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diff --git a/35108-h/35108-h.htm b/35108-h/35108-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..40e90cc --- /dev/null +++ b/35108-h/35108-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2653 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Stories of The Nibelungen for Young People, arranged by Gertrude R. Schottenfels. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + img {border: 0;} + .tnote {border: dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + .copyright {text-align: center; font-size: 70%;} + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + .small {font-size: 70%;} + .big {font-size: 110%;} + .author {font-size: 120%; text-align: center;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .chaptertitle {text-align: center; font-size: 110%; font-weight: bold;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold; font-size: 90%;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} +table.title {width: 500px; text-align: center; background-image: + url("images/titlepage.png"); background-repeat: no-repeat;} + .unindent {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .right {text-align: right;} + .poem {margin-left: 30%; text-align: left;} + .poem2 {margin-left: 15%; text-align: left;} + .sig {margin-right: 10%; text-align: right;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align:baseline; + position: relative; + bottom: 0.33em; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none;} + .hang1 {text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + .cap:first-letter {float: left; clear: left; margin: -0.2em 0.1em 0; margin-top: 0%; + padding: 0; line-height: .75em; font-size: 300%; text-align: justify;} + .cap {text-align: justify;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Stories of the Nibelungen for Young People, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Stories of the Nibelungen for Young People + +Author: Various + +Editor: Gertrude R. Schottenfels + +Illustrator: John C. Gilbert + +Release Date: January 29, 2011 [EBook #35108] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES OF THE NIBELUNGEN *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 339px;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="339" height="500" alt="Cover" title="" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 311px;"> +<img src="images/frontis.png" width="311" height="500" alt="THE MEETING OF SIEGFRIED AND MIMI" title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE MEETING OF SIEGFRIED AND MIMI</span> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> + +<div class='center'> <table class="title" summary="title"> +<tr><td align='left'><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /> <br /> + + +<h1>Stories of the<br /> + +<span class='big'>Nibelungen</span><br /> + +<span class='small'><i>for</i></span><br /> + +Young People</h1> + +<div class='center'><br /><br /> +<i>Arranged by</i><br /></div> +<div class='author'>Gertrude R. Schottenfels<br /></div> +<div class='center'><span class='small'>Chicago Public Schools</span><br /> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> +<b>Illustrated</b><br /> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> +<span class='big'>Chicago</span><br /> +<span class='big'>A. Flanagan Company<br /></span></div> + +<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></td> +</tr></table></div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class='copyright'> +COPYRIGHT, 1905<br /> +BY<br /> +A. FLANAGAN COMPANY +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Book spine and table of contents"> +<tr><td align='left'><img src="images/book_spine.jpg" width="46" height="500" alt="book spine" title="" /> +</td><td align='left'><h2>STORIES OF THE NIBELUNGEN</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr><td align='right'>I. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Young Siegfried</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_7">7</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mimi's Story</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_21">21</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Siegfried's Sword</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Death of the Dragon</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_43">43</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Story of Brunhilda</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_53">53</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Gunther and Kriemhild</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_61">61</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Siegfried's Return to Ireland</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_72">72</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">How Gunther Won His Bride</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Kriemhild and Brunhilda's Quarrel</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_91">91</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Kriemhild's Revenge</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_112">112</a></td></tr> +</table></div></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 577px;"> +<img src="images/divider.png" width="577" height="179" alt="Divider" title="" /> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> +<h2>PRONOUNCING VOCABULARY</h2> + +<div class='tnote'><div class='blockquot'><b>Transcriber's Note:</b> Every attempt has been +made to represent the original's page. If any of these characters do not display +properly—in particular, if the diacritic does not appear directly +above the letter—or if the apostrophes and quotation marks in this +paragraph appear as garbage, you may have an incompatible browser or +unavailable fonts. First, make sure that the browser's "character set" +or "file encoding" is set to Unicode (UTF-8). You may also need to change +your browser's default font. Additionally, the tack above two letters +below (in the final e in Nibelungen and the g in Siegelinda) are not able +to be represented. The [+x] notation has been used in these instances. Finally, +a copy of the original page has been included and may be seen by clicking +<a href="images/pronounce.png">here</a>.</div></div> +<div class='center'><p> </p></div> +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Pronunciation"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Nibelungen</span></td><td align='left'>nē´bĕ-lụng-[+e]n</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Santum</span></td><td align='left'>săn´tŭm</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Siegmund</span></td><td align='left'>sēg´mụnd</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Niederland</span></td><td align='left'>nē´der-lănd</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Siegelinda</span></td><td align='left'>sē-[+g]ĕl-in´dă</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Siegfried</span></td><td align='left'>sēg´frid</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Mimi</span></td><td align='left'>mē´mē</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Fafner</span></td><td align='left'>făf´ner</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Alberich</span></td><td align='left'>ăl´ber-ĭck</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Wotan</span></td><td align='left'>wō´tăn</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Loki</span></td><td align='left'>lō´kē</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Brunhilda </span></td><td align='left'>brụn-hīl´dă</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Isenheim</span></td><td align='left'>ē´sĕn-hīme</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Gunther</span></td><td align='left'>gŭn´ter</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Hagen</span></td><td align='left'>hä´gen</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Uota</span></td><td align='left'>ū-ō´tă</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Kriemhild</span></td><td align='left'>krēm´hīld</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Giselherr</span></td><td align='left'>ǵē´sĕl-hâre</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Gernot</span></td><td align='left'>gēr´nō</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Etzel</span></td><td align='left'>et´zĕl</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Ortlieb</span></td><td align='left'>ôrt´lēb</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Rudiger</span></td><td align='left'>ru´dĭg-er</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Bechlarn</span></td><td align='left'>bĕck´lärn</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Dietrich</span></td><td align='left'>dēt´rīck</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Etzelburg</span></td><td align='left'>ĕt´zĕl-berg</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Dankwart</span></td><td align='left'>dänk´wert</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Walkyrie</span></td><td align='left'>wŏl-kīr´ī</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 577px;"> +<img src="images/divider.png" width="577" height="179" alt="Divider" title="" /> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> +<h2>Stories of the Nibelungen</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>I</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>YOUNG SIEGFRIED</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">In the</span> good old days of Long +Ago, when kings had absolute +power over all their subjects, even +in the matter of life and death, +there dwelt in the city of Santum, +on the beautiful Rhine River, +a great and good king named +Siegmund.