +knight Folker. "Had he slain the whole world with his one hand, I'll +smite him, and he come within my reach, so that he may never sing the +answer to my song." + +At this the men of Berne waxed passing wroth of mood. Wolfhart, a +doughty knight and a good, snatched up his shield. Like a wild lion +he ran to meet him, swiftly followed by all his friends. But howsoever +great the strides he took towards the hall, yet did old Hildebrand +overtake him at the steps. He would not let him reach the fray before +him. At the hands of the homeless knights they later found the strife +they sought. Master Hildebrand then sprang at Hagen. In the hands of +both one heard the swords ring out. That both were angry, might be +plainly seen; from the swords of the twain streamed forth a blast of +fire-red sparks. Then they were parted in the stress of battle by the +men of Berne, as their strength did bid them. At once Hildebrand turned +him away from Hagen, but stout Wolfhart addressed him to Folker the +bold. Such a blow he smote the fiddler upon his good helmet, that the +sword's edge pierced to the very helmet bands. This the bold gleeman +repaid with might; he smote Wolfhart, so that the sparks flew wide. Enow +of fire they struck from the armor rings, for each bare hatred to the +other. Then Knight Wolfwin of Berne did part them--an' he be not a hero, +never was there one. + +With willing hand Gunther, the champion, greeted the heroes of the +Amelung land. Lord Giselher made many a gleaming helmet red and wet with +blood. Dankwart, Hagen's brother, a fierce man was he; whatever he had +done before to Etzel's warriors in strife was as a wind to the fury with +which bold Aldrian's son now fought. Ritschart (6) and Gerbart, Helfrich +and Wichart had spared themselves full seldom in many battle storms; +this they now made Gunther's liegemen note full well. Wolfbrand, too, +was seen in the strife bearing him in lordly wise. Old Hildebrand fought +as though he raged. At Wolfhart's hands many good knights, struck by the +sword, must needs fall dead down into the blood. Thus the bold champions +and good avenged Knight Rudeger. + +Then Lord Siegstab fought as his prowess bade him. Ho, what good helmets +of his foes this son of Dietrich's sister clove in the strife! Nor +might he ever do better in the fray. When sturdy Folker espied that bold +Siegstab hewed a bloody stream from the hard armor rings, wroth of mood +the hero grew. He sprang to meet him, and Siegstab lost his life full +soon at the fiddler's hands, for Folker gave him such a sample of his +art, that he soon lay dead, slain by his sword. This old Hildebrand +avenged, as his might did bid him. + +"Alas for my dear lord," spake Master Hildebrand, "who lieth here dead +at Folker's hands. Now shall the fiddler no longer live." + +How might bold Hildebrand ever be fiercer? Folker he smote, so that +on all sides the clasps flew to the walls of the hall from helmet and +shield of the doughty gleeman. Thus stout Folker was done to death. At +this the men of Dietrich pressed forward to the strife. They smote so +that the armor rings whirled far and wide, and high through the air +the sword-points wore seen to fly. From the helmets they drew the warm +gushing stream of blood. When Hagen of Troneg saw Folker dead, that was +the greatest sorrow, that he had gained at the feasting in kinsman or +in liegeman. Alas, how fiercely Hagen gan venge the knight! "Now old +Hildebrand shall not profit by this deed. My helpmate lieth slain by the +hero's hand, the best war comrade that I did ever win." Higher he raised +his helmet, and ran, slashing as he went. + +Stout Helfrich slew Dankwart. Loth enow it was to Gunther and Giselher, +when they saw him fall in cruel need, but with his own hands he himself +had well avenged his death. Meanwhile Wolfhart raged back and forth, +hewing alway King Gunther's men. For the third time he was come through +the hall, and many a warrior fell, struck by his hands. + +Then Lord Giselher cried out to Wolfhart: "Alas, that I have ever gained +so grim a foe! Noble knight and brave, now address you unto me. I'll +help to make an end; this may be no longer." + +At this Wolfhart turned him in strife to Giselher, and each smote other +many a gaping wound. He pressed so mightily toward the king, that +the blood beneath his feet spurted high above his head. With grim +and fearful blows the son of fair Uta then greeted the brave knight +Wolfhart. However strong the warrior, he might not save his life. Never +could so young a king have been more brave; Wolfhart he