diff options
Diffstat (limited to '35108.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 35108.txt | 1610 |
1 files changed, 1610 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/35108.txt b/35108.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eef94ab --- /dev/null +++ b/35108.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1610 @@ +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: ASCII + +*** 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 + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: THE MEETING OF SIEGFRIED AND MIMI] + + + + +Stories of the + +Nibelungen + +_for_ + +Young People + + _Arranged by_ + Gertrude R. Schottenfels + Chicago Public Schools + + Illustrated + + Chicago + A. Flanagan Company + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1905 + BY + A. FLANAGAN COMPANY + + + + +STORIES OF THE NIBELUNGEN + + + I. YOUNG SIEGFRIED 7 + II. MIMI'S STORY 21 + III. SIEGFRIED'S SWORD 34 + IV. THE DEATH OF THE DRAGON 43 + V. THE STORY OF BRUNHILDA 53 + VI. GUNTHER AND KRIEMHILD 61 + VII. SIEGFRIED'S RETURN TO IRELAND 72 + VIII. HOW GUNTHER WON HIS BRIDE 81 + IX. KRIEMHILD AND BRUNHILDA'S QUARREL 91 + X. KRIEMHILD'S REVENGE 112 + + + + +PRONOUNCING VOCABULARY + +Transcriber's note: + +The following notation is used to show the pronunciation symbols used in +this text. An image of this page may be found in the HTML edition. + + [=x] = macron above a letter + [)x] = breve above a letter + [.x] = dot above a letter + [x.] = dot below a letter + [+x] = tack above a letter + ['x] = accent above a letter + + + NIBELUNGEN n[=e]'b[)e]-l[u.]ng-[+e]n + SANTUM s[)a]n't[)u]m + SIEGMUND s[=e]g'm[u.]nd + NIEDERLAND n[=e]'der-l[)a]nd + SIEGELINDA s[=e]-[+g][)e]l-in'd[)a] + SIEGFRIED s[=e]g'frid + MIMI m[=e]'m[=e] + FAFNER f[)a]f'ner + ALBERICH [)a]l'ber-[)i]ck + WOTAN w[=o]'t[)a]n + LOKI l[=o]'k[=e] + BRUNHILDA br[u.]n-h[=i]l'd[)a] + ISENHEIM [=e]'s[)e]n-h[=i]me + GUNTHER g[)u]n'ter + HAGEN hae'gen + UOTA [=u]-[=o]'t[)a] + KRIEMHILD kr[=e]m'h[=i]ld + GISELHERR ['g][=e]'s[)e]l-hare + GERNOT g[=e]r'n[=o] + ETZEL et'z[)e]l + ORTLIEB ort'l[=e]b + RUDIGER ru'd[)i]g-er + BECHLARN b[)e]ck'laern + DIETRICH d[=e]t'r[=i]ck + ETZELBURG [)e]t'z[)e]l-berg + DANKWART daenk'wert + WALKYRIE w[)o]l-k[=i]r'[=i] + + + + +Stories of the Nibelungen + + + + +I + +YOUNG SIEGFRIED + + +IN THE 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. + +He was very powerful, and ruled over the kingdom of Niederland so wisely +and so well that he was loved and honored by all his people. He shared +his throne with Siegelinda, his beautiful wife, who also was noble and +kind of heart. + +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 be crossed in any +way, and wished that he were a man, so that he might do exactly as he +pleased. + +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. + +Siegfried walked through the beautiful city, and then for some time +followed a winding country 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. + +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 he would leap, as lightly +as a hare. + +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. + +In the doorway stood the smith himself in his leathern apron--a little, +odd, misshapen dwarf named Mimi. He looked in wonder at the beautiful +boy, who smiled upon him in a friendly way, and said: + +"Good-evening. I am almost dead with thirst and hunger; will you not +take me in, and let me be your helper?" + +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: + +"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 +trade, I am willing to give you a trial." + +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. + +The next morning the blacksmith showed Siegfried how to blow the +bellows, and swing the sledge-hammer, and also how to shape a horseshoe. + +"Now, you try it," he said, laying a red-hot piece of iron on the +anvil. + +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. + +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 seized +the dwarf by the collar and dashed him to the ground. + +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 monster, and Mimi hoped that the huge beast would make an end +of the lad. + +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. + +Then quick as thought, Siegfried pulled up tree after tree, and piled +them high above the struggling monster, pinning him fast to the earth. +Thus he slowly crushed the terrible beast to death. + +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. + +"What a fine thing!" thought the lad. "I will bathe myself in the pool, +and then nothing on earth can harm me." + +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 coal, and +carried both back to the smithy. + +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. + +That night, while they were sitting together before the fire, Mimi +said: + +"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." + +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. + + + + +II + +MIMI'S STORY + + +MY FATHER 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. + +My father had a magic cap called a tarnhelm. Any one who put this cap on +could make himself 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. + +Near this waterfall there lived another dwarf, named Alberich, who also +belonged to the race of 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +As soon as my father saw the 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. + +Now Loki knew that the dwarf Alberich possessed the Rhine gold; so he +hastened to the waterfall, and demanded the entire