</p> + +<p>He was very powerful, and ruled +over the kingdom of Niederland +so wisely and so well that he was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +loved and honored by all his +people. He shared his throne +with Siegelinda, his beautiful wife, +who also was noble and kind of +heart.</p> + +<p>Siegmund and Siegelinda had +one son, called Siegfried—a handsome, +well-built lad, with eyes as +blue and sunny as the sky above +on a fair spring morning. He was +the only child of the king and +queen, but he was more of a sorrow +than a joy to them, for he was +as willful and disobedient as he was +beautiful. He could not bear to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +be crossed in any way, and wished +that he were a man, so that he +might do exactly as he pleased.</p> + +<p>Siegfried's parents loved him +dearly in spite of his faults and all +the sorrow his wild ways caused +them. But one fine morning, while +the king and queen were still asleep, +he quietly took his hat, and stole out +of the castle, for he had made up +his mind to go out into the wide +world to seek his fortune.</p> + +<p>Siegfried walked through the +beautiful city, and then for some +time followed a winding country<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +road, until at length he found himself +in the midst of a dense forest. +But he was not afraid; he could +hear the birds singing and calling +to one another in the green trees +overhead, and now and then a +rabbit or a timid squirrel ran across +his pathway, and disappeared in +the bushes.</p> + +<p>So he wandered along, quite +happy. Sometimes he would come +to a little brook, winding its +way through the trees and grass, +and babbling and singing among +its pebbles. Across the stream<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +he would leap, as lightly as a +hare.</p> + +<p>Thus the day wore on, and as +twilight gathered, he began to feel +very tired and hungry. He was +just beginning to wonder what he +should do, when he noticed that he +was nearing the edge of the forest, +and a little farther on what should +he see but a blacksmith's shop +among the bushes.</p> + +<p>In the doorway stood the smith +himself in his leathern apron—a +little, odd, misshapen dwarf named +Mimi. He looked in wonder at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +the beautiful boy, who smiled upon +him in a friendly way, and said:</p> + +<p>"Good-evening. I am almost +dead with thirst and hunger; will +you not take me in, and let me be +your helper?"</p> + +<p>Mimi was about to say no, when +he chanced to look at Siegfried +the second time. He noticed how +strong and well built the boy was; +so he said:</p> + +<p>"I am not really in need of a +helper, for in this out-of-the-way +place there is very little work to be +done; but if you wish to learn my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +trade, I am willing to give you a +trial."</p> + +<p>Siegfried was happy to hear this, +and with a hearty relish he ate +the coarse brown bread and bowl +of milk which Mimi brought to +him.</p> + +<p>The next morning the blacksmith +showed Siegfried how to +blow the bellows, and swing the +sledge-hammer, and also how to +shape a horseshoe.</p> + +<p>"Now, you try it," he said, laying +a red-hot piece of iron on the +anvil.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p> + +<p>Siegfried was eager to try. He +raised the hammer above his head, +and brought it down with such +force that the iron flew to pieces +and the anvil was buried in the +ground.</p> + +<p>Mimi was very angry. He gave +the boy a box on the ear that +nearly knocked him over. Now, +Siegfried was a king's son, and +never before in all his life had +any one but his parents dared to +punish him. Therefore he was +indignant, and without giving +Mimi a moment's warning, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +seized the dwarf by the collar and +dashed him to the ground.</p> + +<p>When Mimi came to his senses, +he was almost dead with pain and +fright. He made up his mind +then and there that he would have +his revenge, but he knew he was +no match for Siegfried in strength; +so he picked himself up, and pretended +that he was not in the least +angry. After a while he sent +Siegfried to fetch a basket of coal +from the colliery, which was near +a great linden tree in the forest. +Under this tree dwelt a terrible<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +monster, and Mimi hoped that the +huge beast would make an end of +the lad.</p> + +<p>As Siegfried reached the tree, +out rushed the monster, with open +jaws, ready to devour him. But +the boy nimbly sprang aside, and +uprooting a tree which stood near, +he brought it down with such +force on the monster's back that +the huge creature was dazed by +the blow, and lay writhing in +pain.</p> + +<p>Then quick as thought, Siegfried +pulled up tree after tree, and piled<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +them high above the struggling +monster, pinning him fast to the +earth. Thus he slowly crushed +the terrible beast to death.</p> + +<p>As he stood there watching, a +pool of blood oozed slowly out +from under the pile of trees. He +dipped his finger in it without +thinking, and was surprised and +delighted to find that his finger +had become as hard as horn, and +that he could neither scratch nor +pierce it.</p> + +<p>"What a fine thing!" thought the +lad. "I will bathe myself in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +pool, and then nothing on earth +can harm me."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, he quickly undressed +and bathed himself in the +pool; but as he was stooping over, +a broad leaf from the linden tree +fell upon his back, between the +shoulders, and the spot where +it lay was not touched by the +monster's blood. Siegfried knew +nothing of the leaf. "Now," said +he to himself, "I am safe; neither +sword nor spear can wound me." +Then he cut off the monster's +head, filled Mimi's basket with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +coal, and carried both back to +the smithy.</p> + +<p>Mimi could hardly believe his +eyes when Siegfried appeared; he +began to fear the wonderful +strength of this half-grown boy, +and to hate him with a deadly +hatred. However, he was far too +wise to let Siegfried know his feelings, +and so he praised the lad's +courage highly. But he at once +began to think of another plan to +get rid of him.</p> + +<p>That night, while they were sitting +together before the fire, Mimi said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I know of an adventure which +would just suit you, Siegfried. If +you succeed in it, it will make you +famous all over the world, and you +will be very rich."</p> + +<p>The boy was eager to be off at +once, but the dwarf declared that +Siegfried must first listen to a long, +strange story. Mimi bade him +give good heed to what he was +about to hear.</p> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 577px;"> +<img src="images/divider.png" width="577" height="179" alt="Divider" title="" /> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> +<h2>II</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>MIMI'S STORY</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">My father</span> was a dwarf, and +belonged to a race of dwarfs called +the Nibelungs. He had three +sons, Fafner, Otto, and myself. +Fafner was the eldest; I was +the youngest. Otto, my second +brother, was very fond of fishing, +and liked nothing better than to +spend whole days at the sport.</p> + +<p>My father had a magic cap +called a tarnhelm. Any one who +put this cap on could make himself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +invisible, or assume any form +he desired. Otto would borrow +this tarnhelm, and assuming the +form of an otter, he would go to a +waterfall near our home to fish. +He would go right into the water, +and catching the fish in his mouth, +would lay them down on the bank, +one after another, until he had +enough. Then he would become +himself once more and would carry +the fish home for supper.</p> + +<p>Near this waterfall there lived +another dwarf, named Alberich, +who also belonged to the race of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +the Nibelungs. He possessed a +great treasure of gold, which he +had captured from the nymphs of +the Rhine. The father of the +nymphs, the God of the Rhine, +had entrusted the treasure to +their care.</p> + +<p>Alberich gained possession of +the Rhine gold, but in doing so +he lost everything which helps to +make life beautiful. Like my +brother, he was very fond of fishing, +and taking the form of a huge +pike, he would go with Otto to the +waterfall, and fish all day.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> + +<p>One day Wotan, the King of the +Gods, was wandering through the +forest with Loki, the God of Fire. +They were both very tired and +hungry, and as they came near the +waterfall, what should they spy but +an otter in the water, with a large +salmon in its mouth. Here was a +chance not to be missed.</p> + +<p>Seizing a big stone, Loki hurled +it with all his might at the otter, +killing it instantly. Then they +carried it to my father's house, and +begged for a night's lodging.</p> + +<p>As soon as my father saw the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +otter, he told them that they had +killed his son. Both Wotan and +Loki were very sorry to hear this, +and regretted that they could not +restore my brother to life. To +make up to my father for what +they had done, they agreed to fill +the otter skin with gold, and also +to cover the outside of it with the +same precious metal. Then Wotan +sent Loki out in search of +gold.</p> + +<p>Now Loki knew that the dwarf +Alberich possessed the Rhine gold; +so he hastened to the waterfall,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +and demanded the entire treasure.</p> + +<p>At first Alberich refused to part +with the gold; but Loki threatened +to kill him unless he gave it +up. So Alberich unwillingly gave +the treasure to Loki—all except a +ring of gold, which he kept hidden +in his hand. But the god's eyes +were sharp, and he saw what Alberich +had done.</p> + +<p>Now this ring was a magic ring, +and whoever owned it might claim +all the gold in all the rivers and +mountains upon earth. Alberich<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +believed that if he kept it he could +some day get back his treasure +through its magic power.</p> + +<p>Loki commanded him to give it +up, and the dwarf refused to do so. +Seeing that words were useless, +the god snatched it from Alberich's +hand, and started off. Alberich +fell into a terrible fury, and cried:</p> + +<p>"A curse upon the gold! Death +to all its possessors!"</p> + +<p>But Loki had obtained that +which he set out to get. The +gold was not to be his, and he +cared nothing for the dwarf and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +his curses. He only laughed at +Alberich, and hastened with his +burden to my father's house.</p> + +<p>When Wotan saw the gold ring, +he was so pleased with its beauty +that he placed it on his finger, intending +to keep it for himself. +Then they filled the otter's skin +with gold, and also covered it +over, according to their promise. +When they had finished, my father +discovered one spot on its head +upon which there was no gold. +He insisted upon having this covered +up, and since there was no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +more gold to be had, Wotan unwillingly +took the ring from his +finger, and placed it there.</p> + +<p>Loki was displeased, and cried:</p> + +<p>"Now, you ingrate, you have the +most enormous gold treasure in +the world, and I hope you are +satisfied! But remember what I +say: The gold will prove your +ruin, and it will also cause your +son to fill an early grave."</p> +<div class="figleft" style="width: 318px;"> +<img src="images/illus031.png" width="318" height="500" alt=""FLEE FOR YOUR LIFE ERE I SMITE YOU DEAD"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"FLEE FOR YOUR LIFE ERE I SMITE YOU DEAD"</span> +</div> + +<p>Then the gods took their departure.</p> + +<p>Fafner and I asked our father to +give us each a share of the gold;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +but he only laughed in a disagreeable +way, and declared his dead +son was far more precious to him +than were his living sons. He +said that every hair on Otto's +head was dear to him. Then +he ran after us with a stone club, +and swore that he would kill us +if we said another word. We said +no more, and crept away in fear.</p> + + +<p>But that night as my father lay +asleep, Fafner stole into his room +and slew him. Then I came forward, +and told my brother that I +had witnessed his evil deed, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +demanded that he give me half of +the gold. But he turned upon me +in a blind rage, and cried:</p> + +<p>"Flee for your life ere I smite +you dead!"</p> + +<p>I fled in fear, without another +word. Then Fafner put on my +father's tarnhelm and escaped with +his treasure to the heath, where he +hid it in a cave among the rocks. +But, fearful lest it be taken from +him, he assumed the form of a +frightful dragon, that he might +protect it better.</p> + +<p>And there he lies day and night,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +guarding the entrance of the cave, +and leaves it only when he goes +to drink at a neighboring spring. +No one has dared attack him, for +no one has the strength to match +him.</p> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 577px;"> +<img src="images/divider.png" width="577" height="179" alt="Divider" title="" /> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> +<h2>III</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>SIEGFRIED'S SWORD</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">When</span> Mimi had finished his +story, he looked at Siegfried, who +had been drinking in every word +with breathless interest, and asked:</p> + +<p>"Well, my lad, what do you think +of that? Do you think you could +kill the dragon?"</p> + +<p>Siegfried answered, with shining +eyes:</p> + +<p>"Come, Mimi, forge me a mighty +sword, and lead the way to Fafner's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +cave, and I will show you +what I can do."</p> + +<p>So Mimi set to work to fashion a +sword for Siegfried. It was to be +the strongest, sharpest one that +man had ever made. The dwarf +worked day and night until it was +finished.</p> + +<p>When he gave it to Siegfried, +the boy examined it carefully, +shook his head as though in doubt, +and then strode to the anvil. He +struck the iron one powerful blow +with the sword, and the weapon +lay in pieces.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mimi told him not to worry, and +at once set to work upon some of +his most finely tempered steel, resolved +to make a sword that would +be a match for Siegfried's unheard-of +strength.</p> + +<p>But when it was finished, Siegfried +took it as he had taken the +first, and in a moment the blade +was shattered on the anvil. Then +he grew angry and rushed at the +dwarf, crying:</p> + +<p>"Oh! you worthless fellow, get +you hence or I will kill you!"</p> + +<p>Mimi was badly frightened, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +hid himself behind the fireplace +not knowing what might happen +next. But after a while Siegfried's +anger began to cool; then +Mimi emerged from his hiding-place, +and Siegfried saw that he +held something in each hand. +When the dwarf came close +enough, the lad saw that he carried +two halves of a splendid +sword.</p> + +<p>This Mimi declared was none +other than the sword Wotan had +carried on the day upon which +Otto was killed. "And," he continued,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +"if I can but weld it together, +you will have the finest +sword that ever a hero wielded." +Siegfried could scarcely wait until +Mimi finished the work, so anxious +was he to try the weapon.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 312px;"> +<img src="images/illus039.png" width="312" height="500" alt="THE MIGHTY SWORD WAS UNHURT" title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE MIGHTY SWORD WAS UNHURT</span> +</div> + +<p>At length it was ready, and he +seized it, crying: "Now for the +test! Now for the test!" Then +he raised the mighty blade high +above his head, and brought it +down with all his strength upon +the anvil. The whole house shook +and trembled, and the anvil was +split in two, but the weapon—the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +mighty sword that Wotan himself +had flourished—was unhurt.</p> + +<p>And now Mimi was thoroughly +frightened, for he thought that +Siegfried must be Thor himself. +But he hid his fear, and cried:</p> + +<p>"Avenge me, Siegfried! Slay +this dragon, and one-half of the +Rhine gold shall be yours."</p> + +<p>"Lead the way," the lad replied, +"and I will make short work of +him."</p> + +<p>So Mimi started for the heath, +and Siegfried followed him joyfully.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p> + +<p>When they drew near the place, +Mimi pointed out a wide, blackened +trail leading through the +grass. This, he said, had been +made by Fafner, for it was the +path the dragon took each day +when he went to the spring to +drink. The dwarf told the boy +that Fafner spouted flames to +the right and left as he went +along, and threshed the grass with +his monstrous tail at every step.</p> + +<p>Then he advised Siegfried to +dig a deep pit, hide himself in it, +and as the dragon crawled over it,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +to pierce him to the heart from +underneath. Siegfried thought +the plan a good one, and proceeded +at once to dig.</p> + +<p>He did not hear Mimi chuckling +to himself, behind his back. For +Mimi was bent upon destroying +him, and knew that as soon as he +had killed the monster, its blood +would fill the pit, and drown him. +Therefore the dwarf rejoiced. He +withdrew to a safe distance, and +hid himself, to await the coming +of the dragon, which he greatly +feared.