smote through +his stout hauberk, that his blood streamed down from the wound. Unto +death he wounded Dietrich's liegeman. None save a champion had done such +deed. When brave Wolfhart felt the wound, he let fall his shield and +lifted higher in his hand his mighty sword (sharp enow it was); through +both helmet and armor rings the hero smote Giselher. Thus each did other +fiercely unto death. + +Now was none left of Dietrich's men. Old Hildebrand saw Wolfhart fall; +never before his death, I ween, did such dole happen to him. The men of +Gunther all lay dead, and those of Dietrich, too. Hildebrand hied him to +where Wolfhart had fallen in the gore, and clasped in his arms the brave +knight and good. He would fain bear him from the hall, but he was a +deal too heavy, and so he must needs let him lie. Then the dying warrior +looked upward from the blood in which he lay; well he saw, that his +uncle would fain help him hence. Though wounded unto death, he spake: +"Dear uncle mine, ye may not aid me now. 'Tis well, methinks, that ye +should guard you against Hagen. A fierce mood he beareth in his heart. +And if perchance my kinsmen would mourn me after I am dead; pray tell +the nearest and the best, that they weep not for me; there is no need of +that. At the hands of a king I have met a glorious death and have also +avenged me, so that the wives of the good knights may well bewail it. If +any ask you of this, ye may boldly say, that full a hundred lie slain by +my hand alone." + +Then Hagen, too, bethought him of the gleeman, whom bold Hildebrand +had robbed of life. To the knight he spake: "Ye'll requite me now my +sorrows. Through your hatred ye have bereft us of many a lusty knight." + +He dealt Hildebrand such a blow, that men heard Balmung ring, the which +bold Hagen had taken from Siegfried, when he slew the knight. Then the +old man warded him; in sooth he was brave enow. Dietrich's champion +struck with a broad sword, that cut full sore, at the hero of Troneg, +but could not wound King Gunther's liegeman. Hagen, however, smote him +through his well-wrought hauberk. When old Hildebrand felt the wound, he +feared more scathe at Hagen's hand; his shield he slung across his back +and thus Sir Dietrich's man escaped from Hagen, though sorely wounded. + +Now of all the knights none was alive save the twain, Gunther and +Hagen alone. Dripping with blood old Hildebrand went to where he found +Dietrich, and told him the baleful tale. He saw him sitting sadly, but +much more of dole the prince now gained. He spied Hildebrand in his +blood-red hauberk, and asked him tidings, as his fears did prompt him. + +"Now tell me, Master Hildebrand, how be ye so wet with your lifeblood? +Pray who hath done you this? I ween, ye have fought with the strangers +in the hall. I forbade it you so sorely, that ye should justly have +avoided it." + +Then said he to his lord: "'Twas Hagen that did it. He dealt me this +wound in the hall, when I would fain have turned me from the knight. I +scarce escaped the devil with my life." + +Then spake the Lord of Berne: "Rightly hath it happed you, for that ye +have broken the peace, which I had sworn them, sith ye did hear me vow +friendship to the knights. Were it not mine everlasting shame, ye should +lose your life." + +"My Lord Dietrich, now be ye not so wroth; the damage to my friends and +me is all too great. Fain would we have carried Rudeger's corse away, +but King Gunther's liegemen would not grant it us." + +"Woe is me of these sorrows! If Rudeger then be dead, 'twill bring +me greater dole, than all my woe. Noble Gotelind is the child of my +father's sister; alas for the poor orphans, that be now in Bechelaren." + +Rudeger's death now minded him of ruth and dole. Mightily the hero gan +weep; in sooth he had good cause. "Alas for this faithful comrade whom I +have lost! In truth I shall ever mourn for King Etzel's liegeman. Can ye +tell me, Master Hildebrand, true tidings, who be the knight, that hath +slain him there?" + +Quoth he: "That stout Gernot did, with might and main, but the hero, +too, fell dead at Rudeger's hands." + +Again he spake to Hildebrand: "Pray say to my men, that they arm them +quickly, for I will hie me hither, and bid them make ready my shining +battle weeds. I myself will question the heroes of the Burgundian land." + +Then spake Master Hildebrand: "Who then shall join you? Whatso of living +men ye have, ye see stand by you. 