treasure. + +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. + +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 believed that +if he kept it he could some day get back his treasure through its magic +power. + +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: + +"A curse upon the gold! Death to all its possessors!" + +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 his curses. He only +laughed at Alberich, and hastened with his burden to my father's house. + +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 more gold to be had, Wotan +unwillingly took the ring from his finger, and placed it there. + +Loki was displeased, and cried: + +"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." + +Then the gods took their departure. + +Fafner and I asked our father to give us each a share of the gold; 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. + +[Illustration: "FLEE FOR YOUR LIFE ERE I SMITE YOU DEAD"] + +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 demanded that he give me half of the gold. But he +turned upon me in a blind rage, and cried: + +"Flee for your life ere I smite you dead!" + +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. + +And there he lies day and night, 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. + + + + +III + +SIEGFRIED'S SWORD + + +WHEN Mimi had finished his story, he looked at Siegfried, who had been +drinking in every word with breathless interest, and asked: + +"Well, my lad, what do you think of that? Do you think you could kill +the dragon?" + +Siegfried answered, with shining eyes: + +"Come, Mimi, forge me a mighty sword, and lead the way to Fafner's +cave, and I will show you what I can do." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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: + +"Oh! you worthless fellow, get you hence or I will kill you!" + +Mimi was badly frightened, and 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. + +This Mimi declared was none other than the sword Wotan had carried on +the day upon which Otto was killed. "And," he continued, "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. + +[Illustration: THE MIGHTY SWORD WAS UNHURT] + +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 mighty sword that Wotan himself had flourished--was +unhurt. + +And now Mimi was thoroughly frightened, for he thought that Siegfried +must be Thor himself. But he hid his fear, and cried: + +"Avenge me, Siegfried! Slay this dragon, and one-half of the Rhine gold +shall be yours." + +"Lead the way," the lad replied, "and I will make short work of him." + +So Mimi started for the heath, and Siegfried followed him joyfully. + +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. + +Then he advised Siegfried to dig a deep pit, hide himself in it, and as +the dragon crawled over it, to pierce him to the heart from underneath. +Siegfried thought the plan a good one, and proceeded at once to dig. + +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. + + + + +IV + +THE DEATH OF THE DRAGON + + +AS SIEGFRIED 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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: + +"Oh! you unlucky one, the gold will prove your ruin as it has mine. A +curse is on it. Who has it is accursed!" + +Saying this, the creature died. + +[Illustration: "THE GOLD WILL PROVE YOUR RUIN!"] + +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 +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! + +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 his promise of sharing the Rhine gold. The bird advised +him to kill the dwarf. + +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. + +Then the birds told Siegfried to enter the dragon's cave, and get 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. + +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 +slumber till there should appear a man strong and brave enough to dash +through the flames and waken her with a kiss. + +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. + +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 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. + + + + +V + +THE STORY OF BRUNHILDA + + +AS SIEGFRIED 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. + +Before Siegfried's eyes was a wondrous sight. On the mountain 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. + +[Illustration: PUTTING SPURS TO HIS HORSE, HE BOLDLY FORCED IT THROUGH +THE FLAMES] + +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 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! + +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. + +She was one of Wotan's eight 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. + +One day Brunhilda disobeyed her father's orders, and awarded the victory +to the hero whom Wotan 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. + +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 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. + +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." Then he assured her that when the hero came he should be +unharmed by the ring of fire. + +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. + + + + +VI + +GUNTHER AND KRIEMHILD + + +SIEGFRIED 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. + +Brunhilda replied that she too thought that he ought to visit his +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. + +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. Gunther was so great and mighty that four and twenty kings +paid him tribute. + +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. + +Now in