</p> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 577px;"> +<img src="images/divider.png" width="577" height="179" alt="Divider" title="" /> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span></p> +<h2>IV</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE DEATH OF THE DRAGON</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">As Siegfried</span> was digging, he +became aware of a tall one-eyed +stranger, clad in a long gray cloak, +who was standing near by, watching +him intently. The stranger +inquired what Siegfried was doing, +and upon being told, earnestly advised +the youth to dig several +pits, each opening out of the other, +so that he might escape the flow +of blood which would otherwise +drown him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + +<p>Siegfried was very grateful for +the advice, and began to act upon +it at once. Then Wotan (for the +one-eyed stranger was none other +than the god) disappeared from +view. When he was through digging, +Siegfried heaped brush and +weeds above the first pit, so that it +might not be noticed, and getting +down into it, awaited the coming +of the dragon.</p> + +<p>He had not long to wait. Of a +sudden, a great noise, like the +tramping of a thousand horses, +fell upon his ear. Then came a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +roaring as of the sea, and he saw +the huge monster come slowly +along, thrashing the earth with its +great tail, and spouting flames to +the left and the right.</p> + +<p>On and on it came, until he +could feel its breath hot above his +face. He firmly grasped his +sword, and gave one swift upward +thrust, quickly withdrawing it, and +then he nimbly leaped into the +next pit, followed by a rush of +blood, and then through the next, +and so on, till he reached safe +ground.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p>When he went back to the first +pit, he found the dragon writhing +and groaning in its death agony. +As soon as it saw him, it cried out, +for it still retained the power of +human speech:</p> + +<p>"Oh! you unlucky one, the gold +will prove your ruin as it has mine. +A curse is on it. Who has it is +accursed!"</p> + +<p>Saying this, the creature died.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 317px;"> +<img src="images/illus047.png" width="317" height="500" alt=""THE GOLD WILL PROVE YOUR RUIN!"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"THE GOLD WILL PROVE YOUR RUIN!"</span> +</div> + +<p>Then Siegfried carefully cleaned +his sword, and replaced it in its +sheath, and as he did so, he noticed +some blood upon his hand. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +licked it off, and no sooner had it +touched his tongue, than a strange +thing happened. He could understand +everything which the birds +overhead were saying. He stood +still and listened, and what was his +astonishment to find that they +were actually talking to him!</p> + +<p>One told him that Mimi was untrue +to him, and was constantly +plotting his death; that even at +that very moment the dwarf was +approaching with a poisoned drink +which he would offer to Siegfried, +so that he might not have to keep<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +his promise of sharing the Rhine +gold. The bird advised him to +kill the dwarf.</p> + +<p>Sure enough, at that very moment +Mimi came forward, praising +Siegfried's bravery, and offering +him the poisoned drink in the most +friendly manner, smiling deceitfully +all the while. Our hero +turned upon him in anger, and +forced him to drain the cup himself, +whereupon the wretched +dwarf fell to earth, lifeless.</p> + +<p>Then the birds told Siegfried to +enter the dragon's cave, and get<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +the ring and the tarnhelm, the +possession of which would make +him all-powerful. This he did, +and then he rolled the dragon's +enormous body to the entrance of +the cave, where the Rhine gold +still lay, and sealed up the entrance +with it.</p> + +<p>As he stood there, wondering +what he should do next, he heard +the birds singing of a mountain +far away, where a maiden named +Brunhilda lay in an enchanted +sleep, surrounded by a ring of +magic flames. Here she must<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +slumber till there should appear a +man strong and brave enough to +dash through the flames and +waken her with a kiss.</p> + +<p>Siegfried determined to journey +to the mountain. So he returned +to the smithy, and saddled Mimi's +horse, which was a strong, faithful +creature, and then he rode away +to seek the sleeping maiden.</p> + +<p>Many days and nights he wandered, +and at length, early one +morning as he ascended the highlands, +he saw a rosy glow in the +distance, which grew ever brighter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +and brighter. "The rising sun," he +said to himself, but he knew that +it was not the rising sun. On and +on he rode, and ever brighter and +brighter grew the sky, until at +length he came upon the flames +themselves, and he knew that he +had reached his journey's end.</p> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 577px;"> +<img src="images/divider.png" width="577" height="179" alt="Divider" title="" /> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> +<h2>V</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE STORY OF BRUNHILDA</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">As Siegfried</span> drew nearer, he +could hear the crackling of the +flames, and when his horse saw +the fire, the animal reared up on +its hind legs, and snorted in terror. +But Siegfried knew no fear. Putting +spurs to his horse, he boldly +forced it through the flames, and, +lo! both horse and rider passed +through unharmed.</p> + +<p>Before Siegfried's eyes was a +wondrous sight. On the mountain<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +stood a castle, the strangest ever +seen, for it was built entirely of +green marble, as were all the +buildings round it; and there, on the +grassy slope before the castle, lay +a young warrior, clad in shining +armor, with a helmet on his head.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 316px;"> +<img src="images/illus055.png" width="316" height="500" alt="PUTTING SPURS TO HIS HORSE, HE BOLDLY FORCED IT THROUGH THE FLAMES" title="" /> +<span class="caption">PUTTING SPURS TO HIS HORSE, HE BOLDLY FORCED IT THROUGH THE FLAMES</span> +</div> + +<p>Siegfried went up to him, to +ask him where he might find +the maiden. But the warrior +was sunk in slumber, and made +no reply when Siegfried spoke. +Siegfried shook him roughly, to +waken him, but he still slept +on. Then Siegfried opened<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +the young man's visor and removed +his helmet. What was his +surprise to find, within, the long +fair hair and rosy face of a beautiful +woman!</p> + +<p>This, then, was Brunhilda; it +could be no other. Bending over +her, he pressed a kiss lightly on +her lips. Immediately Brunhilda +awoke, and thanked the young +hero for breaking the magic spell +which bound her. Then, as they +sat together in the marble palace, +Brunhilda told her story.</p> + +<p>She was one of Wotan's eight<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +daughters who were called Walkyries. +They were beautiful goddesses +of immense size and +strength, and used to follow Wotan +when he went into battle. +Occasionally, when two knights or +two countries battled against each +other, they would award the palm +of victory to one or the other. It +was also their duty to carry all +slain heroes to Walhalla, the beautiful +palace of Wotan.</p> + +<p>One day Brunhilda disobeyed +her father's orders, and awarded +the victory to the hero whom Wotan<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +wished overthrown. Wotan +was very angry, and as a punishment +he forbade her to dwell +among the gods and goddesses, +and declared that never again +should she set foot in Walhalla. +Furthermore, he would cause her +to wed a mortal man, thus becoming +a mortal woman, instead of a +goddess.</p> + +<p>Brunhilda was overcome with +grief, as were all of her sisters. +They all pleaded with Wotan not +to punish her in this way. But he +had already pronounced sentence<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +upon her, and could not retract +his word. Then Brunhilda wept +piteously, and begged him at least +to grant that her husband might +be a hero. This he promised, and +then disclosed his plan.</p> + +<p>He would sink her in a magic +sleep, and would order Loki, the +fire-god, to kindle some magic +flames, which were to encircle her. +She was to slumber until awakened +by a man brave enough to go +through fire for her sake. "And," +continued Wotan, "of course only +a hero would show such courage."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +Then he assured her that when +the hero came he should be unharmed +by the ring of fire.</p> + +<p>And so, with streaming eyes, +Brunhilda bade her sisters a long +farewell. Never again, so long as +she lived, would she behold them. +Wotan was deeply touched when +he saw her grief, and with a last +tender kiss upon her beautiful +brow, he laid her on the grassy +slope, and pronounced the magic +words which bound her.</p> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 577px;"> +<img src="images/divider.png" width="577" height="179" alt="Divider" title="" /> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> +<h2>VI</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>GUNTHER AND KRIEMHILD</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Siegfried</span> remained for a long +time with Brunhilda at Isenheim +(which was the ancient name for +Ireland), where all the buildings +were of green marble. He then +started for home, promising her +that he would return and marry +her, as soon as he had visited his +parents, whom he now felt he had +treated very cruelly.</p> + +<p>Brunhilda replied that she too +thought that he ought to visit his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +mother and father, but that he +must promise to return as soon as +he had done so. He readily promised, +and sealed his pledge by placing +his magic ring upon her finger. +Then he set out for Niederland.</p> + +<p>On the way thither, he had to +pass through the city of Worms in +Burgundy. Now in this city dwelt +a powerful king called Gunther, +who ruled over all Burgundy. He +had an uncle named Hagen, who +was his dead father's brother, and +who was also Gunther's most +valued adviser on all occasions.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +Gunther was so great and mighty +that four and twenty kings paid +him tribute.</p> + +<p>He had a sister, named Kriemhild, +who was noted far and wide +for her wondrous beauty. Once +Kriemhild had had a strange +dream: She thought that she was +out hunting with her pet falcon, +and that two fierce eagles swooped +down from the sky, and killed the +bird before her eyes.</p> + +<p>Now in these olden times people +were very superstitious, and believed +that every dream had a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +meaning. Kriemhild related her +dream to her mother, Uota, and +asked what it meant. Uota replied:</p> + +<p>"The falcon signifies a noble +man who will win you for his +bride; but the two eagles stand for +two powerful enemies, who will +cause his death."</p> + +<p>Then Kriemhild was very sad, +and declared that she did not wish +to marry any one, as it would +bring her only sorrow.</p> + +<p>Not long after this Siegfried +arrived at Worms, and although<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +he knew no one in all the city, +everybody was anxious to learn +who he was, he was so handsome +and noble looking. Hagen advised +Gunther to make friends +with him, for he thought it very +likely that the stranger might +prove to be Siegfried, whose fame +was spreading fast.</p> + +<p>Hagen related how Siegfried +had killed the linden-monster, +slain the dragon, won the Rhine +gold, and gained possession of the +magic cap and ring. When Uota +heard all this, she determined that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +Siegfried should marry her beautiful +daughter. When he entered +the castle at Worms, Gunther received +him cordially, and made +haste to offer him both food and +drink. Siegfried accepted both +gratefully, for he was hungry and +thirsty. Uota hastily prepared a +magic potion, and no sooner had +the hero drunk it than all memory +of the past, Brunhilda included, +faded from his mind.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 315px;"> +<img src="images/illus067.png" width="315" height="500" alt="UOTA GIVES SIEGFRIED THE MAGIC POTION" title="" /> +<span class="caption">UOTA GIVES SIEGFRIED THE MAGIC POTION</span> +</div> + +<p>Siegfried remained at Worms for +one whole year, and in all that +time he never once got a glimpse<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +of Kriemhild, although the fame +of her beauty reached him from +every side. She, however, had +seen him from her window while +he was tilting with her brother's +knights, and she thought that +never before had she seen any one +so brave and handsome.</p> + +<p>Not long after this, the Danes +and the Saxons declared war +against Gunther. He quickly +gathered together his army, and +set out to battle with them. His +two younger brothers, Giselherr +and Gernot, went with him, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +Siegfried accompanied him as his +body-guard.</p> + +<p>And now began anxious days +and nights for Kriemhild. She +was filled with dread lest her +brothers or Siegfried be slain. +She eagerly awaited tidings of +every battle. She heard that the +Saxons and Danes were being +hard pressed, and also that the +most brave and reckless warrior +among all the Burgundian hosts +was her brother's guest and body-guard.</p> + +<p>Not long after this, the Burgundians<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +were victorious, and captured +both the Danish and the +Saxon king. This ended the war, +and Gunther and all his troops +returned to Worms, where the +king held a great feast to celebrate +his victory. And here for +the first time Siegfried saw Kriemhild, +and he thought her the most +beautiful woman he had ever seen.</p> + +<p>He was almost afraid to speak +to her, so wondrous was her +beauty, but she thanked him very +prettily and gratefully for all that +he had done for her brother; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +when he replied that everything +he had done had been done for +her sake, she smiled and was content. +Siegfried had fallen deeply +in love with her, and made up his +mind to spare no effort to win her +for his bride.</p> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 577px;"> +<img src="images/divider.png" width="577" height="179" alt="Divider" title="" /> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p> +<h2>VII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>SIEGFRIED RETURNS TO IRELAND</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Meanwhile</span>, in Ireland, Brunhilda +was eagerly awaiting Siegfried's +return. Days grew into +weeks, weeks lengthened into +months, and still he did not come. +At first she could not believe that +he had deserted her. She would +look at the beautiful ring which he +had given her, and all her faith +and trust in him would return.</p> + +<p>But when months slowly lengthened<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +into years, and the years +passed one after another, she began +to give up the hope of ever +seeing him again.</p> + +<p>Now, as I have said before, +Brunhilda was very beautiful, and +soon suitors began flocking around +her, anxious to win her hand in +marriage. But Brunhilda loved +Siegfried very dearly and had no +desire to marry any one else. +Therefore she declared that whoever +sought to marry her must +match his strength with hers; if he +were victorious, she would wed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +him, but if he failed, he should +lose his head in forfeit, according +to the custom of these olden days.</p> + +<p>Many gallant suitors came, +entered the contest, failed and +lost their heads, for Brunhilda was +a Walkyrie, and more than a +match in strength for any man. +She did not like to kill her lovers, +but they persisted in coming, and +she continued to do her best at +every trial.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the fame of her +strength and beauty traveled afar, +and reached Gunther at Worms.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +He determined to journey to Isenheim, +and enter the lists against +her. Accordingly he went to Siegfried, +and asked aid of him. Siegfried +replied:</p> + +<p>"I will gladly help you, if you, on +your part, will help me win the +hand of your beautiful sister."</p> + +<p>Gunther was very grateful for +the aid Siegfried had given him in +the late Saxon war. So he promised +that on the day Brunhilda arrived +in Worms he would give him +Kriemhild for his bride. Siegfried +was satisfied, and agreed to travel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +to Ireland with Gunther, as his +vassal, and to present his petition +to Brunhilda.</p> + +<p>Then they arrayed themselves +in costly garments and set sail, and +after a twelve-day voyage, they +reached the coast of Ireland. +When Siegfried beheld the green +palaces of marble, he felt a vague +uneasiness, for it all had a +strangely familiar look. Where +had he seen this place before? +He remembered it dimly, as in a +dream.</p> + +<p>When he entered Brunhilda's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +palace, she advanced to meet him, +with both hands outstretched, +crying:</p> + +<p>"Siegfried, is it indeed you, and +have you come to tilt with me?"</p> + +<p>He looked at her with the eyes +of a stranger, and replied:</p> + +<p>"I come to represent Gunther, +King of Burgundy. He wishes to +sue for your heart and hand. He +is my lord; I am his vassal, and +have come to do his bidding."</p> + +<p>Brunhilda was sorely grieved +and perplexed; she could not in +the least understand Siegfried's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +behavior. Surely it was he who +had aroused her from her magic +sleep, and surely it was he who +had placed the beautiful ring upon +her hand, vowing that he would +return and claim her for his bride. +But as he continued to look at her +as though he had never seen her +before, she felt that she must give +him a reply.</p> + +<p>And as she had no reasonable +excuse for refusing his request, she +said that Gunther might enter the +lists with her. She felt sure that +he, too, would be overthrown.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +Siegfried thanked her gravely for +her kindness, and made haste to +carry her reply back to Gunther.</p> + +<p>He then disclosed his plan to aid +Gunther in the undertaking. Gunther +was to appear clad in armor +and mounted upon Siegfried's +horse, the one which had belonged +to Mimi; then he, Siegfried, +would put on his tarnhelm and become +invisible; Gunther was to +ride boldly into the field, and go +through all the necessary motions, +while Siegfried, unseen by the +others, would do all the actual<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +fighting. Gunther said he considered +the plan a capital one, and +declared that Siegfried was as +clever as he was brave.</p> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 577px;"> +<img src="images/divider.png" width="577" height="179" alt="Divider" title="" /> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> +<h2>VIII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>HOW GUNTHER WON HIS BRIDE</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> day of the tournament +dawned bright and fair. The field +was crowded with lovely women +and brave knights. Twelve men +now appeared, bearing an immense +round stone, which was so +large that it took all their united +strength to handle it. They set it +down in that part of the field +where the contest was to take +place.</p> + +<p>At length all was ready. From<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +the castle issued forth the warrior-king +and the warrior-maiden. +They were clad in glistening +armor, and mounted on prancing +chargers. The signal was given, +and then began a test of strength +such as had never before been +witnessed.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 310px;"> +<img src="images/illus083.png" width="310" height="500" alt="BRUNHILDA WAS THROWN TO THE GROUND" title="" /> +<span class="caption">BRUNHILDA WAS THROWN TO THE GROUND</span> +</div> + +<p>Brunhilda seized her javelin, +and hurled it with such force that +when Siegfried caught it upon +Gunther's shield the shield was +shattered into pieces. Then Siegfried, +still invisible, grasped Gunther's +javelin, and hurled it with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +such force at Brunhilda that she +was thrown to the ground. She +was overcome with surprise and +anger; never before had such a +thing befallen her.</p> + +<p>Quickly recovering herself, she +sprang to her feet, and grasping +the huge stone which twelve men +had found hard to carry, she +whirled it deftly thrice around her +head, and then threw it far into +the distance. Then, while the +people sat spell-bound, she leaped +after it, and sprang lightly over +the stone.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now," thought she to herself, +"surely no one can do more than +that."</p> + +<p>But she had reckoned without +Siegfried. Hastily seizing the +stone, he hurled it much farther +than Brunhilda had thrown it, and +not to be outdone by her, he +grasped Gunther firmly under the +arms, and sprang with him over +the stone, landing much farther +beyond it than she had.</p> + +<p>Then a mighty shout from thousands +of throats rent the air, and +while the people were crowding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +around, hailing Gunther as victor, +Siegfried tore off his tarnhelm, +and took his place among the +crowd.</p> + +<p>And now what could Brunhilda +do? She had publicly proclaimed +that she would marry any man +whose strength was greater than +her own, so sure had she felt of +her power. She would not break +her word, and so with a sorrowful +heart she made ready to travel +back to Worms with Gunther.</p> + +<p>At Worms Kriemhild joyfully +accepted Siegfried's hand, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +there was a grand double wedding, +at which all Burgundy was +present. The festivities lasted +fourteen days.</p> + +<p>One evening, while Gunther and +his bride were sitting together, +Gunther noticed tears on Brunhilda's +lashes, and asked what was +troubling her. She replied that +she was grieving that his sister +had married his vassal. This was +not the truth. She was feeling +sad and lonely because the man +she loved so well had taken +Kriemhild for his bride.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span></p> + +<p>Gunther told her not to worry, +as he could explain all that to her, +and promised to do so at some +future time. He said that Siegfried +was greater than she knew.</p> + +<p>After the wedding, Siegfried +and Kriemhild journeyed to Santum, +to visit Siegmund and Siegelinda, +whom he had left in his +youth. They were overjoyed to +see him, and listened with breathless +interest to all he had to +tell. They knew all about the +dragon, and the Rhine gold, and +the magic cap which he had won,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +for the fame of his wondrous +deeds had traveled far and wide. +And now, strange to tell, Siegfried +had recovered the memory of +almost all his past; only Brunhilda +and the magic ring remained forgotten.</p> + +<p>After the young couple had +been at Santum for some time, +Siegmund withdrew from his +throne, and made Siegfried and +Kriemhild the rulers of the kingdom. +The people of Niederland +hailed the hero with delight, +although they grieved to give up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +their old king and queen, who had +won the hearts of all their subjects +by their wisdom and kindness.</p> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 577px;"> +<img src="images/divider.png" width="577" height="179" alt="Divider" title="" /> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> +<h2>IX</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>KRIEMHILD AND BRUNHILDA'S QUARREL</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Years</span> passed by, and Brunhilda +had come to love her husband +very dearly. They had one child, +a little boy whom they had named +Siegfried. Kriemhild, meanwhile, +had been living very happily with +her husband in Niederland. They +had had two great sorrows, the +death of the old king and that of +the queen, and all the people of +Niederland still mourned the loss +of these two.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then there arrived one day in +Niederland a messenger from the +King and Queen of Burgundy, inviting +Siegfried and Kriemhild to +attend a great feast which was to +be held in Worms. They accepted +with pleasure. Kriemhild was +anxious to see her mother and +brothers again, for she loved them +dearly. So they started for Burgundy.</p> + +<p>For some days after they arrived +in Worms everything went +happily. But then the tournaments +began, and Siegfried won<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +every honor as he had done in days +gone by, for he had lost none of +his wonderful strength. Both the +queens were present at the contests, +and as he overthrew one +knight after another, Kriemhild +looked at him lovingly, and said +that he was the best and greatest +king the world had ever seen, and +that no king could stand against +him; all paid him tribute.</p> + +<p>Brunhilda replied: "All except +Gunther; next to him Siegfried is +the most powerful king on earth; +but strong as your husband is, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +could never hold his own against +Gunther."</p> + +<p>Kriemhild controlled her temper, +and made no reply, but that +evening when they attended vespers, +Kriemhild attempted to enter +the cathedral first. Brunhilda +interfered, saying:</p> + +<p>"The wife of a vassal should +never precede the wife of his lord!"</p> + +<p>"And who says that King Siegfried +is Gunther's vassal?" demanded +Kriemhild.</p> + +<p>"I have his own word for it," +Brunhilda replied. "When they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +first appeared in Ireland, Siegfried +approached me, saying: 'I come +to represent the King of Burgundy; +I am his vassal, he is my +lord.'"</p> + +<p>Then Kriemhild lost all patience, +for well she knew by what +trick Gunther had won his bride. +She cried:</p> + +<p>"And do you think that Gunther +overthrew you in the tilt? Gunther +only pretended to fight. It +was Siegfried, made invisible by +his tarnhelm, who did the real +fighting; it was Siegfried who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +hurled the javelin which unhorsed +you; it was Siegfried who threw +the heavy stone, and he it was, +invisible to you, but holding Gunther +in his arms, who sprang over +the stone, and vanquished you," +she declared.</p> + +<p>Looking at Kriemhild's heaving +breast and blazing eye, Brunhilda +knew she spoke the truth. And +at the same time, there flashed +across her mind something that +Gunther had once said to her +about Siegfried being greater than +she knew.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 316px;"> +<img src="images/illus097.png" width="316" height="500" alt=""IT WAS SIEGFRIED WHO DID THE REAL FIGHTING"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"IT WAS SIEGFRIED WHO DID THE REAL FIGHTING"</span> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>And now she fell into a royal +rage, and her indignation knew no +bounds. There was but one way +of atonement; Siegfried must die +for the deceit practiced on her. +So she went to Hagen, Gunther's +uncle, who had promised always +to defend her rights, and demanded +Siegfried's life.</p> + +<p>When Hagen first spoke to +Gunther of the matter, Gunther +would not hear of the plan to do +away with Siegfried, and vowed +that no harm should befall the +man with whom he had sworn<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +blood brothership ere they set out +for Ireland. But Brunhilda was +firm in her resolve; nothing less +than his death would satisfy her +honor, nor wipe out the stain of +his deceit.</p> + +<p>And finally Gunther gave an +unwilling consent. However, they +could not fall upon Siegfried, +and kill him in cold blood, so +Hagen made a clever plan: they +would receive a false summons +to war. Accordingly, a few days +later, a messenger rode posthaste +into Worms, bearing the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +false tidings that the enemy was +approaching.</p> + +<p>Then everything was in great +confusion, and Gunther assembled +his hosts, and set out to meet the +enemy. Siegfried accompanied +him, to render what assistance he +could, for he loved his kinsman as +a brother. Just before the army +started on the march, Kriemhild +went to Hagen, and begged him +to watch over her husband, and +see to it that no one attacked him +from behind, for she explained +that Siegfried could not be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +wounded anywhere except in the +spot on his back where the linden-leaf +had fallen.</p> + +<p>Hagen readily promised. He +craftily suggested that Kriemhild +should sew some mark above the +spot, so that he might know exactly +when danger threatened. +Kriemhild fell in at once with his +plan; with loving care she stitched +a white silk cross upon her husband's +clothes. Then Gunther +and his troops rode away.</p> + +<p>After they had ridden some +distance, they were met by another<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +messenger, with the false +tidings that the enemy had begun +a retreat.</p> + +<p>Gunther appeared to be overjoyed +at the news, and suggested +that a mighty hunt should be +held, to celebrate the occasion. +The troops were dispatched back +to Worms, and the royal party set +out for the chase, which they +greatly enjoyed.</p> + +<p>When the dinner-horn sounded +for the hunters to assemble to +their meal, Siegfried appeared, +dragging a live bear behind him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +He was received with shouts of +applause. They at once proceeded +to kill and roast the bear. +Every one was in the best of +spirits, and as hungry as could be; +but when they sat down to eat, it +was discovered that the wine was +missing; Hagen had purposely left +it behind.</p> + +<p>Siegfried, especially, was very +thirsty, and playfully chided Hagen +for forgetting so important an +article. Thereupon Hagen said +that he knew of a spring, not +far away, where Siegfried might<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +quench his thirst, and dared him +to run a race there. Siegfried +accepted the challenge, and easily +won the race, as Hagen knew he +would.</p> + +<p>He had laid aside his weapons, +and was already kneeling to drink, +when Hagen came up behind +him. "Ha, ha," laughed Siegfried, +"I have won the race, and +am therefore entitled to the first +drink."</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 313px;"> +<img src="images/illus105.png" width="313" height="500" alt=""THE HERO HURLED IT WITH ALL HIS MIGHT AT HAGEN"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"THE HERO HURLED IT WITH ALL HIS MIGHT AT HAGEN"</span> +</div> + +<p>"You are," answered Hagen +quietly, picking up Siegfried's +sword, and poising it above the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +spot where Kriemhild had sewn +the white cross; and without saying +another word, he drove it +home with such force that the +point of it pierced Siegfried's +breast.</p> + +<p>In agony, the hero sprang to his +feet, and seizing his shield, hurled +it with all his might at Hagen, +throwing him to the ground. +Then he, too, fell, and the blood +from his wounds stained the grass +a deep crimson; and thus died +Siegfried, the great and mighty +hero, calling upon Kriemhild with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +his last breath to avenge his foul +murder.</p> + +<p>Then they placed his body on +his shield and carried it back to +Worms, and laid it at Kriemhild's +door. Next morning, as she was +going to mass, her waiting-maid, +who preceded her on the way out, +suddenly gave a scream, and cried:</p> + +<p>"Go back, go back, and do not +come this way, for here lies the +body of a dead warrior."</p> + +<p>But Kriemhild's heart misgave +her, and she would not go back, +and when she saw the body she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +uttered a great cry, for she knew +instantly that it was Siegfried.</p> + +<p>She bade the servants carry it +inside, and lay it on his bed, and +her grief knew no bounds. Then +she sent for Gunther, and wildly +accused him of the deed, and he +as wildly denied his guilt. Then +she said:</p> + +<p>"If you are indeed innocent, +you need not fear to stand in the +presence of the dead."</p> + +<p>Gunther was not afraid, and +went with her into the death +chamber. While they were standing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +there, looking at Siegfried, +Hagen suddenly entered the room, +and lo! all the dead man's wounds +began to bleed afresh.</p> + +<p>She knew by this sign that Hagen +was guilty of her husband's +death, and she swore undying +vengeance. She supposed that he +had killed him to gain possession +of his vast riches, and she determined +to spoil his plan. But +Hagen was as crafty as he was +clever, and so he induced Brunhilda +to give him the gold ring as +a reward for his services to her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +She knew nothing of its great +value, and she hated it now because +it reminded her of the false +Siegfried. So she willingly gave +it to Hagen, whom she considered +her greatest benefactor.</p> + +<p>No sooner had he the ring in his +possession than he journeyed to +Niederland, and there by its magic +power he gained possession of the +Rhine gold. It took him fourteen +days and nights to remove the +treasure from the cave on the +heath. He then sunk it in the +Rhine, where he intended to leave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +it hidden until after Kriemhild's +death; but no sooner had he +flung it into the river than the +Rhine nymphs seized it for their +own, determined to guard it so +well this time that never again +should their father, the God of +the Rhine, have occasion to bewail +its loss, and their unfaithfulness.</p> + +<p>When Kriemhild reached Niederland, +and found that the gold +had been stolen from Fafner's +cave, she was even more determined +than before that she would +be revenged upon Hagen.</p> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 577px;"> +<img src="images/divider.png" width="577" height="179" alt="Divider" title="" /> +</div><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> +<h2>X</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>KRIEMHILD'S REVENGE</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Years</span> passed by, and Kriemhild +still mourned the loss of her noble +husband. Often and often she +recalled the dream that she had +had in the days before Siegfried +appeared in Worms. How truly +her mother had interpreted its +meaning!</p> + +<p>And now she had but one wish +on earth, and that was to avenge +his death. She was not so beautiful +as she had once been; constant<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +tears had washed the brightness +from her eyes, and her cheeks +were pale.</p> + +<p>One day there appeared in the +castle a noble-looking stranger, +who asked to speak with the +queen. He was admitted to her +presence, and she asked him his +name, and also to what she owed +the honor of his presence at her +court.</p> + +<p>He replied: "I am Rudiger of +Bechlarn, of the court of Etzelburg. +I have come hither at the +request of my master, Etzel the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +King of the Huns, to ask your +hand for him in marriage."</p> + +<p>At first Kriemhild refused to +listen to him. What had she to +do with love and marriage? All +the love of her heart lay buried +in Siegfried's grave; all the joy of +her life had vanished when he +died. All that she wished for was +revenge, and after that to share +her dear one's tomb.</p> + +<p>But Rudiger would not take no +for an answer. Then, when he +found that revenge was what she +longed for, he saw his opportunity.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +He told her that if she would but +become King Etzel's wife, he, himself, +would promise to avenge her +every wrong, not only those which +might arise in time to come, but +even those which she had suffered +in the past.</p> + +<p>Here at last was the chance she +had so patiently awaited, and she +eagerly seized it. She consented +to become Etzel's bride, and +Rudiger willingly swore undying +fealty to her and her cause. And +so she returned with him to Etzelburg, +where the marriage was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +celebrated with royal pomp and +ceremony.</p> + +<p>King Etzel loved Kriemhild +dearly, and was very kind to her. +She was truly grateful to him, but +she could not forget Siegfried, not +even when a dear little son came +to her. The child was named Ortlieb. +And so time sped by, until +the little boy's fifth birthday.</p> + +<p>Kriemhild had now been in +Etzelburg thirteen years, and in +all this time she had neither seen +nor heard from her home and +kindred. One day she went to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +her husband, and told him that +she was becoming ashamed of +being a stranger in a foreign land +without any kinspeople of her +own. She said she thought it was +high time that some of her family +should come to visit her, and +begged him to make a feast, and +invite them all to be present.</p> + +<p>Her slightest wish was Etzel's +law, and so he willingly granted +her request. He at once dispatched +a messenger with the invitation. +Just before the messenger +set out, Kriemhild went to him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +and told him to be sure that every +one of her relatives accepted the +invitation. In this way, she hoped +to get her uncle Hagen within +reach, without rousing any one's +suspicions.</p> + +<p>Now, when it had become known +in Worms that Etzel had asked +Kriemhild to marry him, Hagen +had been filled with alarm. He +told Gunther that it might mean +great disaster for them, should +Kriemhild marry Etzel, as he was +one of the most powerful kings of +the time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> + +<p>But now thirteen years had +passed, and they had neither seen +nor heard from the Hunnish king +and queen, and Gunther no longer +feared trouble from that source. +Then came Kriemhild's invitation, +and for seven days it was discussed +by the royal family at +Worms.</p> + +<p>Should they accept it? Gunther +and his two brothers, Giselherr +and Gernot, were anxious to do +so, for they thought it meant that +their sister wished to be at peace +with her family. Gunther, particularly,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +was eager to be friendly, +as he loved Kriemhild dearly.</p> + +<p>Hagen alone had misgivings, +and well might he dread meeting +her, for he knew how sorely she +had suffered at his hands. He +sullenly refused to go, until Gernot +at length cried out:</p> + +<p>"I know what ails Hagen! He +is thinking of Siegfried's death, +and fears to go to Etzelburg."</p> + +<p>Hagen did not wish to be +thought afraid, so he consented to +go, and they all prepared to accompany +the messenger to Etzel's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +court on the following day—all +except Uota, who was getting too +old and feeble to leave home.</p> + +<p>That night Uota had a dreadful +dream; she thought that all the +birds lay dead in the forests, and +when she awoke, she hated to see +her sons go, for she knew that her +dream meant danger to them.</p> + +<p>However, they set out, accompanied +by one thousand brave +men. On their way to Etzel's +country, they came to a river that +they had to cross; but they found +they could not cross it on horseback,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +as it was swollen too high. +So they had to wait until a boat +should appear.</p> + +<p>While they were waiting, they +chanced to see two swan-maidens, +who had come to the stream to +bathe; the maidens had laid aside +their feathers, and were playing +about in the water like mermaids. +Now Hagen knew they possessed +the gift of foretelling the future, +and he laid a clever plan.</p> + +<p>When they came out of the +water, they found their clothes +gone, and they were very much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +troubled, for without their feather +garments they could not fly away. +Then Hagen approached them, +and said he would give their +feathers back if they would tell +him what was to happen to the +Burgundians in Etzel's land. +Then one of the maidens, who +cared nothing for him or his +friends, and thought only of regaining +her clothes, without which +she could never reach her home in +the sky, replied:</p> + +<p>"Everything is fair and clear +for the men of Burgundy. Sail<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +on, sail on. You have naught to +fear."</p> + +<p>Hagen was delighted, and returned +their garments with a light +heart. The maidens quickly put +their feathers on, and spread their +wings in flight; but as they rose +into the blue sky the second one +cried to Hagen:</p> + +<p>"Turn back, turn back; death +and bloodshed await you in Etzelburg! +Only one, of all your number, +will ever live to see your native +land again."</p> + +<p>Then they disappeared in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +azure depths above, and Hagen +was left with a heavy heart.</p> + +<p>At length the Burgundians +secured a vessel, and embarked. +They were met on the other side +of the river by Dietrich von Bern, +one of the lords of the Hunnish +court, who greeted Hagen with +these words of friendly warning:</p> + +<p>"Kriemhild still mourns for +Siegfried's loss."</p> + +<p>But poor Hagen had no way of +turning back; he had to accompany +the others, whether he would +or no. And sure enough, when he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +came into Kriemhild's presence +she drew herself up haughtily, and +asked:</p> + +<p>"And pray, who invited you +here, Sir Hagen? Who bid you +to this feast?"</p> + +<p>Hagen replied that he was a retainer +of Gunther's, and that wherever +Gunther went, he, too, must +go; but her attitude and greeting +showed him plainly that she +had not forgiven him for his +treachery.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 309px;"> +<img src="images/illus127.png" width="309" height="500" alt=""AND, PRAY, WHO INVITED YOU HERE, SIR HAGEN?"" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"AND, PRAY, WHO INVITED YOU HERE, SIR HAGEN?"</span> +</div> + +<p>Kriemhild greeted her brothers +very cordially, and seemed rejoiced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +to see them, and for a few +days all went well. Then came +the banquet, in the midst of which +in rushed Dankwart, Hagen's +brother, with blood flowing from a +dozen wounds, and told them that +the Huns had fallen upon Gunther's +men and slain them all.</p> + +<p>And immediately everything was +in the wildest confusion. Protected +by Rudiger, Kriemhild and +Etzel escaped from the banquet +hall. Then ensued a fierce battle +in which all of the Huns, with the +exception of Dietrich, and all the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +Burgundians, except Gunther and +Hagen, were slain. Finally Dietrich +vanquished these two, and +bound them hand and foot. Then +he sought Kriemhild, and made +her give her word of honor that +he, and he alone, should be permitted +to put them to death. +After that he turned the prisoners +over into her keeping. She +ordered them to be confined in +separate dungeons.</p> + +<p>Then she visited Hagen and +sought by every means in her +power to discover what he had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +done with the Rhine gold. This +he refused to tell, saying he had +taken a solemn oath never to reveal +its hiding-place so long as +one of his lords remained alive. +Then she said that she would +spare Gunther's life if Hagen +would tell her where the gold was +secreted.</p> + +<p>But Hagen would not tell his +secret, even to save the life of his +liege lord and kinsman. And so +she ordered that both of them +should be beheaded, according to +the custom of these olden times.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +And thus at last was Siegfried's +death avenged by the once gentle +and beautiful queen.</p> + +<p>And of all the men of Burgundy +who had crossed the water to attend +King Etzel's feast, but one +remained to carry the sad news +back to their native land; and that +was the old chaplain of Gunther's +court. Everything had come to +pass just as the swan-maiden had +predicted. And back in Burgundy, +Uota sorrowfully lived out +her days with none in all that +broad land to brew for her lips the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +cup of forgetfulness, such as she +had given Siegfried. And so we +must leave her alone with her sad +memories.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/lamp.png" width="150" height="98" alt="Lamp" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Note:</h3> +<p><a href="#Page_52">Page 52</a>, period added to end of chapter.</p></div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Stories of the Nibelungen for Young +People, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STORIES OF THE NIBELUNGEN *** + +***** This file should be named 35108-h.htm or 35108-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/1/0/35108/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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