'Tis I alone; the others, they be +dead." + +He started at this tale; forsooth, he had good cause, for never in his +life had he gained so great a grief. He spake: "And are my men all dead, +then hath God forgotten me, poor Dietrich. Once I was a lordly king, +mighty, high, and rich." Again Sir Dietrich spake: "How could it hap, +that all the worshipful heroes died at the hands of the battle-weary, +who were themselves hard pressed? Were it not for mine ill-luck, death +were still a stranger to them. Sith then mine evil fortune would have it +so, pray tell me, are any of the strangers still alive?" + +Then spake Master Hildebrand: "God wet, none other save only Hagen and +Gunther, the high-born king." + +"Alas, dear Wolfhart, and I have lost thee too, then may it well rue me, +that ever I was born. Siegstab and Wolfwin and Wolfbrand, too! Who then +shall help me to the Amelung land? Bold Helfrich, hath he, too, been +slain, and Gerbart and Wichart? How shall I ever mourn for them in +fitting wise? This day doth forever end my joys. Alas, that none may die +for very grief!" + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Helfrich" appears also in the "Thidreksaga", chap. 330, + where we are told that he was the bravest and courtliest of + all knights. + (2) "Master Hildebrand", see Adventure XXVIII, note 1. + (3) "Siegstab" is Dietrich's nephew. He also appears in the + "Thidreksaga", but in a different role. + (4) "Wolfwin" is mentioned in the "Klage", 1541, as Dietrich's + nephew. + (5) "Wolfbrand" and "Helmnot" appear only here. + (6) "Ritschart". With the exception of Helfrich (see Above + note 1), these names do not occur elsewhere, though one of + the sons of Haimon was called Wichart. + + + + +ADVENTURE XXXIX. How Gunther And Hagen And Kriemhild Were Slain. + +Then Sir Dietrich fetched himself his coat of mail, and Master +Hildebrand helped him arm. The mighty man made wail so sore, that the +whole house resounded with his voice. But then he gained again a real +hero's mood. The good knight was now armed and grim of mind; a stout +shield he hung upon his arm. Thus he and Master Hildebrand went boldly +hence. + +Then spake Hagen of Troneg: "Yonder I see Sir Dietrich coming hither; he +would fain encounter us, after the great sorrow, that hath here befallen +him. To-day we shall see, to whom one must give the palm. However strong +of body and grim of mood the lord of Berne thinketh him to be, right +well dare I match him," so spake Hagen, "an' he will avenge on us that +which hath been done him." + +Dietrich and Hildebrand heard this speech, for Hagen came to where he +found the champion stand before the house, leaning against the wall. +Dietrich set his good shield upon the ground, and spake in grievous +dole: "Gunther, mighty king, why have ye so acted against me, banished +man? What have I done to you? I stand alone, bereft of all my comfort. +Ye thought it not enow of bitter need, when ye did kill Knight Rudeger, +our friend. Now ye have robbed me of all my men. Forsooth I never had +wrought you heroes sorrow such as this. Think on yourselves and on your +wrongs. Doth not the death of your kinsmen and all the hardship grieve +the minds of you good knights? Alas, what great dole Rudeger's death +doth give me! Never in all the world hath more of sorrow happed to any +man. Ye thought but little on me and on your pain. Whatsoever joy I had, +that lieth slain by you. Certes, I never can bewail my kin enow." + +"Forsooth we be not so guilty," answered Hagen. "Your warriors came to +this hall in a large band, armed with care. Methinks the tale hath not +been told you rightly." + +"What else should I believe? Hildebrand told me, that when my knights +from the Amelung land asked that ye should give up Rudeger's corse from +out the hall, ye did naught but mock the valiant heroes from above the +steps." + +Then spake the king from the Rhine: "They said, that they would fain +bear Rudeger hence, and I bade this be denied them to vex King Etzel, +and not thy men, until then Wolfhart began to rail about it." + +Then the hero of Berne made answer: "Fate would have it so. Gunther, +most noble king, now through thy courtesie requite me of the wrongs, +that have happed to me from thee, and make such amends, brave knight, +that I may give thee credit for the deed. Give thyself and thy men to me +as hostages, and I will guard you, as best I may, that none here do thee +aught among the Huns. Thou shalt find me naught but good and true." + +"Now God forbid," quoth Hagen, "that two knights give themselves up +to thee, that still do stand opposed to thee so doughtily and walk so +unfettered before their foes." + +"Gunther and Hagen, ye should not deny me this," spake Dietrich. "Ye +have grieved my heart and mind so sore, that it were but right, and ye +would requite me. I give you my hand and troth as pledge, that I will +ride with you, home to your land. I'll lead you in all honor, or else +lie dead, and for your sakes I will forget my grievous wrongs." + +"Crave this no longer," answered Hagen. "'Twere fitting, that the tale +be told of us, that two men so brave had given themselves up to you. We +see none standing by you, save Hildebrand alone." + +Then up spake Master Hildebrand: "God wot, Sir Hagen, the hour will +come, when ye will gladly take the peace, if so be any offer to keep it +with you. Ye might well content you with the truce my lord doth offer." + +"Forsooth I'd take the truce," quoth Hagen, "or ever I'd flee from out +a hall so shamefully as ye did, Master Hildebrand. I weened, ye could +stand better against a foe." + +To this Hildebrand made answer: "Why twit ye me with that? Who was it +sate upon a shield hard by the Waskstone, (1) when Walter of Spain slew +so many of his kin? Ye, too, have faults enow of your own to show." + +Then spake Sir Dietrich: "Ill doth it beseem heroes, that they should +scold like aged beldams. I forbid you, Hildebrand, to speak aught more. +Grievous wrongs constrain me, homeless warrior. Let's hear, Knight +Hagen, what ye twain did speak, ye doughty men, when ye saw me coming +toward you armed? Ye said, that ye alone would fain encounter me in +strife." + +"Certes, none doth deny," Knight Hagen spake, "that I will essay it here +with mighty blows, unless be, that the sword of Nibelung break in my +hand. Wroth am I, that we twain have here been craved as hostages." + +When Dietrich noted Hagen's raging mood, quickly the doughty knight and +good snatched up his shield. How swiftly Hagen sprang toward him from +the steps! Loudly the good sword of Nibelung rang on Dietrich's head. +Then wist Dietrich well, that the bold knight was grim of mood. The +lord of Berne gan guard him against the fearful blows, for well he knew +Hagen, the stately knight. Balmung he also feared, a weapon stout enow. +Dietrich returned the blows at times in cunning wise, until at last he +conquered Hagen in the strife. A wound he dealt him, the which was +deep and long. Then Lord Dietrich thought him: "Thou art worn out with +strife; little honor shall I have, and thou liest dead before me. I will +try, if perchance I can force thee to be my hostage." + +This he wrought with danger. His shield he let fall, great was his +strength, and clasped Hagen of Troneg in his arms. Thus the brave knight +was overcome by Dietrich. Noble Gunther gan wail thereat. Dietrich now +bound Hagen and led him to where he found the high-born queen; into her +hand he gave the bravest warrior that ever bare a sword. Then merry enow +she grew after her great dole. For very joy King Etzel's wife bowed low +before the knight. "May thy heart and body be ever blest. Thou hast well +requited me of all my woes. For this will I ever serve thee, unless be, +that death doth hinder me therefrom." + +Then spake Lord Dietrich: "Pray let him live, most noble queen. And if +this still may be, how well will I requite you of that which he hath +done you! Let him not suffer, because ye see him stand here bound." + +She bade Hagen then be led away to duress, where he lay locked in and +where none did see him. Gunther, the high-born king, began to call: +"Whither went the knight of Berne? He hath done me wrong." + +At this Lord Dietrich went to meet him. Gunther's might was worthy +of praise; no more he bided, but ran outside the hall, and from the +clashing of the swords of the twain a mighty din arose. However much and +long Lord Dietrich's prowess had been praised, yet Gunther was so sorely +angered and enraged, for because of the grievous dole, he was his deadly +foe, that men still tell it as a wonder, that Sir Dietrich did not fall. +Great were both their prowess and their strength. The palace and the +towers resounded with the blows, when with the swords they hewed at the +sturdy helmets. King Gunther was of lordly mood, but the knight of Berne +overcame him, as happed to Hagen afore. The hero's blood was seen to +ooze through the armor rings, drawn forth by a keen-edged sword, the +which Sir Dietrich bare. Though weary, Sir Gunther had guarded him most +valiantly. The lord was now bound by Dietrich's hands. Though kings +should not endure such bonds, yet Dietrich thought, if he set free the +king and his liegeman, that all they met must needs fall dead at their +hands. + +Dietrich of Berne now took him by the hand and led him bound to where +he found Kriemhild. At sight of his sorrow much of her fear took flight. +She spake: "Welcome, Gunther, from the Burgundian land." + +Quoth he: "I would bow before you, dear sister mine, if your greetings +were but kinder. I know you, queen, to be so wroth of mood that ye do +give me and Hagen meagre greetings." + +Up spake the knight of Berne: "Most noble queen, never were such good +knights made hostages, as I have given you in them, exalted lady. For my +sake, I pray you, spare these homeless men." + +She vowed she'd do it gladly. Then Sir Dietrich left the worshipful +knights with weeping eyes. Later Etzel's wife avenged her grimly; she +took the life of both the chosen heroes. To make their duress worse she +let them lie apart, so that neither saw the other, till she bare her +brother's head to Hagen. Kriemhild's vengeance on both was great enow. + +Then the queen went to Hagen. In what right hostile wise she spake to +the knight: "If ye will give me back what ye have taken from me, then ye +may still go home alive to Burgundy." + +Grim Hagen answered: "Thou dost waste thy words, most noble queen. +Forsooth I have sworn an oath, that I would not show the hoard, the +while and any of my lords still live; so I shall give it to none." + +"I'll make an end of this," quoth the high-born wife. Then she bade her +brother's life be taken. His head they struck off, and by the hair she +bare it to the knight of Troneg. Loth enow it was to him. When sad of +mind the warrior gazed upon his master's head, he spake to Kriemhild: +"Thou hast brought it to an end after thy will, and it hath happed, as I +had thought me. The noble king of Burgundy now lieth dead, and Giselher, +the youth, and Sir Gernot, too. None knoweth of the treasure now save +God and me, and it shall ever be hid from thee, thou fiend." + +Quoth she: "Ye have requited me full ill, so I will keep the sword of +Siegfried, the which my sweetheart bare, when last I saw him, in whom +dole of heart hath happed to me through you." + +From the sheath she drew it, nor could he hinder her a whit. She planned +to rob the knight of life. With her hands she raised it and struck off +his head. This King Etzel saw, and sore enow it rued him. "Alack!" cried +the lording, "how lieth now dead at a woman's hands the very best of +knights, that ever came to battle or bare a shield! However much I was +his foe, yet it doth grieve me sorely." + +Then spake old Hildebrand: "Forsooth it shall not boot her aught, that +she durst slay him. Whatso hap to me, and however much it may bring me +to a dangerous pass, yet will I avenge bold Troneg's death." + +Hildebrand sprang in wrath towards Kriemhild. For fear of him she +suffered pain; but what might it avail her, that she shrieked so +frightfully? He dealt the queen a grievous sword-blow, the which did +cut the high-born dame in twain. Now all lay low in death whom fate had +doomed. Dietrich and Etzel then began to weep; sorely they mourned +both kin and liegemen. Their mickle honors lay there low in death; the +courtiers all had grief and drearihead. The king's high feast had ended +now in woe, as joy doth ever end in sorrow at the last. I cannot tell +you, that which happed thereafter, save that knights and ladies and +noble squires were seen to weep for the death of loving kinsmen. The +tale hath here an end. This is the Nibelungs' fall. (2) (3) + + + ENDNOTES: + (1) "Waskstone", see Adventure XXXV, note 2. + (2) "Fall". The word "not", translated here "fall", means + really 'disaster', but as this word is not in keeping with + the style, "fall" has been chosen as preferable to 'need', + used by some translators. The MS. C has here "liet" instead + of "not" of A and B. + (3) The "Nibelungenlied" is continued by the so-called "Klage", + a poem written in short rhyming couplets. As the name + indicates, it describes the lamentations of the survivors + over the dead. The praises of each warrior are sung and a + messenger dispatched to acquaint Gotelind, Uta, and Brunhild + with the sad end of their kinsmen. It closes with + Dietrich's departure from Etzel's court and his return home. + Although in one sense a continuation of our poem, the + "Klage" is an independent work of no great merit, being + excessively tedious with its constant repetitions. A + reprint and a full account of it will be found in Piper's + edition of our poem, vol. I. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Nibelungenlied, by Unknown + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1151 *** |