these olden times people were very superstitious, and believed +that every dream had a meaning. Kriemhild related her dream to her +mother, Uota, and asked what it meant. Uota replied: + +"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." + +Then Kriemhild was very sad, and declared that she did not wish to marry +any one, as it would bring her only sorrow. + +Not long after this Siegfried arrived at Worms, and although 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. + +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 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. + +[Illustration: UOTA GIVES SIEGFRIED THE MAGIC POTION] + +Siegfried remained at Worms for one whole year, and in all that time he +never once got a glimpse 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. + +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 Siegfried accompanied him as his body-guard. + +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. + +Not long after this, the Burgundians 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. + +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 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. + + + + +VII + +SIEGFRIED RETURNS TO IRELAND + + +MEANWHILE, 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. + +But when months slowly lengthened into years, and the years passed one +after another, she began to give up the hope of ever seeing him again. + +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 him, +but if he failed, he should lose his head in forfeit, according to the +custom of these olden days. + +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. + +Meanwhile the fame of her strength and beauty traveled afar, and reached +Gunther at Worms. He determined to journey to Isenheim, and enter the +lists against her. Accordingly he went to Siegfried, and asked aid of +him. Siegfried replied: + +"I will gladly help you, if you, on your part, will help me win the hand +of your beautiful sister." + +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 to Ireland with Gunther, as his vassal, +and to present his petition to Brunhilda. + +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. + +When he entered Brunhilda's palace, she advanced to meet him, with both +hands outstretched, crying: + +"Siegfried, is it indeed you, and have you come to tilt with me?" + +He looked at her with the eyes of a stranger, and replied: + +"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." + +Brunhilda was sorely grieved and perplexed; she could not in the least +understand Siegfried's 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. + +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. Siegfried thanked her gravely for her kindness, +and made haste to carry her reply back to Gunther. + +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 fighting. Gunther said he +considered the plan a capital one, and declared that Siegfried was as +clever as he was brave. + + + + +VIII + +HOW GUNTHER WON HIS BRIDE + + +THE 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. + +At length all was ready. From 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. + +[Illustration: BRUNHILDA WAS THROWN TO THE GROUND] + +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 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. + +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. + +"Now," thought she to herself, "surely no one can do more than that." + +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. + +Then a mighty shout from thousands of throats rent the air, and while +the people were crowding around, hailing Gunther as victor, Siegfried +tore off his tarnhelm, and took his place among the crowd. + +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. + +At Worms Kriemhild joyfully accepted Siegfried's hand, and there was a +grand double wedding, at which all Burgundy was present. The festivities +lasted fourteen days. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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 their old king and queen, who had won +the hearts of all their subjects by their wisdom and kindness. + + + + +IX + +KRIEMHILD AND BRUNHILDA'S QUARREL + + +YEARS 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. + +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. + +For some days after they arrived in Worms everything went happily. But +then the tournaments began, and Siegfried won 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. + +Brunhilda replied: "All except Gunther; next to him Siegfried is the +most powerful king on earth; but strong as your husband is, he could +never hold his own against Gunther." + +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: + +"The wife of a vassal should never precede the wife of his lord!" + +"And who says that King Siegfried is Gunther's vassal?" demanded +Kriemhild. + +"I have his own word for it," Brunhilda replied. "When they first +appeared in Ireland, Siegfried approached me, saying: 'I come to +represent the King of Burgundy; I am his vassal, he is my lord.'" + +Then Kriemhild lost all patience, for well she knew by what trick +Gunther had won his bride. She cried: + +"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 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. + +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. + +[Illustration: "IT WAS SIEGFRIED WHO DID THE REAL FIGHTING"] + +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. + +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 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. + +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 false tidings +that the enemy was approaching. + +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 wounded anywhere +except in the spot on his back where the linden-leaf had fallen. + +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. + +After they had ridden some distance, they were met by another +messenger, with the false tidings that the enemy had begun a retreat. + +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. + +When the dinner-horn sounded for the hunters to assemble to their meal, +Siegfried appeared, dragging a live bear behind him. 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. + +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 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. + +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." + +[Illustration: "THE HERO HURLED IT WITH ALL HIS MIGHT AT HAGEN"] + +"You are," answered Hagen quietly, picking up Siegfried's sword, and +poising it above the 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. + +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 his last breath to avenge his foul murder. + +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: + +"Go back, go back, and do not come this way, for here lies the body of a +dead warrior." + +But Kriemhild's heart misgave her, and she would not go back, and when +she saw the body she uttered a great cry, for she knew instantly that +it was Siegfried. + +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: + +"If you are indeed innocent, you need not fear to stand in the presence +of the dead." + +Gunther was not afraid, and went with her into the death chamber. While +they were standing there, looking at Siegfried, Hagen suddenly entered +the room, and lo! all the dead man's wounds began to bleed afresh. + +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. 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. + +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 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. + +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. + + + + +X + +KRIEMHILD'S REVENGE + + +YEARS 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! + +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 tears had +washed the brightness from her eyes, and her cheeks were pale. + +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. + +He replied: "I am Rudiger of Bechlarn, of the court of Etzelburg. I have +come hither at the request of my master, Etzel the King of the Huns, to +ask your hand for him in marriage." + +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. + +But Rudiger would not take no for an answer. Then, when he found that +revenge was what she longed for, he saw his opportunity. 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. + +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 celebrated with royal +pomp and ceremony. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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, +was eager to be friendly, as he loved Kriemhild dearly. + +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: + +"I know what ails Hagen! He is thinking of Siegfried's death, and fears +to go to Etzelburg." + +Hagen did not wish to be thought afraid, so he consented to go, and they +all prepared to accompany the messenger to Etzel's court on the +following day--all except Uota, who was getting too old and feeble to +leave home. + +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. + +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, as it was swollen too +high. So they had to wait until a boat should appear. + +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. + +When they came out of the water, they found their clothes gone, and they +were very much 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: + +"Everything is fair and clear for the men of Burgundy. Sail on, sail +on. You have naught to fear." + +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: + +"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." + +Then they disappeared in the azure depths above, and Hagen was left +with a heavy heart. + +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: + +"Kriemhild still mourns for Siegfried's loss." + +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 came into +Kriemhild's presence she drew herself up haughtily, and asked: + +"And pray, who invited you here, Sir Hagen? Who bid you to this feast?" + +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. + +[Illustration: "AND, PRAY, WHO INVITED YOU HERE, SIR HAGEN?"] + +Kriemhild greeted her brothers very cordially, and seemed rejoiced 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. + +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 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. + +Then she visited Hagen and sought by every means in her power to +discover what he had 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. + +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. And thus at +last was Siegfried's death avenged by the once gentle and beautiful +queen. + +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 cup of forgetfulness, such as +she had given Siegfried. And so we must leave her alone with her sad +memories. + +[Illustration] + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Page 52, period added to end of chapter. + + + + + +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.txt or 35108.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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |