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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/6866-0.txt b/6866-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7060aa4 --- /dev/null +++ b/6866-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8606 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of Siegfried, by James Baldwin + +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: The Story of Siegfried + +Author: James Baldwin + +Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6866] +Posting Date: June 2, 2009 +Last Updated: October 31, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF SIEGFRIED *** + + + + +Produced by J. C. Byers + + + + + + + +THE STORY OF SIEGFRIED + +By James Baldwin + +New York Charles Scribner’s Sons + +1899 + + + +To My Children, + +Winfred, Louis, and Nellie, + +This Book Is Affectionately Inscribed. + + + + +The Fore Word. + + +When the world was in its childhood, men looked upon the works of Nature +with a strange kind of awe. They fancied that every thing upon the +earth, in the air, or in the water, had a life like their own, and that +every sight which they saw, and every sound which they heard, was caused +by some intelligent being. All men were poets, so far as their ideas and +their modes of expression were concerned, although it is not likely that +any of them wrote poetry. This was true in regard to the Saxon in his +chilly northern home, as well as to the Greek in the sunny southland. +But, while the balmy air and clear sky of the south tended to refine +men’s thoughts and language, the rugged scenery and bleak storms of +the north made them uncouth, bold, and energetic. Yet both the cultured +Greek and the rude Saxon looked upon Nature with much the same eyes, +and there was a strange resemblance in their manner of thinking and +speaking. They saw, that, in all the phenomena which took place around +them, there was a certain system or regularity, as if these were +controlled by some law or by some superior being; and they sought, in +their simple poetical way, to account for these appearances. They had +not yet learned to measure the distances of the stars, nor to calculate +the motions of the earth. The changing of the seasons was a mystery +which they scarcely sought to penetrate. But they spoke of these +occurrences in a variety of ways, and invented many charming, stories +with reference to them, not so much with a view towards accounting +for the mystery, as towards giving expression to their childlike but +picturesque ideas. + +Thus, in the south, when reference was made to the coming of winter and +to the dreariness and discomforts of that season of the year, men did +not know nor care to explain it all, as our teachers now do at school; +but they sometimes told how Hades had stolen Persephone (the summer) +from her mother Demetre (the earth), and had carried her, in a chariot +drawn by four coal black steeds, to the gloomy land of shadows; and how, +in sorrow for her absence, the Earth clothed herself in mourning, and +no leaves grew upon the trees, nor flowers in the gardens, and the very +birds ceased singing, because Persephone was no more. But they added, +that in a few months the fair maiden would return for a time to her +sorrowing mother, and that then the flowers would bloom, and the trees +would bear fruit, and the harvest-fields would again be full of golden +grain. + +In the north a different story was told, but the meaning was the same. +Sometimes men told how Odin (the All-Father) had become angry with +Brunhild (the maid of spring), and had wounded her with the thorn +of sleep, and how all the castle in which she slept was wrapped in +deathlike slumber until Sigurd or Siegfried (the sunbeam) rode through +flaming fire, and awakened her with a kiss. Sometimes men told how Loki +(heat) had betrayed Balder (the sunlight), and had induced blind old +Hoder (the winter months) to slay him, and how all things, living and +inanimate, joined in weeping for the bright god, until Hela (death) +should permit him to revisit the earth for a time. + +So, too, when the sun arose, and drove away the darkness and the hidden +terrors of the night, our ancestors thought of the story of a noble +young hero slaying a hideous dragon, or taking possession of the golden +treasures of Mist Land. And when the springtime came, and the earth +renewed its youth, and the fields and woods were decked in beauty, and +there was music everywhere, they loved to tell of Idun (the spring) +and her youth-giving apples, and of her wise husband Bragi (Nature’s +musician). When storm-clouds loomed up from the horizon and darkened the +sky, and thunder rolled overhead, and lightning flashed on every +hand, they talked about the mighty Thor riding over the clouds in his +goat-drawn chariot, and battling with the giants of the air. When the +mountain-meadows were green with long grass, and the corn was yellow for +the sickles of the reapers, they spoke of Sif, the golden-haired wife +of Thor, the queen of the pastures and the fields. When the seasons were +mild, and the harvests were plentiful, and peace and gladness prevailed, +they blessed Frey, the giver of good gifts to men. + +To them the blue sky-dome which everywhere hung over them like an arched +roof was but the protecting mantle which the All-Father had suspended +above the earth. The rainbow was the shimmering bridge which stretches +from earth to heaven. The sun and the moon were the children of a giant, +whom two wolves chased forever around the earth. The stars were sparks +from the fire-land of the south, set in the heavens by the gods. Night +was a giantess, dark and swarthy, who rode in a car drawn by a steed the +foam from whose bits sometimes covered the earth with dew. And Day was +the son of Night; and the steed which he rode lighted all the sky and +the earth with the beams which glistened from his mane. + + +It was thus that men in the earlier ages of the world looked upon and +spoke of the workings of Nature; and it was in this manner that many +myths, or poetical fables, were formed. By and by, as the world grew +older, and mankind became less poetical and more practical, the first or +mythical meaning of these stories was forgotten, and they were regarded +no longer as mere poetical fancies, but as historical facts. Perhaps +some real hero had indeed performed daring deeds, and had made the world +around him happier and better. It was easy to liken him to Sigurd, or +to some other mythical slayer of giants; and soon the deeds of both were +ascribed to but one. And thus many myth-stories probably contain some +historical facts blended with the mass of poetical fancies which +mainly compose them; but, in such cases, it is generally impossible to +distinguish what is fact from what is mere fancy. + +All nations have had their myth-stories; but, to my mind, the purest and +grandest are those which we have received from our northern ancestors. +They are particularly interesting to us; because they are what +our fathers once believed, and because they are ours by right of +inheritance. And, when we are able to make them still more our own by +removing the blemishes which rude and barbarous ages have added to some +of them, we shall discover in them many things that are beautiful and +true, and well calculated to make us wiser and better. + +It is not known when or by whom these myth-stories were first put into +writing, nor when they assumed the shape in which we now have them. +But it is said, that, about the year 1100, an Icelandic scholar called +Saemund the Wise collected a number of songs and poems into a book +which is now known as the “Elder Edda;” and that, about a century later, +Snorre Sturleson, another Icelander, wrote a prose-work of a similar +character, which is called the “Younger Edda.” And it is to these two +books that we owe the preservation of almost all that is now known of +the myths and the strange religion of our Saxon and Norman forefathers. +But, besides these, there are a number of semi-mythological stories of +great interest and beauty,--stories partly mythical, and partly founded +upon remote and forgotten historical facts. One of the oldest and finest +of these is the story of Sigurd, the son of Sigmund. There are many +versions of this story, differing from each other according to the time +in which they were written and the character of the people among whom +they were received. We find the first mention of Sigurd and his strange +daring deeds in the song of Fafnir, in the “Elder Edda.” Then, in the +“Younger Edda,” the story is repeated in the myth of the Niflungs and +the Gjukungs. It is told again in the “Volsunga Saga” of Iceland. It is +repeated and re-repeated in various forms and different languages, and +finally appears in the “Nibelungen Lied,” a grand old German poem, which +may well be compared with the Iliad of the Greeks. In this last version, +Sigurd is called Siegfried; and the story is colored and modified by the +introduction of many notions peculiar to the middle ages, and unknown to +our Pagan fathers of the north. In our own time this myth has been woven +into a variety of forms. William Morris has embodied it in his noble +poem of “Sigurd the Volsung;” Richard Wagner, the famous German +composer, has constructed from it his inimitable drama, the “Nibelungen +Ring;” W. Jordan, another German writer, has given it to the world +in his “Sigfrid’s Saga;” and Emanuel Geibel has derived from it the +materials for his “Tragedy of Brunhild.” + + +And now I, too, come with the STORY OF SIEGFRIED, still another version +of the time-honored legend. The story as I shall tell it you is not in +all respects a literal rendering of the ancient myth; but I have taken +the liberty to change and recast such portions of it as I have deemed +advisable. Sometimes I have drawn materials from one version of the +story, sometimes from another, and sometimes largely from my own +imagination alone. Nor shall I be accused of impropriety in thus +reshaping a narrative, which, although hallowed by an antiquity of +a thousand years and more, has already appeared in so many different +forms, and been clothed in so many different garbs; for, however much +I may have allowed my fancy or my judgment to retouch and remodel the +immaterial portions of the legend, the essential parts of this immortal +myth remain the same. And, if I succeed in leading you to a clearer +understanding and a wiser appreciation of the thoughts and feelings of +our old northern ancestors, I shall have accomplished the object for +which I have written this Story of Siegfried. + + + +Contents. + + + + The Fore Word + I. Mimer, the Master + II. Greyfell + III. The Curse of Gold + IV. Fafnir, the Dragon + V. In AEgir’s Kingdom + VI. Brunhild + VII. In Nibelungen Land + VIII. Siegfried’s Welcome Home + IX. The Journey to Burgundy-land + X. Kriemhill’s Dream + XI. How the Spring Time Came + XII. The War with the North-kings + XIII. The Story of Balder + XIV. How Gunther Outwitted Brunhild + XV. In Nibelungen Land Again + XVI. How Brunhild Was Welcomed Home + XVII. How Siegfried Lived in Nibelungen Land + XVIII. How the Mischief Began to Brew + XIX. How They Hunted in the Odenwald + XX. How the Hoard Was Brought to Burgundy + The After Word + Notes + + + + + +Adventure I. Mimer, the Master. + + + +At Santen, in the Lowlands, there once lived a young prince named +Siegfried. His father, Siegmund, was king of the rich country through +which the lazy Rhine winds its way just before reaching the great North +Sea; and he was known, both far and near, for his good deeds and his +prudent thrift. And Siegfried’s mother, the gentle Sigelind, was loved +by all for her goodness of heart and her kindly charity to the poor. +Neither king nor queen left aught undone that might make the young +prince happy, or fit him for life’s usefulness. Wise men were brought +from far-off lands to be his teachers; and every day something was added +to his store of knowledge or his stock of happiness. And very skilful +did he become in warlike games and in manly feats of strength. No other +youth could throw the spear with so great force, or shoot the arrow +with surer aim. No other youth could run more swiftly, or ride with more +becoming ease. His gentle mother took delight in adding to the beauty of +his matchless form, by clothing him in costly garments decked with the +rarest jewels. The old, the young, the rich, the poor, the high, the +low, all praised the fearless Siegfried, and all vied in friendly strife +to win his favor. One would have thought that the life of the young +prince could never be aught but a holiday, and that the birds would +sing, and the flowers would bloom, and the sun would shine forever for +his sake. + +But the business of man’s life is not mere pastime; and none knew this +truth better than the wise old king, Siegmund. + +“All work is noble,” said he to Siegfried; “and he who yearns to +win fame must not shun toil. Even princes should know how to earn a +livelihood by the labor of their hands.” + +And so, while Siegfried was still a young lad, his father sent him to +live with a smith called Mimer, whose smithy was among the hills not far +from the great forest. For in those early times the work of the smith +was looked upon as the most worthy of all trades,--a trade which the +gods themselves were not ashamed to follow. And this smith Mimer was a +wonderful master,--the wisest and most cunning that the world had ever +seen. Men said that he was akin to the dwarf-folk who had ruled the +earth in the early days, and who were learned in every lore, and skilled +in every craft; and they said that he was so exceeding old that no one +could remember the day when he came to dwell in the land of Siegmund’s +fathers. And some said, too, that he was the keeper of a wonderful well, +or flowing spring, the waters of which imparted wisdom and far-seeing +knowledge to all who drank of them. + +To Mimer’s school, then, where he would be taught to work skilfully +and to think wisely, Siegfried was sent, to be in all respects like +the other pupils there. A coarse blue blouse, and heavy leggings, and a +leathern apron, took the place of the costly clothing which he had worn +in his father’s dwelling. His feet were incased in awkward wooden shoes, +and his head was covered with a wolf-skin cap. The dainty bed, with its +downy pillows, wherein every night his mother had been wont, with gentle +care, to see him safely covered, was given up for a rude heap of straw +in a corner of the smithy. And the rich food to which he had been +used gave place to the coarsest and humblest fare. But the lad did +not complain. The days which he passed in the smithy were mirthful and +happy; and the sound of his hammer rang cheerfully, and the sparks from +his forge flew briskly, from morning till night. + +And a wonderful smith he became. No one could do more work than he, and +none wrought with greater skill. The heaviest chains and the strongest +bolts, for prison or for treasure-house, were but as toys in his stout +hands, so easily and quickly did he beat them into shape. And he was +alike cunning in work of the most delicate and brittle kind. Ornaments +of gold and silver, studded with the rarest jewels, were fashioned +into beautiful forms by his deft fingers. And among all of Mimer’s +apprentices none learned the master’s lore so readily, nor gained the +master’s favor more.[EN#1] + +One morning the master, Mimer, came to the smithy with a troubled look +upon his face. It was clear that something had gone amiss; and what it +was the apprentices soon learned from the smith himself. Never, until +lately, had any one questioned Mimer’s right to be called the foremost +smith in all the world; but now a rival had come forward. An unknown +upstart--one Amilias, in Burgundy-land--had made a suit of armor, which, +he boasted, no stroke of sword could dint, and no blow of spear could +scratch; and he had sent a challenge to all other smiths, both in the +Rhine country and elsewhere, to equal that piece of workmanship, or else +acknowledge themselves his underlings and vassals. For many days had +Mimer himself toiled, alone and vainly, trying to forge a sword whose +edge the boasted armor of Amilias could not foil; and now, in despair, +he came to ask the help of his pupils and apprentices. + +“Who among you is skilful enough to forge such a sword?” he asked. + +One after another, the pupils shook their heads. And Veliant, the +foreman of the apprentices, said, “I have heard much about that +wonderful armor, and its extreme hardness, and I doubt if any skill can +make a sword with edge so sharp and true as to cut into it. The best +that can be done is to try to make another war-coat whose temper shall +equal that of Amilias’s armor.” + +Then the lad Siegfried quickly said, “I will make such a sword as you +want,--a blade that no war-coat can foil. Give me but leave to try!” + +The other pupils laughed in scorn, but Mimer checked them. “You hear how +this boy can talk: we will see what he can do. He is the king’s son, and +we know that he has uncommon talent. He shall make the sword; but if, +upon trial, it fail, I will make him rue the day.” + +Then Siegfried went to his task. And for seven days and seven nights +the sparks never stopped flying from his forge; and the ringing of his +anvil, and the hissing of the hot metal as he tempered it, were heard +continuously. On the eighth day the sword was fashioned, and Siegfried +brought it to Mimer. + +The smith felt the razor-edge of the bright weapon, and said, “This +seems, indeed, a fair fire-edge. Let us make a trial of its keenness.” + +Then a thread of wool as light as thistle-down was thrown upon water, +and, as it floated there, Mimer struck it with the sword. The glittering +blade cleft the slender thread in twain, and the pieces floated +undisturbed upon the surface of the liquid. + +“Well done!” cried the delighted smith. “Never have I seen a keener +edge. If its temper is as true as its sharpness would lead us to +believe, it will indeed serve me well.” + +But Siegfried took the sword again, and broke it into many pieces; and +for three days he welded it in a white-hot fire, and tempered it with +milk and oatmeal. Then, in sight of Mimer and the sneering apprentices, +he cast a light ball of fine-spun wool upon the flowing water of the +brook; and it was caught in the swift eddies of the stream, and whirled +about until it met the bared blade of the sword, which was held in +Mimer’s hands. And it was parted as easily and clean as the rippling +water, and not the smallest thread was moved out of its place. + +Then back to the smithy Siegfried went again; and his forge glowed with +a brighter fire, and his hammer rang upon the anvil with a cheerier +sound, than ever before. But he suffered none to come near, and no +one ever knew what witchery he used. But some of his fellow-pupils +afterwards told how, in the dusky twilight, they had seen a one-eyed +man, long-bearded, and clad in a cloud-gray kirtle, and wearing a +sky-blue hood, talking with Siegfried at the smithy door. And they said +that the stranger’s face was at once pleasant and fearful to look upon, +and that his one eye shone in the gloaming like the evening star, and +that, when he had placed in Siegfried’s hands bright shards, like pieces +of a broken sword, he faded suddenly from their sight, and was seen no +more. + +For seven weeks the lad wrought day and night at his forge; and then, +pale and haggard, but with a pleased smile upon his face, he stood +before Mimer, with the gleaming sword in his hands. “It is finished,” he +said. “Behold the glittering terror!--the blade Balmung. Let us try its +edge, and prove its temper once again, that so we may know whether you +can place your trust in it.” + +And Mimer looked long at the ruddy hilts of the weapon, and at the +mystic runes that were scored upon its sides, and at the keen edge, +which gleamed like a ray of sunlight in the gathering gloom of the +evening. But no word came from his lips, and his eyes were dim and +dazed; and he seemed as one lost in thoughts of days long past and gone. + +Siegfried raised the blade high over his head; and the gleaming edge +flashed hither and thither, like the lightning’s play when Thor rides +over the storm-clouds. Then suddenly it fell upon the master’s anvil, +and the great block of iron was cleft in two; but the bright blade was +no whit dulled by the stroke, and the line of light which marked the +edge was brighter than before. + +Then to the flowing brook they went; and a great pack of wool, the +fleeces of ten sheep, was brought, and thrown upon the swirling water. +As the stream bore the bundle downwards, Mimer held the sword in its +way. And the whole was divided as easily and as clean as the woollen +ball or the slender woollen thread had been cleft before. + +“Now, indeed,” cried Mimer, “I no longer fear to meet that upstart, +Amilias. If his war-coat can withstand the stroke of such a sword as +Balmung, then I shall not be ashamed to be his underling. But, if this +good blade is what it seems to be, it will not fail me; and I, Mimer the +Old, shall still be called the wisest and greatest of smiths.” + +And he sent word at once to Amilias, in Burgundy-land, to meet him on +a day, and settle forever the question as to which of the two should be +the master, and which the underling. And heralds proclaimed it in every +town and dwelling. When the time which had been set drew near, +Mimer, bearing the sword Balmung, and followed by all his pupils and +apprentices, wended his way towards the place of meeting. Through the +forest they went, and then along the banks of the sluggish river, for +many a league, to the height of land which marked the line between King +Siegmund’s country and the country of the Burgundians. It was in this +place, midway between the shops of Mimer and Amilias, that the great +trial of metal and of skill was to be made. And here were already +gathered great numbers of people from the Lowlands and from Burgundy, +anxiously waiting for the coming of the champions. On the one side were +the wise old Siegmund and his gentle queen, and their train of knights +and courtiers and fair ladies. On the other side were the three +Burgundian kings, Gunther, Gernot, and Giselher, and a mighty retinue of +warriors, led by grim old Hagen, the uncle of the kings, and the wariest +chief in all Rhineland. + +When every thing was in readiness for the contest, Amilias, clad in his +boasted war-coat, went up to the top of the hill, and sat upon a great +rock, and waited for Mimer’s coming. As he sat there, he looked, to the +people below, like some great castle-tower; for he was almost a giant +in size, and his coat of mail, so skilfully wrought, was so huge +that twenty men of common mould might have found shelter, or hidden +themselves, within it. As the smith Mimer, so dwarfish in stature, +toiled up the steep hillside, Amilias smiled to see him; for he felt +no fear of the slender, gleaming blade that was to try the metal of +his war-coat. And already a shout of expectant triumph went up from the +throats of the Burgundian hosts, so sure were they of their champion’s +success. + +But Mimer’s friends waited in breathless silence, hoping, and yet +fearing. Only King Siegmund whispered to his queen, and said, “Knowledge +is stronger than brute force. The smallest dwarf who has drunk from the +well of the Knowing One may safely meet the stoutest giant in battle.” + +When Mimer reached the top of the hill, Amilias folded his huge arms, +and smiled again; for he felt that this contest was mere play for him, +and that Mimer was already as good as beaten, and his thrall. The smith +paused a moment to take breath, and as he stood by the side of his +foe he looked to those below like a mere black speck close beside a +steel-gray castle-tower. + +“Are you ready?” asked the smith. + +“Ready,” answered Amilias. “Strike!” + +Mimer raised the beaming blade in the air, and for a moment the +lightning seemed to play around his head. The muscles on his short, +brawny arms, stood out like great ropes; and then Balmung, descending, +cleft the air from right to left. The waiting lookers-on in the plain +below thought to hear the noise of clashing steel; but they listened in +vain, for no sound came to their ears, save a sharp hiss like that which +red-hot iron gives when plunged into a tank of cold water. The huge +Amilias sat unmoved, with his arms still folded upon his breast; but the +smile had faded from his face. + +“How do you feel now?” asked Mimer in a half-mocking tone. + +“Rather strangely, as if cold iron had touched me,” faintly answered the +upstart. + +“Shake thyself!” cried Mimer. + +Amilias did so, and, lo! he fell in two halves; for the sword had cut +sheer through the vaunted war-coat, and cleft in twain the great body +incased within. Down tumbled the giant head and the still folded arms, +and they rolled with thundering noise to the foot of the hill, and fell +with a fearful splash into the deep waters of the river; and there, +fathoms down, they may even now be seen, when the water is clear, lying +like great gray rocks among the sand and gravel below. The rest of the +body, with the armor which incased it, still sat upright in its place; +and to this day travellers sailing down the river are shown on moonlit +evenings the luckless armor of Amilias on the high hill-top. In the dim, +uncertain light, one easily fancies it to be the ivy covered ruins of +some old castle of feudal times. + +The master, Mimer, sheathed his sword, and walked slowly down the +hillside to the plain, where his friends welcomed him with glad cheers +and shouts of joy. But the Burgundians, baffled, and feeling vexed, +turned silently homeward, nor cast a single look back to the scene of +their disappointment and their ill-fated champion’s defeat. + +And Siegfried went again with the master and his fellows to the smoky +smithy, to his roaring bellows and ringing anvil, and to his coarse +fare, and rude, hard bed, and to a life of labor. And while all men +praised Mimer and his knowing skill, and the fiery edge of the sunbeam +blade, no one knew that it was the boy Siegfried who had wrought that +piece of workmanship. + +But after a while it was whispered around that not Mimer, but one of his +pupils, had forged the sword. And, when the master was asked what truth +there was in this story, his eyes twinkled, and the corners of his mouth +twitched strangely, and he made no answer. But Veliant, the foreman of +the smithy, and the greatest of boasters said, “It was I who forged the +fire-edge of the blade Balmung.” And, although none denied the truth of +what he said, but few who knew what sort of a man he was believed his +story. And this is the reason, my children, that, in the ancient songs +and stories which tell of this wondrous sword, it is said by most that +Mimer, and by a few that Veliant, forged its blade. But I prefer to +believe that it was made by Siegfried, the hero who afterwards wielded +it in so many adventures. [EN#3] Be this as it may, however, blind hate +and jealousy were from this time uppermost in the coarse and selfish +mind of Veliant; and he sought how he might drive the lad away from the +smithy in disgrace. “This boy has done what no one else could do,” said +he. “He may yet do greater deeds, and set himself up as the master smith +of the world, and then we shall all have to humble ourselves before him +as his underlings and thralls.” + +And he nursed this thought, and brooded over the hatred which he felt +towards the blameless boy; but he did not dare to harm him, for fear of +their master, Mimer. And Siegfried busied himself at his forge, where +the sparks flew as briskly and as merrily as ever before, and his +bellows roared from early morning till late at evening. Nor did the +foreman’s unkindness trouble him for a moment, for he knew that the +master’s heart was warm towards him. + +Oftentimes, when the day’s work was done, Siegfried sat with Mimer by +the glowing light of the furnace-fire, and listened to the sweet tales +which the master told of the deeds of the early days, when the world +was young, and the dwarf-folk and the giants had a name and a place upon +earth. And one night, as they thus sat, the master talked of Odin the +All-Father, and of the gods who dwell with him in Asgard, and of the +puny men-folk whom they protect and befriend, until his words grew full +of bitterness, and his soul of a fierce longing for something he dared +not name. And the lad’s heart was stirred with a strange uneasiness, and +he said,-- + +“Tell me, I pray, dear master, something about my own kin, my father’s +fathers,--those mighty kings, who, I have heard said, were the bravest +and best of men.” + +Then the smith seemed pleased again. And his eyes grew brighter, and +lost their far-away look; and a smile played among the wrinkles of his +swarthy face, as he told a tale of old King Volsung and of the deeds of +the Volsung kings:-- + +“Long years ago, before the evil days had dawned, King Volsung ruled +over all the land which lies between the sea and the country of the +Goths. The days were golden; and the good Frey dropped peace and plenty +everywhere, and men went in and out and feared no wrong. King Volsung +had a dwelling in the midst of fertile fields and fruitful gardens. +Fairer than any dream was that dwelling. The roof was thatched with +gold, and red turrets and towers rose above. The great feast-hall was +long and high, and its walls were hung with sun-bright shields; and the +door-nails were of silver. In the middle of the hall stood the pride of +the Volsungs,--a tree whose blossoms filled the air with fragrance, and +whose green branches, thrusting themselves through the ceiling, covered +the roof with fair foliage. It was Odin’s tree, and King Volsung had +planted it there with his own hands. + +“On a day in winter King Volsung held a great feast in his hall in honor +of Siggeir, the King of the Goths, who was his guest. And the fires +blazed bright in the broad chimneys, and music and mirth went round. But +in the midst of the merry-making the guests were startled by a sudden +peal of thunder, which seemed to come from the cloudless sky, and which +made the shields upon the walls rattle and ring. In wonder they looked +around. A strange man stood in the doorway, and laughed, but said not a +word. And they noticed that he wore no shoes upon his feet, but that +a cloud-gray cloak was thrown over his shoulders, and a blue hood was +drawn down over his head. His face was half-hidden by a heavy beard; and +he had but one eye, which twinkled and glowed like a burning coal. And +all the guests sat moveless in their seats, so awed were they in the +presence of him who stood at the door; for they knew that he was none +other than Odin the All-Father, the king of gods and men. He spoke not +a word, but straight into the hall he strode, and he paused not until +he stood beneath the blossoming branches of the tree. Then, forth from +beneath his cloud-gray cloak, he drew a gleaming sword, and struck the +blade deep into the wood,--so deep that nothing but the hilt was left +in sight. And, turning to the awe-struck guests, he said, ‘A blade +of mighty worth have I hidden in this tree. Never have the earth-folk +wrought better steel, nor has any man ever wielded a more trusty sword. +Whoever there is among you brave enough and strong enough to draw it +forth from the wood, he shall have it as a gift from Odin.’ Then slowly +to the door he strode again, and no one saw him any more. + +“And after he had gone, the Volsungs and their guests sat a long time +silent, fearing to stir, lest the vision should prove a dream. But at +last the old king arose, and cried, ‘Come, guests and kinsmen, and set +your hands to the ruddy hilt! Odin’s gift stays, waiting for its fated +owner. Let us see which one of you is the favored of the All-Father.’ +First Siggeir, the King of the Goths, and his earls, the Volsungs’ +guests, tried their hands. But the blade stuck fast; and the stoutest +man among them failed to move it. Then King Volsung, laughing, seized +the hilt, and drew with all his strength; but the sword held still in +the wood of Odin’s tree. And one by one the nine sons of Volsung tugged +and strained in vain; and each was greeted with shouts and laughter, as, +ashamed and beaten, he wended to his seat again. Then, at last, Sigmund, +the youngest son, stood up, and laid his hand upon the ruddy hilt, +scarce thinking to try what all had failed to do. When, lo! the blade +came out of the tree as if therein it had all along lain loose. And +Sigmund raised it high over his head, and shook it, and the bright flame +that leaped from its edge lit up the hall like the lightning’s gleaming; +and the Volsungs and their guests rent the air with cheers and shouts of +gladness. For no one among all the men of the mid-world was more worthy +of Odin’s gift than young Sigmund the brave.” + +But the rest of Mimer’s story would be too long to tell you now; for he +and his young apprentice sat for hours by the dying coals, and talked of +Siegfried’s kinfolk,--the Volsung kings of old. And he told how Siggeir, +the Goth king, was wedded to Signy the fair, the only daughter of +Volsung, and the pride of the old king’s heart; and how he carried +her with him to his home in the land of the Goths; and how he coveted +Sigmund’s sword, and plotted to gain it by guile; and how, through +presence of friendship, he invited the Volsung kings to visit him in +Gothland, as the guests of himself and Signy; and how he betrayed and +slew them, save Sigmund alone, who escaped, and for long years lived an +outlaw in the land of his treacherous foe. And then he told how Sigmund +afterwards came back to his own country of the Volsungs; and how his +people welcomed him, and he became a mighty king, such as the world had +never known before; and how, when he had grown old, and full of years +and honors, he went out with his earls and fighting-men to battle +against the hosts of King Lyngi the Mighty; and how, in the midst of the +fight, when his sword had hewn down numbers of the foe, and the end of +the strife and victory seemed near, an old man, one eyed and bearded, +and wearing a cloud-gray cloak, stood up before him in the din, and +his sword was broken in pieces, and he fell dead on the heap of the +slain.[EN#4] And, when Mimer had finished his tale, his dark face seemed +to grow darker, and his twinkling eyes grew brighter, as he cried out in +a tone of despair and hopeless yearning,-- + +“Oh, past are those days of old and the worthy deeds of the brave! +And these are the days of the home-stayers,--of the wise, but +feeble-hearted. Yet the Norns have spoken; and it must be that another +hero shall arise of the Volsung blood, and he shall restore the name and +the fame of his kin of the early days. And he shall be my bane; and in +him shall the race of heroes have an end.”[EN#7] + +Siegfried’s heart was strangely stirred within him as he hearkened to +this story of ancient times and to the fateful words of the master, +and for a long time he sat in silent thought; and neither he nor Mimer +moved, or spoke again, until the darkness of the night had begun to +fade, and the gray light of morning to steal into the smithy. Then, as +if moved by a sudden impulse, he turned to the master, and said,-- + +“You speak of the Norns, dear master, and of their foretelling; but +your words are vague, and their meaning very broad. When shall that hero +come? and who shall he be? and what deeds shall be his doing?” + +“Alas!” answered Mimer, “I know not, save that he shall be of the +Volsung race, and that my fate is linked with his.” + +“And why do you not know?” returned Siegfried. “Are you not that old +Mimer, in whom it is said the garnered wisdom of the world is stored? Is +there not truth in the old story that even Odin pawned one of his +eyes for a single draught from your fountain of knowledge? And is +the possessor of so much wisdom unable to look into the future with +clearness and certainty?” + +“Alas!” answered Mimer again, and his words came hard and slow, “I +am not that Mimer, of whom old stories tell, who gave wisdom to the +All-Father in exchange for an eye. He is one of the giants, and he still +watches his fountain in far-off Jotunheim.[EN#2] I claim kinship +with the dwarfs, and am sometimes known as an elf, sometimes as a +wood-sprite. Men have called me Mimer because of my wisdom and skill, +and the learning which I impart to my pupils. Could I but drink from the +fountain of the real Mimer, then the wisdom of the world would in truth +be mine, and the secrets of the future would be no longer hidden. But I +must wait, as I have long waited, for the day and the deed and the doom +that the Norns have foretold.” + +And the old strange look of longing came again into his eyes, and the +wrinkles on his swarthy face seemed to deepen with agony, as he arose, +and left the smithy. And Siegfried sat alone before the smouldering +fire, and pondered upon what he had heard. + + + + + +Adventure II. Greyfell. + + + +Many were the pleasant days that Siegfried spent in Mimer’s smoky +smithy; and if he ever thought of his father’s stately dwelling, or of +the life of ease which he might have enjoyed within its halls, he never +by word or deed showed signs of discontent. For Mimer taught him all the +secrets of his craft and all the lore of the wise men. To beat hot +iron, to shape the fire-edged sword, to smithy war-coats, to fashion the +slender bracelet of gold and jewels,--all this he had already learned. +But there were many other things to know, and these the wise master +showed him. He told him how to carve the mystic runes which speak to +the knowing ones with silent, unseen tongues; he told him of the men of +other lands, and taught him their strange speech; he showed him how to +touch the harp-strings, and bring forth bewitching music: and the heart +of Siegfried waxed very wise, while his body grew wondrous strong. And +the master loved his pupil dearly. + +But the twelve apprentices grew more jealous day by day, and when Mimer +was away they taunted Siegfried with cruel jests, and sought by harsh +threats to drive him from the smithy; but the lad only smiled, and made +the old shop ring again with the music from his anvil. On a day when +Mimer had gone on a journey, Veliant, the foreman, so far forgot himself +as to strike the boy. For a moment Siegfried gazed at him with withering +scorn; then he swung his hammer high in air, and brought it swiftly +down, not upon the head of Veliant, who was trembling with expectant +fear, but upon the foreman’s anvil. The great block of iron was shivered +by the blow, and flew into a thousand pieces. Then, turning again +towards the thoroughly frightened foreman, Siegfried said, while angry +lightning-flashes darted from his eyes,-- + +“What if I were to strike you thus?” + +Veliant sank upon the ground, and begged for mercy. + +“You are safe,” said Siegfried, walking away. “I would scorn to harm a +being like you!” + +The apprentices were struck dumb with amazement and fear; and when +Siegfried had returned to his anvil they one by one dropped their +hammers, and stole away from the smithy. In a secret place not far from +the shop, they met together, to plot some means by which they might rid +themselves of him whom they both hated and feared. + +The next morning Veliant came to Siegfried’s forge, with a sham smile +upon his face. The boy knew that cowardice and base deceit lurked, ill +concealed, beneath that smile; yet, as he was wont to do, he welcomed +the foreman kindly. + +“Siegfried,” said Veliant, “let us be friends again. I am sorry that I +was so foolish and so rash yesterday, and I promise that I will never +again be so rude and unmanly as to become angry at you. Let us be +friends, good Siegfried! Give me your hand, I pray you, and with it your +forgiveness.” + +Siegfried grasped the rough palm of the young smith with such a gripe, +that the smile vanished from Veliant’s face, and his muscles writhed +with pain. + +“I give you my hand, certainly,” said the boy, “and I will give you my +forgiveness when I know that you are worthy of it.” + +As soon as Veliant’s aching hand allowed him speech, he said,-- + +“Siegfried, you know that we have but little charcoal left for our +forges, and our master will soon return from his journey. It will never +do for him to find us idle, and the fires cold. Some one must go to-day +to the forest-pits, and bring home a fresh supply of charcoal. How would +you like the errand? It is but a pleasant day’s journey to the pits; and +a ride into the greenwood this fine summer day would certainly be more +agreeable than staying in the smoky shop.” + +“I should like the drive very much,” answered Siegfried; “but I have +never been to the coal-pits, and I might lose my way in the forest.” + +“No danger of that,” said Veliant. “Follow the road that goes straight +into the heart of the forest, and you cannot miss your way. It will lead +you to the house of Regin, the master, the greatest charcoal-man in all +Rhineland. He will be right glad to see you for Mimer’s sake, and you +may lodge with him for the night. In the morning he will fill your cart +with the choicest charcoal, and you can drive home at your leisure; and, +when our master comes again, he will find our forges flaming, and our +bellows roaring, and our anvils ringing, as of yore.” + +Siegfried, after some further parley, agreed to undertake the errand, +although he felt that Veliant, in urging him to do so, wished to work +him some harm. He harnessed the donkey to the smith’s best cart, and +drove merrily away along the road which led towards the forest.[EN#5] +The day was bright and clear; and as Siegfried rode through the flowery +meadows, or betwixt the fields of corn, a thousand sights and sounds met +him, and made him glad. Now and then he would stop to watch the reapers +in the fields, or to listen to the song of some heaven-soaring lark +lost to sight in the blue sea overhead. Once he met a company of gayly +dressed youths and maidens, carrying sheaves of golden grain,--for it +was now the harvest-time,--and singing in praise of Frey, the giver of +peace and plenty. + +“Whither away, young prince?” they merrily asked. + +“To Regin, the coal-burner, in the deep greenwood,” he answered. + +“Then may the good Frey have thee in keeping!” they cried. “It is a long +and lonesome journey.” And each one blessed him as they passed. + +It was nearly noon when he drove into the forest, and left the blooming +meadows and the warm sunshine behind him. And now he urged the donkey +forwards with speed; for he knew that he had lost much precious time, +and that many miles still lay between him and Regin’s charcoal-pits. And +there was nothing here amid the thick shadows of the wood to make him +wish to linger; for the ground was damp, and the air was chilly, and +every thing was silent as the grave. And not a living creature did +Siegfried see, save now and then a gray wolf slinking across the road, +or a doleful owl sitting low down in some tree-top, and blinking at him +in the dull but garish light. Evening at last drew on, and the shadows +in the wood grew deeper; and still no sign of charcoal-burner, nor of +other human being, was seen. Night came, and thick darkness settled +around; and all the demons of the forest came forth, and clamored and +chattered, and shrieked and howled. But Siegfried was not afraid. The +bats and vampires came out of their hiding-places, and flapped their +clammy wings in his face; and he thought that he saw ogres and many +fearful creatures peeping out from behind every tree and shrub. But, +when he looked upwards through the overhanging tree-tops, he saw the +star-decked roof of heaven, the blue mantle which the All-Father has +hung as a shelter over the world; and he went bravely onwards, never +doubting but that Odin has many good things in store for those who are +willing to trust him. + +And by and by the great round moon arose in the east, and the fearful +sounds that had made the forest hideous began to die away; and Siegfried +saw, far down the path, a red light feebly gleaming. And he was glad, +for he knew that it must come from the charcoal-burners’ pits. Soon he +came out upon a broad, cleared space; and the charcoal-burners’ fires +blazed bright before him; and some workmen, swarthy and soot-begrimed, +came forwards to meet him. + +“Who are you?” they asked; “and why do you come through the forest at +this late hour?” + +“I am Siegfried,” answered the boy; “and I come from Mimer’s smithy. I +seek Regin, the king of charcoal-burners; for I must have coal for my +master’s smithy.” + +“Come with me,” said one of the men: “I will lead you to Regin.” + +Siegfried alighted from his cart, and followed the man to a low-roofed +hut not far from the burning pits. As they drew near, they heard the +sound of a harp, and strange, wild music within; and Siegfried’s heart +was stirred with wonder as he listened. The man knocked softly at the +door, and the music ceased. + +“Who comes to break into Regin’s rest at such a time as this?” said a +rough voice within. + +“A youth who calls himself Siegfried,” answered the man. “He says that +he comes from Mimer’s smithy, and he would see you, my master.” + +“Let him come in,” said the voice. + +Siegfried passed through the low door, and into the room beyond; and so +strange was the sight that met him that he stood for a while in awe, +for never in so lowly a dwelling had treasures so rich been seen. Jewels +sparkled from the ceiling; rare tapestry covered the walls; and on the +floor were heaps of ruddy gold and silver, still unfashioned. And in +the midst of all this wealth stood Regin, the king of the forest, the +greatest of charcoal-men. And a strange old man he was, wrinkled and +gray and beardless; but out of his eyes sharp glances gleamed of a light +that was not human, and his heavy brow and broad forehead betokened +wisdom and shrewd cunning. And he welcomed Siegfried kindly for Mimer’s +sake, and set before him a rich repast of venison, and wild honey, and +fresh white bread, and luscious grapes. And, when the meal was finished, +the boy would have told his errand, but Regin stopped him. + +“Say nothing of your business to-night,” said he; “for the hour is +already late, and you are weary. Better lie down, and rest until the +morrow; and then we will talk of the matter which has brought you +hither.” + +And Siegfried was shown to a couch of the fragrant leaves of the myrtle +and hemlock, overspread with soft white linen, such as is made in the +far-off Emerald Isle; and he was lulled to sleep by sweet strains of +music from Regin’s harp,--music which told of the days when the gods +were young on the earth. And as he slept he dreamed. He dreamed that +he stood upon the crag of a high mountain, and that the eagles flew +screaming around him, and the everlasting snows lay at his feet, and the +world in all its beauty was stretched out like a map below him; and he +longed to go forth to partake of its abundance, and to make for himself +a name among men. Then came the Norns, who spin the thread, and weave +the woof, of every man’s life; and they held in their hands the web +of his own destiny. And Urd, the Past, sat on the tops of the eastern +mountains, where the sun begins to rise at dawn; while Verdanda, the +Present, stood in the western sea, where sky and water meet. And they +stretched the web between them, and its ends were hidden in the far-away +mists. Then with all their might the two Norns span the purple and +golden threads, and wove the fatal woof. But as it began to grow in +beauty and in strength, and to shadow the earth with its gladness and +its glory, Skuld, the pitiless Norn of the Future, seized it with rude +fingers, and tore it into shreds, and cast it down at the feet of Hela, +the white queen of the dead.[EN#6] And the eagles shrieked, and the +mountain shook, and the crag toppled, and Siegfried awoke. + +The next morning, at earliest break of day, the youth sought Regin, and +made known his errand. + +“I have come for charcoal for my master Mimer’s forges. My cart stands +ready outside; and I pray you to have it filled at once, for the way is +long, and I must be back betimes.” + +Then a strange smile stole over Regin’s wrinkled face, and he said,-- + +“Does Siegfried the prince come on such a lowly errand? Does he come +to me through the forest, driving a donkey, and riding in a sooty +coal-cart? I have known the day when his kin were the mightiest kings of +earth, and they fared through every land the noblest men of men-folk.” + +The taunting word, the jeering tones, made Siegfried’s anger rise. +The blood boiled in his veins; but he checked his tongue, and mildly +answered,-- + +“It is true that I am a prince, and my father is the wisest of kings; +and it is for this reason that I come thus to you. Mimer is my master, +and my father early taught me that even princes must obey their masters’ +behests.” + +Then Regin laughed, and asked, “How long art thou to be Mimer’s thrall? +Does no work wait for thee but at his smoky forge?” + +“When Mimer gives me leave, and Odin calls me,” answered the lad, “then +I, too, will go faring over the world, like my kin of the earlier +days, to carve me a name and great glory, and a place with the noble of +earth.” + +Regin said not a word; but he took his harp, and smote the strings, +and a sad, wild music filled the room. And he sang of the gods and the +dwarf-folk, and of the deeds that had been in the time long past and +gone. And a strange mist swam before Siegfried’s eyes; and so bewitching +were the strains that fell upon his ears, and filled his soul, that he +forgot about his errand, and his master Mimer, and his father Siegmund, +and his lowland home, and thought only of the heart-gladdening sounds. +By and by the music ended, the spell was lifted, and Siegfried turned +his eyes towards the musician. A wonderful change had taken place. The +little old man still stood before him with the harp in his hand; but his +wrinkled face was hidden by a heavy beard, and his thin gray locks were +covered with a long black wig, and he seemed taller and stouter than +before. As Siegfried started with surprise, his host held out his hand, +and said,-- + +“You need not be alarmed, my boy. It is time for you to know that +Regin and Mimer are the same person, or rather that Mimer is Regin +disguised.[EN#8] The day has come for you to go your way into the world, +and Mimer gives you leave.” + +Siegfried was so amazed he could not say a word. He took the master’s +hand, and gazed long into his deep, bright eyes. Then the two sat down +together, and Mimer, or Regin as we shall now call him, told the prince +many tales of the days that had been, and of his bold, wise forefathers. +And the lad’s heart swelled within him; and he longed to be like +them,--to dare and do and suffer, and gloriously win at last. And he +turned to Regin and said,-- + +“Tell me, wisest of masters, what I shall do to win fame, and to make +myself worthy to rule the fair land which my fathers held.” + +“Go forth in your own strength, and with Odin’s help,” answered +Regin,--“go forth to right the wrong, to help the weak, to punish evil, +and come not back to your father’s kingdom until the world shall know +your noble deeds.” + +“But whither shall I go?” asked Siegfried. + +“I will tell you,” answered Regin. “Put on these garments, which better +befit a prince than those soot-begrimed clothes you have worn so long. +Gird about you this sword, the good Balmung, and go northward. When you +come to the waste lands which border upon the sea, you will find +the ancient Gripir, the last of the kin of the giants. Ask of him a +war-steed, and Odin will tell you the rest.” + +So, when the sun had risen high above the trees, Siegfried bade Regin +good-by, and went forth like a man, to take whatsoever fortune should +betide. He went through the great forest, and across the bleak moorland +beyond, and over the huge black mountains that stretched themselves +across his way, and came to a pleasant country all dotted with white +farmhouses, and yellow with waving, corn. But he tarried not here, +though many kind words were spoken to him, and all besought him to stay. +Right onwards he went, until he reached the waste land which borders the +sounding sea. And there high mountains stood, with snow-crowned crags +beetling over the waves; and a great river, all foaming with the summer +floods, went rolling through the valley. And in the deep dales between +the mountains were rich meadows, green with grass, and speckled with +thousands of flowers of every hue, where herds of cattle and deer, and +noble elks, and untamed horses, fed in undisturbed peace. And Siegfried, +when he saw, knew that these were the pastures of Gripir the ancient. + +High up among the gray mountain-peaks stood Gripir’s dwelling,--a +mighty house, made of huge bowlders brought by giant hands from the far +north-land. And the wild eagle, built their nests around it, and the +mountain vultures screamed about its doors. But Siegfried was not +afraid. He climbed the steep pathway which the feet of men had never +touched before, and, without pausing, walked straightway into the +high-built hall. The room was so dark that at first he could see nothing +save the white walls, and the glass-green pillars which upheld the roof. +But the light grew stronger soon; and Siegfried saw, beneath a heavy +canopy of stone, the ancient Gripir, seated in a chair made from the +sea-horse’s teeth.[EN#9] And the son of the giants held in his hand an +ivory staff; and a purple mantle was thrown over his shoulders, and his +white beard fell in sweeping waves almost to the sea-green floor. Very +wise he seemed, and he gazed at Siegfried with a kindly smile. + +“Hail, Siegfried!” he cried. “Hail, prince with the gleaming eye! I know +thee, and I know the woof that the Norns have woven for thee. Welcome to +my lonely mountain home! Come and sit by my side in the high-seat where +man has never sat, and I will tell thee of things that have been, and of +things that are yet to be.” + +Then Siegfried fearlessly went and sat by the side of the ancient wise +one. And long hours they talked together,--strong youth and hoariest +age; and each was glad that in the other he had found some source of +hope and comfort. And they talked of the great midworld, and of the +starry dome above it, and of the seas which gird it, and of the men who +live upon it. All night long they talked, and in the morning Siegfried +arose to go. + +“Thou hast not told me of thy errand,” said Gripir; “but I know what it +is. Come first with me, and see this great mid-world for thyself.” + +Then Gripir, leaning on his staff, led the way out of the great hall, +and up to the top of the highest mountain-crag. And the wild eagles +circled in the clear, cold air above them; and far below them the white +waves dashed against the mountain’s feet; and the frosty winds swept +around them unchecked, bringing to their ears the lone lamenting of the +north giants, moaning for the days that had been and for the glories +that were past. Then Siegfried looked to the north, and he saw the dark +mountain-wall of Norway trending away in solemn grandeur towards +the frozen sea, but broken here and there by sheltering fjords, and +pleasant, sunny dales. He looked to the east, and saw a great forest +stretching away and away until it faded to sight in the blue distance. +He looked to the south, and saw a pleasant land, with farms and +vineyards, and towns and strong-built castles; and through it wound the +River Rhine, like a great white serpent, reaching from the snow-capped +Alps to the northern sea. And he saw his father’s little kingdom of the +Netherlands lying like a green speck on the shore of the ocean. Then +he looked to the west, and nothing met his sight but a wilderness of +rolling, restless waters, save, in the far distance, a green island half +hidden by sullen mists and clouds. And Siegfried sighed, and said,-- + +“The world is so wide, and the life of man so short!” + +“The world is all before thee,” answered Gripir. “Take what the Norns +have allotted thee. Choose from my pastures a battle-steed, and ride +forth to win for thyself a name and fame among the sons of men.” + +Then Siegfried ran down the steep side of the mountain to the grassy +dell where the horses were feeding. But the beasts were all so fair and +strong, that he knew not which to choose. While he paused, uncertain +what to do, a strange man stood before him. Tall and handsome was the +man, with one bright eye, and a face beaming like the dawn in summer; +and upon his head he wore a sky-blue hood bespangled with golden stars, +and over his shoulder was thrown a cloak of ashen gray. + +“Would you choose a horse, Sir Siegfried?” asked the stranger. + +“Indeed I would,” answered he. “But it is hard to make a choice among so +many.” + +“There is one in the meadow,” said the man, “far better than all +the rest. They say that he came from Odin’s pastures on the green +hill-slopes of Asgard, and that none but the noblest shall ride him.” + +“Which is he?” asked Siegfried. + +“Drive the herd into the river,” was the answer, “and then see if you +can pick him out.” + +And Siegfried and the stranger drove the horses down the sloping bank, +and into the rolling stream; but the flood was too strong for them. +Some soon turned back to the shore; while others, struggling madly, were +swept away, and carried out to the sea. Only one swam safely over. He +shook the dripping water from his mane, tossed his head in the air, and +then plunged again into the stream. Right bravely he stemmed the +torrent the second time. He clambered up the shelving bank, and stood by +Siegfried’s side. + +“What need to tell you that this is the horse?” said the stranger. “Take +him: he is yours. He is Greyfell, the shining hope that Odin sends to +his chosen heroes.” + +And then Siegfried noticed that the horse’s mane glimmered and flashed +like a thousand rays from the sun, and that his coat was as white and +clear as the fresh-fallen snow on the mountains. He turner to speak to +the stranger, but he was nowhere to be seen and Siegfried bethought him +how he had talked with Odin unawares. Then he mounted the noble Greyfell +and rode with a light heart across the flowery meadows. + +“Whither ridest thou?” cried Gripir the ancient, from his doorway among +the crags. + +“I ride into the wide world,” said Siegfried; “but I know not whither. I +would right the wrong, and help the weak, and make myself a name on the +earth, as did my kinsmen of yore. Tell me, I pray you, where I shall +go; for you are wise, and you know the things which have been, and those +which shall befall.” + +“Ride back to Regin, the master of masters,” answered Gripir. “He will +tell thee of a wrong to be righted.” + +And the ancient son of the giants withdrew into his lonely abode; and +Siegfried, on the shining Greyfell, rode swiftly away towards the south. + + + + + +Adventure III. The Curse of Gold. + + + +Forth then rode Siegfried, upon the beaming Greyfell, out into the broad +mid-world. And the sun shone bright above him, and the air was soft and +pure, and the earth seemed very lovely, and life a gladsome thing. And +his heart was big within him as he thought of the days to come, of +the deeds of love and daring, of the righting of many wrongs, of the +people’s praise, and the glory of a life well lived. And he wended his +way back again toward the south and the fair lands of the Rhine. He left +the barren moorlands behind him, and the pleasant farms and villages of +the fruitful countryside, and after many days came once more to Regin’s +woodland dwelling. For he said to himself, “My old master is very wise; +and he knows of the deeds that were done when yet the world was young, +and my kin were the mightiest of men. I will go to him, and learn what +grievous evil it is that he has so often vaguely hinted at.” + +Regin, when he saw the lad and the beaming Greyfell standing like +a vision of light at his door, welcomed them most gladly, and led +Siegfried into the inner room, where they sat down together amid the +gold, and the gem-stones, and the fine-wrought treasures there. + +“Truly,” said the master, “the days of my long waiting are drawing to a +close, and at last the deed shall be done.” + +And the old look of longing came again into his eyes, and his pinched +face seemed darker and more wrinkled than before, and his thin lips +trembled with emotion as he spoke. + +“What is that deed of which you speak?” asked Siegfried. + +“It is the righting of a grievous wrong,” answered Regin, “and the +winning of treasures untold. Lo, many years have I waited for the coming +of this day; and now my heart tells me that the hero so long hoped for +is here, and the wisdom and the wealth of the world shall be mine.” + +“But what is the wrong to be righted?” asked Siegfried. “And what is +this treasure that you speak of as your own?” + +“Alas!” answered Regin, “the treasure is indeed mine; and yet wrongfully +has it been withheld from me. But listen a while to a tale of the early +days, and thou shalt know what the treasure is, and what is the wrong to +be righted.” + +He took his harp and swept the strings, and played a soft, low melody +which told of the dim past, and of blighted hopes, and of a nameless, +never-satisfied yearning for that which might have been. And then he +told Siegfried this story: + + + +Regin’s Story. + + + +When the earth was still very young, and men were feeble and few, and +the Dwarfs were many and strong, the Asa-folk were wont oft-times +to leave their halls in heaven-towering Asgard in order to visit the +new-formed mid-world, and to see what the short-lived sons of men were +doing. Sometimes they came in their own godlike splendor and might; +sometimes they came disguised as feeble men-folk, with all man’s +weaknesses and all his passions. Sometimes Odin, as a beggar, wandered +from one country to another, craving charity; sometimes, as a warrior +clad in coat of mail, he rode forth to battle for the cause of right; or +as a minstrel he sang from door to door, and played sweet music in the +halls of the great; or as a huntsman he dashed through brakes and fens, +and into dark forests, and climbed steep mountains in search of game; or +as a sailor he embarked upon the sea, and sought new scenes in unknown +lands. And many times did men-folk entertain him unawares. + +Once on a time he came to the mid-world in company with Hoenir and +Loki; and the three wandered through many lands and in many climes, each +giving gifts wherever they went. Odin gave knowledge and strength, and +taught men how to read the mystic runes; Hoenir gave gladness and +good cheer, and lightened many hearts with the glow of his comforting +presence; but Loki had nought to give but cunning deceit and base +thoughts, and he left behind him bitter strife and many aching breasts. +At last, growing tired of the fellowship of men, the three Asas sought +the solitude of the forest, and as huntsmen wandered long among the +hills and over the wooded heights of Hunaland. Late one afternoon they +came to a mountain-stream at a place where it poured over a ledge of +rocks, and fell in clouds of spray into a rocky gorge below. As they +stood, and with pleased eyes gazed upon the waterfall, they saw near the +bank an otter lazily making ready to eat a salmon which he had caught. +And Loki, ever bent on doing mischief, hurled a stone at the harmless +beast, and killed it. And he boasted loudly that he had done a worthy +deed. And he took both the otter, and the fish which it had caught, and +carried them with him as trophies of the day’s success. + +Just at nightfall the three huntsmen came to a lone farmhouse in the +valley, and asked for food, and for shelter during the night. + +“Shelter you shall have,” said the farmer, whose name was Hreidmar, “for +the rising clouds foretell a storm. But food I have none to give you. +Surely huntsmen of skill should not want for food; since the forest +teems with game, and the streams are full of fish.” + +Then Loki threw upon the ground the otter and the fish, and said, “We +have sought in both forest and stream, and we have taken from them at +one blow both flesh and fish. Give us but the shelter you promise, and +we will not trouble you for food.” + +The farmer gazed with horror upon the lifeless body of the otter, and +cried out, “This creature which you mistook for an otter, and which you +have robbed and killed, is my son Oddar, who for mere pastime had taken +the form of the furry beast. You are but thieves and murderers!” + +Then he called loudly for help: and his two sons Fafnir and Regin, +sturdy and valiant kin of the dwarf-folk, rushed in, and seized upon the +huntsmen, and bound them hand and foot; for the three Asas, having taken +upon themselves the forms of men, had no more than human strength, and +were unable to withstand them. + +Then Odin and his fellows bemoaned their ill fate. And Loki said, +“Wherefore did we foolishly take upon ourselves the likenesses of +puny men? Had I my own power once more, I would never part with it in +exchange for man’s weaknesses.” + +And Hoenir sighed, and said, “Now, indeed, will darkness win: and the +frosty breath of the Reimthursen giants will blast the fair handiwork of +the sunlight and the heat; for the givers of life and light and warmth +are helpless prisoners in the hands of these cunning and unforgiving +jailers.” + +“Surely,” said Odin, “not even the highest are free from obedience to +heaven’s behests and the laws of right. I, whom men call the Preserver +of Life, have demeaned myself by being found in evil company; and, +although I have done no other wrong, I suffer rightly for the doings of +this mischief-maker with whom I have stooped to have fellowship. For all +are known, not so much by what they are as by what they seem to be, and +they bear the bad name which their comrades bear. Now I am fallen from +my high estate. Eternal right is higher than I. And in the last Twilight +of the gods I must needs meet the dread Fenris-wolf, and in the end +the world will be made new again, and the shining Balder will rule in +sunlight majesty forever.” + +Then the Asas asked Hreidmar, their jailer, what ransom they should +pay for their freedom; and he, not knowing who they were, said, “I must +first know what ransom you are able to give.” + +“We will give any thing you may ask,” hastily answered Loki. + +Hreidmar then called his sons, and bade them strip the skin from the +otter’s body. When this was done, they brought the furry hide and spread +it upon the ground; and Hreidmar said, “Bring shining gold and precious +stones enough to cover every part of this otter-skin. When you have paid +so much ransom, you shall have your freedom.” + +“That we will do,” answered Odin. “But one of us must have leave to +go and fetch it: the other two will stay fast bound until the morning +dawns. If, by that time, the gold is not here, you may do with us as you +please.” + +Hreidmar and the two young men agreed to Odin’s offer; and, lots being +cast, it fell to Loki to go and fetch the treasure. When he had been +loosed from the cords which bound him, Loki donned his magic shoes, +which had carried him over land and sea from the farthest bounds of +the mid-world, and hastened away upon his errand. And he sped with the +swiftness of light, over the hills and the wooded slopes, and the deep +dark valleys, and the fields and forests and sleeping hamlets, until he +came to the place where dwelt the swarthy elves and the cunning dwarf +Andvari. There the River Rhine, no larger than a meadow-brook, breaks +forth from beneath a mountain of ice, which the Frost giants and blind +old Hoder, the Winter-king, had built long years before; for they had +vainly hoped that they might imprison the river at its fountain-head. +But the baby-brook had eaten its way beneath the frozen mass, and +had sprung out from its prison, and gone on, leaping and smiling, and +kissing the sunlight, in its ever-widening course towards Burgundy and +the sea. + +Loki came to this place, because he knew that here was the home of the +elves who had laid up the greatest hoard of treasures ever known in the +mid-world. He scanned with careful eyes the mountain-side, and the deep, +rocky caverns, and the dark gorge through which the little river rushed; +but in the dim moonlight not a living being could he see, save a lazy +salmon swimming in the quieter eddies of the stream. Any one but Loki +would have lost all hope of finding treasure there, at least before the +dawn of day; but his wits were quick, and his eyes were very sharp. + +“One salmon has brought us into this trouble, and another shall help us +out of it!” he cried. + +Then, swift as thought, he sprang again into the air; and the magic +shoes carried him with greater speed than before down the Rhine valley, +and through Burgundy-land, and the low meadows, until he came to the +shores of the great North Sea. He sought the halls of old AEgir, the +Ocean-king; but he wist not which way to go,--whether across the North +Sea towards Isenland, or whether along the narrow channel between +Britain-land and the main. While he paused, uncertain where to turn, +he saw the pale-haired daughters of old AEgir, the white-veiled Waves, +playing in the moonlight near the shore. Of them he asked the way to +AEgir’s hall. + +“Seven days’ journey westward,” said they, “beyond the green Isle of +Erin, is our father’s hall. Seven days’ journey northward, on the bleak +Norwegian shore, is our father’s hall.” + +And they stopped not once in their play, but rippled and danced on the +shelving beach, or dashed with force against the shore. + +“Where is your mother Ran, the Queen of the Ocean?” asked Loki. + +And they answered,-- + + “In the deep sea-caves + By the sounding shore, + In the dashing waves + When the wild storms roar, + In her cold green bowers + In the northern fiords, + She lurks and she glowers, + She grasps and she hoards, + And she spreads her strong net for her prey.” + +Loki waited to hear no more; but he sprang into the air, and the magic +shoes carried him onwards over the water in search of the Ocean-queen. +He had not gone far when his sharp eyes espied her, lurking near a rocky +shore against which the breakers dashed with frightful fury. Half hidden +in the deep dark water, she lay waiting and watching; and she spread her +cunning net upon the waves, and reached out with her long greedy fingers +to seize whatever booty might come near her. + +When the wary queen saw Loki, she hastily drew in her net, and tried to +hide herself in the shadows of an overhanging rock. But Loki called her +by name, and said,-- + +“Sister Ran, fear not! I am your friend Loki, whom once you served as a +guest in AEgir’s gold-lit halls.” + +Then the Ocean-queen came out into the bright moonlight, and welcomed +Loki to her domain, and asked, “Why does Loki thus wander so far from +Asgard, and over the trackless waters?” + +And Loki answered, “I have heard of the net which you spread upon the +waves, and from which no creature once caught in its meshes can ever +escape. I have found a salmon where the Rhine-spring gushes from beneath +the mountains, and a very cunning salmon he is for no common skill can +catch him. Come, I pray, with your wondrous net, and cast it into the +stream where he lies. Do but take the wary fish for me, and you shall +have more gold than you have taken in a year from the wrecks of stranded +vessels.” + +“I dare not go,” cried Ran. “A bound is set, beyond which I may not +venture. If all the gold of earth were offered me, I could not go.” + +“Then lend me your net,” entreated Loki. “Lend me your net, and I will +bring it back to-morrow filled with gold.” + +“Much I would like your gold,” answered Ran; “but I cannot lend my net. +Should I do so, I might lose the richest prize that has ever come into +my husband’s kingdom. For three days, now, a gold-rigged ship, bearing +a princely crew with rich armor and abundant wealth, has been sailing +carelessly over these seas. To-morrow I shall send my daughters and the +bewitching mermaids to decoy the vessel among the rocks. And into my net +the ship, and the brave warriors, and all their armor and gold, shall +fall. A rich prize it will be. No: I cannot part with my net, even for a +single hour.” + +But Loki knew the power of flattering words. + +“Beautiful queen,” said he, “there is no one on earth, nor even in +Asgard, who can equal you in wisdom and foresight. Yet I promise you, +that, if you will but lend me your net until the morning dawns, the ship +and the crew of which you speak shall be yours, and all their golden +treasures shall deck your azure halls in the deep sea.” + +Then Ran carefully folded the net, and gave it to Loki. + +“Remember your promise,” was all that she said. + +“An Asa never forgets,” he answered. + +And he turned his face again towards Rhineland; and the magic shoes bore +him aloft, and carried him in a moment back to the ice-mountain and +the gorge and the infant river, which he had so lately left. The +salmon still rested in his place, and had not moved during Loki’s short +absence. + +Loki unfolded the net, and cast it into the stream. The cunning fish +tried hard to avoid being caught in its meshes; but, dart which way +he would, he met the skilfully woven cords, and these drew themselves +around him, and held him fast. Then Loki pulled the net up out of the +water, and grasped the helpless fish in his right hand. But, lo! as he +held the struggling creature high in the air, it was no longer a fish, +but the cunning dwarf Andvari. + +“Thou King of the Elves,” cried Loki, “thy cunning has not saved thee. +Tell me, on thy life, where thy hidden treasures lie!” + +The wise dwarf knew who it was that thus held him as in a vise; and he +answered frankly, for it was his only hope of escape, “Turn over the +stone upon which you stand. Beneath it you will find the treasure you +seek.” + +Then Loki put his shoulder to the rock, and pushed with all his might. +But it seemed as firm as the mountain, and would not be moved. + +“Help us, thou cunning dwarf,” he cried,--“help us, and thou shalt have +thy life!” + +The dwarf put his shoulder to the rock, and it turned over as if by +magic, and underneath was disclosed a wondrous chamber, whose walls +shone brighter than the sun, and on whose floor lay treasures of gold +and glittering gem-stones such as no man had ever seen. And Loki, in +great haste, seized upon the hoard, and placed it in the magic net which +he had borrowed from the Ocean-queen. Then he came out of the chamber; +and Andvari again put his shoulder to the rock which lay at the +entrance, and it swung back noiselessly to its place. + +“What is that upon thy finger?” suddenly cried Loki. “Wouldst keep back +a part of the treasure? Give me the ring thou hast!” + +But the dwarf shook his head, and made answer, “I have given thee all +the riches that the elves of the mountain have gathered since the world +began. This ring I cannot give thee, for without its help we shall never +be able to gather more treasures together.” + +And Loki grew angry at these words of the dwarf; and he seized the ring, +and tore it by force from Andvari’s fingers. It was a wondrous little +piece of mechanism shaped like a serpent, coiled, with its tail in its +mouth; and its scaly sides glittered with many a tiny diamond, and its +ruby eyes shone with an evil light. When the dwarf knew that Loki really +meant to rob him of the ring, he cursed it and all who should ever +possess it, saying,-- + +“May the ill-gotten treasure that you have seized tonight be your bane, +and the bane of all to whom it may come, whether by fair means or by +foul! And the ring which you have torn from my hand, may it entail upon +the one who wears it sorrow and untold ills, the loss of friends, and a +violent death! The Norns have spoken, and thus it must be.” + +Loki was pleased with these words, and with the dark curses which +the dwarf pronounced upon the gold; for he loved wrong-doing, for +wrong-doing’s sake, and he knew that no curses could ever make his own +life more cheerless than it always had been. So he thanked Andvari +for his curses and his treasures; and, throwing the magic net upon his +shoulder, he sprang again into the air, and was carried swiftly back to +Hunaland; and, just before the dawn appeared in the east, he alighted +at the door of the farmhouse where Odin and Hoenir still lay bound with +thongs, and guarded by Fafnir and Regin. + +Then the farmer, Hreidmar, brought the otter’s skin, and spread it upon +the ground; and, lo! it grew, and spread out on all sides, until it +covered an acre of ground. And he cried out, “Fulfil now your promise! +Cover every hair of this hide with gold or with precious stones. If you +fail to do this, then your lives, by your own agreement, are forfeited, +and we shall do with you as we list.” + +Odin took the magic net from Loki’s shoulder; and opening it, he poured +the treasures of the mountain elves upon the otter-skin. And Loki and +Hoenir spread the yellow pieces carefully and evenly over every part +of the furry hide. But, after every piece had been laid in its place; +Hreidmar saw near the otter’s mouth a single hair uncovered; and he +declared, that unless this hair, too, were covered, the bargain would +be unfulfilled, and the treasures and lives of his prisoners would be +forfeited. And the Asas looked at each other in dismay; for not another +piece of gold, and not another precious stone, could they find in the +net, although they searched with the greatest care. At last Odin took +from his bosom the ring which Loki had stolen from the dwarf; for he had +been so highly pleased with its form and workmanship, that he had hidden +it, hoping that it would not be needed to complete the payment of the +ransom. And they laid the ring upon the uncovered hair. And now no +portion of the otter’s skin could be seen. And Fafnir and Regin, the +ransom being paid, loosed the shackles of Odin and Hoenir, and bade the +three huntsmen go on their way. + +Odin and Hoenir at once shook off their human disguises, and, taking +their own forms again, hastened with all speed back to Asgard. But Loki +tarried a little while, and said to Hreidmar and his sons,-- + +“By your greediness and falsehood you have won for yourselves the Curse +of the Earth, which lies before you. It shall be your bane. It shall +be the bane of every one who holds it. It shall kindle strife between +father and son, between brother and brother. It shall make you mean, +selfish, beastly. It shall transform you into monsters. The noblest king +among men-folk shall feel its curse. Such is gold, and such it shall +ever be to its worshippers. And the ring which you have gotten +shall impart to its possessor its own nature. Grasping, snaky, cold, +unfeeling, shall he live; and death through treachery shall be his +doom.” + +Then he turned away, delighted that he had thus left the curse of +Andvari with Hreidmar and his sons, and hastened northward toward +the sea; for he wished to redeem the promise that he had made to the +Ocean-queen, to bring back her magic net, and to decoy the richly laden +ship into her clutches. + +No sooner were the strange huntsmen well out of sight than Fafnir and +Regin began to ask their father to divide the glittering hoard with +them. + +“By our strength and through our advice,” said they, “this great store +has come into your hands. Let us place it in three equal heaps, and then +let each take his share and go his way.” + +At this the farmer waxed very angry; and he loudly declared that he +would keep all the treasure for himself, and that his sons should not +have any portion of it whatever. So Fafnir and Regin, nursing their +disappointment, went to the fields to watch their sheep; but their +father sat down to guard his new-gotten treasure. And he took in his +hand the glittering serpent-ring, and gazed into its cold ruby eyes: +and, as he gazed, all his thoughts were fixed upon his gold; and there +was no room in his heart for love toward his fellows, nor for deeds +of kindness, nor for the worship of the All-Father. And behold, as he +continued to look at the snaky ring, a dreadful change came over him. +The warm red blood, which until that time had leaped through his veins, +and given him life and strength and human feelings, became purple and +cold and sluggish; and selfishness, like serpent-poison, took hold of +his heart. Then, as he kept on gazing at the hoard which lay before him, +he began to lose his human shape; his body lengthened into many scaly +folds, and he coiled himself around his loved treasures,--the very +likeness of the ring upon which he had looked so long. + +When the day drew near its close, Fafnir came back from the fields with +his herd of sheep, and thought to find his father guarding the treasure, +as he had left him in the morning; but instead he saw a glittering +snake, fast asleep, encircling the hoard like a huge scaly ring of gold. +His first thought was that the monster had devoured his father; and, +hastily drawing his sword, with one blow he severed the serpent’s head +from its body. And, while yet the creature writhed in the death-agony, +he gathered up the hoard, and fled with it beyond the hills of Hunaland, +until on the seventh day he came to a barren heath far from the homes +of men. There he placed the treasures in one glittering heap; and he +clothed himself in a wondrous mail-coat of gold that was found among +them, and he put on the Helmet of Dread, which had once been the terror +of the mid-world, and the like of which no man had ever seen; and then +he gazed with greedy eyes upon the fateful ring, until he, too, was +changed into a cold and slimy reptile,--a monster dragon. And he coiled +himself about the hoard; and, with his restless eyes forever open, he +gloated day after day upon his loved gold, and watched with ceaseless +care that no one should come near to despoil him of it. This was ages +and ages ago; and still he wallows among his treasures on the Glittering +Heath, and guards as of yore the garnered wealth of Andvari.[EN#10] + +When I, Regin, the younger brother, came back in the late evening to my +father’s dwelling, I saw that the treasure had been carried away; and, +when I beheld the dead serpent lying in its place, I knew that a part of +Andvari’s curse had been fulfilled. And a strange fear came over me; and +I left every thing behind me, and fled from that dwelling, never more +to return. Then I came to the land of the Volsungs, where your father’s +fathers dwelt, the noblest king-folk that the world has ever seen. But +a longing for the gold and the treasure, a hungry yearning, that would +never be satisfied, filled my soul. Then for a time I sought to forget +this craving. I spent my days in the getting of knowledge and in +teaching men-folk the ancient lore of my kin, the Dwarfs. I taught them +how to plant and to sow, and to reap the yellow grain. I showed them +where the precious metals of the earth lie hidden, and how to smelt iron +from its ores,--how to shape the ploughshare and the spade, the spear +and the battle-axe. I taught them how to tame the wild horses of the +meadows, and how to train the yoke-beasts to the plough; how to build +lordly dwellings and mighty strongholds, and how to sail in ships across +old AEgir’s watery kingdom. But they gave me no thanks for what I had +done; and as the years went by they forgot who had been their teacher, +and they said that it was Frey who had given them this knowledge and +skill. And I taught the young maidens how to spin and weave, and +to handle the needle deftly,--to make rich garments, and to work in +tapestry and embroidery. But they, too, forgot me, and said that it was +Freyja who had taught them. Then I showed men how to read the mystic +runes aright, and how to make the sweet beverage of poetry, that charms +all hearts, and enlightens the world. But they say now that they had +these gifts from Odin. I taught them how to fashion the tales of old +into rich melodious songs, and with music and sweet-mouthed eloquence to +move the minds of their fellow-men. But they say that Bragi taught them +this; and they remember me only as Regin, the elfin schoolmaster, or +at best as Mimer, the master of smiths. At length my heart grew bitter +because of the neglect and ingratitude of men; and the old longing for +Andvari’s hoard came back to me, and I forgot much of my cunning and +lore. But I lived on and on, and generations of short-lived men arose +and passed, and still the hoard was not mine; for I was weak, and no man +was strong enough to help me. + +Then I sought wisdom of the Norns, the weird women who weave the woof of +every creature’s fate.[EN#6] and [EN#7] + +“How long,” asked I, “must I hope and wait in weary expectation of that +day when the wealth of the world and the garnered wisdom of the ages +shall be mine?” + +And the witches answered, “When a prince of the Volsung race shall come +who shall excel thee in the smithying craft, and to whom the All-Father +shall give the Shining Hope as a helper, then the days of thy weary +watching, shall cease.” + +“How long,” asked I, “shall I live to enjoy this wealth and this wisdom, +and to walk as a god among men? Shall I be long-lived as the Asa-folk, +and dwell on the earth until the last Twilight comes?” + +“It is written,” answered Skuld, “that a beardless youth shall see thy +death. But go thou now, and bide thy time.” + +Here Regin ended his story, and both he and Siegfried sat for a long +time silent and thoughtful. + +“I know what you wish,” said Siegfried at last. “You think that I am the +prince of whom the weird sisters spoke; and you would have me slay the +dragon Fafnir, and win for you the hoard of Andvari.” + +“It is even so,” answered Regin. + +“But the hoard is accursed,” said the lad. + +“Let the curse be upon me,” was the answer. “Is not the wisdom of the +ages mine? And think you that I cannot escape the curse? Is there aught +that can prevail against him who has all knowledge and the wealth of the +world at his call?” + +“Nothing but the word of the Norns and the will of the All-Father,” + answered Siegfried. + +“But will you help me?” asked Regin, almost wild with earnestness. “Will +you help me to win that which is rightfully mine, and to rid the world +of a horrible evil?” + +“Why is the hoard of Andvari more thine than Fafnir’s?” + +“He is a monster, and he keeps the treasure but to gloat upon its +glittering richness. I will use it to make myself a name upon the earth. +I will not hoard it away. But I am weak, and he is strong and terrible. +Will you help me?” + +“To-morrow,” said Siegfried, “be ready to go with me to the Glittering +Heath. The treasure shall be thine, and also the curse.” + +“And also the curse,” echoed Regin. + + + + + +Adventure IV. Fafnir, the Dragon. + + + +Regin took up his harp, and his fingers smote the strings; and the music +which came forth sounded like the wail of the winter’s wind through +the dead treetops of the forest. And the song which he sang was full of +grief and wild hopeless yearning for the things which were not to be. +When he had ceased, Siegfried said,-- + +“That was indeed a sorrowful song for one to sing who sees his hopes so +nearly realized. Why are you so sad? Is it because you fear the curse +which you have taken upon yourself? or is it because you know not what +you will do with so vast a treasure, and its possession begins already +to trouble you?” + +“Oh, many are the things I will do with that treasure!” answered Regin; +and his eyes flashed wildly, and his face grew red and pale. “I will +turn winter into summer; I will make the desert-places glad; I will +bring back the golden age; I will make myself a god: for mine shall be +the wisdom and the gathered wealth of the world. And yet I fear”-- + +“What do you fear?” + +“The ring, the ring--it is accursed! The Norns, too, have spoken, and my +doom is known. I cannot escape it.” + +“The Norns have woven the woof of every man’s life,” answered Siegfried. +“To-morrow we fare to the Glittering Heath, and the end shall be as the +Norns have spoken.” + +And so, early the next morning, Siegfried mounted Greyfell, and rode +out towards the desert-land that lay beyond the forest and the barren +mountain-range; and Regin, his eyes flashing with desire, and his feet +never tiring, trudged by his side. For seven days they wended their +way through the thick greenwood, sleeping at night on the bare ground +beneath the trees, while the wolves and other wild beasts of the forest +filled the air with their hideous howlings. But no evil creature dared +come near them, for fear of the shining beams of light which fell +from Greyfell’s gleaming mane. On the eighth day they came to the open +country and to the hills, where the land was covered with black bowlders +and broken by yawning chasms. And no living thing was seen there, not +even an insect, nor a blade of grass; and the silence of the grave was +over all. And the earth was dry and parched, and the sun hung above them +like a painted shield in a blue-black sky, and there was neither shade +nor water anywhere. But Siegfried rode onwards in the way which Regin +pointed out, and faltered not, although he grew faint with thirst and +with the overpowering heat. Towards the evening of the next day they +came to a dark mountain-wall which stretched far out on either hand, and +rose high above them, so steep that it seemed to close up the way, and +to forbid them going farther. + +“This is the wall!” cried Regin. “Beyond this mountain is the Glittering +Heath, and the goal of all my hopes.” + +And the little old man ran forwards, and scaled the rough side of the +mountain, and reached its summit, while Siegfried and Greyfell were yet +toiling among the rocks at its foot. Slowly and painfully they climbed +the steep ascent, sometimes following a narrow path which wound along +the edge of a precipice, sometimes leaping, from rock to rock, or over +some deep gorge, and sometimes picking their way among the crags and +cliffs. The sun at last went down, and one by one the stars came out; +and the moon was rising, round and red, when Siegfried stood by Regin’s +side, and gazed from the mountain-top down upon the Glittering Heath +which lay beyond. And a strange, weird scene it was that met his sight. +At the foot of the mountain was a river, white and cold and still; and +beyond it was a smooth and barren plain, lying silent and lonely in +the pale moonlight. But in the distance was seen a circle of flickering +flames, ever changing,--now growing brighter, now fading away, and now +shining with a dull, cold light, like the glimmer of the glow-worm or +the fox-fire. And as Siegfried gazed upon the scene, he saw the dim +outline of some hideous monster moving hither and thither, and seeming +all the more terrible in the uncertain light. + +“It is he!” whispered Regin, and his lips were ashy pale, and his knees +trembled beneath him. “It is Fafnir, and he wears the Helmet of Terror! +Shall we not go back to the smithy by the great forest, and to the life +of ease and safety that may be ours there? Or will you rather dare to go +forwards, and meet the Terror in its abode?” + +“None but cowards give up an undertaking once begun,” answered +Siegfried. “Go back to Rhineland yourself, if you are afraid; but you +must go alone. You have brought me thus far to meet the dragon of the +heath, to win the hoard of the swarthy elves, and to rid the world of +a terrible evil. Before the setting of another sun, the deed which you +have urged me to do will be done.” + +Then he dashed down the eastern slope of the mountain, leaving Greyfell +and the trembling Regin behind him. Soon he stood on the banks of the +white river, which lay between the mountain and the heath; but the +stream was deep and sluggish, and the channel was very wide. He paused +a moment, wondering how he should cross; and the air seemed heavy with +deadly vapors, and the water was thick and cold. While he thus stood in +thought, a boat came silently out of the mists, and drew near; and the +boatman stood up and called to him, and said,-- + +“What man are you who dares come into this land of loneliness and fear?” + +“I am Siegfried,” answered the lad; “and I have come to slay Fafnir, the +Terror.” + +“Sit in my boat,” said the boatman, “and I will carry you across the +river.” + +And Siegfried sat by the boatman’s side; and without the use of an oar, +and without a breath of air to drive it forwards, the little vessel +turned, and moved silently towards the farther shore. + +“In what way will you fight the dragon?” asked the boatman. + +“With my trusty sword Balmung I shall slay him,” answered Siegfried. + +“But he wears the Helmet of Terror, and he breathes deathly poisons, and +his eyes dart forth lightning, and no man can withstand his strength,” + said the boatman. + +“I will find some way by which to overcome him.” + +“Then be wise, and listen to me,” said the boatman. “As you go up from +the river you will find a road, worn deep and smooth, starting from +the water’s edge, and winding over the moor. It is the trail of Fafnir, +adown which he comes at dawn of every day to slake his thirst at the +river. Do you dig a pit in this roadway,--a pit narrow and deep,--and +hide yourself within it. In the morning, when Fafnir passes over it, let +him feel the edge of Balmung.” + +As the man ceased speaking, the boat touched the shore, and Siegfried +leaped out. He looked back to thank his unknown friend, but neither boat +nor boatman was to be seen. Only a thin white mist rose slowly from the +cold surface of the stream, and floated upwards and away towards the +mountain-tops. Then the lad remembered that the strange boatman had worn +a blue hood bespangled with golden stars, and that a gray kirtle was +thrown over his shoulders, and that his one eye glistened and sparkled +with a light that was more than human. And he knew that he had again +talked with Odin. Then, with a braver heart than before, he went +forwards, along the river-bank, until he came to Fafnir’s trail,--a +deep, wide furrow in the earth, beginning at the river’s bank, and +winding far away over the heath, until it was lost to sight in the +darkness. The bottom of the trail was soft and slimy, and its sides had +been worn smooth by Fafnir’s frequent travel through it. + +In this road, at a point not far from the river, Siegfried, with his +trusty sword Balmung, scooped out a deep and narrow pit, as Odin had +directed. And when the gray dawn began to appear in the east he hid +himself within this trench, and waited for the coming of the monster. He +had not long to wait; for no sooner had the sky begun to redden in the +light of the coming sun than the dragon was heard bestirring himself. +Siegfried peeped warily from his hiding-place, and saw him coming far +down the road, hurrying with all speed, that he might quench his thirst +at the sluggish river, and hasten back to his gold; and the sound which +he made was like the trampling of many feet and the jingling of many +chains. With bloodshot eyes, and gaping mouth, and flaming nostrils, the +hideous creature came rushing onwards. His sharp, curved claws dug +deep into the soft earth; and his bat-like wings, half trailing on the +ground, half flapping in the air, made a sound like that which is heard +when Thor rides in his goat-drawn chariot over the dark thunder-clouds. +It was a terrible moment for Siegfried, but still he was not afraid. He +crouched low down in his hiding-place, and the bare blade of the trusty +Balmung glittered in the morning light. On came the hastening feet and +the flapping wings: the red gleam from the monster’s flaming nostrils +lighted up the trench where Siegfried lay. He heard a roaring and a +rushing like the sound of a whirlwind in the forest; then a black, +inky mass rolled above him, and all was dark. Now was Siegfried’s +opportunity. The bright edge of Balmung gleamed in the darkness one +moment, and then it smote the heart of Fafnir as he passed. Some men say +that Odin sat in the pit with Siegfried, and strengthened his arm and +directed his sword, or else he could not thus have slain the Terror. +But, be this as it may, the victory was soon won. The monster stopped +short, while but half of his long body had glided over the pit; for +sudden death had overtaken him. His horrid head fell lifeless upon +the ground; his cold wings flapped once, and then lay, quivering and +helpless, spread out on either side; and streams of thick black blood +flowed from his heart, through the wound beneath, and filled the trench +in which Siegfried was hidden, and ran like a mountain-torrent down the +road towards the river. Siegfried was covered from head to foot with the +slimy liquid, and, had he not quickly leaped from his hiding-place, he +would have been drowned in the swift-rushing, stream.[EN#11] + +The bright sun rose in the east, and gilded the mountain-tops, and fell +upon the still waters of the river, and lighted up the treeless plains +around. The south wind played gently against Siegfried’s cheeks and in +his long hair, as he stood gazing on his fallen foe. And the sound of +singing birds, and rippling waters, and gay insects,--such as had not +broken the silence of the Glittering Heath for ages,--came to his ears. +The Terror was dead, and Nature had awakened from her sleep of dread. +And as the lad leaned upon his sword, and thought of the deed he had +done, behold! the shining Greyfell, with the beaming, hopeful mane, +having crossed the now bright river, stood by his side. And Regin, his +face grown wondrous cold, came trudging over the meadows; and his heart +was full of guile. Then the mountain vultures came wheeling downwards +to look upon the dead dragon; and with them were two ravens, black as +midnight. And when Siegfried saw these ravens he knew them to be Odin’s +birds,--Hugin, thought, and Munin, memory. And they alighted on the +ground near by; and the lad listened to hear what they would say. Then +Hugin flapped his wings, and said,-- + +“The deed is done. Why tarries the hero?” + +And Munin said,-- + +“The world is wide. Fame waits for the hero.” + +And Hugin answered,-- + +“What if he win the Hoard of the Elves? That is not honor. Let him seek +fame by nobler deeds.” + +Then Munin flew past his ear, and whispered,-- + +“Beware of Regin, the master! His heart is poisoned. He would be thy +bane.” + +And the two birds flew away to carry the news to Odin in the happy halls +of Gladsheim. + +When Regin drew near to look upon the dragon, Siegfried kindly accosted +him: but he seemed not to hear; and a snaky glitter lurked in his eyes, +and his mouth was set and dry, and he seemed as one walking in a dream. + +“It is mine now,” he murmured: “it is all mine, now,--the Hoard of the +swarthy elf-folk, the garnered wisdom of ages. The strength of the world +is mine. I will keep, I will save, I will heap up; and none shall have +part or parcel of the treasure which is mine alone.” + +Then his eyes fell upon Siegfried; and his cheeks grew dark with wrath, +and he cried out,-- + +“Why are you here in my way? I am the lord of the Glittering Heath: I am +the master of the Hoard. I am the master, and you are my thrall.” + +Siegfried wondered at the change which had taken place in his old +master; but he only smiled at his strange words, and made no answer. + +“You have slain my brother!” Regin cried; and his face grew fearfully +black, and his mouth foamed with rage. + +“It was my deed and yours,” calmly answered Siegfried. “I have rid the +world of a Terror: I have righted a grievous wrong.” + +“You have slain my brother,” said Regin; “and a murderer’s ransom you +shall pay!” + +“Take the Hoard for your ransom, and let us each wend his way,” said the +lad. + +“The Hoard is mine by rights,” answered Regin still more wrathfully. “I +am the master, and you are my thrall. Why stand you in my way?” + +Then, blinded with madness, he rushed at Siegfried as if to strike him +down; but his foot slipped in a puddle of gore, and he pitched headlong +against the sharp edge of Balmung. So sudden was this movement, and so +unlooked for, that the sword was twitched out of Siegfried’s hand, and +fell with a dull splash into the blood-filled pit before him; while +Regin, slain by his own rashness, sank dead upon the ground. Full of +horror, Siegfried turned away, and mounted Greyfell.[EN#12] + +“This is a place of blood,” said he, “and the way to glory leads not +through it. Let the Hoard still lie on the Glittering Heath: I will go +my way from hence; and the world shall know me for better deeds than +this.” + +And he turned his back on the fearful scene, and rode away; and so +swiftly did Greyfell carry him over the desert land and the mountain +waste, that, when night came, they stood on the shore of the great North +Sea, and the white waves broke at their feet. And the lad sat for a long +time silent upon the warm white sand of the beach, and Greyfell waited +at his side. And he watched the stars as they came out one by one, and +the moon, as it rose round and pale, and moved like a queen across the +sky. And the night wore away, and the stars grew pale, and the moon sank +to rest in the wilderness of waters. And at day-dawn Siegfried looked +towards the west, and midway between sky and sea he thought he saw dark +mountain-tops hanging above a land of mists that seemed to float upon +the edge of the sea. + +While he looked, a white ship, with sails all set, came speeding over +the waters towards him. It came nearer and nearer, and the sailors +rested upon their oars as it glided into the quiet harbor. A minstrel, +with long white beard floating in the wind, sat at the prow; and the +sweet music from his harp was wafted like incense to the shore. The +vessel touched the sands: its white sails were reefed as if by magic, +and the crew leaped out upon the beach. + +“Hail, Siegfried the Golden!” cried the harper. “Whither do you fare +this summer day?” + +“I have come from a land of horror and dread,” answered the lad; “and I +would fain fare to a brighter.” + +“Then go with me to awaken the earth from its slumber, and to robe the +fields in their garbs of beauty,” said the harper. And he touched the +strings of his harp, and strains of the softest music arose in the still +morning air. And Siegfried stood entranced, for never before had he +heard such music. + +“Tell me who you are!” he cried, when the sounds died away. “Tell me who +you are, and I will go to the ends of the earth with you.” + +“I am Bragi,” answered the harper, smiling. And Siegfried noticed then +that the ship was laden with flowers of every hue, and that thousands +of singing birds circled around and above it, filling the air with the +sound of their glad twitterings. + +Now, Bragi was the sweetest musician in all the world. It was said by +some that his home was with the song-birds, and that he had learned his +skill from them. But this was only part of the truth: for wherever there +was loveliness or beauty, or things noble and pure, there was Bragi; +and his wondrous power in music and song was but the outward sign of +a blameless soul. When he touched the strings of his golden harp, all +Nature was charmed with the sweet harmony: the savage beasts of the wood +crept near to listen; the birds paused in their flight; the waves of the +sea were becalmed, and the winds were hushed; the leaping waterfall +was still, and the rushing torrent tarried in its bed; the elves forgot +their hidden treasures, and joined in silent dance around him; and the +strom-karls and the musicians of the wood vainly tried to imitate him. +And he was as fair of speech as he was skilful in song. His words were +so persuasive that he had been known to call the fishes from the sea, to +move great lifeless rocks, and, what is harder, the hearts of kings. He +understood the voice of the birds, and the whispering of the breeze, the +murmur of the waves, and the roar of the waterfalls. He knew the length +and breadth of the earth, and the secrets of the sea, and the language +of the stars. And every day he talked with Odin the All-Father, and with +the wise and good in the sunlit halls of Gladsheim. And once every year +he went to the North-lands, and woke the earth from its long winter’s +sleep, and scattered music and smiles and beauty everywhere.[EN#13] + +Right gladly did Siegfried agree to sail with Bragi over the sea; for +he wot that the bright Asa-god would be a very different guide from +the cunning, evil-eyed Regin. So he went on board with Bragi, and the +gleaming Greyfell followed them, and the sailors sat at their oars. And +Bragi stood in the prow, and touched the strings of his harp. And, as +the music arose, the white sails leaped up the masts, and a warm south +breeze began to blow; and the little vessel, wafted by sweet sounds and +the incense of spring, sped gladly away over the sea. + + + + + +Adventure V. In AEgir’s Kingdom. + + + +The vessel in which Siegfried sailed was soon far out at sea; for the +balmy south wind, and the songs of the birds, and the music from Bragi’s +harp, all urged it cheerily on. And Siegfried sat at the helm, and +guided it in its course. By and by they lost all sight of land, and the +sailors wist not where they were; but they knew that Bragi, the Wise, +would bring them safely into some haven whenever it should so please +him, and they felt no fear. And the fishes leaped up out of the water +as the white ship sped by on woven wings; and the monsters of the deep +paused, and listened to the sweet music which floated down from above. +After a time the vessel began to meet great ice-mountains in the +sea,--mountains which the Reifriesen, and old Hoder, the King of the +winter months, had sent drifting down from the frozen land of the north. +But these melted at the sound of Bragi’s music and at the sight of +Siegfried’s radiant armor. And the cold breath of the Frost-giants, +which had driven them in their course, turned, and became the ally of +the south wind. + +At length they came in sight of a dark shore, which stretched on either +hand, north and south, as far as the eye could reach; and as they drew +nearer they saw a line of huge mountains, rising, as it were, out of +the water, and stretching their gray heads far above the clouds. And +the overhanging cliffs seemed to look down, half in anger, half in pity, +upon the little white winged vessel which had dared thus to sail through +these unknown waters. But the surface of the sea was smooth as glass; +and the gentle breeze drove the ship slowly forwards through the calm +water, and along the rock-bound coast, and within the dark shadows of +the mountain-peaks. Long ago the Frost-giants had piled great heaps of +snow upon these peaks, and built huge fortresses of ice between, +and sought, indeed, to clasp in their cold embrace the whole of the +Norwegian land. But the breezes of the South-land that came with Bragi’s +ship now played among the rocky steeps, and swept over the frozen +slopes above, and melted the snow and ice; and thousands of rivulets of +half-frozen water ran down the mountain-sides, and tumbled into rocky +gorges, or plunged into the sea. And the grass began to grow on the +sunny slopes, and the flowers peeped up through the half-melted snow, +and the music of spring was heard on every side. Now and then the little +vessel passed by deep, dark inlets enclosed between high mountain-walls, +and reaching many leagues far into land. But the sailors steered clear +of these shadowy fjords; for they said that Ran, the dread Ocean-queen, +lived there, and spread her nets in the deep green waters to entangle +unwary seafaring men. And the sound of Bragi’s harp awakened all +sleeping things; and it was carried from rock to rock, and from +mountain-height to valley, and was borne on the breeze far up the +fjords, and all over the land. + +One day, as they were sailing through these quiet waters, beneath the +overhanging cliffs, Bragi tuned his harp, and sang a song of sea. And +then he told Siegfried a story of AEgir and his gold-lit hall. + +Old AEgir was the Ocean-king. At most times he was rude and rough, and +his manners were uncouth and boisterous. But when Balder, the Shining +One, smiled kindly upon him from above, or when Bragi played his harp by +the seashore, or sailed his ship on the waters, the heart of the bluff +old king was touched with a kindly feeling, and he tried hard to curb +his ungentle passions, and to cease his blustering ways. He was one of +the old race of giants; and men believe that he would have been a very +good and quiet giant, had it not been for the evil ways of his wife, the +crafty Queen Ran. For, however kind at heart the king might be, his good +intentions were almost always thwarted by the queen. Ran could never be +trusted; and no one, unless it were Loki, the Mischief-maker, could ever +say any thing in her praise. She was always lurking among hidden rocks, +or in the deep sea, or along the shores of silent fjords, and reaching +out with her long lean fingers, seeking to clutch in her greedy grasp +whatever prey might unwarily come near her. And many richly-laden +vessels, and many brave seamen and daring warriors, had she dragged down +to her blue-hung chamber in old AEgir’s hall. + +And this is the story that Bragi told of + + + +The Feast in AEgir’s Hall. + + + +It happened long ago, when the good folk at Gladsheim were wont to visit +the mid-world oftener than now. On a day in early autumn Queen Ran, +with her older daughters,--Raging Sea, Breaker, Billow, Surge, and +Surf,--went out to search for plunder. But old AEgir staid at home, and +with him his younger daughters,--fair Purple-hair, gentle Diver, dancing +Ripple, and smiling Sky-clear. And as they played around him, and kissed +his old storm-beaten cheeks, the heart of the king was softened into +gentleness, and he began to think kindly of the green earth which +bordered his kingdom, and of the brave men who lived there; but most of +all did he think of the great and good Asa-folk, who dwell in Asgard, +and overlook the affairs of the world. Then he called his servants, +Funfeng and Elder, and bade them prepare a feast in his gold-lit hall. +And he sent fleet messengers to invite the Asa-folk to come and partake +of the good cheer. And his four young daughters played upon the beach, +and smiled and danced in the beaming sunlight. And the hearts of many +seafaring men were gladdened that day, as they spread their sails to the +wind; for they saw before them a pleasant voyage, and the happy issue of +many an undertaking. + +Long before the day had begun to wane, the Asa-folk arrived in a body +at AEgir’s hall; for they were glad to answer the bidding of the +Ocean-king. Odin came, riding Sleipner, his eight-footed steed; Thor +rode in his iron chariot drawn by goats; Frey came with Gullinburste, +his golden-bristled boar. There, too, was the war-like Tyr, and blind +Hoder, and the silent Vidar, and the sage Forsete, and the hearkening +Heimdal, and Niord, the Ruler of the Winds, and Bragi, with his harp; +and lastly came many elves, the thralls of the Asa-folk, and Loki, the +cunning Mischief-maker. In his rude but hearty way old AEgir welcomed +them; and they went down into his amber hall, and rested themselves upon +the sea-green couches that had been spread for them. And a thousand +fair mermaids stood around them, and breathed sweet melodies through +sea-shells of rainbow hue, while the gentle white-veiled daughters of +the Ocean-king danced to the bewitching music. + +Hours passed by, and the sun began to slope towards the west, and the +waiting guests grew hungry and ill at ease; and then they began to +wonder why the feast was so long in getting ready. At last the host +himself became impatient; and he sent out in haste for his servants, +Funfeng and Elder. Trembling with fear, they came and stood before him. + +“Master,” said they, “we know that you are angry because the feast is +not yet made ready; but we beg that your anger may not fall upon us. The +truth is, that some thief has stolen your brewing-kettle, and we have no +ale for your guests.” + +Then old AEgir’s brow grew dark, and his breath came quick and fast; +and, had not Niord held the winds tightly clutched in his hand, there +would have been a great uproar in the hall. Even as it was, the mermaids +fled away in great fright, and the white-veiled Waves stopped dancing, +and a strange silence fell upon all the company. + +“Some enemy has done this!” crier AEgir, as soon as he could speak. +“Some enemy has taken away my brewing-kettle; and, unless we can find +it, I fear our feast will be but a dry one.” + +Then Thor said,-- + +“If any one knows where this kettle is, let him speak, and I will bring +it back; and I promise you you shall not wait long for the feast.” + +But not one in all this company knew aught about the missing kettle. At +last Tyr stood up and said,-- + +“If we cannot find the same vessel that our host has lost, mayhap we +may find another as good. I know a dogwise giant who lives east of the +Rivers Elivagar, and who has a strong kettle, fully a mile deep, and +large enough to brew ale for all the world.” + +“That is the very kettle we want!” cried Thor. “Think you that we can +get it?” + +“If we are cunning enough, we may,” answered Tyr. “But old Hymer will +never give it up willingly.” + +“Is it Hymer of whom you speak?” asked Thor. “Then I know him well; and, +willingly or not willingly he must let us have his kettle. For what is a +feast without the gladsome ale?” + +Then Thor and Tyr set out on their journey towards the land of Elivagar; +and they travelled many a league northwards, across snowy mountains +and barren plains, until they came to the shores of the frozen sea. And +there the sun rises and sets but once a year, and even in summer the sea +is full of ice. On the lonely beach, stood Hymer’s dwelling,--a dark +and gloomy abode. Tyr knocked at the door; and it was opened by Hymer’s +wife, a strangely handsome woman, who bade them come in. Inside the hall +they saw Hymer’s old mother, sitting in the chimney-corner, and crooning +over the smouldering fire. She was a horribly ugly old giantess, with +nine hundred heads; but every head was blind and deaf and toothless. Ah, +me! what a wretched old age that must have been! + +“Is your husband at home?” asked Thor, speaking to the pretty woman who +had opened the door. + +“He is not,” was the answer. “He is catching fish in the warm waters of +the sheltered bay; or, mayhap, he is tending his cows in the open sea, +just around the headland.” + +For the great icebergs that float down from the frozen sea are called +old Hymer’s cows. + +“We have come a very long journey,” said Tyr. “Will you not give +two tired strangers food and lodging until they shall have rested +themselves?” + +The woman seemed in nowise loath to do this; and she set before the two +Asa-folk a plentiful meal of the best that she had in the house. When +they had eaten, she told them that it would be far safer for them to +hide themselves under the great kettles in the hall; for, she said, her +husband would soon be home, and he might not be kind to them. So Thor +and Tyr hid themselves, and listened for Hymer’s coming. After a time, +the great hall-door opened, and they heard the heavy steps of the giant. + +“Welcome home!” cried the woman, as Hymer shook the frost from his hair +and beard, and stamped the snow from his feet. “I am so glad that you +have come! for there are two strangers in the hall, and they have asked +for you. One of them I know is Thor, the foe of the giants, and the +friend of man. The other is the one-armed god of war, the brave Tyr. +What can be their errand at Hymer’s hall?” + +“Where are they?” roared Hymer, stamping so furiously, that even his +deaf old mother seemed to hear, and lifted up her heads. + +“They are under the kettles, at the gable-end of the hall,” answered the +woman. + +Hymer cast a wrathful glance towards the place. The post at the end of +the hall was shivered in pieces by his very look; the beam that upheld +the floor of the loft was broken, and all the kettles tumbled down with +a fearful crash. Thor and Tyr crept out from among the rubbish, and +stood before old Hymer. The giant was not well pleased at the sight of +such guests come thus unbidden to his hall. But he knew that his rude +strength would count as nothing if matched with their skill and weapons: +hence he deemed it wise to treat the two Asas as his friends, and to +meet them with cunning and strategy. + +“Welcome to my hall!” he cried. “Fear no hurt from Hymer, for he was +never known to harm a guest.” + +And Thor and Tyr were given the warmest seats at the fireside. And the +giant ordered his thralls to kill the fatted oxen, and to make ready a +great feast in honor of his guests. And, while the meal was being got +ready, he sat by Thor’s side, and asked him many questions about what +was going on in the great South-land. And Thor answered him pleasantly, +meeting guile with guile. When the feast was in readiness, all sat down +at the table, which groaned beneath its weight of meat and drink; for +Hymer’s thralls had killed three fat oxen, and baked them whole for +this meal, and they had filled three huge bowls with ale from his great +brewing-kettle. Hymer ate and drank very fast, and wished to make his +guests fear him, because he could eat so much. But Thor was not to be +taken aback in this way; for he at once ate two of the oxen, and quaffed +a huge bowl of ale which the giant had set aside for himself. The giant +saw that he was outdone, and he arose from the table, saying,-- + +“Not all my cows would serve to feed two guests so hungry as these. We +shall be obliged to live on fish now.” + +He strode out of the hall without another word, and began getting his +boat ready for a sail. But Thor followed him. + +“It is a fine day for fishing,” said Thor gayly. “How I should like to +go out with you!” + +“Such little fellows as you would better stay at home,” growled Hymer. + +“But let me go with you,” persisted Thor. “I can certainly row the boat +while you fish.” + +“I have no need of help from such a stunted pygmy,” muttered the giant. +“You could not be of the least use to me: you would only be in my way. +Still, if you are bent on doing so, you may go, and you shall take all +the risks. If I go as far as I do sometimes, and stay as long as I often +do, you may make up your mind never to see the dry land again; for you +will certainly catch your death of cold, and be food for the fishes--if, +indeed, they would deign to eat such a scrawny scrap!” + +These taunting words made Thor so angry, that he grasped his hammer, and +was sorely tempted to crush the giant’s skull. But he checked himself, +and coolly said,-- + +“I pray you not to trouble yourself on my account I have set my head on +going with you, and go I will. Tell me where I can find something that I +can use for bait, and I will be ready in a trice.” + +“I have no bait for you,” roughly answered Hymer “You must look for it +yourself.” + +Half a dozen oxen, the very finest and fattest of Hymer’s herd, were +grazing on the short grass which grew on the sunnier slopes of the +hillside; for not all of the giant’s cattle had yet taken to the water. +When Thor saw these great beasts, he ran quickly towards them, and +seizing the largest one, which Hymer called the Heaven-breaker, he +twisted off his head as easily as he would that of a small fowl, and ran +back with it to the boat. Hymer looked at him in anger and amazement, +but said nothing; and the two pushed the boat off from the shore. The +little vessel sped through the water more swiftly than it had ever done +before, for Thor plied the oars. + +In a moment the long, low beach was out of sight; and Hymer, who had +never travelled so fast, began to feel frightened. + +“Stop!” he cried. “Here is the place to fish: I have often caught great +store of flat-fish here. Let us out with our lines!” + +“No, no!” answered Thor; and he kept on plying the oars. “We are not yet +far enough from shore. The best fish are still many leagues out.” + +And the boat skimmed onwards through the waters, and the white spray +dashed over the prow; and Hymer, now very much frightened, sat still, +and looked at his strange fellow-fisherman, but said not a word. On and +on they went; and the shore behind them first grew dim, and then sank +out of sight; and the high mountain-tops began to fade away in the sky, +and then were seen no more. And when at last the fishermen were so far +out at sea that nothing was in sight but the rolling waters on every +side, Thor stopped his rowing. + +“We have come too far!” cried the giant, trembling in every limb. “The +great Midgard snake lies hereabouts. Let us turn back!” + +“Not yet,” answered Thor quietly. “We will fish here a little while.” + +Without loss of time he took from his pocket a strong hook, wonderfully +made, to which he fastened a long line as strong as ten ships’ cables +twisted together; then he carefully baited the hook with the gory head +of the Heaven-breaker ox, and threw it into the water. As the giant had +feared, they were now right over the head of the great Midgard snake. +The huge beast looked upward with his sleepy eyes, and saw the tempting +bait falling slowly through the water; but he did not see the boat, it +was so far above him. Thinking of no harm, he opened his leathern jaws, +and greedily gulped the morsel down; but the strong iron hook stuck fast +in his throat. Maddened by the pain, he began to lash his tail against +the floor of the sea; and he twisted and writhed until the ocean was +covered with foam, and the waves ran mountain-high. But Thor pulled hard +upon the line above, and strove to lift the reptile’s head out of the +water; then the snake darted with lightning speed away, pulling the boat +after him so swiftly, that, had not Thor held on to the oar-locks, he +would have been thrown into the sea. Quickly he tightened his magic +girdle of strength around him, and, standing up in the boat, he pulled +with all his might. The snake would not be lifted. But the boat split in +two; and Thor slid into the water, and stood upon the bottom of the sea. +He seized the great snake in his hands, and raised his head clean above +the water. What a scene of frightful turmoil was there then! The earth +shook; the mountains belched forth fire; the lightnings flashed; the +caves howled; and the sky grew black and red. Nobody knows what the end +would have been, had not Hymer reached over, and cut the strong cord. +The slippery snake glided out of Thor’s hands, and hid himself in the +deep sea; and every thing became quiet again. + +Silently Thor and Hymer sat in the broken boat, and rowed swiftly back +towards land. Thor felt really ashamed of himself, because he had gained +nothing by his venture. And the giant was not at all happy. + +When they reached the frozen shore and Hymer’s cheerless castle again, +they found Tyr there, anxiously waiting for them. He felt that they were +tarrying too long in this dreary place; and he wished to be back among +his fellows in old AEgir’s hall. Hymer felt very cross and ugly because +his boat had been broken; and, when they came into the hall, he said to +Thor,-- + +“You may think that you are very stout,--you who dared attack the +Midgard snake, and lifted him out of the sea. Yet there are many little +things that you cannot do. For instance, here is the earthen goblet from +which I drink my ale. Great men, like myself, can crush such goblets +between their thumbs and fingers; but such puny fellows as you will find +that they cannot break it by any means.” + +“Let me try!” cried Thor. + +He took the great goblet in his hands, and threw it with all his +strength against a stone post in the middle of the hall. The post was +shattered into a thousand pieces, but the goblet was unharmed. + +“Ha, ha!” laughed the giant. “Try again!” + +Thor did so. This time he threw it against a huge granite rock that +stood like a mountain near the seashore. The rock crumbled in pieces and +fell, but the goblet was whole as ever. + +“What a very stout fellow you are!” cried Hymer in glee. “Go home now, +and tell the good Asa-folk that you cannot even break a goblet!” + +“Let me try once more,” said Thor, amazed, but not disheartened. + +“Throw it against Hymer’s forehead,” whispered some one over his +shoulder. “It is harder than any rock.” + +Thor looked, and saw that it was the giant’s handsome wife who had +given him this kind advice. He took the goblet, and hurled it quickly, +straight at old Hymer’s head. The giant had no time to dodge. The +vessel struck him squarely between the eyes, and was shattered into ten +thousand little pieces. But the giant’s forehead was unhurt. + +“That drink was rather hot!” cried Hymer, trying to joke at his ill +luck. “But it doesn’t take a very great man to break a goblet. There +is one thing, however, that you cannot do. Yonder is my great +brewing-kettle, a mile deep. No man has ever lifted it. Now, if you will +carry it out of the hall, where it sits, you may have it for your own.” + +“Agreed!” cried Thor. “It is a fair bargain; and, if I fail, I will go +home and never trouble you again.” + +Then he took hold of the edge of the great kettle, and lifted it with +all his might. The floor of Hymer’s hall broke under him, and the walls +and roof came tumbling down; but he turned the kettle over his head, +and walked away with it, the great rings of the vessel clattering at his +heels. Tyr went before him, and cleared the way; and Hymer gazed +after him in utter amazement. The two Asa-folk had fairly won the +brewing-kettle. + +In due time they reached old AEgir’s hall, where the guests were still +waiting for them. Some said that they had been gone three days, but most +agreed that it was only three hours. Be that as it may, AEgir’s thralls, +Funfeng and Elder, brewed great store of ale in the kettle which Thor +had brought; and, when the guests were seated at the table, the foaming +liquor passed itself around to each, and there was much merriment and +glad good cheer. And old AEgir was so happy in the pleasant company of +the Asa-folk, that men say that he forgot to blow and bluster for a full +six months thereafter.[EN#14] + +Such was the story which the wise harper told to Siegfried as they +sailed gayly along the Norwegian shore. And with many other pleasant +tales did they beguile the hours away. And no one ever thought of +danger, for the sky was blue and cloudless. And, besides this, Bragi +himself was on board; and he could charm and control the rudest +elements. + +One day, however, the sea became unaccountably ruffled. There was no +wind; but yet the waves rose suddenly, and threatened to overwhelm the +little ship. Quickly the sailors sprang to their oars, and tried by +rowing to drive the vessel away from the shore and into the quieter +waters of the open sea. But all their strength was of no avail: the +swift stream carried the little bark onward in its course, as an autumn +leaf is borne on the bosom of a mighty river. Then the whole surface +of the water seemed lashed into fury. The waves formed hundreds of +currents, each stronger than a mountain torrent, and each seeming to +follow a course of its own. They clashed wildly against each other; they +heaved, and boiled, and hissed, and threw great clouds of spray high +into the air; they formed deep whirlpools, which twisted and twirled, +and broke into a thousand eddies, and then plunged deep down into rocky +caverns beneath, or laid bare the bottom of the sea. The helpless ship +was carried round and round, swiftly and more swiftly still; and vain +were the efforts of the crew to steer her out of the seething caldron +of waters. Then the cheeks of the sailors grew white with fear; and they +dropped their oars, and clung to the masts and ropes, and cried out,-- + +“Alas, we are lost! This is old AEgir’s brewing-kettle!” + +But Siegfried stood by the helm, and said,-- + +“If that be true, then we may sup with him in his gold-lit hall.” + +And all this time Bragi slept in the hold, and no one dared awaken him. +Faster and faster the ship was carried round the seething pool. The +flying spray was frozen in the air; and it filled the masts with snow, +and pattered like heavy hail upon the deck. The light of the sun seemed +shut out, and darkness closed around. A dismal chasm yawned deep before +them, and in the gray gloom the ship’s crew saw many wondrous things. +Great sea-monsters swam among the rocks, and seemed not to heed the +uproar above them. Lovely mermaids sat in their green-and-purple caves, +and combed their tresses of golden hair; and thoughtful mermen groped +among the seaweeds, searching hopefully for lost or hidden treasures. +Then Siegfried caught a glimpse of the mighty AEgir, sitting in his +banquet-room; and, as he quaffed his foaming ale, he called aloud to his +daughters to leave their play, and come to their father in his gold-lit +hall. And the white-veiled Waves answered to their names, and came +at his call. First, Raging Sea entered the wide hall, and sat by the +Ocean-king’s side; then Billow, then Surge, then Surf, and Breakers; +then came the Purple-haired, and the Diver; but AEgir’s two youngest +daughters, Laughing Ripple and Smiling Sky-clear, came not at their +father’s beck, but lingered to play among the rocks and in the open sea. + +So deeply engaged was Siegfried in watching this scene, that he did not +notice Bragi, who now came upon the deck with his harp in his hand. And +sweet music arose from among the dashing waves, and was heard far down +in the deep sea-caverns, and even in AEgir’s hall. And, when Siegfried +looked up again, the eddying whirlpools, and the threatening waves, and +the flying spray, were no more; but the ship was gliding over the quiet +waters of a deep blue sea, and the sun was shining brightly in the clear +sky above. Then an east wind filled the sails; and, as Bragi’s music +rose sweeter and higher, they glided swiftly away from the coast, and +soon the snow-capped mountain-peaks grew dim in the distance, and then +sank from sight. + +Many days they sailed over an unknown sea, and towards an unknown land; +and none but Bragi knew what the end of their voyage would be. And yet +no one doubted or was afraid, for the secrets of the earth and the sea +were known to the sweet singer. After a time, the water became as smooth +as glass: not a ripple moved upon its surface, and not the slightest +breath of air stirred among the idly-hanging sails. Then the sailors +went to their oars; but they seemed overcome with languor and +sleepiness, and only when Bragi played upon his harp did they move their +oars with their wonted strength and quickness. And at last they came in +sight of a long, low coast, and a shelving beach up which the tide was +slowly creeping in drowsy silence. And not half a league from the shore +was a grand old castle, with a tall tower and many turrets, and broad +halls and high battlements; and in the light of the setting sun every +thing was as green as emerald or as the fresh grass of early spring. And +a pale flickering light gleamed on the castle-walls, and the moat seemed +filled with a glowing fire. + +The ship glided silently up to the sandy beach, and the sailors moored +it to the shore. But Siegfried heard no sound upon the land, nor could +he see any moving, living thing. Silence brooded everywhere, and the +castle and its inmates seemed to be wrapped in slumber. The sentinels +could be seen upon the ramparts, standing like statues of stone, and +showing no signs of life; while above the barbacan gate the watchman was +at his post, motionless and asleep. + + + + + +Adventure VI. Brunhild. + + + +Siegfried and the harper sat together in the little ship as it lay +moored to the sandy shore; and their eyes were turned towards the +sea-green castle and its glowing walls, and they looked in vain for +any movement, or any sign of wakeful life. Every thing was still. Not a +breath of air was stirring. The leaves of the trees hung motionless, +as if they, too, were asleep. The great green banner on the tower’s top +clung around the flagstaff as if it had never fluttered to the breeze. +No song of birds, nor hum of insects, came to their ears. There was +neither sound nor motion anywhere. + +“Play your harp, good Bragi, and awaken all these sleepers,” said +Siegfried. + +Then the harper touched the magic strings, and strains of music, loud +and clear, but sweet as a baby’s breath, rose up in the still air, +and floated over the quiet bay, and across the green meadows which lay +around the castle-walls; and it was borne upward over the battlements, +and among the shining turrets and towers, and was carried far out over +the hills, and among the silent trees of the plain. And Bragi sung of +the beginning of all things, and of whatsoever is beautiful on the land, +or in the sea, or in the sky. And Siegfried looked to see every thing +awakened, and quickened into life, as had oft been done before by +Bragi’s music; but nothing stirred. The sun went down, and the gray +twilight hung over sea and land, and the red glow in the castle-moat +grew redder still; and yet every thing slept. Then Bragi ended his song, +and the strings of his harp were mute. + +“Music has no charms to waken from sleep like that,” he said. + +And then he told Siegfried what it all meant; and, to make the story +plain, he began by telling of Odin’s bright home at Gladsheim and of the +many great halls that were there. + +One of the halls in Gladsheim is called Valhal. This hall is so large +and wide, that all the armies of the earth might move within it. +Outside, it is covered with gold and with sun-bright shields. A fierce +wolf stands guard before it, and a mountain-eagle hovers over it. It has +five hundred and forty doors, each large enough for eight hundred heroes +to march through abreast. Inside, every thing is glittering bright. The +rafters are made of spears, and the ceiling is covered with shields, +and the walls are decked with war-coats. In this hall Odin sets daily +a feast for all the heroes that have been slain in battle. These sit +at the great table, and eat of the food which Odin’s servants have +prepared, and drink of the heavenly mead which the Valkyries, Odin’s +handmaids, bring them. + +But the Valkyries have a greater duty. When the battle rages, and swords +clash, and shields ring, and the air is filled with shouts and groans +and all the din of war, then these maidens hover over the field of blood +and death, and carry the slain heroes home to Valhal.[EN#15] + +One of Odin’s Valkyries was named Brunhild, and she was the most +beautiful of all the maidens that chose heroes for his war-host. But she +was wilful too, and did not always obey the All-Father’s behests. And +when Odin knew that she had sometimes snatched the doomed from death, +and sometimes helped her chosen friends to victory, he was very angry. +And he drove her away from Gladsheim, and sent her, friendless and poor, +to live among the children of men, and to be in all ways like them. But, +as she wandered weary and alone over the earth, the good old King of +Isenland saw her beauty and her distress, and pity and love moved +his heart; and, as he had no children of his own, he took her for his +daughter, and made her his heir. And not long afterward he died, and the +matchless Brunhild became queen of all the fair lands of Isenland and +the hall of Isenstein. When Odin heard of this, he was more angry still; +and he sent to Isenstein, and caused Brunhild to be stung with the thorn +of Sleep. And he said,-- + +“She shall sleep until one shall come who is brave enough to ride +through fire to awaken her.” + +And all Isenland slept too, because Brunhild, the Maiden of Spring, lay +wounded with the Sleepful thorn. + +* * * * * + +When Siegfried heard this story, he knew that the land which lay before +them was Isenland, and that the castle was Isenstein, and that Brunhild +was sleeping within that circle of fire. + +“My songs have no power to awaken such a sleeper,” said Bragi. “A hero +strong and brave must ride through the flame to arouse her. It is for +this that I have brought you hither; and here I will leave you, while I +sail onwards to brighten other lands with my music.” + +Siegfried’s heart leaped up with gladness; for he thought that here, +at last, was a worthy deed for him to do. And he bade his friend Bragi +good-by, and stepped ashore; and Greyfell followed him. And Bragi sat at +the prow of the ship, and played his harp again; and the sailors plied +their oars; and the little vessel moved swiftly out of the bay, and was +seen no more. And Siegfried stood alone on the silent, sandy beach. + +As he thus stood, the full moon rose white and dripping from the sea; +and its light fell on the quiet water, and the sloping meadows, and the +green turrets of the castle. And the last notes of Bragi’s harp came +floating to him over the sea. + +Then a troop of fairies came down to dance upon the sands. It was the +first sign of life that Siegfried had seen. As the little creatures drew +near, he hid himself among the tall reeds which grew close to the shore; +for he wished to see them at their gambols, and to listen to their +songs. At first, as if half afraid of their own tiny shadows, they +danced in silence; but, as the moon rose higher, they grew bolder, and +began to sing. And their music was so sweet and soft, that Siegfried +forgot almost every thing, else for the time: they sang of the pleasant +summer days, and of cooling shades, and still fountains, and silent +birds, and peaceful slumber. And a strange longing for sleep took hold +of Siegfried; and his eyes grew heavy, and the sound of the singing +seemed dim and far away. But just as he was losing all knowledge of +outward things, and his senses seemed moving in a dream, the fairies +stopped dancing, and a little brown elf came up from the sea, and +saluted the queen of the tiny folk. + +“What news bring you from the great world beyond the water?” asked the +queen. + +“The prince is on his way hither,” answered the elf. + +“And what will he do?” + +“If he is brave enough, he will awaken the princess, and arouse the +drowsy people of Isenstein; for the Norns have said that such a prince +shall surely come.” + +“But he must be the bravest of men ere he can enter the enchanted +castle,” said the queen; “for the wide moat is filled with flames, and +no faint heart will ever dare battle with them.” + +“But I will dare!” cried Siegfried; and he sprang from his hiding-place, +forgetful of the little folk, who suddenly flitted away, and left him +alone upon the beach. He glanced across the meadows at the green turrets +glistening in the mellow moonlight, and then at the flickering flames +around the castle walls, and he resolved that on the morrow he would at +all hazards perform the perilous feat. + +In the morning, as soon as the gray dawn appeared, he began to make +ready for his difficult undertaking. But, when he looked again at the +red flames, he began to hesitate. He paused, uncertain whether to +wait for a sign and for help from the All-Father, or whether to go +straightway to the castle, and, trusting in his good armor alone, try +to pass through the burning moat. While he thus stood in doubt, his eyes +were dazzled by a sudden flash of light. He looked up. Greyfell came +dashing across the sands; and from his long mane a thousand sunbeams +gleamed and sparkled in the morning light. Siegfried had never seen the +wondrous creature so radiant; and as the steed stood by him in all his +strength and beauty he felt new hope and courage, as if Odin himself had +spoken to him. He hesitated no longer, but mounted the noble horse; and +Greyfell bore him swiftly over the plain, and paused not until he had +reached the brink of the burning moat. + +Now, indeed, would Siegfried’s heart have failed him, had he not been +cheered by the sunbeam presence of Greyfell. For filling the wide, +deep ditch, were angry, hissing flames, which, like a thousand +serpent-tongues, reached out, and felt here and there, for what they +might devour; and ever and anon they took new forms, and twisted and +writhed like fiery snakes, and then they swirled in burning coils high +over the castle-walls. Siegfried stopped not a moment. He spoke the +word, and boldly the horse with his rider dashed into the fiery lake; +and the vile flames fled in shame and dismay before the pure sunbeam +flashes from Greyfell’s mane. And, unscorched and unscathed, Siegfried +rode through the moat, and through the wide-open gate, and into the +castle-yard. + +The gate-keeper sat fast asleep in his lodge, while the chains and the +heavy key with which, when awake, he was wont to make the great gate +fast, lay rusting at his feet; and neither he, nor the sentinels on the +ramparts above, stirred or awoke at the sound of Greyfell’s clattering +hoofs. As Siegfried passed from one part of the castle to another, many +strange sights met his eyes. In the stables the horses slumbered in +their stalls, and the grooms lay snoring by their sides. The birds sat +sound asleep on their nests beneath the eaves. The watch-dogs, with +fast-closed eyes, lay stretched at full-length before the open doors. In +the garden the fountain no longer played, the half-laden bees had +gone to sleep among the blossoms of the apple-trees, and the flowers +themselves had forgotten to open their petals to the sun. In the +kitchen the cook was dozing over the half-baked meats in front of the +smouldering fire; the butler was snoring in the pantry; the dairy-maid +was quietly napping among the milk-pans; and even the house-flies +had gone to sleep over the crumbs of sugar on the table. In the great +banquet-room a thousand knights, overcome with slumber, sat silent at +the festal board; and their chief, sitting on the dais, slept, with his +half-emptied goblet at his lips. + +Siegfried passed hurriedly from room to room and from hall to hall, and +cast but one hasty glance at the strange sights which met him at every +turn; for he knew that none of the drowsy ones in that spacious castle +could be awakened until he had aroused the Princess Brunhild. In the +grandest hall of the palace he found her. The peerless maiden, most +richly dight, reclined upon a couch beneath a gold-hung canopy; and her +attendants, the ladies of the court, sat near and around her. Sleep held +fast her eyelids, and her breathing was so gentle, that, but for the +blush upon her cheeks, Siegfried would have thought her dead. For long, +long years had her head thus lightly rested on that gold-fringed pillow; +and in all that time neither her youth had faded, nor her wondrous +beauty waned. + +Siegfried stood beside her. Gently he touched his lips to that matchless +forehead; softly he named her name,-- + +“Brunhild!” + +The charm was broken. Up rose the peerless princess in all her +queen-like beauty; up rose the courtly ladies round her. All over the +castle, from cellar to belfry-tower, from the stable to the banquet +hall, there was a sudden awakening, a noise of hurrying feet and +mingled voices, and sounds which had long been strangers to the halls of +Isenstein. The watchman on the tower, and the sentinels on the ramparts, +yawned, and would not believe they had been asleep; the porter picked +up his keys, and hastened to lock the long-forgotten gates; the horses +neighed in their stalls; the watchdogs barked at the sudden hubbub; the +birds, ashamed at having allowed the sun to find them napping, hastened +to seek their food in the meadows; the servants hurried here and there, +each intent upon his duty; the warriors in the banquet-hall clattered +their knives and plates, and began again their feast; and their chief +dropped his goblet, and rubbed his eyes, and wondered that sleep should +have overtaken him in the midst of such a meal.[EN#16] + +And Siegfried, standing at an upper window, looked out over the +castle-walls; and he saw that the flames no longer raged in the moat, +but that it was filled with clear sparkling water from the fountain +which played in the garden. And the south wind blew gently from the sea, +bringing from afar the sweetest strains of music from Bragi’s golden +harp; and the breezes whispered among the trees, and the flowers opened +their petals to the sun, and birds and insects made the air melodious +with their glad voices. Then Brunhild, radiant with smiles, stood by +the hero’s side, and welcomed him kindly to Isenland and to her +green-towered castle of Isenstein. + + + + + + +Adventure VII. In Nibelungen Land. + + + +Every one in the castle of Isenstein, from the princess to the +kitchen-maid, felt grateful to the young hero for what he had done. The +best rooms were fitted up for his use, and a score of serving men and +maidens were set apart to do his bidding, and ordered to be mindful of +his slightest wish. And all the earl-folk and brave men, and all the +fair ladies, and Brunhild, fairest of them all, besought him to make his +home there, nor ever think of going back to Rhineland. Siegfried yielded +to their persuasions, and for six months he tarried in the enchanted +land in one long round of merry-making and gay enjoyment. But his +thoughts were ever turned toward his father’s home in the Lowlands +across the sea, and he longed to behold again his gentle mother +Sigelind. Then he grew tired of his life of idleness and ease, and he +wished that he might go out again into the busy world of manly action +and worthy deeds. And day by day this feeling grew stronger, and filled +him with unrest. + +One morning, as he sat alone by the seashore, and watched the lazy tide +come creeping up the sands, two ravens lighted near him. Glad was he to +see them, for he knew them to be Hugin and Munin, the sacred birds of +Odin, and he felt sure that they brought him words of cheer from the +All-Father. Then Hugin flapped his wings, and said, “In idleness the +stings of death lie hidden, but in busy action are the springs of life. +For a hundred years fair Brunhild slept, but why should Siegfried sleep? +The world awaits him, but it waits too long.” + +Then Munin flapped his wings also, but he said nothing. And busy memory +carried Siegfried back to his boyhood days; and he called to mind the +wise words of his father Siegmund, and the fond hopes of his gentle +mother, and he thought, too, of the noble deeds of his kinsfolk of the +earlier days. And he rose in haste, and cried, “Life of ease, farewell! +I go where duty leads. To him who wills to do, the great All-Father will +send strength and help.” + +While he spoke, his eyes were dazzled with a flash of light. He looked; +and the beaming Greyfell, his long mane sparkling like a thousand +sunbeams, dashed up the beach, and stood beside him. As the noble steed +in all his strength and beauty stood before him, the youth felt fresh +courage; for, in the presence of the shining hope which the All-Father +had given him, all hinderances seemed to vanish, and all difficulties to +be already overcome. He looked toward the sea again, and saw in the +blue distance a white-sailed ship drawing swiftly near, its golden +dragon-stem ploughing through the waves like some great bird of the +deep. And as with straining, eager eyes, he watched its coming, he felt +that Odin had sent it, and that the time had come wherein he must be up +and doing. The hour for thriving action comes to us once: if not seized +upon and used, it may never come again. + +The ship drew near the shore. The sailors rested on their oars. +Siegfried and the steed Greyfell sprang upon the deck; then the sailors +silently bent again to their rowing. The flapping sails were filled and +tightened by the strong west wind; and the light vessel leaped from wave +to wave like a thing of life, until Isenstein, with its tall towers and +its green marble halls, sank from sight in the distance and the mist. +And Siegfried and his noble steed seemed to be the only living beings +on board; for the sailors who plied the oars were so silent and +phantom-like, that they appeared to be nought but the ghosts of the +summer sea-breezes. As the ship sped swiftly on its way, all the +creatures in the sea paused to behold the sight. The mermen rested from +their weary search for hidden treasures, and the mermaids forgot to comb +their long tresses, as the radiant vessel and its hero-freight glided +past. And even old King AEgir left his brewing-kettle in his great hall, +and bade his daughters, the white-veiled Waves, cease playing until the +vessel should safely reach its haven. + +When, at length, the day had passed, and the evening twilight had come, +Siegfried saw that the ship was nearing land; but it was a strange +land.[EN#17] Like a fleecy cloud it appeared to rest above the waves, +midway between the earth and the sky; a dark mist hung upon it, and it +seemed a land of dreams and shadows. The ship drew nearer and nearer +to the mysterious shore, and as it touched the beach the sailors rested +from their rowing. Then Siegfried and the horse Greyfell leaped ashore; +but, when they looked back, the fair vessel that had carried them was +nowhere to be seen. Whether it had suddenly been clutched by the +greedy fingers of the Sea-queen Ran, and dragged down into her deep +sea-caverns, or whether, like the wondrous ship Skidbladner, it had been +folded up, and made invisible to the eyes of men, Siegfried never knew. +The thick mists and the darkness of night closed over and around both +hero and horse; and they dared not stir, but stood long hours in the +silent gloom, waiting for the coming of the dawn. + +At length the morning came, but the light was not strong enough to +scatter the fogs and thick vapors that rested upon the land. Then +Siegfried mounted Greyfell; and the sunbeams began to flash from the +horse’s mane and from the hero’s glittering mail-coat; and the hazy +clouds fled upward and away, until they were caught and held fast by +great mist-giants, who stood like sentinels on the mountain-tops. As +the shining pair came up from the sea, and passed through the woods and +valleys of the Nibelungen Land, there streamed over all that region such +a flood of sunlight as had never before been seen. + +In every leafy tree, and behind every blade of grass, elves and fairies +were hidden; and under every rock and in every crevice lurked cunning +dwarfs. But Siegfried rode straight forward until he came to the steep +side of a shadowy mountain. There, at the mouth of a cavern, a strange +sight met his eyes. Two young men, dressed in princes’ clothing, sat +upon the ground: their features were all haggard and gaunt, and pinched +with hunger, and their eyes wild with wakefulness and fear; and all +around them were heaps of gold and precious stones,--more than a hundred +wagons could carry away. And neither of the two princes would leave +the shining hoard for food, nor close his eyes in sleep, lest the +other might seize and hide some part of the treasure. And thus they had +watched and hungered through many long days and sleepless nights, each +hoping that the other would die, and that the whole inheritance might be +his own. + +When they saw Siegfried riding near, they called out to him, and said, +“Noble stranger, stop a moment! Come and help us divide this treasure.” + +“Who are you?” asked Siegfried; “and what treasure is it that lies +there?” + +“We are the sons of Niblung, who until lately was king of this Mist +Land. Our names are Schilbung and the young Niblung,” faintly answered +the princes. + +“And what are you doing here with this gold and these glittering +stones?” + +“This is the great Nibelungen Hoard, which our father not long ago +brought from the South-land. It is not clear just how he obtained +it.[EN#18] Some say that he got it unjustly from his brother, whose +vassals had digged it from the earth. Others say that he found it +lying on the Glittering Heath, where Fafnir the Dragon had guarded it +zealously for ages past, until he was slain by a hero who cared nought +for his gold. But, be this as it may, our father is now dead, and we +have brought the hoard out of the cavern where he had hidden it, in +order that we may share it between us equally. But we cannot agree, and +we pray you to help us divide it.” + +Then Siegfried dismounted from the horse Greyfell, and came near the two +princes. + +“I will gladly do as you ask,” said he; “but first I must know more +about your father,--who he was, and whether this is really the Hoard of +the Glittering Heath.” + +Then Niblung answered, as well as his feeble voice would allow, “Our +father was, from the earliest times, the ruler of this land, and the +lord of the fog and the mist. Many strongholds, and many noble halls, +had he in this land; and ten thousand brave warriors were ever ready to +do his bidding. The trolls, and the swarthy elves of the mountains, and +the giants of the cloudy peaks, were his vassals. But he did more than +rule over the Nibelungen Land. Twice every year he crossed the sea and +rambled through the Rhine valleys, or loitered in the moist Lowlands; +and now and then he brought rich trophies back to his island home. The +last time, he brought this treasure with him; but, as we have said, it +is not clear how he obtained it. We have heard men say that it was the +Hoard of Andvari, and that when Fafnir, the dragon who watched it, was +slain, the hero who slew him left it to be taken again by the swarthy +elves who had gathered it; but because of a curse which Andvari had +placed upon it, no one would touch it, until some man would assume its +ownership, and take upon himself the risk of incurring the curse. This +thing, it is said, our father did. And the dwarf Alberich undertook to +keep it for him; and he, with the help of the ten thousand elves who +live in these caverns, and the twelve giants whom you see standing on +the mountain-peaks around, guarded it faithfully so long as our father +lived. But, when he died, we and our thralls fetched it forth from the +cavern, and spread it here on the ground. And, lo! for many days we have +watched and tried to divide it equally. But we cannot agree.” + +“What hire will you give me if I divide it for you?” asked Siegfried. + +“Name what you will have,” answered the princes. + +“Give me the sword which lies before you on the glittering heap.” + +Then Niblung handed him the sword, and said, “Right gladly will we give +it. It is a worthless blade that our father brought from the South-land. +They say that he found it also on the Glittering Heath, in the trench +where Fafnir was slain. And some will have it that it was forged by +Regin, Fafnir’s own brother. But how that is, I do not know. At any +rate, it is of no use to us; for it turns against us whenever we try to +use it.” + +Siegfried took the sword. It was his own Balmung, that had been lost so +long. + +Forthwith he began the task of dividing the treasure; and the two +brothers, so faint from hunger and want of sleep that they could +scarcely lift their heads, watched him with anxious, greedy eyes. First +he placed a piece of gold by Niblung’s side, and then a piece of like +value he gave to Schilbung. And this he did again and again, until no +more gold was left. Then, in the same manner, he divided the precious +gem-stones until none remained. And the brothers were much pleased; and +they hugged their glittering treasures, and thanked Siegfried for his +kindness, and for the fairness with which he had given to each his +own. But one thing was left which had not fallen to the lot of either +brother. It was a ring of curious workmanship,--a serpent coiled, with +its tail in its mouth, and with ruby eyes glistening and cold. + +“What shall I do with this ring?” asked Siegfried. + +“Give it to me!” cried Niblung. + +“Give it to me!” cried Schilbung. + +And both tried to snatch it from Siegfried’s hand. + +But the effort was too great for them. Their arms fell helpless at their +sides, their feet slipped beneath them, their limbs failed: they sank +fainting, each upon his pile of treasures. + +“O my dear, dear gold!” murmured Niblung, trying to clasp it all in his +arms,--“my dear, dear gold! Thou art mine, mine only. No one shall +take thee from me. Here thou art, here thou shalt rest. O my dear, dear +gold!” And then, calling up the last spark of life left in his famished +body, he cried out to Siegfried, “Give me the ring!--the ring, I say!” + +He hugged his cherished gold nearer to his bosom; he ran his thin +fingers deep down into the shining yellow heap; he pressed his pale lips +to the cold and senseless metal; he whispered faintly, “My dear, dear +gold!” and then he died. + +“O precious, precious gem-stones,” faltered Schilbung, “how beautiful +you are! And you are mine, all mine. I will keep you safe. Come, come, +my bright-eyed beauties! No one but me shall touch you. You are mine, +mine, mine!” And he chattered and laughed as only madmen laugh. And he +kissed the hard stones, and sought to hide them in his bosom. But his +hands trembled and failed, dark mists swam before his eyes; he fancied +that he heard the black dwarfs clamoring for his treasure; he sprang up +quickly, he shrieked--and then fell lifeless upon his hoard of sparkling +gems. + +A strange, sad sight it was,--boundless wealth, and miserable death; +two piles of yellow gold and sun-bright diamonds, and two thin, starved +corpses stretched upon them. Some stories relate that the brothers were +slain by Siegfried, because their foolish strife and greediness had +angered him.[EN#19] But I like not to think so. It was the gold, and not +Siegfried, that slew them. + +“O gold, gold!” cried the hero sorrowfully, “truly thou art the +mid-world’s curse; thou art man’s bane. But when the bright spring-time +of the new world shall come, and Balder shall reign in his glory, then +will the curse be taken from thee, and thy yellow brightness will be the +sign of purity and enduring worth; and then thou wilt be a blessing to +mankind, and the precious plaything of the gods.” + +But Siegfried had little time for thought and speech. A strange sound +was heard upon the mountain-side. The twelve great giants who had stood +as watchmen upon the peaks above were rushing down to avenge their +masters, and to drive the intruder out of Nibelungen Land. Siegfried +waited not for their onset; but he mounted the noble horse Greyfell, +and, with the sword Balmung in his hand, he rode forth to meet his foes, +who, with fearful threats and hideous roars, came striding toward him. +The sunbeams flashed from Greyfell’s mane, and dazzled the dull eyes of +the giants, unused as they were to the full light of day. Doubtful, +they paused, and then again came forward. But they mistook every tree in +their way for an enemy, and every rock they thought a foe; and in their +fear they fancied a great host to be before them. Did you ever see the +dark and threatening storm-clouds on a summer’s day scattered and put +to flight by the bright beams of the sun? It was thus that Siegfried’s +giant foes were routed. One and all, they dropped their heavy clubs, and +stood ashamed and trembling, not knowing what to do. And Siegfried made +each one swear to serve him faithfully; and then he sent them back to +the snow-covered mountain-peaks to stand again as watchmen at their +posts. + +And now another danger appeared. Alberich the dwarf, the master of the +swarthy elves who guarded the Nibelungen Hoard, had come out from his +cavern, and seen the two princes lying dead beside their treasures, and +he thought that they had been murdered by Siegfried; and, when he beheld +the giants driven back to the mountain-tops, he lifted a little silver +horn to his lips, and blew a shrill bugle-call. And the little brown +elves came trooping forth by thousands: from under every rock, from +the nooks and crannies and crevices in the mountain-side, from the deep +cavern and the narrow gorge, they came at the call of their chief. Then, +at Alberich’s word, they formed in line of battle, and stood in order +around the hoard and the bodies of their late masters. Their little +golden shields and their sharp-pointed spears were thick as the blades +of grass in a Rhine meadow. And Siegfried, when he saw them, was pleased +and surprised; for never before had such a host of pygmy warriors stood +before him. + +While he paused and looked, the elves became suddenly silent, and +Siegfried noticed that Alberich stood no longer at their head, but had +strangely vanished from sight. + +“Ah, Alberich!” cried the hero. “Thou art indeed cunning. I have heard +of thy tricks. Thou hast donned the Tarnkappe, the cloak of darkness, +which hides thee from sight, and makes thee as strong as twelve common +men. But come on, thou brave dwarf!” + +Scarcely had he spoken, when he felt a shock which almost sent him +reeling from his saddle, and made Greyfell plunge about with fright. +Quickly, then, did Siegfried dismount, and, with every sense alert, +he waited for the second onset of the unseen dwarf. It was plain that +Alberich wished to strike him unawares, for many minutes passed in utter +silence. Then a brisk breath of wind passed by Siegfried’s face, and +he felt another blow; but, by a quick downward movement of his hand, he +caught the plucky elf-king, and tore off the magic Tarnkappe, and then, +with firm grasp, he held him, struggling in vain to get free. + +“Ah, Alberich!” he cried, “now I know thou art cunning. But the +Tarnkappe I must have for my own. What wilt thou give for thy freedom?” + +“Worthy prince,” answered Alberich humbly, “you have fairly overcome +me in fight, and made me your prisoner. I and all mine, as well as +this treasure, rightfully belong to you. We are yours, and you we shall +obey.” + +“Swear it!” said Siegfried. “Swear it, and thou shalt live, and be the +keeper of my treasures.” + +And Alberich made a sign to his elfin host, and every spear was turned +point downwards, and every tiny shield was thrown to the ground, and +the ten thousand little warriors kneeled, as did also their chief, and +acknowledged Siegfried to be their rightful master, and the lord of the +Nibelungen Land, and the owner of the Hoard of Andvari. + +Then, by Alberich’s orders, the elves carried the Hoard back into the +cavern, and there kept faithful watch and ward over it. And they buried +the starved bodies of the two princes on the top of the mist-veiled +mountain; and heralds were sent to all the strongholds in Nibelungen +Land, proclaiming that Siegfried, through his wisdom and might, had +become the true lord and king of the land. Afterwards the prince, riding +on the beaming Greyfell, went from place to place, scattering sunshine +and smiles where shadows and frowns had been before. And the Nibelungen +folk welcomed him everywhere with glad shouts and music and dancing; and +ten thousand warriors, and many noble earl-folk, came to meet him, and +plighted their faith to him. And the pure brightness of his hero-soul, +and the gleaming sunbeams from Greyfell’s mane,--the light of hope and +faith,--lifted the curtain of mists and fogs that had so long darkened +the land, and let in the glorious glad light of day and the genial +warmth of summer. + + + + + +Adventure VIII. Siegfried’s Welcome Home. + + + +In Santen Castle, one day, there was a strange uproar and confusion. +Everybody was hurrying aimlessly about, and no one seemed to know just +what to do. On every side there were restless whisperings, and hasty +gestures, and loud commands. The knights and warriors were busy donning +their war-coats, and buckling on their swords and helmets. Wise King +Siegmund sat in his council-chamber, and the knowing men of the kingdom +stood around him; and the minds of all seemed troubled with doubt, if +not with fear. + +What could have caused so great an uproar in the once quiet old castle? +What could have brought perplexity to the mind of the wisest king in +all Rhineland? It was this: a herald had just come from the seashore, +bringing word that a strange fleet of a hundred white-sailed vessels had +cast anchor off the coast, and that an army of ten thousand fighting men +had landed, and were making ready to march against Santen. Nobody had +ever heard of so large a fleet before; and no one could guess who the +strangers might be, nor whence they had come, nor why they should thus, +without asking leave, land in the country of a peace-loving king. + +The news spread quickly over all the land. People from every part came +hastening to the friendly shelter of the castle. The townsmen, with +their goods and cattle, hurried within the walls. The sentinels on the +ramparts paced uneasily to and fro, and scanned with watchful eye every +stranger that came near the walls. The warders stood ready to hoist +the drawbridge, and close the gate, at the first signal given by the +watchman above, who was straining his eyes to their utmost in order to +see the first approach of the foe. + +A heavy mist hung over the meadow-lands between Santen and the sea, +and nothing was visible beyond the gates of the town. The ten thousand +strange warriors might be within half a league of the castle, and yet +the sharpest eagle-eye could not see them. + +All at once a clatter of horse’s hoofs was heard; the dark mist rose up +from the ground, and began to roll away, like a great cloud, into the +sky; and then strange sunbeam-flashes were seen where the fog had lately +rested. + +“They come!” cried one of the sentinels. “I see the glitter of their +shields and lances.” + +“Not so,” said the watchman from his place on the tower above. “I see +but one man, and he rides with the speed of the wind, and lightning +flashes from the mane of the horse which carries him.” + +The drawbridge was hastily hoisted. The heavy gates were quickly shut, +and fastened with bolts and bars. Every man in the castle was at his +post, ready to defend the fortress with his life. In a short time the +horse and his rider drew near. All who looked out upon them were dazzled +with the golden brightness of the hero’s armor, as well as with +the lightning gleams that flashed from the horse’s mane. And some +whispered,-- + +“This is no man who thus comes in such kingly splendor. More likely +it is Odin on one of his journeys, or the Shining Balder come again to +earth.” + +As the stranger paused on the outer edge of the moat, the sentinels +challenged him,-- + +“Who are you who come thus, uninvited and unheralded, to Santen?” + +“One who has the right to come,” answered the stranger. “I am Siegfried; +and I have come to see my father, the good Siegmund, and my mother, the +gentle Sigelind.” + +It was indeed Siegfried; and he had come from his kingdom in the +Nibelungen Land, with his great fleet, and the noblest of his warriors, +to see once more his boyhood’s home, and to cheer for a time the hearts +of his loving parents. For he had done many noble deeds, and had ruled +wisely and well, and he felt that he was now not unworthy to be called +the son of Siegmund, and to claim kinship with the heroes of the earlier +days. + +As soon as it was surely known that he who stood before the castle-walls +was the young prince who had been gone so many years, and about whom +they had heard so many wonderful stories, the drawbridge was hastily let +down, and the great gates were thrown wide open. And Siegfried, whose +return had been so long wished for, stood once again in his father’s +halls. And the fear and confusion which had prevailed gave place to +gladness and gayety; and all the folk of Santen greeted the returned +hero with cheers, and joyfully welcomed him home. And in the whole world +there was no one more happy than Siegmund and Sigelind. + +On the morrow the ten thousand Nibelungen warriors came to Santen; and +Siegmund made for them a great banquet, and entertained them in a right +kingly way, as the faithful liegemen of his son. And Siegfried, when he +had given them rich gifts, sent them with the fleet back to Nibelungen +Land; for he meant to stay for a time with his father and mother at +Santen. + +When the harvest had been gathered, and the fruit was turning purple and +gold, and the moon rode round and full in the clear autumn sky, a gay +high-tide was held for Siegfried’s sake; and everybody in the Lowland +country, whether high or low, rich or poor, was asked to come to +the feast. For seven days, nought but unbridled gayety prevailed in +Siegmund’s halls. On every hand were sounds of music and laughter, and +sickness and poverty and pain were for the time forgotten. A mock-battle +was fought on the grassy plain not far from the town, and the young men +vied with each other in feats of strength and skill. Never before had +so many beautiful ladies nor so many brave men been seen in Santen. +And, when the time of jollity and feasting had drawn to an end, Siegmund +called together all his guests, and gave to each choice gifts,--a festal +garment, and a horse with rich trappings. And Queen Sigelind scattered +gold without stint among the poor, and many were the blessings she +received. Then all the folk went back to their homes with light hearts +and happy faces.[EN#20] + +The autumn days passed quickly by, and Siegfried began to grow weary of +the idle, inactive life in his father’s halls; and Greyfell in his stall +pined for the fresh, free air, and his mane lost all its brightness. +When Siegmund saw how full of unrest his son had become, he said to +him,-- + +“Siegfried, I have grown old and feeble, and have no longer the strength +of my younger days. My kingdom would fare better were a younger ruler +placed over it. Take my crown, I pray you, and let me withdraw from +kingly cares.” + +But Siegfried would not listen to such an offer. He had his own kingdom +of the Nibelungens, he said; and, besides, he would never sit on his +father’s throne while yet that father lived. And although he loved the +pleasant companionship of his mother, and was delighted to listen to +the wise counsels of his father, the craving for action, and the unrest +which would not be satisfied, grew greater day by day. At last he +said,-- + +“I will ride out into the world again. Mayhap I may find some other +wrong to right, or some other kingdom to win. It was thus that my kin, +in the golden age long past, went faring over the land and sea, and met +their doom at last. They were not home-abiders, nor tillers of the soil; +but the world was their abiding-place, and they filled the hearts of +men.” + +And, when his father and mother heard this, they tried no longer to +keep him with them; for they knew that it would be more cruel than the +keeping of a caged bird away from the sunlight. + +“Only go not into Burgundy,” said his father. “The kings of that country +are not friendly to us, and they may do you harm. Hagen, the kinsman of +the kings, and the chief of their fighting-men, is old and crafty, and +he cannot brook a greater hero than himself.” + +Siegfried laughed. + +“That is all the better reason why I should go to Burgundy-land,” he +said. + +“Then take ten thousand of my warriors,” said his father, “and make +yourself master of the land.” + +“No, no!” cried Siegfried. “One kingdom is enough for me. My own +Nibelungen Land is all I want. I will take my twelve Nibelungen knights +that I have with me here, and we will fare forth to see the world and +its beauties, and men’s work; and, when we have tired with riding, we +will sail across the sea to our Nibelungen home.” + + + + + +Adventure IX. The Journey to Burgundy-Land. + + + +For many days before Siegfried’s departure, the queen, and all the women +of the household, busily plied their needles; and many suits of rich +raiment made they for the prince and his worthy comrades. At length the +time for leave-taking came, and all the inmates of the castle went out +to the gate to bid the heroes God-speed. Siegfried sat upon his noble +horse Greyfell, and his trusty sword Balmung hung at his side. And his +Nibelungen knights were mounted on lordly steeds, with gold-red saddles +and silver trappings chased with gold; and their glittering helmets, and +burnished shields, and war-coats of polished steel, when added to +their noble bearing and manlike forms, made up a picture of beauty and +strength such as no one in Santen had ever seen before, or would ever +see again. + +“Only go not into Burgundy-land,” were the parting words of Siegmund. + +And all who had come to bid them farewell wept bitterly as the young men +rode out of the city, and were lost to sight in the distance. + +“Only go not into Burgundy-land!” These words of his father sounded +still in Siegfried’s ears; and he turned his horse’s head towards the +west and south; and they rode through the level country, and among the +fields, from which the corn had already been gathered; and at night they +slept in the open air, upon the still warm ground. Thus for many days +they travelled. And they left the Lowlands far behind them, and Burgundy +far to the left of them; and by and by they came to a country covered +with high hills, and mountains that seemed to touch the sky. The crags +and peaks were covered with snow, and ice lay all summer in the dales +and in the deep gorges cleft long time ago by giant hands. Here it is +that the rivers take their beginning. And here it is that the purple +grapes and the rare fruits of milder climes are found; for the sun +shines warm in the valleys and upon the plains, and the soil is +exceeding rich. It is said that these mountains are midway between the +cold regions of Jotunheim and the glowing gardens of Muspelheim, and +that, in ages past, they were the scene of many battles between the +giants who would overwhelm the earth,--these with ice, and those +with fire. Here and there were frowning caves dug out of the solid +mountain-side; while higher up were great pits, half-filled with ashes, +where, it is said, the dwarf-folk, when they were mighty on earth, had +their forges. + +Siegfried stopped not long in this land. Thoughts of the Nibelungen +Land, and of his faithful liegemen who waited for his return, began to +fill his mind. Then the heroes turned their horses’ heads, and rode back +towards the north, following the course of the River Rhine, as it wound, +here and there, between hills and mountains, and through meadows where +the grass was springing up anew, and by the side of woodlands, now +beginning to be clothed in green again; for the winter was well over, +and spring was hastening on apace. And as they rode down the valley of +the Rhine they came, ere they were aware, into the Burgundian Land, +and the high towers of King Gunther’s castle rose up before them. Then +Siegfried remembered again his father’s words,-- + +“Only go not into Burgundy-land.” + +But it was now too late to go back, and they determined to stop for +a few days with the Burgundian kings. They rode onwards through the +meadows and the pleasant farming-lands which lay around the city; and +they passed a wonderful garden of roses, said to belong to Kriemhild, +the peerless princess of the Rhine country; and at last they halted +before the castle-gate. So lordly was their bearing, that a company of +knights came out to meet them, and offered, as the custom was, to take +charge of their horses and their shields. But Siegfried asked that they +be led at once to King Gunther and his brothers; and, as their stay +would not be long, they said they would have no need to part with horses +or with shields. Then they followed their guides, and rode through the +great gateway, and into the open court, and halted beneath the palace +windows. + +And the three kings--Gunther, Gernot, and Giselher--and their young +sister, the matchless Kriemhild, looked down upon them from above, and +hazarded many guesses as to who the lordly strangers might be. And all +the inmates of the castle stood at the doors and windows, or gathered in +curious groups in the courtyard, and gazed with open-mouthed wonder upon +the rich armor and noble bearing of the thirteen heroes. But all eyes +were turned most towards Siegfried and the wondrous steed Greyfell. Some +of the knights whispered that this was Odin, and some that it was Thor, +the thunderer, making a tour through Rhineland. But others said that +Thor was never known to ride on horseback, and that the youth who sat +on the milk-white steed was little like the ancient Odin. And the ladies +who looked down upon the heroes from the palace windows said that this +man could be no other than the Sunbright Balder, come from his home in +Breidablik, to breathe gladness and sunshine into the hearts and lives +of men. + +Only one among all the folk in the castle knew who the hero was who had +ridden thus boldly into the heart of Burgundy-land. That one was +Hagen, the uncle of the three kings, and the doughtiest warrior in all +Rhineland. With a dark frown and a sullen scowl he looked out upon the +little party, and already plotted in his mind how he might outwit, and +bring to grief, the youth whose name and fame were known the whole world +over. For his evil mind loved deeds of darkness, and hated the pure and +good. By his side, at an upper window, stood Kriemhild, the peerless +maiden of the Rhine; but her thoughts were as far from his thoughts as +the heaven-smile on her face was unlike the sullen scowl on his grim +visage. As the moon in her calm beauty is sometimes seen in the sky, +riding gloriously by the side of a dark thunder-cloud,--the one more +lovely, the other more dreadful, by their very nearness,--so seemed +Kriemhild standing there by the side of Hagen. + +“Think you not, dear uncle,” she said, “that this is the Shining Balder +come to earth again?” + +“The gods have forgotten the earth,” answered Hagen in surly tones. “But +if, indeed, this should be Balder, we shall, without doubt, find another +blind archer, who, with another sprig of mistletoe, will send him back +again to Hela.” + +“What do you mean?” asked Kriemhild earnestly. + +But old Hagen said not a word in answer. He quietly withdrew from the +room, and left the maiden and her mother, the good dame Ute, alone. + +“What does uncle Hagen mean by his strange words? and why does he look +so sullen and angry?” asked Kriemhild. + +“Indeed, I know not,” answered the queen-mother. “His ways are dark, and +he is cunning. I fear that evil will yet come to our house through him.” + +Meanwhile the three kings and their chiefs had gone into the courtyard +to greet their unknown guests. Very kindly did Gunther welcome the +strangers to his home; and then he courteously asked them whence they +came, and what the favors they wished. + +“I have heard,” answered Siegfried, “that many knights and heroes live +in this land, and that they are the bravest and the proudest in the +world. I, too, am a knight; and some time, if I am worthy, I shall be a +king. But first I would make good my right to rule over land and folk; +and for this reason I have come hither. If, indeed, you are as brave as +all the world says you are, ride now to the meadows with us, and let us +fight man to man; and he who wins shall rule over the lands of both. We +will wager our kingdom and our heads against yours.” + +King Gunther and his brothers were amazed at this unlooked-for speech. + +“Such is not the way to try where true worth lies!” they cried. “We have +no cause of quarrel with you, neither have you any cause of quarrel with +us. Why, then, should we spill each other’s blood?” + +Again Siegfried urged them to fight with him; but they flatly refused. +And Gernot said,-- + +“The Burgundian kings have never wished to rule over folk that are not +their own. Much less would they gain new lands at the cost of their best +heroes’ blood. And they have never taken part in needless quarrels. Good +men in Burgundy are worth more than the broadest lands, and we will not +hazard the one for the sake of gaining the other. No, we will not fight. +But we greet you most heartily as our friends and guests.” + +All the others joined in urging Siegfried and his comrades to dismount +from their steeds, and partake of the cheer with which it was their use +to entertain strangers. And at last he yielded to their kind wishes, +and alighted from Greyfell, and, grasping King Gunther’s hand, he +made himself known. And there was great rejoicing in the castle and +throughout all the land; and the most sumptuous rooms were set apart for +the use of Siegfried and his Nibelungen knights; and a banquet was at +once made ready; and no pains were spared in giving the strangers +a right hearty welcome to the kingly halls of Burgundy. But Hagen, +dark-browed and evil-eyed, stood silent and alone in his chamber and +waited his time. + + + + + +Adventure X. Kriemhild’s Dream. + + + +Early on the morrow morning, ere the sun had risen high, the peerless +Kriemhild walked alone amid the sweet-scented bowers of her rose-garden. +The dewdrops still hung thick on flower and thorn, and the wild birds +carolled their songs of merry welcome to the new-born day. Every +thing seemed to have put on its handsomest colors, and to be using +its sweetest voice, on purpose to gladden the heart of the maiden. But +Kriemhild was not happy. There was a shadow on her face and a sadness +in her eye that the beauty and the music of that morning could not drive +away. + +“What ails thee, my child?” asked her mother, Queen Ute, who met her. +“Why so sad, as if thy heart were heavy with care? Has any one spoken +unkindly, or has aught grievous happened to thee?” + +“Oh, no, dearest mother!” said Kriemhild. “It is nothing that saddens +me,--nothing but a foolish dream. I cannot forget it.” + +“Tell me the dream,” said her mother: “mayhap it betokens something that +the Norns have written for thee.” + +Then Kriemhild answered, “I dreamed that I sat at my window, high up in +the eastern tower; and the sun shone bright in the heavens, and the +air was mild and warm, and I thought of nought but the beauty and the +gladness of the hour. Then in the far north I saw a falcon flying. At +first he seemed but a black speck in the sky; but swiftly he drew nearer +and nearer, until at last he flew in at the open window, and I caught +him in my arms. Oh, how strong and beautiful he was! His wings were +purple and gold, and his eyes were as bright as the sun. Oh, a glorious +prize I thought him! and I held him on my wrist, and spoke kind words to +him. Then suddenly, from out of the sky above, two eagles dashed in at +the window, and snatched my darling from me, and they tore him in pieces +before my eyes, and laughed at my distress.” + +“Thy dream,” said Queen Ute, “is easy to explain. A king shall come from +the north-land, and a mighty king shall he be. And he shall seek thee, +and love thee, and wed thee, and thy heart shall overflow with bliss. +The two eagles are the foes who shall slay him; but who they may be, or +whence they may come, is known only to the Norns.” + +“But I slept, and I dreamed again,” said Kriemhild. “This time I sat in +the meadow, and three women came to me. And they span, and they wove +a woof more fair than any I have ever seen. And methought that another +woof was woven, which crossed the first, and yet it was no whit less +beautiful. Then the women who wove the woofs cried out, ‘Enough!’ And +a fair white arm reached out and seized the rare fabrics, and tore them +into shreds. And then the sky was overcast, and the thunder began to +roll and the lightning to flash, and red fires gleamed, and fierce +wolves howled around me, and I awoke.” + +“This dream,” said Queen Ute, “is more than I can understand. Only this +I can see and explain, that in the dim future the woof of another’s fate +shall cross thy own. But trouble not thyself because of that which +shall be. While yet the sun shines for thee, and the birds sing, and +the flowers shed their sweet perfume, it is for thee to rejoice and +be light-hearted. What the Norns have woven is woven, and it cannot be +undone.”[EN#21] + + + + + +Adventure XI. How the Spring-time Came. + + + +Siegfried, when he came to Gunther’s castle, thought of staying there +but a few days only. But the king and his brothers made every thing so +pleasant for their honored guest, that weeks slipped by unnoticed, and +still the hero remained in Burgundy. + +Spring had fairly come, and the weeping April clouds had given place to +the balmy skies of May. The young men and maidens, as was their wont, +made ready for the May-day games; and Siegfried and his knights were +asked to take part in the sport. + +On the smooth greensward, which they called Nanna’s carpet, beneath the +shade of ash-trees and elms, he who played Old Winter’s part lingered +with his few attendants. These were clad in the dull gray garb which +becomes the sober season of the year, and were decked with yellow +straw, and dead, brown leaves. Out of the wood came the May-king and his +followers, clad in the gayest raiment, and decked with evergreens and +flowers. With staves and willow-withes they fell upon Old Winter’s +champions, and tried to drive them from the sward. In friendly fray +they fought, and many mishaps fell to both parties. But at length the +May-king won; and grave Winter, battered and bruised, was made prisoner, +and his followers were driven from the field. Then, in merry sport, +sentence was passed on the luckless wight, for he was found guilty of +killing the flowers, and of covering the earth with hoar-frost; and +he was doomed to a long banishment from music and the sunlight. The +laughing party then set up a wooden likeness of the worsted winter-king, +and pelted it with stones and turf; and when they were tired they threw +it down, and put out its eyes, and cast it into the river. And then a +pole, decked with wild-flowers and fresh green leaves, was planted in +the midst of the sward, and all joined in merry dance around it. And +they chose the most beautiful of all the maidens to be the Queen of May, +and they crowned her with a wreath of violets and yellow buttercups; and +for a whole day all yielded fealty to her, and did her bidding. + +It was thus that May Day came in Burgundy. And in the evening, when the +party were seated in King Gunther’s hall, Siegfried, at the command of +the May-queen,--who was none other than Kriemhild the peerless,--amused +them by telling the story of + + + +Idun and Her Apples. + + + +It is a story that Bragi told while at the feast in AEgir’s hall. Idun +is Bragi’s wife. Very handsome is she; but the beauty of her face is by +no means greater than the goodness of her heart. Right attentive is she +to every duty, and her words and thoughts are always worthy and wise. +A long time ago the good Asa-folk who dwell in heaven-towering Asgard, +knowing how trustworthy Idun was, gave into her keeping a treasure +which they would not have placed in the hands of any other person. +This treasure was a box of apples, and Idun kept the golden key safely +fastened to her girdle. You ask me why the gods should prize a box of +apples so highly? I will tell you. + +Old age, you know, spares none, not even Odin and his Asa-folk. They all +grow old and gray; and, if there were no cure for age, they would become +feeble and toothless and blind, deaf, tottering, and weak minded. The +apples which Idun guarded so carefully were the priceless boon of youth. +Whenever the gods felt old age coming on, they went to her, and she gave +them of her fruit; and, when they had tasted, they grew young and strong +and handsome again. Once, however, they came near losing the apples,--or +losing rather Idun and her golden key, without which no one could ever +open the box. + +In those early days Odin delighted to come down now and then from his +high home above the clouds, and to wander, disguised, among the woods +and mountains, and by the seashore, and in wild desert places. For +nothing pleases him more than to commune with Nature as she is found +in the loneliness of vast solitudes, or in the boisterous uproar of the +elements. Once on a time he took with him his friends Hoenir and Loki; +and they rambled many days among the icy cliffs, and along the barren +shores, of the great frozen sea. In that country there was no game, and +no fish was found in the cold waters; and the three wanderers, as they +had brought no food with them, became very hungry. Late in the afternoon +of the seventh day, they reached some pasture-lands belonging to the +giant Hymer, and saw a herd of the giant’s cattle browsing upon the +short grass which grew in the sheltered nooks among the hills. + +“Ah!” cried Loki: “after fasting for a week, we shall now have food in +abundance. Let us kill and eat.” + +So saying, he hurled a sharp stone at the fattest of Hymer’s cows, and +killed her; and the three quickly dressed the choicest pieces of flesh +for their supper. Then Loki gathered twigs and dry grass, and kindled a +blazing fire; Hoenir filled the pot with water from melted ice; and Odin +threw into it the bits of tender meat. But, make the fire as hot as they +would, the water would not boil, and the flesh would not cook. + +All night long the supperless three sat hungry around the fire; and, +every time they peeped into the kettle, the meat was as raw and gustless +as before. Morning came, but no breakfast. And all day Loki kept +stirring the fire, and Odin and Hoenir waited hopefully but impatiently. +When the sun again went down, the flesh was still uncooked, and their +supper seemed no nearer ready than it was the night before. As they were +about yielding to despair, they heard a noise overhead, and, looking up, +they saw a huge gray eagle sitting on the dead branch of an oak. + +“Ha, ha!” cried the bird. “You are pretty fellows indeed! To sit hungry +by the fire a night and a day, rather than eat raw flesh, becomes you +well. Do but give me my share of it as it is, and I warrant you the rest +shall boil, and you shall have a fat supper.” + +“Agreed,” answered Loki eagerly. “Come down and get your share.” + +The eagle waited for no second asking. Down he swooped right over the +blazing fire, and snatched not only the eagle’s share, but also what the +Lybians call the lion’s share; that is, he grasped in his strong talons +the kettle, with all the meat in it, and, flapping his huge wings, +slowly rose into the air, carrying his booty with him. The three gods +were astonished. Loki was filled with anger. He seized a long pole, upon +the end of which a sharp hook was fixed, and struck at the treacherous +bird. The hook stuck fast in the eagle’s back, and Loki could not loose +his hold of the other end of the pole. The great bird soared high +above the tree-tops, and over the hills, and carried the astonished +mischief-maker with him. + +But it was no eagle. It was no bird that had thus outwitted the hungry +gods: it was the giant Old Winter, clothed in his eagle-plumage. Over +the lonely woods, and the snow-crowned mountains, and the frozen sea, +he flew, dragging the helpless Loki through tree-tops, and over jagged +rocks, scratching and bruising his body, and almost tearing his arms +from his shoulders. At last he alighted on the craggy top of an iceberg, +where the storm-winds shrieked, and the air was filled with driving +snow. As soon as Loki could speak, he begged the giant to carry him back +to his comrades,--Odin and Hoenir. + +“On one condition only will I carry you back,” answered Old Winter. +“Swear to me that you will betray into my hands dame Idun and her golden +key.” + +Loki asked no questions, but gladly gave the oath; and the giant flew +back with him across the sea, and dropped him, torn and bleeding and +lame, by the side of the fire, where Odin and Hoenir still lingered. And +the three made all haste to leave that cheerless place, and returned to +Odin’s glad home in Asgard. + +Some weeks after this, Loki, the Prince of Mischief-makers, went to +Bragi’s house to see Idun. He found her busied with her household cares, +not thinking of a visit from any of the gods. + +“I have come, good dame,” said he, “to taste your apples again; for I +feel old age coming on apace.” + +Idun was astonished. + +“You are not looking old,” she answered. “There is not a single gray +hair upon your head, and not a wrinkle on your brow. If it were not for +that scar upon your cheek, and the arm which you carry in a sling you +would look as stout and as well as I have ever seen you. Besides, I +remember that it was only a year ago when you last tasted of my fruit. +Is it possible that a single winter should make you old?” + +“A single winter has made me very lame and feeble, at least,” said Loki. +“I have been scarcely able to walk about since my return from the North. +Another winter without a taste of your apples will be the death of me.” + +Then the kind-hearted Idun, when she saw that Loki was really lame, went +to the box, and opened it with her golden key, and gave him one of the +precious apples to taste. He took the fruit in his hand, bit it, and +gave it back to the good dame. She put it in its place again, closed the +lid, and locked it with her usual care. + +“Your apples are not so good as they used to be,” said Loki, making a +very wry face. “Why don’t you fill your box with fresh fruit?” + +Idun was amazed. Her apples were supposed to be always fresh,--fresher +by far than any that grow nowadays. None of the gods had ever before +complained about them; and she told Loki so. + +“Very well,” said he. “I see you do not believe me, and that you mean to +feed us on your sour, withered apples, when we might as well have golden +fruit. If you were not so bent on having your own way, I could tell you +where you might fill your box with the choicest of apples, such as Odin +loves. I saw them in the forest over yonder, hanging ripe on the trees. +But women will always have their own way; and you must have yours, even +though you do feed the gods on withered apples.” + +So saying, and without waiting to hear an answer, he limped out at the +door, and was soon gone from sight. + +Idun thought long and anxiously upon the words which Loki had spoken; +and, the more she thought, the more she felt troubled. If her husband, +the wise Bragi, had been at home, what would she not have given? He +would have understood the mischief-maker’s cunning. But he had gone on +a long journey to the South, singing in Nature’s choir, and painting +Nature’s landscapes, and she would not see him again until the return +of spring. At length she opened the box, and looked at the fruit. The +apples were certainly fair and round: she could not see a wrinkle or a +blemish on any of them; their color was the same golden-red,--like the +sky at dawn of a summer’s day; yet she thought there must be something +wrong about them. She took up one of the apples, and tasted it. She +fancied that it really was sour, and she hastily put it back, and locked +the box again. + +“He said that he had seen better apples than these growing in the +woods,” said she to herself. “I half believe that he told the truth, +although everybody knows that he is not always trustworthy. I think I +shall go to the forest and see for myself, at any rate.” + +So she donned her cloak and hood, and, with a basket on her arm, left +the house, and walked rapidly away, along the road which led to the +forest. It was much farther than she had thought, and the sun was almost +down when she reached the edge of the wood. But no apple-trees were +there. Tall oaks stretched their bare arms up towards the sky, as if +praying for help. There were thorn-trees and brambles everywhere; but +there was no fruit, neither were there any flowers, nor even green +leaves. The Frost-giants had been there. + +Idun was about to turn her footsteps homewards, when she heard a wild +shriek in the tree-tops over her head; and, before she could look up, +she felt herself seized in the eagle-talons of Old Winter. Struggle as +she would, she could not free herself. High up, over wood and stream, +the giant carried her; and then he flew swiftly away with her, towards +his home in the chill North-land; and, when morning came, poor Idun +found herself in an ice-walled castle in the cheerless country of the +giants. But she was glad to know that the precious box was safely locked +at home, and that the golden key was still at her girdle. + +Time passed; and I fear that Idun would have been forgotten by all, +save her husband Bragi, had not the gods begun to feel the need of her +apples. Day after day they came to Idun’s house, hoping to find the good +dame and her golden key at home; and each day they went away some hours +older than when they had come. Bragi was beside himself with grief, and +his golden harp was unstrung and forgotten. No one had seen the missing +Idun since the day when Loki had visited her, and none could guess what +had become of her. The heads of all the folk grew white with age; deep +furrows were ploughed in their faces; their eyes grew dim, and their +hearing failed; their hands trembled; their limbs became palsied; their +feet tottered; and all feared that Old Age would bring Death in his +train. + +Then Bragi and Thor questioned Loki very sharply; and when he felt that +he, too, was growing odd and feeble, he regretted the mischief he had +done, and told them how he had decoyed Idun into Old Winter’s clutches. +The gods were very angry; and Thor threatened to crush Loki with his +hammer, if he did not at once bring Idun safe home again. + +So Loki borrowed the falcon-plumage of Freyja, the goddess of love, and +with it flew to the country of the giants. When he reached Old Winter’s +castle, he found the good dame Idun shut up in the prison-tower, and +bound with fetters of ice; but the giant himself was on the frozen sea, +herding old Hymer’s cows. And Loki quickly broke the bonds that held +Idun, and led her out of her prison-house; and then he shut her up in a +magic nut-shell which he held between his claws, and flew with the speed +of the wind back towards the South-land and the home of the gods. But +Old Winter coming home, and learning what had been done, donned his +eagle-plumage and followed swiftly in pursuit. + +Bragi and Thor, anxiously gazing into the sky, saw Loki, in Freyja’s +falcon-plumage, speeding homewards, with the nut-shell in his talons, +and Old Winter, in his eagle-plumage, dashing after in sharp pursuit. +Quickly they gathered chips and slender twigs, and placed them high upon +the castle-wall; and, when Loki with his precious burden had flown past, +they touched fire to the dry heap, and the flames blazed up to the sky, +and caught Old Winter’s plumage, as, close behind the falcon, he blindly +pressed. And his wings were scorched in the flames; and he fell helpless +to the ground, and was slain within the castle-gates. Loki slackened +his speed; and, when he reached Bragi’s house, he dropped the nut-shell +softly before the door. As it touched the ground, it gently opened, and +Idun, radiant with smiles, and clothed in gay attire, stepped forth, +and greeted her husband and the waiting gods. And the heavenly music of +Bragi’s long-silent harp welcomed her home; and she took the golden key +from her girdle, and unlocked the box, and gave of her apples to the +aged company; and, when they had tasted, their youth was renewed.[EN#22] + +It is thus with the seasons and their varied changes. The gifts of +Spring are youth and jollity, and renewed strength; and the music of air +and water and all things, living and lifeless, follow in her train. The +desolating Winter plots to steal her from the earth, and the Summer-heat +deserts and betrays her. Then the music of Nature is hushed, and all +creatures pine in sorrow for her absence, and the world seems dying of +white Old Age. But at length the Summer-heat repents, and frees her from +her prison-house; and the icy fetters with which Old Winter bound her +are melted in the beams of the returning sun, and the earth is young +again. + + + + + +Adventure XII. The War with the North-kings. + + + +So swiftly and so pleasantly the days went by, that weeks lengthened +into months, and the spring-time passed, and the summer came, and still +Siegfried lingered in Burgundy with his kind friends. The time was spent +in all manner of joyance,--in hunting the deer in the deep oak-woods, +in riding over the daisied meadows or among the fields of corn, in manly +games and sports, in music and dancing, in feasting and in pleasant +talk. And of all the noble folk who had ever sat at Gunther’s table, or +hunted in the Burgundian woods, none were so worthy or so fair as the +proud young lord of the Nibelungens. + +One day in early autumn a party of strange knights rode up to the +castle, and asked to speak with the Burgundian kings. They were led +straightway into the great hall; and Gunther and his brothers welcomed +them, as was their wont, right heartily, and asked them from what +country they had come, and what was their errand. + +“We come,” they answered, “from the North country; and we bring word +from our lords and kings, Leudiger and Leudigast.” + +“And what would our kingly neighbors say to us?” asked Gunther. + +Then the strangers said that their lords had become very angry with the +Burgundian kings, and that they meant, within twelve weeks from that +day, to come with a great army, and lay the country waste, and besiege +their city and castle. All this they had sworn to do unless the +Burgundians would make peace with them upon such terms as Leudiger and +Leudigast should please to grant. + +When Gunther and his brothers heard this, they were struck with dismay. +But they ordered the messengers to be well cared for and handsomely +entertained within the palace until the morrow, at which time they +should have the Burgundians’ answer. All the noblest knights and +earl-folk were called together, and the matter was laid before them. + +“What answer shall we send to our rude neighbors of the North?” asked +Gunther. + +Gernot and the young Giselher declared at once for war. Old Hagen and +other knights, whose prudence was at least equal to their bravery, said +but little. It was known, that, in the armies of the North-kings, there +were at least forty thousand soldiers; but in Burgundy there were not +more than thirty thousand fighting-men, all told. The North-kings’ +forces were already equipped, and ready to march; but the Burgundians +could by no means raise and arm any considerable body of men in the +short space of twelve weeks. It would be the part of wisdom to delay, +and to see what terms could best be made with their enemies. Such were +the prudent counsels of the older knights, but Gernot and the young +chief Volker would not listen to such words. + +“The Burgundians are not cowards,” said they. “We have never been foiled +in battle; never have we been the vassals of a stranger. Why, then, +shall we cringe and cower before such men as Leudiger and Leudigast?” + +Then Hagen answered, “Let us ask our friend and guest Siegfried. Let us +learn what he thinks about this business. Everybody knows that he is as +wise in council as he is brave in the field. We will abide by what he +says.” + +But Gunther and Gernot and the young Giselher were unwilling to do this; +for it was not their custom to annoy their guests with questions which +should be allowed to trouble themselves alone. And the kings and their +counsellors went out of the council-chamber, each to ponder in silence +upon the troublesome question. + +As Gunther, with downcast head and troubled brow, walked thoughtfully +through the great hall, he unexpectedly met Siegfried. + +“What evil tidings have you heard?” asked the prince, surprised at the +strange mien of the king. “What has gone amiss, that should cause such +looks of dark perplexity?” + +“That is a matter which I can tell only to friends long tried and true,” + answered Gunther. + +Siegfried was surprised and hurt by these words; and he cried out,-- + +“What more would Gunther ask of me that I might prove my friendship? +Surely I have tried to merit his esteem and trust. Tell me what troubles +you, and I will further show myself to be your friend both tried and +true.” + +Then Gunther was ashamed of the words he had spoken to his guest; and he +took Siegfried into his own chamber, and told him all; and he asked +him what answer they should send on the morrow to the overbearing +North-kings. + +“Tell them we will fight,” answered Siegfried. “I myself will lead +your warriors to the fray. Never shall it be said that my friends have +suffered wrong, and I not tried to help them.” + +Then he and Gunther talked over the plans which they would follow. And +the clouds fled at once from the brow of the king, and he was no longer +troubled or doubtful; for he believed in Siegfried. + +The next morning the heralds of the North-kings were brought again +before Gunther and his brothers; and they were told to carry this word +to their masters,-- + +“The Burgundians will fight. They will make no terms with their enemies, +save such as they make of their own free-will.” + +Then the heralds were loaded with costly presents, and a company of +knights and warriors went with them to the border-line of Burgundy; and, +filled with wonder at what they had seen, they hastened back to their +liege lords, and told all that had happened to them. And Leudiger +and Leudigast were very wroth when they heard the answer which the +Burgundians had sent to them; but, when they learned that the noble +Siegfried was at Gunther’s castle, they shook their heads, and seemed to +feel more doubtful of success. + +Many and busy were the preparations for war, and in a very few days all +things were in readiness for the march northwards. It was settled that +Siegfried with his twelve Nibelungen chiefs, and a thousand picked +men, should go forth to battle against their boastful enemies. The +dark-browed Hagen, as he had always done, rode at the head of the +company, and by his side was Siegfried on the noble horse Greyfell. Next +came Gernot and the bold chief Volker, bearing the standard, upon which +a golden dragon was engraved; then followed Dankwart and Ortwin, and the +twelve worthy comrades of Siegfried; and then the thousand warriors, +the bravest in all Rhineland, mounted on impatient steeds, and clad +in bright steel armor, with broad shields, and plumed helmets, and +burnished swords, and sharp-pointed spears. And all rode proudly out +through the great castle-gate. And Gunther and the young Giselher and +all the fair ladies of the court bade them God-speed. + +The little army passed through the forest, and went northwards, until, +on the fifth day, they reached the boundaries of Saxon Land. And +Siegfried gave spur to his horse Greyfell, and, leaving the little army +behind him, hastened forwards to see where the enemy was encamped. As +he reached the top of a high hill, he saw the armies of the North-kings +resting carelessly in the valley beyond. Knights, mounted on their +horses, rode hither and thither: the soldiers sauntered lazily among +the trees, or slept upon the grass; arms were thrown about in great +disorder, or stacked in piles near the smoking camp-fires. No one +dreamed of danger; but all supposed that the Burgundians were still at +home, and would never dare to attack a foe so numerous and so strong. + +For it was, indeed, a mighty army which Siegfried saw before him. Full +forty thousand men were there; and they not only filled the valley, but +spread over the hills beyond, and far to the right and left. + +While he stood at the top of the hill, and gazed upon this sight, a +warrior, who had spied him from below, rode up, and paused before him. +Like two black thunder-clouds, with lightning flashing between, the +two knights stood facing each other, and casting wrathful glances from +beneath their visors. Then each spurred his horse, and charged with fury +upon the other; and the heavy lances of both were broken in shivers upon +the opposing shields. Then, quick as thought, they turned and drew +their swords, and hand to hand they fought. But soon Siegfried, by an +unlooked-for stroke, sent his enemy’s sword flying from him, broken in a +dozen pieces, and by a sudden movement he threw him from his horse. The +heavy shield of the fallen knight was no hinderance to the quick strokes +of Siegfried’s sword; and his glittering armor, soiled by the mud into +which he had been thrown, held him down. He threw up his hands, and +begged for mercy. + +“I am Leudigast the king!” he cried. “Spare my life. I am your +prisoner.” + +Siegfried heard the prayer of the discomfited king; and, lifting him +from the ground, he helped him to remount his charger. But, while he was +doing this, thirty warriors, who had seen the combat from below, came +dashing up the hill to the rescue of their liege-lord. Siegfried faced +about with his horse Greyfell, and quietly waited for their onset. But, +as they drew near, they were so awed by the noble bearing and grand +proportions of the hero, and so astonished at sight of the sunbeam mane +of Greyfell, and the cold glitter of the blade Balmung, that in sudden +fright they stopped, then turned, and fled in dismay down the sloping +hillside, nor paused until they were safe among their friends. + +In the mean while Leudiger, the other king, seeing what was going on +at the top of the hill, had caused an alarm to be sounded; and all his +hosts had hastily arranged themselves in battle-array. At the same time +Hagen and Gernot, and their little army of heroes, hove in sight, and +came quickly to Siegfried’s help, and the dragon-banner was planted upon +the crest of the hill. The captive king, Leudigast, was taken to the +rear, and a guard was placed over him. The champions of the Rhine formed +in line, and faced their foes. The great army of the North-kings moved +boldly up the hill: and, when they saw how few were the Burgundians, +they laughed and cheered most lustily; for they felt that the odds was +in their favor--and forty to one is no small odds. + +Then Siegfried and his twelve comrades, and Hagen and the thousand +Burgundian knights, dashed upon them with the fury of the whirlwind. +The lances flew so thick in the air, that they hid the sun from sight; +swords flashed on every side; the sound of clashing steel, and horses’ +hoofs, and soldiers’ shouts, filled earth and sky with a horrid din. And +soon the boastful foes of the Burgundians were everywhere worsted, and +thrown into disorder. Siegfried dashed hither and thither, from one part +of the field to another, in search of King Leudiger. Thrice he cut his +way through the ranks, and at last he met face to face the one for whom +he sought. + +King Leudiger saw the flashing sunbeams that glanced from Greyfell’s +mane, he saw the painted crown upon the hero’s broad shield, and then he +felt the fearful stroke of the sword Balmung, as it clashed against +his own, and cut it clean in halves. He dropped his weapons, raised his +visor, and gave himself up as a prisoner. + +“Give up the fight, my brave fellows,” he cried. “This is Siegfried the +brave, the Prince of the Lowlands, and the Lord of Nibelungen Land. It +were foolishness to fight against him. Save yourselves as best you can.” + +This was the signal for a frightful panic. All turned and fled. Each +thought of nothing but his own safety; and knights and warriors, +horsemen and foot-soldiers, in one confused mass, throwing shields and +weapons here and there, rushed wildly down the hill, and through the +valley and ravines, and sought, as best they could, their way homeward. +The Burgundian heroes were the masters of the field, and on the morrow +they turned their faces joyfully towards Rhineland. And all joined in +saying that to Siegfried was due the praise for this wonderful victory +which they had gained. + +Heralds had been sent on the fleetest horses to carry the glad news to +Burgundy; and when, one morning, they dashed into the court-yard of the +castle, great was the anxiety to know what tidings they brought. And +King Gunther, and the young Giselher, and the peerless Kriemhild, +came out to welcome them, and eagerly to inquire what had befallen the +heroes. With breathless haste the heralds told the story of all that had +happened. + +“And how fares our brother Gernot?” asked Kriemhild. + +“There is no happier man on earth,” answered the herald. “In truth, +there was not a coward among them all; but the bravest of the brave was +Siegfried. He it was who took the two kings prisoners; and everywhere in +the thickest of the fight there was Siegfried. And now our little army +is on its homeward march, with a thousand prisoners, and large numbers +of the enemy’s wounded. Had it not been for the brave Siegfried, no such +victory could have been won.” + +In a few days the Rhine champions reached their home. And gayly were the +castle and all the houses in the city decked in honor of them. And all +those who had been left behind went out to meet them as they came down +from the forest-road, and drew near to the castle. And the young girls +strewed flowers in their path, and hung garlands upon their horses; +and music and song followed the heroes into the city, and through the +castle-gate. + +When they reached the palace, the two prisoner kings, Leudiger and +Leudigast, were loosed from their bonds, and handsomely entertained at +Gunther’s table. And the Burgundian kings assured them that they should +be treated as honored guests, and have the freedom of the court and +castle, if they would pledge themselves not to try to escape from +Burgundy until terms of peace should be agreed upon. This pledge they +gladly gave, and rich apartments in the palace were assigned for their +use. Like favors were shown to all the prisoners, according to their +rank; and the wounded were kindly cared for. And the Burgundians made +ready for a gay high-tide,--a glad festival of rejoicing, to be held at +the next full moon. + +When the day drew near which had been set for this high-tide, the folk +from all parts of Rhineland began to flock towards the city. They +came in companies, with music and laughter, and the glad songs of +the spring-time. And all the knights were mounted on gallant horses +caparisoned with gold-red saddles, from which hung numbers of tinkling +silver bells. As they rode up the sands towards the castle-gate, +with their dazzling shields upon their saddle-bows, and their gay and +many-colored banners floating in the air, King Gernot and the young +Giselher, with the noblest knights of the fortress, went courteously out +to meet them; and the friendly greetings which were offered by the two +young kings won the hearts of all. Thirty and two princes and more than +five thousand warriors came as bidden guests. The city and castle were +decked in holiday attire, and all the people in the land gave themselves +up to enjoyment. The sick and the wounded, who until now had thought +themselves at death’s door, forgot their ailments and their pains as +they heard the shouts of joy and the peals of music in the streets. + +In a green field outside of the city walls, arrangements had been made +for the games, and galleries and high stages had been built for the +lookers-on. Here jousts and tournaments were held, and the knights and +warriors engaged in trials of strength and skill. When King Gunther saw +with what keen enjoyment both his own people and his guests looked upon +these games, and took part in the gay festivities, he asked of those +around him,-- + +“What more can we do to heighten the pleasures of the day?” + +And one of his counsellors answered,-- + +“My lord, the ladies of the court, and the little children, pine in +silence in the sunless rooms of the palace, while we enjoy the free air +and light of heaven, the music, and the gay scenes before us. There is +nothing wanting to make this day’s joy complete, save the presence of +our dear ones to share these pleasures with us.” + +Gunther was delighted to hear these words; and he sent a herald to the +palace, and invited all the ladies of the court and all the children to +come out and view the games, and join in the general gladness. + +When Dame Ute heard the message which the herald brought from her kingly +son, she hastened to make ready rich dresses and costly jewels wherewith +to adorn the dames and damsels of the court. And, when all were in +readiness, the peerless Kriemhild, with her mother at her side, went +forth from the castle; and a hundred knights, all sword in hand, went +with her as a body-guard, and a great number of noble ladies dressed in +rich attire followed her. As the red dawn peers forth from behind gray +clouds, and drives the mists and shadows away from earth, so came +the lovely one. As the bright full moon in radiant splendor moves in +queen-like beauty before her train of attendant stars, and outshines +them all, so was Kriemhild the most glorious among all the noble ladies +there. And the thousand knights and warriors paused in their games, and +greeted the peerless princess as was due to one so noble and fair. Upon +the highest platform, under a rich canopy of cloth-of-gold, seats were +made ready for the maiden and her mother and the fair ladies in their +train; and all the most worthy princes in Rhineland sat around, and the +games were begun again. + +For twelve days the gay high-tide lasted, and nought was left undone +whereby the joy might be increased. And of all the heroes and princes +who jousted in the tournament, or took part in the games, none could +equal the unassuming Siegfried; and his praises were heard on every +hand, and all agreed that he was the most worthy prince that they had +ever seen. + +When at last the festal days came to an end, Gunther and his brothers +called their guests and vassals around them, and loaded them with costly +gifts, and bade them God-speed. And tears stood in the eyes of all at +parting. + +The captive kings, Leudiger and Leudigast, were not forgotten. + +“What will ye give me for your freedom?” asked King Gunther, half in +jest. + +They answered,-- + +“If you will allow us without further hinderance to go back to our +people, we pledge our lives and our honor that we will straightway send +you gold, as much as half a thousand horses can carry.” + +Then Gunther turned to Siegfried, and said,-- + +“What think you, friend Siegfried, of such princely ransom?” + +“Noble lord,” said Siegfried, “I think you are in need of no such +ransom. Friendship is worth much more than gold. If your kingly captives +will promise, on their honor, never more to come towards Burgundy as +enemies, let them go. We have no need of gold.” + +“‘Tis well said,” cried Gunther highly pleased. + +And Leudiger and Leudigast, with tears of thankfulness, gladly made +the asked-for promise, and on the morrow, with light hearts and costly +gifts, they set out on their journey homewards. + +When all the guests had gone, and the daily routine of idle palace-life +set in again, Siegfried began to talk of going back to Nibelungen +Land. But young Giselher, and the peerless Kriemhild, and King Gunther, +besought him to stay yet a little longer. And he yielded to their kind +wishes. And autumn passed away with its fruits and its vintage, and grim +old winter came howling down from the north, and Siegfried was still +in Burgundy. And then old Hoder, the king of the winter months, +came blustering through the Rhine valley; and with him were the +Reifriesen,--the thieves that steal the daylight from the earth and +the warmth from the sun. And they nipped the flowers, and withered the +grass, and stripped the trees, and sealed up the rivers, and covered the +earth with a white mantle of sorrow. + +But within King Gunther’s wide halls there was joy and good cheer. +And the season of the Yule-feast came, and still Siegfried tarried in +Burgundy-land. + + + + + +Adventure XIII. The Story of Balder. + + + +There was mirth in King Gunther’s dwelling, for the time of the +Yule-feast had come. The broad banquet hall was gayly decked with cedar +and spruce and sprigs of the mistletoe; and the fires roared in the +great chimneys, throwing warmth and a ruddy glow of light into every +corner of the room. The long table fairly groaned under its weight of +good cheer. At its head sat the kings and the earl-folk; and before +them, on a silver platter of rare workmanship, was the head of a huge +wild boar,--the festal offering to the good Frey, in honor of whom +the Yule-feast was held. For now the sun, which had been driven by the +Frost-giants far away towards the South-land, had begun to return, and +Frey was on his way once more to scatter peace and plenty over the land. + +The harp and the wassail-bowl went round; and each one of the company +sang a song, or told a story, or in some way did his part to add to the +evening’s enjoyment. And a young sea-king who sat at Siegfried’s side +told most bewitching tales of other lands which lie beyond Old AEgir’s +kingdom. Then, when the harp came to him, he sang the wondrous song of +the shaping of the earth. And all who heard were charmed with the sweet +sound and with the pleasant words. He sang of the sunlight and the south +winds and the summer-time, of the storms and the snow and the sombre +shadows of the North-land. And he sang of the dead Ymir, the giant whose +flesh had made the solid earth, and whose blood the sea, and whose bones +the mountains, whose teeth the cliffs and crags, and whose skull the +heavens. And he sang of Odin, the earth’s preserver, the Giver of life, +the Father of all; and of the Asa-folk who dwell in Asgard; and of +the ghostly heroes in Valhal. Then he sang of the heaven-tower of the +thunder-god, and of the shimmering Asa-bridge, or rainbow, all afire; +and, lastly, of the four dwarfs who hold the blue sky-dome above them, +and of the elves of the mountains, and of the wood-sprites and +the fairies. Then he laid aside his harp, and told the old but +ever-beautiful story of the death of Balder the Good. + + + +The Story. + + + +Balder, as you know, was Odin’s son; and he was the brightest and +best of all the Asa-folk. Wherever he went, there were gladness and +light-hearted mirth, and blooming flowers, and singing birds, and +murmuring waterfalls. Balder, too, was a hero, but not one of the +blustering kind, like Thor. He slew no giants; he never went into +battle; he never tried to make for himself a name among the dwellers of +the mid-world; and yet he was a hero of the noblest type. He dared to do +right, and to stand up for the good, the true, and the beautiful. There +are still some such heroes, but the world does not always hear of them. + +Hoder, the blind king of the winter months, was Balder’s brother, and as +unlike him as darkness is unlike daylight. While one rejoiced, and +was merry and cheerful, the other was low-spirited and sad. While one +scattered sunshine and blessings everywhere, the other carried with him +a sense of cheerlessness and gloom. Yet the brothers loved each other +dearly. + +One night Balder dreamed a strange dream, and when he awoke he could not +forget it. All day long he was thoughtful and sad, and he was not his +own bright, happy self. His mother, the Asa-queen, saw that something +troubled him; and she asked,-- + +“Whence comes that cloud upon your brow? Will you suffer it to chase +away all your sunshine? and will you become, like your brother Hoder, +all frowns and sighs and tears?” + +Then Balder told her what he had dreamed; and she, too, was sorely +troubled, for it was a frightful dream, and foreboded dire disasters. +Then both she and Balder went to Odin, and to him they told the cause +of their uneasiness. And the All-Father also was distressed; for he knew +that such dreams, dreamed by Asa-folk, were the forewarnings of evil. So +he saddled his eight-footed steed Sleipner; and, without telling any one +where he was going, he rode with the speed of the winds down into +the Valley of Death. The dog that guards the gateway to that dark and +doleful land came out to meet him. Blood was on the fierce beast’s +breast, and he barked loudly and angrily at the All-Father and his +wondrous horse. But Odin sang sweet magic songs as he drew near; and the +dog was charmed with the sound, and Sleipner and his rider went onward +in safety. And they passed the dark halls of the pale-faced queen, and +came to the east gate of the valley. There stood the low hut of a witch +who lived in darkness, and, like the Norns, spun the thread of fate for +gods and men. + +Odin stood before the hut, and sang a wondrous song of witchery and +enchantment; and he laid a spell upon the weird woman, and forced her to +come out of her dark dwelling, and to answer his questions. + +“Who is this stranger?” asked the witch. “Who is this unknown who calls +me from my narrow home, and sets an irksome task for me? Long have I +been left alone in my quiet house; nor recked I that the snow sometimes +covered with its cold white mantle both me and my resting-place, or that +the pattering rain and the gently falling dew often moistened the roof +of my dwelling. Long have I rested quietly, and I do not wish now to be +aroused.” + +“I am Valtam’s son,” said Odin; “and I come to learn of thee. Tell me, +I pray, for whom are the soft couches prepared that I saw in the broad +halls of Death? For whom are the jewels, and the rings, and the rich +clothing, and the shining shield?” + +“All are for Balder, Odin’s son,” she answered. “And the mead which has +been brewed for him is hidden beneath the shining shield.” + +Then Odin asked who would be the slayer of Balder, and she answered that +Hoder was the one who would send the shining Asa to the halls of Death. + +“Who will avenge Balder, and bring distress upon his slayer?” asked +Odin. + +“A son of Earth but one day old shall be Balder’s avenger. Go thou now +home, Odin; for I know thou art not Valtam’s son. Go home; and none +shall again awaken me, nor disturb me at my task, until the new day +shall dawn, and Balder shall rule over the young world in its purity, +and there shall be no more Death.” + +Then Odin rode sorrowfully homeward; but he told no one of his journey +to the Dark Valley, nor of what the weird witch had said to him. + +Balder’s mother, the Asa-queen, could not rest because of the ill-omened +dream that her son had had; and in her distress she called all the +Asa-folk together to consider what should be done. But they were +speechless with sorrow and alarm; and none could offer advice, nor set +her mind at ease. Then she sought out every living creature, and every +lifeless thing, upon the earth, and asked each one to swear that it +would not on any account hurt Balder, nor touch him to do him harm. And +this oath was willingly made by fire and water, earth and air, by all +beasts and creeping things and birds and fishes, by the rocks and by the +trees and all metals; for every thing loved Balder the Good. + +Then the Asa-folk thought that great honor was shown to Balder each time +any thing refused to hurt him; and to show their love for him, as well +as to amuse themselves, they often hewed at him with their battle-axes, +or struck at him with their sharp swords, or hurled toward him their +heavy lances. For every weapon turned aside from its course, and would +neither mark nor bruise the shining target at which it was aimed; and +Balder’s princely beauty shone as bright and as pure as ever. + +When Loki the Mischief-maker saw how all things loved and honored +Balder, his heart was filled with jealous hate, and he sought all over +the earth for some beast or bird or tree or lifeless thing, that had +not taken the oath. But he could find not one. Then, disguised as a fair +maiden, he went to Fensal Hall, where dwelt Balder’s mother. The fair +Asa-queen was busy at her distaff, with her golden spindles, spinning +flax to be woven into fine linen for the gods. And her maid-servant, +Fulla of the flowing hair, sat on a stool beside her. When the queen saw +Loki, she asked,-- + +“Whence come you, fair stranger? and what favor would you ask of Odin’s +wife?” + +“I come,” answered the disguised Loki, “from the plains of Ida, where +the gods meet for pleasant pastime, as well as to talk of the weightier +matters of their kingdom.” + +“And how do they while away their time to-day?” asked the queen. + +“They have a pleasant game which they call Balder’s Honor,” was the +answer. “The shining hero stands before them as a target, and each one +tries his skill at hurling some weapon toward him. First Odin throws at +him the spear Gungner, which never before was known to miss its mark; +but it passes harmlessly over Balder’s head. Then Thor takes up a huge +rock, and hurls it full at Balder’s breast; but it turns in its course, +and will not smite the sun-bright target. Then Tyr seizes a battle-axe, +and strikes at Balder as though he would hew him down; but the keen edge +refuses to touch him: and in this way the Asa-folk show honor to the +best of their number.” + +The Asa-queen smiled in the glad pride of her mother-heart, and said, +“Yes, every thing shows honor to the best of Odin’s sons; for neither +metal nor wood nor stone nor fire nor water will touch Balder to do him +harm.” + +“Is it true, then,” asked Loki, “that every thing has made an oath to +you, and promised not to hurt your son?” + +And the queen, not thinking what harm an unguarded word might do, +answered, “Every thing has promised, save a little feeble sprig that men +call the mistletoe. So small and weak it is, that I knew it could never +harm any one; and so I passed it by, and did not ask it to take the +oath.” + +Then Loki went out of Fensal Hall, and left the Asa-queen at her +spinning. And he walked briskly away, and paused not until he came to +the eastern side of Valhal, where, on the branches of an old oak, the +mistletoe grew. Rudely he tore the plant from its supporting branch, and +hid it under his cloak. Then he walked leisurely back to the place where +the Asa-folk were wont to meet in council. + +The next day the Asas went out, as usual, to engage in pleasant pastimes +on the plains of Ida. When they had tired of leaping and foot-racing and +tilting, they placed Balder before them as a target again; and, as +each threw his weapon toward the shining mark, they laughed to see the +missile turn aside from its course, and refuse to strike the honored +one. But blind Hoder stood sorrowfully away from the others, and did not +join in any of their sports. Loki, seeing this, went to him and said,-- + +“Brother of the gloomy brow, why do you not take part with us in our +games?” + +“I am blind,” answered Hoder. “I can neither leap, nor run, nor throw +the lance.” + +“But you can shoot arrows from your bow,” said Loki. + +“Alas!” said Hoder, “that I can do only as some one shall direct my aim, +for I can see no target.” + +“Do you hear that laughter?” asked Loki. “Thor has hurled the straight +trunk of a pine-tree at your brother; and, rather than touch such a +glorious mark; it has turned aside, and been shivered to pieces upon the +rocks over there. It is thus that the Asa-folk, and all things living +and lifeless, honor Balder. Hoder is the only one who hangs his head, +and fears to do his part. Come, now, let me fit this little arrow in +your bow, and then, as I point it, do you shoot. When you hear the gods +laugh, you will know that your arrow has shown honor to the hero by +refusing to hit him.” + +And Hoder, thinking no harm, did as Loki wished. And the deadly arrow +sped from the bow, and pierced the heart of shining Balder, and he +sank lifeless upon the ground. Then the Asa-folk who saw it were struck +speechless with sorrow and dismay; and, had it not been that the Ida +plains where they then stood were sacred to peace, they would have +seized upon Loki, and put him to death. + +Forthwith the world was draped in mourning for Balder the Good; +the birds stopped singing, and flew with drooping wings to the far +South-land; the beasts sought to hide themselves in their lairs and +in the holes of the ground; the trees shivered and sighed until their +leaves fell withered to the earth; the flowers closed their eyes, and +died; the rivers stopped flowing, and dark and threatening billows +veiled the sea; even the sun shrouded his face, and withdrew silently +towards the south. + +When Balder’s good mother heard the sad news, she left her golden +spindle in Fensal Hall, and with her maidens hastened to the Ida-plains, +where the body of her son still lay. Nanna, the faithful wife of Balder, +was already there; and wild was her grief at sight of the lifeless +loved one. And all the Asa-folk--save guilty Loki, who had fled for +his life--stood about them in dumb amazement. But Odin was the most +sorrowful of all; for he knew, that, with Balder, the world had lost its +most gladsome life. + +They lifted the body, and carried it down to the sea, where the great +ship “Ringhorn,” which Balder himself had built, lay ready to be +launched. And a great company followed, and stood upon the beach, and +bewailed the untimely death of the hero. First came Odin, with his +grief-stricken queen, and then his troop of handmaidens, the Valkyrien, +followed by his ravens Hugin and Munin. Then came Thor in his goat-drawn +car, and Heimdal on his horse Goldtop; then Frey, in his wagon, behind +the boar Gullinbruste of the golden bristles. Then Freyja, in her +chariot drawn by cats, came weeping tears of gold. Lastly, poor blind +Hoder, overcome with grief, was carried thither on the back of one of +the Frost-giants. And Old AEgir, the Ocean king, raised his dripping +head above the water, and gazed with dewy eyes upon the scene; and the +waves, as if affrighted, left off their playing, and were still. + +High on the deck they built the funeral-pile; and they placed the body +upon it, and covered it with costly garments, and with woods of the +finest scent; and the noble horse which had been Balder’s they slew, and +placed beside him, that he might not have to walk to the halls of Death. +And Odin took from his finger the ring Draupner, the earth’s enricher, +and laid it on the pile. Then Nanna, the faithful wife, was overcome +with grief, and her gentle heart was broken, and she fell lifeless at +the feet of the Asa-queen. And they carried her upon the ship, and laid +her by her husband’s side. + +When all things were in readiness to set fire to the pile, the gods +tried to launch the ship; but it was so heavy that they could not move +it. So they sent in haste to Jotunheim for the stout giantess Hyrroken; +and she came with the speed of the whirlwind, and riding on a wolf, +which she guided with a bridle of writhing snakes. + +“What will you have me do?” she asked. + +“We would have you launch the great ship ‘Ring horn,’” answered Odin. + +“That I will do!” roared the grim giantess. And, giving the vessel a +single push, she sent it sliding with speed into the deep waters of the +bay. Then she gave the word to her grisly steed, and she flew onwards +and away, no one knew whither. + +The “Ringhorn” floated nobly upon the water,--a worthy bier for the body +which it bore. The fire was set to the funeral-pile, and the red flames +shot upwards to the sky; but their light was but a flickering beam when +matched with the sun-bright beauty of Balder, whose body they consumed. + +Then the sorrowing folk turned away, and went back to their homes: a +cheerless gloom rested heavily where light gladness had ruled before. +And, when they reached the high halls of Asgard, the Asa-queen spoke, +and said,-- + +“Who now, for the love of Balder and his stricken mother, will undertake +an errand? Who will go down into the Valley of Death, and seek for +Balder, and ransom him, and bring him back to Asgard and the mid-world?” + +Then Hermod the Nimble, the brother of Balder, answered, “I will go. I +will find him, and, with Hela’s leave, will bring him back.” + +And he mounted Sleipner, the eight-footed steed, and galloped swiftly +away. Nine days and nine nights he rode through strange valleys and +mountain gorges, where the sun’s light had never been, and through +gloomy darkness and fearful silence, until he came to the black river, +and the glittering, golden bridge which crosses it. Over the bridge his +strong horse carried him; although it shook and swayed and threatened to +throw him into the raging, inky flood below. On the other side a maiden +keeps the gate, and Hermod stopped to pay the toll. + +“What is thy name?” she asked. + +“My name is Hermod, and I am called the Nimble,” he answered. + +“What is thy father’s name?” + +“His name is Odin. Mayhap you have heard of him.” + +“Why ridest thou with such thunderous speed? Five kingdoms of dead men +passed over this bridge yesterday, and it shook not with their weight +as it did with thee and thy strange steed. Thou art not of the pale +multitude that are wont to pass this gate. What is thy errand? and why +ridest thou to the domains of the dead?” + +“I go to find my brother Balder,” answered Hermod. “It is but a short +time since he unwillingly came down into these shades.” + +“Three days ago,” said the maiden, “Balder passed this way, and by his +side rode the faithful Nanna. So bright was his presence, even here, +that the whole valley was lighted up as it had never before been +lighted. The black river glittered like a gem; the frowning mountains +smiled for once; and Hela herself, the queen of these regions, slunk far +away into her most distant halls. But Balder went on his way, and even +now he sups with Nanna in the dark castle over yonder.” + +Then Hermod rode forward till he came to the castle walls. These were +built of black marble; and the iron gate was barred and bolted, and none +who went in had ever yet come out. Hermod called loudly to the porter +to open the gate and let him in; but no one seemed to hear nor heed him, +for the words of the living are unknown in that place. Then he drew +the saddle-girths more tightly around the horse Sleipner, and urged him +forward. High up, the great horse leaped; and he sprang clear over the +gates, and landed at the open door of the great hall. Leaving his steed, +Hermod went boldly in; and there he found his brother Balder and the +faithful Nanna seated at the festal board, and honored as the most +worthy of all the guests. With Balder, Hermod staid until the night had +passed; and many were the pleasant words they spoke. When morning came, +Hermod went into the presence of Hela, and said,-- + +“O mighty queen! I come to ask a boon of thee. Balder the Good, whom +both gods and men loved, has been sent to dwell with thee here in thy +darksome house; and all the world weeps for him, and has donned the garb +of mourning, and cannot be consoled until his bright light shall shine +upon them again. And the gods have sent me, his brother, to ask thee to +let Balder ride back with me to Asgard, to his noble, sorrowing mother, +the Asa-queen; for then will hope live again in the hearts of men, and +happiness will return to the earth.” + +The Death-queen was silent for a moment; and then she said in a sad +voice, “Hardly can I believe that any being is so greatly loved by +things living and lifeless; for surely Balder is not more the friend of +earth than I am, and yet men love me not. But go thou back to Asgard; +and, if every thing shall weep for Balder, then I will send him to +you. But, if any thing shall refuse to weep, then I will keep him in my +halls.” + +So Hermod made ready to return home; and Balder gave him the ring +Draupner to carry to his father as a keepsake; and Nanna sent to the +queen-mother a rich carpet of purest green. Then the nimble messenger +mounted his horse, and rode swiftly back over the dark river, and +through the frowning valleys, until he at last reached Odin’s halls. + +When the Asa-folk learned upon what terms they might have Balder again +with them, they sent heralds all over the world to beseech every thing +to mourn for him. And men and beasts, and creeping things, and birds and +fishes, and trees and stones, and air and water,--all things, living and +lifeless, joined in weeping for the lost Balder. + +But, as the heralds were on their way back to Asgard, they met a +giantess named Thok, and they asked her to join in the universal grief. +And she answered, “What good thing did Balder ever do for Thok? What +gladness did he ever bring her? If she should weep for him, it would be +with dry tears. Let Hela keep him in her halls.”[EN#23] + +“And yet the day shall come,” added the story-teller, “when the words of +the weird woman to Odin shall prove true; and Balder shall come again to +rule over a newborn world in which there shall be no wrong-doing and no +more death.” + + + + + +Adventure XIV. How Gunther Outwitted Brunhild. + + + +While still the festivities were at their height, an old man of noble +mien, and with snow-white beard and hair, came into the great hall, and +sang for the gay company. And some whispered that this must be Bragi, +for surely such rare music could not be made by any other. But he sang +not of spring, as Bragi does, nor yet of youth nor of beauty, nor like +one whose home is with the song-birds, and who lives beside the babbling +brooks and the leaping waterfalls. His song was a sorrowful one,--of +dying flowers, and falling leaves, and the wailing winds of autumn, of +forgotten joys, of blasted hopes, of a crushed ambition, of gray hairs, +of uttering footsteps, of old age, of a lonely grave. And, as he sang, +all were moved to tears by the mournful melody and the sad, sad words. + +“Good friend,” said Siegfried, “thy music agrees not well with this time +and place; for, where nothing but mirth and joy are welcome, thou hast +brought sorrowful thoughts and gloomy forebodings. Come, now, and undo +the harm thou hast done, by singing a song which shall tell only of +mirth and gladness.” + +The old man shook his head, and answered, “Were I Bragi; as some think +I am, or were I even a strolling harper, I might do as you ask. But I am +neither, and I know no gladsome songs. Men have called me a messenger of +ill omen; and such, indeed, I have sometimes been, although through no +wish of my own. I come as a herald from a far-off land, and I bear a +message to all the kings and the noblest chiefs of Rhineland. If King +Gunther will allow me, I will now make that message known.” + +“Let the herald speak on,” said Gunther graciously. + +“Far over the sea,” said the herald, “there lies a dreamy land called +Isenland; and in that land there is a glorious castle, with six and +eighty towers, built of purest marble, green as grass. In that castle +there lives the fairest of all Earth’s daughters, Brunhild, the maiden +of the spring-time. In the early days she was one of Odin’s Valkyrien; +and with other heavenly maidens it was her duty to follow, unseen, in +the wake of armies, and when they met in battle to hover over the field, +and with kisses to waken the dead heroes, and lead their souls away +to Odin’s glad banquet-hall. But upon a day she failed to do the +All-Father’s bidding, and he, in anger, sent her to live among men, and +like them to be short-lived, and subject to old age and death. But the +childless old king of Isenland took pity upon the friendless maiden, and +called her his daughter, and made her his heir. Then Odin, still more +angered, sent the thorn of sleep to wound the princess. And sleep seized +upon every creature in Isenland, and silence reigned in the halls of the +marble palace. For Odin said, ‘Thus shall they all sleep until the hero +comes, who will ride through fire, and awaken Brunhild with a kiss.’ + +“At last the hero so long waited for came. He passed the fiery barrier +safe, and awoke the slumbering maiden; and all the castle sprang +suddenly into life again. And Brunhild became known once more as the +most glorious princess in this mid-world. But the sun-bright hero who +freed her from her prison of sleep vanished from Isenland, and no one +knew where he went; but men say that he rides through the noble world, +the fairest and the best of kings. And Brunhild has sought for him in +many lands; and, although all folk have heard of his deeds, none know +where he dwells. And so, as a last resort, she has sent heralds into +every land to challenge every king to match his skill with hers in three +games of strength,--in casting the spear, in hurling the heavy stone, +and in leaping. The one who can equal her in these feats shall be king +of Isenland, and share with her the throne of Isenstein. And by this +means she hopes to find the long-absent hero; for she believes that +there is no other prince on earth whose strength and skill are equal to +her own. Many men have already risked their lives in this adventure, and +all have failed. + +“And now, King Gunther,” continued the herald, “I have come by her +orders into Rhineland, and I deliver the challenge to you. If you +accept, and are beaten, your life is forfeited. If you succeed, the +fairest kingdom and the most beautiful queen in the world are yours; for +you will have proved that you are at least the equal of the hero whom +she seeks. What reply shall I carry back to Isenland?” + +King Gunther answered hastily, and as one dazed and in a dream, “Say +that I accept the challenge, and that when the spring-time comes again, +and the waters in the river are unlocked, I shall go to Isenland, and +match my skill and strength with that of the fair and mighty Brunhild.” + +All who stood around were greatly astonished at Gunther’s reply; for, +although his mind was somewhat weak, he was not given to rash and +hazardous undertakings. And Siegfried, who was at his side, whispered, +“Think twice, friend Gunther, ere you decide. You do not know the +strength of this mighty but lovely warrior-maiden. Were your strength +four times what it is, you could not hope to excel her in those feats. +Give up this hasty plan, I pray you, and recall your answer to the +challenge. Think no more of such an undertaking, for it surely will cost +you your life.” + +But these warnings, and the words of others who tried to dissuade him, +only made Gunther the more determined; and he vowed that nothing should +hinder him from undertaking the adventure. Then the dark-browed Hagen +said,-- + +“Our friend Siegfried seems to know much about Isenland and its +maiden-queen. And indeed, if there is any truth in hearsay, he has had +the best of means for learning. Now, if our good King Gunther has set +his mind on going upon this dangerous enterprise, mayhap Siegfried would +be willing to bear him company.” + +Gunther was pleased with Hagen’s words; and he said to Siegfried, “My +best of friends, go with me to Isenland, and help me. If we do well in +our undertaking, ask of me any reward you wish, and I will give it you, +so far as in my power lies.” + +“You know, kind Gunther,” answered Siegfried, “that for myself I have +no fear; and yet again I would warn you to shun the unknown dangers with +which this enterprise is fraught. But if, after all, your heart is set +upon it, make ready to start as soon as the warm winds shall have melted +the ice from the river. I will go with you.” + +The king grasped Siegfried’s hand, and thanked him heartily. + +“We must build a fleet,” said he. “A thousand fighting-men shall go with +us, and we will land in Isenland with a retinue such as no other prince +has had. A number of stanch vessels shall be built at once, and in the +early spring they shall be launched upon the Rhine.” + +Siegfried was amused at Gunther’s earnestness, and he answered, “Do +not think of taking such a following. You would waste twelve months in +building and victualling such a fleet. You would take from Burgundy its +only safeguard against foes from without; and, after you should reach +Isenland, you would find such a large force to be altogether useless. +Take my advice: have one small vessel built and rigged and victualled +for the long and dangerous voyage; and, when the time shall come, +you and I, and your kinsmen Hagen and Dankwart,--we four only,--will +undertake the voyage and the emprise you have decided upon.” + +Gunther knew that his friend’s judgment in this matter was better than +his own, and he agreed readily to all of Siegfried’s plans. + +* * * * * + +When, at length, the winter months began to wane, many hands were busy +making ready for the voyage. The peerless Kriemhild called together +thirty of her maidens, the most skilful seamstresses in Burgundyland, +and began the making of rich clothing for her brother and his +friends.[EN#24] With her own fair hands she cut out garments from the +rarest stuffs,--from the silky skins brought from the sunny lands of +Lybia; from the rich cloth of Zazemang, green as clover; from the silk +that traders bring from Araby, white as the drifted snow. For seven +weeks the clever maidens and their gentle mistress plied their busy +needles, and twelve suits of wondrous beauty they made for each of +the four heroes. And the princely garments were covered with fine +needle-work, and with curious devices all studded with rare and costly +jewels; and all were wrought with threads of gold. + +Many carpenters and ship-builders were busy with axes and hammers, and +flaming forges, working day and night to make ready a vessel new and +stanch, to carry the adventurers over the sea. And great stores of +food, and of all things needful to their safety or comfort, were brought +together and put on board. + +Neither were the heroes themselves idle; for when not busy in giving +directions to the workmen, or in overseeing the preparations that were +elsewhere going on, they spent the time in polishing their armor (now +long unused), in looking after their weapons, or in providing for the +management of their business while away. And Siegfried forgot not his +trusty sword Balmung, nor his cloak of darkness the priceless Tarnkappe, +which he had captured from the dwarf Alberich in the Nibelungen Land. + +Then the twelve suits of garments which fair fingers had wrought were +brought. And when the men tried them on, so faultless was the fit, so +rare and perfect was every piece in richness and beauty, that even the +wearers were amazed, and all declared that such dazzling and kingly +raiment had never before been seen. + +At last the spring months had fairly vanquished all the forces of the +cold North-land. The warm breezes had melted the snow and ice, and +unlocked the river; and the time had come for Gunther and his comrades +to embark. The little ship, well victualled, and made stanch and stout +in every part, had been launched upon the Rhine; and she waited with +flying streamers and impatient sails the coming of her crew. Down the +sands at length they came, riding upon their steeds; and behind them +followed a train of vassals bearing their kingly garments and their +gold-red shields. And on the banks stood many of the noblest folk of +Burgundy,--Gernot and the young Giselher, and Ute the queen-mother, and +Kriemhild the peerless, and a number of earl-folk, and warriors, and +fair dames, and blushing damsels. And the heroes bade farewell to their +weeping friends, and went upon the waiting vessel, taking their steeds +with them. And Siegfried seized an oar, and pushed the bark off from the +shore. + +“I myself will be the steersman, for I know the way,” he said. + +And the sails were unfurled to the brisk south wind, and the vessel sped +swiftly toward the sea; and many fair eyes were filled tears as they +watched it until it could be seen no more. And with sighs and gloomy +forebodings the good people went back to their homes, and but few hoped +ever again to see their king and his brave comrades. + +Driven by favorable winds, the trusty little vessel sailed gayly down +the Rhine, and, ere many days had passed, was out in the boundless sea. +For a long time the heroes sailed and rowed through Old AEgir’s watery +kingdom. But they kept good cheer, and their hearts rose higher and +higher; for each day they drew nearer the end of their voyage and the +goal of their hopes. At length they came in sight of a far-reaching +coast and a lovely land; and not far from the shore they saw a noble +fortress, with a number of tall towers pointing toward the sky. + +“What land is that?” asked the king.[EN#25] + +And Siegfried answered that it was Isenland, and that the fortress which +they saw was the Castle of Isenstein and the green marble hall of the +Princess Brunhild. But he warned his friends to be very wary when they +should arrive at the hall. + +“Let all tell this story,” said he: “say that Gunther is the king, and +that I am his faithful vassal. The success of our undertaking depends on +this.” And his three comrades promised to do as he advised. + +As the vessel neared the shore, the whole castle seemed to be alive. +From every tower and turret-window, from every door and balcony, +lords and ladies, fighting-men and serving-men, looked out to see what +strangers these were who came thus unheralded to Isenland. The heroes +went on shore with their steeds, leaving the vessel moored to the bank; +and then they rode slowly up the beach, and across the narrow plain, and +came to the drawbridge and the great gateway, where they paused. + +The matchless Brunhild in her chamber had been told of the coming of the +strangers; and she asked the maidens who stood around,-- + +“Who, think you, are the unknown warriors who thus come boldly to +Isenstein without asking leave? What is their bearing? Do they seem to +be worthy of our notice? or are they some straggling beggars who have +lost their way?” + +And one of the maidens, looking through the casement, answered, “The +first is a king, I know, from his noble mien and the respect which his +fellows pay to him. But the second bears himself with a prouder grace, +and seems the noblest of them all. He reminds me much of the brave young +Siegfried of former days. Indeed, it must be Siegfried; for he rides +a steed with sunbeam mane, which can be none other than Greyfell. The +third is a dark and gloomy man: he wears a sullen frown upon his brow, +and his eyes seem to shoot quick glances around. How nervously he grasps +his sword-hilt, as if ever guarding against surprise! I think his temper +must be grim and fiery, and his heart a heart of flint. The fourth +and last of the company is young and fair, and of gentle port. Little +business has he with rude warriors; and many tears, methinks, would be +shed for him at home should harm overtake him. Never before have I +seen so noble a company of strangers in Isenland. Their garments are +of dazzling lustre; their saddles are covered with gem-stones; their +weapons are of unequalled brightness. Surely they are worthy of your +notice.” + +When Brunhild heard that Siegfried was one of the company, she was +highly pleased, and she hastened to make ready to meet them in the great +hall. And she sent ten worthy lords to open the gate, and to welcome the +heroes to Isenland. + +When Siegfried and his comrades passed through the great gateway, and +came into the castle-yard, their horses were led away to the stables, +and the clanging armor and the broad shields and swords which they +carried were taken from them, and placed in the castle armory. Little +heed was paid to Hagen’s surly complaint at thus having every means of +defence taken away. He was told that such had always been the rule at +Isenstein, and that he, like others, must submit. + +After a short delay the heroes were shown into the great hall, where the +matchless Brunhild already was awaiting them. Clad in richest raiment, +from every fold of which rare jewels gleamed, and wearing a coronet of +pearls and gold, the warrior-maiden sat on a throne of snow-white ivory. +Five hundred earl-folk and warriors, the bravest in Isenland, stood +around her with drawn swords, and fierce, determined looks. Surely men +of mettle less heroic than that of the four knights from Rhineland would +have quaked with fear in such a presence. + +King Gunther and his comrades went forward to salute the queen. With +a winning smile she kindly greeted them, and then said to Siegfried, +“Gladly do we welcome you back to our land, friend Siegfried, We have +ever remembered you as our best friend. May we ask what is your will, +and who are these warriors whom you have with you?” + +“Most noble queen,” answered he, “right thankful am I that you have +not forgotten me, and that you should deign to notice me while in the +presence of this my liege lord,” and he pointed towards King Gunther. +“The king of all Burgundy-land, whose humble vassal I am, has heard the +challenge you have sent into different lands, and he has come to match +his strength with yours.” + +“Does he know the conditions?” asked Brunhild. + +“He does,” was the answer. “In case of success, the fairest of women for +his queen: in case of failure, death.” + +“Yet scores of worthy men have made trial, and all have failed,” said +she. “I warn your liege lord to pause, and weigh well the chances ere he +runs so great a risk.” + +Then Gunther stepped forward and spoke:-- + +“The chances, fairest queen, have all been weighed, and nothing can +change our mind. Make your own terms, arrange every thing as pleases +you best. We accept your challenge, and ask to make a trial of our +strength.” + +The warrior-maiden, without more words, bade her servants help her to +make ready at once for the contest. She donned a rich war-coat, brought +long ago from the far-off Lybian shores,--an armor which, it was said, +no sword could dint, and upon which the heaviest stroke of spear fell +harmless. Her hemlet was edged with golden lace, and sparkled all over +with rich gem-stones. Her lance, of wondrous length, a heavy weight for +three stout men, was brought. Her shield was as broad and as bright as +the sun, and three spans thick with steel and gold. + +While the princess was thus arming herself, the heroes looked on with +amazement and fear. But Siegfried, unnoticed, hastened quietly out of +the hall, and through the open castle-gate, and sped like the wind to +the seashore and to their little ship. There he arrayed himself in the +Tarnkappe, and then, silent and unseen, he ran back to his friends in +the great hall. + +“Be of good cheer,” he whispered in the ears of the trembling Gunther. + +But the king could not see who it was that spoke to him, so well was +the hero hidden in the cloak of darkness. Yet he knew that it must be +Siegfried and he felt greatly encouraged. + +Hagen’s frowning face grew darker, and the uneasy glances which shot +from beneath his shaggy eyebrows were not those of fear, but of anger +and deep anxiety. Dankwart gave up all as lost, and loudly bewailed +their folly. + +“Must we, unarmed, stand still and see our liege lord slain for a +woman’s whim?” he cried. “Had we only our good swords, we might defy +this maiden-queen and all her Isenland.” + +Brunhild overheard his words. Scornfully she called to her servants, +“Bring to these boasters their armor, and let them have their keen-edged +swords. Brunhild has no fear of such men, whether they be armed or +unarmed.” + +When Hagen and Dankwart felt their limbs again enclosed in steel, and +when they held their trusty swords in hand, their uneasiness vanished, +and hope returned. + +In the castle-yard a space was cleared, and Brunhild’s five hundred +warriors stood around as umpires. The unseen Siegfried kept close by +Gunther’s side. + +“Fear not,” he said. “Do my bidding, and you are safe. Let me take your +shield. When the time comes, make you the movements, and trust me to do +the work.” + +Then Brunhild threw her spear at Gunther’s shield. The mighty weapon +sped through the air with the swiftness of lightning; and, when it +struck the shield, both Gunther and the unseen Siegfried fell to the +ground, borne down by its weight and the force with which it was thrown. +Blood gushed from the nostrils of both; and sad would have been their +fate if the friendly Tarnkappe had not hidden Siegfried from sight, and +given him the strength of twelve giants. Quickly they rose. And Gunther +seemed to pick up the heavy shaft, but it was really Siegfried who +raised it from the ground. For one moment he poised the great beam in +the air, and then, turning the blunt end foremost, he sent it flying +back more swiftly than it had come. It struck the huge shield which +Brunhild held before her, with a sound that echoed to the farthest +cliffs of Isenland. The warrior-maiden was dashed to the earth; but, +rising at once, she cried,-- + +“That was a noble blow, Sir Gunther. I confess myself fairly outdone. +But there are two chances yet, and you will do well if you equal me in +those. We will now try hurling the stone, and jumping.” + +Twelve men came forward, carrying a huge rough stone in weight a ton or +more. And Brunhild raised this mass of rock in her white arms, and held +it high above her head; then she swung it backwards once, and threw it a +dozen fathoms across the castle-yard. Scarcely had it reached the ground +when the mighty maiden leaped after, and landed just beside it. And the +thousand lookers-on shouted in admiration. But old Hagen bit his unshorn +lip, and cursed the day that had brought them to Isenland. + +Gunther and the unseen Siegfried, not at all disheartened, picked up the +heavy stone, which was half buried in the ground, and, lifting it with +seeming ease, threw it swiftly forward. Not twelve, but twenty, fathoms +it flew; and Siegfried, snatching up Gunther in his arms, leaped after, +and landed close to the castle-wall. And Brunhild believed that Gunther +alone had done these great feats through his own strength and skill; +and she at once acknowledged herself beaten in the games, and bade her +vassals do homage to Gunther as their rightful liege lord. + +Alas that the noblest of men-folk should gave stooped to such deed of +base deception! The punishment, although long delayed, came surely at +last; for not even the highest are exempt from obedience to Heaven’s +behests and the laws of right. + +When the contest was ended, the unseen Siegfried ran quickly back to the +little ship, and hastily doffed the magic Tarnkappe. Then, in his own +form, he returned to the castle, and leisurely entered the castle-yard. +When he met his pleased comrades and the vanquished maiden-queen, he +asked in careless tones when the games would begin. All who heard his +question laughed; and Brunhild said,-- + +“Surely, Sir Siegfried, the old sleep-thorn of Isenstein must have +caught you, and held you in your ship. The games are over, and Gunther, +your liege lord, is the winner.” + +At this news Siegfried seemed much delighted, as indeed he was. And all +went together to the great banquet-hall, where a rich feast was served +to our heroes and to the worthy earl-folk and warriors of Isenland. + + + + + +Adventure XV. In Nibelungen Land Again. + + + +When the folk of Isenland learned that their queen had been outwitted +and won by a strange chief from a far-off and unknown land, great was +their sorrow and dismay; for they loved the fair maiden-queen, and they +feared to exchange her mild reign for that of an untried foreigner. Nor +was the queen herself at all pleased with the issue of the late contest. +She felt no wish to leave her loved people, and her pleasant home, and +the fair island which was her kingdom, to take up her abode in a strange +land, as the queen of one for whom she could feel no respect. And every +one wondered how it was that a man like Gunther, so commonplace, and so +feeble in his every look and act, could have done such deeds, and won +the wary warrior-maiden. + +“If it had only been Siegfried!” whispered the maidens among themselves. + +“If it had only been Siegfried!” murmured the knights and the +fighting-men. + +“If it had only been Siegfried!” thought the queen, away down in the +most secret corner of her heart. And she shut herself up in her room, +and gave wild vent to her feelings of grief and disappointment. + +Then heralds mounted the swiftest horses, and hurried to every village +and farm, and to every high-towered castle, in the land. And they +carried word to all of Brunhild’s kinsmen and liegemen, bidding them to +come without delay to Isenstein. And every man arose as with one accord, +and hastened to obey the call of their queen. And the whole land was +filled with the notes of busy preparation for war. And day by day to the +castle the warriors came and went, and the sound of echoing horse-hoofs, +and the rattling of ready swords, and the ringing of the war-shields, +were heard on every hand. + +“What means this treason?” cried Gunther in dismay. “The coy +warrior-maiden would fain break her plighted word; and we, here in our +weakness, shall perish from her wrath.” + +And even old Hagen, who had never felt a fear when meeting a host in +open battle, was troubled at the thought of the mischief which was +brewing. + +“‘Tis true, too true,” he said, and the dark frown deepened on his face, +“that we have done a foolish thing. For we four men have come to this +cheerless land upon a hopeless errand; and, if we await the gathering of +the storm, our ruin will be wrought.” And he grasped his sword-hilt with +such force, that his knuckles grew white as he paced fiercely up and +down the hall. + +Dankwart, too, bewailed the fate that had driven them into this net, +from which he saw no way of escape. And both the warriors besought King +Gunther to take ship at once, and to sail for Rhineland before it was +too late. But Siegfried said,-- + +“What account will you give to the folk at home, if you thus go back +beaten, outwitted, and ashamed? Brave warriors, indeed! we should be +called. Wait a few days, and trust all to me. When Brunhild’s warriors +shall be outnumbered by our own, she will no longer hesitate, and our +return to Rhineland shall be a triumphant one; for we shall carry the +glorious warrior-queen home with us.” + +“Yes,” answered Hagen, mocking, “we will wait until her warriors are +outnumbered by our own. But how long shall that be? Will the lightning +carry the word to Burgundy? and will the storm-clouds bring our brave +men from across the sea? Had you allowed King Gunther’s plans to be +followed, they would have been here with us now, and we might have +quelled this treason at the first.” + +And Dankwart said, “By this time the fields of the South-land are green +with young corn, and the meadows are full of sweet-smelling flowers, and +the summer comes on apace. Why should we stay longer in this chilly and +fog-ridden land, waiting upon the whims of a fickle maiden,--as fickle +as the winds themselves? Better face the smiles and the jeers of the +folk at home than suffer shameful shipwreck in this cold Isenland.” + +But Siegfried would not be moved by the weak and wavering words of his +once valiant comrades. + +“Trust me,” he said, “and all will yet be well. Wait here but a few days +longer in quietness, while I go aboard ship, and fare away. Within three +days I will bring to Isenstein a host of warriors such as you have never +seen. And then the fickle fancies of Brunhild will flee, and she will no +longer refuse to sail with us to the now sunny South-land.” + +Hagen frowned still more deeply; and as he strode away he muttered, +“He only wants to betray us, and leave us to die in this trap which he +himself has doubtless set for us.” + +But Gunther anxiously grasped the hand of Siegfried, and said, “Go! I +trust you, and believe in you. But be sure not to linger, for no one +knows what a day may bring forth in this uncertain and variable clime.” + +Without saying a word in reply, Siegfried turned, and hastened down to +the shore. Without any loss of time he unmoored the little ship, and +stepped aboard. Then he donned his Tarnkappe, spread the sails, and +seized the helm; and the vessel, like a bird with woven wings, +sped swiftly out of the bay, and Isenstein, with its wide halls +and glass-green towers, was soon lost to the sight of the invisible +helmsman. For four and twenty hours did Siegfried guide the flying +vessel as it leaped from wave to wave, and sent the white foam dashing +to left and right like flakes of snow. And late on the morrow he came to +a rock-bound coast, where steep cliffs and white mountain-peaks rose up, +as it were, straight out of the blue sea. Having found a safe and +narrow inlet, he moored his little bark; and, keeping the Tarnkappe well +wrapped around him, he stepped ashore. Briskly he walked along the rough +shore, and through a dark mountain-pass, until he came to a place well +known to him,--a place where, years before, he had seen a cavern’s +yawning mouth, and a great heap of shining treasures, and two princes +dying of hunger. But now, upon the selfsame spot there stood a frowning +fortress, dark and gloomy and strong, which Siegfried himself had built +in after-years; and the iron gates were barred and bolted fast, and no +living being was anywhere to be seen. + +Loud and long did Siegfried, wrapped in his cloak of darkness, knock and +call outside. At last a grim old giant, who sat within, and kept watch +and ward of the gate, cried out,-- + +“Who knocks there?” + +Siegfried, angrily and in threatening tones, answered,-- + +“Open the gate at once, lazy laggard, and ask no questions. A stranger, +who has lost his way among the mountains, seeks shelter from the storm +which is coming. Open the gate without delay, or I will break it down +upon your dull head.” + +Then the giant in hot anger seized a heavy iron beam, and flung the gate +wide open, and leaped quickly out to throttle the insolent stranger. +Warily he glanced around on every side; but Siegfried was clad in the +magic Tarnkappe, and the giant could see no one. Amazed and ashamed, he +turned to shut the gate, and to go again to his place; for he began to +believe that a foolish dream had awakened and deceived him. Then the +unseen Siegfried seized him from behind; and though he struggled hard, +and fought with furious strength, our hero threw him upon the ground, +and bound him with cords of sevenfold strength. + +The unwonted noise at the gate rang through the castle, and awakened +the sleeping inmates. The dwarf Alberich, who kept the fortress against +Siegfried’s return, and who watched the Nibelungen treasure, which was +stored in the hollow hill, arose, and donned his armor, and hurried to +the giant’s help. A right stout dwarf was Alberich; and, as we have seen +in a former adventure, he was as bold as stout. Armed in a war-coat of +steel, he ran out to the gate, flourishing a seven-thonged whip, on each +thong of which a heavy golden ball was hung. Great was his amazement +and his wrath when he saw the giant lying bound and helpless upon the +ground; and with sharp, eager eyes he peered warily around to see if, +perchance, he might espy his hidden foe. But, when he could find no +one, his anger grew hotter than before, and he swung his golden scourge +fiercely about his head. Well was it for Siegfried then, that the +Tarnkappe hid him from sight; for the dwarf kept pounding about in air +so sturdily and strong, that, even as it was, he split the hero’s shield +from the centre to the rim. Then Siegfried rushed quickly upon the +doughty little fellow, and seized him by his long gray beard, and threw +him so roughly upon the ground, that Alberich shrieked with pain. + +“Spare me, I pray you,” he cried. “I know that you are no mean knight; +and, if I had not promised to serve my master Siegfried until death, I +fain would acknowledge you as my lord.” + +But Siegfried bound the writhing dwarf, and placed him, struggling and +helpless, by the side of the giant. + +“Tell me, now, your name, I pray,” said the dwarf; “for I must give an +account of this adventure to my master when he comes.” + +“Who is your master?” + +“His name is Siegfried; and he is king of the Nibelungens, and lord, by +right, of the great Nibelungen Hoard. To me and to my fellows he long +ago intrusted the keeping of this castle and of the Hoard that lies deep +hidden in the hollow hill; and I have sworn to keep it safe until his +return.” + +Then Siegfried threw off his Tarnkappe, and stood in his own proper +person before the wonder-stricken dwarf. + +“Noble Siegfried,” cried the delighted Alberich, “right glad I am that +you have come again to claim your own. Spare my life, and pardon me, I +pray, and let me know what is your will. Your bidding shall be done at +once.” + +“Hasten, then,” said Siegfried, loosing him from his bonds,--“hasten, +and arouse my Nibelungen hosts. Tell them that their chief has come +again to Mist Land, and that he has work for them to do.” + +Then Alberich, when he had set the giant gatekeeper free, sent heralds +to every town and castle in the land to make known the words and wishes +of Siegfried. And the gallant Nibelungen warriors, when they heard that +their liege lord had come again, sprang up joyously, and girded on +their armor, and hastened to obey his summons. And soon the strong-built +castle was full of noble men,--of earls, and the faithful liegemen +who had known Siegfried of old. And joyful and happy were the words of +greeting. + +In the mean while, Alberich had busied himself in preparing a great +feast for his master and his master’s chieftains. In the long low hall +that the dwarfs had hollowed out within the mountain’s heart, the table +was spread, and on it was placed every delicacy that could be wished. +There were fruits and wines from the sunny South-land, and snow-white +loaves made from the wheat of Gothland, and fish from Old AEgir’s +kingdom, and venison from the king’s wild-wood, and the flesh of many a +fowl most delicately baked, and, near the head of the board, a huge wild +boar roasted whole. And the hall was lighted by a thousand tapers, each +held in the hands of a swarthy elf; and the guests were served by the +elf-women, who ran hither and thither, obedient to every call. But +Alberich, at Siegfried’s desire, sat upon the dais at his lord’s right +hand. Merriment ruled the hour, and happy greetings were heard on every +side. And, when the feast was at its height, a troop of hill-folk came +dancing into the hall; and a hundred little fiddlers, perched in the +niches of the wall, made merry music, and kept time for the busy, +clattering little feet. And when the guests had tired of music and +laughter, and the dancers had gone away, and the tables no longer +groaned under the weight of good cheer Siegfried and his earls still +sat at their places, and beguiled the hours with pleasant talk and with +stories of the earlier days. And Alberich, as the master of the feast, +told a tale of the dwarf-folk, and how once they were visited in their +hill-home by Loki the Mischief-maker. + + + +Alberich’s Story. + + + +My story begins with the Asa-folk, and has as much to do with the gods +as with my kinsmen the dwarfs. It happened long ago, when the world was +young, and the elf-folk had not yet lost all their ancient glory. + +Sif, as you all know, is Thor’s young wife, and she is very fair. It is +said, too, that she is as gentle and lovable as her husband is rude +and strong; and that while he rides noisily through storm and wind, +furiously fighting the foes of the mid-world, she goes quietly about, +lifting up the down-trodden, and healing the broken-hearted. In the +summer season, when the Thunderer has driven the Storm-giants back to +their mist-hidden mountain homes, and the black clouds have been rolled +away, and piled upon each other in the far east, Sif comes gleefully +tripping through the meadows, raising up the bruised flowers, and with +smiles calling the frightened birds from their hiding-places to frolic +and sing in the fresh sunshine again. The growing fields and the +grassy mountain slopes are hers; and the rustling green leaves, and the +sparkling dewdrops, and the sweet odors of spring blossoms, and the glad +songs of the summer-time, follow in her footsteps. + +Sif, as I have said, is very fair; and, at the time of my story, there +was one thing of which she was a trifle vain. That was her long silken +hair, which fell in glossy waves almost to her feet. On calm, warm days, +she liked to sit by the side of some still pool, and gaze at her own +beauty pictured in the water below, while, like the sea-maidens of old +AEgir’s kingdom, she combed and braided her rich, flowing tresses. +And in all the mid-world nothing has ever been seen so like the golden +sunbeams as was Sif’s silken hair. + +At that time the cunning Mischief-maker, Loki, was still living with the +Asa-folk. And, as you well know, this evil worker was never pleased save +when he was plotting trouble for those who were better than himself. +He liked to meddle with business which was not his own, and was always +trying to mar the pleasures of others. His tricks and jokes were seldom +of the harmless kind, and yet great good sometimes grew out of them. + +When Loki saw how proud Sif was of her long hair, and how much time +she spent in combing and arranging it, he planned a very cruel piece of +mischief. He hid himself in a little rocky cavern, near the pool where +Sif was wont to sit, and slily watched her all the morning as she +braided and unbraided her flowing silken locks. At last, overcome by the +heat of the mid-day sun, she fell asleep upon the grassy bank. Then the +Mischief-maker quietly crept near, and with his sharp shears cut off all +that wealth of hair, and shaved her head until it was as smooth as +her snow-white hand. Then he hid himself again in the little cave, and +chuckled with great glee at the wicked thing he had done. + +By and by Sif awoke, and looked into the stream; but she started quickly +back with horror and affright at the image which she saw. She felt of +her shorn head; and, when she learned that those rich waving tresses +which had been her joy and pride were no longer there, she knew not what +to do. Hot, burning tears ran down her cheeks, and with sobs and shrieks +she began to call aloud for Thor. Forthwith there was a terrible uproar. +The lightning flashed, and the thunder rolled, and an earthquake shook +the rocks and trees. Loki, looking out from his hiding-place, saw that +Thor was coming, and he trembled with fear; for he knew, that, should +the Thunderer catch him, he would have to pay dearly for his wicked +sport. He ran quickly out of the cavern, and leaped into the river, and +changed himself into a salmon, and swam as swiftly as he could away from +the shore. + +But Thor was not so easily fooled; for he had long known Loki, and was +acquainted with all his cunning ways. So when he saw Sif bewailing her +stolen hair, and beheld the frightened salmon hurrying alone towards +the deep water, he was at no loss to know whose work this mischief was. +Straightway he took upon himself the form of a sea-gull, and soared high +up over the water. Then, poising a moment in the air, he darted, swift +as an arrow, down into the river. When he arose from the water, he held +the struggling salmon tightly grasped in his strong talons. + +“Vile Mischief-maker!” cried Thor, as he alighted upon the top of +a neighboring crag: “I know thee who thou art; and I will make thee +bitterly rue the work of this day. Limb from limb will I tear thee, and +thy bones will I grind into powder.” + +Loki, when he saw that he could not by any means get away from the angry +Thunderer, changed himself back to his own form, and humbly said to +Thor,-- + +“What if you do your worst with me? Will that give back a single hair to +Sif’s shorn head? What I did was only a thoughtless joke, and I really +meant no harm. Do but spare my life, and I will more than make good the +mischief I have done.” + +“How can that be?” asked Thor. + +“I will hie me straight to the secret smithies of dwarfs,” answered +Loki; “and those cunning little kinsmen of mine shall make golden +tresses for fair Sif, which will grow upon her head like other hair, and +cause her to be an hundred-fold more beautiful than before.” + +Thor knew that Loki was a slippery fellow, and that he did not always do +what he promised, and hence he would not let him go. He called to Frey, +who had just come up, and said,-- + +“Come, cousin Frey, help me to rid the world of this sly thief. While I +hold fast to his raven hair, and his long slim arms, do you seize him by +the heels, and we will give his limbs to the fishes, and his body to the +birds, for food.” + +Loki, now thoroughly frightened, wept, and kissed Frey’s feet, and +humbly begged for mercy. And he promised that he would bring from the +dwarf’s smithy, not only the golden hair for Sif, but also a mighty +hammer for Thor, and a swift steed for Frey. So earnest were his +words, and so pitiful was his plea, that Thor at last set the trembling +Mischief-maker free, and bade him hasten away on his errand. Quickly, +then, he went in search of the smithy of the dwarfs. + +He crossed the desert moorlands, and came, after three days, to the +bleak hill-country, and the rugged mountain-land of the South. There the +earthquake had split the mountains apart, and dug dark and bottomless +gorges, and hollowed out many a low-walled cavern, where the light +of day was never seen. Through deep, winding ways, and along narrow +crevices, Loki crept; and he glided under huge rocks, and downward +through slanting, crooked clefts, until at last he came to a great +underground hall, where his eyes were dazzled by a light which was +stronger and brighter than day; for on every side were glowing fires, +roaring in wonderful little forges, and blown by wonderful little +bellows And the vaulted roof above was thickly set with diamonds and +precious stones, that sparkled and shone like thousands of bright stars +in the blue sky. And the little dwarfs, with comical brown faces, +and wearing strange leathern aprons, and carrying heavy hammers, were +hurrying here and there, each busy at his task. Some were smelting pure +gold from the coarse rough rocks; others were making precious gems, and +rich rare jewels, such as the proudest king would be glad to wear. Here, +one was shaping pure, round pearls from dewdrops and maidens’ tears; +there, another wrought green emeralds from the first leaves of spring. +So busy were they all, that they neither stopped nor looked up when Loki +came into their hall, but all kept hammering and blowing and working, as +if their lives depended upon their being always busy. + +After Loki had curiously watched their movements for some time, he spoke +to the dwarf whose forge was nearest to him, and made known his errand. +But the little fellow was fashioning a flashing diamond, which he called +the Mountain of Light; and he scarcely looked up as he answered,-- + +“I do not work in gold. Go to Ivald’s sons: they will make whatever you +wish.” + +To Ivald’s sons, then, in the farthest and brightest corner of the hall, +Loki went. They very readily agreed to make the golden hair for Sif, +and they began the work at once. A lump of purest gold was brought, and +thrown into the glowing furnace; and it was melted and drawn, and melted +and drawn, seven times. Then it was given to a little brown elf with +merry, twinkling eyes, who carried it with all speed to another part of +the great hall, where the dwarfs’ pretty wives were spinning. One of +the little women took the yellow lump from the elf’s hands, and laid it, +like flax, upon her spinning-wheel. Then she sat down and began to spin; +and, as she span, the dwarf-wives sang a strange, sweet song of the old, +old days when the dwarf-folk ruled the world. And the tiny brown elves +danced gleefully around the spinner, and the thousand little anvils rang +out a merry chorus to the music of the singers. And the yellow gold was +twisted into threads, and the threads ran into hair softer than silk, +and finer than gossamer. And at last the dwarf-woman held in her hand +long golden tresses ten times more beautiful than the amber locks that +Loki had cut from Sif’s fair head. When Ivald’s sons, proud of their +skill, gave the rare treasure to the Mischief-maker, Loki smiled as if +he were well pleased; but in his heart he was angry because the dwarfs +had made so fair a piece of workmanship. Then he said,-- + +“This is, indeed, very handsome, and will be very becoming to Sif. Oh, +what an uproar was made about those flaxen tresses that she loved so +well! And that reminds me that her husband, the gruff old Giant-killer, +wants a hammer. I promised to get him one; and, if I fail, he will +doubtless be rude with me. I pray you make such a hammer as will be of +most use to him in fighting the Jotuns, and you may win favor both for +yourselves and me.” + +“Not now,” said the elder of Ivald’s sons. “We cannot make it now; for +who would dare to send a present to Thor before he has offered one to +Odin, the great All-Father?” + +“Make me, then, a gift for Odin,” cried Loki; “and he will shelter me +from the Thunderer’s wrath.” + +So the dwarfs put iron into their furnace, and heated it to a glowing +white-heat; and then they drew it out, and rolled it upon their anvils, +and pounded it with heavy hammers, until they had wrought a wondrous +spear, such as no man had ever seen. Then they inlaid it with priceless +jewels, and plated the point with gold seven times tried. + +“This is the spear Gungner,” said they. “Take it to the great All-Father +as the best gift of his humble earth-workers.” + +“Make me now a present for Frey the gentle,” said Loki. “I owe my life +to him; and I have promised to take him a swift steed that will bear him +everywhere.” + +Then Ivald’s sons threw gold into the furnace, and blew with their +bellows until the very roof of the great cave-hall seemed to tremble, +and the smoke rolled up the wide chimney, and escaped in dense fumes +from the mountain-top. When they left off working, and the fire died +away, a fairy ship, with masts and sails, and two banks of long oars, +and a golden dragon stem, rose out of the glowing coals; and it grew in +size until it filled a great part of the hall, and might have furnished +room for a thousand warriors with their arms and steeds. Then, at a word +from the dwarfs, it began to shrink, and it became smaller and smaller +until it was no broader than an oak-leaf. And the younger of Ivald’s +sons folded it up like a napkin, and gave it to Loki, saying,-- + +“Take this to Frey the gentle. It is the ship Skidbladner. When it is +wanted for a voyage, it will carry all the Asa-folk and their weapons +and stores; and, no matter where they wish to go, the wind will always +drive it straight to the desired port. But, when it is not needed, the +good Frey may fold it up, as I have done, and carry it safely in his +pocket.” + +Loki was much pleased; and, although he felt disappointed because he had +no present for Thor, he heartily thanked the dwarfs for their kindness; +and taking the golden hair, and the spear Gungner, and the ship +Skidbladner, he bade Ivald’s sons good-by, and started for home. But, +before he reached the narrow doorway which led out of the cave, he met +two crooked-backed dwarfs, much smaller and much uglier than any he had +seen before. + +“What have you there?” asked one of them, whose name was Brok. + +“Hair for Sif, a spear for Odin, and a ship for Frey,” answered Loki. + +“Let us see them,” said Brok. + +Loki kindly showed them the strange gifts, and told them, that, in +his belief, no dwarfs in all the world had ever before wrought such +wonderful things. + +“Who made them?” inquired Brok. + +“Ivald’s sons.” + +“Ah! Ivald’s sons sometimes do good work, but there are many other +dwarfs who can do better. For instance, my brother Sindre, who stands +here, can make three other treasures altogether as good as those you +have.” + +“It cannot be!” cried Loki. + +“I tell you the truth,” said the dwarf. “And, to show you that I mean +just what I say, I will wager against your head all the diamonds in +the ceiling above us, that he will make not only as good treasures, but +those which the Asas will esteem much higher.” + +“Agreed!” cried Loki,--“agreed! I take the wager. Let your brother try +his skill at once.” + +The three went straightway to Sindre’s forge, and the brothers began +their task. When the fire was roaring hot, and the sparks flew from the +chimney like showers of shooting-stars, Sindre put a pig-skin into the +furnace, and bade Brok blow the bellows with all his might, and never +stop until he should speak the word. The flames leaped up white and +hot, and the furnace glowed with a dazzling light, while Brok plied the +bellows, and Sindre, with unblinking eyes, watched the slowly changing +colors that played around the melted and shapeless mass within. While +the brothers were thus intent upon their work, Loki changed himself to +a great horse-fly, and settled upon Brok’s hand, and bit him without +mercy. But the dwarf kept on blowing the bellows, and stopped not until +his brother cried out,-- + +“Enough!” + +Then Sindre drew out of the flickering blue flames a huge wild boar with +long tusks of ivory, and golden bristles that glittered and shone like +the beams of the sun. + +“This is Golden Bristle,” said the dwarf. “It is the gift of Brok and +his brother to the gentle Frey. His ship Skidbladner can carry him only +over the sea; but Golden Bristle shall be a trusty steed that will bear +him with the speed of the wind over the land or through the air.” + +Next the dwarfs threw gold into the furnace, and Brok plied the bellows, +and Sindre gazed into the flames, as before. And the great horse-fly +buzzed in Brok’s face, and darted at his eyes, and at last settled upon +his neck, and stung him until the pain caused big drops of sweat to roll +off of his forehead. But the dwarf stopped not nor faltered, until his +brother again cried out,-- + +“Enough!” + +This time Sindre drew out a wondrous ring of solid gold, sparkling all +over with the rarest and most costly jewels. + +“This is the ring Draupner,” said he. “It is well worthy to be worn on +Odin’s finger. Every ninth day eight other rings, equal to it in every +way, shall drop from it. It shall enrich the earth, and make the desert +blossom as the rose; and it shall bring plentiful harvests, and fill the +farmers’ barns with grain, and their houses with glad good cheer. Take +it to the All-Father as the best gift of the earth-folk to him and to +mankind.” + +After this the dwarfs took iron which had been brought from the +mountains of Norse Land; and, after beating it upon their bellows until +it glowed white and hot, Sindre threw it into the furnace. + +“This shall be the gift of gifts,” said he to Brok. “Ply the bellows +as before, and do not, for your life, stop or falter until the work is +done.” + +But as Brok blew the bellows, and his brother gazed into the glowing +fire, the horse-fly came again. This time he settled between the dwarf’s +eyes, and stung his eyelids until the blood filled his eyes, and ran +down his cheeks, and blinded him so that he could not see. At last, +in sore distress, and wild with pain, Brok let go of the bellows, and +lifted his hand to drive the fly away. Then Sindre drew his work out of +the furnace. It was a blue steel hammer, well made in every way, save +that the handle was half an inch too short. + +“This is the mighty Mjolner,” said Sindre to Loki, who had again taken +his proper shape. “The Thunderer may have the hammer that you promised +him; although it is our gift, and not yours. The stoutest giant will not +be able now to cope with Thor. No shield nor armor, nor mountain-wall, +nor, indeed, any thing on earth, shall be proof against the +lightning-strokes of Mjolner.” + +And Brok took the three treasures which Sindre had fashioned, and went +with Loki to Asgard, the home of the Asa-folk. And they chose Odin and +Thor and Frey to examine and judge which was best,--Loki’s three gifts, +the work of Ivald’s sons; or Brok’s three gifts, the work of Sindre. +When the judges were seated, and all were in readiness, Loki went +forward and gave to Odin the spear Gungner, that would always hit +the mark; and to Frey he gave the ship Skidbladner, that would sail +whithersoever he wished. Then he gave the golden hair to Thor, who +placed it upon the head of fair Sif; and it grew there, and was a +thousand-fold more beautiful than the silken tresses she had worn +before. + +After the Asas had carefully looked at these treasures, and talked of +their merits, little Brok came humbly forward and offered his gifts. To +Odin he gave the precious ring Draupner, already dropping richness. To +Frey he gave the boar Golden Bristle, telling him that wherever he chose +to go this steed would serve him well, and would carry him faster than +any horse, while his shining bristles would light the way on the darkest +night or in the gloomiest path. At last he gave to Thor the hammer +Mjolner, and said that it, like Odin’s spear, would never miss the mark, +and that whatever it struck, it would crush in pieces, and whithersoever +it might be hurled, it would come back to his hand again. + +Then the Asas declared at once that Thor’s hammer was the best of all +the gifts, and that the dwarf had fairly won the wager. But, when +Brok demanded Loki’s head as the price of the wager, the cunning +Mischief-maker said,-- + +“My head is, by the terms of our agreement, yours; but my neck is my +own, and you shall not on any account touch or harm it.”[EN#26] + +So Brok went back to his brother and his smithy without the head of +Loki, but he was loaded with rich and rare presents from the Asa-folk. + + + + + +Adventure XVI. How Brunhild Was Welcomed Home. + + + +When the next morning’s sun arose, and its light gilded the mountain +peaks, and fell in a flood of splendor down upon the rich uplands and +the broad green fields of Nibelungen Land, Siegfried, with his earls and +mighty men, rode through the valley, and down to the seashore. There a +pleasant sight met his eyes: for the little bay was white with the sails +of a hundred gold-beaked vessels which lay at anchor; and on the sandy +beach there stood in order three thousand island warriors,--the bravest +and the best of all the Nibelungens,--clad in armor, and ready to hear +and to do their master’s bidding. And Siegfried told them why he had +thus hastily called them together; and he gave to each one rich gifts +of gold and jewels and costly raiment. Then he chose from among them +one thousand of the most trustworthy, who should follow him back to +Isenland; and these went aboard the waiting vessels, amid the cheers +and the farewells of their comrades who were left behind. And when every +thing was in readiness, the anchors were hoisted and the sails were set, +and the little fleet, wafted by pleasant winds, sailed out of the bay, +and eastward across the calm blue sea. And Siegfried’s vessel, with a +golden dragon banner floating from the masthead, led all the rest. + +On the fourth day after Siegfried’s departure from Isenland, Dankwart +and grim old Hagen sat in a room of the castle at Isenstein. Outside and +below they heard the fair-haired warriors of Queen Brunhild pacing to +and fro, and ready, at a word, to seize upon the strangers, and either +to put them to death, or to drive them forever from the land. +Old Hagen’s brows were closely knit, and his face was dark as a +thunder-cloud, and his hands played nervously with his sword-hilt, as he +said,-- + +“Where now is Gunther, the man whom we once called king?” + +“He is standing on the balcony above, talking with the queen and her +maidens,” answered Dankwart. + +“The craven that he is!” cried Hagen hoarsely. “Once he was a king, and +worthy to be obeyed; but now who is the king? That upstart Siegfried has +but to say what shall be done, and our master Gunther, blindly and like +a child, complies. Four days ago we might have taken ship, and sailed +safely home. Now our vessel is gone, the boasted hero is gone, and +nothing is left for us to do but to fight and die.” + +“But we are sure of Odin’s favor,” returned Dankwart; and a wild light +gleamed from his eyes, and he brandished his sword high over his head. +“A place in Valhal is promised to us; for, him who bravely dies with +his blood-stained sword beside him and his heart unrent with fears, the +All-Father’s victory-wafters will gently carry home. Even now, methinks, +I sit in the banqueting-hall of the heroes, and quaff the flowing mead.” + +* * * * * + +In the mean while Gunther stood with Queen Brunhild at an upper window, +and looked out upon the great sea that spread forever and away towards +the setting sun. And all at once, as if by magic, the water was covered +with white-sailed ships, which, driven by friendly winds and the helping +hands of AEgir’s daughters and the brawny arms of many a stalwart +oarsman, came flying towards the bay. + +“What ships are those with the snow-white sails and the dragon-stems?” + asked Brunhild, wondering. + +Gunther gazed for a moment towards the swift-coming fleet, and his eyes +were gladdened with the sight of Siegfried’s dragon-banner floating from +the vessel in the van. A great load seemed lifted from his breast, +for now he knew that the hoped-for help was at hand. And, smiling he +answered the queen,-- + +“Those white-sailed ships are mine. My body-guard--a thousand of my +trustiest fighting-men--are on board, and every man is ready to die for +me.” + +And as the vessels came into the harbor, and the sailors furled the +sails, and cast the anchors into the sea, Siegfried was seen standing on +the golden prow of his ship, arrayed in princely raiment, with his earls +and chiefs around him. And their bright armor glittered in the sunlight, +and their burnished shields shone like so many golden mirrors. A fairer +sight had the folk of Isenstein never seen. + +Long and earnestly Queen Brunhild gazed, and then, turning away, she +burst into tears; for she knew that she had been again outwitted, and +that it was vain for her to struggle against the Norns’ decrees. Then, +crushing back the grief and the sore longing that rose in her heart, she +spoke again to Gunther, and her eyes shone stern and strange. + +“What now will you have me do?” she asked; “for you have fairly won +me, and my wayward fancies shall no longer vex you. Shall I greet your +friends with kindness, or shall we send them back again over the sea?” + +“I pray you give them welcome to the broad halls of Isenstein,” he +answered; “for no truer, nobler men live than these my liegemen.” + +So the queen sent word to Siegfried and his Nibelungen warriors to leave +the ships and come ashore. And she herself, as radiant now as a morning +in May, went down to meet them and welcome them. Then she had a great +feast made in honor of the heroes, and the long, low-raftered feast-hall +rang with the sounds of merriment, instead of with the clash of arms. +The fair-haired, blue-eyed warriors of the queen sat side by side with +the tall strangers from over the sea. And in the high-seat was Brunhild, +her face exceeding pale, yet beauteous to behold; and by her side sat +Gunther, smiling and glad, and clad in his kingly raiments. And around +them were the earls and chieftains, and many a fair lady of Isenland, +and Hagen, smiling through his frowns, and Dankwart, now grown fearless, +and Siegfried sad and thoughtful. Mirth and gladness ruled the hour, and +not until the morning star began to fade in the coming sunlight lid the +guests retire to rest. + +Only a few days longer did the heroes tarry in Isenland; for the mild +spring days were growing warmer, and all faces were southward turned, +and the queen herself was anxious to haste to her South-land home. When, +at last, the time for leave-taking came, the folk of Isenland gathered +around to bid their queen Godspeed. Then Brunhild called to Dankwart, +and gave him her golden keys, and bade him unlock her closets where her +gold and jewels were stored, and to scatter with hands unstinted her +treasures among the poor. And many were the tearful blessings, and many +the kind words said, as the radiant queen went down to the waiting, +white-winged vessel, and stepped aboard with Gunther and the heroes of +the Rhine. But she was not to go alone to the land of strangers; for +with her were to sail a hundred fair young damsels, and more than +fourscore noble dames, and two thousand blue-eyed warriors, the bravest +of her land. + +When all had gone on board the waiting fleet, the anchors were hoisted, +and the sails were unfurled to the breeze; and amid the tearful +farewells of friends, and the joyful shouting of the sailors, the +hundred heavy-laden vessels glided from the bay, and were soon far out +at sea. And the sorrowing folk of Isenland turned away, and went back to +their daily tasks, and to the old life of mingled pain and pleasure, of +shadow and sunshine; and they never saw their loved warrior-queen again. + +The gay white fleet, with its precious cargo of noble men and fair +ladies, sped swiftly onwards through Old AEgir’s kingdom; and it seemed +as if Queen Ran had forgotten to spread her nets, so smooth and quiet +was the sea; and the waves slept on the peaceful bosom of the waters: +only Ripple and Sky-clear danced in the wake of the flying ships, and +added to the general joy. And on shipboard music and song enlivened the +dragging hours; and from morn till eve no sounds were heard, save those +of merriment and sport, and glad good cheer. Yet, as day after day +passed by, and no sight met their eyes but the calm blue waters beneath, +and the calm blue sky above, all began to wish for a view, once more, of +the solid earth, and the fields, and the wild greenwood. But the ships +sailed steadily onward, and every hour brought them nearer and nearer to +the wished-for haven. + +At length, on the ninth day, they came in sight of a long, flat coast, +stretching far away towards the Lowlands, where Old AEgir and his +daughters--sometimes by wasting warfare, sometimes by stealthy +strategy--ever plot and toil to widen the Sea-king’s domains. When the +sailors saw the green shore rising up, as it were, out of the quiet +water, and the wild woodland lying dense and dark beyond, and when they +knew that they were nearing the end of their long sea-voyage, they rent +the air with their joyful shouts. And a brisker breeze sprang up, and +filled the sails, and made the ships leap forward over the water, like +glad living creatures. + +It was then that the thought came to King Gunther that he ought to send +fleet heralds to Burgundy-land to make known the happy issue of his +bold emprise, and to tell of his glad home-coming, with Brunhild, the +warrior-maiden, as his queen. So he called old Hagen to him, and told +him of his thoughts, and asked him if he would be that herald. + +“Nay,” answered the frowning chief. “No bearer of glad tidings am I. To +every man Odin has given gifts. To some he has given light hearts, and +cheery faces, and glad voices; and such alone are fitted to carry good +news and happy greetings. To others he has given darker souls, and less +lightsome faces, and more uncouth manners; and these may bear the brunt +of the battle, and rush with Odin’s heroes to the slaughter: but they +would be ill at ease standing in the presence of fair ladies, or telling +glad tidings at court. Let me still linger, I pray, on board this narrow +ship, and send your friend Siegfried as herald to Burgundy-land. He is +well fitted for such a duty.” + +So Gunther sent at once for Siegfried, to whom, when he had come, he +said,-- + +“My best of friends, although we are now in sight of land, our voyage +still is a long one; for the river is yet far away, and, when it is +reached, its course is winding, and the current will be against us, and +our progress must needs be slow. The folk at home have had no tidings +from us since we left them in the early spring; and no doubt their +hearts grow anxious, and they long to hear of our whereabouts, and +whether we prosper or no. Now, as we near the headland which juts out +dark and green before us, we will set you on shore, with the noble +Greyfell, and as many comrades as you wish, to haste with all speed to +Burgundy, to tell the glad news of our coming to the loved ones waiting +there.” + +Siegfried at first held back, and tried to excuse himself from +undertaking this errand,--not because he felt any fear of danger, but +because he scorned to be any man’s thrall, to go and do at his beck and +bidding. Then Gunther spoke again, and in a different tone. + +“Gentle Siegfried,” he said, “if you will not do this errand for my +sake, I pray that you will undertake it for the sake of my sister, the +fair Kriemhild, who has so long waited for our coming.” + +Then willingly did the prince agree to be the king’s herald. And on the +morrow the ship touched land; and Siegfried bade his companions a short +farewell, and went ashore with four and twenty Nibelungen chiefs, +who were to ride with him to Burgundy. And, when every thing was in +readiness, he mounted the noble Greyfell, as did also each warrior his +favorite steed, and they galloped briskly away; and their glittering +armor and nodding plumes were soon lost to sight among the green trees +of the wood. And the ship which bore Gunther and his kingly party +weighed anchor, and moved slowly along the shore towards the distant +river’s mouth. + +For many days, and through many strange lands, rode Siegfried and his +Nibelungen chiefs. They galloped through the woodland, and over a stony +waste, and came to a peopled country rich in farms and meadows, and +dotted with pleasant towns. And the folk of that land wondered greatly +at sight of the radiant Siegfried, and the tall warriors with him, and +their noble steeds, and their sunbright armor. For they thought that it +was a company of the gods riding through the mid-world, as the gods were +wont to do in the golden days of old. So they greeted them with smiles, +and kind, good words, and scattered flowers and blessings in their way. + +They stopped for a day in Vilkina-land, where dwelt one Eigill, a +famous archer, who, it is said, was a brother of Veliant, Siegfried’s +fellow-apprentice in the days of his boyhood. And men told them this +story of Eigill. That once on a time old Nidung, the king of that land, +in order to test his skill with the bow, bade him shoot an apple, or, as +some say, an acorn, from the head of his own little son. And Eigill +did this; but two other arrows, which he had hidden beneath his coat, +dropped to the ground. And when the king asked him what these were for +he answered, “To kill thee, wretch, had I slain my child.”[EN#27] + +After this our heroes rode through a rough hill-country, where the +ground was covered with sharp stones, and the roads were steep and hard. +And their horses lost their shoes, and were so lamed by the travel, +that they were forced to turn aside to seek the house of one Welland, a +famous smith, who re-shod their steeds, and entertained them most +kindly three days and nights. And it is said by some that Welland is but +another name for Veliant, and that this was the selfsame foreman whom we +knew in Siegfried’s younger days. But, be this as it may, he was at this +time the master of all smiths, and no one ever wrought more cunningly. +And men say that his grandfather was Vilkinus, the first king of that +land; and that his grandmother, Wachitu, was a fair mermaid, who lived +in the deep green sea; and that his father, Wada, had carried him, +when a child, upon his shoulders through water five fathoms deep, to +apprentice him to the cunning dwarfs, from whom he learned his trade. +And if this story is true, he could not have been Veliant. He was wedded +to a beautiful lady, who sometimes took the form of a swan, and flew +away to a pleasant lake near by, where, with other swan-maidens, she +spent the warm summer days among the reeds and the water-lilies. And +many other strange tales were told of Welland the smith: how he had once +made a boat from the single trunk of a tree, and had sailed in it all +around the mid-world; how, being lame in one foot, he had forged a +wondrous winged garment, and flown like a falcon through the air; +and how he had wrought for Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxon hero, a gorgeous +war-coat that no other smith could equal.[EN#28] And so pleasantly did +Welland entertain his guests that they were loath to leave him; but on +the fourth day they bade him farewell, and wended again their way. + +Now our heroes rode forward, with greater speed than before, across many +a mile of waste land, and over steep hills, and through pleasant wooded +dales. Then, again, they came to fair meadows, and broad pasture-lands, +and fields green with growing corn; and every one whom they met blessed +them, and bade them a hearty God-speed. Then they left the farmlands +and the abodes of men far behind them; and they passed by the shore of a +sparkling lake, where they heard the swan-maidens talking to each other +as they swam among the rushes, or singing in silvery tones of gladness +as they circled in the air above. Then they crossed a dreary moor, where +nothing grew but heather; and they climbed a barren, stony mountain, +where the feet of men had never been, and came at last to a wild, dark +forest, where silence reigned undisturbed forever. + +It was the wood in which dwells Vidar, the silent god, far from the +sound of man’s busy voice, in the solemn shade of century-living oaks +and elms. There he sits in quiet but awful grandeur,--strong almost as +Thor, but holding his mighty strength in check. Hoary and gray, he sits +alone in Nature’s temple, and communes with Nature’s self, waiting for +the day when Nature’s silent but resistless forces shall be quickened +into dread action. His head is crowned with sear and yellow leaves, +and long white moss hangs pendent from his brows and cheeks, and his +garments are rusted with age. On his feet are iron shoes, with soles +made thick with the scraps of leather gathered through centuries past; +and with these, it is said, he shall, in the last great twilight of the +mid-world, rend the jaws of the Fenris-wolf.[EN#29] + +“Who is this Fenris-wolf?” asked one of the Nibelungens as they rode +through the solemn shadows of the wood. + +And Siegfried thereupon related how that fierce creature had been +brought up and cared for by the Asa-folk; and how, when he grew large +and strong, they sought to keep him from doing harm by binding him with +an iron chain called Leding. But the strength of the monster was so +great, that he burst the chain asunder, and escaped. Then the Asas made +another chain twice as strong, which they called Drome. And they called +to the wolf, and besought him to allow them to bind him again, so that, +in bursting the second chain, he might clear up all doubts in regard to +his strength. Flattered by the words of the Asas, the wolf complied; +and they chained him with Drome, and fastened him to a great rock. But +Fenris stretched his legs, and shook himself, and the great chain was +snapped in pieces. Then the Asas knew that there was no safety for them +so long as a monster so huge and terrible was unbound; and they besought +the swarthy elves to forge them another and a stronger chain. This the +elves did. They made a most wondrous chain, smooth as silk, and soft as +down, yet firmer than granite, and stronger than steel. They called it +Gleipner; and it was made of the sinews of a bear, the footsteps of a +cat, the beard of a woman, the breath of a fish, the sweat of a bird, +and the roots of a mountain. When the Asas had obtained this chain, they +lured the Fenris-wolf to the rocky Island of Lyngve, and by flattery +persuaded him to be bound again. But this he would not agree to do until +Tyr placed his hand in his mouth as a pledge of good faith. Then they +tied him as before, and laughingly bade him break the silken cord. The +huge creature stretched himself as before, and tried with all his might +to burst away; but Gleipner held him fast, and the worst that he could +do was to bite off the hand of unlucky Tyr. And this is why Tyr is +called the one-armed god. + +“But it is said,” added Siegfried, “that in the last twilight the +Fenris-wolf will break his chain, and that he will swallow the sun, and +slay the great Odin himself, and that none can subdue him save Vidar the +Silent.” + +It was thus that the heroes conversed with each other as they rode +through the silent ways of the wood. + +At length, one afternoon in early summer, the little company reached the +Rhine valley; and looking down from the sloping hill-tops, green with +growing corn, they saw the pleasant town of the Burgundians and the high +gray towers of Gunther’s dwelling. And not long afterwards they rode +through the streets of the old town, and, tired and travel-stained, +halted outside of the castle-gates. Very soon it became noised about +that Siegfried and a company of strange knights, fair and tall, had come +again to Burgundy and to the home of the Burgundian kings. But when it +was certainly known that neither Gunther the king, nor Hagen of the evil +eye, nor Dankwart his brother, had returned, the people felt many +sad misgivings; for they greatly feared that some hard mischance had +befallen their loved king. Then Gernot and the young Giselher, having +heard of Siegfried’s arrival, came out with glad but anxious faces to +greet him. + +“Welcome, worthy chief!” they cried. “But why are you alone? What are +your tidings? Where is our brother? and where are our brave uncles, +Hagen and Dankwart? And who are those strange, fair men who ride with +you? And what about Brunhild, the warrior-maiden? Alas! if our brother +has fallen by her cruel might, then woe to Burgundy! Tell us quickly all +about it!” + +“Have patience, friends!” answered Siegfried. “Give me time to speak, +and I will gladden the hearts of all the folk of Burgundy with my news. +Your brother Gunther is alive and well; and he is the happiest man in +the whole mid-world, because he has won the matchless Brunhild for his +bride. And he is ere now making his way up the river with a mighty fleet +of a hundred vessels and more than two thousand warriors. Indeed, you +may look for him any day. And he has sent me, with these my Nibelungen +earls, to bid you make ready for his glad home-coming.” + +Then, even before he had alighted from Greyfell, he went on to tell of +the things that had happened at Isenstein; but he said nothing of the +part which he had taken in the strange contest. And a crowd of eager +listeners stood around, and heard with unfeigned joy of the happy +fortune of their king. + +“And now,” said Siegfried to Giselher, when he had finished his story, +“carry the glad news to your mother and your sister; for they, too, must +be anxious to learn what fate has befallen King Gunther.” + +“Nay,” answered the prince, “you yourself are the king’s herald, and you +shall be the one to break the tidings to them. Full glad they’ll be to +hear the story from your own lips, for long have they feared that +our brother would never be seen by us again. I will tell them of your +coming, but you must be the first to tell them the news you bring.” + +“Very well,” answered Siegfried. “It shall be as you say.” + +Then he dismounted from Greyfell, and, with his Nibelungen earls, was +shown into the grand hall, where they were entertained in a right kingly +manner. + +When Kriemhild the peerless, and Ute her mother, heard that Siegfried +had come again to Burgundy, and that he brought news from Gunther the +king, they hastened to make ready to see him. And, when he came before +them, he seemed so noble, so bright, and so glad, that they knew he bore +no evil tidings. + +“Most noble prince,” said Kriemhild, trembling in his presence, “right +welcome are you to our dwelling! But wherefore are you come? How fares +my brother Gunther? Why came he not with you back to Burgundy-land? Oh! +undone are we, if, through the cruel might of the warrior-queen, he has +been lost to us.” + +“Now give me a herald’s fees!” cried Siegfried, laughing. “King Gunther +is alive and well. In the games of strength to which fair Brunhild +challenged him, he was the winner. And now he comes up the Rhine with +his bride, and a great retinue of lords and ladies and fighting-men. +Indeed, the sails of his ships whiten the river for miles. And I am +come by his desire to ask that every thing be made ready for his glad +home-coming and the loving welcome of his peerless queen.” + +Great was the joy of Kriemhild and her queenly mother when they heard +this gladsome news; and they thanked the prince most heartily for all +that he had done. + +“You have truly earned a herald’s fee,” said the lovely maiden, “and +gladly would I pay it you in gold; for you have cheered us with pleasant +tidings, and lightened our minds of a heavy load. But men of your noble +rank take neither gifts nor fees, and hence we have only to offer our +deepest and heartiest thanks.” + +“Not so,” answered Siegfried gayly. “Think not I would scorn a fee. Had +I a kingdom of thirty realms, I should still be proud of a gift from +you.” + +“Then, you shall have your herald’s fee!” cried Kriemhild; and she sent +her maidens to fetch the gift. And with her own lily hands she gave him +twenty golden bracelets, richly inwrought with every kind of rare and +costly gem-stones. Happy, indeed, was Siegfried to take such priceless +gift from the hand of so peerless a maiden; and his face shone radiant +with sunbeams as he humbly bowed, and thanked her. But he had no need +for the jewels, nor wished he to keep them long: so he gave them, with +gracious wishes, to the fair young maidens at court. + +From this time forward, for many days, there was great bustle in +Gunther’s dwelling. On every side was heard the noise of busy hands, +making ready for the glad day when the king should be welcomed home. +The broad halls and the tall gray towers were decked with flowers, and +floating banners, and many a gay device; the houses and streets of the +pleasant burgh put on their holiday attire; the shady road which led +through Kriemhild’s rose-garden down to the river-banks was dusted and +swept with daily care; and the watchman was cautioned to keep on the +lookout every moment for the coming of the expected fleet. And heralds +had been sent to every burgh and castle, and to every countryside in +Burgundy, announcing the happy home-coming of Gunther and his bride, and +bidding every one, both high and low, to the glad merry-making. + +On the morning of the eleventh day, ere the sun had dried the dew from +the springing grass, the keen-eyed watchman, in his perch on the topmost +tower, cried out in happy accents to the waiting folk below,-- + +“They come at last! I see the white-winged ships still far down the +stream. But a breeze springs up from the northward, and the sailors are +at the oars, and swift speed the hastening vessels, as if borne on the +wings of the wind. Ride forth, O ye brave and fair, to welcome the fair +and the brave!” + +Then quickly the king-folk, and the warriors, and fair ladies, mounted +their ready steeds, and gayly through the gates of the castle they rode +out river-wards. And Ute, the noble queen-mother, went first. And the +company moved in glittering array, with flying banners, and music, and +the noisy flourish of drums, adown the rose-covered pathway which led +to the water’s side. And the peerless Kriemhild followed, with a hundred +lovely maidens, all mounted on snow-white palfreys; and Siegfried, proud +and happy, on Greyfell, rode beside her. + +When the party reached the river-bank, a pleasant sight met their eyes; +for the fleet had now drawn near, and the whole river, as far as the +eye could reach, glittered with the light reflected from the shield-hung +rails and the golden prows of the swift-coming ships. King Gunther’s own +vessel led all the rest; and the king himself stood on the deck, with +the glorious Brunhild by his side. Nearer and nearer the fresh breeze +of the summer morning wafted the vessel to the shore, where stood +the waiting multitude. Softly the golden dragon glided in to the +landing-place, and quickly was it moored to the banks; then Gunther, +clad in his kingly garments, stepped ashore, and with him his lovely +queen. And a mighty shout of welcome, and an answering shout of +gladness, seemed to rend the sky as the waiting hosts beheld the sight. +And the queen-mother Ute, and the peerless Kriemhild, and her kingly +brothers, went forward to greet the pair. And Kriemhild took Brunhild by +the hand, and kissed her, and said,-- + +“Welcome, thrice welcome, dear sister! to thy home and thy kindred and +thy people, who hail thee as queen. And may thy days be full of joyance, +and thy years be full of peace!” + +Then all the folk cried out their goodly greetings; and the sound of +their glad voices rang out sweet and clear in the morning air, and rose +up from the riverside, and was echoed among the hill-slopes, and carried +over the meadows and vineyards, to the farthest bounds of Burgundy-land. +And the matchless Brunhild, smiling, returned the happy greeting; and +her voice was soft and sweet, as she said,-- + +“O kin of the fair Rhineland, and folk of my new-found home! may your +days be summer sunshine, and your lives lack grief and pain; and may +this hour of glad rejoicing be the type of all hours to come!” + +Then the lovely queen was seated in a golden wain which stood in waiting +for her; and Gunther mounted his own war-steed; and the whole company +made ready to ride to the castle. Never before had so pleasant a sight +been seen in Rhineland, as that glorious array of king-folk and lords +and ladies wending from river to fortress along the rose-strewn roadway. +Foremost went the king, and by his side was Siegfried on the radiant +Greyfell. Then came the queen’s golden wain, drawn by two snow-white +oxen, which were led with silken cords by sweet-faced maidens; and +in it, on an ivory throne deep-carved with mystic runes, sat glorious +Brunhild. Behind rode the queen-mother and her kingly sons, and frowning +Hagen, and Dankwart, and Volker, and all the earl-folk and mighty +warriors of Burgundy and of Nibelungen Land. And lastly came Kriemhild +and her hundred damsels, sitting on their snow-white steeds. And they +rode past the blooming gardens, and through the glad streets of the +burgh, and then, like a radiant vision, they entered the castle-halls; +and the lovely pageant was seen no more. + +For twelve days after this, a joyful high-tide was held at the castle; +and the broad halls rang with merriment and music and festive mirth. +And games and tournaments were held in honor of the king’s return. +Brave horsemen dashed here and there at break-neck speed, or contended +manfully in the lists; lances flew thick in the air; shouts and glad +cries were heard on every hand; and for a time the most boisterous +tumult reigned. But gladness and good-feeling ruled the hour, and no one +thought of aught but merry-making and careless joy. At length, when +the days of feasting were past, the guests bade Gunther and his queen +farewell; and each betook himself to his own home, and to whatsoever +his duty called him. And one would have thought that none but happy days +were henceforth in store for the kingly folk of Burgundy. But alas! +too soon the cruel frost and the cold north winds nipped the buds and +blossoms of the short summer, and the days of gladness gave place to +nights of gloom. + + + + + +Adventure XVII. How Siegfried Lived in Nibelungen Land. + + + +When the twelve-days’ high-tide at King Gunther’s home-coming had +been brought to an end, and the guests had all gone to their homes, +Siegfried, too, prepared to bid farewell to the Rhineland kings, and to +wend to his own country. But he was not to go alone; for Kriemhild, the +peerless princess, was to go with him as his bride. They had been wedded +during the merry festivities which had just closed, and that event had +added greatly to the general joy; for never was there a fairer or a +nobler pair than Siegfried the fearless, and Kriemhild the peerless. + +“It grieves my heart to part with you,” said Gunther, wringing +Siegfried’s hand. “It will fare but ill with us, I fear, when we no +longer see your radiant face, or hear your cheery voice.” + +“Say not so, my brother,” answered Siegfried; “for the gods have many +good things in store for you. And, if ever you need the help of my arm, +you have but to say the word, and I will hasten to your aid.” + +Then the Burgundian kings besought the hero to take the fourth part +of their kingdom as his own and Kriemhild’s, and to think no more of +leaving them. But Siegfried would not agree to this. His heart yearned +to see his father and mother once again, and then to return to his own +loved Nibelungen Land. So he thanked the kings for their kind offer, and +hastened to make ready for his intended journey. + +Early on Midsummer Day the hero and his bride rode out of Gunther’s +dwelling, and turned their faces northward. And with them was a noble +retinue of warriors,--five hundred brave Burgundians, with Eckewart as +their chief,--who had sworn to be Queen Kriemhild’s vassals in her new, +far-distant home. Thirty and two fair maidens, too, went with her. And +with Siegfried were his Nibelungen earls. + +As the company rode down the sands, and filed gayly along the +river-road, it seemed a lovely although a sad sight to their kinsmen +who gazed after them from the castle-towers. Fair and young were all the +folk; and the world, to most, was still untried. And they rode, in the +morning sunlight, away from their native land, nor recked that never +again would they return. Each warrior sat upon a charger, richly geared +with gilt-red saddle, and gorgeous bridle, and trappings of every hue; +and their war-coats were bright and dazzling; and their spears glanced +in the sun; and their golden shields threw rays of resplendent light +around them. The maidens, too, were richly dight in broidered cloaks +of blue, and rare stuffs brought from far-off Araby; and each sat on a +snow-white palfrey geared with silken housings, and trappings of bright +blue. + +For some days the company followed the course of the river, passing +through many a rich meadow, and between lovely vineyards, and fields of +yellow corn. Then they rode over a dreary, barren waste, and through +a wild greenwood, and reached, at last, the hills which marked the +beginning of King Siegmund’s domains. Then Siegfried sent fleet heralds +before them to carry to his father the tidings of his coming with +his bride, fair Kriemhild. Glad, indeed, were old King Siegmund and +Siegfried’s gentle mother when they heard this news. + +“Oh, happy is the day!” cried the king. “Thrice happy be the day that +shall see fair Kriemhild a crowned queen, and Siegfried a king in the +throne of his fathers!” + +And they showered upon the heralds who had brought the happy news rich +fees of gold and silver, and gave them garments of silken velvet. And on +the morrow they set out, with a train of earl-folk and lovely ladies, +to meet their son and his bride. For one whole day they journeyed to +the old fortress of Santen, where in former days the king’s dwelling had +been. There they met the happy bridal-party, and fond and loving were +the hearty greetings they bestowed upon Kriemhild and the radiant +Siegfried. Then, without delay, they returned to Siegmund’s kingly hall; +and for twelve days a high tide, more happy and more splendid than +that which had been held in Burgundy, was made in honor of Siegfried’s +marriage-day. And, in the midst of those days of sport and joyance, +the old king gave his crown and sceptre to his son; and all the people +hailed Siegfried, king of the broad Lowlands, and Kriemhild his lovely +queen. + +Old stories tell how Siegfried reigned in peace and glad contentment in +his fatherland; and how the joyous sunshine shone wherever he went, and +poured a flood of light and warmth and happiness into every nook and +corner of his kingdom; and how, at length, after the gentle Sigelind +had died, he moved his court to that other country of his,--the far-off +Nibelungen Land. And it is in that strange, dream-haunted land, in a +strong-built mountain fortress, that we shall next find him. + +Glad were the Nibelungen folk when their own king and his lovely wife +came to dwell among them; and the mists once more were lifted, and the +skies grew bright and clear, and men said that the night had departed, +and the better days were near. Golden, indeed, and most glorious, was +that summer-time; and long to be remembered was Siegfried’s too brief +reign in Nibelungen Land. And, ages afterward, folk loved to sing of his +care for his people’s welfare, of his wisdom and boundless lore, of his +deeds in the time of warring, and the victories gained in peace. And +strong and brave were the men-folk, and wise and fair were the women, +and broad and rich were the acres, in Siegfried’s well-ruled land. The +farm-lands were yellow with the abundant harvests, fruitful orchards +grew in the pleasant dales, and fair vineyards crowned the hills. Fine +cities sprang up along the seacoast, and strong fortresses were built +on every height. Great ships were made, which sailed to every land, and +brought home rich goods from every clime,--coffee and spices from India, +rich silks from Zazemang, fine fruits from the Iberian shore, and soft +furs, and ivory tusks of the sea-beast, from the frozen coasts of the +north. Never before was country so richly blessed; for Siegfried taught +his people how to till the soil best, and how to delve far down into the +earth for hidden treasures, and how to work skilfully in iron and bronze +and all other metals, and how to make the winds and the waters, and even +the thunderbolt, their thralls and helpful servants. And he was as great +in war as in peace; for no other people dared harm, or in any way impose +upon, the Nibelungen folk, or any of his faithful liegemen. + +It is told how, once on a time, he warred against the Hundings, who +had done his people an injury, and how he sailed against them in a long +dragon-ship of a hundred oars. When he was far out in the mid-sea, and +no land was anywhere in sight, a dreadful storm arose. The lightnings +flashed, and the winds roared, and threatened to carry the ship to +destruction. Quickly the fearful sailors began to reef the sails, but +Siegfried bade them stop. + +“Why be afraid?” he cried. “The Norns have woven the woof of every man’s +life, and no man can escape his destiny. If the gods will that we should +drown, it is folly for us to strive against fate. We are bound to the +shore of the Hundings’ land, and thither must our good ship carry us. +Hoist the sails high on the masts, even though the wind should tear them +into shreds, and split the masts into splinters!” + +The sailors did as they were bidden; and the hurricane caught the ship +in its mighty arms, and hurried it over the rolling waves with the speed +of lightning. And Siegfried stood calmly at the helm, and guided the +flying vessel. Presently they saw a rocky point rising up out of the +waters before them; and on it stood an old man, his gray cloak streaming +in the wind, and his blue hood tied tightly down over his head. + +“Whose ship is that which comes riding on the storm?” cried the man. + +“King Siegfried’s ship,” answered the man at the prow. “There lives no +braver man on earth than he.” + +“Thou sayest truly,” came back from the rock. “Lay by your oars, reef +the sails, and take me on board!” + +“What is your name?” asked the sailor, as the ship swept past him. + +“When the raven croaks gladly over his battle-feast, men call me Hnikar. +But call me now Karl from the mountain, Fengr, or Fjolner. Reef, quick, +your sails, and take me in!” + +The men, at Siegfried’s command, obeyed. And at once the wind ceased +blowing, and the sea was calm, and the warm sun shone through the rifted +clouds, and the coast of Hundings Land lay close before them. But when +they looked for Fjolner, as he called himself, they could not find him. + +One day Siegfried sat in his sun-lit hall in Nibelungen Land; and +Kriemhild, lovely as a morning in June, sat beside him. And they talked +of the early days when alone he fared through the mid-world, and alone +did deeds of wondrous daring. And Siegfried bethought him then of the +glittering Hoard of Andvari, and the cave and the mountain fortress, +where the faithful dwarf Alberich still guarded the measureless +treasure. + +“How I should like to see that mountain fastness and that glittering +hoard!” cried Kriemhild. + +“You shall see,” answered the king. + +And at once horses were saddled, and preparations were made for a +morning’s jaunt into the mountains. And, ere an hour had passed, +Siegfried and his queen, and a small number of knights and ladies, +were riding through the passes. About noon they came to Alberich’s +dwelling,--a frowning fortress of granite built in the mountain-side. +The gate was opened by the sleepy giant who always sat within, and the +party rode into the narrow court-yard. There they were met by Alberich, +seeming smaller and grayer, and more pinched and wan, than ever before. + +“Hail, noble master!” cried he, bowing low before Siegfried. “How can +Alberich serve you to-day?” + +“Lead us to the treasure-vaults,” answered the king. “My queen would +fain feast her eyes upon the yellow, sparkling hoard.” + +The dwarf obeyed. Through a narrow door they were ushered into a long, +low cavern, so frowning and gloomy, that the queen started back in +affright. But, re-assured by Siegfried’s smiling face, she went forward +again. The entrance-way was lighted by little torches held in the hands +of tiny elves, who bowed in humble politeness to the kingly party. But, +when once beyond the entrance-hall, no torches were needed to show the +way; for the huge pile of glittering gold and sparkling jewels, which +lay heaped up to the cavern’s roof, lighted all the space around with a +glory brighter than day. + +“There is the dwarf’s treasure!” cried Siegfried. “Behold the Hoard of +Andvari, the gathered wealth of the ages! Henceforth, fair Kriemhild, it +is yours--all yours, save this serpent-ring.” + +“And why not that too?” asked the queen; for she admired its glittering +golden scales, and its staring ruby eyes. + +“Alas!” answered he, “a curse rests upon it,--the curse which Andvari +the ancient laid upon it when Loki tore it from his hand. A miser’s +heart--selfish, cold, snaky--is bred in its owner’s being; and he +thenceforth lives a very serpent’s life. Or, should he resist its +influence, then death through the guile of pretended friends is sure to +be his fate.” + +“Then why,” asked the queen,--“why do you keep it yourself? Why do you +risk its bane? Why not give it to your sworn foe, or cast it into the +sea, or melt it in the fire, and thus escape the curse?” + +Siegfried answered by telling how, when in the heyday of his youth, he +had slain Fafnir, the keeper of this hoard, upon the Glittering Heath; +and how, while still in the narrow trench which he had dug, the blood of +the horrid beast had flown in upon him, and covered him up. + +“And this I have been told by Odin’s birds,” he went on to say, “that +every part of my body that was touched by the slimy flood was made +forever proof against sword and spear, and sharp weapons of every kind. +Hence I have no cause to fear the stroke, either of open foes or of +traitorous false friends.” + +“But was all of your body covered with the dragon’s blood? Was there no +small spot untouched?” asked the queen, more anxious now than she had +ever seemed to be before she had known aught of her husband’s strange +security from wounds. + +“Only one very little spot between the shoulders was left untouched,” + answered Siegfried. “I afterwards found a lime-leaf sticking there, and +I know that the slimy blood touched not that spot. But then who fears a +thrust in the back? None save cowards are wounded there.” + +“Ah!” said the queen, toying tremulously with the fatal ring, “that +little lime-leaf may yet bring us unutterable woe.” + +But Siegfried laughed at her fears; and he took the serpent-ring, and +slipped it upon his forefinger, and said that he would wear it there, +bane or no bane, so long as Odin would let him live. + +Then, after another long look at the heaps of glittering gold and +priceless gem-stones, the company turned, and followed Alberich back, +through the gloomy entranceway and the narrow door, to the open air +again. And mounting their steeds, which stood ready, they started +homewards. But, at the outer gate, Siegfried paused, and said to the +dwarf at parting,-- + +“Hearken, Alberich! The Hoard of Andvari is no longer mine. I have made +a present of it to my queen. Hold it and guard it, therefore, as hers +and hers alone; and, whatever her bidding may be regarding it, that do.” + +“Your word is law, and shall be obeyed,” said the dwarf, bowing low. + +Then the drowsy gate-keeper swung the heavy gate to its place, and the +kingly party rode gayly away. + +On their way home the company went, by another route, through the narrow +mountain pass which led towards the sea, and thence through a rocky +gorge between two smoking mountains. And on one side of this road a +great cavern yawned, so dark and deep that no man had ever dared to step +inside of it. And as they paused before it, and listened, they heard, +away down in its dismal depths, horrid groans, sad moanings, and faint +wild shrieks, so far away that it seemed as if they had come from the +very centre of the earth. And, while they still listened, the ground +around them trembled and shook, and the smoking mountain on the other +side of the gorge smoked blacker than before. + +“Loki is uneasy to-day,” said Siegfried, as they all put spurs to their +horses, and galloped swiftly home. + +It was the Cavern of the Mischief-maker which the party had visited; +and that evening, as they again sat in Siegfried’s pleasant hall, they +amused themselves by telling many strange old tales of the mid-world’s +childhood, when the gods, and the giants, and the dwarf-folk, had their +dwelling on the earth. But they talked most of Loki, the flame, the +restless, the evil-doer. And this, my children, is the story that was +told of the Doom of the Mischief-maker.[EN#30] + + + +The Story. + + + +You have heard of the feast that old AEgir once made for the Asa-folk in +his gold-lit dwelling in the deep sea; and how the feast was hindered, +through the loss of his great brewing-kettle, until Thor had obtained +a still larger vessel from Hymer the giant. It is very likely that +the thief who stole King AEgir’s kettle was none other than Loki the +Mischief-maker; but, if this was so, he was not long unpunished for his +meanness. + +There was great joy in the Ocean-king’s hall, when at last the banquet +was ready, and the foaming ale began to pass itself around to the +guests. But Thor, who had done so much to help matters along, could not +stay to the merry-making: for he had heard that the Storm-giants were +marshalling their forces for a raid upon some unguarded corner of the +mid-world; and so, grasping his hammer Mjolner, he bade his kind host +good-by, and leaped into his iron car. + +“Business always before pleasure!” he cried, as he gave the word to his +swift, strong goats, and rattled away at a wonderful rate through the +air. + +In old AEgir’s hall glad music resounded on every side; and the gleeful +Waves danced merrily as the Asa-folk sat around the festal-board, and +partook of the Ocean-king’s good fare. AEgir’s two thralls, the faithful +Funfeng and the trusty Elder, waited upon the guests, and carefully +supplied their wants. Never in all the world had two more thoughtful +servants been seen; and every one spoke in praise of their quickness, +and their skill, and their ready obedience. + +Then Loki, unable to keep his hands from mischief, waxed very angry, +because every one seemed happy and free from trouble, and no one noticed +or cared for him. So, while good Funfeng was serving him to meat, he +struck the faithful thrall with a carving-knife, and killed him. Then +arose a great uproar in the Ocean-king’s feast-hall. The Asa-folk rose +up from the table, and drove the Mischief-maker out from among them; and +in their wrath they chased him across the waters, and forced him to hide +in the thick greenwood. After this they went back to AEgir’s hall, and +sat down again to the feast. But they had scarcely begun to eat, when +Loki came quietly out of his hiding-place, and stole slyly around to +AEgir’s kitchen, where he found Elder, the other thrall, grieving sadly +because of his brother’s death. + +“I hear a great chattering and clattering over there in the feast-hall,” + said Loki. “The greedy, silly Asa-folk seem to be very busy indeed, both +with their teeth and their tongues. Tell me, now, good Elder, what they +talk about while they sit over their meat and ale.” + +“They talk of noble deeds,” answered Elder. “They speak of gallant +heroes, and brave men, and fair women, and strong hearts, and willing +hands, and gentle manners, and kind friends. And for all these they have +words of praise, and songs of beauty; but none of them speak well of +Loki, the thief and the vile traitor.” + +“Ah!” said Loki wrathfully, twisting himself into a dozen different +shapes, “no one could ask so great a kindness from such folk. I must go +into the feast-hall, and take a look at this fine company, and listen to +their noisy merry-making. I have a fine scolding laid up for those good +fellows; and, unless they are careful with their tongues, they will find +many hard words mixed with their ale.” + +Then he went boldly into the great hall, and stood up before the +wonder-stricken guests at the table. When the Asa-folk saw who it was +that had darkened the doorway, and was now in their midst, a painful +silence fell upon them, and all their merriment was at an end. And Loki +stretched himself up to his full height, and said to them,-- + +“Hungry and thirsty come I to AEgir’s gold lit hall. Long and rough was +the road I trod, and wearisome was the way. Will no one bid me welcome? +Will none give me a seat at the feast? Will none offer me a drink of the +precious mead? Why are you all so dumb? Why so sulky and stiff-necked, +when your best friend stands before you? Give me a seat among you,--yes, +one of the high-seats,--or else drive me from your hall! In either case, +the world will never forget me. I am Loki.” + +Then one among the Asa-folk spoke up, and said, “Let him sit with us. +He is mad; and when he slew Funfeng, he was not in his right mind. He is +not answerable for his rash act.” + +But Bragi the Wise, who sat on the innermost seat, arose, and said, +“Nay, we will not give him a seat among us. Nevermore shall he feast +or sup with us, or share our good-fellowship. Thieves and murderers we +know, and will shun.” + +This speech enraged Loki all the more; and he spared not vile words, +but heaped abuse without stint upon all the folk before him. And by main +force he seized hold of the silent Vidar, who had come from the forest +solitudes to be present at the feast, and dragged him away from the +table, and seated himself in his place. Then, as he quaffed the foaming +ale, he flung out taunts and jeers and hard words to all who sat around, +but chiefly to Bragi the Wise. Then he turned to Sif, the beautiful wife +of Thor, and began to twit her about her golden hair. + +“Oh, how handsome you were, when you looked at your bald head in the +mirror that day! Oh, what music you made when your hands touched your +smooth pate! And now whose hair do you wear?” + +And the wretch laughed wickedly, as he saw the tears welling up in poor +Sif’s eyes. + +Then suddenly a great tumult was heard outside. The mountains shook +and trembled; and the bottom of the sea seemed moved; and the waves, +affrighted and angry, rushed hither and thither in confusion. All the +guests looked up in eager expectation, and some of them fled in alarm +from the hall. Then the mighty Thor strode through the door, and up +to the table, swinging his hammer, and casting wrathful glances at the +Mischief-maker. Loki trembled, and dropped his goblet, and sank down +upon his knees before the terrible Asa. + +“I yield me!” he cried. “Spare my life, I pray you, and I will be your +thrall forever!” + +“I want no such thrall,” answered Thor. “And I spare your life on one +condition only,--that you go at once from hence, and nevermore presume +to come into the company of Asa-folk.” + +“I promise all that you ask,” said Loki, trembling more than ever. “Let +me go.” + +Thor stepped aside; and the frightened culprit fled from the hall, and +was soon out of sight. The feast was broken up. The folk bade AEgir a +kind farewell, and all embarked on Frey’s good ship Skidbladner; and +fair winds wafted them swiftly home to Asgard. + +Loki fled to the dark mountain gorges of Mist Land, and sought for a +while to hide himself from the sight of both gods and men. In a deep +ravine by the side of a roaring torrent, he built himself a house of +iron and stone, and placed a door on each of its four sides, so that he +could see whatever passed around him. There, for many winters, he lived +in lonely solitude, planning with himself how he might baffle the gods, +and regain his old place in Asgard. And now and then he slipped slyly +away from his hiding-place, and wrought much mischief for a time among +the abodes of men. But when Thor heard of his evil-doings, and sought +to catch him, and punish him for his evil deeds, he was nowhere to be +found. And at last the Asa-folk determined, that, if he could ever be +captured, the safety of the world required that he should be bound hand +and foot, and kept forever in prison. + +Loki often amused himself in his mountain home by taking upon him his +favorite form of a salmon, and lying listlessly, beneath the waters +of the great Fanander Cataract, which fell from the shelving rocks a +thousand feet above him. One day while thus lying, he bethought himself +of former days, when he walked the glad young earth in company with +the All-Father. And among other things he remembered how he had once +borrowed the magic net of Ran, the Ocean-queen, and had caught with it +the dwarf Andvari, disguised, as he himself now was, in the form of a +slippery salmon. + +“I will make me such a net!” he cried. “I will make it strong and good; +and I, too, will fish for men.” + +So he took again his proper shape, and went back to his cheerless home +in the ravine. And he gathered flax and wool and long hemp, and spun +yarn and strong cords, and wove them into meshes, after the pattern of +Queen Ran’s magic net; for men had not, at that time, learned how to +make or use nets for fishing. And the first fisherman who caught fish in +that way is said to have taken Loki’s net as a model. + +Odin sat, on the morrow, in his high hall of Hlidskialf, and looked +out over all the world, and saw, even to the uttermost corners, what +men-folk were everywhere doing. When his eye rested upon the dark line +which marked the mountain-land of the Mist Country, he started up in +quick surprise, and cried out, + +“Who is that who sits by the Fanander Force, and ties strong cords +together?” + +But none of those who stood around could tell, for their eyes were not +strong enough and clear enough to see so far. + +“Bring Heimdal!” then cried Odin. + +Now, Heimdal the White dwells among the blue mountains of sunny +Himminbjorg, where the rainbow, the shimmering Asa-bridge, spans the +space betwixt heaven and earth. He is the son of Odin, golden-toothed, +pure-faced, and clean-hearted; and he ever keeps watch and ward over the +mid-world and the homes of frail men-folk, lest the giants shall break +in, and destroy and slay. He rides upon a shining steed named Goldtop; +and he holds in his hand a horn called Gjallar-horn, with which, in +the last great twilight, he shall summon the world to battle with +the Fenris-wolf and the sons of Loki. This watchful guardian of the +mid-world is as wakeful as the birds. And his hearing is so keen, that +no sound on earth escapes him,--not even that of the rippling waves upon +the seashore, nor of the quiet sprouting of the grass in the meadows, +nor even of the growth of the soft wool on the backs of sheep. And his +eyesight, too, is wondrous clear and sharp; for he can see by night as +well as by day, and the smallest thing, although a hundred leagues away, +cannot be hidden from him. + +To Heimdal, then, the heralds hastened, bearing the words which Odin +had spoken. And the watchful warder of the mid-world came at once to the +call of the All-Father. + +“Turn your eyes to the sombre mountains that guard the shadowy Mist-land +from the sea,” said Odin, “Now look far down into the rocky gorge in +which the Fanander Cataract pours, and tell me what you see.” + +Heimdal did as he was bidden. + +“I see a shape,” said he, “sitting by the torrent’s side. It is Loki’s +shape, and he seems strangely busy with strong strings and cords.” + +“Call all our folk together!” commanded Odin. “The wily Mischief-maker +plots our hurt. He must be driven from his hiding-place, and put where +he can do no further harm.” + +Great stir was there then in Asgard. Every one hastened to answer Odin’s +call, and to join in the quest for the Mischief-maker. Thor came on +foot, with his hammer tightly grasped in his hands, and lightning +flashing from beneath his red brows. Tyr, the one-handed, came with +his sword. Then followed Bragi the Wise, with his harp and his sage +counsels; then Hermod the Nimble, with his quick wit and ready hands; +and, lastly, a great company of elves and wood-sprites and trolls. +Then a whirlwind caught them up in its swirling arms, and carried +them through the air, over the hill-tops and the country-side, and +the meadows and the mountains, and set them down in the gorge of the +Fanander Force. + +But Loki was not caught napping. His wakeful ears had heard the tumult +in the air, and he guessed who it was that was coming. He threw the net, +which he had just finished, into the fire, and jumped quickly into the +swift torrent, where, changing himself into a salmon, he lay hidden +beneath the foaming waters. + +When the eager Asa-folk reached Loki’s dwelling, they found that he whom +they sought had fled; and although they searched high and low, among the +rocks and the caves and the snowy crags, they could see no signs of the +cunning fugitive. Then they went back to his house again to consult what +next to do. And, while standing by the hearth, Kwaser, a sharp-sighted +elf, whose eyes were quicker than the sunbeam, saw the white ashes of +the burned net lying undisturbed in the still hot embers, the woven +meshes unbroken and whole. + +“See what the cunning fellow has been making!” cried the elf. “It must +have been a trap for catching fish.” + +“Or rather for catching men,” said Bragi; “for it is strangely like the +Sea-queen’s net.” + +“In that case,” said Hermod the Nimble, “he has made a trap for himself; +for, no doubt, he has changed himself, as is his wont, to a slippery +salmon, and lies at this moment hidden beneath the Fanander torrent. +Here are plenty of cords of flax and hemp and wool, with which he +intended to make other nets. Let us take them, and weave one like the +pattern which lies there in the embers; and then, if I mistake not, we +shall catch the too cunning fellow.” + +All saw the wisdom of these words, and all set quickly to work. In +a short time they had made a net strong and large, and full of fine +meshes, like the model among the coals. Then they threw it into the +roaring stream, Thor holding to one end, and all the other folk pulling +at the other. With great toil, they dragged it forwards, against the +current, even to the foot of the waterfall. But the cunning Loki crept +close down between two sharp stones, and lay there quietly while the net +passed harmlessly over him. + +“Let us try again!” cried Thor. “I am sure that something besides dead +rocks lies at the bottom of the stream.” + +So they hung heavy weights to the net, and began to drag it a +second time, this time going down stream. Loki looked out from his +hiding-place, and saw that he would not be able to escape again by lying +between the rocks, and that his only chance for safety was either to +leap over the net, and hide himself behind the rushing cataract itself, +or to swim with the current out to the sea. But the way to the sea was +long, and there were many shallow places; and Loki had doubts as to +how old AEgir would receive him in his kingdom. He feared greatly to +undertake so dangerous and uncertain a course. So, turning upon his +foes, and calling up all his strength, he made a tremendous leap high +into the air, and clean over the net. But Thor was too quick for him. As +he fell towards the water, the Thunderer quickly threw out his hand, and +caught the slippery salmon, holding him firmly by the tail. + +When Loki found that he was surely caught, and could not by any means +escape, he took again his proper shape. Fiercely did he struggle with +mighty Thor, and bitter were the curses which he poured down upon his +enemies. But he could not get free. Into the deep, dark cavern, beneath +the smoking mountain, where daylight never comes, nor the warmth of +the sun, nor the sound of Nature’s music, the fallen Mischief-maker was +carried. And they bound him firmly to the sharp rocks, with his face +turned upwards toward the dripping roof; for they said that nevermore, +until the last dread twilight, should he be free to vex the world with +his wickedness. And Skade, the giant wife of Niord and the daughter of +grim Old Winter, took a hideous poison snake, and hung it up above Loki, +so that its venom would drop into his upturned face. But Sigyn, the +loving wife of the suffering wretch, left her home in the pleasant halls +of Asgard, and came to his horrible prison-house to soothe and comfort +him; and evermore she holds a basin above his head, and catches in it +the poisonous drops as they fall. When the basin is filled, and she +turns to empty it in the tar-black river that flows through that home +of horrors, the terrible venom falls upon his unprotected face, and Loki +writhes and shrieks in fearful agony, until the earth around him +shakes and trembles, and the mountains spit forth fire, and fumes of +sulphur-smoke. + +And there the Mischief-maker, the spirit of evil, shall lie in torment +until the last great day and the dread twilight of all mid-world things. +How strange and how sad, that, while Loki lies thus bound and harmless, +evil still walks the earth, and that so much mischief and such dire +disasters were prepared for Siegfried and the folk of Nibelungen Land! + + + + + +Adventure XVIII. How the Mischief Began to Brew. + + + +One day a party of strangers came to Siegfried’s Nibelungen dwelling, +and asked to speak with the king. + +“Who are you? and what is your errand?” asked the porter at the gate. + +“Our errand is to the king, and he will know who we are when he sees +us,” was the answer. + +When Siegfried was told of the strange men who waited below, and of +the strange way in which they had answered the porter’s question, he +asked,-- + +“From what country seem they to have come? For surely their dress and +manners will betray something of that matter to you. Are they South-land +folk, or East-land folk? Are they from the mountains, or from the sea?” + +“They belong to none of the neighbor-lands,” answered the earl who had +brought the word to the king. “No such men live upon our borders. They +seem to have come from a far-off land; for they are travel-worn, and +their sea-stained clothing betokens a people from the south. They are +tall and dark, and their hair is black, and they look much like those +Rhineland warriors who came hither with our lady the queen. And they +carry a blood-red banner with a golden dragon painted upon it.” + +“Oh, they must be from Burgundy!” cried the queen, who had overheard +these words. And she went at once to the window to see the strangers, +who were waiting in the courtyard below. + +There, indeed, she saw thirty tall Burgundians, clad in the gay costume +of Rhineland, now faded and worn with long travel. But all save one were +young, and strangers to Kriemhild. That one was their leader,--an old +man with a kind face, and a right noble bearing. + +“See!” said the queen to Siegfried: “there is our brave captain Gere, +who, ever since my childhood, has been the trustiest man in my brother +Gunther’s household. Those men are from the fatherland, and they bring +tidings from the dear old Burgundian home.” + +“Welcome are they to our Nibelungen Land!” cried the delighted king. + +And he ordered that the strangers should be brought into the castle, +and that the most sumptuous rooms should be allotted to them, and a +plenteous meal prepared, and every thing done to entertain them in a +style befitting messengers from Kriemhild’s fatherland. Then Gere, the +trusty captain, was led into the presence of the king and queen. Right +gladly did they welcome him, and many were the questions they asked +about their kin-folk, and the old Rhineland home. + +“Tell us, good Gere,” said Siegfried, “what is thy message from our +friends; for we are anxious to know whether they are well and happy, or +whether some ill luck has overtaken them. If any harm threatens them, +they have but to speak, and I, with my sword and my treasures, will +hasten to their help.” + +“They are all well,” answered the captain. “No ill has befallen them, +and no harm threatens them. Peace rules all the land; and fair weather +and sunshine have filled the people’s barns, and made their hearts glad. +And thus it has been ever since Gunther brought to his dwelling the +warrior-maiden Brunhild to be his queen. And this is my errand and the +message that I bring: King Gunther, blessed with happiness, intends +to hold a grand high-tide of joy and thanksgiving at the time of the +harvest-moon. And nothing is wanting to complete the gladness of that +time, but the sight of you and the peerless Kriemhild in your old places +at the feast. And it is to invite you to this festival of rejoicing that +I have come, at the king’s command, to Nibelungen Land.” + +Siegfried sat a moment in silence, and then thoughtfully answered,-- + +“It is a long, long journey from this land to Burgundy, and many dangers +beset the road; and my own people would sadly miss me while away, and I +know not what mishaps might befall.” + +Then Gere spoke of the queen-mother Ute, now grown old and feeble, +who wished once more, ere death called her hence, to see her daughter +Kriemhild. And he told how all the people, both high and low, yearned +for another sight of the radiant hero who in former days had blessed +their land with his presence and his noble deeds. And his persuasive +words had much weight with Siegfried, who said at length,-- + +“Tarry a few days yet for my answer. I will talk with my friends and the +Nibelungen earls; and what they think best, that will I do.” + +For nine days, then, waited Gere at Siegfried’s hall; but still the king +put off his answer. + +“Wait until to-morrow,” he said each day, for his heart whispered dim +forebodings. + +At length, as midsummer was fast drawing near, the impatient captain +could stay no longer; and he bade his followers make ready to go back +forthwith to Burgundy. When the queen saw that they were ready to +take their leave, and that Gere could wait no longer upon the king’s +pleasure, she urged her husband to say to Gunther that they would come +to his harvest festival. And the lords and noble earl-folk added their +persuasions to hers. + +“Send word back to the Burgundian king,” said they, “that you will go, +as he desires. We will see to it that no harm comes to your kingdom +while you are away.” + +So Siegfried called Gere and his comrades into the ball, and loaded them +with costly gifts such as they had never before seen, and bade them say +to their master that he gladly accepted the kind invitation he had sent, +and that, ere the harvest high-tide began, he and Kriemhild would be +with him in Burgundy. + +And the messengers went back with all speed, and told what wondrous +things they had seen in Nibelungen Land, and in what great splendor +Siegfried lived. And, when they showed the rare presents which had been +given them, all joined in praising the goodness and greatness of the +hero-king. But old chief Hagen frowned darkly as he said,-- + +“It is little wonder that he can do such things, for the Shining Hoard +of Andvari is his. If we had such a treasure, we, too, might live in +more than kingly grandeur.” + +Early in the month of roses, Siegfried and his peerless queen, with a +retinue of more than a thousand warriors and many fair ladies, started +on their long and toilsome journey to the South-land. And the folk who +went with them to the city gates bade them mane tearful farewells, and +returned to their homes, feeling that the sunshine had gone forever from +the Nibelungen Land. But the sky was blue and cloudless, and the breezes +warm and mild, and glad was the song of the reapers as adown the seaward +highway the kingly company rode. Two days they rode through Mist Land, +to the shore of the peaceful sea. Ten days they sailed on the waters. +And the winds were soft and gentle; and the waves slept in the sunlight, +or merrily danced in their wake. But each day, far behind them, there +followed a storm-cloud, dark as night, and the pleasant shores of Mist +Land were hidden forever behind it. Five days they rode through the +Lowlands, and glad were the Lowland folk with sight of their hero-king. +Two days through the silent greenwood, and one o’er the barren moor, and +three amid vineyards and fields, and between orchards fruitful and fair, +they rode. And on the four and twentieth day they came in sight of the +quiet town, and the tall gray towers, where dwelt the Burgundian kings. +And a great company on horseback, with flashing shields and fine-wrought +garments and nodding plumes, came out to meet them. It was King Gernot +and a thousand of the best men and fairest women in Burgundy; and they +welcomed Siegfried and Kriemhild and their Nibelungen-folk to the fair +land of the Rhine. And then they turned, and rode back with them to the +castle. And, as the company passed through the pleasant streets of the +town, the people stood by the wayside, anxious to catch sight of the +radiant Siegfried on his sunbright steed, and of the peerless Kriemhild, +riding on a palfrey by his side. And young girls strewed roses in their +pathway, and hung garlands upon their horses; and every one shouted, +“Hail to the conquering hero! Hail to the matchless queen!” + +When they reached the castle, King Gunther and Giselher met them, and +ushered them into the old familiar halls, where a right hearty welcome +greeted them from all the kingly household. And none seemed more glad +in this happy hour than Brunhild the warrior-queen, now more gloriously +beautiful than even in the days of yore. + +When the harvest-moon began to shine full and bright, lighting up the +whole world from evening till morn with its soft radiance, the gay +festival so long looked forward to began. And care and anxiety, and the +fatigues of the long journey, were forgotten amid the endless round of +pleasure which for twelve days enlivened the whole of Burgundy. And the +chiefest honors were everywhere paid to Siegfried the hero-king, and to +Kriemhild the peerless queen of beauty. + +Then Queen Brunhild called to mind, how, on a time, it had been told +her in Isenland that Siegfried was but the liegeman and vassal of King +Gunther; and she wondered why such honor should be paid to an underling, +and why the king himself should treat him with so much respect. And as +she thought of this, and of the high praises with which every one spoke +of Kriemhild, her mind became filled with jealous broodings. And soon +her bitter jealousy was turned to deadly hate; for she remembered then, +how, in the days long past, a noble youth, more beautiful and more +glorious than the world would ever see again, had awakened her from the +deep sleep that Odin’s thorn had given; and she remembered how Gunther +had won her by deeds of strength and skill which he never afterwards +could even imitate; and she thought how grand indeed was Kriemhild’s +husband compared with her own weak and wavering and commonplace lord. +And her soul was filled with sorrow and bitterness and deepest misery, +when, putting these thoughts together, she believed that she had in some +way been duped and cheated into becoming Gunther’s wife. + +When at last the gay feast was ended, and most of the guests had gone +to their homes, she sought her husband, and thus broached the matter to +him. + +“Often have I asked you,” said she, “why your sister Kriemhild was given +in marriage to a vassal, and as often have you put me off with vague +excuses. Often, too, have I wondered why your vassal, Siegfried, has +never paid you tribute for the lands which he holds from you, and why he +has never come to render you homage. Now he is here in your castle; but +he sets himself up, not as your vassal, but as your peer. I pray you, +tell me what such strange things mean. Was an underling and a vassal +ever known before to put himself upon a level with his liege lord?” + +Gunther was greatly troubled, and he knew not what to say; for he feared +to tell the queen how they had deceived her when he had won the games at +Isenstein, and how the truth had ever since been kept hidden from her. + +“Ask me not to explain this matter further than I have already done,” + he answered. “It is enough that Siegfried is the greatest of all my +vassals, and that his lands are broader even than my own. He has helped +me out of many straits, and has added much to the greatness and strength +of my kingdom: for this reason he has never been asked to pay us +tribute, and for this reason we grant him highest honors.” + +But this answer failed to satisfy the queen. + +“Is it not the first duty of a vassal,” she asked, “to help his liege +lord in every undertaking? If so, Siegfried has but done his duty, and +you owe him nothing. But you have not told me all. You have deceived me, +and you would fain deceive me again. You have a secret, and I will find +it out.” + +The king made no answer, but walked silently and thoughtfully away. + +It happened one evening, not long thereafter, that the two queens sat +together at an upper window, and looked down upon a company of men in +the courtyard below. Among them were the noblest earl-folk of Burgundy, +and Gunther the king, and Siegfried. But Siegfried towered above all the +rest; and he moved like a god among men. + +“See my noble Siegfried!” cried Kriemhild in her pride. “How grandly he +stands there! What a type of manly beauty and strength! No one cares to +look at other men when he is near.” + +“He maybe handsome,” answered Brunhild sadly; “and, for aught I know, he +may be noble. But what is all that by the side of kingly power? Were he +but the peer of your brother Gunther, then you might well boast.” + +“He is the peer of Gunther,” returned Kriemhild. “And not only his peer, +but more; for he stands as high above him in kingly power and worth as +in bodily stature.” + +“How can that be?” asked Brunhild, growing angry. “For, when Gunther so +gallantly won me at Isenstein, he told me that Siegfried was his vassal; +and often since that time I have heard the same. And even your husband +told me that Gunther was his liege lord.” + +Queen Kriemhild laughed at these words, and answered, “I tell you again +that Siegfried is a king far nobler and richer and higher than any other +king on earth. Think you that my brothers would have given me to a mere +vassal to be his wife?” + +Then Brunhild, full of wrath, replied, “Your husband is Gunther’s vassal +and my own, and he shall do homage to us as the humblest and meanest of +our underlings. He shall not go from this place until he has paid all +the tribute that has so long been due from him. Then we shall see who is +the vassal, and who is the lord.” + +“Nay,” answered Kriemhild. “It shall not be. No tribute was ever due; +and, if homage is to be paid, it is rather Gunther who must pay it.” + +“It shall be settled once for all!” cried Brunhild, now boiling over +with rage. “I will know the truth. If Siegfried is not our vassal, then +I have been duped; and I will have revenge.” + +“It is well,” was the mild answer. “Let it be settled, once for all; +and then, mayhap, we shall know who it was who really won the games at +Isenstein, and you for Gunther’s wife.” + +And the two queens parted in wrath.[EN#31] + +Kriemhild’s anger was as fleeting as an April cloud, which does but +threaten, and then passes away in tears and sunshine. But Brunhild’s was +like the dread winter storm that sweeps down from Niflheim, and brings +ruin and death in its wake. She felt that she had been cruelly wronged +in some way, and that her life had been wrecked, and she rested not +until she had learned the truth. + +It was Hagen who at last told her the story of the cruel deceit that +had made her Gunther’s wife; and then her wrath and her shame knew no +bounds. + +“Woe betide the day!” she cried,--“woe betide the day that brought me to +Rhineland, and made me the wife of a weakling and coward, and the jest +of him who might have done nobler things!” + +Hagen smiled. He had long waited for this day. + +“It was Siegfried, and Siegfried alone, who plotted to deceive you,” + he said. “Had it not been for him, you might still have been the happy +maiden-queen of Isenland. And now he laughs at you, and urges his queen, +Kriemhild, to scorn you as she would an underling.” + +“I know it, I know it,” returned the queen in distress. “And yet how +grandly noble is the man! How he rushed through the flames to awaken me, +when no one else could save! How brave, how handsome,--and yet he has +been my bane. I can have no peace while he lives.” + +Hagen smiled again, and a strange light gleamed from his dark eye. Then +he said, “Truly handsome and brave is he, but a viler traitor was never +born. He even now plots to seize this kingdom, and to add it to his +domain. Why else should he bring so great a retinue of Nibelungen +warriors to Burgundy? I will see King Gunther at once, and we will put +an end to his wicked projects.” + +“Do even so, good Hagen,” said Brunhild. “Take him from my path, and +bring low the haughty pride of his wife, and I shall be content.” + +“That I will do!” cried Hagen. “That I will do! Gunther is and shall be +the king without a peer; and no one shall dare dispute the worth and the +queenly beauty of his wife.” + +Then the wily chief sought Gunther, and with cunning words poisoned his +weak mind. The feeble old king was easily made to believe that Siegfried +was plotting against his life, and seeking to wrest the kingdom from +him. And he forgot the many kind favors he had received at the hero’s +hand. He no longer remembered how Siegfried had slain the terror of the +Glittering Heath, and freed the Burgundians from many a fear; and how +he had routed the warlike hosts of the North-land, and made prisoners +of their kings; and how he had brought his voyage to Isenland to a happy +and successful ending. He forgot, also, that Siegfried was his sister’s +husband. He had ears and mind only for Hagen’s wily words. + +“While this man lives,” said the dark-browed chief, “none of us are +safe. See how the people follow him! Hear how they shout at his coming! +They look upon him as a god, and upon Gunther as a nobody. If we are +wise, we shall rid ourselves of so dangerous a man.” + +“It is but a week until he takes his leave of us, and goes back to his +own home in Nibelungen Land. Watch him carefully until that time, but do +him no harm. When he is once gone, he shall never come back again,” said +the king. But he spoke thus, not because of any kind feelings towards +Siegfried, but rather because he feared the Nibelungen hero. + +“He has no thought of going at that time,” answered Hagen. “He speaks of +it, only to hide his wicked and traitorous plots. Instead of going home, +his plans will then be ready for action, and it will be too late for +us to save ourselves. Still, if you will not believe me, take your own +course. You have been warned.” + +The cunning chief arose to leave the room; but Gunther, now thoroughly +frightened, stopped him. + +“Hagen,” he said, “you have always been my friend, and the words which +you say are wise. Save us and our kingdom now, in whatsoever way you may +deem best. I know not what to do.” + +Then the weak king and the warrior-chief talked long together in low, +hoarse whispers. And, when they parted, shame and guilt were stamped in +plain lines on Gunther’s face, from which they were nevermore erased; +and he dared not lift his gaze from the floor, fearing that his eyes +would betray him, if seen by any more pure-hearted than he. But a smile +of triumph played under the lurking gleams of Hagen’s eye; and he walked +erect and bold, as if he had done a praiseworthy deed. + +That night a storm came sweeping down from the North, and the cold rain +fell in torrents; and great hailstones pattered on the roofs and towers +of the castle, and cruelly pelted the cattle in the fields, and the +birds in the friendly shelter of the trees. And old Thor fought +bravely with the Storm-giants; and all night long the rattle of his +chariot-wheels, and the heavy strokes of his dread hammer, were heard +resounding through the heavens. In his lonely chamber Hagen sat and +rubbed his hands together, and grimly smiled. + +“The time so long waited for has come at last,” he said. + +But the guilty king, unable to sleep, walked restlessly to and fro, and +trembled with fear at every sound of the storm-gust without. + +When day dawned at last, a sad scene met the eyes of all beholders. The +earth was covered with the broken branches of leafy trees; the flowers +and shrubs were beaten pitilessly to the ground; and here and there lay +the dead bodies of little feathered songsters, who, the day before, had +made the woods glad with their music. + +The sun had scarcely risen above this sorrowful scene, gilding the gray +towers and turrets and the drooping trees with the promise of +better things, than a strange confusion was noticed outside of the +castle-gates. Thirty and two horsemen wearing the livery of the +North-lands stood there, and asked to be led to the Burgundian kings. + +“Who are you? and what is your errand?” asked the gate-keeper. + +“We come as heralds and messengers from Leudiger and Leudigast, the +mighty kings of the North,” they answered. “But our errand we can tell +to no man save to Gunther your king, or to his brothers Gernot and +Giselher.” + +Then they were led by the king’s command into the council-hall, where +sat Gunther, Gernot, and the noble Giselher; and behind them stood their +uncle and chief, brave old Hagen. + +“What message bring you from our old friends Leudiger and Leudigast?” + asked Gunther of the strangers. + +“Call them not your friends,” answered the chief of the company. “We +bring you this message from our liege lords, whom you may well count as +enemies. Many years ago they were sorely beaten in battle, and suffered +much hurt at your hands. And they vowed then to avenge the injury, and +to wipe out the disgrace you had caused them, just so soon as they were +strong enough to do so. Now they are ready, with fifty thousand men, to +march into your country. And they swear to lay waste your lands, and to +burn your towns and villages and all your castles, unless you at once +acknowledge yourselves their vassals, and agree to pay them tribute. +This is the kings’ message. And we were further ordered not to wait for +an answer, but to carry back to them without delay your reply, whether +you will agree to their terms or no.” + +King Gunther, as was his wont, turned to Hagen for advice. + +“Send for Siegfried,” whispered the chief. + +It was done. And soon the hero came into the hall. His kingly grace and +warlike bearing were such that Gunther dared not raise his guilty eyes +from the ground; and Hagen’s furtive glances were, for the moment, +freighted with fear and shame. The message of the heralds was repeated +to Siegfried; and Gunther said,-- + +“Most noble friend, you hear what word these traitorous kings dare send +us. Now, we remember, that, long years ago, you led us against them, +and gave us a glorious victory. We remember, too, how, by your counsel, +their lives were spared, and they were sent home with costly gifts. It +is thus they repay our kindness. What answer shall we send them?” + +“Say that we will fight,” answered Siegfried at once. “I will lead my +brave Nibelungens against them, and they shall learn how serious a thing +it is to break an oath, or to return treason for kindness.” + +The news soon spread through all the town and through the country-side, +that Leudiger and Leudigast, with fifty thousand men, were marching into +Burgundy, and destroying every thing in their way. And great flight and +confusion prevailed. Men and women hurried hither and thither in dismay. +Soldiers busily sharpened their weapons, and burnished their armor, +ready for the fray. Little children were seen cowering at every sound, +and anxious faces were found everywhere. + +When Queen Kriemhild saw the busy tumult, and heard the shouts and cries +in the street and the courtyard, and learned the cause of it all, she +was greatly troubled, and went at once to seek Siegfried. When she found +him, she drew him aside, and besought him not to take part in the war +which threatened, but to hasten with all speed back to their own loved +Nibelungen Land. + +“And why would my noble queen wish me thus to play the part of a coward, +and to leave my friends when they most need my help?” asked Siegfried in +surprise. + +“I would not have you play the coward,” answered Kriemhild, and hot +tears stood in her eyes. “But some unseen danger overhangs. There are +other traitors than Leudiger and Leudigast, and men to be more feared +than they. Last night I dreamed a fearful dream, and it follows me +still. I dreamed that you hunted in the forest, and that two wild boars +attacked you. The grass and the flowers were stained with your gore, +and the cruel tusks of the beasts tore you in pieces, and no one came +to your help. And I cried out in my distress, and awoke; and the +storm-clouds roared and threatened, and the hail pattered on the roof, +and the wind and rain beat against the windowpanes. Then I slept again, +and another dream, as fearful as the first, came to me. I dreamed that +you rode in the forest, and that music sprang up in your footsteps, and +all things living called you blessed, but that suddenly two mountains +rose up from the ground, and their high granite crags toppled over, and +fell upon you, and buried you from my sight forever. Then I awoke again, +and my heart has ever since been heavy with fearful forebodings. I know +that some dread evil threatens us; yet, what it is, I cannot tell. But +go not out against the North-kings. Our Nibelungen-folk wait too long +for your coming.” + +Siegfried gayly laughed at his queen’s fears, and said, “The woof of +every man’s fate has been woven by the Norns, and neither he nor his +foes can change it. When his hour comes, then he must go to meet his +destiny.” + +Then he led her gently back to her room in the castle, and bade her a +loving farewell, saying, “When the foes of our Burgundian hosts are put +to flight, and there is no longer need for us here, then will we hasten +back to Nibelungen Land. Have patience and hope for a few days only, and +all will yet be well. Forget your foolish dreams, and think only of my +glad return.” + +It was arranged, that, in the march against the North-kings, Siegfried +with his Nibelungens should take the lead; while Hagen, with a picked +company of fighting-men, should bring up the rear. Every one was eager +to join in the undertaking; and no one, save King Gunther and his +cunning counsellor, and Ortwin and Dankwart, knew that the pretended +heralds from the North-kings were not heralds at all, but merely the +false tools of wicked Hagen. For the whole was but a well-planned plot, +as we shall see, to entrap unwary, trusting Siegfried. + +Soon all things were in readiness for the march; but, as the day was now +well spent, it was agreed, that, at early dawn of the morrow, the little +army should set out. And every one went home to put his affairs in +order, and to rest for the night. + +Late that evening old Hagen went to bid Siegfried’s queen good-by. +Kriemhild had tried hard to drown her gloomy fears, and to forget her +sad, foreboding dreams; but it was all in vain, for deep anxiety still +rested heavily upon her mind. Yet she welcomed her dark-browed uncle +with the kindest words. + +“How glad I am,” she said, “that my husband is here to help my kinsfolk +in this their time of need! I know right well, that, with him to lead, +you shall win. But, dear uncle, remember, when you are in the battle, +that we have always loved you, and that Siegfried has done many +kindnesses to the Burgundians; and, if any danger threaten him, turn +it aside, I pray you, for Kriemhild’s sake. I know that I merit Queen +Brunhild’s anger, because of the sharp words I lately spoke to her; but +let not my husband suffer blame for that which is my fault alone.” + +“Kriemhild,” answered Hagen, “no one shall suffer blame,--neither +Siegfried nor yourself. We are all forgetful, and sometimes speak hasty +words; but that which we say in angry thoughtlessness should not be +cherished up against us. There is no one who thinks more highly of +Siegfried than I, and there is nothing I would not do to serve him.” + +“I should not fear for him,” said she, “if he were not so bold and +reckless. When he is in the battle, he never thinks of his own safety. +And I tremble lest at some time he may dare too much, and meet his +death. If you knew every thing, as I do, you would fear for him too.” + +“What is it?” asked Hagen, trying to hide his eagerness,--“what is it +that gives you cause for fear? Tell me all about it, and then I will +know the better how to shield him from danger. I will lay down my life +for his sake.” + +Then Kriemhild, trusting in her uncle’s word, and forgetful of every +caution, told him the secret of the dragon’s blood, and of Siegfried’s +strange bath, and of the mischief-working lime-leaf. + +“And now,” she added, “since I know that there is one spot which a +deadly weapon might reach, I am in constant fear that the spear of +an enemy may, perchance, strike him there. Is there not some way of +shielding that spot?” + +“There is,” answered Hagen. “Make some mark, or put some sign, upon his +coat, that I may know where that spot is. And, when the battle rages, I +will ride close behind him, and ward off every threatened stroke.” + +And Kriemhild joyfully promised that she would at once embroider a +silken lime-leaf on the hero’s coat, just over the fatal spot. And +Hagen, well pleased, bade her farewell, and went away. + +Without delay the chief sought the weak-minded Gunther, and to him he +related all that the trustful Kriemhild had told him. And, until the +midnight hour, the two plotters sat in the king’s bed-chamber, and laid +their cunning plans. Both thought it best, now they had learned the +fatal secret, to give up the sham march against the North-kings, and to +seek by other and easier means to lure Siegfried to his death. + +“The chiefs will be much displeased,” said Gunther. “For all will come, +ready to march at the rising of the sun. What shall we do to please +them, and make them more ready to change their plans?” + +Hagen thought a moment, and then the grim smile that was wont to break +the dark lines of his face when he was pleased spread over his features. + +“We will have a grand hunt in the Odenwald to-morrow,” he hoarsely +whispered. + + + + + +Adventure XIX. How They Hunted in the Odenwald. + + + +Next morning, at earliest daybreak, while yet the stars were bright, and +the trees hung heavy with dew-drops, and the clouds were light and high, +King Siegfried stood with his warriors before the castle-gate. They +waited but for the sunrise, and a word from Gunther the king, to ride +forth over dale and woodland, and through forest and brake and field, to +meet, as they believed, the hosts of the North-land kings. And Siegfried +moved among them, calm-faced and bright as a war-god, upon the radiant +Greyfell. And men said, long years afterward, that never had the shining +hero seemed so glorious to their sight. Within the spacious courtyard a +thousand Burgundian braves stood waiting, too, for the signal, and the +king’s word of command. And at their head stood Hagen, dark as a cloud +in summer, guilefully hiding his vile plots, and giving out orders for +the marching. There, too, were honest Gernot, fearless and upright, and +Giselher, true as gold; and neither of them dreamed of evil, or of the +dark deed that day was doomed to see. Close by the gate was Ortwin, +bearing aloft the blood-red dragon-banner, which the Burgundians were +wont to carry in honor of Siegfried’s famous fight with Fafnir. And +there was Dankwart, also, ever ready to boast when no danger threatened, +and ever willing to do chief Hagen’s bidding. And next came Volker the +Fiddler good, with the famed sword Fiddle-bow by him, on which, it +is said, he could make the sweetest music while fighting his foes in +battle. + +At length the sun began to peep over the eastern hills, and his beams +fell upon the castle-walls, and shot away through the trees, and over +the meadows, and made the dewdrops glisten like myriads of diamonds +among the dripping leaves and blossoms. And a glad shout went up from +the throats of the waiting heroes; for they thought that the looked-for +moment had come, and the march would soon begin. And the shout was +echoed from walls to turrets, and from turrets to trees, and from trees +to hills, and from the hills to the vaulted sky above. And nothing was +wanting now but King Gunther’s word of command. + +Suddenly, far down the street, the sound of a bugle was heard, and then +of the swift clattering of horses’ hoofs coming up the hill towards the +castle. + +“Who are they who come thus to join us at the last moment?” asked Hagen +of the watchman above the gate. + +“They are strangers,” answered the watchman; “and they carry a +peace-flag.” + +In a few moments the strange horsemen dashed up, and halted some +distance from the castle-gate, where Siegfried and his heroes stood. + +“Who are you? and what is your errand?” cried Hagen, in the king’s name. + +They answered that they were heralds from the North-land kings, sent +quickly to correct the message of the day before; for their liege +lords, Leudiger and Leudigast, they said, had given up warring against +Burgundy, and had gone back to their homes. And they had sent humbly to +ask the Rhineland kings to forget the rash threats which they had made, +and to allow them to swear fealty to Gunther, and henceforth to be his +humble vassals, if only they might be forgiven. + +“Right cheerfully do we forgive them!” cried Gunther, not waiting to +consult with his wise men. “And our forgiveness shall be so full, that +we shall ask neither fealty nor tribute from them.” + +Then he turned to Siegfried, and said, “You hear, friend Siegfried, how +this troublesome matter has been happily ended. Accept our thanks, we +pray you, for your proffered help; for, without it, it might have gone +but roughly with us in a second war with the Northland kings. But now +you are free to do what pleases you. If, as you said yesterday, you +would fain return to Nibelungen Land, you may send your warriors on the +way to-day, for they are already equipped for the journey. But abide you +with us another day, and to-morrow we will bid you God-speed, and you +may easily overtake your Nibelungen friends ere they have reached our +own boundaries.” + +Siegfried was not well pleased to give up an undertaking scarce begun, +and still less could he understand why the king should be so ready to +forgive the affront which the North-land kings had offered him. And +he was not slow in reading the look of shame and guilt that lurked in +Gunther’s face, or the smile of jealous hate that Hagen could no longer +hide. Yet no word of displeasure spoke he, nor seemed he to understand +that any mischief was brewing; for he feared neither force nor guile. +So he bade his Nibelungens to begin their homeward march, saying that he +and Kriemhild, and the ladies of her train, would follow swiftly on the +morrow. + +“Since it is your last day with us,” said Gunther, grown cunning through +Hagen’s teaching, “what say you, dear Siegfried, to a hunt in Odin’s +Wood?” + +“Right glad will I be to join you in such sport,” answered Siegfried. +“I will change my war-coat for a hunting-suit, and be ready within an +hour.” + +Then Siegfried went to his apartments, and doffed his steel-clad armor, +and searched in vain through his wardrobe for his favorite hunting-suit. +But it was nowhere to be found; and he was fain to put on the rich +embroidered coat which he sometimes wore in battle, instead of a +coat-of-mail. And he did not see the white lime-leaf that Kriemhild with +anxious care had worked in silk upon it. Then he sought the queen, and +told her of the unlooked-for change of plans, and how, on the morrow, +they would ride towards Nibelungen Land; but to-day he said he had +promised Gunther to hunt with him in the Odenwald. + +But Kriemhild, to his great surprise, begged him not to leave her, even +to hunt in the Odenwald. For she had begun to fear that she had made a +great mistake in telling Hagen the story of the lime-leaf; and yet she +could not explain to Siegfried the true cause of her uneasiness. + +“Oh, do not join in the hunt!” she cried. “Something tells me that +danger lurks hidden in the wood. Stay in the castle with me, and help me +put things in readiness for our journey homewards to-morrow. Last night +I had another dream. I thought that Odin’s birds, Hugin and Munin, sat +on a tree before me. And Hugin flapped his wings, and said, ‘What more +vile than a false friend? What more to be feared than a secret foe? +Harder than stone is his unfeeling heart; sharper than the adder’s +poison-fangs are his words; a snake in the grass is he!’ Then Munin +flapped his wings too, but said nothing. And I awoke, and thought at +once of the sunbright Balder, slain through Loki’s vile deceit. And, as +I thought upon his sad death, a withered leaf came fluttering through +the casement, and fell upon my couch. Sad signs and tokens are these, my +husband; and much grief, I fear, they foretell.” + +But Siegfried was deaf to her words of warning, and he laughed at the +foolish dream. Then he bade her farewell till even-tide, and hastened to +join the party of huntsmen who waited for him impatiently at the gate. + +When the party reached the Odenwald, they separated; each man taking his +own course, and following his own game. Siegfried, with but one trusty +huntsman and his own fleet-footed hound, sought at once the wildest and +thickest part of the wood. And great was the slaughter he made among the +fierce beasts of the forest; for nothing that was worthy of notice could +hide from his sight, or escape him. From his lair in a thorny thicket, a +huge wild boar sprang up; and with glaring red eyes, and mouth foaming, +and tusks gnashing with rage, he charged fiercely upon the hero. But, +with one skilful stroke from his great spear, Siegfried laid the beast +dead on the heather. Next he met a tawny lion, couched ready to spring +upon him; but, drawing quickly his heavy bow, he sent a quivering arrow +through the animal’s heart. Then, one after another, he slew a buffalo, +four bisons, a mighty elk with branching horns, and many deers and stags +and savage beasts. + +At one time the hound drove from its hiding-place another wild boar, +much greater than the first, and far more fierce. Quickly Siegfried +dismounted from his horse, and met the grizzly creature as it rushed +with raving fury towards him. The sword of the hero cleft the beast in +twain, and its bloody parts lay lifeless on the ground. Then Siegfried’s +huntsman, in gay mood, said, “My lord, would it not be better to rest a +while! If you keep on slaughtering at this rate, there will soon be no +game left in Odenwald.” + +Siegfried laughed heartily at the merry words, and at once called in +his hound, saying, “You are right! We will hunt no more until our good +friends have joined us.” + +Soon afterward the call of a bugle was heard; and Gunther and Hagen and +Dankwart and Ortwin, with their huntsmen and hounds, came riding up. + +“What luck have you had, my friends?” asked Siegfried. + +Then Hagen told what game they had taken,--a deer, a young bear, and two +small wild boars. But, when they learned what Siegfried had done, the +old chief’s face grew dark, and he knit his eyebrows, and bit his lips +in jealous hate: for four knights, ten huntsmen, and four and twenty +hounds, had beaten every bush, and followed every trail; and yet the +Nibelungen king, with but one follower and one hound, had slain ten +times as much game as they. + +While they stood talking over the successes of the day, the sound of a +horn was heard, calling the sportsmen together for the mid-day meal; and +knights and huntsmen turned their steeds, and rode slowly towards the +trysting-place. Suddenly a huge bear, roused by the noise of baying +hounds and tramping feet, crossed their pathway. + +“Ah!” cried Siegfried, “there goes our friend Bruin, just in time to +give us a bit of fun, and some needed sport at dinner. He shall go with +us, and be our guest!” + +With these words he loosed his hound, and dashed swiftly forwards after +the beast. Through thick underbrush and tangled briers, and over fallen +trees, the frightened creature ran, until at last it reached a steep +hillside. There, in a rocky cleft, it stood at bay, and fought fiercely +for its life. When Siegfried came up, and saw that his hound dared not +take hold of the furious beast, he sprang from his horse, and seized +the bear in his own strong arms, and bound him safely with a stout cord. +Then he fastened an end of the cord to his saddle-bows, and remounted +his steed. And thus he rode through the forest to the place where the +dinner waited, dragging the unwilling bear behind him, while the dog +bounded gayly along by his side. + +No nobler sight had ever been seen in that forest than that which +Gunther’s people saw that day. The Nibelungen king was dressed as well +became so great a hero. His suit was of the speckled lynx’s hide and +rich black silk, upon which were embroidered many strange devices, +with threads of gold. (But, alas! between the shoulders was the silken +lime-leaf that Queen Kriemhild’s busy fingers had wrought.) His cap was +of the blackest fur, brought from the frozen Siberian land. Over his +shoulder was thrown his well-filled quiver, made of lion’s skin; and in +his hands he carried his bow of mulberry,--a very beam in size, and so +strong that no man save himself could bend it. A golden hunting-horn was +at his side, and his sunbright shield lay on his saddle-bow; while his +mighty sword, the fire-edged Balmung, in its sheath glittering with +gemstones, hung from his jewelled belt. + +The men who stood around chief Hagen, and who saw the hero coming thus +god-like through the greenwood, admired and trembled; and Dankwart +whispered a word of caution to his dark-browed brother. But the old +chief’s face grew gloomier than before; and he scowled fiercely upon the +faint-hearted Dankwart, as he hoarsely whispered in return,-- + +“What though he be Odin himself, still will I dare! It is not I: it is +the Norns, who shape every man’s fate.” + +When Siegfried reached the camp with his prize, the huntsmen shouted +with delight; and the hounds howled loudly, and shook their chains, and +tried hard to get at the shaggy beast. The king leaped to the ground, +and unloosed the cords which bound him; and at the same time the hounds +were unleashed, and set upon the angry, frightened creature. Hemmed in +on every side, the bear rushed blindly forwards, and leaped over the +fires, where the cooks were busy with the dinner. Pots and kettles were +knocked about in great confusion, and the scared cooks thrown sprawling +upon the ground; and many a dainty dish and savory mess was spoiled. The +bear fled fast down the forest road, followed by the baying hounds and +the fleet-footed warriors. But none dared shoot an arrow at him for fear +of killing the dogs; and it seemed as if he would surely escape, so +fast he ran away. Then Siegfried bounded forwards, swifter than a +deer, overtook the bear, and with one stroke of the sword gave him his +death-blow. And all who saw this feat of strength and quickness wondered +greatly, and felt that such a hero must indeed be without a peer. + +When Gunther’s cooks had made the dinner ready, the company sat down on +the grass, and all partook of a merry meal; for the bracing air and the +morning’s sport had made sharp appetites. But, when they had eaten, they +were surprised to find that there was nothing to drink. Indeed, there +was neither wine nor water in the camp. + +“How glad I am,” said Siegfried gayly, “that I am not a huntsman by +trade, if it is a huntsman’s way to go thus dry! Oh for a glass of wine, +or even a cup of cold spring-water, to quench my thirst!” + +“We will make up for this oversight when we go back home,” said Gunther; +and his heart was black with falsehood. “The blame in this matter should +rest on Hagen, for it was he who was to look after the drinkables.” + +“My lord,” said Hagen, “I fell into a mistake by thinking that we would +dine, not here, but at the Spessart Springs; and thither I sent the +wine.” + +“And is there no water near?” asked Siegfried. + +“Yes,” answered Hagen. “There is a cool, shady spring not far from +here, where the water gushes in a clear, cold stream from beneath a +linden-tree. Do but forgive me for the lack of wine, and I will lead you +to it. It is a rare spring, and the water is almost as good as wine.” + +“Better than wine for me!” cried Siegfried. And he asked to be shown to +the spring at once. + +Hagen arose, and pointed to a tree not far away, beneath whose spreading +branches Siegfried could see the water sparkling in the sunlight. + +“Men have told me,” said the chief, “that the Nibelungen king is very +fleet of foot, and that no one has ever outstripped him in the race. +Time was, when King Gunther and myself were spoken of as very swift +runners; and, though we are now growing old, I fancy that many young men +would, even now, fail to keep pace with us. Suppose we try a race to the +spring, and see which of the three can win.” + +“Agreed!” cried Siegfried. “We will run; and, if I am beaten, I will +kneel down in the grass to him who wins. I will give the odds in your +favor too; for I will carry with me my spear, and my shield, and my +helmet and sword, and all the trappings of the chase, while you may doff +from your shoulders whatever might hinder your speed.” + +So Gunther and Hagen laid aside all their arms, and put off their +heavy clothing; but Siegfried took up his bow and quiver, and his heavy +shield, and his beamlike spear. Then the word was given, and all three +ran with wondrous speed. Gunther and his chief flew over the grass as +light-footed as two wild panthers: but Siegfried sped swift as an arrow +shot from the hand of a skilful bowman. He reached the spring when yet +the others were not half way to it. He laid his spear and sword, and +bow and quiver of arrows, upon the ground, and leaned his heavy shield +against the linden-tree; and then he waited courteously for King Gunther +to come up, for his knightly honor would not allow him to drink until +his host had quenched his thirst. + +Gunther, when he reached the spring, stooped over, and drank heartily +of the cool, refreshing water; and, after he had risen, Siegfried knelt +upon the grass at the edge of the pool to quaff from the same gushing +fountain. Stealthily then, and with quickness, did chief Hagen hide his +huge bow and his quiver, and his good sword Balmung, and, seizing the +hero’s spear, he lifted it in air, and with too steady aim struck the +silken lime-leaf that the loving Kriemhild had embroidered. Never in all +the wide mid-world was known a deed more cowardly, never a baser act. +The hero was pierced with his own weapon by one he had deemed his +friend. His blood gushed forth in torrents, and dyed the green grass +red, and discolored the sparkling water, and even filled the face and +eyes of vile Hagen. + +Yet, in the hour of death, King Siegfried showed how noble was his soul, +how great his strength of will. Up he rose from his bended knees, and +fiercely glanced around. Then, had not the evil-eyed chief, who never +before had shunned a foe, fled with fleet-footed fear, quick vengeance +would have overtaken him. In vain did the dying king look for his bow +and his trusty sword: too safely had they been hidden. Then, though +death was fast dimming his eyes, he seized his heavy shield, and sprang +after the flying Hagen. Swift as the wind he followed him, quickly he +overtook him. With his last strength he felled the vile wretch to the +ground, and beat him with the shield, until the heavy plates of brass +and steel were broken, and the jewels which adorned it were scattered +among the grass. The sound of the heavy blows was heard far through the +forest; and, had the hero’s strength held out, Hagen would have had his +reward.[EN#32] But Siegfried, weak and pale from the loss of blood, now +staggered, and fell among the trampled flowers of the wood. + +Then with his last breath he thus upbraided his false friends:-- + +“Cowards and traitors, ye! A curse shall fall upon you. My every care +has been to serve and please you, and thus I am requited. Bitterly shall +you rue this deed. The brand of traitor is set upon your foreheads, and +it shall be a mark of loathing and shame to you forever.” + +Then the weak old Gunther began to wring his hands, and to bewail the +death of Siegfried. But the hero bade him hush, and asked him of what +use it was to regret an act which could have been done only by his leave +and sanction. + +“Better to have thought of tears and groans before,” said he. “I have +always known that you were a man of weak mind, but never did I dream +that you could lend yourself to so base a deed. And now, if there is +left aught of manliness in your bosom, I charge you to have a care for +Kriemhild your sister. Long shall my loved Nibelungen-folk await my +coming home.” + +The glorious hero struggled in the last agony. The grass and flowers +were covered with his blood; the trees shivered, as if in sympathy +with him, and dropped their leaves upon the ground; the birds stopped +singing, and sorrowfully flew away; and a solemn silence fell upon the +earth, as if the very heart of Nature had been crushed. + +And the men who stood around--all save the four guilty ones--bowed their +heads upon their hands, and gave way to one wild burst of grief. Then +tenderly they took up Siegfried, and laid him upon a shield, with his +mighty weapons by him. And, when the sorrowing Night had spread her +black mantle over the mid-world, they carried him silently out of the +forest, and across the river, and brought him, by Gunther’s orders, +to the old castle, which now nevermore would resound with mirth and +gladness. And they laid him at Kriemhild’s door, and stole sadly away to +their own places, and each one thought bitterly of the morrow.[EN#33] + + + + + +Adventure XX. How the Hoard Was Brought to Burgundy. + + + +And what was done on the morrow? + +Too sad is the tale of Kriemhild’s woe and her grief for the mighty +dead. Let us pass it by in tearful, pitying silence, nor wish to awaken +the echoes of that morning of hopeless anguish which dawned on the cold +and cheerless dwelling of the kings. For peace had fled from Burgundy, +nevermore to return. + +Siegfried was dead. Faded, now, was the glory of the Nibelungen Land, +and gone was the mid-world’s hope. + +It is told in ancient story, how men built a funeral-pile far out on the +grassy meadows, where the quiet river flows; and how, in busy silence, +they laid the sun-dried beams of ash and elm together, and made ready +the hero’s couch; and how the pile was dight with many a sun-bright +shield, with war-coats and glittering helms, and silks and rich dyed +cloths from the South-land, and furs, and fine-wrought ivory, and +gem-stones priceless and rare; and how, over all, they scattered sweet +spices from Araby, and the pleasantest of all perfumes. Then they +brought the golden Siegfried, and laid him on his couch; and beside him +were his battered shield, and Balmung with its fire-edge bare. And, +as the sun rose high in heaven, the noblest earl-folk who had loved +Siegfried best touched fire to the funeral-pile. And a pleasant breeze +from the Southland fanned the fire to a flame, and the white blaze +leaped on high, and all the folk cried out in mighty agony to the gods. + +Such was the story that men told to each other when the world was still +young, and the heroes were unforgotten.[EN#34] And some said, too, that +Brunhild, the fair and hapless queen, died then of a broken heart and of +a hopeless, yearning sorrow, and that she was burned with Siegfried on +that high-built funeral-pile. + +“They are gone,--the lovely, the mighty, the hope of the ancient earth: +It shall labor and bear the burden as before the day of their birth:... +It shall yearn, and be oft-times holpen, and forget their deeds no more, +Till the new sun beams on Balder and the happy sealess shore.”[EN#35] + +Another and much later story is sometimes told of these last sad +days,--how the hero’s body was laid in a coffin, and buried in the quiet +earth, amid the sorrowful lamentations of all the Rhineland folk; and +how, at Kriemhild’s earnest wish, it was afterwards removed to the place +where now stands the little minster of Lorsch. As to which of these +stories is the true one, it is not for me to say. Enough it is to know +that Siegfried was dead, and that the spring-time had fled, and the +summer-season with all its golden glories had faded away from Rhineland, +and that the powers of darkness and of cold and of evil had prevailed. + +To this day the city where was the dwelling of the Burgundian kings is +called Worms, in remembrance of the dragon, or worm, which Siegfried +slew; and a figure of that monster was for many years painted upon +the city arms, and borne on the banner of the Burgundians. And, until +recently, travellers were shown the Reisen-haus,--a stronghold, which, +men say, Siegfried built; and in it were many strange and mighty +weapons, which, they claim, were wielded by the hero. The lance which +was shown there was a great beam nearly eighty feet in length; and the +war-coat, wrought with steel and gold, and bespangled with gem-stones, +was a wonder to behold. And now, in the Church of St. Cecilia, you may +see what purports to be the hero’s grave. And a pleasant meadow, not far +from the town, is still called Kriemhild’s Rose-garden; while farther +away is the place called Drachenfels, or the dragon’s field, where, they +say, Siegfried met Fafnir. But whether it is the same as the Glittering +Heath of the ancient legend, I know not. + +And what became of the Hoard of Andvari? + +The story is briefly told.[EN#36] When the days of mourning were past, +and the people had gone back sadly to their homes, Queen Kriemhild began +to speak of returning to the land of the Nibelungens. But Ute, her aged +mother, could not bear to part with her, and besought her to stay, for +a while at least, in the now desolate Burgundian castle. And Gernot and +Giselher, her true and loving brothers, added their words of entreaty +also. And so, though heart-sick, and with many misgivings, she agreed to +abide for a season in this cheerless and comfortless place. Many days, +even months, dragged by, and still she remained; for she found it still +harder and harder to tear herself away from her mother, and all that her +heart held dear. Yet never, for three years and more, did she even speak +to Gunther, or by any sign show that she remembered him. And, as for +Hagen, no words could utter the deep and settled hate she felt towards +him. But the dark-browed chief cared nought either for love or hate; and +he walked erect, as in the days of yore, and he smiled and frowned alike +for both evil and good. And he said, “It was not I: it was the Norns, +who wove the woof of his life and mine.” + +The years went by on leaden wings, and brought no sunlight to Gunther’s +dwelling; for his days were full of sadness, and his nights of fearful +dreams. At length he said to chief Hagen, “If there is aught in the +mid-world that can drive away this gloom, I pray thee to help me find +it; for madness steals upon me.” + +“There is one thing,” answered Hagen, “which might brighten our land +again, and lift up your drooping spirits, and bring gladness to your +halls.” + +“What is that?” asked the king. + +“It is the Nibelungen Hoard,” said the chief. “It is the wondrous +treasure of Andvari, which Siegfried gave as a gift to Kriemhild. If it +were ours, we might become the masters of the world.” + +“But how can we obtain it?” + +“It is Kriemhild’s,” was the answer. “But she does not care for it; +neither could she use it if she wished. If you could only gain her favor +and forgiveness, I feel sure that she would let you do with it as you +wish.” + +Then Gunther besought his younger brothers to intercede for him with +Kriemhild, that she would so far forgive him as to look upon his face, +and speak with him once more. And this the queen at last consented to +do. And, when Gunther came into her presence, she was so touched at +sight of his haggard face and whitened locks, and his earnest words +of sorrow, that she forgave him the great wrong that he had done, and +welcomed him again as her brother. And he swore that never would he +again wrong her or hers, nor do aught to grieve her. But it was not +until a long time after this, that he proposed to her that they should +bring the Hoard of Andvari away from the Nibelungen Land. + +“For, if it were here, dear sister,” he said, “it might be of great use +to you.” + +“Do whatever seems best to you,” answered Kriemhild. “Only remember the +oath that you have given me.” + +Then Gunther, because he was anxious to see the wondrous Hoard, but more +because he was urged on by Hagen, made ready to send to the Nibelungen +Land to bring away the treasure by Kriemhild’s command. Eight thousand +men, with Gernot and Giselher as their leaders, sailed over the sea in +stanch vessels, and landed on the Nibelungen shore. And when they told +who they were, and whence they came, and showed the queen’s signet-ring, +they were welcomed heartily by the fair-haired folk of Mist Land, +who gladly acknowledged themselves the faithful liegemen of the loved +Kriemhild. + +When the Burgundians made known their errand to Alberich the dwarf, +who still held watch and ward over the mountain stronghold, he was much +amazed, and he grieved to part with his cherished treasure. + +“But,” said he to his little followers, who stood around him by +thousands, each anxious to fight the intruders,--“but there is Queen +Kriemhild’s order and her signet-ring, and we must, perforce, obey. Yet +had we again the good Tarnkappe which Siegfried took from us, the Hoard +should never leave us.” + +Then sadly he gave up the keys, and the Burgundians began to remove the +treasure. For four whole days and nights they toiled, carrying the Hoard +in huge wagons down to the sea. And on the fifth day they set sail, and +without mishap arrived in good time at Worms. And many of Alberich’s +people, the swarthy elves of the cave, came with Gernot to Rhineland; +for they could not live away from the Hoard. And it is said, that hidden +among the gold and the gem-stones was the far-famed Wishing-rod, which +would give to its owner the power of becoming the lord of the wide +mid-world. + +And the vast treasure was stored in the towers and vaults of the castle. +And Queen Kriemhild alone held the keys, and lavishly she scattered the +gold wherever it was needed most. The hungry were fed, the naked were +clothed, the sick were cared for; and everybody near and far blessed the +peerless Queen of Nibelungen Land. + +Then Hagen, always plotting evil, whispered to King Gunther, and said, +“It is dangerous to suffer your sister to hold so vast a treasure. All +the people are even now ready to leave you, and follow her. She will yet +plot to seize the kingdom, and destroy us.” + +And he urged the king to take the keys and to make the Nibelungen Hoard +his own. + +But Gunther answered, “I have already done too great a wrong. And I have +sworn to my sister never to harm her again, or to do aught that will +grieve her.” + +“Let the guilt, then, rest on me,” said Hagen. And he strode away, and +took the keys from Kriemhild by force. + +When Gernot and Giselher heard of this last vile act of the evil-eyed +chief, they waxed very angry, and vowed that they would help their +sister regain that which was her own. But the wary Hagen was not to be +foiled; for, while the brothers were away from the burgh, he caused the +great Hoard to be carried to the river, at a place called Lochheim, +and sunk, fathoms deep, beneath the water. And then, for fear of the +vengeance which might be wreaked upon him, he fled from Rhineland, and +hid himself for a while among the mountains and the barren hill-country +of the South. + +And this was the end of the fated Hoard of Andvari. + + + + + +The After Word. + + + +Such is the story of Siegfried (or Sigurd), as we gather it from various +German and Scandinavian legends. In this recital I have made no attempt +to follow any one of the numerous originals, but have selected here +and there such incidents as best suited my purpose in constructing one +connected story which would convey to your minds some notion of the +beauty and richness of our ancient myths. In doing this, I have drawn, +now from the Volsunga Saga, now from the Nibelungen Lied, now from one +of the Eddas, and now from some of the minor legends relating to the +great hero of the North. These ancient stories, although differing +widely in particulars, have a certain general relationship and agreement +which proves beyond doubt a common origin. “The primeval myth,” says +Thomas Carlyle, “whether it were at first philosophical truth, or +historical incident, floats too vaguely on the breath of men: each has +the privilege of inventing, and the far wider privilege of borrowing +and new modelling from all that preceded him. Thus, though tradition +may have but one root, it grows, like a banian, into a whole overarching +labyrinth of trees.” + +If you would follow the tradition of Siegfried to the end; if you would +learn how, after the great Hoard had been buried in the Rhine, the curse +of the dwarf Andvari still followed those who had possessed it, and how +Kriemhild wreaked a terrible vengeance upon Siegfried’s murderers,--you +must read the original story as related in the Volsung Myth or in the +Nibelungen Song. Our story ends with Siegfried. + +The episodes which I have inserted here and there--the stories of AEgir, +and of Balder, and of Idun, and of Thor--do not, as you may know, belong +properly to the legend of Siegfried; but I have thrown them in, in order +to acquaint you with some of the most beautiful mythical conceptions of +our ancestors. + +A grand old people were those early kinsmen of ours,--not at all so +savage and inhuman as our histories would sometimes make us believe. For +however mistaken their notions may have been, and however ignorant they +were, according to our ideas of things, they were strong-hearted, brave +workers; and, so far as opportunity was afforded them, they acted well +their parts. What their notions were of true manhood,--a strong mind in +a strong body, good, brave, and handsome,--may be learned from the story +of Siegfried. + + +End of The Story of Siegfried. + + + + + +The Story of Siegfried Endnotes. + + + +[EN#1] Siegfried’s Boyhood. + +“All men agree that Siegfried was a king’s son. He was born, as we here +have good reason to know, ‘at Santen in Netherland,’ of Siegmund and the +fair Siegelinde; yet by some family misfortune or discord, of which the +accounts are very various, he came into singular straits during boyhood, +having passed that happy period of life, not under the canopies of +costly state, but by the sooty stithy, in one Mimer, a blacksmith’s +shop.”--Thomas Carlyle, The Nibelungen Lied. + +The older versions of this story represent Siegfried, under the name of +Sigurd, as being brought up at the court of the Danish King Hialprek; +his own father Sigmund having been slain in battle, as related in this +chapter. He was early placed under the tuition of Regin, or Regino, an +elf, who instructed his pupil in draughts, runes, languages, and various +other accomplishments.--See Preface to Vollmer’s Nibelunge Not, also the +Song of Sigurd Fafnisbane, in the Elder Edda, and the Icelandic Volsunga +Saga. + + + +[EN#2]--Mimer. + +“The Vilkinasaga brings before us yet another smith, Mimer, by whom not +only is Velint instructed in his art, but Sigfrit (Siegfried) is brought +up,--another smith’s apprentice. He is occasionally mentioned in the +later poem of Biterolf, as Mime the Old. The old name of Munster in +Westphalia was Mimigardiford; the Westphalian Minden was originally +Mimidun; and Memleben on the Unstrut, Mimileba.. .. The elder Norse +tradition names him just as often, and in several different connections. +In one place, a Mimingus, a wood-satyr, and possessor of a sword and +jewels, is interwoven into the myth of Balder and Hoder. The Edda gives +a higher position to its Mimer. He has a fountain, in which wisdom +and understanding lie hidden: drinking of it every morning, he is the +wisest, most intelligent, of men. To Mimer’s fountain came Odin, and +desired a drink, but did not receive it till he had given one of his +eyes in pledge, and hidden it in the fountain: this accounts for Odin +being one-eyed.... Mimer is no Asa, but an exalted being with whom the +Asas hold converse, of whom they make use,--the sum total of wisdom, +possibly an older Nature-god. Later fables degraded him into a +wood-sprite, or clever smith.”--Grimm’s Deutsche Mythologie, I. p. 379. + +Concerning the Mimer of the Eddas, Professor Anderson says, “The name +Mimer means the knowing. The Giants, being older than the Asas, looked +deeper than the latter into the darkness of the past. They had witnessed +the birth of the gods and the beginning of the world, and they foresaw +their downfall. Concerning both these events, the gods had to go to +them for knowledge. It is this wisdom that Mimer keeps in his +fountain.”--Norse Mythology, p 209. + +In the older versions of the legend, the smith who cared for Siegfried +(Sigurd) is called, as we have before noticed, Regin. He is thus +described by Morris:-- + + “The lore of all men he knew, + And was deft in every cunning, save the dealings of the + sword. + So sweet was his tongue-speech fashioned, that men + trowed his every word. + His hand with the harp-strings blended was the mingler + of delight + With the latter days of sorrow: all tales he told + aright. + The Master of the Masters in the smithying craft was + he; + And he dealt with the wind and the weather and the + stilling of the sea; + Nor might any learn him leech-craft, for before that + race was made, + And that man-folk’s generation, all their life-days had + he weighed.” + + Sigurd the Volsung, Bk. II. + + +[EN#3]--The Sword. + +“By this sword Balmung also hangs a tale. Doubtless it was one of those +invaluable weapons sometimes fabricated by the old Northern smiths, +compared with which our modern Foxes and Ferraras and Toledos are mere +leaden tools. Von der Hagen seems to think it simply the sword Mimung +under another name; in which case, Siegfried’s old master, Mimer, had +been the maker of it, and called it after himself, as if it had been his +son.”--Carlyle, on the Nibelungen Lied, note. + +In Scandinavian legends, the story of Mimer and Amilias is given, +differing but slightly from the rendering in this chapter.--See Weber +and Jamieson’s Illustrations of Northern Antiquities. + +In the older versions of the myth, the sword is called Gram, or the +Wrath. It was wrought from the shards, or broken pieces, of Sigmund’s +sword, the gift of Odin. It was made by Regin for Sigurd’s (Siegfried’s) +use, and its temper was tested as here described. + + + +[EN#4]--Sigmund The Volsung. + +Sigmund the Volsung, in the Volsunga Saga, is represented as the father +of Sigurd (Siegfried); but there is such a marked contrast between him, +and the wise, home-abiding King Siegmund of the later stories, that I +have thought proper to speak of them here as two different individuals. +The word “Sigmund,” or “Siegmund,” means literally the mouth of victory. +The story of the Volsungs, as here supposed to be related by Mimer, is +derived mainly from the Volsunga Saga. + + + +[EN#5]--Siegfried’s Journey Into The Forest. + + + +“In the shop of Mimer, Siegfried was nowise in his proper element, ever +quarrelling with his fellow-apprentices, nay, as some say, breaking the +hardest anvils into shivers by his too stout hammering; so that Mimer, +otherwise a first-rate smith, could by no means do with him there. He +sends him, accordingly, to the neighboring forest to fetch charcoal, +well aware that a monstrous dragon, one Regin, the smith’s own brother, +would meet him, and devour him. But far otherwise it proved.”--Carlyle, +on The Nibelungen Lied. + + + +[EN#6]--The Norns. + +The Norns are the Fates, which watch over man through life. They are +Urd the Past, Verdande the Present, and Skuld the Future. They approach +every new-born child, and utter his doom. They are represented as +spinning the thread of fate, one end of which is hidden by Urd in the +far east, the other by Verdande in the far west. Skuld stands ready +to rend it in pieces. --See Grimm’s Teutonic Mythology, p. 405, also +Anderson’s Norse Mythology, p. 209. + +The three weird women in Shakespeare’s Tragedy of Macbeth represent a +later conception of the three Norns, now degraded to mere witches. + +Compare the Norns with the Fates of the Greek Mythology. These, also, +are three in number. They sit clothed in white, and garlanded, singing +of destiny. Clotho, the Past, spins; Lachesis, the Present, divides; and +Atropos, the Future, stands ready with her shears to cut the thread. + + + +[EN#7]--The Idea of Fatality. + +Throughout the story of the Nibelungs and Volsungs, of Sigurd and of +Siegfried,--whether we follow the older versions or the mote recent +renderings,--there is, as it were, an ever-present but indefinable +shadow of coming fate, “a low, inarticulate voice of Doom,” foretelling +the inevitable. This is but in consonance with the general ideas of +our Northern ancestors regarding the fatality which shapes and controls +every man’s life. These ideas are embodied in more than one ancient +legend. We find them in the old Anglo-Saxon poem of Beowulf. “To +us,” cries Beowulf in his last fight, “to us it shall be as our Weird +betides,--that Weird that is every man’s lord!” “Each man of us shall +abide the end of his life-work; let him that may work, work his doomed +deeds ere death comes!” Similar ideas prevailed among the Greeks. Read, +for example, that passage in the Iliad describing the parting of Hector +and Andromache, and notice the deeper meaning of Hector’s words. + + + +[EN#8]--Regin. + + + +As we have already observed (EN#1), the older versions of this myth +called Siegfried’s master and teacher Regin, while the more recent +versions call him Mimer. We have here endeavored to harmonize the two +versions by representing Mimer as being merely Regin in disguise. + + + +[EN#9]--Gripir. + +“A man of few words was Gripir; but he knew of all deeds that had been; +And times there came upon him, when the deeds to be were seen: No sword +had he held in his hand since his father fell to field, And against the +life of the slayer he bore undinted shield: Yet no fear in his heart +abided, nor desired he aught at all: But he noted the deeds that had +been, and looked for what should befall.” Morris’s Sigurd the Volsung, +Bk. II. + + +[EN#10]--The Hoard. + +This story is found in both the Elder and the Younger Eddas, and is +really the basis upon which the entire plot of the legend of Sigurd, or +Siegfried, is constructed. See also EN#18. + + + +[EN#11]--The Dragon. + +The oldest form of this story is the Song of Sigurd Fafnisbane, in the +Elder Edda. The English legend of St. George and the Dragon was probably +derived from the same original sources. A similar myth may be found +among all Aryan peoples. Sometimes it is a treasure, sometimes a +beautiful maiden, that the monster guards, or attempts to destroy. Its +first meaning was probably this: The maiden, or the treasure, is the +earth in its beauty and fertility. “The monster is the storm-cloud. +The hero who fights it is the sun, with his glorious sword, the +lightning-flash. By his victory the earth is relieved from her peril. +The fable has been varied to suit the atmospheric peculiarities of +different climes in which the Aryans found themselves.... In Northern +mythology the serpent is probably the winter cloud, which broods over +and keeps from mortals the gold of the sun’s light and heat, till in the +spring the bright orb overcomes the powers of darkness and tempest, and +scatters his gold over the face of the earth.” This myth appears in a +great variety of forms among the Scandinavian and German nations. In +the Eddas, Sigurd (Siegfried) is represented as roasting the heart of +Fafnir, and touching it to his lips. We have ventured to present a less +revolting version.--See Baring-Gould’s Curious Myths of the Middle Ages. + +“The slaying of the dragon Fafnir reminds us of Python, whom Apollo +overcame; and, as Python guarded the Delphic Oracle, the dying Fafnir +prophesies.”--Jacob Grimm. + + + +[EN#12.] + +In order to harmonize subsequent passages in the story as related in +different versions, we here represent Siegfried as turning his back +upon the Glittering Heath, and leaving the Hoard to some other hero or +discoverer. In the Younger Edda, Siegfried (Sigurd) rides onward until +he comes to Fafnir’s bed, from which “he took out all the gold, packed +it in two bags, and laid it on Grane’s (Greyfell’s) back, then got on +himself and rode away.” + + + +[EN#13]--BRAGI. This episode of Bragi and his vessel is no part of the +original story of Siegfried, but is here introduced in order to acquaint +you with some of the older myths of our ancestors. Bragi was the +impersonation of music and eloquence, and here represents the music of +Nature,--the glad songs and sounds of the spring-time. “Above any other +god,” says Grimm, “one would like to see a more general veneration of +Bragi revived, in whom was vested the gift of poetry and eloquence.... +He appears to have stood in pretty close relation to AEgir.” + + + +[EN#14]--AEgir. + +“AEgir was the god presiding over the stormy sea. He entertains the +gods every harvest, and brews ale for them. The name still survives +in provincial English for the sea-wave on rivers.”--Anderson’s Norse +Mythology. See Carlyle’s Heroes and Hero-Worship. + + + +[EN#15]--The Valkyries. + +See Grimm’s Teutonic Mythology, p. 417, and Anderson’s Norse Mythology, +p. 265. + + + +[EN#16]--Brunhild. + +In the Elder Edda, Brunhild’s inaccessible hall stands on a mountain, +where she was doomed to sleep under her shield until Sigurd should +release her. In the Nibelungen Lied, she is represented as ruling +in Isenland, an island far over the sea. The well-known story of the +Sleeping Beauty is derived from this myth. + + + +[EN#17]--Nibelungen Land. + +“Vain were it to inquire where that Nibelungen Land specially is. +Its very name is Nebel-land, or Nifl-land, the land of Darkness, of +Invisibility.... Far beyond the firm horizon, that wonder-bearing +region swims on the infinite waters, unseen by bodily eye, or, at +most, discerned as a faint streak hanging in the blue depths, uncertain +whether island or cloud.”--Carlyle, on The Nibelungen Lied. + + + +[EN#18]--Schilbung and Nibelung. + +“Old King Nibelung, the former lord of the land, had left, when he died, +a mighty hoard concealed within a mountain-cavern. As Siegfried rode +past the mountain-side alone, he found Schilbung and Nibelung, the +king’s sons, seated at the mouth of the cavern surrounded by more gold +and precious stones than a hundred wagons could bear away. Espying +Siegfried, they called upon him to settle their dispute, offering him +as reward their father’s mighty sword Balmung.”--Auber Forestier’s +Translation of the Nibelungen Lied. + +We have here made some slight variations from the original versions. +(See also EN#12.) + +An ancient legend relates how King Schilbung had obtained the Hoard in +the upper Rhine valley, and how he was afterwards slain by his brother +Niblung. This Niblung possessed a magic ring in the shape of a coiled +serpent with ruby eyes. It had been presented to him by a prince named +Gunthwurm, who had come to him in the guise of a serpent, desiring the +hand of his daughter in marriage. This ring, according to the Eddas, was +the one taken by Loki from the dwarf Andvari, and was given by Sigurd +(Siegfried) to Brunhild in token of betrothal. It was the cause of all +the disasters that afterwards occurred.--See W. Jordan’s Sigfridssaga. +See also EN#10. + + + +[EN#19] + + “... Siegfried the hero good + Failed the long task to finish: this stirred their + angry mood. + The treasure undivided he needs must let remain, + When the two kings indignant set on him with their + train; + But Siegfried gripped sharp Balmung (so hight their + father’s sword), + And took from them their country, and the beaming, + precious hoard.” + The Nibelungenlied, Lettsom, 96, 97 + + + +[EN#20]--Siegfried’s Welcome Home. + +In the Nibelungen Lied this is our first introduction to the hero. The +“High-tide” held in honor of Siegfried’s coming to manhood, and which we +suppose to have occurred at this time, forms the subject of the Second +Adventure in that poem. + + + +[EN#21]--Kriemhild’s Dream. + +This forms the subject of the first chapter of the Nibelungen Lied. “The +eagles of Kriemhild’s dream,” says Auber Forestier, “are winter-giants, +whose wont it was to transform themselves into eagles; while the pure +gods were in the habit of assuming the falcon’s form.” + + + +[EN#22]--Idun. + +The story of Idun and her Apples is related in the Younger Edda. It is +there represented as having been told by Bragi himself to his friend +AEgir. This myth means, that the ever-renovating spring (Idun) being +taken captive by the desolating winter (Thjasse), all Nature (all +the Asa-folk) languishes until she regains her freedom through the +intervention of the summer’s heat (Loki). --See Anderson’s Norse +Mythology. + + + +[EN#23]--Balder. + +The story of Balder is, in reality, the most ancient form of the +Siegfried myth. Both Balder and Siegfried are impersonations of the +beneficent light of the summer’s sun, and both are represented as being +treacherously slain by the powers of winter. The errand of Hermod to +the Halls of Death (Hela) reminds us of the errand of Hermes to Hades +to bring back Persephone to her mother Demetre. We perceive also a +resemblance in this story to the myth of Orpheus, in which that hero is +described as descending into the lower regions to bring away his wife +Eurydice. + + + +[EN#24] + +The making of rich clothing for the heroes is frequently referred to in +the Nibelungen Lied. Carlyle says, “This is a never-failing preparative +for all expeditions, and is always specified and insisted on with a +simple, loving, almost female impressiveness.” + + + +[EN#25]--The Winning of Brunhild. + +The story of the outwitting of Brunhild, as related in the pages which +follow, is essentially the same as that given in the Nibelungen Lied. It +is quite different from the older versions. + + + +[EN#26]--Sif. + +Sif corresponds to the Ceres of the Southern mythology. (See Grimm, p. +309.) The story of Loki and the Dwarfs is derived from the Younger Edda. +It has been beautifully rendered by the German poet Oelenschlager, a +translation of whose poem on this subject may be found in Longfellow’s +Poets and Poetry of Europe. + + + +[EN#27]--Eigill. + +Eigill is the original William Tell. The story is related in the Saga +of Thidrik. For a full history of the Tell myth, see Grimm’s Teutonic +Mythology, p. 380, and Baring-Gould’s Curious Myths of the Middle Ages, +p. 110. + + + +[EN#28]--Welland the Smith. + +The name of this smith is variously given as Weland, Wieland, Welland, +Volundr, Velint etc. The story is found in the Vilkina Saga, and was one +of the most popular of middle age myths. (See Grimm’s Mythology.) Sir +Walter Scott, in his novel of Kenilworth, has made use of this legend in +introducing the episode of Wayland Smith. + + + +[EN#29]--Vidar[FN#1] the Silent. + +“Vidar is the name of the silent Asa. He has a very thick shoe, and he +is the strongest next to Thor. From him the gods have much help in all +hard tasks.”--The Younger Edda (Anderson’s translation). + +[FN#1] The word Vidar means forest. + + + +[EN#30]--Loki. + +“Loki, in nature, is the corrupting element in air, fire, and water. In +the bowels of the earth he is the volcanic flame, in the sea he appears +as a fierce serpent, and in the lower world we recognize him as pale +death. Like Odin, he pervades all nature. He symbolizes sin, shrewdness, +deceitfulness, treachery, malice etc.”--Anderson’s Mythology, p. 372. + +He corresponds to the Ahriman of the Persians, to the Satan of the +Christians, and remotely to the Prometheus of the Greeks. + + + +[EN#31]--The Quarrel of the Queens. + +In the ancient versions, the culmination of this quarrel occurred while +the queens were bathing in the river: in the Nibelungen Lied it happened +on the steps leading up to the door of the church. + + + +[EN#32]--Hagen. + +Hagen corresponds to the Hoder of the more ancient myth of Balder. In +the Sigurd Sagas he is called Hogni, and is a brother instead of an +uncle, of Gunther (Gunnar). + + + +[EN#33]--The Death of Siegfried. + +This story is related here essentially as found in the Nibelungen +Lied. It is quite differently told in the older versions. Siegfried’s +invulnerability save in one spot reminds us of Achilles, who also was +made invulnerable by a bath, and who could be wounded only in the heel. + + + +[EN#34]--The Burial of Siegfried. + +The story of the burning of Siegfried’s body upon a funeral-pile, as +related of Sigurd in the older myths, reminds us of the burning of +Balder upon the ship “Ringhorn.” (See p. 162.) The Nibelungen Lied +represents him as being buried in accordance with the rites of the +Roman-Catholic Church. This version of the story must, of course, have +been made after the conversion of the Germans to Christianity. “When +the Emperor Frederick III. (1440-93) visited Worms after his Netherlands +campaign,” says Forestier, “he undertook to have the mighty hero’s bones +disinterred, probably in view of proving the truth of the marvellous +story then sung throughout Germany; but, although he had the ground dug +into until water streamed forth, no traces of these became manifest.” + + + +[EN#35]--Morris: Sigurd the Volsung, Bk. III. + + +[EN#36]--The Hoard. + +The story of bringing the Hoard from Nibelungen Land belongs to the +later versions of the myth, and fitly closes the First Part of the +Nibelungen Lied. Lochheim, the place where the Hoard was sunk, was not +far from Bingen on the Rhine. + + + +[EN#37]--a Short Vocabulary of the Principal Proper Names Mentioned in +this Story. + + AEGIR. The god of the sea. + ALBERICH and ANDVARI. Dwarfs who guard the great Hoard. + ASA. A name applied to the gods of the Norse mythology. + ASGARD. The home of the gods. + BALDER. The god of the summer sunlight. + BRAGI. The god of eloquence and of poetry. + DRAUPNER. Odin’s ring, which gives fertility to the earth. + FAFNIR. The dragon whom Siegfried slays. + FENRIS-WOLF. The monster who in the last twilight slays + Odin. + FREYJA. The goddess of love. + REY. The god of peace and plenty. + GRIPIR. The giant who gives wise counsel to Siegfried + (Sigurd). + GUNTHER. In the older myths called Gunnar. + HEIMDAL. The heavenly watchman. + HELA. The goddess of death. + HERMOD. The quick messenger who is sent to Hela for Balder. + HODER. The winter-god. He slays Balder. + HOENIR. One of the three most ancient gods. + HUGIN. Odin’s raven, Thought. + IDUN. The goddess of spring. + IVALD. A skilful dwarf. + JOTUNHEIM. The home of the giants. + KRIEMHILD. In the older myths called Gudrun. + LOKI. The mischief-maker. The god of evil. + MIMER. In the later German mythology a skilful smith. In the + older mythology a wise giant. + NORNS. The three Fates,--Urd, Verdande, and Skuld. + ODIN. The chief of the gods. + REGIN. The teacher of Sigurd, by whom he is slain. + SIEGFRIED. In the older myths called Sigurd. + SIF. Thor’s wife. + SLEIPNER. Odin’s eight-footed horse. + TYR. The god of war. + THOR. The god of thunder. The foe of the giants. + VALHAL. The hall of the slain. + VALKYRIES. The choosers of the slain. Odin’s handmaidens. + VIDAR. The silent god. + YMIR. The huge giant out of whose body the world was made. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of Siegfried, by James Baldwin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF SIEGFRIED *** + +***** This file should be named 6866-0.txt or 6866-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/6/8/6/6866/ + +Produced by J. C. 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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: + + http://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. diff --git a/6866-0.zip b/6866-0.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..286d200 --- /dev/null +++ b/6866-0.zip diff --git a/6866-h.zip b/6866-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7e4c575 --- /dev/null +++ b/6866-h.zip diff --git a/6866-h/6866-h.htm b/6866-h/6866-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ed94221 --- /dev/null +++ b/6866-h/6866-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9659 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!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" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Story of Siegfried, by James Baldwin + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of Siegfried, by James Baldwin + +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: The Story of Siegfried + +Author: James Baldwin + +Release Date: June 2, 2009 [EBook #6866] +Last Updated: October 31, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF SIEGFRIED *** + + + + +Produced by J. C. Byers, and David Widger + + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + THE STORY OF SIEGFRIED + </h1> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h2> + By James Baldwin + </h2> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h5> + New York Charles Scribner’s Sons + </h5> + <p> + 1899 <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h4> + To My Children, + <br /><br /> + Winfred, Louis, and Nellie, + <br /> + This Book Is Affectionately Inscribed. + </h4> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + The Fore Word. + </h2> + <p> + When the world was in its childhood, men looked upon the works of Nature + with a strange kind of awe. They fancied that every thing upon the earth, + in the air, or in the water, had a life like their own, and that every + sight which they saw, and every sound which they heard, was caused by some + intelligent being. All men were poets, so far as their ideas and their + modes of expression were concerned, although it is not likely that any of + them wrote poetry. This was true in regard to the Saxon in his chilly + northern home, as well as to the Greek in the sunny southland. But, while + the balmy air and clear sky of the south tended to refine men’s thoughts + and language, the rugged scenery and bleak storms of the north made them + uncouth, bold, and energetic. Yet both the cultured Greek and the rude + Saxon looked upon Nature with much the same eyes, and there was a strange + resemblance in their manner of thinking and speaking. They saw, that, in + all the phenomena which took place around them, there was a certain system + or regularity, as if these were controlled by some law or by some superior + being; and they sought, in their simple poetical way, to account for these + appearances. They had not yet learned to measure the distances of the + stars, nor to calculate the motions of the earth. The changing of the + seasons was a mystery which they scarcely sought to penetrate. But they + spoke of these occurrences in a variety of ways, and invented many + charming, stories with reference to them, not so much with a view towards + accounting for the mystery, as towards giving expression to their + childlike but picturesque ideas. + </p> + <p> + Thus, in the south, when reference was made to the coming of winter and to + the dreariness and discomforts of that season of the year, men did not + know nor care to explain it all, as our teachers now do at school; but + they sometimes told how Hades had stolen Persephone (the summer) from her + mother Demetre (the earth), and had carried her, in a chariot drawn by + four coal black steeds, to the gloomy land of shadows; and how, in sorrow + for her absence, the Earth clothed herself in mourning, and no leaves grew + upon the trees, nor flowers in the gardens, and the very birds ceased + singing, because Persephone was no more. But they added, that in a few + months the fair maiden would return for a time to her sorrowing mother, + and that then the flowers would bloom, and the trees would bear fruit, and + the harvest-fields would again be full of golden grain. + </p> + <p> + In the north a different story was told, but the meaning was the same. + Sometimes men told how Odin (the All-Father) had become angry with + Brunhild (the maid of spring), and had wounded her with the thorn of + sleep, and how all the castle in which she slept was wrapped in deathlike + slumber until Sigurd or Siegfried (the sunbeam) rode through flaming fire, + and awakened her with a kiss. Sometimes men told how Loki (heat) had + betrayed Balder (the sunlight), and had induced blind old Hoder (the + winter months) to slay him, and how all things, living and inanimate, + joined in weeping for the bright god, until Hela (death) should permit him + to revisit the earth for a time. + </p> + <p> + So, too, when the sun arose, and drove away the darkness and the hidden + terrors of the night, our ancestors thought of the story of a noble young + hero slaying a hideous dragon, or taking possession of the golden + treasures of Mist Land. And when the springtime came, and the earth + renewed its youth, and the fields and woods were decked in beauty, and + there was music everywhere, they loved to tell of Idun (the spring) and + her youth-giving apples, and of her wise husband Bragi (Nature’s + musician). When storm-clouds loomed up from the horizon and darkened the + sky, and thunder rolled overhead, and lightning flashed on every hand, + they talked about the mighty Thor riding over the clouds in his goat-drawn + chariot, and battling with the giants of the air. When the + mountain-meadows were green with long grass, and the corn was yellow for + the sickles of the reapers, they spoke of Sif, the golden-haired wife of + Thor, the queen of the pastures and the fields. When the seasons were + mild, and the harvests were plentiful, and peace and gladness prevailed, + they blessed Frey, the giver of good gifts to men. + </p> + <p> + To them the blue sky-dome which everywhere hung over them like an arched + roof was but the protecting mantle which the All-Father had suspended + above the earth. The rainbow was the shimmering bridge which stretches + from earth to heaven. The sun and the moon were the children of a giant, + whom two wolves chased forever around the earth. The stars were sparks + from the fire-land of the south, set in the heavens by the gods. Night was + a giantess, dark and swarthy, who rode in a car drawn by a steed the foam + from whose bits sometimes covered the earth with dew. And Day was the son + of Night; and the steed which he rode lighted all the sky and the earth + with the beams which glistened from his mane. + </p> + <p> + It was thus that men in the earlier ages of the world looked upon and + spoke of the workings of Nature; and it was in this manner that many + myths, or poetical fables, were formed. By and by, as the world grew + older, and mankind became less poetical and more practical, the first or + mythical meaning of these stories was forgotten, and they were regarded no + longer as mere poetical fancies, but as historical facts. Perhaps some + real hero had indeed performed daring deeds, and had made the world around + him happier and better. It was easy to liken him to Sigurd, or to some + other mythical slayer of giants; and soon the deeds of both were ascribed + to but one. And thus many myth-stories probably contain some historical + facts blended with the mass of poetical fancies which mainly compose them; + but, in such cases, it is generally impossible to distinguish what is fact + from what is mere fancy. + </p> + <p> + All nations have had their myth-stories; but, to my mind, the purest and + grandest are those which we have received from our northern ancestors. + They are particularly interesting to us; because they are what our fathers + once believed, and because they are ours by right of inheritance. And, + when we are able to make them still more our own by removing the blemishes + which rude and barbarous ages have added to some of them, we shall + discover in them many things that are beautiful and true, and well + calculated to make us wiser and better. + </p> + <p> + It is not known when or by whom these myth-stories were first put into + writing, nor when they assumed the shape in which we now have them. But it + is said, that, about the year 1100, an Icelandic scholar called Saemund + the Wise collected a number of songs and poems into a book which is now + known as the “Elder Edda;” and that, about a century later, Snorre + Sturleson, another Icelander, wrote a prose-work of a similar character, + which is called the “Younger Edda.” And it is to these two books that we + owe the preservation of almost all that is now known of the myths and the + strange religion of our Saxon and Norman forefathers. But, besides these, + there are a number of semi-mythological stories of great interest and + beauty,—stories partly mythical, and partly founded upon remote and + forgotten historical facts. One of the oldest and finest of these is the + story of Sigurd, the son of Sigmund. There are many versions of this + story, differing from each other according to the time in which they were + written and the character of the people among whom they were received. We + find the first mention of Sigurd and his strange daring deeds in the song + of Fafnir, in the “Elder Edda.” Then, in the “Younger Edda,” the story is + repeated in the myth of the Niflungs and the Gjukungs. It is told again in + the “Volsunga Saga” of Iceland. It is repeated and re-repeated in various + forms and different languages, and finally appears in the “Nibelungen + Lied,” a grand old German poem, which may well be compared with the Iliad + of the Greeks. In this last version, Sigurd is called Siegfried; and the + story is colored and modified by the introduction of many notions peculiar + to the middle ages, and unknown to our Pagan fathers of the north. In our + own time this myth has been woven into a variety of forms. William Morris + has embodied it in his noble poem of “Sigurd the Volsung;” Richard Wagner, + the famous German composer, has constructed from it his inimitable drama, + the “Nibelungen Ring;” W. Jordan, another German writer, has given it to + the world in his “Sigfrid’s Saga;” and Emanuel Geibel has derived from it + the materials for his “Tragedy of Brunhild.” + </p> + <p> + And now I, too, come with the STORY OF SIEGFRIED, still another version of + the time-honored legend. The story as I shall tell it you is not in all + respects a literal rendering of the ancient myth; but I have taken the + liberty to change and recast such portions of it as I have deemed + advisable. Sometimes I have drawn materials from one version of the story, + sometimes from another, and sometimes largely from my own imagination + alone. Nor shall I be accused of impropriety in thus reshaping a + narrative, which, although hallowed by an antiquity of a thousand years + and more, has already appeared in so many different forms, and been + clothed in so many different garbs; for, however much I may have allowed + my fancy or my judgment to retouch and remodel the immaterial portions of + the legend, the essential parts of this immortal myth remain the same. + And, if I succeed in leading you to a clearer understanding and a wiser + appreciation of the thoughts and feelings of our old northern ancestors, I + shall have accomplished the object for which I have written this Story of + Siegfried. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> The Fore Word. </a><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0002"> Adventure I. </a> Mimer, the Master + <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> Adventure II. </a> Greyfell + <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> Adventure III. </a> The + Curse of Gold <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> Adventure IV. </a> Fafnir, + the Dragon <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> Adventure V. </a> In + AEgir’s Kingdom <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> Adventure VI. </a> Brunhild + <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> Adventure VII. </a> In + Nibelungen Land <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> Adventure VIII. + </a> Siegfried’s Welcome Home <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0010"> Adventure IX. </a> The Journey to + Burgundy-Land <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> Adventure X. </a> Kriemhild’s + Dream <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> Adventure XI. </a> How + the Spring-time Came <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> Adventure XII. + </a> The War with the North-kings <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0014"> Adventure XIII. </a> The Story of + Balder <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> Adventure XIV. </a> How + Gunther Outwitted Brunhild <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> + Adventure XV. </a> In Nibelungen Land Again <br /><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0017"> Adventure XVI. </a> How Brunhild Was + Welcomed Home <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> Adventure XVII. </a> How + Siegfried Lived in Nibelungen Land <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> + Adventure XVIII. </a> How the Mischief + Began to Brew <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> Adventure XIX. </a> How + They Hunted in the Odenwald <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0021"> + Adventure XX. </a> How the Hoard Was Brought to Burgundy + <br /><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0022"> The After Word. </a><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0023"> The Story of Siegfried, Endnotes. </a><br /> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + Adventure I. Mimer, the Master. + </h2> + <p> + At Santen, in the Lowlands, there once lived a young prince named + Siegfried. His father, Siegmund, was king of the rich country through + which the lazy Rhine winds its way just before reaching the great North + Sea; and he was known, both far and near, for his good deeds and his + prudent thrift. And Siegfried’s mother, the gentle Sigelind, was loved by + all for her goodness of heart and her kindly charity to the poor. Neither + king nor queen left aught undone that might make the young prince happy, + or fit him for life’s usefulness. Wise men were brought from far-off lands + to be his teachers; and every day something was added to his store of + knowledge or his stock of happiness. And very skilful did he become in + warlike games and in manly feats of strength. No other youth could throw + the spear with so great force, or shoot the arrow with surer aim. No other + youth could run more swiftly, or ride with more becoming ease. His gentle + mother took delight in adding to the beauty of his matchless form, by + clothing him in costly garments decked with the rarest jewels. The old, + the young, the rich, the poor, the high, the low, all praised the fearless + Siegfried, and all vied in friendly strife to win his favor. One would + have thought that the life of the young prince could never be aught but a + holiday, and that the birds would sing, and the flowers would bloom, and + the sun would shine forever for his sake. + </p> + <p> + But the business of man’s life is not mere pastime; and none knew this + truth better than the wise old king, Siegmund. + </p> + <p> + “All work is noble,” said he to Siegfried; “and he who yearns to win fame + must not shun toil. Even princes should know how to earn a livelihood by + the labor of their hands.” + </p> + <p> + And so, while Siegfried was still a young lad, his father sent him to live + with a smith called Mimer, whose smithy was among the hills not far from + the great forest. For in those early times the work of the smith was + looked upon as the most worthy of all trades,—a trade which the gods + themselves were not ashamed to follow. And this smith Mimer was a + wonderful master,—the wisest and most cunning that the world had + ever seen. Men said that he was akin to the dwarf-folk who had ruled the + earth in the early days, and who were learned in every lore, and skilled + in every craft; and they said that he was so exceeding old that no one + could remember the day when he came to dwell in the land of Siegmund’s + fathers. And some said, too, that he was the keeper of a wonderful well, + or flowing spring, the waters of which imparted wisdom and far-seeing + knowledge to all who drank of them. + </p> + <p> + To Mimer’s school, then, where he would be taught to work skilfully and to + think wisely, Siegfried was sent, to be in all respects like the other + pupils there. A coarse blue blouse, and heavy leggings, and a leathern + apron, took the place of the costly clothing which he had worn in his + father’s dwelling. His feet were incased in awkward wooden shoes, and his + head was covered with a wolf-skin cap. The dainty bed, with its downy + pillows, wherein every night his mother had been wont, with gentle care, + to see him safely covered, was given up for a rude heap of straw in a + corner of the smithy. And the rich food to which he had been used gave + place to the coarsest and humblest fare. But the lad did not complain. The + days which he passed in the smithy were mirthful and happy; and the sound + of his hammer rang cheerfully, and the sparks from his forge flew briskly, + from morning till night. + </p> + <p> + And a wonderful smith he became. No one could do more work than he, and + none wrought with greater skill. The heaviest chains and the strongest + bolts, for prison or for treasure-house, were but as toys in his stout + hands, so easily and quickly did he beat them into shape. And he was alike + cunning in work of the most delicate and brittle kind. Ornaments of gold + and silver, studded with the rarest jewels, were fashioned into beautiful + forms by his deft fingers. And among all of Mimer’s apprentices none + learned the master’s lore so readily, nor gained the master’s favor + more.[EN#1] + </p> + <p> + One morning the master, Mimer, came to the smithy with a troubled look + upon his face. It was clear that something had gone amiss; and what it was + the apprentices soon learned from the smith himself. Never, until lately, + had any one questioned Mimer’s right to be called the foremost smith in + all the world; but now a rival had come forward. An unknown upstart—one + Amilias, in Burgundy-land—had made a suit of armor, which, he + boasted, no stroke of sword could dint, and no blow of spear could + scratch; and he had sent a challenge to all other smiths, both in the + Rhine country and elsewhere, to equal that piece of workmanship, or else + acknowledge themselves his underlings and vassals. For many days had Mimer + himself toiled, alone and vainly, trying to forge a sword whose edge the + boasted armor of Amilias could not foil; and now, in despair, he came to + ask the help of his pupils and apprentices. + </p> + <p> + “Who among you is skilful enough to forge such a sword?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + One after another, the pupils shook their heads. And Veliant, the foreman + of the apprentices, said, “I have heard much about that wonderful armor, + and its extreme hardness, and I doubt if any skill can make a sword with + edge so sharp and true as to cut into it. The best that can be done is to + try to make another war-coat whose temper shall equal that of Amilias’s + armor.” + </p> + <p> + Then the lad Siegfried quickly said, “I will make such a sword as you + want,—a blade that no war-coat can foil. Give me but leave to try!” + </p> + <p> + The other pupils laughed in scorn, but Mimer checked them. “You hear how + this boy can talk: we will see what he can do. He is the king’s son, and + we know that he has uncommon talent. He shall make the sword; but if, upon + trial, it fail, I will make him rue the day.” + </p> + <p> + Then Siegfried went to his task. And for seven days and seven nights the + sparks never stopped flying from his forge; and the ringing of his anvil, + and the hissing of the hot metal as he tempered it, were heard + continuously. On the eighth day the sword was fashioned, and Siegfried + brought it to Mimer. + </p> + <p> + The smith felt the razor-edge of the bright weapon, and said, “This seems, + indeed, a fair fire-edge. Let us make a trial of its keenness.” + </p> + <p> + Then a thread of wool as light as thistle-down was thrown upon water, and, + as it floated there, Mimer struck it with the sword. The glittering blade + cleft the slender thread in twain, and the pieces floated undisturbed upon + the surface of the liquid. + </p> + <p> + “Well done!” cried the delighted smith. “Never have I seen a keener edge. + If its temper is as true as its sharpness would lead us to believe, it + will indeed serve me well.” + </p> + <p> + But Siegfried took the sword again, and broke it into many pieces; and for + three days he welded it in a white-hot fire, and tempered it with milk and + oatmeal. Then, in sight of Mimer and the sneering apprentices, he cast a + light ball of fine-spun wool upon the flowing water of the brook; and it + was caught in the swift eddies of the stream, and whirled about until it + met the bared blade of the sword, which was held in Mimer’s hands. And it + was parted as easily and clean as the rippling water, and not the smallest + thread was moved out of its place. + </p> + <p> + Then back to the smithy Siegfried went again; and his forge glowed with a + brighter fire, and his hammer rang upon the anvil with a cheerier sound, + than ever before. But he suffered none to come near, and no one ever knew + what witchery he used. But some of his fellow-pupils afterwards told how, + in the dusky twilight, they had seen a one-eyed man, long-bearded, and + clad in a cloud-gray kirtle, and wearing a sky-blue hood, talking with + Siegfried at the smithy door. And they said that the stranger’s face was + at once pleasant and fearful to look upon, and that his one eye shone in + the gloaming like the evening star, and that, when he had placed in + Siegfried’s hands bright shards, like pieces of a broken sword, he faded + suddenly from their sight, and was seen no more. + </p> + <p> + For seven weeks the lad wrought day and night at his forge; and then, pale + and haggard, but with a pleased smile upon his face, he stood before + Mimer, with the gleaming sword in his hands. “It is finished,” he said. + “Behold the glittering terror!—the blade Balmung. Let us try its + edge, and prove its temper once again, that so we may know whether you can + place your trust in it.” + </p> + <p> + And Mimer looked long at the ruddy hilts of the weapon, and at the mystic + runes that were scored upon its sides, and at the keen edge, which gleamed + like a ray of sunlight in the gathering gloom of the evening. But no word + came from his lips, and his eyes were dim and dazed; and he seemed as one + lost in thoughts of days long past and gone. + </p> + <p> + Siegfried raised the blade high over his head; and the gleaming edge + flashed hither and thither, like the lightning’s play when Thor rides over + the storm-clouds. Then suddenly it fell upon the master’s anvil, and the + great block of iron was cleft in two; but the bright blade was no whit + dulled by the stroke, and the line of light which marked the edge was + brighter than before. + </p> + <p> + Then to the flowing brook they went; and a great pack of wool, the fleeces + of ten sheep, was brought, and thrown upon the swirling water. As the + stream bore the bundle downwards, Mimer held the sword in its way. And the + whole was divided as easily and as clean as the woollen ball or the + slender woollen thread had been cleft before. + </p> + <p> + “Now, indeed,” cried Mimer, “I no longer fear to meet that upstart, + Amilias. If his war-coat can withstand the stroke of such a sword as + Balmung, then I shall not be ashamed to be his underling. But, if this + good blade is what it seems to be, it will not fail me; and I, Mimer the + Old, shall still be called the wisest and greatest of smiths.” + </p> + <p> + And he sent word at once to Amilias, in Burgundy-land, to meet him on a + day, and settle forever the question as to which of the two should be the + master, and which the underling. And heralds proclaimed it in every town + and dwelling. When the time which had been set drew near, Mimer, bearing + the sword Balmung, and followed by all his pupils and apprentices, wended + his way towards the place of meeting. Through the forest they went, and + then along the banks of the sluggish river, for many a league, to the + height of land which marked the line between King Siegmund’s country and + the country of the Burgundians. It was in this place, midway between the + shops of Mimer and Amilias, that the great trial of metal and of skill was + to be made. And here were already gathered great numbers of people from + the Lowlands and from Burgundy, anxiously waiting for the coming of the + champions. On the one side were the wise old Siegmund and his gentle + queen, and their train of knights and courtiers and fair ladies. On the + other side were the three Burgundian kings, Gunther, Gernot, and Giselher, + and a mighty retinue of warriors, led by grim old Hagen, the uncle of the + kings, and the wariest chief in all Rhineland. + </p> + <p> + When every thing was in readiness for the contest, Amilias, clad in his + boasted war-coat, went up to the top of the hill, and sat upon a great + rock, and waited for Mimer’s coming. As he sat there, he looked, to the + people below, like some great castle-tower; for he was almost a giant in + size, and his coat of mail, so skilfully wrought, was so huge that twenty + men of common mould might have found shelter, or hidden themselves, within + it. As the smith Mimer, so dwarfish in stature, toiled up the steep + hillside, Amilias smiled to see him; for he felt no fear of the slender, + gleaming blade that was to try the metal of his war-coat. And already a + shout of expectant triumph went up from the throats of the Burgundian + hosts, so sure were they of their champion’s success. + </p> + <p> + But Mimer’s friends waited in breathless silence, hoping, and yet fearing. + Only King Siegmund whispered to his queen, and said, “Knowledge is + stronger than brute force. The smallest dwarf who has drunk from the well + of the Knowing One may safely meet the stoutest giant in battle.” + </p> + <p> + When Mimer reached the top of the hill, Amilias folded his huge arms, and + smiled again; for he felt that this contest was mere play for him, and + that Mimer was already as good as beaten, and his thrall. The smith paused + a moment to take breath, and as he stood by the side of his foe he looked + to those below like a mere black speck close beside a steel-gray + castle-tower. + </p> + <p> + “Are you ready?” asked the smith. + </p> + <p> + “Ready,” answered Amilias. “Strike!” + </p> + <p> + Mimer raised the beaming blade in the air, and for a moment the lightning + seemed to play around his head. The muscles on his short, brawny arms, + stood out like great ropes; and then Balmung, descending, cleft the air + from right to left. The waiting lookers-on in the plain below thought to + hear the noise of clashing steel; but they listened in vain, for no sound + came to their ears, save a sharp hiss like that which red-hot iron gives + when plunged into a tank of cold water. The huge Amilias sat unmoved, with + his arms still folded upon his breast; but the smile had faded from his + face. + </p> + <p> + “How do you feel now?” asked Mimer in a half-mocking tone. + </p> + <p> + “Rather strangely, as if cold iron had touched me,” faintly answered the + upstart. + </p> + <p> + “Shake thyself!” cried Mimer. + </p> + <p> + Amilias did so, and, lo! he fell in two halves; for the sword had cut + sheer through the vaunted war-coat, and cleft in twain the great body + incased within. Down tumbled the giant head and the still folded arms, and + they rolled with thundering noise to the foot of the hill, and fell with a + fearful splash into the deep waters of the river; and there, fathoms down, + they may even now be seen, when the water is clear, lying like great gray + rocks among the sand and gravel below. The rest of the body, with the + armor which incased it, still sat upright in its place; and to this day + travellers sailing down the river are shown on moonlit evenings the + luckless armor of Amilias on the high hill-top. In the dim, uncertain + light, one easily fancies it to be the ivy covered ruins of some old + castle of feudal times. + </p> + <p> + The master, Mimer, sheathed his sword, and walked slowly down the hillside + to the plain, where his friends welcomed him with glad cheers and shouts + of joy. But the Burgundians, baffled, and feeling vexed, turned silently + homeward, nor cast a single look back to the scene of their disappointment + and their ill-fated champion’s defeat. + </p> + <p> + And Siegfried went again with the master and his fellows to the smoky + smithy, to his roaring bellows and ringing anvil, and to his coarse fare, + and rude, hard bed, and to a life of labor. And while all men praised + Mimer and his knowing skill, and the fiery edge of the sunbeam blade, no + one knew that it was the boy Siegfried who had wrought that piece of + workmanship. + </p> + <p> + But after a while it was whispered around that not Mimer, but one of his + pupils, had forged the sword. And, when the master was asked what truth + there was in this story, his eyes twinkled, and the corners of his mouth + twitched strangely, and he made no answer. But Veliant, the foreman of the + smithy, and the greatest of boasters said, “It was I who forged the + fire-edge of the blade Balmung.” And, although none denied the truth of + what he said, but few who knew what sort of a man he was believed his + story. And this is the reason, my children, that, in the ancient songs and + stories which tell of this wondrous sword, it is said by most that Mimer, + and by a few that Veliant, forged its blade. But I prefer to believe that + it was made by Siegfried, the hero who afterwards wielded it in so many + adventures. [EN#3] Be this as it may, however, blind hate and jealousy + were from this time uppermost in the coarse and selfish mind of Veliant; + and he sought how he might drive the lad away from the smithy in disgrace. + “This boy has done what no one else could do,” said he. “He may yet do + greater deeds, and set himself up as the master smith of the world, and + then we shall all have to humble ourselves before him as his underlings + and thralls.” + </p> + <p> + And he nursed this thought, and brooded over the hatred which he felt + towards the blameless boy; but he did not dare to harm him, for fear of + their master, Mimer. And Siegfried busied himself at his forge, where the + sparks flew as briskly and as merrily as ever before, and his bellows + roared from early morning till late at evening. Nor did the foreman’s + unkindness trouble him for a moment, for he knew that the master’s heart + was warm towards him. + </p> + <p> + Oftentimes, when the day’s work was done, Siegfried sat with Mimer by the + glowing light of the furnace-fire, and listened to the sweet tales which + the master told of the deeds of the early days, when the world was young, + and the dwarf-folk and the giants had a name and a place upon earth. And + one night, as they thus sat, the master talked of Odin the All-Father, and + of the gods who dwell with him in Asgard, and of the puny men-folk whom + they protect and befriend, until his words grew full of bitterness, and + his soul of a fierce longing for something he dared not name. And the + lad’s heart was stirred with a strange uneasiness, and he said,— + </p> + <p> + “Tell me, I pray, dear master, something about my own kin, my father’s + fathers,—those mighty kings, who, I have heard said, were the + bravest and best of men.” + </p> + <p> + Then the smith seemed pleased again. And his eyes grew brighter, and lost + their far-away look; and a smile played among the wrinkles of his swarthy + face, as he told a tale of old King Volsung and of the deeds of the + Volsung kings:— + </p> + <p> + “Long years ago, before the evil days had dawned, King Volsung ruled over + all the land which lies between the sea and the country of the Goths. The + days were golden; and the good Frey dropped peace and plenty everywhere, + and men went in and out and feared no wrong. King Volsung had a dwelling + in the midst of fertile fields and fruitful gardens. Fairer than any dream + was that dwelling. The roof was thatched with gold, and red turrets and + towers rose above. The great feast-hall was long and high, and its walls + were hung with sun-bright shields; and the door-nails were of silver. In + the middle of the hall stood the pride of the Volsungs,—a tree whose + blossoms filled the air with fragrance, and whose green branches, + thrusting themselves through the ceiling, covered the roof with fair + foliage. It was Odin’s tree, and King Volsung had planted it there with + his own hands. + </p> + <p> + “On a day in winter King Volsung held a great feast in his hall in honor + of Siggeir, the King of the Goths, who was his guest. And the fires blazed + bright in the broad chimneys, and music and mirth went round. But in the + midst of the merry-making the guests were startled by a sudden peal of + thunder, which seemed to come from the cloudless sky, and which made the + shields upon the walls rattle and ring. In wonder they looked around. A + strange man stood in the doorway, and laughed, but said not a word. And + they noticed that he wore no shoes upon his feet, but that a cloud-gray + cloak was thrown over his shoulders, and a blue hood was drawn down over + his head. His face was half-hidden by a heavy beard; and he had but one + eye, which twinkled and glowed like a burning coal. And all the guests sat + moveless in their seats, so awed were they in the presence of him who + stood at the door; for they knew that he was none other than Odin the + All-Father, the king of gods and men. He spoke not a word, but straight + into the hall he strode, and he paused not until he stood beneath the + blossoming branches of the tree. Then, forth from beneath his cloud-gray + cloak, he drew a gleaming sword, and struck the blade deep into the wood,—so + deep that nothing but the hilt was left in sight. And, turning to the + awe-struck guests, he said, ‘A blade of mighty worth have I hidden in this + tree. Never have the earth-folk wrought better steel, nor has any man ever + wielded a more trusty sword. Whoever there is among you brave enough and + strong enough to draw it forth from the wood, he shall have it as a gift + from Odin.’ Then slowly to the door he strode again, and no one saw him + any more. + </p> + <p> + “And after he had gone, the Volsungs and their guests sat a long time + silent, fearing to stir, lest the vision should prove a dream. But at last + the old king arose, and cried, ‘Come, guests and kinsmen, and set your + hands to the ruddy hilt! Odin’s gift stays, waiting for its fated owner. + Let us see which one of you is the favored of the All-Father.’ First + Siggeir, the King of the Goths, and his earls, the Volsungs’ guests, tried + their hands. But the blade stuck fast; and the stoutest man among them + failed to move it. Then King Volsung, laughing, seized the hilt, and drew + with all his strength; but the sword held still in the wood of Odin’s + tree. And one by one the nine sons of Volsung tugged and strained in vain; + and each was greeted with shouts and laughter, as, ashamed and beaten, he + wended to his seat again. Then, at last, Sigmund, the youngest son, stood + up, and laid his hand upon the ruddy hilt, scarce thinking to try what all + had failed to do. When, lo! the blade came out of the tree as if therein + it had all along lain loose. And Sigmund raised it high over his head, and + shook it, and the bright flame that leaped from its edge lit up the hall + like the lightning’s gleaming; and the Volsungs and their guests rent the + air with cheers and shouts of gladness. For no one among all the men of + the mid-world was more worthy of Odin’s gift than young Sigmund the + brave.” + </p> + <p> + But the rest of Mimer’s story would be too long to tell you now; for he + and his young apprentice sat for hours by the dying coals, and talked of + Siegfried’s kinfolk,—the Volsung kings of old. And he told how + Siggeir, the Goth king, was wedded to Signy the fair, the only daughter of + Volsung, and the pride of the old king’s heart; and how he carried her + with him to his home in the land of the Goths; and how he coveted + Sigmund’s sword, and plotted to gain it by guile; and how, through + presence of friendship, he invited the Volsung kings to visit him in + Gothland, as the guests of himself and Signy; and how he betrayed and slew + them, save Sigmund alone, who escaped, and for long years lived an outlaw + in the land of his treacherous foe. And then he told how Sigmund + afterwards came back to his own country of the Volsungs; and how his + people welcomed him, and he became a mighty king, such as the world had + never known before; and how, when he had grown old, and full of years and + honors, he went out with his earls and fighting-men to battle against the + hosts of King Lyngi the Mighty; and how, in the midst of the fight, when + his sword had hewn down numbers of the foe, and the end of the strife and + victory seemed near, an old man, one eyed and bearded, and wearing a + cloud-gray cloak, stood up before him in the din, and his sword was broken + in pieces, and he fell dead on the heap of the slain.[EN#4] And, when + Mimer had finished his tale, his dark face seemed to grow darker, and his + twinkling eyes grew brighter, as he cried out in a tone of despair and + hopeless yearning,— + </p> + <p> + “Oh, past are those days of old and the worthy deeds of the brave! And + these are the days of the home-stayers,—of the wise, but + feeble-hearted. Yet the Norns have spoken; and it must be that another + hero shall arise of the Volsung blood, and he shall restore the name and + the fame of his kin of the early days. And he shall be my bane; and in him + shall the race of heroes have an end.”[EN#7] + </p> + <p> + Siegfried’s heart was strangely stirred within him as he hearkened to this + story of ancient times and to the fateful words of the master, and for a + long time he sat in silent thought; and neither he nor Mimer moved, or + spoke again, until the darkness of the night had begun to fade, and the + gray light of morning to steal into the smithy. Then, as if moved by a + sudden impulse, he turned to the master, and said,— + </p> + <p> + “You speak of the Norns, dear master, and of their foretelling; but your + words are vague, and their meaning very broad. When shall that hero come? + and who shall he be? and what deeds shall be his doing?” + </p> + <p> + “Alas!” answered Mimer, “I know not, save that he shall be of the Volsung + race, and that my fate is linked with his.” + </p> + <p> + “And why do you not know?” returned Siegfried. “Are you not that old + Mimer, in whom it is said the garnered wisdom of the world is stored? Is + there not truth in the old story that even Odin pawned one of his eyes for + a single draught from your fountain of knowledge? And is the possessor of + so much wisdom unable to look into the future with clearness and + certainty?” + </p> + <p> + “Alas!” answered Mimer again, and his words came hard and slow, “I am not + that Mimer, of whom old stories tell, who gave wisdom to the All-Father in + exchange for an eye. He is one of the giants, and he still watches his + fountain in far-off Jotunheim.[EN#2] I claim kinship with the dwarfs, and + am sometimes known as an elf, sometimes as a wood-sprite. Men have called + me Mimer because of my wisdom and skill, and the learning which I impart + to my pupils. Could I but drink from the fountain of the real Mimer, then + the wisdom of the world would in truth be mine, and the secrets of the + future would be no longer hidden. But I must wait, as I have long waited, + for the day and the deed and the doom that the Norns have foretold.” + </p> + <p> + And the old strange look of longing came again into his eyes, and the + wrinkles on his swarthy face seemed to deepen with agony, as he arose, and + left the smithy. And Siegfried sat alone before the smouldering fire, and + pondered upon what he had heard. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Adventure II. Greyfell. + </h2> + <p> + Many were the pleasant days that Siegfried spent in Mimer’s smoky smithy; + and if he ever thought of his father’s stately dwelling, or of the life of + ease which he might have enjoyed within its halls, he never by word or + deed showed signs of discontent. For Mimer taught him all the secrets of + his craft and all the lore of the wise men. To beat hot iron, to shape the + fire-edged sword, to smithy war-coats, to fashion the slender bracelet of + gold and jewels,—all this he had already learned. But there were + many other things to know, and these the wise master showed him. He told + him how to carve the mystic runes which speak to the knowing ones with + silent, unseen tongues; he told him of the men of other lands, and taught + him their strange speech; he showed him how to touch the harp-strings, and + bring forth bewitching music: and the heart of Siegfried waxed very wise, + while his body grew wondrous strong. And the master loved his pupil + dearly. + </p> + <p> + But the twelve apprentices grew more jealous day by day, and when Mimer + was away they taunted Siegfried with cruel jests, and sought by harsh + threats to drive him from the smithy; but the lad only smiled, and made + the old shop ring again with the music from his anvil. On a day when Mimer + had gone on a journey, Veliant, the foreman, so far forgot himself as to + strike the boy. For a moment Siegfried gazed at him with withering scorn; + then he swung his hammer high in air, and brought it swiftly down, not + upon the head of Veliant, who was trembling with expectant fear, but upon + the foreman’s anvil. The great block of iron was shivered by the blow, and + flew into a thousand pieces. Then, turning again towards the thoroughly + frightened foreman, Siegfried said, while angry lightning-flashes darted + from his eyes,— + </p> + <p> + “What if I were to strike you thus?” + </p> + <p> + Veliant sank upon the ground, and begged for mercy. + </p> + <p> + “You are safe,” said Siegfried, walking away. “I would scorn to harm a + being like you!” + </p> + <p> + The apprentices were struck dumb with amazement and fear; and when + Siegfried had returned to his anvil they one by one dropped their hammers, + and stole away from the smithy. In a secret place not far from the shop, + they met together, to plot some means by which they might rid themselves + of him whom they both hated and feared. + </p> + <p> + The next morning Veliant came to Siegfried’s forge, with a sham smile upon + his face. The boy knew that cowardice and base deceit lurked, ill + concealed, beneath that smile; yet, as he was wont to do, he welcomed the + foreman kindly. + </p> + <p> + “Siegfried,” said Veliant, “let us be friends again. I am sorry that I was + so foolish and so rash yesterday, and I promise that I will never again be + so rude and unmanly as to become angry at you. Let us be friends, good + Siegfried! Give me your hand, I pray you, and with it your forgiveness.” + </p> + <p> + Siegfried grasped the rough palm of the young smith with such a gripe, + that the smile vanished from Veliant’s face, and his muscles writhed with + pain. + </p> + <p> + “I give you my hand, certainly,” said the boy, “and I will give you my + forgiveness when I know that you are worthy of it.” + </p> + <p> + As soon as Veliant’s aching hand allowed him speech, he said,— + </p> + <p> + “Siegfried, you know that we have but little charcoal left for our forges, + and our master will soon return from his journey. It will never do for him + to find us idle, and the fires cold. Some one must go to-day to the + forest-pits, and bring home a fresh supply of charcoal. How would you like + the errand? It is but a pleasant day’s journey to the pits; and a ride + into the greenwood this fine summer day would certainly be more agreeable + than staying in the smoky shop.” + </p> + <p> + “I should like the drive very much,” answered Siegfried; “but I have never + been to the coal-pits, and I might lose my way in the forest.” + </p> + <p> + “No danger of that,” said Veliant. “Follow the road that goes straight + into the heart of the forest, and you cannot miss your way. It will lead + you to the house of Regin, the master, the greatest charcoal-man in all + Rhineland. He will be right glad to see you for Mimer’s sake, and you may + lodge with him for the night. In the morning he will fill your cart with + the choicest charcoal, and you can drive home at your leisure; and, when + our master comes again, he will find our forges flaming, and our bellows + roaring, and our anvils ringing, as of yore.” + </p> + <p> + Siegfried, after some further parley, agreed to undertake the errand, + although he felt that Veliant, in urging him to do so, wished to work him + some harm. He harnessed the donkey to the smith’s best cart, and drove + merrily away along the road which led towards the forest.[EN#5] The day + was bright and clear; and as Siegfried rode through the flowery meadows, + or betwixt the fields of corn, a thousand sights and sounds met him, and + made him glad. Now and then he would stop to watch the reapers in the + fields, or to listen to the song of some heaven-soaring lark lost to sight + in the blue sea overhead. Once he met a company of gayly dressed youths + and maidens, carrying sheaves of golden grain,—for it was now the + harvest-time,—and singing in praise of Frey, the giver of peace and + plenty. + </p> + <p> + “Whither away, young prince?” they merrily asked. + </p> + <p> + “To Regin, the coal-burner, in the deep greenwood,” he answered. + </p> + <p> + “Then may the good Frey have thee in keeping!” they cried. “It is a long + and lonesome journey.” And each one blessed him as they passed. + </p> + <p> + It was nearly noon when he drove into the forest, and left the blooming + meadows and the warm sunshine behind him. And now he urged the donkey + forwards with speed; for he knew that he had lost much precious time, and + that many miles still lay between him and Regin’s charcoal-pits. And there + was nothing here amid the thick shadows of the wood to make him wish to + linger; for the ground was damp, and the air was chilly, and every thing + was silent as the grave. And not a living creature did Siegfried see, save + now and then a gray wolf slinking across the road, or a doleful owl + sitting low down in some tree-top, and blinking at him in the dull but + garish light. Evening at last drew on, and the shadows in the wood grew + deeper; and still no sign of charcoal-burner, nor of other human being, + was seen. Night came, and thick darkness settled around; and all the + demons of the forest came forth, and clamored and chattered, and shrieked + and howled. But Siegfried was not afraid. The bats and vampires came out + of their hiding-places, and flapped their clammy wings in his face; and he + thought that he saw ogres and many fearful creatures peeping out from + behind every tree and shrub. But, when he looked upwards through the + overhanging tree-tops, he saw the star-decked roof of heaven, the blue + mantle which the All-Father has hung as a shelter over the world; and he + went bravely onwards, never doubting but that Odin has many good things in + store for those who are willing to trust him. + </p> + <p> + And by and by the great round moon arose in the east, and the fearful + sounds that had made the forest hideous began to die away; and Siegfried + saw, far down the path, a red light feebly gleaming. And he was glad, for + he knew that it must come from the charcoal-burners’ pits. Soon he came + out upon a broad, cleared space; and the charcoal-burners’ fires blazed + bright before him; and some workmen, swarthy and soot-begrimed, came + forwards to meet him. + </p> + <p> + “Who are you?” they asked; “and why do you come through the forest at this + late hour?” + </p> + <p> + “I am Siegfried,” answered the boy; “and I come from Mimer’s smithy. I + seek Regin, the king of charcoal-burners; for I must have coal for my + master’s smithy.” + </p> + <p> + “Come with me,” said one of the men: “I will lead you to Regin.” + </p> + <p> + Siegfried alighted from his cart, and followed the man to a low-roofed hut + not far from the burning pits. As they drew near, they heard the sound of + a harp, and strange, wild music within; and Siegfried’s heart was stirred + with wonder as he listened. The man knocked softly at the door, and the + music ceased. + </p> + <p> + “Who comes to break into Regin’s rest at such a time as this?” said a + rough voice within. + </p> + <p> + “A youth who calls himself Siegfried,” answered the man. “He says that he + comes from Mimer’s smithy, and he would see you, my master.” + </p> + <p> + “Let him come in,” said the voice. + </p> + <p> + Siegfried passed through the low door, and into the room beyond; and so + strange was the sight that met him that he stood for a while in awe, for + never in so lowly a dwelling had treasures so rich been seen. Jewels + sparkled from the ceiling; rare tapestry covered the walls; and on the + floor were heaps of ruddy gold and silver, still unfashioned. And in the + midst of all this wealth stood Regin, the king of the forest, the greatest + of charcoal-men. And a strange old man he was, wrinkled and gray and + beardless; but out of his eyes sharp glances gleamed of a light that was + not human, and his heavy brow and broad forehead betokened wisdom and + shrewd cunning. And he welcomed Siegfried kindly for Mimer’s sake, and set + before him a rich repast of venison, and wild honey, and fresh white + bread, and luscious grapes. And, when the meal was finished, the boy would + have told his errand, but Regin stopped him. + </p> + <p> + “Say nothing of your business to-night,” said he; “for the hour is already + late, and you are weary. Better lie down, and rest until the morrow; and + then we will talk of the matter which has brought you hither.” + </p> + <p> + And Siegfried was shown to a couch of the fragrant leaves of the myrtle + and hemlock, overspread with soft white linen, such as is made in the + far-off Emerald Isle; and he was lulled to sleep by sweet strains of music + from Regin’s harp,—music which told of the days when the gods were + young on the earth. And as he slept he dreamed. He dreamed that he stood + upon the crag of a high mountain, and that the eagles flew screaming + around him, and the everlasting snows lay at his feet, and the world in + all its beauty was stretched out like a map below him; and he longed to go + forth to partake of its abundance, and to make for himself a name among + men. Then came the Norns, who spin the thread, and weave the woof, of + every man’s life; and they held in their hands the web of his own destiny. + And Urd, the Past, sat on the tops of the eastern mountains, where the sun + begins to rise at dawn; while Verdanda, the Present, stood in the western + sea, where sky and water meet. And they stretched the web between them, + and its ends were hidden in the far-away mists. Then with all their might + the two Norns span the purple and golden threads, and wove the fatal woof. + But as it began to grow in beauty and in strength, and to shadow the earth + with its gladness and its glory, Skuld, the pitiless Norn of the Future, + seized it with rude fingers, and tore it into shreds, and cast it down at + the feet of Hela, the white queen of the dead.[EN#6] And the eagles + shrieked, and the mountain shook, and the crag toppled, and Siegfried + awoke. + </p> + <p> + The next morning, at earliest break of day, the youth sought Regin, and + made known his errand. + </p> + <p> + “I have come for charcoal for my master Mimer’s forges. My cart stands + ready outside; and I pray you to have it filled at once, for the way is + long, and I must be back betimes.” + </p> + <p> + Then a strange smile stole over Regin’s wrinkled face, and he said,— + </p> + <p> + “Does Siegfried the prince come on such a lowly errand? Does he come to me + through the forest, driving a donkey, and riding in a sooty coal-cart? I + have known the day when his kin were the mightiest kings of earth, and + they fared through every land the noblest men of men-folk.” + </p> + <p> + The taunting word, the jeering tones, made Siegfried’s anger rise. The + blood boiled in his veins; but he checked his tongue, and mildly answered,— + </p> + <p> + “It is true that I am a prince, and my father is the wisest of kings; and + it is for this reason that I come thus to you. Mimer is my master, and my + father early taught me that even princes must obey their masters’ + behests.” + </p> + <p> + Then Regin laughed, and asked, “How long art thou to be Mimer’s thrall? + Does no work wait for thee but at his smoky forge?” + </p> + <p> + “When Mimer gives me leave, and Odin calls me,” answered the lad, “then I, + too, will go faring over the world, like my kin of the earlier days, to + carve me a name and great glory, and a place with the noble of earth.” + </p> + <p> + Regin said not a word; but he took his harp, and smote the strings, and a + sad, wild music filled the room. And he sang of the gods and the + dwarf-folk, and of the deeds that had been in the time long past and gone. + And a strange mist swam before Siegfried’s eyes; and so bewitching were + the strains that fell upon his ears, and filled his soul, that he forgot + about his errand, and his master Mimer, and his father Siegmund, and his + lowland home, and thought only of the heart-gladdening sounds. By and by + the music ended, the spell was lifted, and Siegfried turned his eyes + towards the musician. A wonderful change had taken place. The little old + man still stood before him with the harp in his hand; but his wrinkled + face was hidden by a heavy beard, and his thin gray locks were covered + with a long black wig, and he seemed taller and stouter than before. As + Siegfried started with surprise, his host held out his hand, and said,— + </p> + <p> + “You need not be alarmed, my boy. It is time for you to know that Regin + and Mimer are the same person, or rather that Mimer is Regin + disguised.[EN#8] The day has come for you to go your way into the world, + and Mimer gives you leave.” + </p> + <p> + Siegfried was so amazed he could not say a word. He took the master’s + hand, and gazed long into his deep, bright eyes. Then the two sat down + together, and Mimer, or Regin as we shall now call him, told the prince + many tales of the days that had been, and of his bold, wise forefathers. + And the lad’s heart swelled within him; and he longed to be like them,—to + dare and do and suffer, and gloriously win at last. And he turned to Regin + and said,— + </p> + <p> + “Tell me, wisest of masters, what I shall do to win fame, and to make + myself worthy to rule the fair land which my fathers held.” + </p> + <p> + “Go forth in your own strength, and with Odin’s help,” answered Regin,—“go + forth to right the wrong, to help the weak, to punish evil, and come not + back to your father’s kingdom until the world shall know your noble + deeds.” + </p> + <p> + “But whither shall I go?” asked Siegfried. + </p> + <p> + “I will tell you,” answered Regin. “Put on these garments, which better + befit a prince than those soot-begrimed clothes you have worn so long. + Gird about you this sword, the good Balmung, and go northward. When you + come to the waste lands which border upon the sea, you will find the + ancient Gripir, the last of the kin of the giants. Ask of him a war-steed, + and Odin will tell you the rest.” + </p> + <p> + So, when the sun had risen high above the trees, Siegfried bade Regin + good-by, and went forth like a man, to take whatsoever fortune should + betide. He went through the great forest, and across the bleak moorland + beyond, and over the huge black mountains that stretched themselves across + his way, and came to a pleasant country all dotted with white farmhouses, + and yellow with waving, corn. But he tarried not here, though many kind + words were spoken to him, and all besought him to stay. Right onwards he + went, until he reached the waste land which borders the sounding sea. And + there high mountains stood, with snow-crowned crags beetling over the + waves; and a great river, all foaming with the summer floods, went rolling + through the valley. And in the deep dales between the mountains were rich + meadows, green with grass, and speckled with thousands of flowers of every + hue, where herds of cattle and deer, and noble elks, and untamed horses, + fed in undisturbed peace. And Siegfried, when he saw, knew that these were + the pastures of Gripir the ancient. + </p> + <p> + High up among the gray mountain-peaks stood Gripir’s dwelling,—a + mighty house, made of huge bowlders brought by giant hands from the far + north-land. And the wild eagle, built their nests around it, and the + mountain vultures screamed about its doors. But Siegfried was not afraid. + He climbed the steep pathway which the feet of men had never touched + before, and, without pausing, walked straightway into the high-built hall. + The room was so dark that at first he could see nothing save the white + walls, and the glass-green pillars which upheld the roof. But the light + grew stronger soon; and Siegfried saw, beneath a heavy canopy of stone, + the ancient Gripir, seated in a chair made from the sea-horse’s + teeth.[EN#9] And the son of the giants held in his hand an ivory staff; + and a purple mantle was thrown over his shoulders, and his white beard + fell in sweeping waves almost to the sea-green floor. Very wise he seemed, + and he gazed at Siegfried with a kindly smile. + </p> + <p> + “Hail, Siegfried!” he cried. “Hail, prince with the gleaming eye! I know + thee, and I know the woof that the Norns have woven for thee. Welcome to + my lonely mountain home! Come and sit by my side in the high-seat where + man has never sat, and I will tell thee of things that have been, and of + things that are yet to be.” + </p> + <p> + Then Siegfried fearlessly went and sat by the side of the ancient wise + one. And long hours they talked together,—strong youth and hoariest + age; and each was glad that in the other he had found some source of hope + and comfort. And they talked of the great midworld, and of the starry dome + above it, and of the seas which gird it, and of the men who live upon it. + All night long they talked, and in the morning Siegfried arose to go. + </p> + <p> + “Thou hast not told me of thy errand,” said Gripir; “but I know what it + is. Come first with me, and see this great mid-world for thyself.” + </p> + <p> + Then Gripir, leaning on his staff, led the way out of the great hall, and + up to the top of the highest mountain-crag. And the wild eagles circled in + the clear, cold air above them; and far below them the white waves dashed + against the mountain’s feet; and the frosty winds swept around them + unchecked, bringing to their ears the lone lamenting of the north giants, + moaning for the days that had been and for the glories that were past. + Then Siegfried looked to the north, and he saw the dark mountain-wall of + Norway trending away in solemn grandeur towards the frozen sea, but broken + here and there by sheltering fjords, and pleasant, sunny dales. He looked + to the east, and saw a great forest stretching away and away until it + faded to sight in the blue distance. He looked to the south, and saw a + pleasant land, with farms and vineyards, and towns and strong-built + castles; and through it wound the River Rhine, like a great white serpent, + reaching from the snow-capped Alps to the northern sea. And he saw his + father’s little kingdom of the Netherlands lying like a green speck on the + shore of the ocean. Then he looked to the west, and nothing met his sight + but a wilderness of rolling, restless waters, save, in the far distance, a + green island half hidden by sullen mists and clouds. And Siegfried sighed, + and said,— + </p> + <p> + “The world is so wide, and the life of man so short!” + </p> + <p> + “The world is all before thee,” answered Gripir. “Take what the Norns have + allotted thee. Choose from my pastures a battle-steed, and ride forth to + win for thyself a name and fame among the sons of men.” + </p> + <p> + Then Siegfried ran down the steep side of the mountain to the grassy dell + where the horses were feeding. But the beasts were all so fair and strong, + that he knew not which to choose. While he paused, uncertain what to do, a + strange man stood before him. Tall and handsome was the man, with one + bright eye, and a face beaming like the dawn in summer; and upon his head + he wore a sky-blue hood bespangled with golden stars, and over his + shoulder was thrown a cloak of ashen gray. + </p> + <p> + “Would you choose a horse, Sir Siegfried?” asked the stranger. + </p> + <p> + “Indeed I would,” answered he. “But it is hard to make a choice among so + many.” + </p> + <p> + “There is one in the meadow,” said the man, “far better than all the rest. + They say that he came from Odin’s pastures on the green hill-slopes of + Asgard, and that none but the noblest shall ride him.” + </p> + <p> + “Which is he?” asked Siegfried. + </p> + <p> + “Drive the herd into the river,” was the answer, “and then see if you can + pick him out.” + </p> + <p> + And Siegfried and the stranger drove the horses down the sloping bank, and + into the rolling stream; but the flood was too strong for them. Some soon + turned back to the shore; while others, struggling madly, were swept away, + and carried out to the sea. Only one swam safely over. He shook the + dripping water from his mane, tossed his head in the air, and then plunged + again into the stream. Right bravely he stemmed the torrent the second + time. He clambered up the shelving bank, and stood by Siegfried’s side. + </p> + <p> + “What need to tell you that this is the horse?” said the stranger. “Take + him: he is yours. He is Greyfell, the shining hope that Odin sends to his + chosen heroes.” + </p> + <p> + And then Siegfried noticed that the horse’s mane glimmered and flashed + like a thousand rays from the sun, and that his coat was as white and + clear as the fresh-fallen snow on the mountains. He turner to speak to the + stranger, but he was nowhere to be seen and Siegfried bethought him how he + had talked with Odin unawares. Then he mounted the noble Greyfell and rode + with a light heart across the flowery meadows. + </p> + <p> + “Whither ridest thou?” cried Gripir the ancient, from his doorway among + the crags. + </p> + <p> + “I ride into the wide world,” said Siegfried; “but I know not whither. I + would right the wrong, and help the weak, and make myself a name on the + earth, as did my kinsmen of yore. Tell me, I pray you, where I shall go; + for you are wise, and you know the things which have been, and those which + shall befall.” + </p> + <p> + “Ride back to Regin, the master of masters,” answered Gripir. “He will + tell thee of a wrong to be righted.” + </p> + <p> + And the ancient son of the giants withdrew into his lonely abode; and + Siegfried, on the shining Greyfell, rode swiftly away towards the south. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Adventure III. The Curse of Gold. + </h2> + <p> + Forth then rode Siegfried, upon the beaming Greyfell, out into the broad + mid-world. And the sun shone bright above him, and the air was soft and + pure, and the earth seemed very lovely, and life a gladsome thing. And his + heart was big within him as he thought of the days to come, of the deeds + of love and daring, of the righting of many wrongs, of the people’s + praise, and the glory of a life well lived. And he wended his way back + again toward the south and the fair lands of the Rhine. He left the barren + moorlands behind him, and the pleasant farms and villages of the fruitful + countryside, and after many days came once more to Regin’s woodland + dwelling. For he said to himself, “My old master is very wise; and he + knows of the deeds that were done when yet the world was young, and my kin + were the mightiest of men. I will go to him, and learn what grievous evil + it is that he has so often vaguely hinted at.” + </p> + <p> + Regin, when he saw the lad and the beaming Greyfell standing like a vision + of light at his door, welcomed them most gladly, and led Siegfried into + the inner room, where they sat down together amid the gold, and the + gem-stones, and the fine-wrought treasures there. + </p> + <p> + “Truly,” said the master, “the days of my long waiting are drawing to a + close, and at last the deed shall be done.” + </p> + <p> + And the old look of longing came again into his eyes, and his pinched face + seemed darker and more wrinkled than before, and his thin lips trembled + with emotion as he spoke. + </p> + <p> + “What is that deed of which you speak?” asked Siegfried. + </p> + <p> + “It is the righting of a grievous wrong,” answered Regin, “and the winning + of treasures untold. Lo, many years have I waited for the coming of this + day; and now my heart tells me that the hero so long hoped for is here, + and the wisdom and the wealth of the world shall be mine.” + </p> + <p> + “But what is the wrong to be righted?” asked Siegfried. “And what is this + treasure that you speak of as your own?” + </p> + <p> + “Alas!” answered Regin, “the treasure is indeed mine; and yet wrongfully + has it been withheld from me. But listen a while to a tale of the early + days, and thou shalt know what the treasure is, and what is the wrong to + be righted.” + </p> + <p> + He took his harp and swept the strings, and played a soft, low melody + which told of the dim past, and of blighted hopes, and of a nameless, + never-satisfied yearning for that which might have been. And then he told + Siegfried this story: + </p> + <p> + Regin’s Story. + </p> + <p> + When the earth was still very young, and men were feeble and few, and the + Dwarfs were many and strong, the Asa-folk were wont oft-times to leave + their halls in heaven-towering Asgard in order to visit the new-formed + mid-world, and to see what the short-lived sons of men were doing. + Sometimes they came in their own godlike splendor and might; sometimes + they came disguised as feeble men-folk, with all man’s weaknesses and all + his passions. Sometimes Odin, as a beggar, wandered from one country to + another, craving charity; sometimes, as a warrior clad in coat of mail, he + rode forth to battle for the cause of right; or as a minstrel he sang from + door to door, and played sweet music in the halls of the great; or as a + huntsman he dashed through brakes and fens, and into dark forests, and + climbed steep mountains in search of game; or as a sailor he embarked upon + the sea, and sought new scenes in unknown lands. And many times did + men-folk entertain him unawares. + </p> + <p> + Once on a time he came to the mid-world in company with Hoenir and Loki; + and the three wandered through many lands and in many climes, each giving + gifts wherever they went. Odin gave knowledge and strength, and taught men + how to read the mystic runes; Hoenir gave gladness and good cheer, and + lightened many hearts with the glow of his comforting presence; but Loki + had nought to give but cunning deceit and base thoughts, and he left + behind him bitter strife and many aching breasts. At last, growing tired + of the fellowship of men, the three Asas sought the solitude of the + forest, and as huntsmen wandered long among the hills and over the wooded + heights of Hunaland. Late one afternoon they came to a mountain-stream at + a place where it poured over a ledge of rocks, and fell in clouds of spray + into a rocky gorge below. As they stood, and with pleased eyes gazed upon + the waterfall, they saw near the bank an otter lazily making ready to eat + a salmon which he had caught. And Loki, ever bent on doing mischief, + hurled a stone at the harmless beast, and killed it. And he boasted loudly + that he had done a worthy deed. And he took both the otter, and the fish + which it had caught, and carried them with him as trophies of the day’s + success. + </p> + <p> + Just at nightfall the three huntsmen came to a lone farmhouse in the + valley, and asked for food, and for shelter during the night. + </p> + <p> + “Shelter you shall have,” said the farmer, whose name was Hreidmar, “for + the rising clouds foretell a storm. But food I have none to give you. + Surely huntsmen of skill should not want for food; since the forest teems + with game, and the streams are full of fish.” + </p> + <p> + Then Loki threw upon the ground the otter and the fish, and said, “We have + sought in both forest and stream, and we have taken from them at one blow + both flesh and fish. Give us but the shelter you promise, and we will not + trouble you for food.” + </p> + <p> + The farmer gazed with horror upon the lifeless body of the otter, and + cried out, “This creature which you mistook for an otter, and which you + have robbed and killed, is my son Oddar, who for mere pastime had taken + the form of the furry beast. You are but thieves and murderers!” + </p> + <p> + Then he called loudly for help: and his two sons Fafnir and Regin, sturdy + and valiant kin of the dwarf-folk, rushed in, and seized upon the + huntsmen, and bound them hand and foot; for the three Asas, having taken + upon themselves the forms of men, had no more than human strength, and + were unable to withstand them. + </p> + <p> + Then Odin and his fellows bemoaned their ill fate. And Loki said, + “Wherefore did we foolishly take upon ourselves the likenesses of puny + men? Had I my own power once more, I would never part with it in exchange + for man’s weaknesses.” + </p> + <p> + And Hoenir sighed, and said, “Now, indeed, will darkness win: and the + frosty breath of the Reimthursen giants will blast the fair handiwork of + the sunlight and the heat; for the givers of life and light and warmth are + helpless prisoners in the hands of these cunning and unforgiving jailers.” + </p> + <p> + “Surely,” said Odin, “not even the highest are free from obedience to + heaven’s behests and the laws of right. I, whom men call the Preserver of + Life, have demeaned myself by being found in evil company; and, although I + have done no other wrong, I suffer rightly for the doings of this + mischief-maker with whom I have stooped to have fellowship. For all are + known, not so much by what they are as by what they seem to be, and they + bear the bad name which their comrades bear. Now I am fallen from my high + estate. Eternal right is higher than I. And in the last Twilight of the + gods I must needs meet the dread Fenris-wolf, and in the end the world + will be made new again, and the shining Balder will rule in sunlight + majesty forever.” + </p> + <p> + Then the Asas asked Hreidmar, their jailer, what ransom they should pay + for their freedom; and he, not knowing who they were, said, “I must first + know what ransom you are able to give.” + </p> + <p> + “We will give any thing you may ask,” hastily answered Loki. + </p> + <p> + Hreidmar then called his sons, and bade them strip the skin from the + otter’s body. When this was done, they brought the furry hide and spread + it upon the ground; and Hreidmar said, “Bring shining gold and precious + stones enough to cover every part of this otter-skin. When you have paid + so much ransom, you shall have your freedom.” + </p> + <p> + “That we will do,” answered Odin. “But one of us must have leave to go and + fetch it: the other two will stay fast bound until the morning dawns. If, + by that time, the gold is not here, you may do with us as you please.” + </p> + <p> + Hreidmar and the two young men agreed to Odin’s offer; and, lots being + cast, it fell to Loki to go and fetch the treasure. When he had been + loosed from the cords which bound him, Loki donned his magic shoes, which + had carried him over land and sea from the farthest bounds of the + mid-world, and hastened away upon his errand. And he sped with the + swiftness of light, over the hills and the wooded slopes, and the deep + dark valleys, and the fields and forests and sleeping hamlets, until he + came to the place where dwelt the swarthy elves and the cunning dwarf + Andvari. There the River Rhine, no larger than a meadow-brook, breaks + forth from beneath a mountain of ice, which the Frost giants and blind old + Hoder, the Winter-king, had built long years before; for they had vainly + hoped that they might imprison the river at its fountain-head. But the + baby-brook had eaten its way beneath the frozen mass, and had sprung out + from its prison, and gone on, leaping and smiling, and kissing the + sunlight, in its ever-widening course towards Burgundy and the sea. + </p> + <p> + Loki came to this place, because he knew that here was the home of the + elves who had laid up the greatest hoard of treasures ever known in the + mid-world. He scanned with careful eyes the mountain-side, and the deep, + rocky caverns, and the dark gorge through which the little river rushed; + but in the dim moonlight not a living being could he see, save a lazy + salmon swimming in the quieter eddies of the stream. Any one but Loki + would have lost all hope of finding treasure there, at least before the + dawn of day; but his wits were quick, and his eyes were very sharp. + </p> + <p> + “One salmon has brought us into this trouble, and another shall help us + out of it!” he cried. + </p> + <p> + Then, swift as thought, he sprang again into the air; and the magic shoes + carried him with greater speed than before down the Rhine valley, and + through Burgundy-land, and the low meadows, until he came to the shores of + the great North Sea. He sought the halls of old AEgir, the Ocean-king; but + he wist not which way to go,—whether across the North Sea towards + Isenland, or whether along the narrow channel between Britain-land and the + main. While he paused, uncertain where to turn, he saw the pale-haired + daughters of old AEgir, the white-veiled Waves, playing in the moonlight + near the shore. Of them he asked the way to AEgir’s hall. + </p> + <p> + “Seven days’ journey westward,” said they, “beyond the green Isle of Erin, + is our father’s hall. Seven days’ journey northward, on the bleak + Norwegian shore, is our father’s hall.” + </p> + <p> + And they stopped not once in their play, but rippled and danced on the + shelving beach, or dashed with force against the shore. + </p> + <p> + “Where is your mother Ran, the Queen of the Ocean?” asked Loki. + </p> + <p> + And they answered,— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “In the deep sea-caves + By the sounding shore, + In the dashing waves + When the wild storms roar, + In her cold green bowers + In the northern fiords, + She lurks and she glowers, + She grasps and she hoards, + And she spreads her strong net for her prey.” + </pre> + <p> + Loki waited to hear no more; but he sprang into the air, and the magic + shoes carried him onwards over the water in search of the Ocean-queen. He + had not gone far when his sharp eyes espied her, lurking near a rocky + shore against which the breakers dashed with frightful fury. Half hidden + in the deep dark water, she lay waiting and watching; and she spread her + cunning net upon the waves, and reached out with her long greedy fingers + to seize whatever booty might come near her. + </p> + <p> + When the wary queen saw Loki, she hastily drew in her net, and tried to + hide herself in the shadows of an overhanging rock. But Loki called her by + name, and said,— + </p> + <p> + “Sister Ran, fear not! I am your friend Loki, whom once you served as a + guest in AEgir’s gold-lit halls.” + </p> + <p> + Then the Ocean-queen came out into the bright moonlight, and welcomed Loki + to her domain, and asked, “Why does Loki thus wander so far from Asgard, + and over the trackless waters?” + </p> + <p> + And Loki answered, “I have heard of the net which you spread upon the + waves, and from which no creature once caught in its meshes can ever + escape. I have found a salmon where the Rhine-spring gushes from beneath + the mountains, and a very cunning salmon he is for no common skill can + catch him. Come, I pray, with your wondrous net, and cast it into the + stream where he lies. Do but take the wary fish for me, and you shall have + more gold than you have taken in a year from the wrecks of stranded + vessels.” + </p> + <p> + “I dare not go,” cried Ran. “A bound is set, beyond which I may not + venture. If all the gold of earth were offered me, I could not go.” + </p> + <p> + “Then lend me your net,” entreated Loki. “Lend me your net, and I will + bring it back to-morrow filled with gold.” + </p> + <p> + “Much I would like your gold,” answered Ran; “but I cannot lend my net. + Should I do so, I might lose the richest prize that has ever come into my + husband’s kingdom. For three days, now, a gold-rigged ship, bearing a + princely crew with rich armor and abundant wealth, has been sailing + carelessly over these seas. To-morrow I shall send my daughters and the + bewitching mermaids to decoy the vessel among the rocks. And into my net + the ship, and the brave warriors, and all their armor and gold, shall + fall. A rich prize it will be. No: I cannot part with my net, even for a + single hour.” + </p> + <p> + But Loki knew the power of flattering words. + </p> + <p> + “Beautiful queen,” said he, “there is no one on earth, nor even in Asgard, + who can equal you in wisdom and foresight. Yet I promise you, that, if you + will but lend me your net until the morning dawns, the ship and the crew + of which you speak shall be yours, and all their golden treasures shall + deck your azure halls in the deep sea.” + </p> + <p> + Then Ran carefully folded the net, and gave it to Loki. + </p> + <p> + “Remember your promise,” was all that she said. + </p> + <p> + “An Asa never forgets,” he answered. + </p> + <p> + And he turned his face again towards Rhineland; and the magic shoes bore + him aloft, and carried him in a moment back to the ice-mountain and the + gorge and the infant river, which he had so lately left. The salmon still + rested in his place, and had not moved during Loki’s short absence. + </p> + <p> + Loki unfolded the net, and cast it into the stream. The cunning fish tried + hard to avoid being caught in its meshes; but, dart which way he would, he + met the skilfully woven cords, and these drew themselves around him, and + held him fast. Then Loki pulled the net up out of the water, and grasped + the helpless fish in his right hand. But, lo! as he held the struggling + creature high in the air, it was no longer a fish, but the cunning dwarf + Andvari. + </p> + <p> + “Thou King of the Elves,” cried Loki, “thy cunning has not saved thee. + Tell me, on thy life, where thy hidden treasures lie!” + </p> + <p> + The wise dwarf knew who it was that thus held him as in a vise; and he + answered frankly, for it was his only hope of escape, “Turn over the stone + upon which you stand. Beneath it you will find the treasure you seek.” + </p> + <p> + Then Loki put his shoulder to the rock, and pushed with all his might. But + it seemed as firm as the mountain, and would not be moved. + </p> + <p> + “Help us, thou cunning dwarf,” he cried,—“help us, and thou shalt + have thy life!” + </p> + <p> + The dwarf put his shoulder to the rock, and it turned over as if by magic, + and underneath was disclosed a wondrous chamber, whose walls shone + brighter than the sun, and on whose floor lay treasures of gold and + glittering gem-stones such as no man had ever seen. And Loki, in great + haste, seized upon the hoard, and placed it in the magic net which he had + borrowed from the Ocean-queen. Then he came out of the chamber; and + Andvari again put his shoulder to the rock which lay at the entrance, and + it swung back noiselessly to its place. + </p> + <p> + “What is that upon thy finger?” suddenly cried Loki. “Wouldst keep back a + part of the treasure? Give me the ring thou hast!” + </p> + <p> + But the dwarf shook his head, and made answer, “I have given thee all the + riches that the elves of the mountain have gathered since the world began. + This ring I cannot give thee, for without its help we shall never be able + to gather more treasures together.” + </p> + <p> + And Loki grew angry at these words of the dwarf; and he seized the ring, + and tore it by force from Andvari’s fingers. It was a wondrous little + piece of mechanism shaped like a serpent, coiled, with its tail in its + mouth; and its scaly sides glittered with many a tiny diamond, and its + ruby eyes shone with an evil light. When the dwarf knew that Loki really + meant to rob him of the ring, he cursed it and all who should ever possess + it, saying,— + </p> + <p> + “May the ill-gotten treasure that you have seized tonight be your bane, + and the bane of all to whom it may come, whether by fair means or by foul! + And the ring which you have torn from my hand, may it entail upon the one + who wears it sorrow and untold ills, the loss of friends, and a violent + death! The Norns have spoken, and thus it must be.” + </p> + <p> + Loki was pleased with these words, and with the dark curses which the + dwarf pronounced upon the gold; for he loved wrong-doing, for + wrong-doing’s sake, and he knew that no curses could ever make his own + life more cheerless than it always had been. So he thanked Andvari for his + curses and his treasures; and, throwing the magic net upon his shoulder, + he sprang again into the air, and was carried swiftly back to Hunaland; + and, just before the dawn appeared in the east, he alighted at the door of + the farmhouse where Odin and Hoenir still lay bound with thongs, and + guarded by Fafnir and Regin. + </p> + <p> + Then the farmer, Hreidmar, brought the otter’s skin, and spread it upon + the ground; and, lo! it grew, and spread out on all sides, until it + covered an acre of ground. And he cried out, “Fulfil now your promise! + Cover every hair of this hide with gold or with precious stones. If you + fail to do this, then your lives, by your own agreement, are forfeited, + and we shall do with you as we list.” + </p> + <p> + Odin took the magic net from Loki’s shoulder; and opening it, he poured + the treasures of the mountain elves upon the otter-skin. And Loki and + Hoenir spread the yellow pieces carefully and evenly over every part of + the furry hide. But, after every piece had been laid in its place; + Hreidmar saw near the otter’s mouth a single hair uncovered; and he + declared, that unless this hair, too, were covered, the bargain would be + unfulfilled, and the treasures and lives of his prisoners would be + forfeited. And the Asas looked at each other in dismay; for not another + piece of gold, and not another precious stone, could they find in the net, + although they searched with the greatest care. At last Odin took from his + bosom the ring which Loki had stolen from the dwarf; for he had been so + highly pleased with its form and workmanship, that he had hidden it, + hoping that it would not be needed to complete the payment of the ransom. + And they laid the ring upon the uncovered hair. And now no portion of the + otter’s skin could be seen. And Fafnir and Regin, the ransom being paid, + loosed the shackles of Odin and Hoenir, and bade the three huntsmen go on + their way. + </p> + <p> + Odin and Hoenir at once shook off their human disguises, and, taking their + own forms again, hastened with all speed back to Asgard. But Loki tarried + a little while, and said to Hreidmar and his sons,— + </p> + <p> + “By your greediness and falsehood you have won for yourselves the Curse of + the Earth, which lies before you. It shall be your bane. It shall be the + bane of every one who holds it. It shall kindle strife between father and + son, between brother and brother. It shall make you mean, selfish, + beastly. It shall transform you into monsters. The noblest king among + men-folk shall feel its curse. Such is gold, and such it shall ever be to + its worshippers. And the ring which you have gotten shall impart to its + possessor its own nature. Grasping, snaky, cold, unfeeling, shall he live; + and death through treachery shall be his doom.” + </p> + <p> + Then he turned away, delighted that he had thus left the curse of Andvari + with Hreidmar and his sons, and hastened northward toward the sea; for he + wished to redeem the promise that he had made to the Ocean-queen, to bring + back her magic net, and to decoy the richly laden ship into her clutches. + </p> + <p> + No sooner were the strange huntsmen well out of sight than Fafnir and + Regin began to ask their father to divide the glittering hoard with them. + </p> + <p> + “By our strength and through our advice,” said they, “this great store has + come into your hands. Let us place it in three equal heaps, and then let + each take his share and go his way.” + </p> + <p> + At this the farmer waxed very angry; and he loudly declared that he would + keep all the treasure for himself, and that his sons should not have any + portion of it whatever. So Fafnir and Regin, nursing their disappointment, + went to the fields to watch their sheep; but their father sat down to + guard his new-gotten treasure. And he took in his hand the glittering + serpent-ring, and gazed into its cold ruby eyes: and, as he gazed, all his + thoughts were fixed upon his gold; and there was no room in his heart for + love toward his fellows, nor for deeds of kindness, nor for the worship of + the All-Father. And behold, as he continued to look at the snaky ring, a + dreadful change came over him. The warm red blood, which until that time + had leaped through his veins, and given him life and strength and human + feelings, became purple and cold and sluggish; and selfishness, like + serpent-poison, took hold of his heart. Then, as he kept on gazing at the + hoard which lay before him, he began to lose his human shape; his body + lengthened into many scaly folds, and he coiled himself around his loved + treasures,—the very likeness of the ring upon which he had looked so + long. + </p> + <p> + When the day drew near its close, Fafnir came back from the fields with + his herd of sheep, and thought to find his father guarding the treasure, + as he had left him in the morning; but instead he saw a glittering snake, + fast asleep, encircling the hoard like a huge scaly ring of gold. His + first thought was that the monster had devoured his father; and, hastily + drawing his sword, with one blow he severed the serpent’s head from its + body. And, while yet the creature writhed in the death-agony, he gathered + up the hoard, and fled with it beyond the hills of Hunaland, until on the + seventh day he came to a barren heath far from the homes of men. There he + placed the treasures in one glittering heap; and he clothed himself in a + wondrous mail-coat of gold that was found among them, and he put on the + Helmet of Dread, which had once been the terror of the mid-world, and the + like of which no man had ever seen; and then he gazed with greedy eyes + upon the fateful ring, until he, too, was changed into a cold and slimy + reptile,—a monster dragon. And he coiled himself about the hoard; + and, with his restless eyes forever open, he gloated day after day upon + his loved gold, and watched with ceaseless care that no one should come + near to despoil him of it. This was ages and ages ago; and still he + wallows among his treasures on the Glittering Heath, and guards as of yore + the garnered wealth of Andvari.[EN#10] + </p> + <p> + When I, Regin, the younger brother, came back in the late evening to my + father’s dwelling, I saw that the treasure had been carried away; and, + when I beheld the dead serpent lying in its place, I knew that a part of + Andvari’s curse had been fulfilled. And a strange fear came over me; and I + left every thing behind me, and fled from that dwelling, never more to + return. Then I came to the land of the Volsungs, where your father’s + fathers dwelt, the noblest king-folk that the world has ever seen. But a + longing for the gold and the treasure, a hungry yearning, that would never + be satisfied, filled my soul. Then for a time I sought to forget this + craving. I spent my days in the getting of knowledge and in teaching + men-folk the ancient lore of my kin, the Dwarfs. I taught them how to + plant and to sow, and to reap the yellow grain. I showed them where the + precious metals of the earth lie hidden, and how to smelt iron from its + ores,—how to shape the ploughshare and the spade, the spear and the + battle-axe. I taught them how to tame the wild horses of the meadows, and + how to train the yoke-beasts to the plough; how to build lordly dwellings + and mighty strongholds, and how to sail in ships across old AEgir’s watery + kingdom. But they gave me no thanks for what I had done; and as the years + went by they forgot who had been their teacher, and they said that it was + Frey who had given them this knowledge and skill. And I taught the young + maidens how to spin and weave, and to handle the needle deftly,—to + make rich garments, and to work in tapestry and embroidery. But they, too, + forgot me, and said that it was Freyja who had taught them. Then I showed + men how to read the mystic runes aright, and how to make the sweet + beverage of poetry, that charms all hearts, and enlightens the world. But + they say now that they had these gifts from Odin. I taught them how to + fashion the tales of old into rich melodious songs, and with music and + sweet-mouthed eloquence to move the minds of their fellow-men. But they + say that Bragi taught them this; and they remember me only as Regin, the + elfin schoolmaster, or at best as Mimer, the master of smiths. At length + my heart grew bitter because of the neglect and ingratitude of men; and + the old longing for Andvari’s hoard came back to me, and I forgot much of + my cunning and lore. But I lived on and on, and generations of short-lived + men arose and passed, and still the hoard was not mine; for I was weak, + and no man was strong enough to help me. + </p> + <p> + Then I sought wisdom of the Norns, the weird women who weave the woof of + every creature’s fate.[EN#6] and [EN#7] + </p> + <p> + “How long,” asked I, “must I hope and wait in weary expectation of that + day when the wealth of the world and the garnered wisdom of the ages shall + be mine?” + </p> + <p> + And the witches answered, “When a prince of the Volsung race shall come + who shall excel thee in the smithying craft, and to whom the All-Father + shall give the Shining Hope as a helper, then the days of thy weary + watching, shall cease.” + </p> + <p> + “How long,” asked I, “shall I live to enjoy this wealth and this wisdom, + and to walk as a god among men? Shall I be long-lived as the Asa-folk, and + dwell on the earth until the last Twilight comes?” + </p> + <p> + “It is written,” answered Skuld, “that a beardless youth shall see thy + death. But go thou now, and bide thy time.” + </p> + <p> + Here Regin ended his story, and both he and Siegfried sat for a long time + silent and thoughtful. + </p> + <p> + “I know what you wish,” said Siegfried at last. “You think that I am the + prince of whom the weird sisters spoke; and you would have me slay the + dragon Fafnir, and win for you the hoard of Andvari.” + </p> + <p> + “It is even so,” answered Regin. + </p> + <p> + “But the hoard is accursed,” said the lad. + </p> + <p> + “Let the curse be upon me,” was the answer. “Is not the wisdom of the ages + mine? And think you that I cannot escape the curse? Is there aught that + can prevail against him who has all knowledge and the wealth of the world + at his call?” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing but the word of the Norns and the will of the All-Father,” + answered Siegfried. + </p> + <p> + “But will you help me?” asked Regin, almost wild with earnestness. “Will + you help me to win that which is rightfully mine, and to rid the world of + a horrible evil?” + </p> + <p> + “Why is the hoard of Andvari more thine than Fafnir’s?” + </p> + <p> + “He is a monster, and he keeps the treasure but to gloat upon its + glittering richness. I will use it to make myself a name upon the earth. I + will not hoard it away. But I am weak, and he is strong and terrible. Will + you help me?” + </p> + <p> + “To-morrow,” said Siegfried, “be ready to go with me to the Glittering + Heath. The treasure shall be thine, and also the curse.” + </p> + <p> + “And also the curse,” echoed Regin. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Adventure IV. Fafnir, the Dragon. + </h2> + <p> + Regin took up his harp, and his fingers smote the strings; and the music + which came forth sounded like the wail of the winter’s wind through the + dead treetops of the forest. And the song which he sang was full of grief + and wild hopeless yearning for the things which were not to be. When he + had ceased, Siegfried said,— + </p> + <p> + “That was indeed a sorrowful song for one to sing who sees his hopes so + nearly realized. Why are you so sad? Is it because you fear the curse + which you have taken upon yourself? or is it because you know not what you + will do with so vast a treasure, and its possession begins already to + trouble you?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, many are the things I will do with that treasure!” answered Regin; + and his eyes flashed wildly, and his face grew red and pale. “I will turn + winter into summer; I will make the desert-places glad; I will bring back + the golden age; I will make myself a god: for mine shall be the wisdom and + the gathered wealth of the world. And yet I fear”— + </p> + <p> + “What do you fear?” + </p> + <p> + “The ring, the ring—it is accursed! The Norns, too, have spoken, and + my doom is known. I cannot escape it.” + </p> + <p> + “The Norns have woven the woof of every man’s life,” answered Siegfried. + “To-morrow we fare to the Glittering Heath, and the end shall be as the + Norns have spoken.” + </p> + <p> + And so, early the next morning, Siegfried mounted Greyfell, and rode out + towards the desert-land that lay beyond the forest and the barren + mountain-range; and Regin, his eyes flashing with desire, and his feet + never tiring, trudged by his side. For seven days they wended their way + through the thick greenwood, sleeping at night on the bare ground beneath + the trees, while the wolves and other wild beasts of the forest filled the + air with their hideous howlings. But no evil creature dared come near + them, for fear of the shining beams of light which fell from Greyfell’s + gleaming mane. On the eighth day they came to the open country and to the + hills, where the land was covered with black bowlders and broken by + yawning chasms. And no living thing was seen there, not even an insect, + nor a blade of grass; and the silence of the grave was over all. And the + earth was dry and parched, and the sun hung above them like a painted + shield in a blue-black sky, and there was neither shade nor water + anywhere. But Siegfried rode onwards in the way which Regin pointed out, + and faltered not, although he grew faint with thirst and with the + overpowering heat. Towards the evening of the next day they came to a dark + mountain-wall which stretched far out on either hand, and rose high above + them, so steep that it seemed to close up the way, and to forbid them + going farther. + </p> + <p> + “This is the wall!” cried Regin. “Beyond this mountain is the Glittering + Heath, and the goal of all my hopes.” + </p> + <p> + And the little old man ran forwards, and scaled the rough side of the + mountain, and reached its summit, while Siegfried and Greyfell were yet + toiling among the rocks at its foot. Slowly and painfully they climbed the + steep ascent, sometimes following a narrow path which wound along the edge + of a precipice, sometimes leaping, from rock to rock, or over some deep + gorge, and sometimes picking their way among the crags and cliffs. The sun + at last went down, and one by one the stars came out; and the moon was + rising, round and red, when Siegfried stood by Regin’s side, and gazed + from the mountain-top down upon the Glittering Heath which lay beyond. And + a strange, weird scene it was that met his sight. At the foot of the + mountain was a river, white and cold and still; and beyond it was a smooth + and barren plain, lying silent and lonely in the pale moonlight. But in + the distance was seen a circle of flickering flames, ever changing,—now + growing brighter, now fading away, and now shining with a dull, cold + light, like the glimmer of the glow-worm or the fox-fire. And as Siegfried + gazed upon the scene, he saw the dim outline of some hideous monster + moving hither and thither, and seeming all the more terrible in the + uncertain light. + </p> + <p> + “It is he!” whispered Regin, and his lips were ashy pale, and his knees + trembled beneath him. “It is Fafnir, and he wears the Helmet of Terror! + Shall we not go back to the smithy by the great forest, and to the life of + ease and safety that may be ours there? Or will you rather dare to go + forwards, and meet the Terror in its abode?” + </p> + <p> + “None but cowards give up an undertaking once begun,” answered Siegfried. + “Go back to Rhineland yourself, if you are afraid; but you must go alone. + You have brought me thus far to meet the dragon of the heath, to win the + hoard of the swarthy elves, and to rid the world of a terrible evil. + Before the setting of another sun, the deed which you have urged me to do + will be done.” + </p> + <p> + Then he dashed down the eastern slope of the mountain, leaving Greyfell + and the trembling Regin behind him. Soon he stood on the banks of the + white river, which lay between the mountain and the heath; but the stream + was deep and sluggish, and the channel was very wide. He paused a moment, + wondering how he should cross; and the air seemed heavy with deadly + vapors, and the water was thick and cold. While he thus stood in thought, + a boat came silently out of the mists, and drew near; and the boatman + stood up and called to him, and said,— + </p> + <p> + “What man are you who dares come into this land of loneliness and fear?” + </p> + <p> + “I am Siegfried,” answered the lad; “and I have come to slay Fafnir, the + Terror.” + </p> + <p> + “Sit in my boat,” said the boatman, “and I will carry you across the + river.” + </p> + <p> + And Siegfried sat by the boatman’s side; and without the use of an oar, + and without a breath of air to drive it forwards, the little vessel + turned, and moved silently towards the farther shore. + </p> + <p> + “In what way will you fight the dragon?” asked the boatman. + </p> + <p> + “With my trusty sword Balmung I shall slay him,” answered Siegfried. + </p> + <p> + “But he wears the Helmet of Terror, and he breathes deathly poisons, and + his eyes dart forth lightning, and no man can withstand his strength,” + said the boatman. + </p> + <p> + “I will find some way by which to overcome him.” + </p> + <p> + “Then be wise, and listen to me,” said the boatman. “As you go up from the + river you will find a road, worn deep and smooth, starting from the + water’s edge, and winding over the moor. It is the trail of Fafnir, adown + which he comes at dawn of every day to slake his thirst at the river. Do + you dig a pit in this roadway,—a pit narrow and deep,—and hide + yourself within it. In the morning, when Fafnir passes over it, let him + feel the edge of Balmung.” + </p> + <p> + As the man ceased speaking, the boat touched the shore, and Siegfried + leaped out. He looked back to thank his unknown friend, but neither boat + nor boatman was to be seen. Only a thin white mist rose slowly from the + cold surface of the stream, and floated upwards and away towards the + mountain-tops. Then the lad remembered that the strange boatman had worn a + blue hood bespangled with golden stars, and that a gray kirtle was thrown + over his shoulders, and that his one eye glistened and sparkled with a + light that was more than human. And he knew that he had again talked with + Odin. Then, with a braver heart than before, he went forwards, along the + river-bank, until he came to Fafnir’s trail,—a deep, wide furrow in + the earth, beginning at the river’s bank, and winding far away over the + heath, until it was lost to sight in the darkness. The bottom of the trail + was soft and slimy, and its sides had been worn smooth by Fafnir’s + frequent travel through it. + </p> + <p> + In this road, at a point not far from the river, Siegfried, with his + trusty sword Balmung, scooped out a deep and narrow pit, as Odin had + directed. And when the gray dawn began to appear in the east he hid + himself within this trench, and waited for the coming of the monster. He + had not long to wait; for no sooner had the sky begun to redden in the + light of the coming sun than the dragon was heard bestirring himself. + Siegfried peeped warily from his hiding-place, and saw him coming far down + the road, hurrying with all speed, that he might quench his thirst at the + sluggish river, and hasten back to his gold; and the sound which he made + was like the trampling of many feet and the jingling of many chains. With + bloodshot eyes, and gaping mouth, and flaming nostrils, the hideous + creature came rushing onwards. His sharp, curved claws dug deep into the + soft earth; and his bat-like wings, half trailing on the ground, half + flapping in the air, made a sound like that which is heard when Thor rides + in his goat-drawn chariot over the dark thunder-clouds. It was a terrible + moment for Siegfried, but still he was not afraid. He crouched low down in + his hiding-place, and the bare blade of the trusty Balmung glittered in + the morning light. On came the hastening feet and the flapping wings: the + red gleam from the monster’s flaming nostrils lighted up the trench where + Siegfried lay. He heard a roaring and a rushing like the sound of a + whirlwind in the forest; then a black, inky mass rolled above him, and all + was dark. Now was Siegfried’s opportunity. The bright edge of Balmung + gleamed in the darkness one moment, and then it smote the heart of Fafnir + as he passed. Some men say that Odin sat in the pit with Siegfried, and + strengthened his arm and directed his sword, or else he could not thus + have slain the Terror. But, be this as it may, the victory was soon won. + The monster stopped short, while but half of his long body had glided over + the pit; for sudden death had overtaken him. His horrid head fell lifeless + upon the ground; his cold wings flapped once, and then lay, quivering and + helpless, spread out on either side; and streams of thick black blood + flowed from his heart, through the wound beneath, and filled the trench in + which Siegfried was hidden, and ran like a mountain-torrent down the road + towards the river. Siegfried was covered from head to foot with the slimy + liquid, and, had he not quickly leaped from his hiding-place, he would + have been drowned in the swift-rushing, stream.[EN#11] + </p> + <p> + The bright sun rose in the east, and gilded the mountain-tops, and fell + upon the still waters of the river, and lighted up the treeless plains + around. The south wind played gently against Siegfried’s cheeks and in his + long hair, as he stood gazing on his fallen foe. And the sound of singing + birds, and rippling waters, and gay insects,—such as had not broken + the silence of the Glittering Heath for ages,—came to his ears. The + Terror was dead, and Nature had awakened from her sleep of dread. And as + the lad leaned upon his sword, and thought of the deed he had done, + behold! the shining Greyfell, with the beaming, hopeful mane, having + crossed the now bright river, stood by his side. And Regin, his face grown + wondrous cold, came trudging over the meadows; and his heart was full of + guile. Then the mountain vultures came wheeling downwards to look upon the + dead dragon; and with them were two ravens, black as midnight. And when + Siegfried saw these ravens he knew them to be Odin’s birds,—Hugin, + thought, and Munin, memory. And they alighted on the ground near by; and + the lad listened to hear what they would say. Then Hugin flapped his + wings, and said,— + </p> + <p> + “The deed is done. Why tarries the hero?” + </p> + <p> + And Munin said,— + </p> + <p> + “The world is wide. Fame waits for the hero.” + </p> + <p> + And Hugin answered,— + </p> + <p> + “What if he win the Hoard of the Elves? That is not honor. Let him seek + fame by nobler deeds.” + </p> + <p> + Then Munin flew past his ear, and whispered,— + </p> + <p> + “Beware of Regin, the master! His heart is poisoned. He would be thy + bane.” + </p> + <p> + And the two birds flew away to carry the news to Odin in the happy halls + of Gladsheim. + </p> + <p> + When Regin drew near to look upon the dragon, Siegfried kindly accosted + him: but he seemed not to hear; and a snaky glitter lurked in his eyes, + and his mouth was set and dry, and he seemed as one walking in a dream. + </p> + <p> + “It is mine now,” he murmured: “it is all mine, now,—the Hoard of + the swarthy elf-folk, the garnered wisdom of ages. The strength of the + world is mine. I will keep, I will save, I will heap up; and none shall + have part or parcel of the treasure which is mine alone.” + </p> + <p> + Then his eyes fell upon Siegfried; and his cheeks grew dark with wrath, + and he cried out,— + </p> + <p> + “Why are you here in my way? I am the lord of the Glittering Heath: I am + the master of the Hoard. I am the master, and you are my thrall.” + </p> + <p> + Siegfried wondered at the change which had taken place in his old master; + but he only smiled at his strange words, and made no answer. + </p> + <p> + “You have slain my brother!” Regin cried; and his face grew fearfully + black, and his mouth foamed with rage. + </p> + <p> + “It was my deed and yours,” calmly answered Siegfried. “I have rid the + world of a Terror: I have righted a grievous wrong.” + </p> + <p> + “You have slain my brother,” said Regin; “and a murderer’s ransom you + shall pay!” + </p> + <p> + “Take the Hoard for your ransom, and let us each wend his way,” said the + lad. + </p> + <p> + “The Hoard is mine by rights,” answered Regin still more wrathfully. “I am + the master, and you are my thrall. Why stand you in my way?” + </p> + <p> + Then, blinded with madness, he rushed at Siegfried as if to strike him + down; but his foot slipped in a puddle of gore, and he pitched headlong + against the sharp edge of Balmung. So sudden was this movement, and so + unlooked for, that the sword was twitched out of Siegfried’s hand, and + fell with a dull splash into the blood-filled pit before him; while Regin, + slain by his own rashness, sank dead upon the ground. Full of horror, + Siegfried turned away, and mounted Greyfell.[EN#12] + </p> + <p> + “This is a place of blood,” said he, “and the way to glory leads not + through it. Let the Hoard still lie on the Glittering Heath: I will go my + way from hence; and the world shall know me for better deeds than this.” + </p> + <p> + And he turned his back on the fearful scene, and rode away; and so swiftly + did Greyfell carry him over the desert land and the mountain waste, that, + when night came, they stood on the shore of the great North Sea, and the + white waves broke at their feet. And the lad sat for a long time silent + upon the warm white sand of the beach, and Greyfell waited at his side. + And he watched the stars as they came out one by one, and the moon, as it + rose round and pale, and moved like a queen across the sky. And the night + wore away, and the stars grew pale, and the moon sank to rest in the + wilderness of waters. And at day-dawn Siegfried looked towards the west, + and midway between sky and sea he thought he saw dark mountain-tops + hanging above a land of mists that seemed to float upon the edge of the + sea. + </p> + <p> + While he looked, a white ship, with sails all set, came speeding over the + waters towards him. It came nearer and nearer, and the sailors rested upon + their oars as it glided into the quiet harbor. A minstrel, with long white + beard floating in the wind, sat at the prow; and the sweet music from his + harp was wafted like incense to the shore. The vessel touched the sands: + its white sails were reefed as if by magic, and the crew leaped out upon + the beach. + </p> + <p> + “Hail, Siegfried the Golden!” cried the harper. “Whither do you fare this + summer day?” + </p> + <p> + “I have come from a land of horror and dread,” answered the lad; “and I + would fain fare to a brighter.” + </p> + <p> + “Then go with me to awaken the earth from its slumber, and to robe the + fields in their garbs of beauty,” said the harper. And he touched the + strings of his harp, and strains of the softest music arose in the still + morning air. And Siegfried stood entranced, for never before had he heard + such music. + </p> + <p> + “Tell me who you are!” he cried, when the sounds died away. “Tell me who + you are, and I will go to the ends of the earth with you.” + </p> + <p> + “I am Bragi,” answered the harper, smiling. And Siegfried noticed then + that the ship was laden with flowers of every hue, and that thousands of + singing birds circled around and above it, filling the air with the sound + of their glad twitterings. + </p> + <p> + Now, Bragi was the sweetest musician in all the world. It was said by some + that his home was with the song-birds, and that he had learned his skill + from them. But this was only part of the truth: for wherever there was + loveliness or beauty, or things noble and pure, there was Bragi; and his + wondrous power in music and song was but the outward sign of a blameless + soul. When he touched the strings of his golden harp, all Nature was + charmed with the sweet harmony: the savage beasts of the wood crept near + to listen; the birds paused in their flight; the waves of the sea were + becalmed, and the winds were hushed; the leaping waterfall was still, and + the rushing torrent tarried in its bed; the elves forgot their hidden + treasures, and joined in silent dance around him; and the strom-karls and + the musicians of the wood vainly tried to imitate him. And he was as fair + of speech as he was skilful in song. His words were so persuasive that he + had been known to call the fishes from the sea, to move great lifeless + rocks, and, what is harder, the hearts of kings. He understood the voice + of the birds, and the whispering of the breeze, the murmur of the waves, + and the roar of the waterfalls. He knew the length and breadth of the + earth, and the secrets of the sea, and the language of the stars. And + every day he talked with Odin the All-Father, and with the wise and good + in the sunlit halls of Gladsheim. And once every year he went to the + North-lands, and woke the earth from its long winter’s sleep, and + scattered music and smiles and beauty everywhere.[EN#13] + </p> + <p> + Right gladly did Siegfried agree to sail with Bragi over the sea; for he + wot that the bright Asa-god would be a very different guide from the + cunning, evil-eyed Regin. So he went on board with Bragi, and the gleaming + Greyfell followed them, and the sailors sat at their oars. And Bragi stood + in the prow, and touched the strings of his harp. And, as the music arose, + the white sails leaped up the masts, and a warm south breeze began to + blow; and the little vessel, wafted by sweet sounds and the incense of + spring, sped gladly away over the sea. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Adventure V. In AEgir’s Kingdom. + </h2> + <p> + The vessel in which Siegfried sailed was soon far out at sea; for the + balmy south wind, and the songs of the birds, and the music from Bragi’s + harp, all urged it cheerily on. And Siegfried sat at the helm, and guided + it in its course. By and by they lost all sight of land, and the sailors + wist not where they were; but they knew that Bragi, the Wise, would bring + them safely into some haven whenever it should so please him, and they + felt no fear. And the fishes leaped up out of the water as the white ship + sped by on woven wings; and the monsters of the deep paused, and listened + to the sweet music which floated down from above. After a time the vessel + began to meet great ice-mountains in the sea,—mountains which the + Reifriesen, and old Hoder, the King of the winter months, had sent + drifting down from the frozen land of the north. But these melted at the + sound of Bragi’s music and at the sight of Siegfried’s radiant armor. And + the cold breath of the Frost-giants, which had driven them in their + course, turned, and became the ally of the south wind. + </p> + <p> + At length they came in sight of a dark shore, which stretched on either + hand, north and south, as far as the eye could reach; and as they drew + nearer they saw a line of huge mountains, rising, as it were, out of the + water, and stretching their gray heads far above the clouds. And the + overhanging cliffs seemed to look down, half in anger, half in pity, upon + the little white winged vessel which had dared thus to sail through these + unknown waters. But the surface of the sea was smooth as glass; and the + gentle breeze drove the ship slowly forwards through the calm water, and + along the rock-bound coast, and within the dark shadows of the + mountain-peaks. Long ago the Frost-giants had piled great heaps of snow + upon these peaks, and built huge fortresses of ice between, and sought, + indeed, to clasp in their cold embrace the whole of the Norwegian land. + But the breezes of the South-land that came with Bragi’s ship now played + among the rocky steeps, and swept over the frozen slopes above, and melted + the snow and ice; and thousands of rivulets of half-frozen water ran down + the mountain-sides, and tumbled into rocky gorges, or plunged into the + sea. And the grass began to grow on the sunny slopes, and the flowers + peeped up through the half-melted snow, and the music of spring was heard + on every side. Now and then the little vessel passed by deep, dark inlets + enclosed between high mountain-walls, and reaching many leagues far into + land. But the sailors steered clear of these shadowy fjords; for they said + that Ran, the dread Ocean-queen, lived there, and spread her nets in the + deep green waters to entangle unwary seafaring men. And the sound of + Bragi’s harp awakened all sleeping things; and it was carried from rock to + rock, and from mountain-height to valley, and was borne on the breeze far + up the fjords, and all over the land. + </p> + <p> + One day, as they were sailing through these quiet waters, beneath the + overhanging cliffs, Bragi tuned his harp, and sang a song of sea. And then + he told Siegfried a story of AEgir and his gold-lit hall. + </p> + <p> + Old AEgir was the Ocean-king. At most times he was rude and rough, and his + manners were uncouth and boisterous. But when Balder, the Shining One, + smiled kindly upon him from above, or when Bragi played his harp by the + seashore, or sailed his ship on the waters, the heart of the bluff old + king was touched with a kindly feeling, and he tried hard to curb his + ungentle passions, and to cease his blustering ways. He was one of the old + race of giants; and men believe that he would have been a very good and + quiet giant, had it not been for the evil ways of his wife, the crafty + Queen Ran. For, however kind at heart the king might be, his good + intentions were almost always thwarted by the queen. Ran could never be + trusted; and no one, unless it were Loki, the Mischief-maker, could ever + say any thing in her praise. She was always lurking among hidden rocks, or + in the deep sea, or along the shores of silent fjords, and reaching out + with her long lean fingers, seeking to clutch in her greedy grasp whatever + prey might unwarily come near her. And many richly-laden vessels, and many + brave seamen and daring warriors, had she dragged down to her blue-hung + chamber in old AEgir’s hall. + </p> + <p> + And this is the story that Bragi told of + </p> + <p> + The Feast in AEgir’s Hall. + </p> + <p> + It happened long ago, when the good folk at Gladsheim were wont to visit + the mid-world oftener than now. On a day in early autumn Queen Ran, with + her older daughters,—Raging Sea, Breaker, Billow, Surge, and Surf,—went + out to search for plunder. But old AEgir staid at home, and with him his + younger daughters,—fair Purple-hair, gentle Diver, dancing Ripple, + and smiling Sky-clear. And as they played around him, and kissed his old + storm-beaten cheeks, the heart of the king was softened into gentleness, + and he began to think kindly of the green earth which bordered his + kingdom, and of the brave men who lived there; but most of all did he + think of the great and good Asa-folk, who dwell in Asgard, and overlook + the affairs of the world. Then he called his servants, Funfeng and Elder, + and bade them prepare a feast in his gold-lit hall. And he sent fleet + messengers to invite the Asa-folk to come and partake of the good cheer. + And his four young daughters played upon the beach, and smiled and danced + in the beaming sunlight. And the hearts of many seafaring men were + gladdened that day, as they spread their sails to the wind; for they saw + before them a pleasant voyage, and the happy issue of many an undertaking. + </p> + <p> + Long before the day had begun to wane, the Asa-folk arrived in a body at + AEgir’s hall; for they were glad to answer the bidding of the Ocean-king. + Odin came, riding Sleipner, his eight-footed steed; Thor rode in his iron + chariot drawn by goats; Frey came with Gullinburste, his golden-bristled + boar. There, too, was the war-like Tyr, and blind Hoder, and the silent + Vidar, and the sage Forsete, and the hearkening Heimdal, and Niord, the + Ruler of the Winds, and Bragi, with his harp; and lastly came many elves, + the thralls of the Asa-folk, and Loki, the cunning Mischief-maker. In his + rude but hearty way old AEgir welcomed them; and they went down into his + amber hall, and rested themselves upon the sea-green couches that had been + spread for them. And a thousand fair mermaids stood around them, and + breathed sweet melodies through sea-shells of rainbow hue, while the + gentle white-veiled daughters of the Ocean-king danced to the bewitching + music. + </p> + <p> + Hours passed by, and the sun began to slope towards the west, and the + waiting guests grew hungry and ill at ease; and then they began to wonder + why the feast was so long in getting ready. At last the host himself + became impatient; and he sent out in haste for his servants, Funfeng and + Elder. Trembling with fear, they came and stood before him. + </p> + <p> + “Master,” said they, “we know that you are angry because the feast is not + yet made ready; but we beg that your anger may not fall upon us. The truth + is, that some thief has stolen your brewing-kettle, and we have no ale for + your guests.” + </p> + <p> + Then old AEgir’s brow grew dark, and his breath came quick and fast; and, + had not Niord held the winds tightly clutched in his hand, there would + have been a great uproar in the hall. Even as it was, the mermaids fled + away in great fright, and the white-veiled Waves stopped dancing, and a + strange silence fell upon all the company. + </p> + <p> + “Some enemy has done this!” crier AEgir, as soon as he could speak. “Some + enemy has taken away my brewing-kettle; and, unless we can find it, I fear + our feast will be but a dry one.” + </p> + <p> + Then Thor said,— + </p> + <p> + “If any one knows where this kettle is, let him speak, and I will bring it + back; and I promise you you shall not wait long for the feast.” + </p> + <p> + But not one in all this company knew aught about the missing kettle. At + last Tyr stood up and said,— + </p> + <p> + “If we cannot find the same vessel that our host has lost, mayhap we may + find another as good. I know a dogwise giant who lives east of the Rivers + Elivagar, and who has a strong kettle, fully a mile deep, and large enough + to brew ale for all the world.” + </p> + <p> + “That is the very kettle we want!” cried Thor. “Think you that we can get + it?” + </p> + <p> + “If we are cunning enough, we may,” answered Tyr. “But old Hymer will + never give it up willingly.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it Hymer of whom you speak?” asked Thor. “Then I know him well; and, + willingly or not willingly he must let us have his kettle. For what is a + feast without the gladsome ale?” + </p> + <p> + Then Thor and Tyr set out on their journey towards the land of Elivagar; + and they travelled many a league northwards, across snowy mountains and + barren plains, until they came to the shores of the frozen sea. And there + the sun rises and sets but once a year, and even in summer the sea is full + of ice. On the lonely beach, stood Hymer’s dwelling,—a dark and + gloomy abode. Tyr knocked at the door; and it was opened by Hymer’s wife, + a strangely handsome woman, who bade them come in. Inside the hall they + saw Hymer’s old mother, sitting in the chimney-corner, and crooning over + the smouldering fire. She was a horribly ugly old giantess, with nine + hundred heads; but every head was blind and deaf and toothless. Ah, me! + what a wretched old age that must have been! + </p> + <p> + “Is your husband at home?” asked Thor, speaking to the pretty woman who + had opened the door. + </p> + <p> + “He is not,” was the answer. “He is catching fish in the warm waters of + the sheltered bay; or, mayhap, he is tending his cows in the open sea, + just around the headland.” + </p> + <p> + For the great icebergs that float down from the frozen sea are called old + Hymer’s cows. + </p> + <p> + “We have come a very long journey,” said Tyr. “Will you not give two tired + strangers food and lodging until they shall have rested themselves?” + </p> + <p> + The woman seemed in nowise loath to do this; and she set before the two + Asa-folk a plentiful meal of the best that she had in the house. When they + had eaten, she told them that it would be far safer for them to hide + themselves under the great kettles in the hall; for, she said, her husband + would soon be home, and he might not be kind to them. So Thor and Tyr hid + themselves, and listened for Hymer’s coming. After a time, the great + hall-door opened, and they heard the heavy steps of the giant. + </p> + <p> + “Welcome home!” cried the woman, as Hymer shook the frost from his hair + and beard, and stamped the snow from his feet. “I am so glad that you have + come! for there are two strangers in the hall, and they have asked for + you. One of them I know is Thor, the foe of the giants, and the friend of + man. The other is the one-armed god of war, the brave Tyr. What can be + their errand at Hymer’s hall?” + </p> + <p> + “Where are they?” roared Hymer, stamping so furiously, that even his deaf + old mother seemed to hear, and lifted up her heads. + </p> + <p> + “They are under the kettles, at the gable-end of the hall,” answered the + woman. + </p> + <p> + Hymer cast a wrathful glance towards the place. The post at the end of the + hall was shivered in pieces by his very look; the beam that upheld the + floor of the loft was broken, and all the kettles tumbled down with a + fearful crash. Thor and Tyr crept out from among the rubbish, and stood + before old Hymer. The giant was not well pleased at the sight of such + guests come thus unbidden to his hall. But he knew that his rude strength + would count as nothing if matched with their skill and weapons: hence he + deemed it wise to treat the two Asas as his friends, and to meet them with + cunning and strategy. + </p> + <p> + “Welcome to my hall!” he cried. “Fear no hurt from Hymer, for he was never + known to harm a guest.” + </p> + <p> + And Thor and Tyr were given the warmest seats at the fireside. And the + giant ordered his thralls to kill the fatted oxen, and to make ready a + great feast in honor of his guests. And, while the meal was being got + ready, he sat by Thor’s side, and asked him many questions about what was + going on in the great South-land. And Thor answered him pleasantly, + meeting guile with guile. When the feast was in readiness, all sat down at + the table, which groaned beneath its weight of meat and drink; for Hymer’s + thralls had killed three fat oxen, and baked them whole for this meal, and + they had filled three huge bowls with ale from his great brewing-kettle. + Hymer ate and drank very fast, and wished to make his guests fear him, + because he could eat so much. But Thor was not to be taken aback in this + way; for he at once ate two of the oxen, and quaffed a huge bowl of ale + which the giant had set aside for himself. The giant saw that he was + outdone, and he arose from the table, saying,— + </p> + <p> + “Not all my cows would serve to feed two guests so hungry as these. We + shall be obliged to live on fish now.” + </p> + <p> + He strode out of the hall without another word, and began getting his boat + ready for a sail. But Thor followed him. + </p> + <p> + “It is a fine day for fishing,” said Thor gayly. “How I should like to go + out with you!” + </p> + <p> + “Such little fellows as you would better stay at home,” growled Hymer. + </p> + <p> + “But let me go with you,” persisted Thor. “I can certainly row the boat + while you fish.” + </p> + <p> + “I have no need of help from such a stunted pygmy,” muttered the giant. + “You could not be of the least use to me: you would only be in my way. + Still, if you are bent on doing so, you may go, and you shall take all the + risks. If I go as far as I do sometimes, and stay as long as I often do, + you may make up your mind never to see the dry land again; for you will + certainly catch your death of cold, and be food for the fishes—if, + indeed, they would deign to eat such a scrawny scrap!” + </p> + <p> + These taunting words made Thor so angry, that he grasped his hammer, and + was sorely tempted to crush the giant’s skull. But he checked himself, and + coolly said,— + </p> + <p> + “I pray you not to trouble yourself on my account I have set my head on + going with you, and go I will. Tell me where I can find something that I + can use for bait, and I will be ready in a trice.” + </p> + <p> + “I have no bait for you,” roughly answered Hymer “You must look for it + yourself.” + </p> + <p> + Half a dozen oxen, the very finest and fattest of Hymer’s herd, were + grazing on the short grass which grew on the sunnier slopes of the + hillside; for not all of the giant’s cattle had yet taken to the water. + When Thor saw these great beasts, he ran quickly towards them, and seizing + the largest one, which Hymer called the Heaven-breaker, he twisted off his + head as easily as he would that of a small fowl, and ran back with it to + the boat. Hymer looked at him in anger and amazement, but said nothing; + and the two pushed the boat off from the shore. The little vessel sped + through the water more swiftly than it had ever done before, for Thor + plied the oars. + </p> + <p> + In a moment the long, low beach was out of sight; and Hymer, who had never + travelled so fast, began to feel frightened. + </p> + <p> + “Stop!” he cried. “Here is the place to fish: I have often caught great + store of flat-fish here. Let us out with our lines!” + </p> + <p> + “No, no!” answered Thor; and he kept on plying the oars. “We are not yet + far enough from shore. The best fish are still many leagues out.” + </p> + <p> + And the boat skimmed onwards through the waters, and the white spray + dashed over the prow; and Hymer, now very much frightened, sat still, and + looked at his strange fellow-fisherman, but said not a word. On and on + they went; and the shore behind them first grew dim, and then sank out of + sight; and the high mountain-tops began to fade away in the sky, and then + were seen no more. And when at last the fishermen were so far out at sea + that nothing was in sight but the rolling waters on every side, Thor + stopped his rowing. + </p> + <p> + “We have come too far!” cried the giant, trembling in every limb. “The + great Midgard snake lies hereabouts. Let us turn back!” + </p> + <p> + “Not yet,” answered Thor quietly. “We will fish here a little while.” + </p> + <p> + Without loss of time he took from his pocket a strong hook, wonderfully + made, to which he fastened a long line as strong as ten ships’ cables + twisted together; then he carefully baited the hook with the gory head of + the Heaven-breaker ox, and threw it into the water. As the giant had + feared, they were now right over the head of the great Midgard snake. The + huge beast looked upward with his sleepy eyes, and saw the tempting bait + falling slowly through the water; but he did not see the boat, it was so + far above him. Thinking of no harm, he opened his leathern jaws, and + greedily gulped the morsel down; but the strong iron hook stuck fast in + his throat. Maddened by the pain, he began to lash his tail against the + floor of the sea; and he twisted and writhed until the ocean was covered + with foam, and the waves ran mountain-high. But Thor pulled hard upon the + line above, and strove to lift the reptile’s head out of the water; then + the snake darted with lightning speed away, pulling the boat after him so + swiftly, that, had not Thor held on to the oar-locks, he would have been + thrown into the sea. Quickly he tightened his magic girdle of strength + around him, and, standing up in the boat, he pulled with all his might. + The snake would not be lifted. But the boat split in two; and Thor slid + into the water, and stood upon the bottom of the sea. He seized the great + snake in his hands, and raised his head clean above the water. What a + scene of frightful turmoil was there then! The earth shook; the mountains + belched forth fire; the lightnings flashed; the caves howled; and the sky + grew black and red. Nobody knows what the end would have been, had not + Hymer reached over, and cut the strong cord. The slippery snake glided out + of Thor’s hands, and hid himself in the deep sea; and every thing became + quiet again. + </p> + <p> + Silently Thor and Hymer sat in the broken boat, and rowed swiftly back + towards land. Thor felt really ashamed of himself, because he had gained + nothing by his venture. And the giant was not at all happy. + </p> + <p> + When they reached the frozen shore and Hymer’s cheerless castle again, + they found Tyr there, anxiously waiting for them. He felt that they were + tarrying too long in this dreary place; and he wished to be back among his + fellows in old AEgir’s hall. Hymer felt very cross and ugly because his + boat had been broken; and, when they came into the hall, he said to Thor,— + </p> + <p> + “You may think that you are very stout,—you who dared attack the + Midgard snake, and lifted him out of the sea. Yet there are many little + things that you cannot do. For instance, here is the earthen goblet from + which I drink my ale. Great men, like myself, can crush such goblets + between their thumbs and fingers; but such puny fellows as you will find + that they cannot break it by any means.” + </p> + <p> + “Let me try!” cried Thor. + </p> + <p> + He took the great goblet in his hands, and threw it with all his strength + against a stone post in the middle of the hall. The post was shattered + into a thousand pieces, but the goblet was unharmed. + </p> + <p> + “Ha, ha!” laughed the giant. “Try again!” + </p> + <p> + Thor did so. This time he threw it against a huge granite rock that stood + like a mountain near the seashore. The rock crumbled in pieces and fell, + but the goblet was whole as ever. + </p> + <p> + “What a very stout fellow you are!” cried Hymer in glee. “Go home now, and + tell the good Asa-folk that you cannot even break a goblet!” + </p> + <p> + “Let me try once more,” said Thor, amazed, but not disheartened. + </p> + <p> + “Throw it against Hymer’s forehead,” whispered some one over his shoulder. + “It is harder than any rock.” + </p> + <p> + Thor looked, and saw that it was the giant’s handsome wife who had given + him this kind advice. He took the goblet, and hurled it quickly, straight + at old Hymer’s head. The giant had no time to dodge. The vessel struck him + squarely between the eyes, and was shattered into ten thousand little + pieces. But the giant’s forehead was unhurt. + </p> + <p> + “That drink was rather hot!” cried Hymer, trying to joke at his ill luck. + “But it doesn’t take a very great man to break a goblet. There is one + thing, however, that you cannot do. Yonder is my great brewing-kettle, a + mile deep. No man has ever lifted it. Now, if you will carry it out of the + hall, where it sits, you may have it for your own.” + </p> + <p> + “Agreed!” cried Thor. “It is a fair bargain; and, if I fail, I will go + home and never trouble you again.” + </p> + <p> + Then he took hold of the edge of the great kettle, and lifted it with all + his might. The floor of Hymer’s hall broke under him, and the walls and + roof came tumbling down; but he turned the kettle over his head, and + walked away with it, the great rings of the vessel clattering at his + heels. Tyr went before him, and cleared the way; and Hymer gazed after him + in utter amazement. The two Asa-folk had fairly won the brewing-kettle. + </p> + <p> + In due time they reached old AEgir’s hall, where the guests were still + waiting for them. Some said that they had been gone three days, but most + agreed that it was only three hours. Be that as it may, AEgir’s thralls, + Funfeng and Elder, brewed great store of ale in the kettle which Thor had + brought; and, when the guests were seated at the table, the foaming liquor + passed itself around to each, and there was much merriment and glad good + cheer. And old AEgir was so happy in the pleasant company of the Asa-folk, + that men say that he forgot to blow and bluster for a full six months + thereafter.[EN#14] + </p> + <p> + Such was the story which the wise harper told to Siegfried as they sailed + gayly along the Norwegian shore. And with many other pleasant tales did + they beguile the hours away. And no one ever thought of danger, for the + sky was blue and cloudless. And, besides this, Bragi himself was on board; + and he could charm and control the rudest elements. + </p> + <p> + One day, however, the sea became unaccountably ruffled. There was no wind; + but yet the waves rose suddenly, and threatened to overwhelm the little + ship. Quickly the sailors sprang to their oars, and tried by rowing to + drive the vessel away from the shore and into the quieter waters of the + open sea. But all their strength was of no avail: the swift stream carried + the little bark onward in its course, as an autumn leaf is borne on the + bosom of a mighty river. Then the whole surface of the water seemed lashed + into fury. The waves formed hundreds of currents, each stronger than a + mountain torrent, and each seeming to follow a course of its own. They + clashed wildly against each other; they heaved, and boiled, and hissed, + and threw great clouds of spray high into the air; they formed deep + whirlpools, which twisted and twirled, and broke into a thousand eddies, + and then plunged deep down into rocky caverns beneath, or laid bare the + bottom of the sea. The helpless ship was carried round and round, swiftly + and more swiftly still; and vain were the efforts of the crew to steer her + out of the seething caldron of waters. Then the cheeks of the sailors grew + white with fear; and they dropped their oars, and clung to the masts and + ropes, and cried out,— + </p> + <p> + “Alas, we are lost! This is old AEgir’s brewing-kettle!” + </p> + <p> + But Siegfried stood by the helm, and said,— + </p> + <p> + “If that be true, then we may sup with him in his gold-lit hall.” + </p> + <p> + And all this time Bragi slept in the hold, and no one dared awaken him. + Faster and faster the ship was carried round the seething pool. The flying + spray was frozen in the air; and it filled the masts with snow, and + pattered like heavy hail upon the deck. The light of the sun seemed shut + out, and darkness closed around. A dismal chasm yawned deep before them, + and in the gray gloom the ship’s crew saw many wondrous things. Great + sea-monsters swam among the rocks, and seemed not to heed the uproar above + them. Lovely mermaids sat in their green-and-purple caves, and combed + their tresses of golden hair; and thoughtful mermen groped among the + seaweeds, searching hopefully for lost or hidden treasures. Then Siegfried + caught a glimpse of the mighty AEgir, sitting in his banquet-room; and, as + he quaffed his foaming ale, he called aloud to his daughters to leave + their play, and come to their father in his gold-lit hall. And the + white-veiled Waves answered to their names, and came at his call. First, + Raging Sea entered the wide hall, and sat by the Ocean-king’s side; then + Billow, then Surge, then Surf, and Breakers; then came the Purple-haired, + and the Diver; but AEgir’s two youngest daughters, Laughing Ripple and + Smiling Sky-clear, came not at their father’s beck, but lingered to play + among the rocks and in the open sea. + </p> + <p> + So deeply engaged was Siegfried in watching this scene, that he did not + notice Bragi, who now came upon the deck with his harp in his hand. And + sweet music arose from among the dashing waves, and was heard far down in + the deep sea-caverns, and even in AEgir’s hall. And, when Siegfried looked + up again, the eddying whirlpools, and the threatening waves, and the + flying spray, were no more; but the ship was gliding over the quiet waters + of a deep blue sea, and the sun was shining brightly in the clear sky + above. Then an east wind filled the sails; and, as Bragi’s music rose + sweeter and higher, they glided swiftly away from the coast, and soon the + snow-capped mountain-peaks grew dim in the distance, and then sank from + sight. + </p> + <p> + Many days they sailed over an unknown sea, and towards an unknown land; + and none but Bragi knew what the end of their voyage would be. And yet no + one doubted or was afraid, for the secrets of the earth and the sea were + known to the sweet singer. After a time, the water became as smooth as + glass: not a ripple moved upon its surface, and not the slightest breath + of air stirred among the idly-hanging sails. Then the sailors went to + their oars; but they seemed overcome with languor and sleepiness, and only + when Bragi played upon his harp did they move their oars with their wonted + strength and quickness. And at last they came in sight of a long, low + coast, and a shelving beach up which the tide was slowly creeping in + drowsy silence. And not half a league from the shore was a grand old + castle, with a tall tower and many turrets, and broad halls and high + battlements; and in the light of the setting sun every thing was as green + as emerald or as the fresh grass of early spring. And a pale flickering + light gleamed on the castle-walls, and the moat seemed filled with a + glowing fire. + </p> + <p> + The ship glided silently up to the sandy beach, and the sailors moored it + to the shore. But Siegfried heard no sound upon the land, nor could he see + any moving, living thing. Silence brooded everywhere, and the castle and + its inmates seemed to be wrapped in slumber. The sentinels could be seen + upon the ramparts, standing like statues of stone, and showing no signs of + life; while above the barbacan gate the watchman was at his post, + motionless and asleep. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Adventure VI. Brunhild. + </h2> + <p> + Siegfried and the harper sat together in the little ship as it lay moored + to the sandy shore; and their eyes were turned towards the sea-green + castle and its glowing walls, and they looked in vain for any movement, or + any sign of wakeful life. Every thing was still. Not a breath of air was + stirring. The leaves of the trees hung motionless, as if they, too, were + asleep. The great green banner on the tower’s top clung around the + flagstaff as if it had never fluttered to the breeze. No song of birds, + nor hum of insects, came to their ears. There was neither sound nor motion + anywhere. + </p> + <p> + “Play your harp, good Bragi, and awaken all these sleepers,” said + Siegfried. + </p> + <p> + Then the harper touched the magic strings, and strains of music, loud and + clear, but sweet as a baby’s breath, rose up in the still air, and floated + over the quiet bay, and across the green meadows which lay around the + castle-walls; and it was borne upward over the battlements, and among the + shining turrets and towers, and was carried far out over the hills, and + among the silent trees of the plain. And Bragi sung of the beginning of + all things, and of whatsoever is beautiful on the land, or in the sea, or + in the sky. And Siegfried looked to see every thing awakened, and + quickened into life, as had oft been done before by Bragi’s music; but + nothing stirred. The sun went down, and the gray twilight hung over sea + and land, and the red glow in the castle-moat grew redder still; and yet + every thing slept. Then Bragi ended his song, and the strings of his harp + were mute. + </p> + <p> + “Music has no charms to waken from sleep like that,” he said. + </p> + <p> + And then he told Siegfried what it all meant; and, to make the story + plain, he began by telling of Odin’s bright home at Gladsheim and of the + many great halls that were there. + </p> + <p> + One of the halls in Gladsheim is called Valhal. This hall is so large and + wide, that all the armies of the earth might move within it. Outside, it + is covered with gold and with sun-bright shields. A fierce wolf stands + guard before it, and a mountain-eagle hovers over it. It has five hundred + and forty doors, each large enough for eight hundred heroes to march + through abreast. Inside, every thing is glittering bright. The rafters are + made of spears, and the ceiling is covered with shields, and the walls are + decked with war-coats. In this hall Odin sets daily a feast for all the + heroes that have been slain in battle. These sit at the great table, and + eat of the food which Odin’s servants have prepared, and drink of the + heavenly mead which the Valkyries, Odin’s handmaids, bring them. + </p> + <p> + But the Valkyries have a greater duty. When the battle rages, and swords + clash, and shields ring, and the air is filled with shouts and groans and + all the din of war, then these maidens hover over the field of blood and + death, and carry the slain heroes home to Valhal.[EN#15] + </p> + <p> + One of Odin’s Valkyries was named Brunhild, and she was the most beautiful + of all the maidens that chose heroes for his war-host. But she was wilful + too, and did not always obey the All-Father’s behests. And when Odin knew + that she had sometimes snatched the doomed from death, and sometimes + helped her chosen friends to victory, he was very angry. And he drove her + away from Gladsheim, and sent her, friendless and poor, to live among the + children of men, and to be in all ways like them. But, as she wandered + weary and alone over the earth, the good old King of Isenland saw her + beauty and her distress, and pity and love moved his heart; and, as he had + no children of his own, he took her for his daughter, and made her his + heir. And not long afterward he died, and the matchless Brunhild became + queen of all the fair lands of Isenland and the hall of Isenstein. When + Odin heard of this, he was more angry still; and he sent to Isenstein, and + caused Brunhild to be stung with the thorn of Sleep. And he said,— + </p> + <p> + “She shall sleep until one shall come who is brave enough to ride through + fire to awaken her.” + </p> + <p> + And all Isenland slept too, because Brunhild, the Maiden of Spring, lay + wounded with the Sleepful thorn. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + When Siegfried heard this story, he knew that the land which lay before + them was Isenland, and that the castle was Isenstein, and that Brunhild + was sleeping within that circle of fire. + </p> + <p> + “My songs have no power to awaken such a sleeper,” said Bragi. “A hero + strong and brave must ride through the flame to arouse her. It is for this + that I have brought you hither; and here I will leave you, while I sail + onwards to brighten other lands with my music.” + </p> + <p> + Siegfried’s heart leaped up with gladness; for he thought that here, at + last, was a worthy deed for him to do. And he bade his friend Bragi + good-by, and stepped ashore; and Greyfell followed him. And Bragi sat at + the prow of the ship, and played his harp again; and the sailors plied + their oars; and the little vessel moved swiftly out of the bay, and was + seen no more. And Siegfried stood alone on the silent, sandy beach. + </p> + <p> + As he thus stood, the full moon rose white and dripping from the sea; and + its light fell on the quiet water, and the sloping meadows, and the green + turrets of the castle. And the last notes of Bragi’s harp came floating to + him over the sea. + </p> + <p> + Then a troop of fairies came down to dance upon the sands. It was the + first sign of life that Siegfried had seen. As the little creatures drew + near, he hid himself among the tall reeds which grew close to the shore; + for he wished to see them at their gambols, and to listen to their songs. + At first, as if half afraid of their own tiny shadows, they danced in + silence; but, as the moon rose higher, they grew bolder, and began to + sing. And their music was so sweet and soft, that Siegfried forgot almost + every thing, else for the time: they sang of the pleasant summer days, and + of cooling shades, and still fountains, and silent birds, and peaceful + slumber. And a strange longing for sleep took hold of Siegfried; and his + eyes grew heavy, and the sound of the singing seemed dim and far away. But + just as he was losing all knowledge of outward things, and his senses + seemed moving in a dream, the fairies stopped dancing, and a little brown + elf came up from the sea, and saluted the queen of the tiny folk. + </p> + <p> + “What news bring you from the great world beyond the water?” asked the + queen. + </p> + <p> + “The prince is on his way hither,” answered the elf. + </p> + <p> + “And what will he do?” + </p> + <p> + “If he is brave enough, he will awaken the princess, and arouse the drowsy + people of Isenstein; for the Norns have said that such a prince shall + surely come.” + </p> + <p> + “But he must be the bravest of men ere he can enter the enchanted castle,” + said the queen; “for the wide moat is filled with flames, and no faint + heart will ever dare battle with them.” + </p> + <p> + “But I will dare!” cried Siegfried; and he sprang from his hiding-place, + forgetful of the little folk, who suddenly flitted away, and left him + alone upon the beach. He glanced across the meadows at the green turrets + glistening in the mellow moonlight, and then at the flickering flames + around the castle walls, and he resolved that on the morrow he would at + all hazards perform the perilous feat. + </p> + <p> + In the morning, as soon as the gray dawn appeared, he began to make ready + for his difficult undertaking. But, when he looked again at the red + flames, he began to hesitate. He paused, uncertain whether to wait for a + sign and for help from the All-Father, or whether to go straightway to the + castle, and, trusting in his good armor alone, try to pass through the + burning moat. While he thus stood in doubt, his eyes were dazzled by a + sudden flash of light. He looked up. Greyfell came dashing across the + sands; and from his long mane a thousand sunbeams gleamed and sparkled in + the morning light. Siegfried had never seen the wondrous creature so + radiant; and as the steed stood by him in all his strength and beauty he + felt new hope and courage, as if Odin himself had spoken to him. He + hesitated no longer, but mounted the noble horse; and Greyfell bore him + swiftly over the plain, and paused not until he had reached the brink of + the burning moat. + </p> + <p> + Now, indeed, would Siegfried’s heart have failed him, had he not been + cheered by the sunbeam presence of Greyfell. For filling the wide, deep + ditch, were angry, hissing flames, which, like a thousand serpent-tongues, + reached out, and felt here and there, for what they might devour; and ever + and anon they took new forms, and twisted and writhed like fiery snakes, + and then they swirled in burning coils high over the castle-walls. + Siegfried stopped not a moment. He spoke the word, and boldly the horse + with his rider dashed into the fiery lake; and the vile flames fled in + shame and dismay before the pure sunbeam flashes from Greyfell’s mane. + And, unscorched and unscathed, Siegfried rode through the moat, and + through the wide-open gate, and into the castle-yard. + </p> + <p> + The gate-keeper sat fast asleep in his lodge, while the chains and the + heavy key with which, when awake, he was wont to make the great gate fast, + lay rusting at his feet; and neither he, nor the sentinels on the ramparts + above, stirred or awoke at the sound of Greyfell’s clattering hoofs. As + Siegfried passed from one part of the castle to another, many strange + sights met his eyes. In the stables the horses slumbered in their stalls, + and the grooms lay snoring by their sides. The birds sat sound asleep on + their nests beneath the eaves. The watch-dogs, with fast-closed eyes, lay + stretched at full-length before the open doors. In the garden the fountain + no longer played, the half-laden bees had gone to sleep among the blossoms + of the apple-trees, and the flowers themselves had forgotten to open their + petals to the sun. In the kitchen the cook was dozing over the half-baked + meats in front of the smouldering fire; the butler was snoring in the + pantry; the dairy-maid was quietly napping among the milk-pans; and even + the house-flies had gone to sleep over the crumbs of sugar on the table. + In the great banquet-room a thousand knights, overcome with slumber, sat + silent at the festal board; and their chief, sitting on the dais, slept, + with his half-emptied goblet at his lips. + </p> + <p> + Siegfried passed hurriedly from room to room and from hall to hall, and + cast but one hasty glance at the strange sights which met him at every + turn; for he knew that none of the drowsy ones in that spacious castle + could be awakened until he had aroused the Princess Brunhild. In the + grandest hall of the palace he found her. The peerless maiden, most richly + dight, reclined upon a couch beneath a gold-hung canopy; and her + attendants, the ladies of the court, sat near and around her. Sleep held + fast her eyelids, and her breathing was so gentle, that, but for the blush + upon her cheeks, Siegfried would have thought her dead. For long, long + years had her head thus lightly rested on that gold-fringed pillow; and in + all that time neither her youth had faded, nor her wondrous beauty waned. + </p> + <p> + Siegfried stood beside her. Gently he touched his lips to that matchless + forehead; softly he named her name,— + </p> + <p> + “Brunhild!” + </p> + <p> + The charm was broken. Up rose the peerless princess in all her queen-like + beauty; up rose the courtly ladies round her. All over the castle, from + cellar to belfry-tower, from the stable to the banquet hall, there was a + sudden awakening, a noise of hurrying feet and mingled voices, and sounds + which had long been strangers to the halls of Isenstein. The watchman on + the tower, and the sentinels on the ramparts, yawned, and would not + believe they had been asleep; the porter picked up his keys, and hastened + to lock the long-forgotten gates; the horses neighed in their stalls; the + watchdogs barked at the sudden hubbub; the birds, ashamed at having + allowed the sun to find them napping, hastened to seek their food in the + meadows; the servants hurried here and there, each intent upon his duty; + the warriors in the banquet-hall clattered their knives and plates, and + began again their feast; and their chief dropped his goblet, and rubbed + his eyes, and wondered that sleep should have overtaken him in the midst + of such a meal.[EN#16] + </p> + <p> + And Siegfried, standing at an upper window, looked out over the + castle-walls; and he saw that the flames no longer raged in the moat, but + that it was filled with clear sparkling water from the fountain which + played in the garden. And the south wind blew gently from the sea, + bringing from afar the sweetest strains of music from Bragi’s golden harp; + and the breezes whispered among the trees, and the flowers opened their + petals to the sun, and birds and insects made the air melodious with their + glad voices. Then Brunhild, radiant with smiles, stood by the hero’s side, + and welcomed him kindly to Isenland and to her green-towered castle of + Isenstein. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Adventure VII. In Nibelungen Land. + </h2> + <p> + Every one in the castle of Isenstein, from the princess to the + kitchen-maid, felt grateful to the young hero for what he had done. The + best rooms were fitted up for his use, and a score of serving men and + maidens were set apart to do his bidding, and ordered to be mindful of his + slightest wish. And all the earl-folk and brave men, and all the fair + ladies, and Brunhild, fairest of them all, besought him to make his home + there, nor ever think of going back to Rhineland. Siegfried yielded to + their persuasions, and for six months he tarried in the enchanted land in + one long round of merry-making and gay enjoyment. But his thoughts were + ever turned toward his father’s home in the Lowlands across the sea, and + he longed to behold again his gentle mother Sigelind. Then he grew tired + of his life of idleness and ease, and he wished that he might go out again + into the busy world of manly action and worthy deeds. And day by day this + feeling grew stronger, and filled him with unrest. + </p> + <p> + One morning, as he sat alone by the seashore, and watched the lazy tide + come creeping up the sands, two ravens lighted near him. Glad was he to + see them, for he knew them to be Hugin and Munin, the sacred birds of + Odin, and he felt sure that they brought him words of cheer from the + All-Father. Then Hugin flapped his wings, and said, “In idleness the + stings of death lie hidden, but in busy action are the springs of life. + For a hundred years fair Brunhild slept, but why should Siegfried sleep? + The world awaits him, but it waits too long.” + </p> + <p> + Then Munin flapped his wings also, but he said nothing. And busy memory + carried Siegfried back to his boyhood days; and he called to mind the wise + words of his father Siegmund, and the fond hopes of his gentle mother, and + he thought, too, of the noble deeds of his kinsfolk of the earlier days. + And he rose in haste, and cried, “Life of ease, farewell! I go where duty + leads. To him who wills to do, the great All-Father will send strength and + help.” + </p> + <p> + While he spoke, his eyes were dazzled with a flash of light. He looked; + and the beaming Greyfell, his long mane sparkling like a thousand + sunbeams, dashed up the beach, and stood beside him. As the noble steed in + all his strength and beauty stood before him, the youth felt fresh + courage; for, in the presence of the shining hope which the All-Father had + given him, all hinderances seemed to vanish, and all difficulties to be + already overcome. He looked toward the sea again, and saw in the blue + distance a white-sailed ship drawing swiftly near, its golden dragon-stem + ploughing through the waves like some great bird of the deep. And as with + straining, eager eyes, he watched its coming, he felt that Odin had sent + it, and that the time had come wherein he must be up and doing. The hour + for thriving action comes to us once: if not seized upon and used, it may + never come again. + </p> + <p> + The ship drew near the shore. The sailors rested on their oars. Siegfried + and the steed Greyfell sprang upon the deck; then the sailors silently + bent again to their rowing. The flapping sails were filled and tightened + by the strong west wind; and the light vessel leaped from wave to wave + like a thing of life, until Isenstein, with its tall towers and its green + marble halls, sank from sight in the distance and the mist. And Siegfried + and his noble steed seemed to be the only living beings on board; for the + sailors who plied the oars were so silent and phantom-like, that they + appeared to be nought but the ghosts of the summer sea-breezes. As the + ship sped swiftly on its way, all the creatures in the sea paused to + behold the sight. The mermen rested from their weary search for hidden + treasures, and the mermaids forgot to comb their long tresses, as the + radiant vessel and its hero-freight glided past. And even old King AEgir + left his brewing-kettle in his great hall, and bade his daughters, the + white-veiled Waves, cease playing until the vessel should safely reach its + haven. + </p> + <p> + When, at length, the day had passed, and the evening twilight had come, + Siegfried saw that the ship was nearing land; but it was a strange + land.[EN#17] Like a fleecy cloud it appeared to rest above the waves, + midway between the earth and the sky; a dark mist hung upon it, and it + seemed a land of dreams and shadows. The ship drew nearer and nearer to + the mysterious shore, and as it touched the beach the sailors rested from + their rowing. Then Siegfried and the horse Greyfell leaped ashore; but, + when they looked back, the fair vessel that had carried them was nowhere + to be seen. Whether it had suddenly been clutched by the greedy fingers of + the Sea-queen Ran, and dragged down into her deep sea-caverns, or whether, + like the wondrous ship Skidbladner, it had been folded up, and made + invisible to the eyes of men, Siegfried never knew. The thick mists and + the darkness of night closed over and around both hero and horse; and they + dared not stir, but stood long hours in the silent gloom, waiting for the + coming of the dawn. + </p> + <p> + At length the morning came, but the light was not strong enough to scatter + the fogs and thick vapors that rested upon the land. Then Siegfried + mounted Greyfell; and the sunbeams began to flash from the horse’s mane + and from the hero’s glittering mail-coat; and the hazy clouds fled upward + and away, until they were caught and held fast by great mist-giants, who + stood like sentinels on the mountain-tops. As the shining pair came up + from the sea, and passed through the woods and valleys of the Nibelungen + Land, there streamed over all that region such a flood of sunlight as had + never before been seen. + </p> + <p> + In every leafy tree, and behind every blade of grass, elves and fairies + were hidden; and under every rock and in every crevice lurked cunning + dwarfs. But Siegfried rode straight forward until he came to the steep + side of a shadowy mountain. There, at the mouth of a cavern, a strange + sight met his eyes. Two young men, dressed in princes’ clothing, sat upon + the ground: their features were all haggard and gaunt, and pinched with + hunger, and their eyes wild with wakefulness and fear; and all around them + were heaps of gold and precious stones,—more than a hundred wagons + could carry away. And neither of the two princes would leave the shining + hoard for food, nor close his eyes in sleep, lest the other might seize + and hide some part of the treasure. And thus they had watched and hungered + through many long days and sleepless nights, each hoping that the other + would die, and that the whole inheritance might be his own. + </p> + <p> + When they saw Siegfried riding near, they called out to him, and said, + “Noble stranger, stop a moment! Come and help us divide this treasure.” + </p> + <p> + “Who are you?” asked Siegfried; “and what treasure is it that lies there?” + </p> + <p> + “We are the sons of Niblung, who until lately was king of this Mist Land. + Our names are Schilbung and the young Niblung,” faintly answered the + princes. + </p> + <p> + “And what are you doing here with this gold and these glittering stones?” + </p> + <p> + “This is the great Nibelungen Hoard, which our father not long ago brought + from the South-land. It is not clear just how he obtained it.[EN#18] Some + say that he got it unjustly from his brother, whose vassals had digged it + from the earth. Others say that he found it lying on the Glittering Heath, + where Fafnir the Dragon had guarded it zealously for ages past, until he + was slain by a hero who cared nought for his gold. But, be this as it may, + our father is now dead, and we have brought the hoard out of the cavern + where he had hidden it, in order that we may share it between us equally. + But we cannot agree, and we pray you to help us divide it.” + </p> + <p> + Then Siegfried dismounted from the horse Greyfell, and came near the two + princes. + </p> + <p> + “I will gladly do as you ask,” said he; “but first I must know more about + your father,—who he was, and whether this is really the Hoard of the + Glittering Heath.” + </p> + <p> + Then Niblung answered, as well as his feeble voice would allow, “Our + father was, from the earliest times, the ruler of this land, and the lord + of the fog and the mist. Many strongholds, and many noble halls, had he in + this land; and ten thousand brave warriors were ever ready to do his + bidding. The trolls, and the swarthy elves of the mountains, and the + giants of the cloudy peaks, were his vassals. But he did more than rule + over the Nibelungen Land. Twice every year he crossed the sea and rambled + through the Rhine valleys, or loitered in the moist Lowlands; and now and + then he brought rich trophies back to his island home. The last time, he + brought this treasure with him; but, as we have said, it is not clear how + he obtained it. We have heard men say that it was the Hoard of Andvari, + and that when Fafnir, the dragon who watched it, was slain, the hero who + slew him left it to be taken again by the swarthy elves who had gathered + it; but because of a curse which Andvari had placed upon it, no one would + touch it, until some man would assume its ownership, and take upon himself + the risk of incurring the curse. This thing, it is said, our father did. + And the dwarf Alberich undertook to keep it for him; and he, with the help + of the ten thousand elves who live in these caverns, and the twelve giants + whom you see standing on the mountain-peaks around, guarded it faithfully + so long as our father lived. But, when he died, we and our thralls fetched + it forth from the cavern, and spread it here on the ground. And, lo! for + many days we have watched and tried to divide it equally. But we cannot + agree.” + </p> + <p> + “What hire will you give me if I divide it for you?” asked Siegfried. + </p> + <p> + “Name what you will have,” answered the princes. + </p> + <p> + “Give me the sword which lies before you on the glittering heap.” + </p> + <p> + Then Niblung handed him the sword, and said, “Right gladly will we give + it. It is a worthless blade that our father brought from the South-land. + They say that he found it also on the Glittering Heath, in the trench + where Fafnir was slain. And some will have it that it was forged by Regin, + Fafnir’s own brother. But how that is, I do not know. At any rate, it is + of no use to us; for it turns against us whenever we try to use it.” + </p> + <p> + Siegfried took the sword. It was his own Balmung, that had been lost so + long. + </p> + <p> + Forthwith he began the task of dividing the treasure; and the two + brothers, so faint from hunger and want of sleep that they could scarcely + lift their heads, watched him with anxious, greedy eyes. First he placed a + piece of gold by Niblung’s side, and then a piece of like value he gave to + Schilbung. And this he did again and again, until no more gold was left. + Then, in the same manner, he divided the precious gem-stones until none + remained. And the brothers were much pleased; and they hugged their + glittering treasures, and thanked Siegfried for his kindness, and for the + fairness with which he had given to each his own. But one thing was left + which had not fallen to the lot of either brother. It was a ring of + curious workmanship,—a serpent coiled, with its tail in its mouth, + and with ruby eyes glistening and cold. + </p> + <p> + “What shall I do with this ring?” asked Siegfried. + </p> + <p> + “Give it to me!” cried Niblung. + </p> + <p> + “Give it to me!” cried Schilbung. + </p> + <p> + And both tried to snatch it from Siegfried’s hand. + </p> + <p> + But the effort was too great for them. Their arms fell helpless at their + sides, their feet slipped beneath them, their limbs failed: they sank + fainting, each upon his pile of treasures. + </p> + <p> + “O my dear, dear gold!” murmured Niblung, trying to clasp it all in his + arms,—“my dear, dear gold! Thou art mine, mine only. No one shall + take thee from me. Here thou art, here thou shalt rest. O my dear, dear + gold!” And then, calling up the last spark of life left in his famished + body, he cried out to Siegfried, “Give me the ring!—the ring, I + say!” + </p> + <p> + He hugged his cherished gold nearer to his bosom; he ran his thin fingers + deep down into the shining yellow heap; he pressed his pale lips to the + cold and senseless metal; he whispered faintly, “My dear, dear gold!” and + then he died. + </p> + <p> + “O precious, precious gem-stones,” faltered Schilbung, “how beautiful you + are! And you are mine, all mine. I will keep you safe. Come, come, my + bright-eyed beauties! No one but me shall touch you. You are mine, mine, + mine!” And he chattered and laughed as only madmen laugh. And he kissed + the hard stones, and sought to hide them in his bosom. But his hands + trembled and failed, dark mists swam before his eyes; he fancied that he + heard the black dwarfs clamoring for his treasure; he sprang up quickly, + he shrieked—and then fell lifeless upon his hoard of sparkling gems. + </p> + <p> + A strange, sad sight it was,—boundless wealth, and miserable death; + two piles of yellow gold and sun-bright diamonds, and two thin, starved + corpses stretched upon them. Some stories relate that the brothers were + slain by Siegfried, because their foolish strife and greediness had + angered him.[EN#19] But I like not to think so. It was the gold, and not + Siegfried, that slew them. + </p> + <p> + “O gold, gold!” cried the hero sorrowfully, “truly thou art the + mid-world’s curse; thou art man’s bane. But when the bright spring-time of + the new world shall come, and Balder shall reign in his glory, then will + the curse be taken from thee, and thy yellow brightness will be the sign + of purity and enduring worth; and then thou wilt be a blessing to mankind, + and the precious plaything of the gods.” + </p> + <p> + But Siegfried had little time for thought and speech. A strange sound was + heard upon the mountain-side. The twelve great giants who had stood as + watchmen upon the peaks above were rushing down to avenge their masters, + and to drive the intruder out of Nibelungen Land. Siegfried waited not for + their onset; but he mounted the noble horse Greyfell, and, with the sword + Balmung in his hand, he rode forth to meet his foes, who, with fearful + threats and hideous roars, came striding toward him. The sunbeams flashed + from Greyfell’s mane, and dazzled the dull eyes of the giants, unused as + they were to the full light of day. Doubtful, they paused, and then again + came forward. But they mistook every tree in their way for an enemy, and + every rock they thought a foe; and in their fear they fancied a great host + to be before them. Did you ever see the dark and threatening storm-clouds + on a summer’s day scattered and put to flight by the bright beams of the + sun? It was thus that Siegfried’s giant foes were routed. One and all, + they dropped their heavy clubs, and stood ashamed and trembling, not + knowing what to do. And Siegfried made each one swear to serve him + faithfully; and then he sent them back to the snow-covered mountain-peaks + to stand again as watchmen at their posts. + </p> + <p> + And now another danger appeared. Alberich the dwarf, the master of the + swarthy elves who guarded the Nibelungen Hoard, had come out from his + cavern, and seen the two princes lying dead beside their treasures, and he + thought that they had been murdered by Siegfried; and, when he beheld the + giants driven back to the mountain-tops, he lifted a little silver horn to + his lips, and blew a shrill bugle-call. And the little brown elves came + trooping forth by thousands: from under every rock, from the nooks and + crannies and crevices in the mountain-side, from the deep cavern and the + narrow gorge, they came at the call of their chief. Then, at Alberich’s + word, they formed in line of battle, and stood in order around the hoard + and the bodies of their late masters. Their little golden shields and + their sharp-pointed spears were thick as the blades of grass in a Rhine + meadow. And Siegfried, when he saw them, was pleased and surprised; for + never before had such a host of pygmy warriors stood before him. + </p> + <p> + While he paused and looked, the elves became suddenly silent, and + Siegfried noticed that Alberich stood no longer at their head, but had + strangely vanished from sight. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Alberich!” cried the hero. “Thou art indeed cunning. I have heard of + thy tricks. Thou hast donned the Tarnkappe, the cloak of darkness, which + hides thee from sight, and makes thee as strong as twelve common men. But + come on, thou brave dwarf!” + </p> + <p> + Scarcely had he spoken, when he felt a shock which almost sent him reeling + from his saddle, and made Greyfell plunge about with fright. Quickly, + then, did Siegfried dismount, and, with every sense alert, he waited for + the second onset of the unseen dwarf. It was plain that Alberich wished to + strike him unawares, for many minutes passed in utter silence. Then a + brisk breath of wind passed by Siegfried’s face, and he felt another blow; + but, by a quick downward movement of his hand, he caught the plucky + elf-king, and tore off the magic Tarnkappe, and then, with firm grasp, he + held him, struggling in vain to get free. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Alberich!” he cried, “now I know thou art cunning. But the Tarnkappe + I must have for my own. What wilt thou give for thy freedom?” + </p> + <p> + “Worthy prince,” answered Alberich humbly, “you have fairly overcome me in + fight, and made me your prisoner. I and all mine, as well as this + treasure, rightfully belong to you. We are yours, and you we shall obey.” + </p> + <p> + “Swear it!” said Siegfried. “Swear it, and thou shalt live, and be the + keeper of my treasures.” + </p> + <p> + And Alberich made a sign to his elfin host, and every spear was turned + point downwards, and every tiny shield was thrown to the ground, and the + ten thousand little warriors kneeled, as did also their chief, and + acknowledged Siegfried to be their rightful master, and the lord of the + Nibelungen Land, and the owner of the Hoard of Andvari. + </p> + <p> + Then, by Alberich’s orders, the elves carried the Hoard back into the + cavern, and there kept faithful watch and ward over it. And they buried + the starved bodies of the two princes on the top of the mist-veiled + mountain; and heralds were sent to all the strongholds in Nibelungen Land, + proclaiming that Siegfried, through his wisdom and might, had become the + true lord and king of the land. Afterwards the prince, riding on the + beaming Greyfell, went from place to place, scattering sunshine and smiles + where shadows and frowns had been before. And the Nibelungen folk welcomed + him everywhere with glad shouts and music and dancing; and ten thousand + warriors, and many noble earl-folk, came to meet him, and plighted their + faith to him. And the pure brightness of his hero-soul, and the gleaming + sunbeams from Greyfell’s mane,—the light of hope and faith,—lifted + the curtain of mists and fogs that had so long darkened the land, and let + in the glorious glad light of day and the genial warmth of summer. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Adventure VIII. Siegfried’s Welcome Home. + </h2> + <p> + In Santen Castle, one day, there was a strange uproar and confusion. + Everybody was hurrying aimlessly about, and no one seemed to know just + what to do. On every side there were restless whisperings, and hasty + gestures, and loud commands. The knights and warriors were busy donning + their war-coats, and buckling on their swords and helmets. Wise King + Siegmund sat in his council-chamber, and the knowing men of the kingdom + stood around him; and the minds of all seemed troubled with doubt, if not + with fear. + </p> + <p> + What could have caused so great an uproar in the once quiet old castle? + What could have brought perplexity to the mind of the wisest king in all + Rhineland? It was this: a herald had just come from the seashore, bringing + word that a strange fleet of a hundred white-sailed vessels had cast + anchor off the coast, and that an army of ten thousand fighting men had + landed, and were making ready to march against Santen. Nobody had ever + heard of so large a fleet before; and no one could guess who the strangers + might be, nor whence they had come, nor why they should thus, without + asking leave, land in the country of a peace-loving king. + </p> + <p> + The news spread quickly over all the land. People from every part came + hastening to the friendly shelter of the castle. The townsmen, with their + goods and cattle, hurried within the walls. The sentinels on the ramparts + paced uneasily to and fro, and scanned with watchful eye every stranger + that came near the walls. The warders stood ready to hoist the drawbridge, + and close the gate, at the first signal given by the watchman above, who + was straining his eyes to their utmost in order to see the first approach + of the foe. + </p> + <p> + A heavy mist hung over the meadow-lands between Santen and the sea, and + nothing was visible beyond the gates of the town. The ten thousand strange + warriors might be within half a league of the castle, and yet the sharpest + eagle-eye could not see them. + </p> + <p> + All at once a clatter of horse’s hoofs was heard; the dark mist rose up + from the ground, and began to roll away, like a great cloud, into the sky; + and then strange sunbeam-flashes were seen where the fog had lately + rested. + </p> + <p> + “They come!” cried one of the sentinels. “I see the glitter of their + shields and lances.” + </p> + <p> + “Not so,” said the watchman from his place on the tower above. “I see but + one man, and he rides with the speed of the wind, and lightning flashes + from the mane of the horse which carries him.” + </p> + <p> + The drawbridge was hastily hoisted. The heavy gates were quickly shut, and + fastened with bolts and bars. Every man in the castle was at his post, + ready to defend the fortress with his life. In a short time the horse and + his rider drew near. All who looked out upon them were dazzled with the + golden brightness of the hero’s armor, as well as with the lightning + gleams that flashed from the horse’s mane. And some whispered,— + </p> + <p> + “This is no man who thus comes in such kingly splendor. More likely it is + Odin on one of his journeys, or the Shining Balder come again to earth.” + </p> + <p> + As the stranger paused on the outer edge of the moat, the sentinels + challenged him,— + </p> + <p> + “Who are you who come thus, uninvited and unheralded, to Santen?” + </p> + <p> + “One who has the right to come,” answered the stranger. “I am Siegfried; + and I have come to see my father, the good Siegmund, and my mother, the + gentle Sigelind.” + </p> + <p> + It was indeed Siegfried; and he had come from his kingdom in the + Nibelungen Land, with his great fleet, and the noblest of his warriors, to + see once more his boyhood’s home, and to cheer for a time the hearts of + his loving parents. For he had done many noble deeds, and had ruled wisely + and well, and he felt that he was now not unworthy to be called the son of + Siegmund, and to claim kinship with the heroes of the earlier days. + </p> + <p> + As soon as it was surely known that he who stood before the castle-walls + was the young prince who had been gone so many years, and about whom they + had heard so many wonderful stories, the drawbridge was hastily let down, + and the great gates were thrown wide open. And Siegfried, whose return had + been so long wished for, stood once again in his father’s halls. And the + fear and confusion which had prevailed gave place to gladness and gayety; + and all the folk of Santen greeted the returned hero with cheers, and + joyfully welcomed him home. And in the whole world there was no one more + happy than Siegmund and Sigelind. + </p> + <p> + On the morrow the ten thousand Nibelungen warriors came to Santen; and + Siegmund made for them a great banquet, and entertained them in a right + kingly way, as the faithful liegemen of his son. And Siegfried, when he + had given them rich gifts, sent them with the fleet back to Nibelungen + Land; for he meant to stay for a time with his father and mother at + Santen. + </p> + <p> + When the harvest had been gathered, and the fruit was turning purple and + gold, and the moon rode round and full in the clear autumn sky, a gay + high-tide was held for Siegfried’s sake; and everybody in the Lowland + country, whether high or low, rich or poor, was asked to come to the + feast. For seven days, nought but unbridled gayety prevailed in Siegmund’s + halls. On every hand were sounds of music and laughter, and sickness and + poverty and pain were for the time forgotten. A mock-battle was fought on + the grassy plain not far from the town, and the young men vied with each + other in feats of strength and skill. Never before had so many beautiful + ladies nor so many brave men been seen in Santen. And, when the time of + jollity and feasting had drawn to an end, Siegmund called together all his + guests, and gave to each choice gifts,—a festal garment, and a horse + with rich trappings. And Queen Sigelind scattered gold without stint among + the poor, and many were the blessings she received. Then all the folk went + back to their homes with light hearts and happy faces.[EN#20] + </p> + <p> + The autumn days passed quickly by, and Siegfried began to grow weary of + the idle, inactive life in his father’s halls; and Greyfell in his stall + pined for the fresh, free air, and his mane lost all its brightness. When + Siegmund saw how full of unrest his son had become, he said to him,— + </p> + <p> + “Siegfried, I have grown old and feeble, and have no longer the strength + of my younger days. My kingdom would fare better were a younger ruler + placed over it. Take my crown, I pray you, and let me withdraw from kingly + cares.” + </p> + <p> + But Siegfried would not listen to such an offer. He had his own kingdom of + the Nibelungens, he said; and, besides, he would never sit on his father’s + throne while yet that father lived. And although he loved the pleasant + companionship of his mother, and was delighted to listen to the wise + counsels of his father, the craving for action, and the unrest which would + not be satisfied, grew greater day by day. At last he said,— + </p> + <p> + “I will ride out into the world again. Mayhap I may find some other wrong + to right, or some other kingdom to win. It was thus that my kin, in the + golden age long past, went faring over the land and sea, and met their + doom at last. They were not home-abiders, nor tillers of the soil; but the + world was their abiding-place, and they filled the hearts of men.” + </p> + <p> + And, when his father and mother heard this, they tried no longer to keep + him with them; for they knew that it would be more cruel than the keeping + of a caged bird away from the sunlight. + </p> + <p> + “Only go not into Burgundy,” said his father. “The kings of that country + are not friendly to us, and they may do you harm. Hagen, the kinsman of + the kings, and the chief of their fighting-men, is old and crafty, and he + cannot brook a greater hero than himself.” + </p> + <p> + Siegfried laughed. + </p> + <p> + “That is all the better reason why I should go to Burgundy-land,” he said. + </p> + <p> + “Then take ten thousand of my warriors,” said his father, “and make + yourself master of the land.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no!” cried Siegfried. “One kingdom is enough for me. My own + Nibelungen Land is all I want. I will take my twelve Nibelungen knights + that I have with me here, and we will fare forth to see the world and its + beauties, and men’s work; and, when we have tired with riding, we will + sail across the sea to our Nibelungen home.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Adventure IX. The Journey to Burgundy-Land. + </h2> + <p> + For many days before Siegfried’s departure, the queen, and all the women + of the household, busily plied their needles; and many suits of rich + raiment made they for the prince and his worthy comrades. At length the + time for leave-taking came, and all the inmates of the castle went out to + the gate to bid the heroes God-speed. Siegfried sat upon his noble horse + Greyfell, and his trusty sword Balmung hung at his side. And his + Nibelungen knights were mounted on lordly steeds, with gold-red saddles + and silver trappings chased with gold; and their glittering helmets, and + burnished shields, and war-coats of polished steel, when added to their + noble bearing and manlike forms, made up a picture of beauty and strength + such as no one in Santen had ever seen before, or would ever see again. + </p> + <p> + “Only go not into Burgundy-land,” were the parting words of Siegmund. + </p> + <p> + And all who had come to bid them farewell wept bitterly as the young men + rode out of the city, and were lost to sight in the distance. + </p> + <p> + “Only go not into Burgundy-land!” These words of his father sounded still + in Siegfried’s ears; and he turned his horse’s head towards the west and + south; and they rode through the level country, and among the fields, from + which the corn had already been gathered; and at night they slept in the + open air, upon the still warm ground. Thus for many days they travelled. + And they left the Lowlands far behind them, and Burgundy far to the left + of them; and by and by they came to a country covered with high hills, and + mountains that seemed to touch the sky. The crags and peaks were covered + with snow, and ice lay all summer in the dales and in the deep gorges + cleft long time ago by giant hands. Here it is that the rivers take their + beginning. And here it is that the purple grapes and the rare fruits of + milder climes are found; for the sun shines warm in the valleys and upon + the plains, and the soil is exceeding rich. It is said that these + mountains are midway between the cold regions of Jotunheim and the glowing + gardens of Muspelheim, and that, in ages past, they were the scene of many + battles between the giants who would overwhelm the earth,—these with + ice, and those with fire. Here and there were frowning caves dug out of + the solid mountain-side; while higher up were great pits, half-filled with + ashes, where, it is said, the dwarf-folk, when they were mighty on earth, + had their forges. + </p> + <p> + Siegfried stopped not long in this land. Thoughts of the Nibelungen Land, + and of his faithful liegemen who waited for his return, began to fill his + mind. Then the heroes turned their horses’ heads, and rode back towards + the north, following the course of the River Rhine, as it wound, here and + there, between hills and mountains, and through meadows where the grass + was springing up anew, and by the side of woodlands, now beginning to be + clothed in green again; for the winter was well over, and spring was + hastening on apace. And as they rode down the valley of the Rhine they + came, ere they were aware, into the Burgundian Land, and the high towers + of King Gunther’s castle rose up before them. Then Siegfried remembered + again his father’s words,— + </p> + <p> + “Only go not into Burgundy-land.” + </p> + <p> + But it was now too late to go back, and they determined to stop for a few + days with the Burgundian kings. They rode onwards through the meadows and + the pleasant farming-lands which lay around the city; and they passed a + wonderful garden of roses, said to belong to Kriemhild, the peerless + princess of the Rhine country; and at last they halted before the + castle-gate. So lordly was their bearing, that a company of knights came + out to meet them, and offered, as the custom was, to take charge of their + horses and their shields. But Siegfried asked that they be led at once to + King Gunther and his brothers; and, as their stay would not be long, they + said they would have no need to part with horses or with shields. Then + they followed their guides, and rode through the great gateway, and into + the open court, and halted beneath the palace windows. + </p> + <p> + And the three kings—Gunther, Gernot, and Giselher—and their + young sister, the matchless Kriemhild, looked down upon them from above, + and hazarded many guesses as to who the lordly strangers might be. And all + the inmates of the castle stood at the doors and windows, or gathered in + curious groups in the courtyard, and gazed with open-mouthed wonder upon + the rich armor and noble bearing of the thirteen heroes. But all eyes were + turned most towards Siegfried and the wondrous steed Greyfell. Some of the + knights whispered that this was Odin, and some that it was Thor, the + thunderer, making a tour through Rhineland. But others said that Thor was + never known to ride on horseback, and that the youth who sat on the + milk-white steed was little like the ancient Odin. And the ladies who + looked down upon the heroes from the palace windows said that this man + could be no other than the Sunbright Balder, come from his home in + Breidablik, to breathe gladness and sunshine into the hearts and lives of + men. + </p> + <p> + Only one among all the folk in the castle knew who the hero was who had + ridden thus boldly into the heart of Burgundy-land. That one was Hagen, + the uncle of the three kings, and the doughtiest warrior in all Rhineland. + With a dark frown and a sullen scowl he looked out upon the little party, + and already plotted in his mind how he might outwit, and bring to grief, + the youth whose name and fame were known the whole world over. For his + evil mind loved deeds of darkness, and hated the pure and good. By his + side, at an upper window, stood Kriemhild, the peerless maiden of the + Rhine; but her thoughts were as far from his thoughts as the heaven-smile + on her face was unlike the sullen scowl on his grim visage. As the moon in + her calm beauty is sometimes seen in the sky, riding gloriously by the + side of a dark thunder-cloud,—the one more lovely, the other more + dreadful, by their very nearness,—so seemed Kriemhild standing there + by the side of Hagen. + </p> + <p> + “Think you not, dear uncle,” she said, “that this is the Shining Balder + come to earth again?” + </p> + <p> + “The gods have forgotten the earth,” answered Hagen in surly tones. “But + if, indeed, this should be Balder, we shall, without doubt, find another + blind archer, who, with another sprig of mistletoe, will send him back + again to Hela.” + </p> + <p> + “What do you mean?” asked Kriemhild earnestly. + </p> + <p> + But old Hagen said not a word in answer. He quietly withdrew from the + room, and left the maiden and her mother, the good dame Ute, alone. + </p> + <p> + “What does uncle Hagen mean by his strange words? and why does he look so + sullen and angry?” asked Kriemhild. + </p> + <p> + “Indeed, I know not,” answered the queen-mother. “His ways are dark, and + he is cunning. I fear that evil will yet come to our house through him.” + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile the three kings and their chiefs had gone into the courtyard to + greet their unknown guests. Very kindly did Gunther welcome the strangers + to his home; and then he courteously asked them whence they came, and what + the favors they wished. + </p> + <p> + “I have heard,” answered Siegfried, “that many knights and heroes live in + this land, and that they are the bravest and the proudest in the world. I, + too, am a knight; and some time, if I am worthy, I shall be a king. But + first I would make good my right to rule over land and folk; and for this + reason I have come hither. If, indeed, you are as brave as all the world + says you are, ride now to the meadows with us, and let us fight man to + man; and he who wins shall rule over the lands of both. We will wager our + kingdom and our heads against yours.” + </p> + <p> + King Gunther and his brothers were amazed at this unlooked-for speech. + </p> + <p> + “Such is not the way to try where true worth lies!” they cried. “We have + no cause of quarrel with you, neither have you any cause of quarrel with + us. Why, then, should we spill each other’s blood?” + </p> + <p> + Again Siegfried urged them to fight with him; but they flatly refused. And + Gernot said,— + </p> + <p> + “The Burgundian kings have never wished to rule over folk that are not + their own. Much less would they gain new lands at the cost of their best + heroes’ blood. And they have never taken part in needless quarrels. Good + men in Burgundy are worth more than the broadest lands, and we will not + hazard the one for the sake of gaining the other. No, we will not fight. + But we greet you most heartily as our friends and guests.” + </p> + <p> + All the others joined in urging Siegfried and his comrades to dismount + from their steeds, and partake of the cheer with which it was their use to + entertain strangers. And at last he yielded to their kind wishes, and + alighted from Greyfell, and, grasping King Gunther’s hand, he made himself + known. And there was great rejoicing in the castle and throughout all the + land; and the most sumptuous rooms were set apart for the use of Siegfried + and his Nibelungen knights; and a banquet was at once made ready; and no + pains were spared in giving the strangers a right hearty welcome to the + kingly halls of Burgundy. But Hagen, dark-browed and evil-eyed, stood + silent and alone in his chamber and waited his time. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Adventure X. Kriemhild’s Dream. + </h2> + <p> + Early on the morrow morning, ere the sun had risen high, the peerless + Kriemhild walked alone amid the sweet-scented bowers of her rose-garden. + The dewdrops still hung thick on flower and thorn, and the wild birds + carolled their songs of merry welcome to the new-born day. Every thing + seemed to have put on its handsomest colors, and to be using its sweetest + voice, on purpose to gladden the heart of the maiden. But Kriemhild was + not happy. There was a shadow on her face and a sadness in her eye that + the beauty and the music of that morning could not drive away. + </p> + <p> + “What ails thee, my child?” asked her mother, Queen Ute, who met her. “Why + so sad, as if thy heart were heavy with care? Has any one spoken unkindly, + or has aught grievous happened to thee?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, no, dearest mother!” said Kriemhild. “It is nothing that saddens me,—nothing + but a foolish dream. I cannot forget it.” + </p> + <p> + “Tell me the dream,” said her mother: “mayhap it betokens something that + the Norns have written for thee.” + </p> + <p> + Then Kriemhild answered, “I dreamed that I sat at my window, high up in + the eastern tower; and the sun shone bright in the heavens, and the air + was mild and warm, and I thought of nought but the beauty and the gladness + of the hour. Then in the far north I saw a falcon flying. At first he + seemed but a black speck in the sky; but swiftly he drew nearer and + nearer, until at last he flew in at the open window, and I caught him in + my arms. Oh, how strong and beautiful he was! His wings were purple and + gold, and his eyes were as bright as the sun. Oh, a glorious prize I + thought him! and I held him on my wrist, and spoke kind words to him. Then + suddenly, from out of the sky above, two eagles dashed in at the window, + and snatched my darling from me, and they tore him in pieces before my + eyes, and laughed at my distress.” + </p> + <p> + “Thy dream,” said Queen Ute, “is easy to explain. A king shall come from + the north-land, and a mighty king shall he be. And he shall seek thee, and + love thee, and wed thee, and thy heart shall overflow with bliss. The two + eagles are the foes who shall slay him; but who they may be, or whence + they may come, is known only to the Norns.” + </p> + <p> + “But I slept, and I dreamed again,” said Kriemhild. “This time I sat in + the meadow, and three women came to me. And they span, and they wove a + woof more fair than any I have ever seen. And methought that another woof + was woven, which crossed the first, and yet it was no whit less beautiful. + Then the women who wove the woofs cried out, ‘Enough!’ And a fair white + arm reached out and seized the rare fabrics, and tore them into shreds. + And then the sky was overcast, and the thunder began to roll and the + lightning to flash, and red fires gleamed, and fierce wolves howled around + me, and I awoke.” + </p> + <p> + “This dream,” said Queen Ute, “is more than I can understand. Only this I + can see and explain, that in the dim future the woof of another’s fate + shall cross thy own. But trouble not thyself because of that which shall + be. While yet the sun shines for thee, and the birds sing, and the flowers + shed their sweet perfume, it is for thee to rejoice and be light-hearted. + What the Norns have woven is woven, and it cannot be undone.”[EN#21] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Adventure XI. How the Spring-time Came. + </h2> + <p> + Siegfried, when he came to Gunther’s castle, thought of staying there but + a few days only. But the king and his brothers made every thing so + pleasant for their honored guest, that weeks slipped by unnoticed, and + still the hero remained in Burgundy. + </p> + <p> + Spring had fairly come, and the weeping April clouds had given place to + the balmy skies of May. The young men and maidens, as was their wont, made + ready for the May-day games; and Siegfried and his knights were asked to + take part in the sport. + </p> + <p> + On the smooth greensward, which they called Nanna’s carpet, beneath the + shade of ash-trees and elms, he who played Old Winter’s part lingered with + his few attendants. These were clad in the dull gray garb which becomes + the sober season of the year, and were decked with yellow straw, and dead, + brown leaves. Out of the wood came the May-king and his followers, clad in + the gayest raiment, and decked with evergreens and flowers. With staves + and willow-withes they fell upon Old Winter’s champions, and tried to + drive them from the sward. In friendly fray they fought, and many mishaps + fell to both parties. But at length the May-king won; and grave Winter, + battered and bruised, was made prisoner, and his followers were driven + from the field. Then, in merry sport, sentence was passed on the luckless + wight, for he was found guilty of killing the flowers, and of covering the + earth with hoar-frost; and he was doomed to a long banishment from music + and the sunlight. The laughing party then set up a wooden likeness of the + worsted winter-king, and pelted it with stones and turf; and when they + were tired they threw it down, and put out its eyes, and cast it into the + river. And then a pole, decked with wild-flowers and fresh green leaves, + was planted in the midst of the sward, and all joined in merry dance + around it. And they chose the most beautiful of all the maidens to be the + Queen of May, and they crowned her with a wreath of violets and yellow + buttercups; and for a whole day all yielded fealty to her, and did her + bidding. + </p> + <p> + It was thus that May Day came in Burgundy. And in the evening, when the + party were seated in King Gunther’s hall, Siegfried, at the command of the + May-queen,—who was none other than Kriemhild the peerless,—amused + them by telling the story of + </p> + <p> + Idun and Her Apples. + </p> + <p> + It is a story that Bragi told while at the feast in AEgir’s hall. Idun is + Bragi’s wife. Very handsome is she; but the beauty of her face is by no + means greater than the goodness of her heart. Right attentive is she to + every duty, and her words and thoughts are always worthy and wise. A long + time ago the good Asa-folk who dwell in heaven-towering Asgard, knowing + how trustworthy Idun was, gave into her keeping a treasure which they + would not have placed in the hands of any other person. This treasure was + a box of apples, and Idun kept the golden key safely fastened to her + girdle. You ask me why the gods should prize a box of apples so highly? I + will tell you. + </p> + <p> + Old age, you know, spares none, not even Odin and his Asa-folk. They all + grow old and gray; and, if there were no cure for age, they would become + feeble and toothless and blind, deaf, tottering, and weak minded. The + apples which Idun guarded so carefully were the priceless boon of youth. + Whenever the gods felt old age coming on, they went to her, and she gave + them of her fruit; and, when they had tasted, they grew young and strong + and handsome again. Once, however, they came near losing the apples,—or + losing rather Idun and her golden key, without which no one could ever + open the box. + </p> + <p> + In those early days Odin delighted to come down now and then from his high + home above the clouds, and to wander, disguised, among the woods and + mountains, and by the seashore, and in wild desert places. For nothing + pleases him more than to commune with Nature as she is found in the + loneliness of vast solitudes, or in the boisterous uproar of the elements. + Once on a time he took with him his friends Hoenir and Loki; and they + rambled many days among the icy cliffs, and along the barren shores, of + the great frozen sea. In that country there was no game, and no fish was + found in the cold waters; and the three wanderers, as they had brought no + food with them, became very hungry. Late in the afternoon of the seventh + day, they reached some pasture-lands belonging to the giant Hymer, and saw + a herd of the giant’s cattle browsing upon the short grass which grew in + the sheltered nooks among the hills. + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” cried Loki: “after fasting for a week, we shall now have food in + abundance. Let us kill and eat.” + </p> + <p> + So saying, he hurled a sharp stone at the fattest of Hymer’s cows, and + killed her; and the three quickly dressed the choicest pieces of flesh for + their supper. Then Loki gathered twigs and dry grass, and kindled a + blazing fire; Hoenir filled the pot with water from melted ice; and Odin + threw into it the bits of tender meat. But, make the fire as hot as they + would, the water would not boil, and the flesh would not cook. + </p> + <p> + All night long the supperless three sat hungry around the fire; and, every + time they peeped into the kettle, the meat was as raw and gustless as + before. Morning came, but no breakfast. And all day Loki kept stirring the + fire, and Odin and Hoenir waited hopefully but impatiently. When the sun + again went down, the flesh was still uncooked, and their supper seemed no + nearer ready than it was the night before. As they were about yielding to + despair, they heard a noise overhead, and, looking up, they saw a huge + gray eagle sitting on the dead branch of an oak. + </p> + <p> + “Ha, ha!” cried the bird. “You are pretty fellows indeed! To sit hungry by + the fire a night and a day, rather than eat raw flesh, becomes you well. + Do but give me my share of it as it is, and I warrant you the rest shall + boil, and you shall have a fat supper.” + </p> + <p> + “Agreed,” answered Loki eagerly. “Come down and get your share.” + </p> + <p> + The eagle waited for no second asking. Down he swooped right over the + blazing fire, and snatched not only the eagle’s share, but also what the + Lybians call the lion’s share; that is, he grasped in his strong talons + the kettle, with all the meat in it, and, flapping his huge wings, slowly + rose into the air, carrying his booty with him. The three gods were + astonished. Loki was filled with anger. He seized a long pole, upon the + end of which a sharp hook was fixed, and struck at the treacherous bird. + The hook stuck fast in the eagle’s back, and Loki could not loose his hold + of the other end of the pole. The great bird soared high above the + tree-tops, and over the hills, and carried the astonished mischief-maker + with him. + </p> + <p> + But it was no eagle. It was no bird that had thus outwitted the hungry + gods: it was the giant Old Winter, clothed in his eagle-plumage. Over the + lonely woods, and the snow-crowned mountains, and the frozen sea, he flew, + dragging the helpless Loki through tree-tops, and over jagged rocks, + scratching and bruising his body, and almost tearing his arms from his + shoulders. At last he alighted on the craggy top of an iceberg, where the + storm-winds shrieked, and the air was filled with driving snow. As soon as + Loki could speak, he begged the giant to carry him back to his comrades,—Odin + and Hoenir. + </p> + <p> + “On one condition only will I carry you back,” answered Old Winter. “Swear + to me that you will betray into my hands dame Idun and her golden key.” + </p> + <p> + Loki asked no questions, but gladly gave the oath; and the giant flew back + with him across the sea, and dropped him, torn and bleeding and lame, by + the side of the fire, where Odin and Hoenir still lingered. And the three + made all haste to leave that cheerless place, and returned to Odin’s glad + home in Asgard. + </p> + <p> + Some weeks after this, Loki, the Prince of Mischief-makers, went to + Bragi’s house to see Idun. He found her busied with her household cares, + not thinking of a visit from any of the gods. + </p> + <p> + “I have come, good dame,” said he, “to taste your apples again; for I feel + old age coming on apace.” + </p> + <p> + Idun was astonished. + </p> + <p> + “You are not looking old,” she answered. “There is not a single gray hair + upon your head, and not a wrinkle on your brow. If it were not for that + scar upon your cheek, and the arm which you carry in a sling you would + look as stout and as well as I have ever seen you. Besides, I remember + that it was only a year ago when you last tasted of my fruit. Is it + possible that a single winter should make you old?” + </p> + <p> + “A single winter has made me very lame and feeble, at least,” said Loki. + “I have been scarcely able to walk about since my return from the North. + Another winter without a taste of your apples will be the death of me.” + </p> + <p> + Then the kind-hearted Idun, when she saw that Loki was really lame, went + to the box, and opened it with her golden key, and gave him one of the + precious apples to taste. He took the fruit in his hand, bit it, and gave + it back to the good dame. She put it in its place again, closed the lid, + and locked it with her usual care. + </p> + <p> + “Your apples are not so good as they used to be,” said Loki, making a very + wry face. “Why don’t you fill your box with fresh fruit?” + </p> + <p> + Idun was amazed. Her apples were supposed to be always fresh,—fresher + by far than any that grow nowadays. None of the gods had ever before + complained about them; and she told Loki so. + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” said he. “I see you do not believe me, and that you mean to + feed us on your sour, withered apples, when we might as well have golden + fruit. If you were not so bent on having your own way, I could tell you + where you might fill your box with the choicest of apples, such as Odin + loves. I saw them in the forest over yonder, hanging ripe on the trees. + But women will always have their own way; and you must have yours, even + though you do feed the gods on withered apples.” + </p> + <p> + So saying, and without waiting to hear an answer, he limped out at the + door, and was soon gone from sight. + </p> + <p> + Idun thought long and anxiously upon the words which Loki had spoken; and, + the more she thought, the more she felt troubled. If her husband, the wise + Bragi, had been at home, what would she not have given? He would have + understood the mischief-maker’s cunning. But he had gone on a long journey + to the South, singing in Nature’s choir, and painting Nature’s landscapes, + and she would not see him again until the return of spring. At length she + opened the box, and looked at the fruit. The apples were certainly fair + and round: she could not see a wrinkle or a blemish on any of them; their + color was the same golden-red,—like the sky at dawn of a summer’s + day; yet she thought there must be something wrong about them. She took up + one of the apples, and tasted it. She fancied that it really was sour, and + she hastily put it back, and locked the box again. + </p> + <p> + “He said that he had seen better apples than these growing in the woods,” + said she to herself. “I half believe that he told the truth, although + everybody knows that he is not always trustworthy. I think I shall go to + the forest and see for myself, at any rate.” + </p> + <p> + So she donned her cloak and hood, and, with a basket on her arm, left the + house, and walked rapidly away, along the road which led to the forest. It + was much farther than she had thought, and the sun was almost down when + she reached the edge of the wood. But no apple-trees were there. Tall oaks + stretched their bare arms up towards the sky, as if praying for help. + There were thorn-trees and brambles everywhere; but there was no fruit, + neither were there any flowers, nor even green leaves. The Frost-giants + had been there. + </p> + <p> + Idun was about to turn her footsteps homewards, when she heard a wild + shriek in the tree-tops over her head; and, before she could look up, she + felt herself seized in the eagle-talons of Old Winter. Struggle as she + would, she could not free herself. High up, over wood and stream, the + giant carried her; and then he flew swiftly away with her, towards his + home in the chill North-land; and, when morning came, poor Idun found + herself in an ice-walled castle in the cheerless country of the giants. + But she was glad to know that the precious box was safely locked at home, + and that the golden key was still at her girdle. + </p> + <p> + Time passed; and I fear that Idun would have been forgotten by all, save + her husband Bragi, had not the gods begun to feel the need of her apples. + Day after day they came to Idun’s house, hoping to find the good dame and + her golden key at home; and each day they went away some hours older than + when they had come. Bragi was beside himself with grief, and his golden + harp was unstrung and forgotten. No one had seen the missing Idun since + the day when Loki had visited her, and none could guess what had become of + her. The heads of all the folk grew white with age; deep furrows were + ploughed in their faces; their eyes grew dim, and their hearing failed; + their hands trembled; their limbs became palsied; their feet tottered; and + all feared that Old Age would bring Death in his train. + </p> + <p> + Then Bragi and Thor questioned Loki very sharply; and when he felt that + he, too, was growing odd and feeble, he regretted the mischief he had + done, and told them how he had decoyed Idun into Old Winter’s clutches. + The gods were very angry; and Thor threatened to crush Loki with his + hammer, if he did not at once bring Idun safe home again. + </p> + <p> + So Loki borrowed the falcon-plumage of Freyja, the goddess of love, and + with it flew to the country of the giants. When he reached Old Winter’s + castle, he found the good dame Idun shut up in the prison-tower, and bound + with fetters of ice; but the giant himself was on the frozen sea, herding + old Hymer’s cows. And Loki quickly broke the bonds that held Idun, and led + her out of her prison-house; and then he shut her up in a magic nut-shell + which he held between his claws, and flew with the speed of the wind back + towards the South-land and the home of the gods. But Old Winter coming + home, and learning what had been done, donned his eagle-plumage and + followed swiftly in pursuit. + </p> + <p> + Bragi and Thor, anxiously gazing into the sky, saw Loki, in Freyja’s + falcon-plumage, speeding homewards, with the nut-shell in his talons, and + Old Winter, in his eagle-plumage, dashing after in sharp pursuit. Quickly + they gathered chips and slender twigs, and placed them high upon the + castle-wall; and, when Loki with his precious burden had flown past, they + touched fire to the dry heap, and the flames blazed up to the sky, and + caught Old Winter’s plumage, as, close behind the falcon, he blindly + pressed. And his wings were scorched in the flames; and he fell helpless + to the ground, and was slain within the castle-gates. Loki slackened his + speed; and, when he reached Bragi’s house, he dropped the nut-shell softly + before the door. As it touched the ground, it gently opened, and Idun, + radiant with smiles, and clothed in gay attire, stepped forth, and greeted + her husband and the waiting gods. And the heavenly music of Bragi’s + long-silent harp welcomed her home; and she took the golden key from her + girdle, and unlocked the box, and gave of her apples to the aged company; + and, when they had tasted, their youth was renewed.[EN#22] + </p> + <p> + It is thus with the seasons and their varied changes. The gifts of Spring + are youth and jollity, and renewed strength; and the music of air and + water and all things, living and lifeless, follow in her train. The + desolating Winter plots to steal her from the earth, and the Summer-heat + deserts and betrays her. Then the music of Nature is hushed, and all + creatures pine in sorrow for her absence, and the world seems dying of + white Old Age. But at length the Summer-heat repents, and frees her from + her prison-house; and the icy fetters with which Old Winter bound her are + melted in the beams of the returning sun, and the earth is young again. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Adventure XII. The War with the North-kings. + </h2> + <p> + So swiftly and so pleasantly the days went by, that weeks lengthened into + months, and the spring-time passed, and the summer came, and still + Siegfried lingered in Burgundy with his kind friends. The time was spent + in all manner of joyance,—in hunting the deer in the deep oak-woods, + in riding over the daisied meadows or among the fields of corn, in manly + games and sports, in music and dancing, in feasting and in pleasant talk. + And of all the noble folk who had ever sat at Gunther’s table, or hunted + in the Burgundian woods, none were so worthy or so fair as the proud young + lord of the Nibelungens. + </p> + <p> + One day in early autumn a party of strange knights rode up to the castle, + and asked to speak with the Burgundian kings. They were led straightway + into the great hall; and Gunther and his brothers welcomed them, as was + their wont, right heartily, and asked them from what country they had + come, and what was their errand. + </p> + <p> + “We come,” they answered, “from the North country; and we bring word from + our lords and kings, Leudiger and Leudigast.” + </p> + <p> + “And what would our kingly neighbors say to us?” asked Gunther. + </p> + <p> + Then the strangers said that their lords had become very angry with the + Burgundian kings, and that they meant, within twelve weeks from that day, + to come with a great army, and lay the country waste, and besiege their + city and castle. All this they had sworn to do unless the Burgundians + would make peace with them upon such terms as Leudiger and Leudigast + should please to grant. + </p> + <p> + When Gunther and his brothers heard this, they were struck with dismay. + But they ordered the messengers to be well cared for and handsomely + entertained within the palace until the morrow, at which time they should + have the Burgundians’ answer. All the noblest knights and earl-folk were + called together, and the matter was laid before them. + </p> + <p> + “What answer shall we send to our rude neighbors of the North?” asked + Gunther. + </p> + <p> + Gernot and the young Giselher declared at once for war. Old Hagen and + other knights, whose prudence was at least equal to their bravery, said + but little. It was known, that, in the armies of the North-kings, there + were at least forty thousand soldiers; but in Burgundy there were not more + than thirty thousand fighting-men, all told. The North-kings’ forces were + already equipped, and ready to march; but the Burgundians could by no + means raise and arm any considerable body of men in the short space of + twelve weeks. It would be the part of wisdom to delay, and to see what + terms could best be made with their enemies. Such were the prudent + counsels of the older knights, but Gernot and the young chief Volker would + not listen to such words. + </p> + <p> + “The Burgundians are not cowards,” said they. “We have never been foiled + in battle; never have we been the vassals of a stranger. Why, then, shall + we cringe and cower before such men as Leudiger and Leudigast?” + </p> + <p> + Then Hagen answered, “Let us ask our friend and guest Siegfried. Let us + learn what he thinks about this business. Everybody knows that he is as + wise in council as he is brave in the field. We will abide by what he + says.” + </p> + <p> + But Gunther and Gernot and the young Giselher were unwilling to do this; + for it was not their custom to annoy their guests with questions which + should be allowed to trouble themselves alone. And the kings and their + counsellors went out of the council-chamber, each to ponder in silence + upon the troublesome question. + </p> + <p> + As Gunther, with downcast head and troubled brow, walked thoughtfully + through the great hall, he unexpectedly met Siegfried. + </p> + <p> + “What evil tidings have you heard?” asked the prince, surprised at the + strange mien of the king. “What has gone amiss, that should cause such + looks of dark perplexity?” + </p> + <p> + “That is a matter which I can tell only to friends long tried and true,” + answered Gunther. + </p> + <p> + Siegfried was surprised and hurt by these words; and he cried out,— + </p> + <p> + “What more would Gunther ask of me that I might prove my friendship? + Surely I have tried to merit his esteem and trust. Tell me what troubles + you, and I will further show myself to be your friend both tried and + true.” + </p> + <p> + Then Gunther was ashamed of the words he had spoken to his guest; and he + took Siegfried into his own chamber, and told him all; and he asked him + what answer they should send on the morrow to the overbearing North-kings. + </p> + <p> + “Tell them we will fight,” answered Siegfried. “I myself will lead your + warriors to the fray. Never shall it be said that my friends have suffered + wrong, and I not tried to help them.” + </p> + <p> + Then he and Gunther talked over the plans which they would follow. And the + clouds fled at once from the brow of the king, and he was no longer + troubled or doubtful; for he believed in Siegfried. + </p> + <p> + The next morning the heralds of the North-kings were brought again before + Gunther and his brothers; and they were told to carry this word to their + masters,— + </p> + <p> + “The Burgundians will fight. They will make no terms with their enemies, + save such as they make of their own free-will.” + </p> + <p> + Then the heralds were loaded with costly presents, and a company of + knights and warriors went with them to the border-line of Burgundy; and, + filled with wonder at what they had seen, they hastened back to their + liege lords, and told all that had happened to them. And Leudiger and + Leudigast were very wroth when they heard the answer which the Burgundians + had sent to them; but, when they learned that the noble Siegfried was at + Gunther’s castle, they shook their heads, and seemed to feel more doubtful + of success. + </p> + <p> + Many and busy were the preparations for war, and in a very few days all + things were in readiness for the march northwards. It was settled that + Siegfried with his twelve Nibelungen chiefs, and a thousand picked men, + should go forth to battle against their boastful enemies. The dark-browed + Hagen, as he had always done, rode at the head of the company, and by his + side was Siegfried on the noble horse Greyfell. Next came Gernot and the + bold chief Volker, bearing the standard, upon which a golden dragon was + engraved; then followed Dankwart and Ortwin, and the twelve worthy + comrades of Siegfried; and then the thousand warriors, the bravest in all + Rhineland, mounted on impatient steeds, and clad in bright steel armor, + with broad shields, and plumed helmets, and burnished swords, and + sharp-pointed spears. And all rode proudly out through the great + castle-gate. And Gunther and the young Giselher and all the fair ladies of + the court bade them God-speed. + </p> + <p> + The little army passed through the forest, and went northwards, until, on + the fifth day, they reached the boundaries of Saxon Land. And Siegfried + gave spur to his horse Greyfell, and, leaving the little army behind him, + hastened forwards to see where the enemy was encamped. As he reached the + top of a high hill, he saw the armies of the North-kings resting + carelessly in the valley beyond. Knights, mounted on their horses, rode + hither and thither: the soldiers sauntered lazily among the trees, or + slept upon the grass; arms were thrown about in great disorder, or stacked + in piles near the smoking camp-fires. No one dreamed of danger; but all + supposed that the Burgundians were still at home, and would never dare to + attack a foe so numerous and so strong. + </p> + <p> + For it was, indeed, a mighty army which Siegfried saw before him. Full + forty thousand men were there; and they not only filled the valley, but + spread over the hills beyond, and far to the right and left. + </p> + <p> + While he stood at the top of the hill, and gazed upon this sight, a + warrior, who had spied him from below, rode up, and paused before him. + Like two black thunder-clouds, with lightning flashing between, the two + knights stood facing each other, and casting wrathful glances from beneath + their visors. Then each spurred his horse, and charged with fury upon the + other; and the heavy lances of both were broken in shivers upon the + opposing shields. Then, quick as thought, they turned and drew their + swords, and hand to hand they fought. But soon Siegfried, by an + unlooked-for stroke, sent his enemy’s sword flying from him, broken in a + dozen pieces, and by a sudden movement he threw him from his horse. The + heavy shield of the fallen knight was no hinderance to the quick strokes + of Siegfried’s sword; and his glittering armor, soiled by the mud into + which he had been thrown, held him down. He threw up his hands, and begged + for mercy. + </p> + <p> + “I am Leudigast the king!” he cried. “Spare my life. I am your prisoner.” + </p> + <p> + Siegfried heard the prayer of the discomfited king; and, lifting him from + the ground, he helped him to remount his charger. But, while he was doing + this, thirty warriors, who had seen the combat from below, came dashing up + the hill to the rescue of their liege-lord. Siegfried faced about with his + horse Greyfell, and quietly waited for their onset. But, as they drew + near, they were so awed by the noble bearing and grand proportions of the + hero, and so astonished at sight of the sunbeam mane of Greyfell, and the + cold glitter of the blade Balmung, that in sudden fright they stopped, + then turned, and fled in dismay down the sloping hillside, nor paused + until they were safe among their friends. + </p> + <p> + In the mean while Leudiger, the other king, seeing what was going on at + the top of the hill, had caused an alarm to be sounded; and all his hosts + had hastily arranged themselves in battle-array. At the same time Hagen + and Gernot, and their little army of heroes, hove in sight, and came + quickly to Siegfried’s help, and the dragon-banner was planted upon the + crest of the hill. The captive king, Leudigast, was taken to the rear, and + a guard was placed over him. The champions of the Rhine formed in line, + and faced their foes. The great army of the North-kings moved boldly up + the hill: and, when they saw how few were the Burgundians, they laughed + and cheered most lustily; for they felt that the odds was in their favor—and + forty to one is no small odds. + </p> + <p> + Then Siegfried and his twelve comrades, and Hagen and the thousand + Burgundian knights, dashed upon them with the fury of the whirlwind. The + lances flew so thick in the air, that they hid the sun from sight; swords + flashed on every side; the sound of clashing steel, and horses’ hoofs, and + soldiers’ shouts, filled earth and sky with a horrid din. And soon the + boastful foes of the Burgundians were everywhere worsted, and thrown into + disorder. Siegfried dashed hither and thither, from one part of the field + to another, in search of King Leudiger. Thrice he cut his way through the + ranks, and at last he met face to face the one for whom he sought. + </p> + <p> + King Leudiger saw the flashing sunbeams that glanced from Greyfell’s mane, + he saw the painted crown upon the hero’s broad shield, and then he felt + the fearful stroke of the sword Balmung, as it clashed against his own, + and cut it clean in halves. He dropped his weapons, raised his visor, and + gave himself up as a prisoner. + </p> + <p> + “Give up the fight, my brave fellows,” he cried. “This is Siegfried the + brave, the Prince of the Lowlands, and the Lord of Nibelungen Land. It + were foolishness to fight against him. Save yourselves as best you can.” + </p> + <p> + This was the signal for a frightful panic. All turned and fled. Each + thought of nothing but his own safety; and knights and warriors, horsemen + and foot-soldiers, in one confused mass, throwing shields and weapons here + and there, rushed wildly down the hill, and through the valley and + ravines, and sought, as best they could, their way homeward. The + Burgundian heroes were the masters of the field, and on the morrow they + turned their faces joyfully towards Rhineland. And all joined in saying + that to Siegfried was due the praise for this wonderful victory which they + had gained. + </p> + <p> + Heralds had been sent on the fleetest horses to carry the glad news to + Burgundy; and when, one morning, they dashed into the court-yard of the + castle, great was the anxiety to know what tidings they brought. And King + Gunther, and the young Giselher, and the peerless Kriemhild, came out to + welcome them, and eagerly to inquire what had befallen the heroes. With + breathless haste the heralds told the story of all that had happened. + </p> + <p> + “And how fares our brother Gernot?” asked Kriemhild. + </p> + <p> + “There is no happier man on earth,” answered the herald. “In truth, there + was not a coward among them all; but the bravest of the brave was + Siegfried. He it was who took the two kings prisoners; and everywhere in + the thickest of the fight there was Siegfried. And now our little army is + on its homeward march, with a thousand prisoners, and large numbers of the + enemy’s wounded. Had it not been for the brave Siegfried, no such victory + could have been won.” + </p> + <p> + In a few days the Rhine champions reached their home. And gayly were the + castle and all the houses in the city decked in honor of them. And all + those who had been left behind went out to meet them as they came down + from the forest-road, and drew near to the castle. And the young girls + strewed flowers in their path, and hung garlands upon their horses; and + music and song followed the heroes into the city, and through the + castle-gate. + </p> + <p> + When they reached the palace, the two prisoner kings, Leudiger and + Leudigast, were loosed from their bonds, and handsomely entertained at + Gunther’s table. And the Burgundian kings assured them that they should be + treated as honored guests, and have the freedom of the court and castle, + if they would pledge themselves not to try to escape from Burgundy until + terms of peace should be agreed upon. This pledge they gladly gave, and + rich apartments in the palace were assigned for their use. Like favors + were shown to all the prisoners, according to their rank; and the wounded + were kindly cared for. And the Burgundians made ready for a gay high-tide,—a + glad festival of rejoicing, to be held at the next full moon. + </p> + <p> + When the day drew near which had been set for this high-tide, the folk + from all parts of Rhineland began to flock towards the city. They came in + companies, with music and laughter, and the glad songs of the spring-time. + And all the knights were mounted on gallant horses caparisoned with + gold-red saddles, from which hung numbers of tinkling silver bells. As + they rode up the sands towards the castle-gate, with their dazzling + shields upon their saddle-bows, and their gay and many-colored banners + floating in the air, King Gernot and the young Giselher, with the noblest + knights of the fortress, went courteously out to meet them; and the + friendly greetings which were offered by the two young kings won the + hearts of all. Thirty and two princes and more than five thousand warriors + came as bidden guests. The city and castle were decked in holiday attire, + and all the people in the land gave themselves up to enjoyment. The sick + and the wounded, who until now had thought themselves at death’s door, + forgot their ailments and their pains as they heard the shouts of joy and + the peals of music in the streets. + </p> + <p> + In a green field outside of the city walls, arrangements had been made for + the games, and galleries and high stages had been built for the + lookers-on. Here jousts and tournaments were held, and the knights and + warriors engaged in trials of strength and skill. When King Gunther saw + with what keen enjoyment both his own people and his guests looked upon + these games, and took part in the gay festivities, he asked of those + around him,— + </p> + <p> + “What more can we do to heighten the pleasures of the day?” + </p> + <p> + And one of his counsellors answered,— + </p> + <p> + “My lord, the ladies of the court, and the little children, pine in + silence in the sunless rooms of the palace, while we enjoy the free air + and light of heaven, the music, and the gay scenes before us. There is + nothing wanting to make this day’s joy complete, save the presence of our + dear ones to share these pleasures with us.” + </p> + <p> + Gunther was delighted to hear these words; and he sent a herald to the + palace, and invited all the ladies of the court and all the children to + come out and view the games, and join in the general gladness. + </p> + <p> + When Dame Ute heard the message which the herald brought from her kingly + son, she hastened to make ready rich dresses and costly jewels wherewith + to adorn the dames and damsels of the court. And, when all were in + readiness, the peerless Kriemhild, with her mother at her side, went forth + from the castle; and a hundred knights, all sword in hand, went with her + as a body-guard, and a great number of noble ladies dressed in rich attire + followed her. As the red dawn peers forth from behind gray clouds, and + drives the mists and shadows away from earth, so came the lovely one. As + the bright full moon in radiant splendor moves in queen-like beauty before + her train of attendant stars, and outshines them all, so was Kriemhild the + most glorious among all the noble ladies there. And the thousand knights + and warriors paused in their games, and greeted the peerless princess as + was due to one so noble and fair. Upon the highest platform, under a rich + canopy of cloth-of-gold, seats were made ready for the maiden and her + mother and the fair ladies in their train; and all the most worthy princes + in Rhineland sat around, and the games were begun again. + </p> + <p> + For twelve days the gay high-tide lasted, and nought was left undone + whereby the joy might be increased. And of all the heroes and princes who + jousted in the tournament, or took part in the games, none could equal the + unassuming Siegfried; and his praises were heard on every hand, and all + agreed that he was the most worthy prince that they had ever seen. + </p> + <p> + When at last the festal days came to an end, Gunther and his brothers + called their guests and vassals around them, and loaded them with costly + gifts, and bade them God-speed. And tears stood in the eyes of all at + parting. + </p> + <p> + The captive kings, Leudiger and Leudigast, were not forgotten. + </p> + <p> + “What will ye give me for your freedom?” asked King Gunther, half in jest. + </p> + <p> + They answered,— + </p> + <p> + “If you will allow us without further hinderance to go back to our people, + we pledge our lives and our honor that we will straightway send you gold, + as much as half a thousand horses can carry.” + </p> + <p> + Then Gunther turned to Siegfried, and said,— + </p> + <p> + “What think you, friend Siegfried, of such princely ransom?” + </p> + <p> + “Noble lord,” said Siegfried, “I think you are in need of no such ransom. + Friendship is worth much more than gold. If your kingly captives will + promise, on their honor, never more to come towards Burgundy as enemies, + let them go. We have no need of gold.” + </p> + <p> + “‘Tis well said,” cried Gunther highly pleased. + </p> + <p> + And Leudiger and Leudigast, with tears of thankfulness, gladly made the + asked-for promise, and on the morrow, with light hearts and costly gifts, + they set out on their journey homewards. + </p> + <p> + When all the guests had gone, and the daily routine of idle palace-life + set in again, Siegfried began to talk of going back to Nibelungen Land. + But young Giselher, and the peerless Kriemhild, and King Gunther, besought + him to stay yet a little longer. And he yielded to their kind wishes. And + autumn passed away with its fruits and its vintage, and grim old winter + came howling down from the north, and Siegfried was still in Burgundy. And + then old Hoder, the king of the winter months, came blustering through the + Rhine valley; and with him were the Reifriesen,—the thieves that + steal the daylight from the earth and the warmth from the sun. And they + nipped the flowers, and withered the grass, and stripped the trees, and + sealed up the rivers, and covered the earth with a white mantle of sorrow. + </p> + <p> + But within King Gunther’s wide halls there was joy and good cheer. And the + season of the Yule-feast came, and still Siegfried tarried in + Burgundy-land. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Adventure XIII. The Story of Balder. + </h2> + <p> + There was mirth in King Gunther’s dwelling, for the time of the Yule-feast + had come. The broad banquet hall was gayly decked with cedar and spruce + and sprigs of the mistletoe; and the fires roared in the great chimneys, + throwing warmth and a ruddy glow of light into every corner of the room. + The long table fairly groaned under its weight of good cheer. At its head + sat the kings and the earl-folk; and before them, on a silver platter of + rare workmanship, was the head of a huge wild boar,—the festal + offering to the good Frey, in honor of whom the Yule-feast was held. For + now the sun, which had been driven by the Frost-giants far away towards + the South-land, had begun to return, and Frey was on his way once more to + scatter peace and plenty over the land. + </p> + <p> + The harp and the wassail-bowl went round; and each one of the company sang + a song, or told a story, or in some way did his part to add to the + evening’s enjoyment. And a young sea-king who sat at Siegfried’s side told + most bewitching tales of other lands which lie beyond Old AEgir’s kingdom. + Then, when the harp came to him, he sang the wondrous song of the shaping + of the earth. And all who heard were charmed with the sweet sound and with + the pleasant words. He sang of the sunlight and the south winds and the + summer-time, of the storms and the snow and the sombre shadows of the + North-land. And he sang of the dead Ymir, the giant whose flesh had made + the solid earth, and whose blood the sea, and whose bones the mountains, + whose teeth the cliffs and crags, and whose skull the heavens. And he sang + of Odin, the earth’s preserver, the Giver of life, the Father of all; and + of the Asa-folk who dwell in Asgard; and of the ghostly heroes in Valhal. + Then he sang of the heaven-tower of the thunder-god, and of the shimmering + Asa-bridge, or rainbow, all afire; and, lastly, of the four dwarfs who + hold the blue sky-dome above them, and of the elves of the mountains, and + of the wood-sprites and the fairies. Then he laid aside his harp, and told + the old but ever-beautiful story of the death of Balder the Good. + </p> + <p> + The Story. + </p> + <p> + Balder, as you know, was Odin’s son; and he was the brightest and best of + all the Asa-folk. Wherever he went, there were gladness and light-hearted + mirth, and blooming flowers, and singing birds, and murmuring waterfalls. + Balder, too, was a hero, but not one of the blustering kind, like Thor. He + slew no giants; he never went into battle; he never tried to make for + himself a name among the dwellers of the mid-world; and yet he was a hero + of the noblest type. He dared to do right, and to stand up for the good, + the true, and the beautiful. There are still some such heroes, but the + world does not always hear of them. + </p> + <p> + Hoder, the blind king of the winter months, was Balder’s brother, and as + unlike him as darkness is unlike daylight. While one rejoiced, and was + merry and cheerful, the other was low-spirited and sad. While one + scattered sunshine and blessings everywhere, the other carried with him a + sense of cheerlessness and gloom. Yet the brothers loved each other + dearly. + </p> + <p> + One night Balder dreamed a strange dream, and when he awoke he could not + forget it. All day long he was thoughtful and sad, and he was not his own + bright, happy self. His mother, the Asa-queen, saw that something troubled + him; and she asked,— + </p> + <p> + “Whence comes that cloud upon your brow? Will you suffer it to chase away + all your sunshine? and will you become, like your brother Hoder, all + frowns and sighs and tears?” + </p> + <p> + Then Balder told her what he had dreamed; and she, too, was sorely + troubled, for it was a frightful dream, and foreboded dire disasters. Then + both she and Balder went to Odin, and to him they told the cause of their + uneasiness. And the All-Father also was distressed; for he knew that such + dreams, dreamed by Asa-folk, were the forewarnings of evil. So he saddled + his eight-footed steed Sleipner; and, without telling any one where he was + going, he rode with the speed of the winds down into the Valley of Death. + The dog that guards the gateway to that dark and doleful land came out to + meet him. Blood was on the fierce beast’s breast, and he barked loudly and + angrily at the All-Father and his wondrous horse. But Odin sang sweet + magic songs as he drew near; and the dog was charmed with the sound, and + Sleipner and his rider went onward in safety. And they passed the dark + halls of the pale-faced queen, and came to the east gate of the valley. + There stood the low hut of a witch who lived in darkness, and, like the + Norns, spun the thread of fate for gods and men. + </p> + <p> + Odin stood before the hut, and sang a wondrous song of witchery and + enchantment; and he laid a spell upon the weird woman, and forced her to + come out of her dark dwelling, and to answer his questions. + </p> + <p> + “Who is this stranger?” asked the witch. “Who is this unknown who calls me + from my narrow home, and sets an irksome task for me? Long have I been + left alone in my quiet house; nor recked I that the snow sometimes covered + with its cold white mantle both me and my resting-place, or that the + pattering rain and the gently falling dew often moistened the roof of my + dwelling. Long have I rested quietly, and I do not wish now to be + aroused.” + </p> + <p> + “I am Valtam’s son,” said Odin; “and I come to learn of thee. Tell me, I + pray, for whom are the soft couches prepared that I saw in the broad halls + of Death? For whom are the jewels, and the rings, and the rich clothing, + and the shining shield?” + </p> + <p> + “All are for Balder, Odin’s son,” she answered. “And the mead which has + been brewed for him is hidden beneath the shining shield.” + </p> + <p> + Then Odin asked who would be the slayer of Balder, and she answered that + Hoder was the one who would send the shining Asa to the halls of Death. + </p> + <p> + “Who will avenge Balder, and bring distress upon his slayer?” asked Odin. + </p> + <p> + “A son of Earth but one day old shall be Balder’s avenger. Go thou now + home, Odin; for I know thou art not Valtam’s son. Go home; and none shall + again awaken me, nor disturb me at my task, until the new day shall dawn, + and Balder shall rule over the young world in its purity, and there shall + be no more Death.” + </p> + <p> + Then Odin rode sorrowfully homeward; but he told no one of his journey to + the Dark Valley, nor of what the weird witch had said to him. + </p> + <p> + Balder’s mother, the Asa-queen, could not rest because of the ill-omened + dream that her son had had; and in her distress she called all the + Asa-folk together to consider what should be done. But they were + speechless with sorrow and alarm; and none could offer advice, nor set her + mind at ease. Then she sought out every living creature, and every + lifeless thing, upon the earth, and asked each one to swear that it would + not on any account hurt Balder, nor touch him to do him harm. And this + oath was willingly made by fire and water, earth and air, by all beasts + and creeping things and birds and fishes, by the rocks and by the trees + and all metals; for every thing loved Balder the Good. + </p> + <p> + Then the Asa-folk thought that great honor was shown to Balder each time + any thing refused to hurt him; and to show their love for him, as well as + to amuse themselves, they often hewed at him with their battle-axes, or + struck at him with their sharp swords, or hurled toward him their heavy + lances. For every weapon turned aside from its course, and would neither + mark nor bruise the shining target at which it was aimed; and Balder’s + princely beauty shone as bright and as pure as ever. + </p> + <p> + When Loki the Mischief-maker saw how all things loved and honored Balder, + his heart was filled with jealous hate, and he sought all over the earth + for some beast or bird or tree or lifeless thing, that had not taken the + oath. But he could find not one. Then, disguised as a fair maiden, he went + to Fensal Hall, where dwelt Balder’s mother. The fair Asa-queen was busy + at her distaff, with her golden spindles, spinning flax to be woven into + fine linen for the gods. And her maid-servant, Fulla of the flowing hair, + sat on a stool beside her. When the queen saw Loki, she asked,— + </p> + <p> + “Whence come you, fair stranger? and what favor would you ask of Odin’s + wife?” + </p> + <p> + “I come,” answered the disguised Loki, “from the plains of Ida, where the + gods meet for pleasant pastime, as well as to talk of the weightier + matters of their kingdom.” + </p> + <p> + “And how do they while away their time to-day?” asked the queen. + </p> + <p> + “They have a pleasant game which they call Balder’s Honor,” was the + answer. “The shining hero stands before them as a target, and each one + tries his skill at hurling some weapon toward him. First Odin throws at + him the spear Gungner, which never before was known to miss its mark; but + it passes harmlessly over Balder’s head. Then Thor takes up a huge rock, + and hurls it full at Balder’s breast; but it turns in its course, and will + not smite the sun-bright target. Then Tyr seizes a battle-axe, and strikes + at Balder as though he would hew him down; but the keen edge refuses to + touch him: and in this way the Asa-folk show honor to the best of their + number.” + </p> + <p> + The Asa-queen smiled in the glad pride of her mother-heart, and said, + “Yes, every thing shows honor to the best of Odin’s sons; for neither + metal nor wood nor stone nor fire nor water will touch Balder to do him + harm.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it true, then,” asked Loki, “that every thing has made an oath to you, + and promised not to hurt your son?” + </p> + <p> + And the queen, not thinking what harm an unguarded word might do, + answered, “Every thing has promised, save a little feeble sprig that men + call the mistletoe. So small and weak it is, that I knew it could never + harm any one; and so I passed it by, and did not ask it to take the oath.” + </p> + <p> + Then Loki went out of Fensal Hall, and left the Asa-queen at her spinning. + And he walked briskly away, and paused not until he came to the eastern + side of Valhal, where, on the branches of an old oak, the mistletoe grew. + Rudely he tore the plant from its supporting branch, and hid it under his + cloak. Then he walked leisurely back to the place where the Asa-folk were + wont to meet in council. + </p> + <p> + The next day the Asas went out, as usual, to engage in pleasant pastimes + on the plains of Ida. When they had tired of leaping and foot-racing and + tilting, they placed Balder before them as a target again; and, as each + threw his weapon toward the shining mark, they laughed to see the missile + turn aside from its course, and refuse to strike the honored one. But + blind Hoder stood sorrowfully away from the others, and did not join in + any of their sports. Loki, seeing this, went to him and said,— + </p> + <p> + “Brother of the gloomy brow, why do you not take part with us in our + games?” + </p> + <p> + “I am blind,” answered Hoder. “I can neither leap, nor run, nor throw the + lance.” + </p> + <p> + “But you can shoot arrows from your bow,” said Loki. + </p> + <p> + “Alas!” said Hoder, “that I can do only as some one shall direct my aim, + for I can see no target.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you hear that laughter?” asked Loki. “Thor has hurled the straight + trunk of a pine-tree at your brother; and, rather than touch such a + glorious mark; it has turned aside, and been shivered to pieces upon the + rocks over there. It is thus that the Asa-folk, and all things living and + lifeless, honor Balder. Hoder is the only one who hangs his head, and + fears to do his part. Come, now, let me fit this little arrow in your bow, + and then, as I point it, do you shoot. When you hear the gods laugh, you + will know that your arrow has shown honor to the hero by refusing to hit + him.” + </p> + <p> + And Hoder, thinking no harm, did as Loki wished. And the deadly arrow sped + from the bow, and pierced the heart of shining Balder, and he sank + lifeless upon the ground. Then the Asa-folk who saw it were struck + speechless with sorrow and dismay; and, had it not been that the Ida + plains where they then stood were sacred to peace, they would have seized + upon Loki, and put him to death. + </p> + <p> + Forthwith the world was draped in mourning for Balder the Good; the birds + stopped singing, and flew with drooping wings to the far South-land; the + beasts sought to hide themselves in their lairs and in the holes of the + ground; the trees shivered and sighed until their leaves fell withered to + the earth; the flowers closed their eyes, and died; the rivers stopped + flowing, and dark and threatening billows veiled the sea; even the sun + shrouded his face, and withdrew silently towards the south. + </p> + <p> + When Balder’s good mother heard the sad news, she left her golden spindle + in Fensal Hall, and with her maidens hastened to the Ida-plains, where the + body of her son still lay. Nanna, the faithful wife of Balder, was already + there; and wild was her grief at sight of the lifeless loved one. And all + the Asa-folk—save guilty Loki, who had fled for his life—stood + about them in dumb amazement. But Odin was the most sorrowful of all; for + he knew, that, with Balder, the world had lost its most gladsome life. + </p> + <p> + They lifted the body, and carried it down to the sea, where the great ship + “Ringhorn,” which Balder himself had built, lay ready to be launched. And + a great company followed, and stood upon the beach, and bewailed the + untimely death of the hero. First came Odin, with his grief-stricken + queen, and then his troop of handmaidens, the Valkyrien, followed by his + ravens Hugin and Munin. Then came Thor in his goat-drawn car, and Heimdal + on his horse Goldtop; then Frey, in his wagon, behind the boar + Gullinbruste of the golden bristles. Then Freyja, in her chariot drawn by + cats, came weeping tears of gold. Lastly, poor blind Hoder, overcome with + grief, was carried thither on the back of one of the Frost-giants. And Old + AEgir, the Ocean king, raised his dripping head above the water, and gazed + with dewy eyes upon the scene; and the waves, as if affrighted, left off + their playing, and were still. + </p> + <p> + High on the deck they built the funeral-pile; and they placed the body + upon it, and covered it with costly garments, and with woods of the finest + scent; and the noble horse which had been Balder’s they slew, and placed + beside him, that he might not have to walk to the halls of Death. And Odin + took from his finger the ring Draupner, the earth’s enricher, and laid it + on the pile. Then Nanna, the faithful wife, was overcome with grief, and + her gentle heart was broken, and she fell lifeless at the feet of the + Asa-queen. And they carried her upon the ship, and laid her by her + husband’s side. + </p> + <p> + When all things were in readiness to set fire to the pile, the gods tried + to launch the ship; but it was so heavy that they could not move it. So + they sent in haste to Jotunheim for the stout giantess Hyrroken; and she + came with the speed of the whirlwind, and riding on a wolf, which she + guided with a bridle of writhing snakes. + </p> + <p> + “What will you have me do?” she asked. + </p> + <p> + “We would have you launch the great ship ‘Ring horn,’” answered Odin. + </p> + <p> + “That I will do!” roared the grim giantess. And, giving the vessel a + single push, she sent it sliding with speed into the deep waters of the + bay. Then she gave the word to her grisly steed, and she flew onwards and + away, no one knew whither. + </p> + <p> + The “Ringhorn” floated nobly upon the water,—a worthy bier for the + body which it bore. The fire was set to the funeral-pile, and the red + flames shot upwards to the sky; but their light was but a flickering beam + when matched with the sun-bright beauty of Balder, whose body they + consumed. + </p> + <p> + Then the sorrowing folk turned away, and went back to their homes: a + cheerless gloom rested heavily where light gladness had ruled before. And, + when they reached the high halls of Asgard, the Asa-queen spoke, and said,— + </p> + <p> + “Who now, for the love of Balder and his stricken mother, will undertake + an errand? Who will go down into the Valley of Death, and seek for Balder, + and ransom him, and bring him back to Asgard and the mid-world?” + </p> + <p> + Then Hermod the Nimble, the brother of Balder, answered, “I will go. I + will find him, and, with Hela’s leave, will bring him back.” + </p> + <p> + And he mounted Sleipner, the eight-footed steed, and galloped swiftly + away. Nine days and nine nights he rode through strange valleys and + mountain gorges, where the sun’s light had never been, and through gloomy + darkness and fearful silence, until he came to the black river, and the + glittering, golden bridge which crosses it. Over the bridge his strong + horse carried him; although it shook and swayed and threatened to throw + him into the raging, inky flood below. On the other side a maiden keeps + the gate, and Hermod stopped to pay the toll. + </p> + <p> + “What is thy name?” she asked. + </p> + <p> + “My name is Hermod, and I am called the Nimble,” he answered. + </p> + <p> + “What is thy father’s name?” + </p> + <p> + “His name is Odin. Mayhap you have heard of him.” + </p> + <p> + “Why ridest thou with such thunderous speed? Five kingdoms of dead men + passed over this bridge yesterday, and it shook not with their weight as + it did with thee and thy strange steed. Thou art not of the pale multitude + that are wont to pass this gate. What is thy errand? and why ridest thou + to the domains of the dead?” + </p> + <p> + “I go to find my brother Balder,” answered Hermod. “It is but a short time + since he unwillingly came down into these shades.” + </p> + <p> + “Three days ago,” said the maiden, “Balder passed this way, and by his + side rode the faithful Nanna. So bright was his presence, even here, that + the whole valley was lighted up as it had never before been lighted. The + black river glittered like a gem; the frowning mountains smiled for once; + and Hela herself, the queen of these regions, slunk far away into her most + distant halls. But Balder went on his way, and even now he sups with Nanna + in the dark castle over yonder.” + </p> + <p> + Then Hermod rode forward till he came to the castle walls. These were + built of black marble; and the iron gate was barred and bolted, and none + who went in had ever yet come out. Hermod called loudly to the porter to + open the gate and let him in; but no one seemed to hear nor heed him, for + the words of the living are unknown in that place. Then he drew the + saddle-girths more tightly around the horse Sleipner, and urged him + forward. High up, the great horse leaped; and he sprang clear over the + gates, and landed at the open door of the great hall. Leaving his steed, + Hermod went boldly in; and there he found his brother Balder and the + faithful Nanna seated at the festal board, and honored as the most worthy + of all the guests. With Balder, Hermod staid until the night had passed; + and many were the pleasant words they spoke. When morning came, Hermod + went into the presence of Hela, and said,— + </p> + <p> + “O mighty queen! I come to ask a boon of thee. Balder the Good, whom both + gods and men loved, has been sent to dwell with thee here in thy darksome + house; and all the world weeps for him, and has donned the garb of + mourning, and cannot be consoled until his bright light shall shine upon + them again. And the gods have sent me, his brother, to ask thee to let + Balder ride back with me to Asgard, to his noble, sorrowing mother, the + Asa-queen; for then will hope live again in the hearts of men, and + happiness will return to the earth.” + </p> + <p> + The Death-queen was silent for a moment; and then she said in a sad voice, + “Hardly can I believe that any being is so greatly loved by things living + and lifeless; for surely Balder is not more the friend of earth than I am, + and yet men love me not. But go thou back to Asgard; and, if every thing + shall weep for Balder, then I will send him to you. But, if any thing + shall refuse to weep, then I will keep him in my halls.” + </p> + <p> + So Hermod made ready to return home; and Balder gave him the ring Draupner + to carry to his father as a keepsake; and Nanna sent to the queen-mother a + rich carpet of purest green. Then the nimble messenger mounted his horse, + and rode swiftly back over the dark river, and through the frowning + valleys, until he at last reached Odin’s halls. + </p> + <p> + When the Asa-folk learned upon what terms they might have Balder again + with them, they sent heralds all over the world to beseech every thing to + mourn for him. And men and beasts, and creeping things, and birds and + fishes, and trees and stones, and air and water,—all things, living + and lifeless, joined in weeping for the lost Balder. + </p> + <p> + But, as the heralds were on their way back to Asgard, they met a giantess + named Thok, and they asked her to join in the universal grief. And she + answered, “What good thing did Balder ever do for Thok? What gladness did + he ever bring her? If she should weep for him, it would be with dry tears. + Let Hela keep him in her halls.”[EN#23] + </p> + <p> + “And yet the day shall come,” added the story-teller, “when the words of + the weird woman to Odin shall prove true; and Balder shall come again to + rule over a newborn world in which there shall be no wrong-doing and no + more death.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Adventure XIV. How Gunther Outwitted Brunhild. + </h2> + <p> + While still the festivities were at their height, an old man of noble + mien, and with snow-white beard and hair, came into the great hall, and + sang for the gay company. And some whispered that this must be Bragi, for + surely such rare music could not be made by any other. But he sang not of + spring, as Bragi does, nor yet of youth nor of beauty, nor like one whose + home is with the song-birds, and who lives beside the babbling brooks and + the leaping waterfalls. His song was a sorrowful one,—of dying + flowers, and falling leaves, and the wailing winds of autumn, of forgotten + joys, of blasted hopes, of a crushed ambition, of gray hairs, of uttering + footsteps, of old age, of a lonely grave. And, as he sang, all were moved + to tears by the mournful melody and the sad, sad words. + </p> + <p> + “Good friend,” said Siegfried, “thy music agrees not well with this time + and place; for, where nothing but mirth and joy are welcome, thou hast + brought sorrowful thoughts and gloomy forebodings. Come, now, and undo the + harm thou hast done, by singing a song which shall tell only of mirth and + gladness.” + </p> + <p> + The old man shook his head, and answered, “Were I Bragi; as some think I + am, or were I even a strolling harper, I might do as you ask. But I am + neither, and I know no gladsome songs. Men have called me a messenger of + ill omen; and such, indeed, I have sometimes been, although through no + wish of my own. I come as a herald from a far-off land, and I bear a + message to all the kings and the noblest chiefs of Rhineland. If King + Gunther will allow me, I will now make that message known.” + </p> + <p> + “Let the herald speak on,” said Gunther graciously. + </p> + <p> + “Far over the sea,” said the herald, “there lies a dreamy land called + Isenland; and in that land there is a glorious castle, with six and eighty + towers, built of purest marble, green as grass. In that castle there lives + the fairest of all Earth’s daughters, Brunhild, the maiden of the + spring-time. In the early days she was one of Odin’s Valkyrien; and with + other heavenly maidens it was her duty to follow, unseen, in the wake of + armies, and when they met in battle to hover over the field, and with + kisses to waken the dead heroes, and lead their souls away to Odin’s glad + banquet-hall. But upon a day she failed to do the All-Father’s bidding, + and he, in anger, sent her to live among men, and like them to be + short-lived, and subject to old age and death. But the childless old king + of Isenland took pity upon the friendless maiden, and called her his + daughter, and made her his heir. Then Odin, still more angered, sent the + thorn of sleep to wound the princess. And sleep seized upon every creature + in Isenland, and silence reigned in the halls of the marble palace. For + Odin said, ‘Thus shall they all sleep until the hero comes, who will ride + through fire, and awaken Brunhild with a kiss.’ + </p> + <p> + “At last the hero so long waited for came. He passed the fiery barrier + safe, and awoke the slumbering maiden; and all the castle sprang suddenly + into life again. And Brunhild became known once more as the most glorious + princess in this mid-world. But the sun-bright hero who freed her from her + prison of sleep vanished from Isenland, and no one knew where he went; but + men say that he rides through the noble world, the fairest and the best of + kings. And Brunhild has sought for him in many lands; and, although all + folk have heard of his deeds, none know where he dwells. And so, as a last + resort, she has sent heralds into every land to challenge every king to + match his skill with hers in three games of strength,—in casting the + spear, in hurling the heavy stone, and in leaping. The one who can equal + her in these feats shall be king of Isenland, and share with her the + throne of Isenstein. And by this means she hopes to find the long-absent + hero; for she believes that there is no other prince on earth whose + strength and skill are equal to her own. Many men have already risked + their lives in this adventure, and all have failed. + </p> + <p> + “And now, King Gunther,” continued the herald, “I have come by her orders + into Rhineland, and I deliver the challenge to you. If you accept, and are + beaten, your life is forfeited. If you succeed, the fairest kingdom and + the most beautiful queen in the world are yours; for you will have proved + that you are at least the equal of the hero whom she seeks. What reply + shall I carry back to Isenland?” + </p> + <p> + King Gunther answered hastily, and as one dazed and in a dream, “Say that + I accept the challenge, and that when the spring-time comes again, and the + waters in the river are unlocked, I shall go to Isenland, and match my + skill and strength with that of the fair and mighty Brunhild.” + </p> + <p> + All who stood around were greatly astonished at Gunther’s reply; for, + although his mind was somewhat weak, he was not given to rash and + hazardous undertakings. And Siegfried, who was at his side, whispered, + “Think twice, friend Gunther, ere you decide. You do not know the strength + of this mighty but lovely warrior-maiden. Were your strength four times + what it is, you could not hope to excel her in those feats. Give up this + hasty plan, I pray you, and recall your answer to the challenge. Think no + more of such an undertaking, for it surely will cost you your life.” + </p> + <p> + But these warnings, and the words of others who tried to dissuade him, + only made Gunther the more determined; and he vowed that nothing should + hinder him from undertaking the adventure. Then the dark-browed Hagen + said,— + </p> + <p> + “Our friend Siegfried seems to know much about Isenland and its + maiden-queen. And indeed, if there is any truth in hearsay, he has had the + best of means for learning. Now, if our good King Gunther has set his mind + on going upon this dangerous enterprise, mayhap Siegfried would be willing + to bear him company.” + </p> + <p> + Gunther was pleased with Hagen’s words; and he said to Siegfried, “My best + of friends, go with me to Isenland, and help me. If we do well in our + undertaking, ask of me any reward you wish, and I will give it you, so far + as in my power lies.” + </p> + <p> + “You know, kind Gunther,” answered Siegfried, “that for myself I have no + fear; and yet again I would warn you to shun the unknown dangers with + which this enterprise is fraught. But if, after all, your heart is set + upon it, make ready to start as soon as the warm winds shall have melted + the ice from the river. I will go with you.” + </p> + <p> + The king grasped Siegfried’s hand, and thanked him heartily. + </p> + <p> + “We must build a fleet,” said he. “A thousand fighting-men shall go with + us, and we will land in Isenland with a retinue such as no other prince + has had. A number of stanch vessels shall be built at once, and in the + early spring they shall be launched upon the Rhine.” + </p> + <p> + Siegfried was amused at Gunther’s earnestness, and he answered, “Do not + think of taking such a following. You would waste twelve months in + building and victualling such a fleet. You would take from Burgundy its + only safeguard against foes from without; and, after you should reach + Isenland, you would find such a large force to be altogether useless. Take + my advice: have one small vessel built and rigged and victualled for the + long and dangerous voyage; and, when the time shall come, you and I, and + your kinsmen Hagen and Dankwart,—we four only,—will undertake + the voyage and the emprise you have decided upon.” + </p> + <p> + Gunther knew that his friend’s judgment in this matter was better than his + own, and he agreed readily to all of Siegfried’s plans. + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + When, at length, the winter months began to wane, many hands were busy + making ready for the voyage. The peerless Kriemhild called together thirty + of her maidens, the most skilful seamstresses in Burgundyland, and began + the making of rich clothing for her brother and his friends.[EN#24] With + her own fair hands she cut out garments from the rarest stuffs,—from + the silky skins brought from the sunny lands of Lybia; from the rich cloth + of Zazemang, green as clover; from the silk that traders bring from Araby, + white as the drifted snow. For seven weeks the clever maidens and their + gentle mistress plied their busy needles, and twelve suits of wondrous + beauty they made for each of the four heroes. And the princely garments + were covered with fine needle-work, and with curious devices all studded + with rare and costly jewels; and all were wrought with threads of gold. + </p> + <p> + Many carpenters and ship-builders were busy with axes and hammers, and + flaming forges, working day and night to make ready a vessel new and + stanch, to carry the adventurers over the sea. And great stores of food, + and of all things needful to their safety or comfort, were brought + together and put on board. + </p> + <p> + Neither were the heroes themselves idle; for when not busy in giving + directions to the workmen, or in overseeing the preparations that were + elsewhere going on, they spent the time in polishing their armor (now long + unused), in looking after their weapons, or in providing for the + management of their business while away. And Siegfried forgot not his + trusty sword Balmung, nor his cloak of darkness the priceless Tarnkappe, + which he had captured from the dwarf Alberich in the Nibelungen Land. + </p> + <p> + Then the twelve suits of garments which fair fingers had wrought were + brought. And when the men tried them on, so faultless was the fit, so rare + and perfect was every piece in richness and beauty, that even the wearers + were amazed, and all declared that such dazzling and kingly raiment had + never before been seen. + </p> + <p> + At last the spring months had fairly vanquished all the forces of the cold + North-land. The warm breezes had melted the snow and ice, and unlocked the + river; and the time had come for Gunther and his comrades to embark. The + little ship, well victualled, and made stanch and stout in every part, had + been launched upon the Rhine; and she waited with flying streamers and + impatient sails the coming of her crew. Down the sands at length they + came, riding upon their steeds; and behind them followed a train of + vassals bearing their kingly garments and their gold-red shields. And on + the banks stood many of the noblest folk of Burgundy,—Gernot and the + young Giselher, and Ute the queen-mother, and Kriemhild the peerless, and + a number of earl-folk, and warriors, and fair dames, and blushing damsels. + And the heroes bade farewell to their weeping friends, and went upon the + waiting vessel, taking their steeds with them. And Siegfried seized an + oar, and pushed the bark off from the shore. + </p> + <p> + “I myself will be the steersman, for I know the way,” he said. + </p> + <p> + And the sails were unfurled to the brisk south wind, and the vessel sped + swiftly toward the sea; and many fair eyes were filled tears as they + watched it until it could be seen no more. And with sighs and gloomy + forebodings the good people went back to their homes, and but few hoped + ever again to see their king and his brave comrades. + </p> + <p> + Driven by favorable winds, the trusty little vessel sailed gayly down the + Rhine, and, ere many days had passed, was out in the boundless sea. For a + long time the heroes sailed and rowed through Old AEgir’s watery kingdom. + But they kept good cheer, and their hearts rose higher and higher; for + each day they drew nearer the end of their voyage and the goal of their + hopes. At length they came in sight of a far-reaching coast and a lovely + land; and not far from the shore they saw a noble fortress, with a number + of tall towers pointing toward the sky. + </p> + <p> + “What land is that?” asked the king.[EN#25] + </p> + <p> + And Siegfried answered that it was Isenland, and that the fortress which + they saw was the Castle of Isenstein and the green marble hall of the + Princess Brunhild. But he warned his friends to be very wary when they + should arrive at the hall. + </p> + <p> + “Let all tell this story,” said he: “say that Gunther is the king, and + that I am his faithful vassal. The success of our undertaking depends on + this.” And his three comrades promised to do as he advised. + </p> + <p> + As the vessel neared the shore, the whole castle seemed to be alive. From + every tower and turret-window, from every door and balcony, lords and + ladies, fighting-men and serving-men, looked out to see what strangers + these were who came thus unheralded to Isenland. The heroes went on shore + with their steeds, leaving the vessel moored to the bank; and then they + rode slowly up the beach, and across the narrow plain, and came to the + drawbridge and the great gateway, where they paused. + </p> + <p> + The matchless Brunhild in her chamber had been told of the coming of the + strangers; and she asked the maidens who stood around,— + </p> + <p> + “Who, think you, are the unknown warriors who thus come boldly to + Isenstein without asking leave? What is their bearing? Do they seem to be + worthy of our notice? or are they some straggling beggars who have lost + their way?” + </p> + <p> + And one of the maidens, looking through the casement, answered, “The first + is a king, I know, from his noble mien and the respect which his fellows + pay to him. But the second bears himself with a prouder grace, and seems + the noblest of them all. He reminds me much of the brave young Siegfried + of former days. Indeed, it must be Siegfried; for he rides a steed with + sunbeam mane, which can be none other than Greyfell. The third is a dark + and gloomy man: he wears a sullen frown upon his brow, and his eyes seem + to shoot quick glances around. How nervously he grasps his sword-hilt, as + if ever guarding against surprise! I think his temper must be grim and + fiery, and his heart a heart of flint. The fourth and last of the company + is young and fair, and of gentle port. Little business has he with rude + warriors; and many tears, methinks, would be shed for him at home should + harm overtake him. Never before have I seen so noble a company of + strangers in Isenland. Their garments are of dazzling lustre; their + saddles are covered with gem-stones; their weapons are of unequalled + brightness. Surely they are worthy of your notice.” + </p> + <p> + When Brunhild heard that Siegfried was one of the company, she was highly + pleased, and she hastened to make ready to meet them in the great hall. + And she sent ten worthy lords to open the gate, and to welcome the heroes + to Isenland. + </p> + <p> + When Siegfried and his comrades passed through the great gateway, and came + into the castle-yard, their horses were led away to the stables, and the + clanging armor and the broad shields and swords which they carried were + taken from them, and placed in the castle armory. Little heed was paid to + Hagen’s surly complaint at thus having every means of defence taken away. + He was told that such had always been the rule at Isenstein, and that he, + like others, must submit. + </p> + <p> + After a short delay the heroes were shown into the great hall, where the + matchless Brunhild already was awaiting them. Clad in richest raiment, + from every fold of which rare jewels gleamed, and wearing a coronet of + pearls and gold, the warrior-maiden sat on a throne of snow-white ivory. + Five hundred earl-folk and warriors, the bravest in Isenland, stood around + her with drawn swords, and fierce, determined looks. Surely men of mettle + less heroic than that of the four knights from Rhineland would have quaked + with fear in such a presence. + </p> + <p> + King Gunther and his comrades went forward to salute the queen. With a + winning smile she kindly greeted them, and then said to Siegfried, “Gladly + do we welcome you back to our land, friend Siegfried, We have ever + remembered you as our best friend. May we ask what is your will, and who + are these warriors whom you have with you?” + </p> + <p> + “Most noble queen,” answered he, “right thankful am I that you have not + forgotten me, and that you should deign to notice me while in the presence + of this my liege lord,” and he pointed towards King Gunther. “The king of + all Burgundy-land, whose humble vassal I am, has heard the challenge you + have sent into different lands, and he has come to match his strength with + yours.” + </p> + <p> + “Does he know the conditions?” asked Brunhild. + </p> + <p> + “He does,” was the answer. “In case of success, the fairest of women for + his queen: in case of failure, death.” + </p> + <p> + “Yet scores of worthy men have made trial, and all have failed,” said she. + “I warn your liege lord to pause, and weigh well the chances ere he runs + so great a risk.” + </p> + <p> + Then Gunther stepped forward and spoke:— + </p> + <p> + “The chances, fairest queen, have all been weighed, and nothing can change + our mind. Make your own terms, arrange every thing as pleases you best. We + accept your challenge, and ask to make a trial of our strength.” + </p> + <p> + The warrior-maiden, without more words, bade her servants help her to make + ready at once for the contest. She donned a rich war-coat, brought long + ago from the far-off Lybian shores,—an armor which, it was said, no + sword could dint, and upon which the heaviest stroke of spear fell + harmless. Her hemlet was edged with golden lace, and sparkled all over + with rich gem-stones. Her lance, of wondrous length, a heavy weight for + three stout men, was brought. Her shield was as broad and as bright as the + sun, and three spans thick with steel and gold. + </p> + <p> + While the princess was thus arming herself, the heroes looked on with + amazement and fear. But Siegfried, unnoticed, hastened quietly out of the + hall, and through the open castle-gate, and sped like the wind to the + seashore and to their little ship. There he arrayed himself in the + Tarnkappe, and then, silent and unseen, he ran back to his friends in the + great hall. + </p> + <p> + “Be of good cheer,” he whispered in the ears of the trembling Gunther. + </p> + <p> + But the king could not see who it was that spoke to him, so well was the + hero hidden in the cloak of darkness. Yet he knew that it must be + Siegfried and he felt greatly encouraged. + </p> + <p> + Hagen’s frowning face grew darker, and the uneasy glances which shot from + beneath his shaggy eyebrows were not those of fear, but of anger and deep + anxiety. Dankwart gave up all as lost, and loudly bewailed their folly. + </p> + <p> + “Must we, unarmed, stand still and see our liege lord slain for a woman’s + whim?” he cried. “Had we only our good swords, we might defy this + maiden-queen and all her Isenland.” + </p> + <p> + Brunhild overheard his words. Scornfully she called to her servants, + “Bring to these boasters their armor, and let them have their keen-edged + swords. Brunhild has no fear of such men, whether they be armed or + unarmed.” + </p> + <p> + When Hagen and Dankwart felt their limbs again enclosed in steel, and when + they held their trusty swords in hand, their uneasiness vanished, and hope + returned. + </p> + <p> + In the castle-yard a space was cleared, and Brunhild’s five hundred + warriors stood around as umpires. The unseen Siegfried kept close by + Gunther’s side. + </p> + <p> + “Fear not,” he said. “Do my bidding, and you are safe. Let me take your + shield. When the time comes, make you the movements, and trust me to do + the work.” + </p> + <p> + Then Brunhild threw her spear at Gunther’s shield. The mighty weapon sped + through the air with the swiftness of lightning; and, when it struck the + shield, both Gunther and the unseen Siegfried fell to the ground, borne + down by its weight and the force with which it was thrown. Blood gushed + from the nostrils of both; and sad would have been their fate if the + friendly Tarnkappe had not hidden Siegfried from sight, and given him the + strength of twelve giants. Quickly they rose. And Gunther seemed to pick + up the heavy shaft, but it was really Siegfried who raised it from the + ground. For one moment he poised the great beam in the air, and then, + turning the blunt end foremost, he sent it flying back more swiftly than + it had come. It struck the huge shield which Brunhild held before her, + with a sound that echoed to the farthest cliffs of Isenland. The + warrior-maiden was dashed to the earth; but, rising at once, she cried,— + </p> + <p> + “That was a noble blow, Sir Gunther. I confess myself fairly outdone. But + there are two chances yet, and you will do well if you equal me in those. + We will now try hurling the stone, and jumping.” + </p> + <p> + Twelve men came forward, carrying a huge rough stone in weight a ton or + more. And Brunhild raised this mass of rock in her white arms, and held it + high above her head; then she swung it backwards once, and threw it a + dozen fathoms across the castle-yard. Scarcely had it reached the ground + when the mighty maiden leaped after, and landed just beside it. And the + thousand lookers-on shouted in admiration. But old Hagen bit his unshorn + lip, and cursed the day that had brought them to Isenland. + </p> + <p> + Gunther and the unseen Siegfried, not at all disheartened, picked up the + heavy stone, which was half buried in the ground, and, lifting it with + seeming ease, threw it swiftly forward. Not twelve, but twenty, fathoms it + flew; and Siegfried, snatching up Gunther in his arms, leaped after, and + landed close to the castle-wall. And Brunhild believed that Gunther alone + had done these great feats through his own strength and skill; and she at + once acknowledged herself beaten in the games, and bade her vassals do + homage to Gunther as their rightful liege lord. + </p> + <p> + Alas that the noblest of men-folk should gave stooped to such deed of base + deception! The punishment, although long delayed, came surely at last; for + not even the highest are exempt from obedience to Heaven’s behests and the + laws of right. + </p> + <p> + When the contest was ended, the unseen Siegfried ran quickly back to the + little ship, and hastily doffed the magic Tarnkappe. Then, in his own + form, he returned to the castle, and leisurely entered the castle-yard. + When he met his pleased comrades and the vanquished maiden-queen, he asked + in careless tones when the games would begin. All who heard his question + laughed; and Brunhild said,— + </p> + <p> + “Surely, Sir Siegfried, the old sleep-thorn of Isenstein must have caught + you, and held you in your ship. The games are over, and Gunther, your + liege lord, is the winner.” + </p> + <p> + At this news Siegfried seemed much delighted, as indeed he was. And all + went together to the great banquet-hall, where a rich feast was served to + our heroes and to the worthy earl-folk and warriors of Isenland. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Adventure XV. In Nibelungen Land Again. + </h2> + <p> + When the folk of Isenland learned that their queen had been outwitted and + won by a strange chief from a far-off and unknown land, great was their + sorrow and dismay; for they loved the fair maiden-queen, and they feared + to exchange her mild reign for that of an untried foreigner. Nor was the + queen herself at all pleased with the issue of the late contest. She felt + no wish to leave her loved people, and her pleasant home, and the fair + island which was her kingdom, to take up her abode in a strange land, as + the queen of one for whom she could feel no respect. And every one + wondered how it was that a man like Gunther, so commonplace, and so feeble + in his every look and act, could have done such deeds, and won the wary + warrior-maiden. + </p> + <p> + “If it had only been Siegfried!” whispered the maidens among themselves. + </p> + <p> + “If it had only been Siegfried!” murmured the knights and the + fighting-men. + </p> + <p> + “If it had only been Siegfried!” thought the queen, away down in the most + secret corner of her heart. And she shut herself up in her room, and gave + wild vent to her feelings of grief and disappointment. + </p> + <p> + Then heralds mounted the swiftest horses, and hurried to every village and + farm, and to every high-towered castle, in the land. And they carried word + to all of Brunhild’s kinsmen and liegemen, bidding them to come without + delay to Isenstein. And every man arose as with one accord, and hastened + to obey the call of their queen. And the whole land was filled with the + notes of busy preparation for war. And day by day to the castle the + warriors came and went, and the sound of echoing horse-hoofs, and the + rattling of ready swords, and the ringing of the war-shields, were heard + on every hand. + </p> + <p> + “What means this treason?” cried Gunther in dismay. “The coy + warrior-maiden would fain break her plighted word; and we, here in our + weakness, shall perish from her wrath.” + </p> + <p> + And even old Hagen, who had never felt a fear when meeting a host in open + battle, was troubled at the thought of the mischief which was brewing. + </p> + <p> + “‘Tis true, too true,” he said, and the dark frown deepened on his face, + “that we have done a foolish thing. For we four men have come to this + cheerless land upon a hopeless errand; and, if we await the gathering of + the storm, our ruin will be wrought.” And he grasped his sword-hilt with + such force, that his knuckles grew white as he paced fiercely up and down + the hall. + </p> + <p> + Dankwart, too, bewailed the fate that had driven them into this net, from + which he saw no way of escape. And both the warriors besought King Gunther + to take ship at once, and to sail for Rhineland before it was too late. + But Siegfried said,— + </p> + <p> + “What account will you give to the folk at home, if you thus go back + beaten, outwitted, and ashamed? Brave warriors, indeed! we should be + called. Wait a few days, and trust all to me. When Brunhild’s warriors + shall be outnumbered by our own, she will no longer hesitate, and our + return to Rhineland shall be a triumphant one; for we shall carry the + glorious warrior-queen home with us.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” answered Hagen, mocking, “we will wait until her warriors are + outnumbered by our own. But how long shall that be? Will the lightning + carry the word to Burgundy? and will the storm-clouds bring our brave men + from across the sea? Had you allowed King Gunther’s plans to be followed, + they would have been here with us now, and we might have quelled this + treason at the first.” + </p> + <p> + And Dankwart said, “By this time the fields of the South-land are green + with young corn, and the meadows are full of sweet-smelling flowers, and + the summer comes on apace. Why should we stay longer in this chilly and + fog-ridden land, waiting upon the whims of a fickle maiden,—as + fickle as the winds themselves? Better face the smiles and the jeers of + the folk at home than suffer shameful shipwreck in this cold Isenland.” + </p> + <p> + But Siegfried would not be moved by the weak and wavering words of his + once valiant comrades. + </p> + <p> + “Trust me,” he said, “and all will yet be well. Wait here but a few days + longer in quietness, while I go aboard ship, and fare away. Within three + days I will bring to Isenstein a host of warriors such as you have never + seen. And then the fickle fancies of Brunhild will flee, and she will no + longer refuse to sail with us to the now sunny South-land.” + </p> + <p> + Hagen frowned still more deeply; and as he strode away he muttered, “He + only wants to betray us, and leave us to die in this trap which he himself + has doubtless set for us.” + </p> + <p> + But Gunther anxiously grasped the hand of Siegfried, and said, “Go! I + trust you, and believe in you. But be sure not to linger, for no one knows + what a day may bring forth in this uncertain and variable clime.” + </p> + <p> + Without saying a word in reply, Siegfried turned, and hastened down to the + shore. Without any loss of time he unmoored the little ship, and stepped + aboard. Then he donned his Tarnkappe, spread the sails, and seized the + helm; and the vessel, like a bird with woven wings, sped swiftly out of + the bay, and Isenstein, with its wide halls and glass-green towers, was + soon lost to the sight of the invisible helmsman. For four and twenty + hours did Siegfried guide the flying vessel as it leaped from wave to + wave, and sent the white foam dashing to left and right like flakes of + snow. And late on the morrow he came to a rock-bound coast, where steep + cliffs and white mountain-peaks rose up, as it were, straight out of the + blue sea. Having found a safe and narrow inlet, he moored his little bark; + and, keeping the Tarnkappe well wrapped around him, he stepped ashore. + Briskly he walked along the rough shore, and through a dark mountain-pass, + until he came to a place well known to him,—a place where, years + before, he had seen a cavern’s yawning mouth, and a great heap of shining + treasures, and two princes dying of hunger. But now, upon the selfsame + spot there stood a frowning fortress, dark and gloomy and strong, which + Siegfried himself had built in after-years; and the iron gates were barred + and bolted fast, and no living being was anywhere to be seen. + </p> + <p> + Loud and long did Siegfried, wrapped in his cloak of darkness, knock and + call outside. At last a grim old giant, who sat within, and kept watch and + ward of the gate, cried out,— + </p> + <p> + “Who knocks there?” + </p> + <p> + Siegfried, angrily and in threatening tones, answered,— + </p> + <p> + “Open the gate at once, lazy laggard, and ask no questions. A stranger, + who has lost his way among the mountains, seeks shelter from the storm + which is coming. Open the gate without delay, or I will break it down upon + your dull head.” + </p> + <p> + Then the giant in hot anger seized a heavy iron beam, and flung the gate + wide open, and leaped quickly out to throttle the insolent stranger. + Warily he glanced around on every side; but Siegfried was clad in the + magic Tarnkappe, and the giant could see no one. Amazed and ashamed, he + turned to shut the gate, and to go again to his place; for he began to + believe that a foolish dream had awakened and deceived him. Then the + unseen Siegfried seized him from behind; and though he struggled hard, and + fought with furious strength, our hero threw him upon the ground, and + bound him with cords of sevenfold strength. + </p> + <p> + The unwonted noise at the gate rang through the castle, and awakened the + sleeping inmates. The dwarf Alberich, who kept the fortress against + Siegfried’s return, and who watched the Nibelungen treasure, which was + stored in the hollow hill, arose, and donned his armor, and hurried to the + giant’s help. A right stout dwarf was Alberich; and, as we have seen in a + former adventure, he was as bold as stout. Armed in a war-coat of steel, + he ran out to the gate, flourishing a seven-thonged whip, on each thong of + which a heavy golden ball was hung. Great was his amazement and his wrath + when he saw the giant lying bound and helpless upon the ground; and with + sharp, eager eyes he peered warily around to see if, perchance, he might + espy his hidden foe. But, when he could find no one, his anger grew hotter + than before, and he swung his golden scourge fiercely about his head. Well + was it for Siegfried then, that the Tarnkappe hid him from sight; for the + dwarf kept pounding about in air so sturdily and strong, that, even as it + was, he split the hero’s shield from the centre to the rim. Then Siegfried + rushed quickly upon the doughty little fellow, and seized him by his long + gray beard, and threw him so roughly upon the ground, that Alberich + shrieked with pain. + </p> + <p> + “Spare me, I pray you,” he cried. “I know that you are no mean knight; + and, if I had not promised to serve my master Siegfried until death, I + fain would acknowledge you as my lord.” + </p> + <p> + But Siegfried bound the writhing dwarf, and placed him, struggling and + helpless, by the side of the giant. + </p> + <p> + “Tell me, now, your name, I pray,” said the dwarf; “for I must give an + account of this adventure to my master when he comes.” + </p> + <p> + “Who is your master?” + </p> + <p> + “His name is Siegfried; and he is king of the Nibelungens, and lord, by + right, of the great Nibelungen Hoard. To me and to my fellows he long ago + intrusted the keeping of this castle and of the Hoard that lies deep + hidden in the hollow hill; and I have sworn to keep it safe until his + return.” + </p> + <p> + Then Siegfried threw off his Tarnkappe, and stood in his own proper person + before the wonder-stricken dwarf. + </p> + <p> + “Noble Siegfried,” cried the delighted Alberich, “right glad I am that you + have come again to claim your own. Spare my life, and pardon me, I pray, + and let me know what is your will. Your bidding shall be done at once.” + </p> + <p> + “Hasten, then,” said Siegfried, loosing him from his bonds,—“hasten, + and arouse my Nibelungen hosts. Tell them that their chief has come again + to Mist Land, and that he has work for them to do.” + </p> + <p> + Then Alberich, when he had set the giant gatekeeper free, sent heralds to + every town and castle in the land to make known the words and wishes of + Siegfried. And the gallant Nibelungen warriors, when they heard that their + liege lord had come again, sprang up joyously, and girded on their armor, + and hastened to obey his summons. And soon the strong-built castle was + full of noble men,—of earls, and the faithful liegemen who had known + Siegfried of old. And joyful and happy were the words of greeting. + </p> + <p> + In the mean while, Alberich had busied himself in preparing a great feast + for his master and his master’s chieftains. In the long low hall that the + dwarfs had hollowed out within the mountain’s heart, the table was spread, + and on it was placed every delicacy that could be wished. There were + fruits and wines from the sunny South-land, and snow-white loaves made + from the wheat of Gothland, and fish from Old AEgir’s kingdom, and venison + from the king’s wild-wood, and the flesh of many a fowl most delicately + baked, and, near the head of the board, a huge wild boar roasted whole. + And the hall was lighted by a thousand tapers, each held in the hands of a + swarthy elf; and the guests were served by the elf-women, who ran hither + and thither, obedient to every call. But Alberich, at Siegfried’s desire, + sat upon the dais at his lord’s right hand. Merriment ruled the hour, and + happy greetings were heard on every side. And, when the feast was at its + height, a troop of hill-folk came dancing into the hall; and a hundred + little fiddlers, perched in the niches of the wall, made merry music, and + kept time for the busy, clattering little feet. And when the guests had + tired of music and laughter, and the dancers had gone away, and the tables + no longer groaned under the weight of good cheer Siegfried and his earls + still sat at their places, and beguiled the hours with pleasant talk and + with stories of the earlier days. And Alberich, as the master of the + feast, told a tale of the dwarf-folk, and how once they were visited in + their hill-home by Loki the Mischief-maker. + </p> + <p> + Alberich’s Story. + </p> + <p> + My story begins with the Asa-folk, and has as much to do with the gods as + with my kinsmen the dwarfs. It happened long ago, when the world was + young, and the elf-folk had not yet lost all their ancient glory. + </p> + <p> + Sif, as you all know, is Thor’s young wife, and she is very fair. It is + said, too, that she is as gentle and lovable as her husband is rude and + strong; and that while he rides noisily through storm and wind, furiously + fighting the foes of the mid-world, she goes quietly about, lifting up the + down-trodden, and healing the broken-hearted. In the summer season, when + the Thunderer has driven the Storm-giants back to their mist-hidden + mountain homes, and the black clouds have been rolled away, and piled upon + each other in the far east, Sif comes gleefully tripping through the + meadows, raising up the bruised flowers, and with smiles calling the + frightened birds from their hiding-places to frolic and sing in the fresh + sunshine again. The growing fields and the grassy mountain slopes are + hers; and the rustling green leaves, and the sparkling dewdrops, and the + sweet odors of spring blossoms, and the glad songs of the summer-time, + follow in her footsteps. + </p> + <p> + Sif, as I have said, is very fair; and, at the time of my story, there was + one thing of which she was a trifle vain. That was her long silken hair, + which fell in glossy waves almost to her feet. On calm, warm days, she + liked to sit by the side of some still pool, and gaze at her own beauty + pictured in the water below, while, like the sea-maidens of old AEgir’s + kingdom, she combed and braided her rich, flowing tresses. And in all the + mid-world nothing has ever been seen so like the golden sunbeams as was + Sif’s silken hair. + </p> + <p> + At that time the cunning Mischief-maker, Loki, was still living with the + Asa-folk. And, as you well know, this evil worker was never pleased save + when he was plotting trouble for those who were better than himself. He + liked to meddle with business which was not his own, and was always trying + to mar the pleasures of others. His tricks and jokes were seldom of the + harmless kind, and yet great good sometimes grew out of them. + </p> + <p> + When Loki saw how proud Sif was of her long hair, and how much time she + spent in combing and arranging it, he planned a very cruel piece of + mischief. He hid himself in a little rocky cavern, near the pool where Sif + was wont to sit, and slily watched her all the morning as she braided and + unbraided her flowing silken locks. At last, overcome by the heat of the + mid-day sun, she fell asleep upon the grassy bank. Then the Mischief-maker + quietly crept near, and with his sharp shears cut off all that wealth of + hair, and shaved her head until it was as smooth as her snow-white hand. + Then he hid himself again in the little cave, and chuckled with great glee + at the wicked thing he had done. + </p> + <p> + By and by Sif awoke, and looked into the stream; but she started quickly + back with horror and affright at the image which she saw. She felt of her + shorn head; and, when she learned that those rich waving tresses which had + been her joy and pride were no longer there, she knew not what to do. Hot, + burning tears ran down her cheeks, and with sobs and shrieks she began to + call aloud for Thor. Forthwith there was a terrible uproar. The lightning + flashed, and the thunder rolled, and an earthquake shook the rocks and + trees. Loki, looking out from his hiding-place, saw that Thor was coming, + and he trembled with fear; for he knew, that, should the Thunderer catch + him, he would have to pay dearly for his wicked sport. He ran quickly out + of the cavern, and leaped into the river, and changed himself into a + salmon, and swam as swiftly as he could away from the shore. + </p> + <p> + But Thor was not so easily fooled; for he had long known Loki, and was + acquainted with all his cunning ways. So when he saw Sif bewailing her + stolen hair, and beheld the frightened salmon hurrying alone towards the + deep water, he was at no loss to know whose work this mischief was. + Straightway he took upon himself the form of a sea-gull, and soared high + up over the water. Then, poising a moment in the air, he darted, swift as + an arrow, down into the river. When he arose from the water, he held the + struggling salmon tightly grasped in his strong talons. + </p> + <p> + “Vile Mischief-maker!” cried Thor, as he alighted upon the top of a + neighboring crag: “I know thee who thou art; and I will make thee bitterly + rue the work of this day. Limb from limb will I tear thee, and thy bones + will I grind into powder.” + </p> + <p> + Loki, when he saw that he could not by any means get away from the angry + Thunderer, changed himself back to his own form, and humbly said to Thor,— + </p> + <p> + “What if you do your worst with me? Will that give back a single hair to + Sif’s shorn head? What I did was only a thoughtless joke, and I really + meant no harm. Do but spare my life, and I will more than make good the + mischief I have done.” + </p> + <p> + “How can that be?” asked Thor. + </p> + <p> + “I will hie me straight to the secret smithies of dwarfs,” answered Loki; + “and those cunning little kinsmen of mine shall make golden tresses for + fair Sif, which will grow upon her head like other hair, and cause her to + be an hundred-fold more beautiful than before.” + </p> + <p> + Thor knew that Loki was a slippery fellow, and that he did not always do + what he promised, and hence he would not let him go. He called to Frey, + who had just come up, and said,— + </p> + <p> + “Come, cousin Frey, help me to rid the world of this sly thief. While I + hold fast to his raven hair, and his long slim arms, do you seize him by + the heels, and we will give his limbs to the fishes, and his body to the + birds, for food.” + </p> + <p> + Loki, now thoroughly frightened, wept, and kissed Frey’s feet, and humbly + begged for mercy. And he promised that he would bring from the dwarf’s + smithy, not only the golden hair for Sif, but also a mighty hammer for + Thor, and a swift steed for Frey. So earnest were his words, and so + pitiful was his plea, that Thor at last set the trembling Mischief-maker + free, and bade him hasten away on his errand. Quickly, then, he went in + search of the smithy of the dwarfs. + </p> + <p> + He crossed the desert moorlands, and came, after three days, to the bleak + hill-country, and the rugged mountain-land of the South. There the + earthquake had split the mountains apart, and dug dark and bottomless + gorges, and hollowed out many a low-walled cavern, where the light of day + was never seen. Through deep, winding ways, and along narrow crevices, + Loki crept; and he glided under huge rocks, and downward through slanting, + crooked clefts, until at last he came to a great underground hall, where + his eyes were dazzled by a light which was stronger and brighter than day; + for on every side were glowing fires, roaring in wonderful little forges, + and blown by wonderful little bellows And the vaulted roof above was + thickly set with diamonds and precious stones, that sparkled and shone + like thousands of bright stars in the blue sky. And the little dwarfs, + with comical brown faces, and wearing strange leathern aprons, and + carrying heavy hammers, were hurrying here and there, each busy at his + task. Some were smelting pure gold from the coarse rough rocks; others + were making precious gems, and rich rare jewels, such as the proudest king + would be glad to wear. Here, one was shaping pure, round pearls from + dewdrops and maidens’ tears; there, another wrought green emeralds from + the first leaves of spring. So busy were they all, that they neither + stopped nor looked up when Loki came into their hall, but all kept + hammering and blowing and working, as if their lives depended upon their + being always busy. + </p> + <p> + After Loki had curiously watched their movements for some time, he spoke + to the dwarf whose forge was nearest to him, and made known his errand. + But the little fellow was fashioning a flashing diamond, which he called + the Mountain of Light; and he scarcely looked up as he answered,— + </p> + <p> + “I do not work in gold. Go to Ivald’s sons: they will make whatever you + wish.” + </p> + <p> + To Ivald’s sons, then, in the farthest and brightest corner of the hall, + Loki went. They very readily agreed to make the golden hair for Sif, and + they began the work at once. A lump of purest gold was brought, and thrown + into the glowing furnace; and it was melted and drawn, and melted and + drawn, seven times. Then it was given to a little brown elf with merry, + twinkling eyes, who carried it with all speed to another part of the great + hall, where the dwarfs’ pretty wives were spinning. One of the little + women took the yellow lump from the elf’s hands, and laid it, like flax, + upon her spinning-wheel. Then she sat down and began to spin; and, as she + span, the dwarf-wives sang a strange, sweet song of the old, old days when + the dwarf-folk ruled the world. And the tiny brown elves danced gleefully + around the spinner, and the thousand little anvils rang out a merry chorus + to the music of the singers. And the yellow gold was twisted into threads, + and the threads ran into hair softer than silk, and finer than gossamer. + And at last the dwarf-woman held in her hand long golden tresses ten times + more beautiful than the amber locks that Loki had cut from Sif’s fair + head. When Ivald’s sons, proud of their skill, gave the rare treasure to + the Mischief-maker, Loki smiled as if he were well pleased; but in his + heart he was angry because the dwarfs had made so fair a piece of + workmanship. Then he said,— + </p> + <p> + “This is, indeed, very handsome, and will be very becoming to Sif. Oh, + what an uproar was made about those flaxen tresses that she loved so well! + And that reminds me that her husband, the gruff old Giant-killer, wants a + hammer. I promised to get him one; and, if I fail, he will doubtless be + rude with me. I pray you make such a hammer as will be of most use to him + in fighting the Jotuns, and you may win favor both for yourselves and me.” + </p> + <p> + “Not now,” said the elder of Ivald’s sons. “We cannot make it now; for who + would dare to send a present to Thor before he has offered one to Odin, + the great All-Father?” + </p> + <p> + “Make me, then, a gift for Odin,” cried Loki; “and he will shelter me from + the Thunderer’s wrath.” + </p> + <p> + So the dwarfs put iron into their furnace, and heated it to a glowing + white-heat; and then they drew it out, and rolled it upon their anvils, + and pounded it with heavy hammers, until they had wrought a wondrous + spear, such as no man had ever seen. Then they inlaid it with priceless + jewels, and plated the point with gold seven times tried. + </p> + <p> + “This is the spear Gungner,” said they. “Take it to the great All-Father + as the best gift of his humble earth-workers.” + </p> + <p> + “Make me now a present for Frey the gentle,” said Loki. “I owe my life to + him; and I have promised to take him a swift steed that will bear him + everywhere.” + </p> + <p> + Then Ivald’s sons threw gold into the furnace, and blew with their bellows + until the very roof of the great cave-hall seemed to tremble, and the + smoke rolled up the wide chimney, and escaped in dense fumes from the + mountain-top. When they left off working, and the fire died away, a fairy + ship, with masts and sails, and two banks of long oars, and a golden + dragon stem, rose out of the glowing coals; and it grew in size until it + filled a great part of the hall, and might have furnished room for a + thousand warriors with their arms and steeds. Then, at a word from the + dwarfs, it began to shrink, and it became smaller and smaller until it was + no broader than an oak-leaf. And the younger of Ivald’s sons folded it up + like a napkin, and gave it to Loki, saying,— + </p> + <p> + “Take this to Frey the gentle. It is the ship Skidbladner. When it is + wanted for a voyage, it will carry all the Asa-folk and their weapons and + stores; and, no matter where they wish to go, the wind will always drive + it straight to the desired port. But, when it is not needed, the good Frey + may fold it up, as I have done, and carry it safely in his pocket.” + </p> + <p> + Loki was much pleased; and, although he felt disappointed because he had + no present for Thor, he heartily thanked the dwarfs for their kindness; + and taking the golden hair, and the spear Gungner, and the ship + Skidbladner, he bade Ivald’s sons good-by, and started for home. But, + before he reached the narrow doorway which led out of the cave, he met two + crooked-backed dwarfs, much smaller and much uglier than any he had seen + before. + </p> + <p> + “What have you there?” asked one of them, whose name was Brok. + </p> + <p> + “Hair for Sif, a spear for Odin, and a ship for Frey,” answered Loki. + </p> + <p> + “Let us see them,” said Brok. + </p> + <p> + Loki kindly showed them the strange gifts, and told them, that, in his + belief, no dwarfs in all the world had ever before wrought such wonderful + things. + </p> + <p> + “Who made them?” inquired Brok. + </p> + <p> + “Ivald’s sons.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! Ivald’s sons sometimes do good work, but there are many other dwarfs + who can do better. For instance, my brother Sindre, who stands here, can + make three other treasures altogether as good as those you have.” + </p> + <p> + “It cannot be!” cried Loki. + </p> + <p> + “I tell you the truth,” said the dwarf. “And, to show you that I mean just + what I say, I will wager against your head all the diamonds in the ceiling + above us, that he will make not only as good treasures, but those which + the Asas will esteem much higher.” + </p> + <p> + “Agreed!” cried Loki,—“agreed! I take the wager. Let your brother + try his skill at once.” + </p> + <p> + The three went straightway to Sindre’s forge, and the brothers began their + task. When the fire was roaring hot, and the sparks flew from the chimney + like showers of shooting-stars, Sindre put a pig-skin into the furnace, + and bade Brok blow the bellows with all his might, and never stop until he + should speak the word. The flames leaped up white and hot, and the furnace + glowed with a dazzling light, while Brok plied the bellows, and Sindre, + with unblinking eyes, watched the slowly changing colors that played + around the melted and shapeless mass within. While the brothers were thus + intent upon their work, Loki changed himself to a great horse-fly, and + settled upon Brok’s hand, and bit him without mercy. But the dwarf kept on + blowing the bellows, and stopped not until his brother cried out,— + </p> + <p> + “Enough!” + </p> + <p> + Then Sindre drew out of the flickering blue flames a huge wild boar with + long tusks of ivory, and golden bristles that glittered and shone like the + beams of the sun. + </p> + <p> + “This is Golden Bristle,” said the dwarf. “It is the gift of Brok and his + brother to the gentle Frey. His ship Skidbladner can carry him only over + the sea; but Golden Bristle shall be a trusty steed that will bear him + with the speed of the wind over the land or through the air.” + </p> + <p> + Next the dwarfs threw gold into the furnace, and Brok plied the bellows, + and Sindre gazed into the flames, as before. And the great horse-fly + buzzed in Brok’s face, and darted at his eyes, and at last settled upon + his neck, and stung him until the pain caused big drops of sweat to roll + off of his forehead. But the dwarf stopped not nor faltered, until his + brother again cried out,— + </p> + <p> + “Enough!” + </p> + <p> + This time Sindre drew out a wondrous ring of solid gold, sparkling all + over with the rarest and most costly jewels. + </p> + <p> + “This is the ring Draupner,” said he. “It is well worthy to be worn on + Odin’s finger. Every ninth day eight other rings, equal to it in every + way, shall drop from it. It shall enrich the earth, and make the desert + blossom as the rose; and it shall bring plentiful harvests, and fill the + farmers’ barns with grain, and their houses with glad good cheer. Take it + to the All-Father as the best gift of the earth-folk to him and to + mankind.” + </p> + <p> + After this the dwarfs took iron which had been brought from the mountains + of Norse Land; and, after beating it upon their bellows until it glowed + white and hot, Sindre threw it into the furnace. + </p> + <p> + “This shall be the gift of gifts,” said he to Brok. “Ply the bellows as + before, and do not, for your life, stop or falter until the work is done.” + </p> + <p> + But as Brok blew the bellows, and his brother gazed into the glowing fire, + the horse-fly came again. This time he settled between the dwarf’s eyes, + and stung his eyelids until the blood filled his eyes, and ran down his + cheeks, and blinded him so that he could not see. At last, in sore + distress, and wild with pain, Brok let go of the bellows, and lifted his + hand to drive the fly away. Then Sindre drew his work out of the furnace. + It was a blue steel hammer, well made in every way, save that the handle + was half an inch too short. + </p> + <p> + “This is the mighty Mjolner,” said Sindre to Loki, who had again taken his + proper shape. “The Thunderer may have the hammer that you promised him; + although it is our gift, and not yours. The stoutest giant will not be + able now to cope with Thor. No shield nor armor, nor mountain-wall, nor, + indeed, any thing on earth, shall be proof against the lightning-strokes + of Mjolner.” + </p> + <p> + And Brok took the three treasures which Sindre had fashioned, and went + with Loki to Asgard, the home of the Asa-folk. And they chose Odin and + Thor and Frey to examine and judge which was best,—Loki’s three + gifts, the work of Ivald’s sons; or Brok’s three gifts, the work of + Sindre. When the judges were seated, and all were in readiness, Loki went + forward and gave to Odin the spear Gungner, that would always hit the + mark; and to Frey he gave the ship Skidbladner, that would sail + whithersoever he wished. Then he gave the golden hair to Thor, who placed + it upon the head of fair Sif; and it grew there, and was a thousand-fold + more beautiful than the silken tresses she had worn before. + </p> + <p> + After the Asas had carefully looked at these treasures, and talked of + their merits, little Brok came humbly forward and offered his gifts. To + Odin he gave the precious ring Draupner, already dropping richness. To + Frey he gave the boar Golden Bristle, telling him that wherever he chose + to go this steed would serve him well, and would carry him faster than any + horse, while his shining bristles would light the way on the darkest night + or in the gloomiest path. At last he gave to Thor the hammer Mjolner, and + said that it, like Odin’s spear, would never miss the mark, and that + whatever it struck, it would crush in pieces, and whithersoever it might + be hurled, it would come back to his hand again. + </p> + <p> + Then the Asas declared at once that Thor’s hammer was the best of all the + gifts, and that the dwarf had fairly won the wager. But, when Brok + demanded Loki’s head as the price of the wager, the cunning Mischief-maker + said,— + </p> + <p> + “My head is, by the terms of our agreement, yours; but my neck is my own, + and you shall not on any account touch or harm it.”[EN#26] + </p> + <p> + So Brok went back to his brother and his smithy without the head of Loki, + but he was loaded with rich and rare presents from the Asa-folk. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Adventure XVI. How Brunhild Was Welcomed Home. + </h2> + <p> + When the next morning’s sun arose, and its light gilded the mountain + peaks, and fell in a flood of splendor down upon the rich uplands and the + broad green fields of Nibelungen Land, Siegfried, with his earls and + mighty men, rode through the valley, and down to the seashore. There a + pleasant sight met his eyes: for the little bay was white with the sails + of a hundred gold-beaked vessels which lay at anchor; and on the sandy + beach there stood in order three thousand island warriors,—the + bravest and the best of all the Nibelungens,—clad in armor, and + ready to hear and to do their master’s bidding. And Siegfried told them + why he had thus hastily called them together; and he gave to each one rich + gifts of gold and jewels and costly raiment. Then he chose from among them + one thousand of the most trustworthy, who should follow him back to + Isenland; and these went aboard the waiting vessels, amid the cheers and + the farewells of their comrades who were left behind. And when every thing + was in readiness, the anchors were hoisted and the sails were set, and the + little fleet, wafted by pleasant winds, sailed out of the bay, and + eastward across the calm blue sea. And Siegfried’s vessel, with a golden + dragon banner floating from the masthead, led all the rest. + </p> + <p> + On the fourth day after Siegfried’s departure from Isenland, Dankwart and + grim old Hagen sat in a room of the castle at Isenstein. Outside and below + they heard the fair-haired warriors of Queen Brunhild pacing to and fro, + and ready, at a word, to seize upon the strangers, and either to put them + to death, or to drive them forever from the land. Old Hagen’s brows were + closely knit, and his face was dark as a thunder-cloud, and his hands + played nervously with his sword-hilt, as he said,— + </p> + <p> + “Where now is Gunther, the man whom we once called king?” + </p> + <p> + “He is standing on the balcony above, talking with the queen and her + maidens,” answered Dankwart. + </p> + <p> + “The craven that he is!” cried Hagen hoarsely. “Once he was a king, and + worthy to be obeyed; but now who is the king? That upstart Siegfried has + but to say what shall be done, and our master Gunther, blindly and like a + child, complies. Four days ago we might have taken ship, and sailed safely + home. Now our vessel is gone, the boasted hero is gone, and nothing is + left for us to do but to fight and die.” + </p> + <p> + “But we are sure of Odin’s favor,” returned Dankwart; and a wild light + gleamed from his eyes, and he brandished his sword high over his head. “A + place in Valhal is promised to us; for, him who bravely dies with his + blood-stained sword beside him and his heart unrent with fears, the + All-Father’s victory-wafters will gently carry home. Even now, methinks, I + sit in the banqueting-hall of the heroes, and quaff the flowing mead.” + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + In the mean while Gunther stood with Queen Brunhild at an upper window, + and looked out upon the great sea that spread forever and away towards the + setting sun. And all at once, as if by magic, the water was covered with + white-sailed ships, which, driven by friendly winds and the helping hands + of AEgir’s daughters and the brawny arms of many a stalwart oarsman, came + flying towards the bay. + </p> + <p> + “What ships are those with the snow-white sails and the dragon-stems?” + asked Brunhild, wondering. + </p> + <p> + Gunther gazed for a moment towards the swift-coming fleet, and his eyes + were gladdened with the sight of Siegfried’s dragon-banner floating from + the vessel in the van. A great load seemed lifted from his breast, for now + he knew that the hoped-for help was at hand. And, smiling he answered the + queen,— + </p> + <p> + “Those white-sailed ships are mine. My body-guard—a thousand of my + trustiest fighting-men—are on board, and every man is ready to die + for me.” + </p> + <p> + And as the vessels came into the harbor, and the sailors furled the sails, + and cast the anchors into the sea, Siegfried was seen standing on the + golden prow of his ship, arrayed in princely raiment, with his earls and + chiefs around him. And their bright armor glittered in the sunlight, and + their burnished shields shone like so many golden mirrors. A fairer sight + had the folk of Isenstein never seen. + </p> + <p> + Long and earnestly Queen Brunhild gazed, and then, turning away, she burst + into tears; for she knew that she had been again outwitted, and that it + was vain for her to struggle against the Norns’ decrees. Then, crushing + back the grief and the sore longing that rose in her heart, she spoke + again to Gunther, and her eyes shone stern and strange. + </p> + <p> + “What now will you have me do?” she asked; “for you have fairly won me, + and my wayward fancies shall no longer vex you. Shall I greet your friends + with kindness, or shall we send them back again over the sea?” + </p> + <p> + “I pray you give them welcome to the broad halls of Isenstein,” he + answered; “for no truer, nobler men live than these my liegemen.” + </p> + <p> + So the queen sent word to Siegfried and his Nibelungen warriors to leave + the ships and come ashore. And she herself, as radiant now as a morning in + May, went down to meet them and welcome them. Then she had a great feast + made in honor of the heroes, and the long, low-raftered feast-hall rang + with the sounds of merriment, instead of with the clash of arms. The + fair-haired, blue-eyed warriors of the queen sat side by side with the + tall strangers from over the sea. And in the high-seat was Brunhild, her + face exceeding pale, yet beauteous to behold; and by her side sat Gunther, + smiling and glad, and clad in his kingly raiments. And around them were + the earls and chieftains, and many a fair lady of Isenland, and Hagen, + smiling through his frowns, and Dankwart, now grown fearless, and + Siegfried sad and thoughtful. Mirth and gladness ruled the hour, and not + until the morning star began to fade in the coming sunlight lid the guests + retire to rest. + </p> + <p> + Only a few days longer did the heroes tarry in Isenland; for the mild + spring days were growing warmer, and all faces were southward turned, and + the queen herself was anxious to haste to her South-land home. When, at + last, the time for leave-taking came, the folk of Isenland gathered around + to bid their queen Godspeed. Then Brunhild called to Dankwart, and gave + him her golden keys, and bade him unlock her closets where her gold and + jewels were stored, and to scatter with hands unstinted her treasures + among the poor. And many were the tearful blessings, and many the kind + words said, as the radiant queen went down to the waiting, white-winged + vessel, and stepped aboard with Gunther and the heroes of the Rhine. But + she was not to go alone to the land of strangers; for with her were to + sail a hundred fair young damsels, and more than fourscore noble dames, + and two thousand blue-eyed warriors, the bravest of her land. + </p> + <p> + When all had gone on board the waiting fleet, the anchors were hoisted, + and the sails were unfurled to the breeze; and amid the tearful farewells + of friends, and the joyful shouting of the sailors, the hundred + heavy-laden vessels glided from the bay, and were soon far out at sea. And + the sorrowing folk of Isenland turned away, and went back to their daily + tasks, and to the old life of mingled pain and pleasure, of shadow and + sunshine; and they never saw their loved warrior-queen again. + </p> + <p> + The gay white fleet, with its precious cargo of noble men and fair ladies, + sped swiftly onwards through Old AEgir’s kingdom; and it seemed as if + Queen Ran had forgotten to spread her nets, so smooth and quiet was the + sea; and the waves slept on the peaceful bosom of the waters: only Ripple + and Sky-clear danced in the wake of the flying ships, and added to the + general joy. And on shipboard music and song enlivened the dragging hours; + and from morn till eve no sounds were heard, save those of merriment and + sport, and glad good cheer. Yet, as day after day passed by, and no sight + met their eyes but the calm blue waters beneath, and the calm blue sky + above, all began to wish for a view, once more, of the solid earth, and + the fields, and the wild greenwood. But the ships sailed steadily onward, + and every hour brought them nearer and nearer to the wished-for haven. + </p> + <p> + At length, on the ninth day, they came in sight of a long, flat coast, + stretching far away towards the Lowlands, where Old AEgir and his + daughters—sometimes by wasting warfare, sometimes by stealthy + strategy—ever plot and toil to widen the Sea-king’s domains. When + the sailors saw the green shore rising up, as it were, out of the quiet + water, and the wild woodland lying dense and dark beyond, and when they + knew that they were nearing the end of their long sea-voyage, they rent + the air with their joyful shouts. And a brisker breeze sprang up, and + filled the sails, and made the ships leap forward over the water, like + glad living creatures. + </p> + <p> + It was then that the thought came to King Gunther that he ought to send + fleet heralds to Burgundy-land to make known the happy issue of his bold + emprise, and to tell of his glad home-coming, with Brunhild, the + warrior-maiden, as his queen. So he called old Hagen to him, and told him + of his thoughts, and asked him if he would be that herald. + </p> + <p> + “Nay,” answered the frowning chief. “No bearer of glad tidings am I. To + every man Odin has given gifts. To some he has given light hearts, and + cheery faces, and glad voices; and such alone are fitted to carry good + news and happy greetings. To others he has given darker souls, and less + lightsome faces, and more uncouth manners; and these may bear the brunt of + the battle, and rush with Odin’s heroes to the slaughter: but they would + be ill at ease standing in the presence of fair ladies, or telling glad + tidings at court. Let me still linger, I pray, on board this narrow ship, + and send your friend Siegfried as herald to Burgundy-land. He is well + fitted for such a duty.” + </p> + <p> + So Gunther sent at once for Siegfried, to whom, when he had come, he said,— + </p> + <p> + “My best of friends, although we are now in sight of land, our voyage + still is a long one; for the river is yet far away, and, when it is + reached, its course is winding, and the current will be against us, and + our progress must needs be slow. The folk at home have had no tidings from + us since we left them in the early spring; and no doubt their hearts grow + anxious, and they long to hear of our whereabouts, and whether we prosper + or no. Now, as we near the headland which juts out dark and green before + us, we will set you on shore, with the noble Greyfell, and as many + comrades as you wish, to haste with all speed to Burgundy, to tell the + glad news of our coming to the loved ones waiting there.” + </p> + <p> + Siegfried at first held back, and tried to excuse himself from undertaking + this errand,—not because he felt any fear of danger, but because he + scorned to be any man’s thrall, to go and do at his beck and bidding. Then + Gunther spoke again, and in a different tone. + </p> + <p> + “Gentle Siegfried,” he said, “if you will not do this errand for my sake, + I pray that you will undertake it for the sake of my sister, the fair + Kriemhild, who has so long waited for our coming.” + </p> + <p> + Then willingly did the prince agree to be the king’s herald. And on the + morrow the ship touched land; and Siegfried bade his companions a short + farewell, and went ashore with four and twenty Nibelungen chiefs, who were + to ride with him to Burgundy. And, when every thing was in readiness, he + mounted the noble Greyfell, as did also each warrior his favorite steed, + and they galloped briskly away; and their glittering armor and nodding + plumes were soon lost to sight among the green trees of the wood. And the + ship which bore Gunther and his kingly party weighed anchor, and moved + slowly along the shore towards the distant river’s mouth. + </p> + <p> + For many days, and through many strange lands, rode Siegfried and his + Nibelungen chiefs. They galloped through the woodland, and over a stony + waste, and came to a peopled country rich in farms and meadows, and dotted + with pleasant towns. And the folk of that land wondered greatly at sight + of the radiant Siegfried, and the tall warriors with him, and their noble + steeds, and their sunbright armor. For they thought that it was a company + of the gods riding through the mid-world, as the gods were wont to do in + the golden days of old. So they greeted them with smiles, and kind, good + words, and scattered flowers and blessings in their way. + </p> + <p> + They stopped for a day in Vilkina-land, where dwelt one Eigill, a famous + archer, who, it is said, was a brother of Veliant, Siegfried’s + fellow-apprentice in the days of his boyhood. And men told them this story + of Eigill. That once on a time old Nidung, the king of that land, in order + to test his skill with the bow, bade him shoot an apple, or, as some say, + an acorn, from the head of his own little son. And Eigill did this; but + two other arrows, which he had hidden beneath his coat, dropped to the + ground. And when the king asked him what these were for he answered, “To + kill thee, wretch, had I slain my child.”[EN#27] + </p> + <p> + After this our heroes rode through a rough hill-country, where the ground + was covered with sharp stones, and the roads were steep and hard. And + their horses lost their shoes, and were so lamed by the travel, that they + were forced to turn aside to seek the house of one Welland, a famous + smith, who re-shod their steeds, and entertained them most kindly three + days and nights. And it is said by some that Welland is but another name + for Veliant, and that this was the selfsame foreman whom we knew in + Siegfried’s younger days. But, be this as it may, he was at this time the + master of all smiths, and no one ever wrought more cunningly. And men say + that his grandfather was Vilkinus, the first king of that land; and that + his grandmother, Wachitu, was a fair mermaid, who lived in the deep green + sea; and that his father, Wada, had carried him, when a child, upon his + shoulders through water five fathoms deep, to apprentice him to the + cunning dwarfs, from whom he learned his trade. And if this story is true, + he could not have been Veliant. He was wedded to a beautiful lady, who + sometimes took the form of a swan, and flew away to a pleasant lake near + by, where, with other swan-maidens, she spent the warm summer days among + the reeds and the water-lilies. And many other strange tales were told of + Welland the smith: how he had once made a boat from the single trunk of a + tree, and had sailed in it all around the mid-world; how, being lame in + one foot, he had forged a wondrous winged garment, and flown like a falcon + through the air; and how he had wrought for Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxon hero, + a gorgeous war-coat that no other smith could equal.[EN#28] And so + pleasantly did Welland entertain his guests that they were loath to leave + him; but on the fourth day they bade him farewell, and wended again their + way. + </p> + <p> + Now our heroes rode forward, with greater speed than before, across many a + mile of waste land, and over steep hills, and through pleasant wooded + dales. Then, again, they came to fair meadows, and broad pasture-lands, + and fields green with growing corn; and every one whom they met blessed + them, and bade them a hearty God-speed. Then they left the farmlands and + the abodes of men far behind them; and they passed by the shore of a + sparkling lake, where they heard the swan-maidens talking to each other as + they swam among the rushes, or singing in silvery tones of gladness as + they circled in the air above. Then they crossed a dreary moor, where + nothing grew but heather; and they climbed a barren, stony mountain, where + the feet of men had never been, and came at last to a wild, dark forest, + where silence reigned undisturbed forever. + </p> + <p> + It was the wood in which dwells Vidar, the silent god, far from the sound + of man’s busy voice, in the solemn shade of century-living oaks and elms. + There he sits in quiet but awful grandeur,—strong almost as Thor, + but holding his mighty strength in check. Hoary and gray, he sits alone in + Nature’s temple, and communes with Nature’s self, waiting for the day when + Nature’s silent but resistless forces shall be quickened into dread + action. His head is crowned with sear and yellow leaves, and long white + moss hangs pendent from his brows and cheeks, and his garments are rusted + with age. On his feet are iron shoes, with soles made thick with the + scraps of leather gathered through centuries past; and with these, it is + said, he shall, in the last great twilight of the mid-world, rend the jaws + of the Fenris-wolf.[EN#29] + </p> + <p> + “Who is this Fenris-wolf?” asked one of the Nibelungens as they rode + through the solemn shadows of the wood. + </p> + <p> + And Siegfried thereupon related how that fierce creature had been brought + up and cared for by the Asa-folk; and how, when he grew large and strong, + they sought to keep him from doing harm by binding him with an iron chain + called Leding. But the strength of the monster was so great, that he burst + the chain asunder, and escaped. Then the Asas made another chain twice as + strong, which they called Drome. And they called to the wolf, and besought + him to allow them to bind him again, so that, in bursting the second + chain, he might clear up all doubts in regard to his strength. Flattered + by the words of the Asas, the wolf complied; and they chained him with + Drome, and fastened him to a great rock. But Fenris stretched his legs, + and shook himself, and the great chain was snapped in pieces. Then the + Asas knew that there was no safety for them so long as a monster so huge + and terrible was unbound; and they besought the swarthy elves to forge + them another and a stronger chain. This the elves did. They made a most + wondrous chain, smooth as silk, and soft as down, yet firmer than granite, + and stronger than steel. They called it Gleipner; and it was made of the + sinews of a bear, the footsteps of a cat, the beard of a woman, the breath + of a fish, the sweat of a bird, and the roots of a mountain. When the Asas + had obtained this chain, they lured the Fenris-wolf to the rocky Island of + Lyngve, and by flattery persuaded him to be bound again. But this he would + not agree to do until Tyr placed his hand in his mouth as a pledge of good + faith. Then they tied him as before, and laughingly bade him break the + silken cord. The huge creature stretched himself as before, and tried with + all his might to burst away; but Gleipner held him fast, and the worst + that he could do was to bite off the hand of unlucky Tyr. And this is why + Tyr is called the one-armed god. + </p> + <p> + “But it is said,” added Siegfried, “that in the last twilight the + Fenris-wolf will break his chain, and that he will swallow the sun, and + slay the great Odin himself, and that none can subdue him save Vidar the + Silent.” + </p> + <p> + It was thus that the heroes conversed with each other as they rode through + the silent ways of the wood. + </p> + <p> + At length, one afternoon in early summer, the little company reached the + Rhine valley; and looking down from the sloping hill-tops, green with + growing corn, they saw the pleasant town of the Burgundians and the high + gray towers of Gunther’s dwelling. And not long afterwards they rode + through the streets of the old town, and, tired and travel-stained, halted + outside of the castle-gates. Very soon it became noised about that + Siegfried and a company of strange knights, fair and tall, had come again + to Burgundy and to the home of the Burgundian kings. But when it was + certainly known that neither Gunther the king, nor Hagen of the evil eye, + nor Dankwart his brother, had returned, the people felt many sad + misgivings; for they greatly feared that some hard mischance had befallen + their loved king. Then Gernot and the young Giselher, having heard of + Siegfried’s arrival, came out with glad but anxious faces to greet him. + </p> + <p> + “Welcome, worthy chief!” they cried. “But why are you alone? What are your + tidings? Where is our brother? and where are our brave uncles, Hagen and + Dankwart? And who are those strange, fair men who ride with you? And what + about Brunhild, the warrior-maiden? Alas! if our brother has fallen by her + cruel might, then woe to Burgundy! Tell us quickly all about it!” + </p> + <p> + “Have patience, friends!” answered Siegfried. “Give me time to speak, and + I will gladden the hearts of all the folk of Burgundy with my news. Your + brother Gunther is alive and well; and he is the happiest man in the whole + mid-world, because he has won the matchless Brunhild for his bride. And he + is ere now making his way up the river with a mighty fleet of a hundred + vessels and more than two thousand warriors. Indeed, you may look for him + any day. And he has sent me, with these my Nibelungen earls, to bid you + make ready for his glad home-coming.” + </p> + <p> + Then, even before he had alighted from Greyfell, he went on to tell of the + things that had happened at Isenstein; but he said nothing of the part + which he had taken in the strange contest. And a crowd of eager listeners + stood around, and heard with unfeigned joy of the happy fortune of their + king. + </p> + <p> + “And now,” said Siegfried to Giselher, when he had finished his story, + “carry the glad news to your mother and your sister; for they, too, must + be anxious to learn what fate has befallen King Gunther.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay,” answered the prince, “you yourself are the king’s herald, and you + shall be the one to break the tidings to them. Full glad they’ll be to + hear the story from your own lips, for long have they feared that our + brother would never be seen by us again. I will tell them of your coming, + but you must be the first to tell them the news you bring.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well,” answered Siegfried. “It shall be as you say.” + </p> + <p> + Then he dismounted from Greyfell, and, with his Nibelungen earls, was + shown into the grand hall, where they were entertained in a right kingly + manner. + </p> + <p> + When Kriemhild the peerless, and Ute her mother, heard that Siegfried had + come again to Burgundy, and that he brought news from Gunther the king, + they hastened to make ready to see him. And, when he came before them, he + seemed so noble, so bright, and so glad, that they knew he bore no evil + tidings. + </p> + <p> + “Most noble prince,” said Kriemhild, trembling in his presence, “right + welcome are you to our dwelling! But wherefore are you come? How fares my + brother Gunther? Why came he not with you back to Burgundy-land? Oh! + undone are we, if, through the cruel might of the warrior-queen, he has + been lost to us.” + </p> + <p> + “Now give me a herald’s fees!” cried Siegfried, laughing. “King Gunther is + alive and well. In the games of strength to which fair Brunhild challenged + him, he was the winner. And now he comes up the Rhine with his bride, and + a great retinue of lords and ladies and fighting-men. Indeed, the sails of + his ships whiten the river for miles. And I am come by his desire to ask + that every thing be made ready for his glad home-coming and the loving + welcome of his peerless queen.” + </p> + <p> + Great was the joy of Kriemhild and her queenly mother when they heard this + gladsome news; and they thanked the prince most heartily for all that he + had done. + </p> + <p> + “You have truly earned a herald’s fee,” said the lovely maiden, “and + gladly would I pay it you in gold; for you have cheered us with pleasant + tidings, and lightened our minds of a heavy load. But men of your noble + rank take neither gifts nor fees, and hence we have only to offer our + deepest and heartiest thanks.” + </p> + <p> + “Not so,” answered Siegfried gayly. “Think not I would scorn a fee. Had I + a kingdom of thirty realms, I should still be proud of a gift from you.” + </p> + <p> + “Then, you shall have your herald’s fee!” cried Kriemhild; and she sent + her maidens to fetch the gift. And with her own lily hands she gave him + twenty golden bracelets, richly inwrought with every kind of rare and + costly gem-stones. Happy, indeed, was Siegfried to take such priceless + gift from the hand of so peerless a maiden; and his face shone radiant + with sunbeams as he humbly bowed, and thanked her. But he had no need for + the jewels, nor wished he to keep them long: so he gave them, with + gracious wishes, to the fair young maidens at court. + </p> + <p> + From this time forward, for many days, there was great bustle in Gunther’s + dwelling. On every side was heard the noise of busy hands, making ready + for the glad day when the king should be welcomed home. The broad halls + and the tall gray towers were decked with flowers, and floating banners, + and many a gay device; the houses and streets of the pleasant burgh put on + their holiday attire; the shady road which led through Kriemhild’s + rose-garden down to the river-banks was dusted and swept with daily care; + and the watchman was cautioned to keep on the lookout every moment for the + coming of the expected fleet. And heralds had been sent to every burgh and + castle, and to every countryside in Burgundy, announcing the happy + home-coming of Gunther and his bride, and bidding every one, both high and + low, to the glad merry-making. + </p> + <p> + On the morning of the eleventh day, ere the sun had dried the dew from the + springing grass, the keen-eyed watchman, in his perch on the topmost + tower, cried out in happy accents to the waiting folk below,— + </p> + <p> + “They come at last! I see the white-winged ships still far down the + stream. But a breeze springs up from the northward, and the sailors are at + the oars, and swift speed the hastening vessels, as if borne on the wings + of the wind. Ride forth, O ye brave and fair, to welcome the fair and the + brave!” + </p> + <p> + Then quickly the king-folk, and the warriors, and fair ladies, mounted + their ready steeds, and gayly through the gates of the castle they rode + out river-wards. And Ute, the noble queen-mother, went first. And the + company moved in glittering array, with flying banners, and music, and the + noisy flourish of drums, adown the rose-covered pathway which led to the + water’s side. And the peerless Kriemhild followed, with a hundred lovely + maidens, all mounted on snow-white palfreys; and Siegfried, proud and + happy, on Greyfell, rode beside her. + </p> + <p> + When the party reached the river-bank, a pleasant sight met their eyes; + for the fleet had now drawn near, and the whole river, as far as the eye + could reach, glittered with the light reflected from the shield-hung rails + and the golden prows of the swift-coming ships. King Gunther’s own vessel + led all the rest; and the king himself stood on the deck, with the + glorious Brunhild by his side. Nearer and nearer the fresh breeze of the + summer morning wafted the vessel to the shore, where stood the waiting + multitude. Softly the golden dragon glided in to the landing-place, and + quickly was it moored to the banks; then Gunther, clad in his kingly + garments, stepped ashore, and with him his lovely queen. And a mighty + shout of welcome, and an answering shout of gladness, seemed to rend the + sky as the waiting hosts beheld the sight. And the queen-mother Ute, and + the peerless Kriemhild, and her kingly brothers, went forward to greet the + pair. And Kriemhild took Brunhild by the hand, and kissed her, and said,— + </p> + <p> + “Welcome, thrice welcome, dear sister! to thy home and thy kindred and thy + people, who hail thee as queen. And may thy days be full of joyance, and + thy years be full of peace!” + </p> + <p> + Then all the folk cried out their goodly greetings; and the sound of their + glad voices rang out sweet and clear in the morning air, and rose up from + the riverside, and was echoed among the hill-slopes, and carried over the + meadows and vineyards, to the farthest bounds of Burgundy-land. And the + matchless Brunhild, smiling, returned the happy greeting; and her voice + was soft and sweet, as she said,— + </p> + <p> + “O kin of the fair Rhineland, and folk of my new-found home! may your days + be summer sunshine, and your lives lack grief and pain; and may this hour + of glad rejoicing be the type of all hours to come!” + </p> + <p> + Then the lovely queen was seated in a golden wain which stood in waiting + for her; and Gunther mounted his own war-steed; and the whole company made + ready to ride to the castle. Never before had so pleasant a sight been + seen in Rhineland, as that glorious array of king-folk and lords and + ladies wending from river to fortress along the rose-strewn roadway. + Foremost went the king, and by his side was Siegfried on the radiant + Greyfell. Then came the queen’s golden wain, drawn by two snow-white oxen, + which were led with silken cords by sweet-faced maidens; and in it, on an + ivory throne deep-carved with mystic runes, sat glorious Brunhild. Behind + rode the queen-mother and her kingly sons, and frowning Hagen, and + Dankwart, and Volker, and all the earl-folk and mighty warriors of + Burgundy and of Nibelungen Land. And lastly came Kriemhild and her hundred + damsels, sitting on their snow-white steeds. And they rode past the + blooming gardens, and through the glad streets of the burgh, and then, + like a radiant vision, they entered the castle-halls; and the lovely + pageant was seen no more. + </p> + <p> + For twelve days after this, a joyful high-tide was held at the castle; and + the broad halls rang with merriment and music and festive mirth. And games + and tournaments were held in honor of the king’s return. Brave horsemen + dashed here and there at break-neck speed, or contended manfully in the + lists; lances flew thick in the air; shouts and glad cries were heard on + every hand; and for a time the most boisterous tumult reigned. But + gladness and good-feeling ruled the hour, and no one thought of aught but + merry-making and careless joy. At length, when the days of feasting were + past, the guests bade Gunther and his queen farewell; and each betook + himself to his own home, and to whatsoever his duty called him. And one + would have thought that none but happy days were henceforth in store for + the kingly folk of Burgundy. But alas! too soon the cruel frost and the + cold north winds nipped the buds and blossoms of the short summer, and the + days of gladness gave place to nights of gloom. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Adventure XVII. How Siegfried Lived in Nibelungen Land. + </h2> + <p> + When the twelve-days’ high-tide at King Gunther’s home-coming had been + brought to an end, and the guests had all gone to their homes, Siegfried, + too, prepared to bid farewell to the Rhineland kings, and to wend to his + own country. But he was not to go alone; for Kriemhild, the peerless + princess, was to go with him as his bride. They had been wedded during the + merry festivities which had just closed, and that event had added greatly + to the general joy; for never was there a fairer or a nobler pair than + Siegfried the fearless, and Kriemhild the peerless. + </p> + <p> + “It grieves my heart to part with you,” said Gunther, wringing Siegfried’s + hand. “It will fare but ill with us, I fear, when we no longer see your + radiant face, or hear your cheery voice.” + </p> + <p> + “Say not so, my brother,” answered Siegfried; “for the gods have many good + things in store for you. And, if ever you need the help of my arm, you + have but to say the word, and I will hasten to your aid.” + </p> + <p> + Then the Burgundian kings besought the hero to take the fourth part of + their kingdom as his own and Kriemhild’s, and to think no more of leaving + them. But Siegfried would not agree to this. His heart yearned to see his + father and mother once again, and then to return to his own loved + Nibelungen Land. So he thanked the kings for their kind offer, and + hastened to make ready for his intended journey. + </p> + <p> + Early on Midsummer Day the hero and his bride rode out of Gunther’s + dwelling, and turned their faces northward. And with them was a noble + retinue of warriors,—five hundred brave Burgundians, with Eckewart + as their chief,—who had sworn to be Queen Kriemhild’s vassals in her + new, far-distant home. Thirty and two fair maidens, too, went with her. + And with Siegfried were his Nibelungen earls. + </p> + <p> + As the company rode down the sands, and filed gayly along the river-road, + it seemed a lovely although a sad sight to their kinsmen who gazed after + them from the castle-towers. Fair and young were all the folk; and the + world, to most, was still untried. And they rode, in the morning sunlight, + away from their native land, nor recked that never again would they + return. Each warrior sat upon a charger, richly geared with gilt-red + saddle, and gorgeous bridle, and trappings of every hue; and their + war-coats were bright and dazzling; and their spears glanced in the sun; + and their golden shields threw rays of resplendent light around them. The + maidens, too, were richly dight in broidered cloaks of blue, and rare + stuffs brought from far-off Araby; and each sat on a snow-white palfrey + geared with silken housings, and trappings of bright blue. + </p> + <p> + For some days the company followed the course of the river, passing + through many a rich meadow, and between lovely vineyards, and fields of + yellow corn. Then they rode over a dreary, barren waste, and through a + wild greenwood, and reached, at last, the hills which marked the beginning + of King Siegmund’s domains. Then Siegfried sent fleet heralds before them + to carry to his father the tidings of his coming with his bride, fair + Kriemhild. Glad, indeed, were old King Siegmund and Siegfried’s gentle + mother when they heard this news. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, happy is the day!” cried the king. “Thrice happy be the day that + shall see fair Kriemhild a crowned queen, and Siegfried a king in the + throne of his fathers!” + </p> + <p> + And they showered upon the heralds who had brought the happy news rich + fees of gold and silver, and gave them garments of silken velvet. And on + the morrow they set out, with a train of earl-folk and lovely ladies, to + meet their son and his bride. For one whole day they journeyed to the old + fortress of Santen, where in former days the king’s dwelling had been. + There they met the happy bridal-party, and fond and loving were the hearty + greetings they bestowed upon Kriemhild and the radiant Siegfried. Then, + without delay, they returned to Siegmund’s kingly hall; and for twelve + days a high tide, more happy and more splendid than that which had been + held in Burgundy, was made in honor of Siegfried’s marriage-day. And, in + the midst of those days of sport and joyance, the old king gave his crown + and sceptre to his son; and all the people hailed Siegfried, king of the + broad Lowlands, and Kriemhild his lovely queen. + </p> + <p> + Old stories tell how Siegfried reigned in peace and glad contentment in + his fatherland; and how the joyous sunshine shone wherever he went, and + poured a flood of light and warmth and happiness into every nook and + corner of his kingdom; and how, at length, after the gentle Sigelind had + died, he moved his court to that other country of his,—the far-off + Nibelungen Land. And it is in that strange, dream-haunted land, in a + strong-built mountain fortress, that we shall next find him. + </p> + <p> + Glad were the Nibelungen folk when their own king and his lovely wife came + to dwell among them; and the mists once more were lifted, and the skies + grew bright and clear, and men said that the night had departed, and the + better days were near. Golden, indeed, and most glorious, was that + summer-time; and long to be remembered was Siegfried’s too brief reign in + Nibelungen Land. And, ages afterward, folk loved to sing of his care for + his people’s welfare, of his wisdom and boundless lore, of his deeds in + the time of warring, and the victories gained in peace. And strong and + brave were the men-folk, and wise and fair were the women, and broad and + rich were the acres, in Siegfried’s well-ruled land. The farm-lands were + yellow with the abundant harvests, fruitful orchards grew in the pleasant + dales, and fair vineyards crowned the hills. Fine cities sprang up along + the seacoast, and strong fortresses were built on every height. Great + ships were made, which sailed to every land, and brought home rich goods + from every clime,—coffee and spices from India, rich silks from + Zazemang, fine fruits from the Iberian shore, and soft furs, and ivory + tusks of the sea-beast, from the frozen coasts of the north. Never before + was country so richly blessed; for Siegfried taught his people how to till + the soil best, and how to delve far down into the earth for hidden + treasures, and how to work skilfully in iron and bronze and all other + metals, and how to make the winds and the waters, and even the + thunderbolt, their thralls and helpful servants. And he was as great in + war as in peace; for no other people dared harm, or in any way impose + upon, the Nibelungen folk, or any of his faithful liegemen. + </p> + <p> + It is told how, once on a time, he warred against the Hundings, who had + done his people an injury, and how he sailed against them in a long + dragon-ship of a hundred oars. When he was far out in the mid-sea, and no + land was anywhere in sight, a dreadful storm arose. The lightnings + flashed, and the winds roared, and threatened to carry the ship to + destruction. Quickly the fearful sailors began to reef the sails, but + Siegfried bade them stop. + </p> + <p> + “Why be afraid?” he cried. “The Norns have woven the woof of every man’s + life, and no man can escape his destiny. If the gods will that we should + drown, it is folly for us to strive against fate. We are bound to the + shore of the Hundings’ land, and thither must our good ship carry us. + Hoist the sails high on the masts, even though the wind should tear them + into shreds, and split the masts into splinters!” + </p> + <p> + The sailors did as they were bidden; and the hurricane caught the ship in + its mighty arms, and hurried it over the rolling waves with the speed of + lightning. And Siegfried stood calmly at the helm, and guided the flying + vessel. Presently they saw a rocky point rising up out of the waters + before them; and on it stood an old man, his gray cloak streaming in the + wind, and his blue hood tied tightly down over his head. + </p> + <p> + “Whose ship is that which comes riding on the storm?” cried the man. + </p> + <p> + “King Siegfried’s ship,” answered the man at the prow. “There lives no + braver man on earth than he.” + </p> + <p> + “Thou sayest truly,” came back from the rock. “Lay by your oars, reef the + sails, and take me on board!” + </p> + <p> + “What is your name?” asked the sailor, as the ship swept past him. + </p> + <p> + “When the raven croaks gladly over his battle-feast, men call me Hnikar. + But call me now Karl from the mountain, Fengr, or Fjolner. Reef, quick, + your sails, and take me in!” + </p> + <p> + The men, at Siegfried’s command, obeyed. And at once the wind ceased + blowing, and the sea was calm, and the warm sun shone through the rifted + clouds, and the coast of Hundings Land lay close before them. But when + they looked for Fjolner, as he called himself, they could not find him. + </p> + <p> + One day Siegfried sat in his sun-lit hall in Nibelungen Land; and + Kriemhild, lovely as a morning in June, sat beside him. And they talked of + the early days when alone he fared through the mid-world, and alone did + deeds of wondrous daring. And Siegfried bethought him then of the + glittering Hoard of Andvari, and the cave and the mountain fortress, where + the faithful dwarf Alberich still guarded the measureless treasure. + </p> + <p> + “How I should like to see that mountain fastness and that glittering + hoard!” cried Kriemhild. + </p> + <p> + “You shall see,” answered the king. + </p> + <p> + And at once horses were saddled, and preparations were made for a + morning’s jaunt into the mountains. And, ere an hour had passed, Siegfried + and his queen, and a small number of knights and ladies, were riding + through the passes. About noon they came to Alberich’s dwelling,—a + frowning fortress of granite built in the mountain-side. The gate was + opened by the sleepy giant who always sat within, and the party rode into + the narrow court-yard. There they were met by Alberich, seeming smaller + and grayer, and more pinched and wan, than ever before. + </p> + <p> + “Hail, noble master!” cried he, bowing low before Siegfried. “How can + Alberich serve you to-day?” + </p> + <p> + “Lead us to the treasure-vaults,” answered the king. “My queen would fain + feast her eyes upon the yellow, sparkling hoard.” + </p> + <p> + The dwarf obeyed. Through a narrow door they were ushered into a long, low + cavern, so frowning and gloomy, that the queen started back in affright. + But, re-assured by Siegfried’s smiling face, she went forward again. The + entrance-way was lighted by little torches held in the hands of tiny + elves, who bowed in humble politeness to the kingly party. But, when once + beyond the entrance-hall, no torches were needed to show the way; for the + huge pile of glittering gold and sparkling jewels, which lay heaped up to + the cavern’s roof, lighted all the space around with a glory brighter than + day. + </p> + <p> + “There is the dwarf’s treasure!” cried Siegfried. “Behold the Hoard of + Andvari, the gathered wealth of the ages! Henceforth, fair Kriemhild, it + is yours—all yours, save this serpent-ring.” + </p> + <p> + “And why not that too?” asked the queen; for she admired its glittering + golden scales, and its staring ruby eyes. + </p> + <p> + “Alas!” answered he, “a curse rests upon it,—the curse which Andvari + the ancient laid upon it when Loki tore it from his hand. A miser’s heart—selfish, + cold, snaky—is bred in its owner’s being; and he thenceforth lives a + very serpent’s life. Or, should he resist its influence, then death + through the guile of pretended friends is sure to be his fate.” + </p> + <p> + “Then why,” asked the queen,—“why do you keep it yourself? Why do + you risk its bane? Why not give it to your sworn foe, or cast it into the + sea, or melt it in the fire, and thus escape the curse?” + </p> + <p> + Siegfried answered by telling how, when in the heyday of his youth, he had + slain Fafnir, the keeper of this hoard, upon the Glittering Heath; and + how, while still in the narrow trench which he had dug, the blood of the + horrid beast had flown in upon him, and covered him up. + </p> + <p> + “And this I have been told by Odin’s birds,” he went on to say, “that + every part of my body that was touched by the slimy flood was made forever + proof against sword and spear, and sharp weapons of every kind. Hence I + have no cause to fear the stroke, either of open foes or of traitorous + false friends.” + </p> + <p> + “But was all of your body covered with the dragon’s blood? Was there no + small spot untouched?” asked the queen, more anxious now than she had ever + seemed to be before she had known aught of her husband’s strange security + from wounds. + </p> + <p> + “Only one very little spot between the shoulders was left untouched,” + answered Siegfried. “I afterwards found a lime-leaf sticking there, and I + know that the slimy blood touched not that spot. But then who fears a + thrust in the back? None save cowards are wounded there.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” said the queen, toying tremulously with the fatal ring, “that little + lime-leaf may yet bring us unutterable woe.” + </p> + <p> + But Siegfried laughed at her fears; and he took the serpent-ring, and + slipped it upon his forefinger, and said that he would wear it there, bane + or no bane, so long as Odin would let him live. + </p> + <p> + Then, after another long look at the heaps of glittering gold and + priceless gem-stones, the company turned, and followed Alberich back, + through the gloomy entranceway and the narrow door, to the open air again. + And mounting their steeds, which stood ready, they started homewards. But, + at the outer gate, Siegfried paused, and said to the dwarf at parting,— + </p> + <p> + “Hearken, Alberich! The Hoard of Andvari is no longer mine. I have made a + present of it to my queen. Hold it and guard it, therefore, as hers and + hers alone; and, whatever her bidding may be regarding it, that do.” + </p> + <p> + “Your word is law, and shall be obeyed,” said the dwarf, bowing low. + </p> + <p> + Then the drowsy gate-keeper swung the heavy gate to its place, and the + kingly party rode gayly away. + </p> + <p> + On their way home the company went, by another route, through the narrow + mountain pass which led towards the sea, and thence through a rocky gorge + between two smoking mountains. And on one side of this road a great cavern + yawned, so dark and deep that no man had ever dared to step inside of it. + And as they paused before it, and listened, they heard, away down in its + dismal depths, horrid groans, sad moanings, and faint wild shrieks, so far + away that it seemed as if they had come from the very centre of the earth. + And, while they still listened, the ground around them trembled and shook, + and the smoking mountain on the other side of the gorge smoked blacker + than before. + </p> + <p> + “Loki is uneasy to-day,” said Siegfried, as they all put spurs to their + horses, and galloped swiftly home. + </p> + <p> + It was the Cavern of the Mischief-maker which the party had visited; and + that evening, as they again sat in Siegfried’s pleasant hall, they amused + themselves by telling many strange old tales of the mid-world’s childhood, + when the gods, and the giants, and the dwarf-folk, had their dwelling on + the earth. But they talked most of Loki, the flame, the restless, the + evil-doer. And this, my children, is the story that was told of the Doom + of the Mischief-maker.[EN#30] + </p> + <p> + The Story. + </p> + <p> + You have heard of the feast that old AEgir once made for the Asa-folk in + his gold-lit dwelling in the deep sea; and how the feast was hindered, + through the loss of his great brewing-kettle, until Thor had obtained a + still larger vessel from Hymer the giant. It is very likely that the thief + who stole King AEgir’s kettle was none other than Loki the Mischief-maker; + but, if this was so, he was not long unpunished for his meanness. + </p> + <p> + There was great joy in the Ocean-king’s hall, when at last the banquet was + ready, and the foaming ale began to pass itself around to the guests. But + Thor, who had done so much to help matters along, could not stay to the + merry-making: for he had heard that the Storm-giants were marshalling + their forces for a raid upon some unguarded corner of the mid-world; and + so, grasping his hammer Mjolner, he bade his kind host good-by, and leaped + into his iron car. + </p> + <p> + “Business always before pleasure!” he cried, as he gave the word to his + swift, strong goats, and rattled away at a wonderful rate through the air. + </p> + <p> + In old AEgir’s hall glad music resounded on every side; and the gleeful + Waves danced merrily as the Asa-folk sat around the festal-board, and + partook of the Ocean-king’s good fare. AEgir’s two thralls, the faithful + Funfeng and the trusty Elder, waited upon the guests, and carefully + supplied their wants. Never in all the world had two more thoughtful + servants been seen; and every one spoke in praise of their quickness, and + their skill, and their ready obedience. + </p> + <p> + Then Loki, unable to keep his hands from mischief, waxed very angry, + because every one seemed happy and free from trouble, and no one noticed + or cared for him. So, while good Funfeng was serving him to meat, he + struck the faithful thrall with a carving-knife, and killed him. Then + arose a great uproar in the Ocean-king’s feast-hall. The Asa-folk rose up + from the table, and drove the Mischief-maker out from among them; and in + their wrath they chased him across the waters, and forced him to hide in + the thick greenwood. After this they went back to AEgir’s hall, and sat + down again to the feast. But they had scarcely begun to eat, when Loki + came quietly out of his hiding-place, and stole slyly around to AEgir’s + kitchen, where he found Elder, the other thrall, grieving sadly because of + his brother’s death. + </p> + <p> + “I hear a great chattering and clattering over there in the feast-hall,” + said Loki. “The greedy, silly Asa-folk seem to be very busy indeed, both + with their teeth and their tongues. Tell me, now, good Elder, what they + talk about while they sit over their meat and ale.” + </p> + <p> + “They talk of noble deeds,” answered Elder. “They speak of gallant heroes, + and brave men, and fair women, and strong hearts, and willing hands, and + gentle manners, and kind friends. And for all these they have words of + praise, and songs of beauty; but none of them speak well of Loki, the + thief and the vile traitor.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” said Loki wrathfully, twisting himself into a dozen different + shapes, “no one could ask so great a kindness from such folk. I must go + into the feast-hall, and take a look at this fine company, and listen to + their noisy merry-making. I have a fine scolding laid up for those good + fellows; and, unless they are careful with their tongues, they will find + many hard words mixed with their ale.” + </p> + <p> + Then he went boldly into the great hall, and stood up before the + wonder-stricken guests at the table. When the Asa-folk saw who it was that + had darkened the doorway, and was now in their midst, a painful silence + fell upon them, and all their merriment was at an end. And Loki stretched + himself up to his full height, and said to them,— + </p> + <p> + “Hungry and thirsty come I to AEgir’s gold lit hall. Long and rough was + the road I trod, and wearisome was the way. Will no one bid me welcome? + Will none give me a seat at the feast? Will none offer me a drink of the + precious mead? Why are you all so dumb? Why so sulky and stiff-necked, + when your best friend stands before you? Give me a seat among you,—yes, + one of the high-seats,—or else drive me from your hall! In either + case, the world will never forget me. I am Loki.” + </p> + <p> + Then one among the Asa-folk spoke up, and said, “Let him sit with us. He + is mad; and when he slew Funfeng, he was not in his right mind. He is not + answerable for his rash act.” + </p> + <p> + But Bragi the Wise, who sat on the innermost seat, arose, and said, “Nay, + we will not give him a seat among us. Nevermore shall he feast or sup with + us, or share our good-fellowship. Thieves and murderers we know, and will + shun.” + </p> + <p> + This speech enraged Loki all the more; and he spared not vile words, but + heaped abuse without stint upon all the folk before him. And by main force + he seized hold of the silent Vidar, who had come from the forest solitudes + to be present at the feast, and dragged him away from the table, and + seated himself in his place. Then, as he quaffed the foaming ale, he flung + out taunts and jeers and hard words to all who sat around, but chiefly to + Bragi the Wise. Then he turned to Sif, the beautiful wife of Thor, and + began to twit her about her golden hair. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, how handsome you were, when you looked at your bald head in the + mirror that day! Oh, what music you made when your hands touched your + smooth pate! And now whose hair do you wear?” + </p> + <p> + And the wretch laughed wickedly, as he saw the tears welling up in poor + Sif’s eyes. + </p> + <p> + Then suddenly a great tumult was heard outside. The mountains shook and + trembled; and the bottom of the sea seemed moved; and the waves, + affrighted and angry, rushed hither and thither in confusion. All the + guests looked up in eager expectation, and some of them fled in alarm from + the hall. Then the mighty Thor strode through the door, and up to the + table, swinging his hammer, and casting wrathful glances at the + Mischief-maker. Loki trembled, and dropped his goblet, and sank down upon + his knees before the terrible Asa. + </p> + <p> + “I yield me!” he cried. “Spare my life, I pray you, and I will be your + thrall forever!” + </p> + <p> + “I want no such thrall,” answered Thor. “And I spare your life on one + condition only,—that you go at once from hence, and nevermore + presume to come into the company of Asa-folk.” + </p> + <p> + “I promise all that you ask,” said Loki, trembling more than ever. “Let me + go.” + </p> + <p> + Thor stepped aside; and the frightened culprit fled from the hall, and was + soon out of sight. The feast was broken up. The folk bade AEgir a kind + farewell, and all embarked on Frey’s good ship Skidbladner; and fair winds + wafted them swiftly home to Asgard. + </p> + <p> + Loki fled to the dark mountain gorges of Mist Land, and sought for a while + to hide himself from the sight of both gods and men. In a deep ravine by + the side of a roaring torrent, he built himself a house of iron and stone, + and placed a door on each of its four sides, so that he could see whatever + passed around him. There, for many winters, he lived in lonely solitude, + planning with himself how he might baffle the gods, and regain his old + place in Asgard. And now and then he slipped slyly away from his + hiding-place, and wrought much mischief for a time among the abodes of + men. But when Thor heard of his evil-doings, and sought to catch him, and + punish him for his evil deeds, he was nowhere to be found. And at last the + Asa-folk determined, that, if he could ever be captured, the safety of the + world required that he should be bound hand and foot, and kept forever in + prison. + </p> + <p> + Loki often amused himself in his mountain home by taking upon him his + favorite form of a salmon, and lying listlessly, beneath the waters of the + great Fanander Cataract, which fell from the shelving rocks a thousand + feet above him. One day while thus lying, he bethought himself of former + days, when he walked the glad young earth in company with the All-Father. + And among other things he remembered how he had once borrowed the magic + net of Ran, the Ocean-queen, and had caught with it the dwarf Andvari, + disguised, as he himself now was, in the form of a slippery salmon. + </p> + <p> + “I will make me such a net!” he cried. “I will make it strong and good; + and I, too, will fish for men.” + </p> + <p> + So he took again his proper shape, and went back to his cheerless home in + the ravine. And he gathered flax and wool and long hemp, and spun yarn and + strong cords, and wove them into meshes, after the pattern of Queen Ran’s + magic net; for men had not, at that time, learned how to make or use nets + for fishing. And the first fisherman who caught fish in that way is said + to have taken Loki’s net as a model. + </p> + <p> + Odin sat, on the morrow, in his high hall of Hlidskialf, and looked out + over all the world, and saw, even to the uttermost corners, what men-folk + were everywhere doing. When his eye rested upon the dark line which marked + the mountain-land of the Mist Country, he started up in quick surprise, + and cried out, + </p> + <p> + “Who is that who sits by the Fanander Force, and ties strong cords + together?” + </p> + <p> + But none of those who stood around could tell, for their eyes were not + strong enough and clear enough to see so far. + </p> + <p> + “Bring Heimdal!” then cried Odin. + </p> + <p> + Now, Heimdal the White dwells among the blue mountains of sunny + Himminbjorg, where the rainbow, the shimmering Asa-bridge, spans the space + betwixt heaven and earth. He is the son of Odin, golden-toothed, + pure-faced, and clean-hearted; and he ever keeps watch and ward over the + mid-world and the homes of frail men-folk, lest the giants shall break in, + and destroy and slay. He rides upon a shining steed named Goldtop; and he + holds in his hand a horn called Gjallar-horn, with which, in the last + great twilight, he shall summon the world to battle with the Fenris-wolf + and the sons of Loki. This watchful guardian of the mid-world is as + wakeful as the birds. And his hearing is so keen, that no sound on earth + escapes him,—not even that of the rippling waves upon the seashore, + nor of the quiet sprouting of the grass in the meadows, nor even of the + growth of the soft wool on the backs of sheep. And his eyesight, too, is + wondrous clear and sharp; for he can see by night as well as by day, and + the smallest thing, although a hundred leagues away, cannot be hidden from + him. + </p> + <p> + To Heimdal, then, the heralds hastened, bearing the words which Odin had + spoken. And the watchful warder of the mid-world came at once to the call + of the All-Father. + </p> + <p> + “Turn your eyes to the sombre mountains that guard the shadowy Mist-land + from the sea,” said Odin, “Now look far down into the rocky gorge in which + the Fanander Cataract pours, and tell me what you see.” + </p> + <p> + Heimdal did as he was bidden. + </p> + <p> + “I see a shape,” said he, “sitting by the torrent’s side. It is Loki’s + shape, and he seems strangely busy with strong strings and cords.” + </p> + <p> + “Call all our folk together!” commanded Odin. “The wily Mischief-maker + plots our hurt. He must be driven from his hiding-place, and put where he + can do no further harm.” + </p> + <p> + Great stir was there then in Asgard. Every one hastened to answer Odin’s + call, and to join in the quest for the Mischief-maker. Thor came on foot, + with his hammer tightly grasped in his hands, and lightning flashing from + beneath his red brows. Tyr, the one-handed, came with his sword. Then + followed Bragi the Wise, with his harp and his sage counsels; then Hermod + the Nimble, with his quick wit and ready hands; and, lastly, a great + company of elves and wood-sprites and trolls. Then a whirlwind caught them + up in its swirling arms, and carried them through the air, over the + hill-tops and the country-side, and the meadows and the mountains, and set + them down in the gorge of the Fanander Force. + </p> + <p> + But Loki was not caught napping. His wakeful ears had heard the tumult in + the air, and he guessed who it was that was coming. He threw the net, + which he had just finished, into the fire, and jumped quickly into the + swift torrent, where, changing himself into a salmon, he lay hidden + beneath the foaming waters. + </p> + <p> + When the eager Asa-folk reached Loki’s dwelling, they found that he whom + they sought had fled; and although they searched high and low, among the + rocks and the caves and the snowy crags, they could see no signs of the + cunning fugitive. Then they went back to his house again to consult what + next to do. And, while standing by the hearth, Kwaser, a sharp-sighted + elf, whose eyes were quicker than the sunbeam, saw the white ashes of the + burned net lying undisturbed in the still hot embers, the woven meshes + unbroken and whole. + </p> + <p> + “See what the cunning fellow has been making!” cried the elf. “It must + have been a trap for catching fish.” + </p> + <p> + “Or rather for catching men,” said Bragi; “for it is strangely like the + Sea-queen’s net.” + </p> + <p> + “In that case,” said Hermod the Nimble, “he has made a trap for himself; + for, no doubt, he has changed himself, as is his wont, to a slippery + salmon, and lies at this moment hidden beneath the Fanander torrent. Here + are plenty of cords of flax and hemp and wool, with which he intended to + make other nets. Let us take them, and weave one like the pattern which + lies there in the embers; and then, if I mistake not, we shall catch the + too cunning fellow.” + </p> + <p> + All saw the wisdom of these words, and all set quickly to work. In a short + time they had made a net strong and large, and full of fine meshes, like + the model among the coals. Then they threw it into the roaring stream, + Thor holding to one end, and all the other folk pulling at the other. With + great toil, they dragged it forwards, against the current, even to the + foot of the waterfall. But the cunning Loki crept close down between two + sharp stones, and lay there quietly while the net passed harmlessly over + him. + </p> + <p> + “Let us try again!” cried Thor. “I am sure that something besides dead + rocks lies at the bottom of the stream.” + </p> + <p> + So they hung heavy weights to the net, and began to drag it a second time, + this time going down stream. Loki looked out from his hiding-place, and + saw that he would not be able to escape again by lying between the rocks, + and that his only chance for safety was either to leap over the net, and + hide himself behind the rushing cataract itself, or to swim with the + current out to the sea. But the way to the sea was long, and there were + many shallow places; and Loki had doubts as to how old AEgir would receive + him in his kingdom. He feared greatly to undertake so dangerous and + uncertain a course. So, turning upon his foes, and calling up all his + strength, he made a tremendous leap high into the air, and clean over the + net. But Thor was too quick for him. As he fell towards the water, the + Thunderer quickly threw out his hand, and caught the slippery salmon, + holding him firmly by the tail. + </p> + <p> + When Loki found that he was surely caught, and could not by any means + escape, he took again his proper shape. Fiercely did he struggle with + mighty Thor, and bitter were the curses which he poured down upon his + enemies. But he could not get free. Into the deep, dark cavern, beneath + the smoking mountain, where daylight never comes, nor the warmth of the + sun, nor the sound of Nature’s music, the fallen Mischief-maker was + carried. And they bound him firmly to the sharp rocks, with his face + turned upwards toward the dripping roof; for they said that nevermore, + until the last dread twilight, should he be free to vex the world with his + wickedness. And Skade, the giant wife of Niord and the daughter of grim + Old Winter, took a hideous poison snake, and hung it up above Loki, so + that its venom would drop into his upturned face. But Sigyn, the loving + wife of the suffering wretch, left her home in the pleasant halls of + Asgard, and came to his horrible prison-house to soothe and comfort him; + and evermore she holds a basin above his head, and catches in it the + poisonous drops as they fall. When the basin is filled, and she turns to + empty it in the tar-black river that flows through that home of horrors, + the terrible venom falls upon his unprotected face, and Loki writhes and + shrieks in fearful agony, until the earth around him shakes and trembles, + and the mountains spit forth fire, and fumes of sulphur-smoke. + </p> + <p> + And there the Mischief-maker, the spirit of evil, shall lie in torment + until the last great day and the dread twilight of all mid-world things. + How strange and how sad, that, while Loki lies thus bound and harmless, + evil still walks the earth, and that so much mischief and such dire + disasters were prepared for Siegfried and the folk of Nibelungen Land! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Adventure XVIII. How the Mischief Began to Brew. + </h2> + <p> + One day a party of strangers came to Siegfried’s Nibelungen dwelling, and + asked to speak with the king. + </p> + <p> + “Who are you? and what is your errand?” asked the porter at the gate. + </p> + <p> + “Our errand is to the king, and he will know who we are when he sees us,” + was the answer. + </p> + <p> + When Siegfried was told of the strange men who waited below, and of the + strange way in which they had answered the porter’s question, he asked,— + </p> + <p> + “From what country seem they to have come? For surely their dress and + manners will betray something of that matter to you. Are they South-land + folk, or East-land folk? Are they from the mountains, or from the sea?” + </p> + <p> + “They belong to none of the neighbor-lands,” answered the earl who had + brought the word to the king. “No such men live upon our borders. They + seem to have come from a far-off land; for they are travel-worn, and their + sea-stained clothing betokens a people from the south. They are tall and + dark, and their hair is black, and they look much like those Rhineland + warriors who came hither with our lady the queen. And they carry a + blood-red banner with a golden dragon painted upon it.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, they must be from Burgundy!” cried the queen, who had overheard these + words. And she went at once to the window to see the strangers, who were + waiting in the courtyard below. + </p> + <p> + There, indeed, she saw thirty tall Burgundians, clad in the gay costume of + Rhineland, now faded and worn with long travel. But all save one were + young, and strangers to Kriemhild. That one was their leader,—an old + man with a kind face, and a right noble bearing. + </p> + <p> + “See!” said the queen to Siegfried: “there is our brave captain Gere, who, + ever since my childhood, has been the trustiest man in my brother + Gunther’s household. Those men are from the fatherland, and they bring + tidings from the dear old Burgundian home.” + </p> + <p> + “Welcome are they to our Nibelungen Land!” cried the delighted king. + </p> + <p> + And he ordered that the strangers should be brought into the castle, and + that the most sumptuous rooms should be allotted to them, and a plenteous + meal prepared, and every thing done to entertain them in a style befitting + messengers from Kriemhild’s fatherland. Then Gere, the trusty captain, was + led into the presence of the king and queen. Right gladly did they welcome + him, and many were the questions they asked about their kin-folk, and the + old Rhineland home. + </p> + <p> + “Tell us, good Gere,” said Siegfried, “what is thy message from our + friends; for we are anxious to know whether they are well and happy, or + whether some ill luck has overtaken them. If any harm threatens them, they + have but to speak, and I, with my sword and my treasures, will hasten to + their help.” + </p> + <p> + “They are all well,” answered the captain. “No ill has befallen them, and + no harm threatens them. Peace rules all the land; and fair weather and + sunshine have filled the people’s barns, and made their hearts glad. And + thus it has been ever since Gunther brought to his dwelling the + warrior-maiden Brunhild to be his queen. And this is my errand and the + message that I bring: King Gunther, blessed with happiness, intends to + hold a grand high-tide of joy and thanksgiving at the time of the + harvest-moon. And nothing is wanting to complete the gladness of that + time, but the sight of you and the peerless Kriemhild in your old places + at the feast. And it is to invite you to this festival of rejoicing that I + have come, at the king’s command, to Nibelungen Land.” + </p> + <p> + Siegfried sat a moment in silence, and then thoughtfully answered,— + </p> + <p> + “It is a long, long journey from this land to Burgundy, and many dangers + beset the road; and my own people would sadly miss me while away, and I + know not what mishaps might befall.” + </p> + <p> + Then Gere spoke of the queen-mother Ute, now grown old and feeble, who + wished once more, ere death called her hence, to see her daughter + Kriemhild. And he told how all the people, both high and low, yearned for + another sight of the radiant hero who in former days had blessed their + land with his presence and his noble deeds. And his persuasive words had + much weight with Siegfried, who said at length,— + </p> + <p> + “Tarry a few days yet for my answer. I will talk with my friends and the + Nibelungen earls; and what they think best, that will I do.” + </p> + <p> + For nine days, then, waited Gere at Siegfried’s hall; but still the king + put off his answer. + </p> + <p> + “Wait until to-morrow,” he said each day, for his heart whispered dim + forebodings. + </p> + <p> + At length, as midsummer was fast drawing near, the impatient captain could + stay no longer; and he bade his followers make ready to go back forthwith + to Burgundy. When the queen saw that they were ready to take their leave, + and that Gere could wait no longer upon the king’s pleasure, she urged her + husband to say to Gunther that they would come to his harvest festival. + And the lords and noble earl-folk added their persuasions to hers. + </p> + <p> + “Send word back to the Burgundian king,” said they, “that you will go, as + he desires. We will see to it that no harm comes to your kingdom while you + are away.” + </p> + <p> + So Siegfried called Gere and his comrades into the ball, and loaded them + with costly gifts such as they had never before seen, and bade them say to + their master that he gladly accepted the kind invitation he had sent, and + that, ere the harvest high-tide began, he and Kriemhild would be with him + in Burgundy. + </p> + <p> + And the messengers went back with all speed, and told what wondrous things + they had seen in Nibelungen Land, and in what great splendor Siegfried + lived. And, when they showed the rare presents which had been given them, + all joined in praising the goodness and greatness of the hero-king. But + old chief Hagen frowned darkly as he said,— + </p> + <p> + “It is little wonder that he can do such things, for the Shining Hoard of + Andvari is his. If we had such a treasure, we, too, might live in more + than kingly grandeur.” + </p> + <p> + Early in the month of roses, Siegfried and his peerless queen, with a + retinue of more than a thousand warriors and many fair ladies, started on + their long and toilsome journey to the South-land. And the folk who went + with them to the city gates bade them mane tearful farewells, and returned + to their homes, feeling that the sunshine had gone forever from the + Nibelungen Land. But the sky was blue and cloudless, and the breezes warm + and mild, and glad was the song of the reapers as adown the seaward + highway the kingly company rode. Two days they rode through Mist Land, to + the shore of the peaceful sea. Ten days they sailed on the waters. And the + winds were soft and gentle; and the waves slept in the sunlight, or + merrily danced in their wake. But each day, far behind them, there + followed a storm-cloud, dark as night, and the pleasant shores of Mist + Land were hidden forever behind it. Five days they rode through the + Lowlands, and glad were the Lowland folk with sight of their hero-king. + Two days through the silent greenwood, and one o’er the barren moor, and + three amid vineyards and fields, and between orchards fruitful and fair, + they rode. And on the four and twentieth day they came in sight of the + quiet town, and the tall gray towers, where dwelt the Burgundian kings. + And a great company on horseback, with flashing shields and fine-wrought + garments and nodding plumes, came out to meet them. It was King Gernot and + a thousand of the best men and fairest women in Burgundy; and they + welcomed Siegfried and Kriemhild and their Nibelungen-folk to the fair + land of the Rhine. And then they turned, and rode back with them to the + castle. And, as the company passed through the pleasant streets of the + town, the people stood by the wayside, anxious to catch sight of the + radiant Siegfried on his sunbright steed, and of the peerless Kriemhild, + riding on a palfrey by his side. And young girls strewed roses in their + pathway, and hung garlands upon their horses; and every one shouted, “Hail + to the conquering hero! Hail to the matchless queen!” + </p> + <p> + When they reached the castle, King Gunther and Giselher met them, and + ushered them into the old familiar halls, where a right hearty welcome + greeted them from all the kingly household. And none seemed more glad in + this happy hour than Brunhild the warrior-queen, now more gloriously + beautiful than even in the days of yore. + </p> + <p> + When the harvest-moon began to shine full and bright, lighting up the + whole world from evening till morn with its soft radiance, the gay + festival so long looked forward to began. And care and anxiety, and the + fatigues of the long journey, were forgotten amid the endless round of + pleasure which for twelve days enlivened the whole of Burgundy. And the + chiefest honors were everywhere paid to Siegfried the hero-king, and to + Kriemhild the peerless queen of beauty. + </p> + <p> + Then Queen Brunhild called to mind, how, on a time, it had been told her + in Isenland that Siegfried was but the liegeman and vassal of King + Gunther; and she wondered why such honor should be paid to an underling, + and why the king himself should treat him with so much respect. And as she + thought of this, and of the high praises with which every one spoke of + Kriemhild, her mind became filled with jealous broodings. And soon her + bitter jealousy was turned to deadly hate; for she remembered then, how, + in the days long past, a noble youth, more beautiful and more glorious + than the world would ever see again, had awakened her from the deep sleep + that Odin’s thorn had given; and she remembered how Gunther had won her by + deeds of strength and skill which he never afterwards could even imitate; + and she thought how grand indeed was Kriemhild’s husband compared with her + own weak and wavering and commonplace lord. And her soul was filled with + sorrow and bitterness and deepest misery, when, putting these thoughts + together, she believed that she had in some way been duped and cheated + into becoming Gunther’s wife. + </p> + <p> + When at last the gay feast was ended, and most of the guests had gone to + their homes, she sought her husband, and thus broached the matter to him. + </p> + <p> + “Often have I asked you,” said she, “why your sister Kriemhild was given + in marriage to a vassal, and as often have you put me off with vague + excuses. Often, too, have I wondered why your vassal, Siegfried, has never + paid you tribute for the lands which he holds from you, and why he has + never come to render you homage. Now he is here in your castle; but he + sets himself up, not as your vassal, but as your peer. I pray you, tell me + what such strange things mean. Was an underling and a vassal ever known + before to put himself upon a level with his liege lord?” + </p> + <p> + Gunther was greatly troubled, and he knew not what to say; for he feared + to tell the queen how they had deceived her when he had won the games at + Isenstein, and how the truth had ever since been kept hidden from her. + </p> + <p> + “Ask me not to explain this matter further than I have already done,” he + answered. “It is enough that Siegfried is the greatest of all my vassals, + and that his lands are broader even than my own. He has helped me out of + many straits, and has added much to the greatness and strength of my + kingdom: for this reason he has never been asked to pay us tribute, and + for this reason we grant him highest honors.” + </p> + <p> + But this answer failed to satisfy the queen. + </p> + <p> + “Is it not the first duty of a vassal,” she asked, “to help his liege lord + in every undertaking? If so, Siegfried has but done his duty, and you owe + him nothing. But you have not told me all. You have deceived me, and you + would fain deceive me again. You have a secret, and I will find it out.” + </p> + <p> + The king made no answer, but walked silently and thoughtfully away. + </p> + <p> + It happened one evening, not long thereafter, that the two queens sat + together at an upper window, and looked down upon a company of men in the + courtyard below. Among them were the noblest earl-folk of Burgundy, and + Gunther the king, and Siegfried. But Siegfried towered above all the rest; + and he moved like a god among men. + </p> + <p> + “See my noble Siegfried!” cried Kriemhild in her pride. “How grandly he + stands there! What a type of manly beauty and strength! No one cares to + look at other men when he is near.” + </p> + <p> + “He maybe handsome,” answered Brunhild sadly; “and, for aught I know, he + may be noble. But what is all that by the side of kingly power? Were he + but the peer of your brother Gunther, then you might well boast.” + </p> + <p> + “He is the peer of Gunther,” returned Kriemhild. “And not only his peer, + but more; for he stands as high above him in kingly power and worth as in + bodily stature.” + </p> + <p> + “How can that be?” asked Brunhild, growing angry. “For, when Gunther so + gallantly won me at Isenstein, he told me that Siegfried was his vassal; + and often since that time I have heard the same. And even your husband + told me that Gunther was his liege lord.” + </p> + <p> + Queen Kriemhild laughed at these words, and answered, “I tell you again + that Siegfried is a king far nobler and richer and higher than any other + king on earth. Think you that my brothers would have given me to a mere + vassal to be his wife?” + </p> + <p> + Then Brunhild, full of wrath, replied, “Your husband is Gunther’s vassal + and my own, and he shall do homage to us as the humblest and meanest of + our underlings. He shall not go from this place until he has paid all the + tribute that has so long been due from him. Then we shall see who is the + vassal, and who is the lord.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay,” answered Kriemhild. “It shall not be. No tribute was ever due; and, + if homage is to be paid, it is rather Gunther who must pay it.” + </p> + <p> + “It shall be settled once for all!” cried Brunhild, now boiling over with + rage. “I will know the truth. If Siegfried is not our vassal, then I have + been duped; and I will have revenge.” + </p> + <p> + “It is well,” was the mild answer. “Let it be settled, once for all; and + then, mayhap, we shall know who it was who really won the games at + Isenstein, and you for Gunther’s wife.” + </p> + <p> + And the two queens parted in wrath.[EN#31] + </p> + <p> + Kriemhild’s anger was as fleeting as an April cloud, which does but + threaten, and then passes away in tears and sunshine. But Brunhild’s was + like the dread winter storm that sweeps down from Niflheim, and brings + ruin and death in its wake. She felt that she had been cruelly wronged in + some way, and that her life had been wrecked, and she rested not until she + had learned the truth. + </p> + <p> + It was Hagen who at last told her the story of the cruel deceit that had + made her Gunther’s wife; and then her wrath and her shame knew no bounds. + </p> + <p> + “Woe betide the day!” she cried,—“woe betide the day that brought me + to Rhineland, and made me the wife of a weakling and coward, and the jest + of him who might have done nobler things!” + </p> + <p> + Hagen smiled. He had long waited for this day. + </p> + <p> + “It was Siegfried, and Siegfried alone, who plotted to deceive you,” he + said. “Had it not been for him, you might still have been the happy + maiden-queen of Isenland. And now he laughs at you, and urges his queen, + Kriemhild, to scorn you as she would an underling.” + </p> + <p> + “I know it, I know it,” returned the queen in distress. “And yet how + grandly noble is the man! How he rushed through the flames to awaken me, + when no one else could save! How brave, how handsome,—and yet he has + been my bane. I can have no peace while he lives.” + </p> + <p> + Hagen smiled again, and a strange light gleamed from his dark eye. Then he + said, “Truly handsome and brave is he, but a viler traitor was never born. + He even now plots to seize this kingdom, and to add it to his domain. Why + else should he bring so great a retinue of Nibelungen warriors to + Burgundy? I will see King Gunther at once, and we will put an end to his + wicked projects.” + </p> + <p> + “Do even so, good Hagen,” said Brunhild. “Take him from my path, and bring + low the haughty pride of his wife, and I shall be content.” + </p> + <p> + “That I will do!” cried Hagen. “That I will do! Gunther is and shall be + the king without a peer; and no one shall dare dispute the worth and the + queenly beauty of his wife.” + </p> + <p> + Then the wily chief sought Gunther, and with cunning words poisoned his + weak mind. The feeble old king was easily made to believe that Siegfried + was plotting against his life, and seeking to wrest the kingdom from him. + And he forgot the many kind favors he had received at the hero’s hand. He + no longer remembered how Siegfried had slain the terror of the Glittering + Heath, and freed the Burgundians from many a fear; and how he had routed + the warlike hosts of the North-land, and made prisoners of their kings; + and how he had brought his voyage to Isenland to a happy and successful + ending. He forgot, also, that Siegfried was his sister’s husband. He had + ears and mind only for Hagen’s wily words. + </p> + <p> + “While this man lives,” said the dark-browed chief, “none of us are safe. + See how the people follow him! Hear how they shout at his coming! They + look upon him as a god, and upon Gunther as a nobody. If we are wise, we + shall rid ourselves of so dangerous a man.” + </p> + <p> + “It is but a week until he takes his leave of us, and goes back to his own + home in Nibelungen Land. Watch him carefully until that time, but do him + no harm. When he is once gone, he shall never come back again,” said the + king. But he spoke thus, not because of any kind feelings towards + Siegfried, but rather because he feared the Nibelungen hero. + </p> + <p> + “He has no thought of going at that time,” answered Hagen. “He speaks of + it, only to hide his wicked and traitorous plots. Instead of going home, + his plans will then be ready for action, and it will be too late for us to + save ourselves. Still, if you will not believe me, take your own course. + You have been warned.” + </p> + <p> + The cunning chief arose to leave the room; but Gunther, now thoroughly + frightened, stopped him. + </p> + <p> + “Hagen,” he said, “you have always been my friend, and the words which you + say are wise. Save us and our kingdom now, in whatsoever way you may deem + best. I know not what to do.” + </p> + <p> + Then the weak king and the warrior-chief talked long together in low, + hoarse whispers. And, when they parted, shame and guilt were stamped in + plain lines on Gunther’s face, from which they were nevermore erased; and + he dared not lift his gaze from the floor, fearing that his eyes would + betray him, if seen by any more pure-hearted than he. But a smile of + triumph played under the lurking gleams of Hagen’s eye; and he walked + erect and bold, as if he had done a praiseworthy deed. + </p> + <p> + That night a storm came sweeping down from the North, and the cold rain + fell in torrents; and great hailstones pattered on the roofs and towers of + the castle, and cruelly pelted the cattle in the fields, and the birds in + the friendly shelter of the trees. And old Thor fought bravely with the + Storm-giants; and all night long the rattle of his chariot-wheels, and the + heavy strokes of his dread hammer, were heard resounding through the + heavens. In his lonely chamber Hagen sat and rubbed his hands together, + and grimly smiled. + </p> + <p> + “The time so long waited for has come at last,” he said. + </p> + <p> + But the guilty king, unable to sleep, walked restlessly to and fro, and + trembled with fear at every sound of the storm-gust without. + </p> + <p> + When day dawned at last, a sad scene met the eyes of all beholders. The + earth was covered with the broken branches of leafy trees; the flowers and + shrubs were beaten pitilessly to the ground; and here and there lay the + dead bodies of little feathered songsters, who, the day before, had made + the woods glad with their music. + </p> + <p> + The sun had scarcely risen above this sorrowful scene, gilding the gray + towers and turrets and the drooping trees with the promise of better + things, than a strange confusion was noticed outside of the castle-gates. + Thirty and two horsemen wearing the livery of the North-lands stood there, + and asked to be led to the Burgundian kings. + </p> + <p> + “Who are you? and what is your errand?” asked the gate-keeper. + </p> + <p> + “We come as heralds and messengers from Leudiger and Leudigast, the mighty + kings of the North,” they answered. “But our errand we can tell to no man + save to Gunther your king, or to his brothers Gernot and Giselher.” + </p> + <p> + Then they were led by the king’s command into the council-hall, where sat + Gunther, Gernot, and the noble Giselher; and behind them stood their uncle + and chief, brave old Hagen. + </p> + <p> + “What message bring you from our old friends Leudiger and Leudigast?” + asked Gunther of the strangers. + </p> + <p> + “Call them not your friends,” answered the chief of the company. “We bring + you this message from our liege lords, whom you may well count as enemies. + Many years ago they were sorely beaten in battle, and suffered much hurt + at your hands. And they vowed then to avenge the injury, and to wipe out + the disgrace you had caused them, just so soon as they were strong enough + to do so. Now they are ready, with fifty thousand men, to march into your + country. And they swear to lay waste your lands, and to burn your towns + and villages and all your castles, unless you at once acknowledge + yourselves their vassals, and agree to pay them tribute. This is the + kings’ message. And we were further ordered not to wait for an answer, but + to carry back to them without delay your reply, whether you will agree to + their terms or no.” + </p> + <p> + King Gunther, as was his wont, turned to Hagen for advice. + </p> + <p> + “Send for Siegfried,” whispered the chief. + </p> + <p> + It was done. And soon the hero came into the hall. His kingly grace and + warlike bearing were such that Gunther dared not raise his guilty eyes + from the ground; and Hagen’s furtive glances were, for the moment, + freighted with fear and shame. The message of the heralds was repeated to + Siegfried; and Gunther said,— + </p> + <p> + “Most noble friend, you hear what word these traitorous kings dare send + us. Now, we remember, that, long years ago, you led us against them, and + gave us a glorious victory. We remember, too, how, by your counsel, their + lives were spared, and they were sent home with costly gifts. It is thus + they repay our kindness. What answer shall we send them?” + </p> + <p> + “Say that we will fight,” answered Siegfried at once. “I will lead my + brave Nibelungens against them, and they shall learn how serious a thing + it is to break an oath, or to return treason for kindness.” + </p> + <p> + The news soon spread through all the town and through the country-side, + that Leudiger and Leudigast, with fifty thousand men, were marching into + Burgundy, and destroying every thing in their way. And great flight and + confusion prevailed. Men and women hurried hither and thither in dismay. + Soldiers busily sharpened their weapons, and burnished their armor, ready + for the fray. Little children were seen cowering at every sound, and + anxious faces were found everywhere. + </p> + <p> + When Queen Kriemhild saw the busy tumult, and heard the shouts and cries + in the street and the courtyard, and learned the cause of it all, she was + greatly troubled, and went at once to seek Siegfried. When she found him, + she drew him aside, and besought him not to take part in the war which + threatened, but to hasten with all speed back to their own loved + Nibelungen Land. + </p> + <p> + “And why would my noble queen wish me thus to play the part of a coward, + and to leave my friends when they most need my help?” asked Siegfried in + surprise. + </p> + <p> + “I would not have you play the coward,” answered Kriemhild, and hot tears + stood in her eyes. “But some unseen danger overhangs. There are other + traitors than Leudiger and Leudigast, and men to be more feared than they. + Last night I dreamed a fearful dream, and it follows me still. I dreamed + that you hunted in the forest, and that two wild boars attacked you. The + grass and the flowers were stained with your gore, and the cruel tusks of + the beasts tore you in pieces, and no one came to your help. And I cried + out in my distress, and awoke; and the storm-clouds roared and threatened, + and the hail pattered on the roof, and the wind and rain beat against the + windowpanes. Then I slept again, and another dream, as fearful as the + first, came to me. I dreamed that you rode in the forest, and that music + sprang up in your footsteps, and all things living called you blessed, but + that suddenly two mountains rose up from the ground, and their high + granite crags toppled over, and fell upon you, and buried you from my + sight forever. Then I awoke again, and my heart has ever since been heavy + with fearful forebodings. I know that some dread evil threatens us; yet, + what it is, I cannot tell. But go not out against the North-kings. Our + Nibelungen-folk wait too long for your coming.” + </p> + <p> + Siegfried gayly laughed at his queen’s fears, and said, “The woof of every + man’s fate has been woven by the Norns, and neither he nor his foes can + change it. When his hour comes, then he must go to meet his destiny.” + </p> + <p> + Then he led her gently back to her room in the castle, and bade her a + loving farewell, saying, “When the foes of our Burgundian hosts are put to + flight, and there is no longer need for us here, then will we hasten back + to Nibelungen Land. Have patience and hope for a few days only, and all + will yet be well. Forget your foolish dreams, and think only of my glad + return.” + </p> + <p> + It was arranged, that, in the march against the North-kings, Siegfried + with his Nibelungens should take the lead; while Hagen, with a picked + company of fighting-men, should bring up the rear. Every one was eager to + join in the undertaking; and no one, save King Gunther and his cunning + counsellor, and Ortwin and Dankwart, knew that the pretended heralds from + the North-kings were not heralds at all, but merely the false tools of + wicked Hagen. For the whole was but a well-planned plot, as we shall see, + to entrap unwary, trusting Siegfried. + </p> + <p> + Soon all things were in readiness for the march; but, as the day was now + well spent, it was agreed, that, at early dawn of the morrow, the little + army should set out. And every one went home to put his affairs in order, + and to rest for the night. + </p> + <p> + Late that evening old Hagen went to bid Siegfried’s queen good-by. + Kriemhild had tried hard to drown her gloomy fears, and to forget her sad, + foreboding dreams; but it was all in vain, for deep anxiety still rested + heavily upon her mind. Yet she welcomed her dark-browed uncle with the + kindest words. + </p> + <p> + “How glad I am,” she said, “that my husband is here to help my kinsfolk in + this their time of need! I know right well, that, with him to lead, you + shall win. But, dear uncle, remember, when you are in the battle, that we + have always loved you, and that Siegfried has done many kindnesses to the + Burgundians; and, if any danger threaten him, turn it aside, I pray you, + for Kriemhild’s sake. I know that I merit Queen Brunhild’s anger, because + of the sharp words I lately spoke to her; but let not my husband suffer + blame for that which is my fault alone.” + </p> + <p> + “Kriemhild,” answered Hagen, “no one shall suffer blame,—neither + Siegfried nor yourself. We are all forgetful, and sometimes speak hasty + words; but that which we say in angry thoughtlessness should not be + cherished up against us. There is no one who thinks more highly of + Siegfried than I, and there is nothing I would not do to serve him.” + </p> + <p> + “I should not fear for him,” said she, “if he were not so bold and + reckless. When he is in the battle, he never thinks of his own safety. And + I tremble lest at some time he may dare too much, and meet his death. If + you knew every thing, as I do, you would fear for him too.” + </p> + <p> + “What is it?” asked Hagen, trying to hide his eagerness,—“what is it + that gives you cause for fear? Tell me all about it, and then I will know + the better how to shield him from danger. I will lay down my life for his + sake.” + </p> + <p> + Then Kriemhild, trusting in her uncle’s word, and forgetful of every + caution, told him the secret of the dragon’s blood, and of Siegfried’s + strange bath, and of the mischief-working lime-leaf. + </p> + <p> + “And now,” she added, “since I know that there is one spot which a deadly + weapon might reach, I am in constant fear that the spear of an enemy may, + perchance, strike him there. Is there not some way of shielding that + spot?” + </p> + <p> + “There is,” answered Hagen. “Make some mark, or put some sign, upon his + coat, that I may know where that spot is. And, when the battle rages, I + will ride close behind him, and ward off every threatened stroke.” + </p> + <p> + And Kriemhild joyfully promised that she would at once embroider a silken + lime-leaf on the hero’s coat, just over the fatal spot. And Hagen, well + pleased, bade her farewell, and went away. + </p> + <p> + Without delay the chief sought the weak-minded Gunther, and to him he + related all that the trustful Kriemhild had told him. And, until the + midnight hour, the two plotters sat in the king’s bed-chamber, and laid + their cunning plans. Both thought it best, now they had learned the fatal + secret, to give up the sham march against the North-kings, and to seek by + other and easier means to lure Siegfried to his death. + </p> + <p> + “The chiefs will be much displeased,” said Gunther. “For all will come, + ready to march at the rising of the sun. What shall we do to please them, + and make them more ready to change their plans?” + </p> + <p> + Hagen thought a moment, and then the grim smile that was wont to break the + dark lines of his face when he was pleased spread over his features. + </p> + <p> + “We will have a grand hunt in the Odenwald to-morrow,” he hoarsely + whispered. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Adventure XIX. How They Hunted in the Odenwald. + </h2> + <p> + Next morning, at earliest daybreak, while yet the stars were bright, and + the trees hung heavy with dew-drops, and the clouds were light and high, + King Siegfried stood with his warriors before the castle-gate. They waited + but for the sunrise, and a word from Gunther the king, to ride forth over + dale and woodland, and through forest and brake and field, to meet, as + they believed, the hosts of the North-land kings. And Siegfried moved + among them, calm-faced and bright as a war-god, upon the radiant Greyfell. + And men said, long years afterward, that never had the shining hero seemed + so glorious to their sight. Within the spacious courtyard a thousand + Burgundian braves stood waiting, too, for the signal, and the king’s word + of command. And at their head stood Hagen, dark as a cloud in summer, + guilefully hiding his vile plots, and giving out orders for the marching. + There, too, were honest Gernot, fearless and upright, and Giselher, true + as gold; and neither of them dreamed of evil, or of the dark deed that day + was doomed to see. Close by the gate was Ortwin, bearing aloft the + blood-red dragon-banner, which the Burgundians were wont to carry in honor + of Siegfried’s famous fight with Fafnir. And there was Dankwart, also, + ever ready to boast when no danger threatened, and ever willing to do + chief Hagen’s bidding. And next came Volker the Fiddler good, with the + famed sword Fiddle-bow by him, on which, it is said, he could make the + sweetest music while fighting his foes in battle. + </p> + <p> + At length the sun began to peep over the eastern hills, and his beams fell + upon the castle-walls, and shot away through the trees, and over the + meadows, and made the dewdrops glisten like myriads of diamonds among the + dripping leaves and blossoms. And a glad shout went up from the throats of + the waiting heroes; for they thought that the looked-for moment had come, + and the march would soon begin. And the shout was echoed from walls to + turrets, and from turrets to trees, and from trees to hills, and from the + hills to the vaulted sky above. And nothing was wanting now but King + Gunther’s word of command. + </p> + <p> + Suddenly, far down the street, the sound of a bugle was heard, and then of + the swift clattering of horses’ hoofs coming up the hill towards the + castle. + </p> + <p> + “Who are they who come thus to join us at the last moment?” asked Hagen of + the watchman above the gate. + </p> + <p> + “They are strangers,” answered the watchman; “and they carry a + peace-flag.” + </p> + <p> + In a few moments the strange horsemen dashed up, and halted some distance + from the castle-gate, where Siegfried and his heroes stood. + </p> + <p> + “Who are you? and what is your errand?” cried Hagen, in the king’s name. + </p> + <p> + They answered that they were heralds from the North-land kings, sent + quickly to correct the message of the day before; for their liege lords, + Leudiger and Leudigast, they said, had given up warring against Burgundy, + and had gone back to their homes. And they had sent humbly to ask the + Rhineland kings to forget the rash threats which they had made, and to + allow them to swear fealty to Gunther, and henceforth to be his humble + vassals, if only they might be forgiven. + </p> + <p> + “Right cheerfully do we forgive them!” cried Gunther, not waiting to + consult with his wise men. “And our forgiveness shall be so full, that we + shall ask neither fealty nor tribute from them.” + </p> + <p> + Then he turned to Siegfried, and said, “You hear, friend Siegfried, how + this troublesome matter has been happily ended. Accept our thanks, we pray + you, for your proffered help; for, without it, it might have gone but + roughly with us in a second war with the Northland kings. But now you are + free to do what pleases you. If, as you said yesterday, you would fain + return to Nibelungen Land, you may send your warriors on the way to-day, + for they are already equipped for the journey. But abide you with us + another day, and to-morrow we will bid you God-speed, and you may easily + overtake your Nibelungen friends ere they have reached our own + boundaries.” + </p> + <p> + Siegfried was not well pleased to give up an undertaking scarce begun, and + still less could he understand why the king should be so ready to forgive + the affront which the North-land kings had offered him. And he was not + slow in reading the look of shame and guilt that lurked in Gunther’s face, + or the smile of jealous hate that Hagen could no longer hide. Yet no word + of displeasure spoke he, nor seemed he to understand that any mischief was + brewing; for he feared neither force nor guile. So he bade his Nibelungens + to begin their homeward march, saying that he and Kriemhild, and the + ladies of her train, would follow swiftly on the morrow. + </p> + <p> + “Since it is your last day with us,” said Gunther, grown cunning through + Hagen’s teaching, “what say you, dear Siegfried, to a hunt in Odin’s + Wood?” + </p> + <p> + “Right glad will I be to join you in such sport,” answered Siegfried. “I + will change my war-coat for a hunting-suit, and be ready within an hour.” + </p> + <p> + Then Siegfried went to his apartments, and doffed his steel-clad armor, + and searched in vain through his wardrobe for his favorite hunting-suit. + But it was nowhere to be found; and he was fain to put on the rich + embroidered coat which he sometimes wore in battle, instead of a + coat-of-mail. And he did not see the white lime-leaf that Kriemhild with + anxious care had worked in silk upon it. Then he sought the queen, and + told her of the unlooked-for change of plans, and how, on the morrow, they + would ride towards Nibelungen Land; but to-day he said he had promised + Gunther to hunt with him in the Odenwald. + </p> + <p> + But Kriemhild, to his great surprise, begged him not to leave her, even to + hunt in the Odenwald. For she had begun to fear that she had made a great + mistake in telling Hagen the story of the lime-leaf; and yet she could not + explain to Siegfried the true cause of her uneasiness. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, do not join in the hunt!” she cried. “Something tells me that danger + lurks hidden in the wood. Stay in the castle with me, and help me put + things in readiness for our journey homewards to-morrow. Last night I had + another dream. I thought that Odin’s birds, Hugin and Munin, sat on a tree + before me. And Hugin flapped his wings, and said, ‘What more vile than a + false friend? What more to be feared than a secret foe? Harder than stone + is his unfeeling heart; sharper than the adder’s poison-fangs are his + words; a snake in the grass is he!’ Then Munin flapped his wings too, but + said nothing. And I awoke, and thought at once of the sunbright Balder, + slain through Loki’s vile deceit. And, as I thought upon his sad death, a + withered leaf came fluttering through the casement, and fell upon my + couch. Sad signs and tokens are these, my husband; and much grief, I fear, + they foretell.” + </p> + <p> + But Siegfried was deaf to her words of warning, and he laughed at the + foolish dream. Then he bade her farewell till even-tide, and hastened to + join the party of huntsmen who waited for him impatiently at the gate. + </p> + <p> + When the party reached the Odenwald, they separated; each man taking his + own course, and following his own game. Siegfried, with but one trusty + huntsman and his own fleet-footed hound, sought at once the wildest and + thickest part of the wood. And great was the slaughter he made among the + fierce beasts of the forest; for nothing that was worthy of notice could + hide from his sight, or escape him. From his lair in a thorny thicket, a + huge wild boar sprang up; and with glaring red eyes, and mouth foaming, + and tusks gnashing with rage, he charged fiercely upon the hero. But, with + one skilful stroke from his great spear, Siegfried laid the beast dead on + the heather. Next he met a tawny lion, couched ready to spring upon him; + but, drawing quickly his heavy bow, he sent a quivering arrow through the + animal’s heart. Then, one after another, he slew a buffalo, four bisons, a + mighty elk with branching horns, and many deers and stags and savage + beasts. + </p> + <p> + At one time the hound drove from its hiding-place another wild boar, much + greater than the first, and far more fierce. Quickly Siegfried dismounted + from his horse, and met the grizzly creature as it rushed with raving fury + towards him. The sword of the hero cleft the beast in twain, and its + bloody parts lay lifeless on the ground. Then Siegfried’s huntsman, in gay + mood, said, “My lord, would it not be better to rest a while! If you keep + on slaughtering at this rate, there will soon be no game left in + Odenwald.” + </p> + <p> + Siegfried laughed heartily at the merry words, and at once called in his + hound, saying, “You are right! We will hunt no more until our good friends + have joined us.” + </p> + <p> + Soon afterward the call of a bugle was heard; and Gunther and Hagen and + Dankwart and Ortwin, with their huntsmen and hounds, came riding up. + </p> + <p> + “What luck have you had, my friends?” asked Siegfried. + </p> + <p> + Then Hagen told what game they had taken,—a deer, a young bear, and + two small wild boars. But, when they learned what Siegfried had done, the + old chief’s face grew dark, and he knit his eyebrows, and bit his lips in + jealous hate: for four knights, ten huntsmen, and four and twenty hounds, + had beaten every bush, and followed every trail; and yet the Nibelungen + king, with but one follower and one hound, had slain ten times as much + game as they. + </p> + <p> + While they stood talking over the successes of the day, the sound of a + horn was heard, calling the sportsmen together for the mid-day meal; and + knights and huntsmen turned their steeds, and rode slowly towards the + trysting-place. Suddenly a huge bear, roused by the noise of baying hounds + and tramping feet, crossed their pathway. + </p> + <p> + “Ah!” cried Siegfried, “there goes our friend Bruin, just in time to give + us a bit of fun, and some needed sport at dinner. He shall go with us, and + be our guest!” + </p> + <p> + With these words he loosed his hound, and dashed swiftly forwards after + the beast. Through thick underbrush and tangled briers, and over fallen + trees, the frightened creature ran, until at last it reached a steep + hillside. There, in a rocky cleft, it stood at bay, and fought fiercely + for its life. When Siegfried came up, and saw that his hound dared not + take hold of the furious beast, he sprang from his horse, and seized the + bear in his own strong arms, and bound him safely with a stout cord. Then + he fastened an end of the cord to his saddle-bows, and remounted his + steed. And thus he rode through the forest to the place where the dinner + waited, dragging the unwilling bear behind him, while the dog bounded + gayly along by his side. + </p> + <p> + No nobler sight had ever been seen in that forest than that which + Gunther’s people saw that day. The Nibelungen king was dressed as well + became so great a hero. His suit was of the speckled lynx’s hide and rich + black silk, upon which were embroidered many strange devices, with threads + of gold. (But, alas! between the shoulders was the silken lime-leaf that + Queen Kriemhild’s busy fingers had wrought.) His cap was of the blackest + fur, brought from the frozen Siberian land. Over his shoulder was thrown + his well-filled quiver, made of lion’s skin; and in his hands he carried + his bow of mulberry,—a very beam in size, and so strong that no man + save himself could bend it. A golden hunting-horn was at his side, and his + sunbright shield lay on his saddle-bow; while his mighty sword, the + fire-edged Balmung, in its sheath glittering with gemstones, hung from his + jewelled belt. + </p> + <p> + The men who stood around chief Hagen, and who saw the hero coming thus + god-like through the greenwood, admired and trembled; and Dankwart + whispered a word of caution to his dark-browed brother. But the old + chief’s face grew gloomier than before; and he scowled fiercely upon the + faint-hearted Dankwart, as he hoarsely whispered in return,— + </p> + <p> + “What though he be Odin himself, still will I dare! It is not I: it is the + Norns, who shape every man’s fate.” + </p> + <p> + When Siegfried reached the camp with his prize, the huntsmen shouted with + delight; and the hounds howled loudly, and shook their chains, and tried + hard to get at the shaggy beast. The king leaped to the ground, and + unloosed the cords which bound him; and at the same time the hounds were + unleashed, and set upon the angry, frightened creature. Hemmed in on every + side, the bear rushed blindly forwards, and leaped over the fires, where + the cooks were busy with the dinner. Pots and kettles were knocked about + in great confusion, and the scared cooks thrown sprawling upon the ground; + and many a dainty dish and savory mess was spoiled. The bear fled fast + down the forest road, followed by the baying hounds and the fleet-footed + warriors. But none dared shoot an arrow at him for fear of killing the + dogs; and it seemed as if he would surely escape, so fast he ran away. + Then Siegfried bounded forwards, swifter than a deer, overtook the bear, + and with one stroke of the sword gave him his death-blow. And all who saw + this feat of strength and quickness wondered greatly, and felt that such a + hero must indeed be without a peer. + </p> + <p> + When Gunther’s cooks had made the dinner ready, the company sat down on + the grass, and all partook of a merry meal; for the bracing air and the + morning’s sport had made sharp appetites. But, when they had eaten, they + were surprised to find that there was nothing to drink. Indeed, there was + neither wine nor water in the camp. + </p> + <p> + “How glad I am,” said Siegfried gayly, “that I am not a huntsman by trade, + if it is a huntsman’s way to go thus dry! Oh for a glass of wine, or even + a cup of cold spring-water, to quench my thirst!” + </p> + <p> + “We will make up for this oversight when we go back home,” said Gunther; + and his heart was black with falsehood. “The blame in this matter should + rest on Hagen, for it was he who was to look after the drinkables.” + </p> + <p> + “My lord,” said Hagen, “I fell into a mistake by thinking that we would + dine, not here, but at the Spessart Springs; and thither I sent the wine.” + </p> + <p> + “And is there no water near?” asked Siegfried. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” answered Hagen. “There is a cool, shady spring not far from here, + where the water gushes in a clear, cold stream from beneath a linden-tree. + Do but forgive me for the lack of wine, and I will lead you to it. It is a + rare spring, and the water is almost as good as wine.” + </p> + <p> + “Better than wine for me!” cried Siegfried. And he asked to be shown to + the spring at once. + </p> + <p> + Hagen arose, and pointed to a tree not far away, beneath whose spreading + branches Siegfried could see the water sparkling in the sunlight. + </p> + <p> + “Men have told me,” said the chief, “that the Nibelungen king is very + fleet of foot, and that no one has ever outstripped him in the race. Time + was, when King Gunther and myself were spoken of as very swift runners; + and, though we are now growing old, I fancy that many young men would, + even now, fail to keep pace with us. Suppose we try a race to the spring, + and see which of the three can win.” + </p> + <p> + “Agreed!” cried Siegfried. “We will run; and, if I am beaten, I will kneel + down in the grass to him who wins. I will give the odds in your favor too; + for I will carry with me my spear, and my shield, and my helmet and sword, + and all the trappings of the chase, while you may doff from your shoulders + whatever might hinder your speed.” + </p> + <p> + So Gunther and Hagen laid aside all their arms, and put off their heavy + clothing; but Siegfried took up his bow and quiver, and his heavy shield, + and his beamlike spear. Then the word was given, and all three ran with + wondrous speed. Gunther and his chief flew over the grass as light-footed + as two wild panthers: but Siegfried sped swift as an arrow shot from the + hand of a skilful bowman. He reached the spring when yet the others were + not half way to it. He laid his spear and sword, and bow and quiver of + arrows, upon the ground, and leaned his heavy shield against the + linden-tree; and then he waited courteously for King Gunther to come up, + for his knightly honor would not allow him to drink until his host had + quenched his thirst. + </p> + <p> + Gunther, when he reached the spring, stooped over, and drank heartily of + the cool, refreshing water; and, after he had risen, Siegfried knelt upon + the grass at the edge of the pool to quaff from the same gushing fountain. + Stealthily then, and with quickness, did chief Hagen hide his huge bow and + his quiver, and his good sword Balmung, and, seizing the hero’s spear, he + lifted it in air, and with too steady aim struck the silken lime-leaf that + the loving Kriemhild had embroidered. Never in all the wide mid-world was + known a deed more cowardly, never a baser act. The hero was pierced with + his own weapon by one he had deemed his friend. His blood gushed forth in + torrents, and dyed the green grass red, and discolored the sparkling + water, and even filled the face and eyes of vile Hagen. + </p> + <p> + Yet, in the hour of death, King Siegfried showed how noble was his soul, + how great his strength of will. Up he rose from his bended knees, and + fiercely glanced around. Then, had not the evil-eyed chief, who never + before had shunned a foe, fled with fleet-footed fear, quick vengeance + would have overtaken him. In vain did the dying king look for his bow and + his trusty sword: too safely had they been hidden. Then, though death was + fast dimming his eyes, he seized his heavy shield, and sprang after the + flying Hagen. Swift as the wind he followed him, quickly he overtook him. + With his last strength he felled the vile wretch to the ground, and beat + him with the shield, until the heavy plates of brass and steel were + broken, and the jewels which adorned it were scattered among the grass. + The sound of the heavy blows was heard far through the forest; and, had + the hero’s strength held out, Hagen would have had his reward.[EN#32] But + Siegfried, weak and pale from the loss of blood, now staggered, and fell + among the trampled flowers of the wood. + </p> + <p> + Then with his last breath he thus upbraided his false friends:— + </p> + <p> + “Cowards and traitors, ye! A curse shall fall upon you. My every care has + been to serve and please you, and thus I am requited. Bitterly shall you + rue this deed. The brand of traitor is set upon your foreheads, and it + shall be a mark of loathing and shame to you forever.” + </p> + <p> + Then the weak old Gunther began to wring his hands, and to bewail the + death of Siegfried. But the hero bade him hush, and asked him of what use + it was to regret an act which could have been done only by his leave and + sanction. + </p> + <p> + “Better to have thought of tears and groans before,” said he. “I have + always known that you were a man of weak mind, but never did I dream that + you could lend yourself to so base a deed. And now, if there is left aught + of manliness in your bosom, I charge you to have a care for Kriemhild your + sister. Long shall my loved Nibelungen-folk await my coming home.” + </p> + <p> + The glorious hero struggled in the last agony. The grass and flowers were + covered with his blood; the trees shivered, as if in sympathy with him, + and dropped their leaves upon the ground; the birds stopped singing, and + sorrowfully flew away; and a solemn silence fell upon the earth, as if the + very heart of Nature had been crushed. + </p> + <p> + And the men who stood around—all save the four guilty ones—bowed + their heads upon their hands, and gave way to one wild burst of grief. + Then tenderly they took up Siegfried, and laid him upon a shield, with his + mighty weapons by him. And, when the sorrowing Night had spread her black + mantle over the mid-world, they carried him silently out of the forest, + and across the river, and brought him, by Gunther’s orders, to the old + castle, which now nevermore would resound with mirth and gladness. And + they laid him at Kriemhild’s door, and stole sadly away to their own + places, and each one thought bitterly of the morrow.[EN#33] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Adventure XX. How the Hoard Was Brought to Burgundy. + </h2> + <p> + And what was done on the morrow? + </p> + <p> + Too sad is the tale of Kriemhild’s woe and her grief for the mighty dead. + Let us pass it by in tearful, pitying silence, nor wish to awaken the + echoes of that morning of hopeless anguish which dawned on the cold and + cheerless dwelling of the kings. For peace had fled from Burgundy, + nevermore to return. + </p> + <p> + Siegfried was dead. Faded, now, was the glory of the Nibelungen Land, and + gone was the mid-world’s hope. + </p> + <p> + It is told in ancient story, how men built a funeral-pile far out on the + grassy meadows, where the quiet river flows; and how, in busy silence, + they laid the sun-dried beams of ash and elm together, and made ready the + hero’s couch; and how the pile was dight with many a sun-bright shield, + with war-coats and glittering helms, and silks and rich dyed cloths from + the South-land, and furs, and fine-wrought ivory, and gem-stones priceless + and rare; and how, over all, they scattered sweet spices from Araby, and + the pleasantest of all perfumes. Then they brought the golden Siegfried, + and laid him on his couch; and beside him were his battered shield, and + Balmung with its fire-edge bare. And, as the sun rose high in heaven, the + noblest earl-folk who had loved Siegfried best touched fire to the + funeral-pile. And a pleasant breeze from the Southland fanned the fire to + a flame, and the white blaze leaped on high, and all the folk cried out in + mighty agony to the gods. + </p> + <p> + Such was the story that men told to each other when the world was still + young, and the heroes were unforgotten.[EN#34] And some said, too, that + Brunhild, the fair and hapless queen, died then of a broken heart and of a + hopeless, yearning sorrow, and that she was burned with Siegfried on that + high-built funeral-pile. + </p> + <p> + “They are gone,—the lovely, the mighty, the hope of the ancient + earth: It shall labor and bear the burden as before the day of their + birth:... It shall yearn, and be oft-times holpen, and forget their deeds + no more, Till the new sun beams on Balder and the happy sealess + shore.”[EN#35] + </p> + <p> + Another and much later story is sometimes told of these last sad days,—how + the hero’s body was laid in a coffin, and buried in the quiet earth, amid + the sorrowful lamentations of all the Rhineland folk; and how, at + Kriemhild’s earnest wish, it was afterwards removed to the place where now + stands the little minster of Lorsch. As to which of these stories is the + true one, it is not for me to say. Enough it is to know that Siegfried was + dead, and that the spring-time had fled, and the summer-season with all + its golden glories had faded away from Rhineland, and that the powers of + darkness and of cold and of evil had prevailed. + </p> + <p> + To this day the city where was the dwelling of the Burgundian kings is + called Worms, in remembrance of the dragon, or worm, which Siegfried slew; + and a figure of that monster was for many years painted upon the city + arms, and borne on the banner of the Burgundians. And, until recently, + travellers were shown the Reisen-haus,—a stronghold, which, men say, + Siegfried built; and in it were many strange and mighty weapons, which, + they claim, were wielded by the hero. The lance which was shown there was + a great beam nearly eighty feet in length; and the war-coat, wrought with + steel and gold, and bespangled with gem-stones, was a wonder to behold. + And now, in the Church of St. Cecilia, you may see what purports to be the + hero’s grave. And a pleasant meadow, not far from the town, is still + called Kriemhild’s Rose-garden; while farther away is the place called + Drachenfels, or the dragon’s field, where, they say, Siegfried met Fafnir. + But whether it is the same as the Glittering Heath of the ancient legend, + I know not. + </p> + <p> + And what became of the Hoard of Andvari? + </p> + <p> + The story is briefly told.[EN#36] When the days of mourning were past, and + the people had gone back sadly to their homes, Queen Kriemhild began to + speak of returning to the land of the Nibelungens. But Ute, her aged + mother, could not bear to part with her, and besought her to stay, for a + while at least, in the now desolate Burgundian castle. And Gernot and + Giselher, her true and loving brothers, added their words of entreaty + also. And so, though heart-sick, and with many misgivings, she agreed to + abide for a season in this cheerless and comfortless place. Many days, + even months, dragged by, and still she remained; for she found it still + harder and harder to tear herself away from her mother, and all that her + heart held dear. Yet never, for three years and more, did she even speak + to Gunther, or by any sign show that she remembered him. And, as for + Hagen, no words could utter the deep and settled hate she felt towards + him. But the dark-browed chief cared nought either for love or hate; and + he walked erect, as in the days of yore, and he smiled and frowned alike + for both evil and good. And he said, “It was not I: it was the Norns, who + wove the woof of his life and mine.” + </p> + <p> + The years went by on leaden wings, and brought no sunlight to Gunther’s + dwelling; for his days were full of sadness, and his nights of fearful + dreams. At length he said to chief Hagen, “If there is aught in the + mid-world that can drive away this gloom, I pray thee to help me find it; + for madness steals upon me.” + </p> + <p> + “There is one thing,” answered Hagen, “which might brighten our land + again, and lift up your drooping spirits, and bring gladness to your + halls.” + </p> + <p> + “What is that?” asked the king. + </p> + <p> + “It is the Nibelungen Hoard,” said the chief. “It is the wondrous treasure + of Andvari, which Siegfried gave as a gift to Kriemhild. If it were ours, + we might become the masters of the world.” + </p> + <p> + “But how can we obtain it?” + </p> + <p> + “It is Kriemhild’s,” was the answer. “But she does not care for it; + neither could she use it if she wished. If you could only gain her favor + and forgiveness, I feel sure that she would let you do with it as you + wish.” + </p> + <p> + Then Gunther besought his younger brothers to intercede for him with + Kriemhild, that she would so far forgive him as to look upon his face, and + speak with him once more. And this the queen at last consented to do. And, + when Gunther came into her presence, she was so touched at sight of his + haggard face and whitened locks, and his earnest words of sorrow, that she + forgave him the great wrong that he had done, and welcomed him again as + her brother. And he swore that never would he again wrong her or hers, nor + do aught to grieve her. But it was not until a long time after this, that + he proposed to her that they should bring the Hoard of Andvari away from + the Nibelungen Land. + </p> + <p> + “For, if it were here, dear sister,” he said, “it might be of great use to + you.” + </p> + <p> + “Do whatever seems best to you,” answered Kriemhild. “Only remember the + oath that you have given me.” + </p> + <p> + Then Gunther, because he was anxious to see the wondrous Hoard, but more + because he was urged on by Hagen, made ready to send to the Nibelungen + Land to bring away the treasure by Kriemhild’s command. Eight thousand + men, with Gernot and Giselher as their leaders, sailed over the sea in + stanch vessels, and landed on the Nibelungen shore. And when they told who + they were, and whence they came, and showed the queen’s signet-ring, they + were welcomed heartily by the fair-haired folk of Mist Land, who gladly + acknowledged themselves the faithful liegemen of the loved Kriemhild. + </p> + <p> + When the Burgundians made known their errand to Alberich the dwarf, who + still held watch and ward over the mountain stronghold, he was much + amazed, and he grieved to part with his cherished treasure. + </p> + <p> + “But,” said he to his little followers, who stood around him by thousands, + each anxious to fight the intruders,—“but there is Queen Kriemhild’s + order and her signet-ring, and we must, perforce, obey. Yet had we again + the good Tarnkappe which Siegfried took from us, the Hoard should never + leave us.” + </p> + <p> + Then sadly he gave up the keys, and the Burgundians began to remove the + treasure. For four whole days and nights they toiled, carrying the Hoard + in huge wagons down to the sea. And on the fifth day they set sail, and + without mishap arrived in good time at Worms. And many of Alberich’s + people, the swarthy elves of the cave, came with Gernot to Rhineland; for + they could not live away from the Hoard. And it is said, that hidden among + the gold and the gem-stones was the far-famed Wishing-rod, which would + give to its owner the power of becoming the lord of the wide mid-world. + </p> + <p> + And the vast treasure was stored in the towers and vaults of the castle. + And Queen Kriemhild alone held the keys, and lavishly she scattered the + gold wherever it was needed most. The hungry were fed, the naked were + clothed, the sick were cared for; and everybody near and far blessed the + peerless Queen of Nibelungen Land. + </p> + <p> + Then Hagen, always plotting evil, whispered to King Gunther, and said, “It + is dangerous to suffer your sister to hold so vast a treasure. All the + people are even now ready to leave you, and follow her. She will yet plot + to seize the kingdom, and destroy us.” + </p> + <p> + And he urged the king to take the keys and to make the Nibelungen Hoard + his own. + </p> + <p> + But Gunther answered, “I have already done too great a wrong. And I have + sworn to my sister never to harm her again, or to do aught that will + grieve her.” + </p> + <p> + “Let the guilt, then, rest on me,” said Hagen. And he strode away, and + took the keys from Kriemhild by force. + </p> + <p> + When Gernot and Giselher heard of this last vile act of the evil-eyed + chief, they waxed very angry, and vowed that they would help their sister + regain that which was her own. But the wary Hagen was not to be foiled; + for, while the brothers were away from the burgh, he caused the great + Hoard to be carried to the river, at a place called Lochheim, and sunk, + fathoms deep, beneath the water. And then, for fear of the vengeance which + might be wreaked upon him, he fled from Rhineland, and hid himself for a + while among the mountains and the barren hill-country of the South. + </p> + <p> + And this was the end of the fated Hoard of Andvari. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0022" id="link2H_4_0022"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + The After Word. + </h2> + <p> + Such is the story of Siegfried (or Sigurd), as we gather it from various + German and Scandinavian legends. In this recital I have made no attempt to + follow any one of the numerous originals, but have selected here and there + such incidents as best suited my purpose in constructing one connected + story which would convey to your minds some notion of the beauty and + richness of our ancient myths. In doing this, I have drawn, now from the + Volsunga Saga, now from the Nibelungen Lied, now from one of the Eddas, + and now from some of the minor legends relating to the great hero of the + North. These ancient stories, although differing widely in particulars, + have a certain general relationship and agreement which proves beyond + doubt a common origin. “The primeval myth,” says Thomas Carlyle, “whether + it were at first philosophical truth, or historical incident, floats too + vaguely on the breath of men: each has the privilege of inventing, and the + far wider privilege of borrowing and new modelling from all that preceded + him. Thus, though tradition may have but one root, it grows, like a + banian, into a whole overarching labyrinth of trees.” + </p> + <p> + If you would follow the tradition of Siegfried to the end; if you would + learn how, after the great Hoard had been buried in the Rhine, the curse + of the dwarf Andvari still followed those who had possessed it, and how + Kriemhild wreaked a terrible vengeance upon Siegfried’s murderers,—you + must read the original story as related in the Volsung Myth or in the + Nibelungen Song. Our story ends with Siegfried. + </p> + <p> + The episodes which I have inserted here and there—the stories of + AEgir, and of Balder, and of Idun, and of Thor—do not, as you may + know, belong properly to the legend of Siegfried; but I have thrown them + in, in order to acquaint you with some of the most beautiful mythical + conceptions of our ancestors. + </p> + <p> + A grand old people were those early kinsmen of ours,—not at all so + savage and inhuman as our histories would sometimes make us believe. For + however mistaken their notions may have been, and however ignorant they + were, according to our ideas of things, they were strong-hearted, brave + workers; and, so far as opportunity was afforded them, they acted well + their parts. What their notions were of true manhood,—a strong mind + in a strong body, good, brave, and handsome,—may be learned from the + story of Siegfried. + </p> + <p> + End of The Story of Siegfried. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0023" id="link2H_4_0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + The Story of Siegfried Endnotes. + </h2> + <p> + [EN#1] Siegfried’s Boyhood. + </p> + <p> + “All men agree that Siegfried was a king’s son. He was born, as we here + have good reason to know, ‘at Santen in Netherland,’ of Siegmund and the + fair Siegelinde; yet by some family misfortune or discord, of which the + accounts are very various, he came into singular straits during boyhood, + having passed that happy period of life, not under the canopies of costly + state, but by the sooty stithy, in one Mimer, a blacksmith’s shop.”—Thomas + Carlyle, The Nibelungen Lied. + </p> + <p> + The older versions of this story represent Siegfried, under the name of + Sigurd, as being brought up at the court of the Danish King Hialprek; his + own father Sigmund having been slain in battle, as related in this + chapter. He was early placed under the tuition of Regin, or Regino, an + elf, who instructed his pupil in draughts, runes, languages, and various + other accomplishments.—See Preface to Vollmer’s Nibelunge Not, also + the Song of Sigurd Fafnisbane, in the Elder Edda, and the Icelandic + Volsunga Saga. + </p> + <p> + [EN#2]—Mimer. + </p> + <p> + “The Vilkinasaga brings before us yet another smith, Mimer, by whom not + only is Velint instructed in his art, but Sigfrit (Siegfried) is brought + up,—another smith’s apprentice. He is occasionally mentioned in the + later poem of Biterolf, as Mime the Old. The old name of Munster in + Westphalia was Mimigardiford; the Westphalian Minden was originally + Mimidun; and Memleben on the Unstrut, Mimileba.. .. The elder Norse + tradition names him just as often, and in several different connections. + In one place, a Mimingus, a wood-satyr, and possessor of a sword and + jewels, is interwoven into the myth of Balder and Hoder. The Edda gives a + higher position to its Mimer. He has a fountain, in which wisdom and + understanding lie hidden: drinking of it every morning, he is the wisest, + most intelligent, of men. To Mimer’s fountain came Odin, and desired a + drink, but did not receive it till he had given one of his eyes in pledge, + and hidden it in the fountain: this accounts for Odin being one-eyed.... + Mimer is no Asa, but an exalted being with whom the Asas hold converse, of + whom they make use,—the sum total of wisdom, possibly an older + Nature-god. Later fables degraded him into a wood-sprite, or clever + smith.”—Grimm’s Deutsche Mythologie, I. p. 379. + </p> + <p> + Concerning the Mimer of the Eddas, Professor Anderson says, “The name + Mimer means the knowing. The Giants, being older than the Asas, looked + deeper than the latter into the darkness of the past. They had witnessed + the birth of the gods and the beginning of the world, and they foresaw + their downfall. Concerning both these events, the gods had to go to them + for knowledge. It is this wisdom that Mimer keeps in his fountain.”—Norse + Mythology, p 209. + </p> + <p> + In the older versions of the legend, the smith who cared for Siegfried + (Sigurd) is called, as we have before noticed, Regin. He is thus described + by Morris:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “The lore of all men he knew, + And was deft in every cunning, save the dealings of the + sword. + So sweet was his tongue-speech fashioned, that men + trowed his every word. + His hand with the harp-strings blended was the mingler + of delight + With the latter days of sorrow: all tales he told + aright. + The Master of the Masters in the smithying craft was + he; + And he dealt with the wind and the weather and the + stilling of the sea; + Nor might any learn him leech-craft, for before that + race was made, + And that man-folk’s generation, all their life-days had + he weighed.” + + Sigurd the Volsung, Bk. II. +</pre> + <p> + [EN#3]—The Sword. + </p> + <p> + “By this sword Balmung also hangs a tale. Doubtless it was one of those + invaluable weapons sometimes fabricated by the old Northern smiths, + compared with which our modern Foxes and Ferraras and Toledos are mere + leaden tools. Von der Hagen seems to think it simply the sword Mimung + under another name; in which case, Siegfried’s old master, Mimer, had been + the maker of it, and called it after himself, as if it had been his son.”—Carlyle, + on the Nibelungen Lied, note. + </p> + <p> + In Scandinavian legends, the story of Mimer and Amilias is given, + differing but slightly from the rendering in this chapter.—See Weber + and Jamieson’s Illustrations of Northern Antiquities. + </p> + <p> + In the older versions of the myth, the sword is called Gram, or the Wrath. + It was wrought from the shards, or broken pieces, of Sigmund’s sword, the + gift of Odin. It was made by Regin for Sigurd’s (Siegfried’s) use, and its + temper was tested as here described. + </p> + <p> + [EN#4]—Sigmund The Volsung. + </p> + <p> + Sigmund the Volsung, in the Volsunga Saga, is represented as the father of + Sigurd (Siegfried); but there is such a marked contrast between him, and + the wise, home-abiding King Siegmund of the later stories, that I have + thought proper to speak of them here as two different individuals. The + word “Sigmund,” or “Siegmund,” means literally the mouth of victory. The + story of the Volsungs, as here supposed to be related by Mimer, is derived + mainly from the Volsunga Saga. + </p> + <p> + [EN#5]—Siegfried’s Journey Into The Forest. + </p> + <p> + “In the shop of Mimer, Siegfried was nowise in his proper element, ever + quarrelling with his fellow-apprentices, nay, as some say, breaking the + hardest anvils into shivers by his too stout hammering; so that Mimer, + otherwise a first-rate smith, could by no means do with him there. He + sends him, accordingly, to the neighboring forest to fetch charcoal, well + aware that a monstrous dragon, one Regin, the smith’s own brother, would + meet him, and devour him. But far otherwise it proved.”—Carlyle, on + The Nibelungen Lied. + </p> + <p> + [EN#6]—The Norns. + </p> + <p> + The Norns are the Fates, which watch over man through life. They are Urd + the Past, Verdande the Present, and Skuld the Future. They approach every + new-born child, and utter his doom. They are represented as spinning the + thread of fate, one end of which is hidden by Urd in the far east, the + other by Verdande in the far west. Skuld stands ready to rend it in + pieces. —See Grimm’s Teutonic Mythology, p. 405, also Anderson’s + Norse Mythology, p. 209. + </p> + <p> + The three weird women in Shakespeare’s Tragedy of Macbeth represent a + later conception of the three Norns, now degraded to mere witches. + </p> + <p> + Compare the Norns with the Fates of the Greek Mythology. These, also, are + three in number. They sit clothed in white, and garlanded, singing of + destiny. Clotho, the Past, spins; Lachesis, the Present, divides; and + Atropos, the Future, stands ready with her shears to cut the thread. + </p> + <p> + [EN#7]—The Idea of Fatality. + </p> + <p> + Throughout the story of the Nibelungs and Volsungs, of Sigurd and of + Siegfried,—whether we follow the older versions or the mote recent + renderings,—there is, as it were, an ever-present but indefinable + shadow of coming fate, “a low, inarticulate voice of Doom,” foretelling + the inevitable. This is but in consonance with the general ideas of our + Northern ancestors regarding the fatality which shapes and controls every + man’s life. These ideas are embodied in more than one ancient legend. We + find them in the old Anglo-Saxon poem of Beowulf. “To us,” cries Beowulf + in his last fight, “to us it shall be as our Weird betides,—that + Weird that is every man’s lord!” “Each man of us shall abide the end of + his life-work; let him that may work, work his doomed deeds ere death + comes!” Similar ideas prevailed among the Greeks. Read, for example, that + passage in the Iliad describing the parting of Hector and Andromache, and + notice the deeper meaning of Hector’s words. + </p> + <p> + [EN#8]—Regin. + </p> + <p> + As we have already observed (EN#1), the older versions of this myth called + Siegfried’s master and teacher Regin, while the more recent versions call + him Mimer. We have here endeavored to harmonize the two versions by + representing Mimer as being merely Regin in disguise. + </p> + <p> + [EN#9]—Gripir. + </p> + <p> + “A man of few words was Gripir; but he knew of all deeds that had been; + And times there came upon him, when the deeds to be were seen: No sword + had he held in his hand since his father fell to field, And against the + life of the slayer he bore undinted shield: Yet no fear in his heart + abided, nor desired he aught at all: But he noted the deeds that had been, + and looked for what should befall.” Morris’s Sigurd the Volsung, Bk. II. + </p> + <p> + [EN#10]—The Hoard. + </p> + <p> + This story is found in both the Elder and the Younger Eddas, and is really + the basis upon which the entire plot of the legend of Sigurd, or + Siegfried, is constructed. See also EN#18. + </p> + <p> + [EN#11]—The Dragon. + </p> + <p> + The oldest form of this story is the Song of Sigurd Fafnisbane, in the + Elder Edda. The English legend of St. George and the Dragon was probably + derived from the same original sources. A similar myth may be found among + all Aryan peoples. Sometimes it is a treasure, sometimes a beautiful + maiden, that the monster guards, or attempts to destroy. Its first meaning + was probably this: The maiden, or the treasure, is the earth in its beauty + and fertility. “The monster is the storm-cloud. The hero who fights it is + the sun, with his glorious sword, the lightning-flash. By his victory the + earth is relieved from her peril. The fable has been varied to suit the + atmospheric peculiarities of different climes in which the Aryans found + themselves.... In Northern mythology the serpent is probably the winter + cloud, which broods over and keeps from mortals the gold of the sun’s + light and heat, till in the spring the bright orb overcomes the powers of + darkness and tempest, and scatters his gold over the face of the earth.” + This myth appears in a great variety of forms among the Scandinavian and + German nations. In the Eddas, Sigurd (Siegfried) is represented as + roasting the heart of Fafnir, and touching it to his lips. We have + ventured to present a less revolting version.—See Baring-Gould’s + Curious Myths of the Middle Ages. + </p> + <p> + “The slaying of the dragon Fafnir reminds us of Python, whom Apollo + overcame; and, as Python guarded the Delphic Oracle, the dying Fafnir + prophesies.”—Jacob Grimm. + </p> + <p> + [EN#12.] + </p> + <p> + In order to harmonize subsequent passages in the story as related in + different versions, we here represent Siegfried as turning his back upon + the Glittering Heath, and leaving the Hoard to some other hero or + discoverer. In the Younger Edda, Siegfried (Sigurd) rides onward until he + comes to Fafnir’s bed, from which “he took out all the gold, packed it in + two bags, and laid it on Grane’s (Greyfell’s) back, then got on himself + and rode away.” + </p> + <p> + [EN#13]—BRAGI. This episode of Bragi and his vessel is no part of + the original story of Siegfried, but is here introduced in order to + acquaint you with some of the older myths of our ancestors. Bragi was the + impersonation of music and eloquence, and here represents the music of + Nature,—the glad songs and sounds of the spring-time. “Above any + other god,” says Grimm, “one would like to see a more general veneration + of Bragi revived, in whom was vested the gift of poetry and eloquence.... + He appears to have stood in pretty close relation to AEgir.” + </p> + <p> + [EN#14]—AEgir. + </p> + <p> + “AEgir was the god presiding over the stormy sea. He entertains the gods + every harvest, and brews ale for them. The name still survives in + provincial English for the sea-wave on rivers.”—Anderson’s Norse + Mythology. See Carlyle’s Heroes and Hero-Worship. + </p> + <p> + [EN#15]—The Valkyries. + </p> + <p> + See Grimm’s Teutonic Mythology, p. 417, and Anderson’s Norse Mythology, p. + 265. + </p> + <p> + [EN#16]—Brunhild. + </p> + <p> + In the Elder Edda, Brunhild’s inaccessible hall stands on a mountain, + where she was doomed to sleep under her shield until Sigurd should release + her. In the Nibelungen Lied, she is represented as ruling in Isenland, an + island far over the sea. The well-known story of the Sleeping Beauty is + derived from this myth. + </p> + <p> + [EN#17]—Nibelungen Land. + </p> + <p> + “Vain were it to inquire where that Nibelungen Land specially is. Its very + name is Nebel-land, or Nifl-land, the land of Darkness, of + Invisibility.... Far beyond the firm horizon, that wonder-bearing region + swims on the infinite waters, unseen by bodily eye, or, at most, discerned + as a faint streak hanging in the blue depths, uncertain whether island or + cloud.”—Carlyle, on The Nibelungen Lied. + </p> + <p> + [EN#18]—Schilbung and Nibelung. + </p> + <p> + “Old King Nibelung, the former lord of the land, had left, when he died, a + mighty hoard concealed within a mountain-cavern. As Siegfried rode past + the mountain-side alone, he found Schilbung and Nibelung, the king’s sons, + seated at the mouth of the cavern surrounded by more gold and precious + stones than a hundred wagons could bear away. Espying Siegfried, they + called upon him to settle their dispute, offering him as reward their + father’s mighty sword Balmung.”—Auber Forestier’s Translation of the + Nibelungen Lied. + </p> + <p> + We have here made some slight variations from the original versions. (See + also EN#12.) + </p> + <p> + An ancient legend relates how King Schilbung had obtained the Hoard in the + upper Rhine valley, and how he was afterwards slain by his brother + Niblung. This Niblung possessed a magic ring in the shape of a coiled + serpent with ruby eyes. It had been presented to him by a prince named + Gunthwurm, who had come to him in the guise of a serpent, desiring the + hand of his daughter in marriage. This ring, according to the Eddas, was + the one taken by Loki from the dwarf Andvari, and was given by Sigurd + (Siegfried) to Brunhild in token of betrothal. It was the cause of all the + disasters that afterwards occurred.—See W. Jordan’s Sigfridssaga. + See also EN#10. + </p> + <p> + [EN#19] + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “... Siegfried the hero good + Failed the long task to finish: this stirred their + angry mood. + The treasure undivided he needs must let remain, + When the two kings indignant set on him with their + train; + But Siegfried gripped sharp Balmung (so hight their + father’s sword), + And took from them their country, and the beaming, + precious hoard.” + The Nibelungenlied, Lettsom, 96, 97 +</pre> + <p> + [EN#20]—Siegfried’s Welcome Home. + </p> + <p> + In the Nibelungen Lied this is our first introduction to the hero. The + “High-tide” held in honor of Siegfried’s coming to manhood, and which we + suppose to have occurred at this time, forms the subject of the Second + Adventure in that poem. + </p> + <p> + [EN#21]—Kriemhild’s Dream. + </p> + <p> + This forms the subject of the first chapter of the Nibelungen Lied. “The + eagles of Kriemhild’s dream,” says Auber Forestier, “are winter-giants, + whose wont it was to transform themselves into eagles; while the pure gods + were in the habit of assuming the falcon’s form.” + </p> + <p> + [EN#22]—Idun. + </p> + <p> + The story of Idun and her Apples is related in the Younger Edda. It is + there represented as having been told by Bragi himself to his friend + AEgir. This myth means, that the ever-renovating spring (Idun) being taken + captive by the desolating winter (Thjasse), all Nature (all the Asa-folk) + languishes until she regains her freedom through the intervention of the + summer’s heat (Loki). —See Anderson’s Norse Mythology. + </p> + <p> + [EN#23]—Balder. + </p> + <p> + The story of Balder is, in reality, the most ancient form of the Siegfried + myth. Both Balder and Siegfried are impersonations of the beneficent light + of the summer’s sun, and both are represented as being treacherously slain + by the powers of winter. The errand of Hermod to the Halls of Death (Hela) + reminds us of the errand of Hermes to Hades to bring back Persephone to + her mother Demetre. We perceive also a resemblance in this story to the + myth of Orpheus, in which that hero is described as descending into the + lower regions to bring away his wife Eurydice. + </p> + <p> + [EN#24] + </p> + <p> + The making of rich clothing for the heroes is frequently referred to in + the Nibelungen Lied. Carlyle says, “This is a never-failing preparative + for all expeditions, and is always specified and insisted on with a + simple, loving, almost female impressiveness.” + </p> + <p> + [EN#25]—The Winning of Brunhild. + </p> + <p> + The story of the outwitting of Brunhild, as related in the pages which + follow, is essentially the same as that given in the Nibelungen Lied. It + is quite different from the older versions. + </p> + <p> + [EN#26]—Sif. + </p> + <p> + Sif corresponds to the Ceres of the Southern mythology. (See Grimm, p. + 309.) The story of Loki and the Dwarfs is derived from the Younger Edda. + It has been beautifully rendered by the German poet Oelenschlager, a + translation of whose poem on this subject may be found in Longfellow’s + Poets and Poetry of Europe. + </p> + <p> + [EN#27]—Eigill. + </p> + <p> + Eigill is the original William Tell. The story is related in the Saga of + Thidrik. For a full history of the Tell myth, see Grimm’s Teutonic + Mythology, p. 380, and Baring-Gould’s Curious Myths of the Middle Ages, p. + 110. + </p> + <p> + [EN#28]—Welland the Smith. + </p> + <p> + The name of this smith is variously given as Weland, Wieland, Welland, + Volundr, Velint etc. The story is found in the Vilkina Saga, and was one + of the most popular of middle age myths. (See Grimm’s Mythology.) Sir + Walter Scott, in his novel of Kenilworth, has made use of this legend in + introducing the episode of Wayland Smith. + </p> + <p> + [EN#29]—Vidar[FN#1] the Silent. + </p> + <p> + “Vidar is the name of the silent Asa. He has a very thick shoe, and he is + the strongest next to Thor. From him the gods have much help in all hard + tasks.”—The Younger Edda (Anderson’s translation). + </p> + <p> + [FN#1] The word Vidar means forest. + </p> + <p> + [EN#30]—Loki. + </p> + <p> + “Loki, in nature, is the corrupting element in air, fire, and water. In + the bowels of the earth he is the volcanic flame, in the sea he appears as + a fierce serpent, and in the lower world we recognize him as pale death. + Like Odin, he pervades all nature. He symbolizes sin, shrewdness, + deceitfulness, treachery, malice etc.”—Anderson’s Mythology, p. 372. + </p> + <p> + He corresponds to the Ahriman of the Persians, to the Satan of the + Christians, and remotely to the Prometheus of the Greeks. + </p> + <p> + [EN#31]—The Quarrel of the Queens. + </p> + <p> + In the ancient versions, the culmination of this quarrel occurred while + the queens were bathing in the river: in the Nibelungen Lied it happened + on the steps leading up to the door of the church. + </p> + <p> + [EN#32]—Hagen. + </p> + <p> + Hagen corresponds to the Hoder of the more ancient myth of Balder. In the + Sigurd Sagas he is called Hogni, and is a brother instead of an uncle, of + Gunther (Gunnar). + </p> + <p> + [EN#33]—The Death of Siegfried. + </p> + <p> + This story is related here essentially as found in the Nibelungen Lied. It + is quite differently told in the older versions. Siegfried’s + invulnerability save in one spot reminds us of Achilles, who also was made + invulnerable by a bath, and who could be wounded only in the heel. + </p> + <p> + [EN#34]—The Burial of Siegfried. + </p> + <p> + The story of the burning of Siegfried’s body upon a funeral-pile, as + related of Sigurd in the older myths, reminds us of the burning of Balder + upon the ship “Ringhorn.” (See p. 162.) The Nibelungen Lied represents him + as being buried in accordance with the rites of the Roman-Catholic Church. + This version of the story must, of course, have been made after the + conversion of the Germans to Christianity. “When the Emperor Frederick + III. (1440-93) visited Worms after his Netherlands campaign,” says + Forestier, “he undertook to have the mighty hero’s bones disinterred, + probably in view of proving the truth of the marvellous story then sung + throughout Germany; but, although he had the ground dug into until water + streamed forth, no traces of these became manifest.” + </p> + <p> + [EN#35]—Morris: Sigurd the Volsung, Bk. III. + </p> + <p> + [EN#36]—The Hoard. + </p> + <p> + The story of bringing the Hoard from Nibelungen Land belongs to the later + versions of the myth, and fitly closes the First Part of the Nibelungen + Lied. Lochheim, the place where the Hoard was sunk, was not far from + Bingen on the Rhine. + </p> + <p> + [EN#37]—a Short Vocabulary of the Principal Proper Names Mentioned + in this Story. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + AEGIR. The god of the sea. + ALBERICH and ANDVARI. Dwarfs who guard the great Hoard. + ASA. A name applied to the gods of the Norse mythology. + ASGARD. The home of the gods. + BALDER. The god of the summer sunlight. + BRAGI. The god of eloquence and of poetry. + DRAUPNER. Odin’s ring, which gives fertility to the earth. + FAFNIR. The dragon whom Siegfried slays. + FENRIS-WOLF. The monster who in the last twilight slays + Odin. + FREYJA. The goddess of love. + REY. The god of peace and plenty. + GRIPIR. The giant who gives wise counsel to Siegfried + (Sigurd). + GUNTHER. In the older myths called Gunnar. + HEIMDAL. The heavenly watchman. + HELA. The goddess of death. + HERMOD. The quick messenger who is sent to Hela for Balder. + HODER. The winter-god. He slays Balder. + HOENIR. One of the three most ancient gods. + HUGIN. Odin’s raven, Thought. + IDUN. The goddess of spring. + IVALD. A skilful dwarf. + JOTUNHEIM. The home of the giants. + KRIEMHILD. In the older myths called Gudrun. + LOKI. The mischief-maker. The god of evil. + MIMER. In the later German mythology a skilful smith. In the + older mythology a wise giant. + NORNS. The three Fates,—Urd, Verdande, and Skuld. + ODIN. The chief of the gods. + REGIN. The teacher of Sigurd, by whom he is slain. + SIEGFRIED. In the older myths called Sigurd. + SIF. Thor’s wife. + SLEIPNER. Odin’s eight-footed horse. + TYR. The god of war. + THOR. The god of thunder. The foe of the giants. + VALHAL. The hall of the slain. + VALKYRIES. The choosers of the slain. Odin’s handmaidens. + VIDAR. The silent god. + YMIR. The huge giant out of whose body the world was made. +</pre> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of Siegfried, by James Baldwin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF SIEGFRIED *** + +***** This file should be named 6866-h.htm or 6866-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/6/8/6/6866/ + +Produced by J. C. 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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: The Story of Siegfried + +Author: James Baldwin + +Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6866] +Posting Date: June 2, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF SIEGFRIED *** + + + + +Produced by J. C. Byers + + + + + + + +THE STORY OF SIEGFRIED + +By James Baldwin + +New York Charles Scribner's Sons + +1899 + + + +To My Children, + +Winfred, Louis, and Nellie, + +This Book Is Affectionately Inscribed. + + + + +The Fore Word. + + +When the world was in its childhood, men looked upon the works of Nature +with a strange kind of awe. They fancied that every thing upon the +earth, in the air, or in the water, had a life like their own, and that +every sight which they saw, and every sound which they heard, was caused +by some intelligent being. All men were poets, so far as their ideas and +their modes of expression were concerned, although it is not likely that +any of them wrote poetry. This was true in regard to the Saxon in his +chilly northern home, as well as to the Greek in the sunny southland. +But, while the balmy air and clear sky of the south tended to refine +men's thoughts and language, the rugged scenery and bleak storms of +the north made them uncouth, bold, and energetic. Yet both the cultured +Greek and the rude Saxon looked upon Nature with much the same eyes, +and there was a strange resemblance in their manner of thinking and +speaking. They saw, that, in all the phenomena which took place around +them, there was a certain system or regularity, as if these were +controlled by some law or by some superior being; and they sought, in +their simple poetical way, to account for these appearances. They had +not yet learned to measure the distances of the stars, nor to calculate +the motions of the earth. The changing of the seasons was a mystery +which they scarcely sought to penetrate. But they spoke of these +occurrences in a variety of ways, and invented many charming, stories +with reference to them, not so much with a view towards accounting +for the mystery, as towards giving expression to their childlike but +picturesque ideas. + +Thus, in the south, when reference was made to the coming of winter and +to the dreariness and discomforts of that season of the year, men did +not know nor care to explain it all, as our teachers now do at school; +but they sometimes told how Hades had stolen Persephone (the summer) +from her mother Demetre (the earth), and had carried her, in a chariot +drawn by four coal black steeds, to the gloomy land of shadows; and how, +in sorrow for her absence, the Earth clothed herself in mourning, and +no leaves grew upon the trees, nor flowers in the gardens, and the very +birds ceased singing, because Persephone was no more. But they added, +that in a few months the fair maiden would return for a time to her +sorrowing mother, and that then the flowers would bloom, and the trees +would bear fruit, and the harvest-fields would again be full of golden +grain. + +In the north a different story was told, but the meaning was the same. +Sometimes men told how Odin (the All-Father) had become angry with +Brunhild (the maid of spring), and had wounded her with the thorn +of sleep, and how all the castle in which she slept was wrapped in +deathlike slumber until Sigurd or Siegfried (the sunbeam) rode through +flaming fire, and awakened her with a kiss. Sometimes men told how Loki +(heat) had betrayed Balder (the sunlight), and had induced blind old +Hoder (the winter months) to slay him, and how all things, living and +inanimate, joined in weeping for the bright god, until Hela (death) +should permit him to revisit the earth for a time. + +So, too, when the sun arose, and drove away the darkness and the hidden +terrors of the night, our ancestors thought of the story of a noble +young hero slaying a hideous dragon, or taking possession of the golden +treasures of Mist Land. And when the springtime came, and the earth +renewed its youth, and the fields and woods were decked in beauty, and +there was music everywhere, they loved to tell of Idun (the spring) +and her youth-giving apples, and of her wise husband Bragi (Nature's +musician). When storm-clouds loomed up from the horizon and darkened the +sky, and thunder rolled overhead, and lightning flashed on every +hand, they talked about the mighty Thor riding over the clouds in his +goat-drawn chariot, and battling with the giants of the air. When the +mountain-meadows were green with long grass, and the corn was yellow for +the sickles of the reapers, they spoke of Sif, the golden-haired wife +of Thor, the queen of the pastures and the fields. When the seasons were +mild, and the harvests were plentiful, and peace and gladness prevailed, +they blessed Frey, the giver of good gifts to men. + +To them the blue sky-dome which everywhere hung over them like an arched +roof was but the protecting mantle which the All-Father had suspended +above the earth. The rainbow was the shimmering bridge which stretches +from earth to heaven. The sun and the moon were the children of a giant, +whom two wolves chased forever around the earth. The stars were sparks +from the fire-land of the south, set in the heavens by the gods. Night +was a giantess, dark and swarthy, who rode in a car drawn by a steed the +foam from whose bits sometimes covered the earth with dew. And Day was +the son of Night; and the steed which he rode lighted all the sky and +the earth with the beams which glistened from his mane. + + +It was thus that men in the earlier ages of the world looked upon and +spoke of the workings of Nature; and it was in this manner that many +myths, or poetical fables, were formed. By and by, as the world grew +older, and mankind became less poetical and more practical, the first or +mythical meaning of these stories was forgotten, and they were regarded +no longer as mere poetical fancies, but as historical facts. Perhaps +some real hero had indeed performed daring deeds, and had made the world +around him happier and better. It was easy to liken him to Sigurd, or +to some other mythical slayer of giants; and soon the deeds of both were +ascribed to but one. And thus many myth-stories probably contain some +historical facts blended with the mass of poetical fancies which +mainly compose them; but, in such cases, it is generally impossible to +distinguish what is fact from what is mere fancy. + +All nations have had their myth-stories; but, to my mind, the purest and +grandest are those which we have received from our northern ancestors. +They are particularly interesting to us; because they are what +our fathers once believed, and because they are ours by right of +inheritance. And, when we are able to make them still more our own by +removing the blemishes which rude and barbarous ages have added to some +of them, we shall discover in them many things that are beautiful and +true, and well calculated to make us wiser and better. + +It is not known when or by whom these myth-stories were first put into +writing, nor when they assumed the shape in which we now have them. +But it is said, that, about the year 1100, an Icelandic scholar called +Saemund the Wise collected a number of songs and poems into a book +which is now known as the "Elder Edda;" and that, about a century later, +Snorre Sturleson, another Icelander, wrote a prose-work of a similar +character, which is called the "Younger Edda." And it is to these two +books that we owe the preservation of almost all that is now known of +the myths and the strange religion of our Saxon and Norman forefathers. +But, besides these, there are a number of semi-mythological stories of +great interest and beauty,--stories partly mythical, and partly founded +upon remote and forgotten historical facts. One of the oldest and finest +of these is the story of Sigurd, the son of Sigmund. There are many +versions of this story, differing from each other according to the time +in which they were written and the character of the people among whom +they were received. We find the first mention of Sigurd and his strange +daring deeds in the song of Fafnir, in the "Elder Edda." Then, in the +"Younger Edda," the story is repeated in the myth of the Niflungs and +the Gjukungs. It is told again in the "Volsunga Saga" of Iceland. It is +repeated and re-repeated in various forms and different languages, and +finally appears in the "Nibelungen Lied," a grand old German poem, which +may well be compared with the Iliad of the Greeks. In this last version, +Sigurd is called Siegfried; and the story is colored and modified by the +introduction of many notions peculiar to the middle ages, and unknown to +our Pagan fathers of the north. In our own time this myth has been woven +into a variety of forms. William Morris has embodied it in his noble +poem of "Sigurd the Volsung;" Richard Wagner, the famous German +composer, has constructed from it his inimitable drama, the "Nibelungen +Ring;" W. Jordan, another German writer, has given it to the world +in his "Sigfrid's Saga;" and Emanuel Geibel has derived from it the +materials for his "Tragedy of Brunhild." + + +And now I, too, come with the STORY OF SIEGFRIED, still another version +of the time-honored legend. The story as I shall tell it you is not in +all respects a literal rendering of the ancient myth; but I have taken +the liberty to change and recast such portions of it as I have deemed +advisable. Sometimes I have drawn materials from one version of the +story, sometimes from another, and sometimes largely from my own +imagination alone. Nor shall I be accused of impropriety in thus +reshaping a narrative, which, although hallowed by an antiquity of +a thousand years and more, has already appeared in so many different +forms, and been clothed in so many different garbs; for, however much +I may have allowed my fancy or my judgment to retouch and remodel the +immaterial portions of the legend, the essential parts of this immortal +myth remain the same. And, if I succeed in leading you to a clearer +understanding and a wiser appreciation of the thoughts and feelings of +our old northern ancestors, I shall have accomplished the object for +which I have written this Story of Siegfried. + + + +Contents. + + + + The Fore Word + I. Mimer, the Master + II. Greyfell + III. The Curse of Gold + IV. Fafnir, the Dragon + V. In AEgir's Kingdom + VI. Brunhild + VII. In Nibelungen Land + VIII. Siegfried's Welcome Home + IX. The Journey to Burgundy-land + X. Kriemhill's Dream + XI. How the Spring Time Came + XII. The War with the North-kings + XIII. The Story of Balder + XIV. How Gunther Outwitted Brunhild + XV. In Nibelungen Land Again + XVI. How Brunhild Was Welcomed Home + XVII. How Siegfried Lived in Nibelungen Land + XVIII. How the Mischief Began to Brew + XIX. How They Hunted in the Odenwald + XX. How the Hoard Was Brought to Burgundy + The After Word + Notes + + + + + +Adventure I. Mimer, the Master. + + + +At Santen, in the Lowlands, there once lived a young prince named +Siegfried. His father, Siegmund, was king of the rich country through +which the lazy Rhine winds its way just before reaching the great North +Sea; and he was known, both far and near, for his good deeds and his +prudent thrift. And Siegfried's mother, the gentle Sigelind, was loved +by all for her goodness of heart and her kindly charity to the poor. +Neither king nor queen left aught undone that might make the young +prince happy, or fit him for life's usefulness. Wise men were brought +from far-off lands to be his teachers; and every day something was added +to his store of knowledge or his stock of happiness. And very skilful +did he become in warlike games and in manly feats of strength. No other +youth could throw the spear with so great force, or shoot the arrow +with surer aim. No other youth could run more swiftly, or ride with more +becoming ease. His gentle mother took delight in adding to the beauty of +his matchless form, by clothing him in costly garments decked with the +rarest jewels. The old, the young, the rich, the poor, the high, the +low, all praised the fearless Siegfried, and all vied in friendly strife +to win his favor. One would have thought that the life of the young +prince could never be aught but a holiday, and that the birds would +sing, and the flowers would bloom, and the sun would shine forever for +his sake. + +But the business of man's life is not mere pastime; and none knew this +truth better than the wise old king, Siegmund. + +"All work is noble," said he to Siegfried; "and he who yearns to +win fame must not shun toil. Even princes should know how to earn a +livelihood by the labor of their hands." + +And so, while Siegfried was still a young lad, his father sent him to +live with a smith called Mimer, whose smithy was among the hills not far +from the great forest. For in those early times the work of the smith +was looked upon as the most worthy of all trades,--a trade which the +gods themselves were not ashamed to follow. And this smith Mimer was a +wonderful master,--the wisest and most cunning that the world had ever +seen. Men said that he was akin to the dwarf-folk who had ruled the +earth in the early days, and who were learned in every lore, and skilled +in every craft; and they said that he was so exceeding old that no one +could remember the day when he came to dwell in the land of Siegmund's +fathers. And some said, too, that he was the keeper of a wonderful well, +or flowing spring, the waters of which imparted wisdom and far-seeing +knowledge to all who drank of them. + +To Mimer's school, then, where he would be taught to work skilfully +and to think wisely, Siegfried was sent, to be in all respects like +the other pupils there. A coarse blue blouse, and heavy leggings, and a +leathern apron, took the place of the costly clothing which he had worn +in his father's dwelling. His feet were incased in awkward wooden shoes, +and his head was covered with a wolf-skin cap. The dainty bed, with its +downy pillows, wherein every night his mother had been wont, with gentle +care, to see him safely covered, was given up for a rude heap of straw +in a corner of the smithy. And the rich food to which he had been +used gave place to the coarsest and humblest fare. But the lad did +not complain. The days which he passed in the smithy were mirthful and +happy; and the sound of his hammer rang cheerfully, and the sparks from +his forge flew briskly, from morning till night. + +And a wonderful smith he became. No one could do more work than he, and +none wrought with greater skill. The heaviest chains and the strongest +bolts, for prison or for treasure-house, were but as toys in his stout +hands, so easily and quickly did he beat them into shape. And he was +alike cunning in work of the most delicate and brittle kind. Ornaments +of gold and silver, studded with the rarest jewels, were fashioned +into beautiful forms by his deft fingers. And among all of Mimer's +apprentices none learned the master's lore so readily, nor gained the +master's favor more.[EN#1] + +One morning the master, Mimer, came to the smithy with a troubled look +upon his face. It was clear that something had gone amiss; and what it +was the apprentices soon learned from the smith himself. Never, until +lately, had any one questioned Mimer's right to be called the foremost +smith in all the world; but now a rival had come forward. An unknown +upstart--one Amilias, in Burgundy-land--had made a suit of armor, which, +he boasted, no stroke of sword could dint, and no blow of spear could +scratch; and he had sent a challenge to all other smiths, both in the +Rhine country and elsewhere, to equal that piece of workmanship, or else +acknowledge themselves his underlings and vassals. For many days had +Mimer himself toiled, alone and vainly, trying to forge a sword whose +edge the boasted armor of Amilias could not foil; and now, in despair, +he came to ask the help of his pupils and apprentices. + +"Who among you is skilful enough to forge such a sword?" he asked. + +One after another, the pupils shook their heads. And Veliant, the +foreman of the apprentices, said, "I have heard much about that +wonderful armor, and its extreme hardness, and I doubt if any skill can +make a sword with edge so sharp and true as to cut into it. The best +that can be done is to try to make another war-coat whose temper shall +equal that of Amilias's armor." + +Then the lad Siegfried quickly said, "I will make such a sword as you +want,--a blade that no war-coat can foil. Give me but leave to try!" + +The other pupils laughed in scorn, but Mimer checked them. "You hear how +this boy can talk: we will see what he can do. He is the king's son, and +we know that he has uncommon talent. He shall make the sword; but if, +upon trial, it fail, I will make him rue the day." + +Then Siegfried went to his task. And for seven days and seven nights +the sparks never stopped flying from his forge; and the ringing of his +anvil, and the hissing of the hot metal as he tempered it, were heard +continuously. On the eighth day the sword was fashioned, and Siegfried +brought it to Mimer. + +The smith felt the razor-edge of the bright weapon, and said, "This +seems, indeed, a fair fire-edge. Let us make a trial of its keenness." + +Then a thread of wool as light as thistle-down was thrown upon water, +and, as it floated there, Mimer struck it with the sword. The glittering +blade cleft the slender thread in twain, and the pieces floated +undisturbed upon the surface of the liquid. + +"Well done!" cried the delighted smith. "Never have I seen a keener +edge. If its temper is as true as its sharpness would lead us to +believe, it will indeed serve me well." + +But Siegfried took the sword again, and broke it into many pieces; and +for three days he welded it in a white-hot fire, and tempered it with +milk and oatmeal. Then, in sight of Mimer and the sneering apprentices, +he cast a light ball of fine-spun wool upon the flowing water of the +brook; and it was caught in the swift eddies of the stream, and whirled +about until it met the bared blade of the sword, which was held in +Mimer's hands. And it was parted as easily and clean as the rippling +water, and not the smallest thread was moved out of its place. + +Then back to the smithy Siegfried went again; and his forge glowed with +a brighter fire, and his hammer rang upon the anvil with a cheerier +sound, than ever before. But he suffered none to come near, and no +one ever knew what witchery he used. But some of his fellow-pupils +afterwards told how, in the dusky twilight, they had seen a one-eyed +man, long-bearded, and clad in a cloud-gray kirtle, and wearing a +sky-blue hood, talking with Siegfried at the smithy door. And they said +that the stranger's face was at once pleasant and fearful to look upon, +and that his one eye shone in the gloaming like the evening star, and +that, when he had placed in Siegfried's hands bright shards, like pieces +of a broken sword, he faded suddenly from their sight, and was seen no +more. + +For seven weeks the lad wrought day and night at his forge; and then, +pale and haggard, but with a pleased smile upon his face, he stood +before Mimer, with the gleaming sword in his hands. "It is finished," he +said. "Behold the glittering terror!--the blade Balmung. Let us try its +edge, and prove its temper once again, that so we may know whether you +can place your trust in it." + +And Mimer looked long at the ruddy hilts of the weapon, and at the +mystic runes that were scored upon its sides, and at the keen edge, +which gleamed like a ray of sunlight in the gathering gloom of the +evening. But no word came from his lips, and his eyes were dim and +dazed; and he seemed as one lost in thoughts of days long past and gone. + +Siegfried raised the blade high over his head; and the gleaming edge +flashed hither and thither, like the lightning's play when Thor rides +over the storm-clouds. Then suddenly it fell upon the master's anvil, +and the great block of iron was cleft in two; but the bright blade was +no whit dulled by the stroke, and the line of light which marked the +edge was brighter than before. + +Then to the flowing brook they went; and a great pack of wool, the +fleeces of ten sheep, was brought, and thrown upon the swirling water. +As the stream bore the bundle downwards, Mimer held the sword in its +way. And the whole was divided as easily and as clean as the woollen +ball or the slender woollen thread had been cleft before. + +"Now, indeed," cried Mimer, "I no longer fear to meet that upstart, +Amilias. If his war-coat can withstand the stroke of such a sword as +Balmung, then I shall not be ashamed to be his underling. But, if this +good blade is what it seems to be, it will not fail me; and I, Mimer the +Old, shall still be called the wisest and greatest of smiths." + +And he sent word at once to Amilias, in Burgundy-land, to meet him on +a day, and settle forever the question as to which of the two should be +the master, and which the underling. And heralds proclaimed it in every +town and dwelling. When the time which had been set drew near, +Mimer, bearing the sword Balmung, and followed by all his pupils and +apprentices, wended his way towards the place of meeting. Through the +forest they went, and then along the banks of the sluggish river, for +many a league, to the height of land which marked the line between King +Siegmund's country and the country of the Burgundians. It was in this +place, midway between the shops of Mimer and Amilias, that the great +trial of metal and of skill was to be made. And here were already +gathered great numbers of people from the Lowlands and from Burgundy, +anxiously waiting for the coming of the champions. On the one side were +the wise old Siegmund and his gentle queen, and their train of knights +and courtiers and fair ladies. On the other side were the three +Burgundian kings, Gunther, Gernot, and Giselher, and a mighty retinue of +warriors, led by grim old Hagen, the uncle of the kings, and the wariest +chief in all Rhineland. + +When every thing was in readiness for the contest, Amilias, clad in his +boasted war-coat, went up to the top of the hill, and sat upon a great +rock, and waited for Mimer's coming. As he sat there, he looked, to the +people below, like some great castle-tower; for he was almost a giant +in size, and his coat of mail, so skilfully wrought, was so huge +that twenty men of common mould might have found shelter, or hidden +themselves, within it. As the smith Mimer, so dwarfish in stature, +toiled up the steep hillside, Amilias smiled to see him; for he felt +no fear of the slender, gleaming blade that was to try the metal of +his war-coat. And already a shout of expectant triumph went up from the +throats of the Burgundian hosts, so sure were they of their champion's +success. + +But Mimer's friends waited in breathless silence, hoping, and yet +fearing. Only King Siegmund whispered to his queen, and said, "Knowledge +is stronger than brute force. The smallest dwarf who has drunk from the +well of the Knowing One may safely meet the stoutest giant in battle." + +When Mimer reached the top of the hill, Amilias folded his huge arms, +and smiled again; for he felt that this contest was mere play for him, +and that Mimer was already as good as beaten, and his thrall. The smith +paused a moment to take breath, and as he stood by the side of his +foe he looked to those below like a mere black speck close beside a +steel-gray castle-tower. + +"Are you ready?" asked the smith. + +"Ready," answered Amilias. "Strike!" + +Mimer raised the beaming blade in the air, and for a moment the +lightning seemed to play around his head. The muscles on his short, +brawny arms, stood out like great ropes; and then Balmung, descending, +cleft the air from right to left. The waiting lookers-on in the plain +below thought to hear the noise of clashing steel; but they listened in +vain, for no sound came to their ears, save a sharp hiss like that which +red-hot iron gives when plunged into a tank of cold water. The huge +Amilias sat unmoved, with his arms still folded upon his breast; but the +smile had faded from his face. + +"How do you feel now?" asked Mimer in a half-mocking tone. + +"Rather strangely, as if cold iron had touched me," faintly answered the +upstart. + +"Shake thyself!" cried Mimer. + +Amilias did so, and, lo! he fell in two halves; for the sword had cut +sheer through the vaunted war-coat, and cleft in twain the great body +incased within. Down tumbled the giant head and the still folded arms, +and they rolled with thundering noise to the foot of the hill, and fell +with a fearful splash into the deep waters of the river; and there, +fathoms down, they may even now be seen, when the water is clear, lying +like great gray rocks among the sand and gravel below. The rest of the +body, with the armor which incased it, still sat upright in its place; +and to this day travellers sailing down the river are shown on moonlit +evenings the luckless armor of Amilias on the high hill-top. In the dim, +uncertain light, one easily fancies it to be the ivy covered ruins of +some old castle of feudal times. + +The master, Mimer, sheathed his sword, and walked slowly down the +hillside to the plain, where his friends welcomed him with glad cheers +and shouts of joy. But the Burgundians, baffled, and feeling vexed, +turned silently homeward, nor cast a single look back to the scene of +their disappointment and their ill-fated champion's defeat. + +And Siegfried went again with the master and his fellows to the smoky +smithy, to his roaring bellows and ringing anvil, and to his coarse +fare, and rude, hard bed, and to a life of labor. And while all men +praised Mimer and his knowing skill, and the fiery edge of the sunbeam +blade, no one knew that it was the boy Siegfried who had wrought that +piece of workmanship. + +But after a while it was whispered around that not Mimer, but one of his +pupils, had forged the sword. And, when the master was asked what truth +there was in this story, his eyes twinkled, and the corners of his mouth +twitched strangely, and he made no answer. But Veliant, the foreman of +the smithy, and the greatest of boasters said, "It was I who forged the +fire-edge of the blade Balmung." And, although none denied the truth of +what he said, but few who knew what sort of a man he was believed his +story. And this is the reason, my children, that, in the ancient songs +and stories which tell of this wondrous sword, it is said by most that +Mimer, and by a few that Veliant, forged its blade. But I prefer to +believe that it was made by Siegfried, the hero who afterwards wielded +it in so many adventures. [EN#3] Be this as it may, however, blind hate +and jealousy were from this time uppermost in the coarse and selfish +mind of Veliant; and he sought how he might drive the lad away from the +smithy in disgrace. "This boy has done what no one else could do," said +he. "He may yet do greater deeds, and set himself up as the master smith +of the world, and then we shall all have to humble ourselves before him +as his underlings and thralls." + +And he nursed this thought, and brooded over the hatred which he felt +towards the blameless boy; but he did not dare to harm him, for fear of +their master, Mimer. And Siegfried busied himself at his forge, where +the sparks flew as briskly and as merrily as ever before, and his +bellows roared from early morning till late at evening. Nor did the +foreman's unkindness trouble him for a moment, for he knew that the +master's heart was warm towards him. + +Oftentimes, when the day's work was done, Siegfried sat with Mimer by +the glowing light of the furnace-fire, and listened to the sweet tales +which the master told of the deeds of the early days, when the world +was young, and the dwarf-folk and the giants had a name and a place upon +earth. And one night, as they thus sat, the master talked of Odin the +All-Father, and of the gods who dwell with him in Asgard, and of the +puny men-folk whom they protect and befriend, until his words grew full +of bitterness, and his soul of a fierce longing for something he dared +not name. And the lad's heart was stirred with a strange uneasiness, and +he said,-- + +"Tell me, I pray, dear master, something about my own kin, my father's +fathers,--those mighty kings, who, I have heard said, were the bravest +and best of men." + +Then the smith seemed pleased again. And his eyes grew brighter, and +lost their far-away look; and a smile played among the wrinkles of his +swarthy face, as he told a tale of old King Volsung and of the deeds of +the Volsung kings:-- + +"Long years ago, before the evil days had dawned, King Volsung ruled +over all the land which lies between the sea and the country of the +Goths. The days were golden; and the good Frey dropped peace and plenty +everywhere, and men went in and out and feared no wrong. King Volsung +had a dwelling in the midst of fertile fields and fruitful gardens. +Fairer than any dream was that dwelling. The roof was thatched with +gold, and red turrets and towers rose above. The great feast-hall was +long and high, and its walls were hung with sun-bright shields; and the +door-nails were of silver. In the middle of the hall stood the pride of +the Volsungs,--a tree whose blossoms filled the air with fragrance, and +whose green branches, thrusting themselves through the ceiling, covered +the roof with fair foliage. It was Odin's tree, and King Volsung had +planted it there with his own hands. + +"On a day in winter King Volsung held a great feast in his hall in honor +of Siggeir, the King of the Goths, who was his guest. And the fires +blazed bright in the broad chimneys, and music and mirth went round. But +in the midst of the merry-making the guests were startled by a sudden +peal of thunder, which seemed to come from the cloudless sky, and which +made the shields upon the walls rattle and ring. In wonder they looked +around. A strange man stood in the doorway, and laughed, but said not a +word. And they noticed that he wore no shoes upon his feet, but that +a cloud-gray cloak was thrown over his shoulders, and a blue hood was +drawn down over his head. His face was half-hidden by a heavy beard; and +he had but one eye, which twinkled and glowed like a burning coal. And +all the guests sat moveless in their seats, so awed were they in the +presence of him who stood at the door; for they knew that he was none +other than Odin the All-Father, the king of gods and men. He spoke not +a word, but straight into the hall he strode, and he paused not until +he stood beneath the blossoming branches of the tree. Then, forth from +beneath his cloud-gray cloak, he drew a gleaming sword, and struck the +blade deep into the wood,--so deep that nothing but the hilt was left +in sight. And, turning to the awe-struck guests, he said, 'A blade +of mighty worth have I hidden in this tree. Never have the earth-folk +wrought better steel, nor has any man ever wielded a more trusty sword. +Whoever there is among you brave enough and strong enough to draw it +forth from the wood, he shall have it as a gift from Odin.' Then slowly +to the door he strode again, and no one saw him any more. + +"And after he had gone, the Volsungs and their guests sat a long time +silent, fearing to stir, lest the vision should prove a dream. But at +last the old king arose, and cried, 'Come, guests and kinsmen, and set +your hands to the ruddy hilt! Odin's gift stays, waiting for its fated +owner. Let us see which one of you is the favored of the All-Father.' +First Siggeir, the King of the Goths, and his earls, the Volsungs' +guests, tried their hands. But the blade stuck fast; and the stoutest +man among them failed to move it. Then King Volsung, laughing, seized +the hilt, and drew with all his strength; but the sword held still in +the wood of Odin's tree. And one by one the nine sons of Volsung tugged +and strained in vain; and each was greeted with shouts and laughter, as, +ashamed and beaten, he wended to his seat again. Then, at last, Sigmund, +the youngest son, stood up, and laid his hand upon the ruddy hilt, +scarce thinking to try what all had failed to do. When, lo! the blade +came out of the tree as if therein it had all along lain loose. And +Sigmund raised it high over his head, and shook it, and the bright flame +that leaped from its edge lit up the hall like the lightning's gleaming; +and the Volsungs and their guests rent the air with cheers and shouts of +gladness. For no one among all the men of the mid-world was more worthy +of Odin's gift than young Sigmund the brave." + +But the rest of Mimer's story would be too long to tell you now; for he +and his young apprentice sat for hours by the dying coals, and talked of +Siegfried's kinfolk,--the Volsung kings of old. And he told how Siggeir, +the Goth king, was wedded to Signy the fair, the only daughter of +Volsung, and the pride of the old king's heart; and how he carried +her with him to his home in the land of the Goths; and how he coveted +Sigmund's sword, and plotted to gain it by guile; and how, through +presence of friendship, he invited the Volsung kings to visit him in +Gothland, as the guests of himself and Signy; and how he betrayed and +slew them, save Sigmund alone, who escaped, and for long years lived an +outlaw in the land of his treacherous foe. And then he told how Sigmund +afterwards came back to his own country of the Volsungs; and how his +people welcomed him, and he became a mighty king, such as the world had +never known before; and how, when he had grown old, and full of years +and honors, he went out with his earls and fighting-men to battle +against the hosts of King Lyngi the Mighty; and how, in the midst of the +fight, when his sword had hewn down numbers of the foe, and the end of +the strife and victory seemed near, an old man, one eyed and bearded, +and wearing a cloud-gray cloak, stood up before him in the din, and +his sword was broken in pieces, and he fell dead on the heap of the +slain.[EN#4] And, when Mimer had finished his tale, his dark face seemed +to grow darker, and his twinkling eyes grew brighter, as he cried out in +a tone of despair and hopeless yearning,-- + +"Oh, past are those days of old and the worthy deeds of the brave! +And these are the days of the home-stayers,--of the wise, but +feeble-hearted. Yet the Norns have spoken; and it must be that another +hero shall arise of the Volsung blood, and he shall restore the name and +the fame of his kin of the early days. And he shall be my bane; and in +him shall the race of heroes have an end."[EN#7] + +Siegfried's heart was strangely stirred within him as he hearkened to +this story of ancient times and to the fateful words of the master, +and for a long time he sat in silent thought; and neither he nor Mimer +moved, or spoke again, until the darkness of the night had begun to +fade, and the gray light of morning to steal into the smithy. Then, as +if moved by a sudden impulse, he turned to the master, and said,-- + +"You speak of the Norns, dear master, and of their foretelling; but +your words are vague, and their meaning very broad. When shall that hero +come? and who shall he be? and what deeds shall be his doing?" + +"Alas!" answered Mimer, "I know not, save that he shall be of the +Volsung race, and that my fate is linked with his." + +"And why do you not know?" returned Siegfried. "Are you not that old +Mimer, in whom it is said the garnered wisdom of the world is stored? Is +there not truth in the old story that even Odin pawned one of his +eyes for a single draught from your fountain of knowledge? And is +the possessor of so much wisdom unable to look into the future with +clearness and certainty?" + +"Alas!" answered Mimer again, and his words came hard and slow, "I +am not that Mimer, of whom old stories tell, who gave wisdom to the +All-Father in exchange for an eye. He is one of the giants, and he still +watches his fountain in far-off Jotunheim.[EN#2] I claim kinship +with the dwarfs, and am sometimes known as an elf, sometimes as a +wood-sprite. Men have called me Mimer because of my wisdom and skill, +and the learning which I impart to my pupils. Could I but drink from the +fountain of the real Mimer, then the wisdom of the world would in truth +be mine, and the secrets of the future would be no longer hidden. But I +must wait, as I have long waited, for the day and the deed and the doom +that the Norns have foretold." + +And the old strange look of longing came again into his eyes, and the +wrinkles on his swarthy face seemed to deepen with agony, as he arose, +and left the smithy. And Siegfried sat alone before the smouldering +fire, and pondered upon what he had heard. + + + + + +Adventure II. Greyfell. + + + +Many were the pleasant days that Siegfried spent in Mimer's smoky +smithy; and if he ever thought of his father's stately dwelling, or of +the life of ease which he might have enjoyed within its halls, he never +by word or deed showed signs of discontent. For Mimer taught him all the +secrets of his craft and all the lore of the wise men. To beat hot +iron, to shape the fire-edged sword, to smithy war-coats, to fashion the +slender bracelet of gold and jewels,--all this he had already learned. +But there were many other things to know, and these the wise master +showed him. He told him how to carve the mystic runes which speak to +the knowing ones with silent, unseen tongues; he told him of the men of +other lands, and taught him their strange speech; he showed him how to +touch the harp-strings, and bring forth bewitching music: and the heart +of Siegfried waxed very wise, while his body grew wondrous strong. And +the master loved his pupil dearly. + +But the twelve apprentices grew more jealous day by day, and when Mimer +was away they taunted Siegfried with cruel jests, and sought by harsh +threats to drive him from the smithy; but the lad only smiled, and made +the old shop ring again with the music from his anvil. On a day when +Mimer had gone on a journey, Veliant, the foreman, so far forgot himself +as to strike the boy. For a moment Siegfried gazed at him with withering +scorn; then he swung his hammer high in air, and brought it swiftly +down, not upon the head of Veliant, who was trembling with expectant +fear, but upon the foreman's anvil. The great block of iron was shivered +by the blow, and flew into a thousand pieces. Then, turning again +towards the thoroughly frightened foreman, Siegfried said, while angry +lightning-flashes darted from his eyes,-- + +"What if I were to strike you thus?" + +Veliant sank upon the ground, and begged for mercy. + +"You are safe," said Siegfried, walking away. "I would scorn to harm a +being like you!" + +The apprentices were struck dumb with amazement and fear; and when +Siegfried had returned to his anvil they one by one dropped their +hammers, and stole away from the smithy. In a secret place not far from +the shop, they met together, to plot some means by which they might rid +themselves of him whom they both hated and feared. + +The next morning Veliant came to Siegfried's forge, with a sham smile +upon his face. The boy knew that cowardice and base deceit lurked, ill +concealed, beneath that smile; yet, as he was wont to do, he welcomed +the foreman kindly. + +"Siegfried," said Veliant, "let us be friends again. I am sorry that I +was so foolish and so rash yesterday, and I promise that I will never +again be so rude and unmanly as to become angry at you. Let us be +friends, good Siegfried! Give me your hand, I pray you, and with it your +forgiveness." + +Siegfried grasped the rough palm of the young smith with such a gripe, +that the smile vanished from Veliant's face, and his muscles writhed +with pain. + +"I give you my hand, certainly," said the boy, "and I will give you my +forgiveness when I know that you are worthy of it." + +As soon as Veliant's aching hand allowed him speech, he said,-- + +"Siegfried, you know that we have but little charcoal left for our +forges, and our master will soon return from his journey. It will never +do for him to find us idle, and the fires cold. Some one must go to-day +to the forest-pits, and bring home a fresh supply of charcoal. How would +you like the errand? It is but a pleasant day's journey to the pits; and +a ride into the greenwood this fine summer day would certainly be more +agreeable than staying in the smoky shop." + +"I should like the drive very much," answered Siegfried; "but I have +never been to the coal-pits, and I might lose my way in the forest." + +"No danger of that," said Veliant. "Follow the road that goes straight +into the heart of the forest, and you cannot miss your way. It will lead +you to the house of Regin, the master, the greatest charcoal-man in all +Rhineland. He will be right glad to see you for Mimer's sake, and you +may lodge with him for the night. In the morning he will fill your cart +with the choicest charcoal, and you can drive home at your leisure; and, +when our master comes again, he will find our forges flaming, and our +bellows roaring, and our anvils ringing, as of yore." + +Siegfried, after some further parley, agreed to undertake the errand, +although he felt that Veliant, in urging him to do so, wished to work +him some harm. He harnessed the donkey to the smith's best cart, and +drove merrily away along the road which led towards the forest.[EN#5] +The day was bright and clear; and as Siegfried rode through the flowery +meadows, or betwixt the fields of corn, a thousand sights and sounds met +him, and made him glad. Now and then he would stop to watch the reapers +in the fields, or to listen to the song of some heaven-soaring lark +lost to sight in the blue sea overhead. Once he met a company of gayly +dressed youths and maidens, carrying sheaves of golden grain,--for it +was now the harvest-time,--and singing in praise of Frey, the giver of +peace and plenty. + +"Whither away, young prince?" they merrily asked. + +"To Regin, the coal-burner, in the deep greenwood," he answered. + +"Then may the good Frey have thee in keeping!" they cried. "It is a long +and lonesome journey." And each one blessed him as they passed. + +It was nearly noon when he drove into the forest, and left the blooming +meadows and the warm sunshine behind him. And now he urged the donkey +forwards with speed; for he knew that he had lost much precious time, +and that many miles still lay between him and Regin's charcoal-pits. And +there was nothing here amid the thick shadows of the wood to make him +wish to linger; for the ground was damp, and the air was chilly, and +every thing was silent as the grave. And not a living creature did +Siegfried see, save now and then a gray wolf slinking across the road, +or a doleful owl sitting low down in some tree-top, and blinking at him +in the dull but garish light. Evening at last drew on, and the shadows +in the wood grew deeper; and still no sign of charcoal-burner, nor of +other human being, was seen. Night came, and thick darkness settled +around; and all the demons of the forest came forth, and clamored and +chattered, and shrieked and howled. But Siegfried was not afraid. The +bats and vampires came out of their hiding-places, and flapped their +clammy wings in his face; and he thought that he saw ogres and many +fearful creatures peeping out from behind every tree and shrub. But, +when he looked upwards through the overhanging tree-tops, he saw the +star-decked roof of heaven, the blue mantle which the All-Father has +hung as a shelter over the world; and he went bravely onwards, never +doubting but that Odin has many good things in store for those who are +willing to trust him. + +And by and by the great round moon arose in the east, and the fearful +sounds that had made the forest hideous began to die away; and Siegfried +saw, far down the path, a red light feebly gleaming. And he was glad, +for he knew that it must come from the charcoal-burners' pits. Soon he +came out upon a broad, cleared space; and the charcoal-burners' fires +blazed bright before him; and some workmen, swarthy and soot-begrimed, +came forwards to meet him. + +"Who are you?" they asked; "and why do you come through the forest at +this late hour?" + +"I am Siegfried," answered the boy; "and I come from Mimer's smithy. I +seek Regin, the king of charcoal-burners; for I must have coal for my +master's smithy." + +"Come with me," said one of the men: "I will lead you to Regin." + +Siegfried alighted from his cart, and followed the man to a low-roofed +hut not far from the burning pits. As they drew near, they heard the +sound of a harp, and strange, wild music within; and Siegfried's heart +was stirred with wonder as he listened. The man knocked softly at the +door, and the music ceased. + +"Who comes to break into Regin's rest at such a time as this?" said a +rough voice within. + +"A youth who calls himself Siegfried," answered the man. "He says that +he comes from Mimer's smithy, and he would see you, my master." + +"Let him come in," said the voice. + +Siegfried passed through the low door, and into the room beyond; and so +strange was the sight that met him that he stood for a while in awe, +for never in so lowly a dwelling had treasures so rich been seen. Jewels +sparkled from the ceiling; rare tapestry covered the walls; and on the +floor were heaps of ruddy gold and silver, still unfashioned. And in +the midst of all this wealth stood Regin, the king of the forest, the +greatest of charcoal-men. And a strange old man he was, wrinkled and +gray and beardless; but out of his eyes sharp glances gleamed of a light +that was not human, and his heavy brow and broad forehead betokened +wisdom and shrewd cunning. And he welcomed Siegfried kindly for Mimer's +sake, and set before him a rich repast of venison, and wild honey, and +fresh white bread, and luscious grapes. And, when the meal was finished, +the boy would have told his errand, but Regin stopped him. + +"Say nothing of your business to-night," said he; "for the hour is +already late, and you are weary. Better lie down, and rest until the +morrow; and then we will talk of the matter which has brought you +hither." + +And Siegfried was shown to a couch of the fragrant leaves of the myrtle +and hemlock, overspread with soft white linen, such as is made in the +far-off Emerald Isle; and he was lulled to sleep by sweet strains of +music from Regin's harp,--music which told of the days when the gods +were young on the earth. And as he slept he dreamed. He dreamed that +he stood upon the crag of a high mountain, and that the eagles flew +screaming around him, and the everlasting snows lay at his feet, and the +world in all its beauty was stretched out like a map below him; and he +longed to go forth to partake of its abundance, and to make for himself +a name among men. Then came the Norns, who spin the thread, and weave +the woof, of every man's life; and they held in their hands the web +of his own destiny. And Urd, the Past, sat on the tops of the eastern +mountains, where the sun begins to rise at dawn; while Verdanda, the +Present, stood in the western sea, where sky and water meet. And they +stretched the web between them, and its ends were hidden in the far-away +mists. Then with all their might the two Norns span the purple and +golden threads, and wove the fatal woof. But as it began to grow in +beauty and in strength, and to shadow the earth with its gladness and +its glory, Skuld, the pitiless Norn of the Future, seized it with rude +fingers, and tore it into shreds, and cast it down at the feet of Hela, +the white queen of the dead.[EN#6] And the eagles shrieked, and the +mountain shook, and the crag toppled, and Siegfried awoke. + +The next morning, at earliest break of day, the youth sought Regin, and +made known his errand. + +"I have come for charcoal for my master Mimer's forges. My cart stands +ready outside; and I pray you to have it filled at once, for the way is +long, and I must be back betimes." + +Then a strange smile stole over Regin's wrinkled face, and he said,-- + +"Does Siegfried the prince come on such a lowly errand? Does he come +to me through the forest, driving a donkey, and riding in a sooty +coal-cart? I have known the day when his kin were the mightiest kings of +earth, and they fared through every land the noblest men of men-folk." + +The taunting word, the jeering tones, made Siegfried's anger rise. +The blood boiled in his veins; but he checked his tongue, and mildly +answered,-- + +"It is true that I am a prince, and my father is the wisest of kings; +and it is for this reason that I come thus to you. Mimer is my master, +and my father early taught me that even princes must obey their masters' +behests." + +Then Regin laughed, and asked, "How long art thou to be Mimer's thrall? +Does no work wait for thee but at his smoky forge?" + +"When Mimer gives me leave, and Odin calls me," answered the lad, "then +I, too, will go faring over the world, like my kin of the earlier +days, to carve me a name and great glory, and a place with the noble of +earth." + +Regin said not a word; but he took his harp, and smote the strings, +and a sad, wild music filled the room. And he sang of the gods and the +dwarf-folk, and of the deeds that had been in the time long past and +gone. And a strange mist swam before Siegfried's eyes; and so bewitching +were the strains that fell upon his ears, and filled his soul, that he +forgot about his errand, and his master Mimer, and his father Siegmund, +and his lowland home, and thought only of the heart-gladdening sounds. +By and by the music ended, the spell was lifted, and Siegfried turned +his eyes towards the musician. A wonderful change had taken place. The +little old man still stood before him with the harp in his hand; but his +wrinkled face was hidden by a heavy beard, and his thin gray locks were +covered with a long black wig, and he seemed taller and stouter than +before. As Siegfried started with surprise, his host held out his hand, +and said,-- + +"You need not be alarmed, my boy. It is time for you to know that +Regin and Mimer are the same person, or rather that Mimer is Regin +disguised.[EN#8] The day has come for you to go your way into the world, +and Mimer gives you leave." + +Siegfried was so amazed he could not say a word. He took the master's +hand, and gazed long into his deep, bright eyes. Then the two sat down +together, and Mimer, or Regin as we shall now call him, told the prince +many tales of the days that had been, and of his bold, wise forefathers. +And the lad's heart swelled within him; and he longed to be like +them,--to dare and do and suffer, and gloriously win at last. And he +turned to Regin and said,-- + +"Tell me, wisest of masters, what I shall do to win fame, and to make +myself worthy to rule the fair land which my fathers held." + +"Go forth in your own strength, and with Odin's help," answered +Regin,--"go forth to right the wrong, to help the weak, to punish evil, +and come not back to your father's kingdom until the world shall know +your noble deeds." + +"But whither shall I go?" asked Siegfried. + +"I will tell you," answered Regin. "Put on these garments, which better +befit a prince than those soot-begrimed clothes you have worn so long. +Gird about you this sword, the good Balmung, and go northward. When you +come to the waste lands which border upon the sea, you will find +the ancient Gripir, the last of the kin of the giants. Ask of him a +war-steed, and Odin will tell you the rest." + +So, when the sun had risen high above the trees, Siegfried bade Regin +good-by, and went forth like a man, to take whatsoever fortune should +betide. He went through the great forest, and across the bleak moorland +beyond, and over the huge black mountains that stretched themselves +across his way, and came to a pleasant country all dotted with white +farmhouses, and yellow with waving, corn. But he tarried not here, +though many kind words were spoken to him, and all besought him to stay. +Right onwards he went, until he reached the waste land which borders the +sounding sea. And there high mountains stood, with snow-crowned crags +beetling over the waves; and a great river, all foaming with the summer +floods, went rolling through the valley. And in the deep dales between +the mountains were rich meadows, green with grass, and speckled with +thousands of flowers of every hue, where herds of cattle and deer, and +noble elks, and untamed horses, fed in undisturbed peace. And Siegfried, +when he saw, knew that these were the pastures of Gripir the ancient. + +High up among the gray mountain-peaks stood Gripir's dwelling,--a +mighty house, made of huge bowlders brought by giant hands from the far +north-land. And the wild eagle, built their nests around it, and the +mountain vultures screamed about its doors. But Siegfried was not +afraid. He climbed the steep pathway which the feet of men had never +touched before, and, without pausing, walked straightway into the +high-built hall. The room was so dark that at first he could see nothing +save the white walls, and the glass-green pillars which upheld the roof. +But the light grew stronger soon; and Siegfried saw, beneath a heavy +canopy of stone, the ancient Gripir, seated in a chair made from the +sea-horse's teeth.[EN#9] And the son of the giants held in his hand an +ivory staff; and a purple mantle was thrown over his shoulders, and his +white beard fell in sweeping waves almost to the sea-green floor. Very +wise he seemed, and he gazed at Siegfried with a kindly smile. + +"Hail, Siegfried!" he cried. "Hail, prince with the gleaming eye! I know +thee, and I know the woof that the Norns have woven for thee. Welcome to +my lonely mountain home! Come and sit by my side in the high-seat where +man has never sat, and I will tell thee of things that have been, and of +things that are yet to be." + +Then Siegfried fearlessly went and sat by the side of the ancient wise +one. And long hours they talked together,--strong youth and hoariest +age; and each was glad that in the other he had found some source of +hope and comfort. And they talked of the great midworld, and of the +starry dome above it, and of the seas which gird it, and of the men who +live upon it. All night long they talked, and in the morning Siegfried +arose to go. + +"Thou hast not told me of thy errand," said Gripir; "but I know what it +is. Come first with me, and see this great mid-world for thyself." + +Then Gripir, leaning on his staff, led the way out of the great hall, +and up to the top of the highest mountain-crag. And the wild eagles +circled in the clear, cold air above them; and far below them the white +waves dashed against the mountain's feet; and the frosty winds swept +around them unchecked, bringing to their ears the lone lamenting of the +north giants, moaning for the days that had been and for the glories +that were past. Then Siegfried looked to the north, and he saw the dark +mountain-wall of Norway trending away in solemn grandeur towards +the frozen sea, but broken here and there by sheltering fjords, and +pleasant, sunny dales. He looked to the east, and saw a great forest +stretching away and away until it faded to sight in the blue distance. +He looked to the south, and saw a pleasant land, with farms and +vineyards, and towns and strong-built castles; and through it wound the +River Rhine, like a great white serpent, reaching from the snow-capped +Alps to the northern sea. And he saw his father's little kingdom of the +Netherlands lying like a green speck on the shore of the ocean. Then +he looked to the west, and nothing met his sight but a wilderness of +rolling, restless waters, save, in the far distance, a green island half +hidden by sullen mists and clouds. And Siegfried sighed, and said,-- + +"The world is so wide, and the life of man so short!" + +"The world is all before thee," answered Gripir. "Take what the Norns +have allotted thee. Choose from my pastures a battle-steed, and ride +forth to win for thyself a name and fame among the sons of men." + +Then Siegfried ran down the steep side of the mountain to the grassy +dell where the horses were feeding. But the beasts were all so fair and +strong, that he knew not which to choose. While he paused, uncertain +what to do, a strange man stood before him. Tall and handsome was the +man, with one bright eye, and a face beaming like the dawn in summer; +and upon his head he wore a sky-blue hood bespangled with golden stars, +and over his shoulder was thrown a cloak of ashen gray. + +"Would you choose a horse, Sir Siegfried?" asked the stranger. + +"Indeed I would," answered he. "But it is hard to make a choice among so +many." + +"There is one in the meadow," said the man, "far better than all +the rest. They say that he came from Odin's pastures on the green +hill-slopes of Asgard, and that none but the noblest shall ride him." + +"Which is he?" asked Siegfried. + +"Drive the herd into the river," was the answer, "and then see if you +can pick him out." + +And Siegfried and the stranger drove the horses down the sloping bank, +and into the rolling stream; but the flood was too strong for them. +Some soon turned back to the shore; while others, struggling madly, were +swept away, and carried out to the sea. Only one swam safely over. He +shook the dripping water from his mane, tossed his head in the air, and +then plunged again into the stream. Right bravely he stemmed the +torrent the second time. He clambered up the shelving bank, and stood by +Siegfried's side. + +"What need to tell you that this is the horse?" said the stranger. "Take +him: he is yours. He is Greyfell, the shining hope that Odin sends to +his chosen heroes." + +And then Siegfried noticed that the horse's mane glimmered and flashed +like a thousand rays from the sun, and that his coat was as white and +clear as the fresh-fallen snow on the mountains. He turner to speak to +the stranger, but he was nowhere to be seen and Siegfried bethought him +how he had talked with Odin unawares. Then he mounted the noble Greyfell +and rode with a light heart across the flowery meadows. + +"Whither ridest thou?" cried Gripir the ancient, from his doorway among +the crags. + +"I ride into the wide world," said Siegfried; "but I know not whither. I +would right the wrong, and help the weak, and make myself a name on the +earth, as did my kinsmen of yore. Tell me, I pray you, where I shall +go; for you are wise, and you know the things which have been, and those +which shall befall." + +"Ride back to Regin, the master of masters," answered Gripir. "He will +tell thee of a wrong to be righted." + +And the ancient son of the giants withdrew into his lonely abode; and +Siegfried, on the shining Greyfell, rode swiftly away towards the south. + + + + + +Adventure III. The Curse of Gold. + + + +Forth then rode Siegfried, upon the beaming Greyfell, out into the broad +mid-world. And the sun shone bright above him, and the air was soft and +pure, and the earth seemed very lovely, and life a gladsome thing. And +his heart was big within him as he thought of the days to come, of +the deeds of love and daring, of the righting of many wrongs, of the +people's praise, and the glory of a life well lived. And he wended his +way back again toward the south and the fair lands of the Rhine. He left +the barren moorlands behind him, and the pleasant farms and villages of +the fruitful countryside, and after many days came once more to Regin's +woodland dwelling. For he said to himself, "My old master is very wise; +and he knows of the deeds that were done when yet the world was young, +and my kin were the mightiest of men. I will go to him, and learn what +grievous evil it is that he has so often vaguely hinted at." + +Regin, when he saw the lad and the beaming Greyfell standing like +a vision of light at his door, welcomed them most gladly, and led +Siegfried into the inner room, where they sat down together amid the +gold, and the gem-stones, and the fine-wrought treasures there. + +"Truly," said the master, "the days of my long waiting are drawing to a +close, and at last the deed shall be done." + +And the old look of longing came again into his eyes, and his pinched +face seemed darker and more wrinkled than before, and his thin lips +trembled with emotion as he spoke. + +"What is that deed of which you speak?" asked Siegfried. + +"It is the righting of a grievous wrong," answered Regin, "and the +winning of treasures untold. Lo, many years have I waited for the coming +of this day; and now my heart tells me that the hero so long hoped for +is here, and the wisdom and the wealth of the world shall be mine." + +"But what is the wrong to be righted?" asked Siegfried. "And what is +this treasure that you speak of as your own?" + +"Alas!" answered Regin, "the treasure is indeed mine; and yet wrongfully +has it been withheld from me. But listen a while to a tale of the early +days, and thou shalt know what the treasure is, and what is the wrong to +be righted." + +He took his harp and swept the strings, and played a soft, low melody +which told of the dim past, and of blighted hopes, and of a nameless, +never-satisfied yearning for that which might have been. And then he +told Siegfried this story: + + + +Regin's Story. + + + +When the earth was still very young, and men were feeble and few, and +the Dwarfs were many and strong, the Asa-folk were wont oft-times +to leave their halls in heaven-towering Asgard in order to visit the +new-formed mid-world, and to see what the short-lived sons of men were +doing. Sometimes they came in their own godlike splendor and might; +sometimes they came disguised as feeble men-folk, with all man's +weaknesses and all his passions. Sometimes Odin, as a beggar, wandered +from one country to another, craving charity; sometimes, as a warrior +clad in coat of mail, he rode forth to battle for the cause of right; or +as a minstrel he sang from door to door, and played sweet music in the +halls of the great; or as a huntsman he dashed through brakes and fens, +and into dark forests, and climbed steep mountains in search of game; or +as a sailor he embarked upon the sea, and sought new scenes in unknown +lands. And many times did men-folk entertain him unawares. + +Once on a time he came to the mid-world in company with Hoenir and +Loki; and the three wandered through many lands and in many climes, each +giving gifts wherever they went. Odin gave knowledge and strength, and +taught men how to read the mystic runes; Hoenir gave gladness and +good cheer, and lightened many hearts with the glow of his comforting +presence; but Loki had nought to give but cunning deceit and base +thoughts, and he left behind him bitter strife and many aching breasts. +At last, growing tired of the fellowship of men, the three Asas sought +the solitude of the forest, and as huntsmen wandered long among the +hills and over the wooded heights of Hunaland. Late one afternoon they +came to a mountain-stream at a place where it poured over a ledge of +rocks, and fell in clouds of spray into a rocky gorge below. As they +stood, and with pleased eyes gazed upon the waterfall, they saw near the +bank an otter lazily making ready to eat a salmon which he had caught. +And Loki, ever bent on doing mischief, hurled a stone at the harmless +beast, and killed it. And he boasted loudly that he had done a worthy +deed. And he took both the otter, and the fish which it had caught, and +carried them with him as trophies of the day's success. + +Just at nightfall the three huntsmen came to a lone farmhouse in the +valley, and asked for food, and for shelter during the night. + +"Shelter you shall have," said the farmer, whose name was Hreidmar, "for +the rising clouds foretell a storm. But food I have none to give you. +Surely huntsmen of skill should not want for food; since the forest +teems with game, and the streams are full of fish." + +Then Loki threw upon the ground the otter and the fish, and said, "We +have sought in both forest and stream, and we have taken from them at +one blow both flesh and fish. Give us but the shelter you promise, and +we will not trouble you for food." + +The farmer gazed with horror upon the lifeless body of the otter, and +cried out, "This creature which you mistook for an otter, and which you +have robbed and killed, is my son Oddar, who for mere pastime had taken +the form of the furry beast. You are but thieves and murderers!" + +Then he called loudly for help: and his two sons Fafnir and Regin, +sturdy and valiant kin of the dwarf-folk, rushed in, and seized upon the +huntsmen, and bound them hand and foot; for the three Asas, having taken +upon themselves the forms of men, had no more than human strength, and +were unable to withstand them. + +Then Odin and his fellows bemoaned their ill fate. And Loki said, +"Wherefore did we foolishly take upon ourselves the likenesses of +puny men? Had I my own power once more, I would never part with it in +exchange for man's weaknesses." + +And Hoenir sighed, and said, "Now, indeed, will darkness win: and the +frosty breath of the Reimthursen giants will blast the fair handiwork of +the sunlight and the heat; for the givers of life and light and warmth +are helpless prisoners in the hands of these cunning and unforgiving +jailers." + +"Surely," said Odin, "not even the highest are free from obedience to +heaven's behests and the laws of right. I, whom men call the Preserver +of Life, have demeaned myself by being found in evil company; and, +although I have done no other wrong, I suffer rightly for the doings of +this mischief-maker with whom I have stooped to have fellowship. For all +are known, not so much by what they are as by what they seem to be, and +they bear the bad name which their comrades bear. Now I am fallen from +my high estate. Eternal right is higher than I. And in the last Twilight +of the gods I must needs meet the dread Fenris-wolf, and in the end +the world will be made new again, and the shining Balder will rule in +sunlight majesty forever." + +Then the Asas asked Hreidmar, their jailer, what ransom they should +pay for their freedom; and he, not knowing who they were, said, "I must +first know what ransom you are able to give." + +"We will give any thing you may ask," hastily answered Loki. + +Hreidmar then called his sons, and bade them strip the skin from the +otter's body. When this was done, they brought the furry hide and spread +it upon the ground; and Hreidmar said, "Bring shining gold and precious +stones enough to cover every part of this otter-skin. When you have paid +so much ransom, you shall have your freedom." + +"That we will do," answered Odin. "But one of us must have leave to +go and fetch it: the other two will stay fast bound until the morning +dawns. If, by that time, the gold is not here, you may do with us as you +please." + +Hreidmar and the two young men agreed to Odin's offer; and, lots being +cast, it fell to Loki to go and fetch the treasure. When he had been +loosed from the cords which bound him, Loki donned his magic shoes, +which had carried him over land and sea from the farthest bounds of +the mid-world, and hastened away upon his errand. And he sped with the +swiftness of light, over the hills and the wooded slopes, and the deep +dark valleys, and the fields and forests and sleeping hamlets, until he +came to the place where dwelt the swarthy elves and the cunning dwarf +Andvari. There the River Rhine, no larger than a meadow-brook, breaks +forth from beneath a mountain of ice, which the Frost giants and blind +old Hoder, the Winter-king, had built long years before; for they had +vainly hoped that they might imprison the river at its fountain-head. +But the baby-brook had eaten its way beneath the frozen mass, and +had sprung out from its prison, and gone on, leaping and smiling, and +kissing the sunlight, in its ever-widening course towards Burgundy and +the sea. + +Loki came to this place, because he knew that here was the home of the +elves who had laid up the greatest hoard of treasures ever known in the +mid-world. He scanned with careful eyes the mountain-side, and the deep, +rocky caverns, and the dark gorge through which the little river rushed; +but in the dim moonlight not a living being could he see, save a lazy +salmon swimming in the quieter eddies of the stream. Any one but Loki +would have lost all hope of finding treasure there, at least before the +dawn of day; but his wits were quick, and his eyes were very sharp. + +"One salmon has brought us into this trouble, and another shall help us +out of it!" he cried. + +Then, swift as thought, he sprang again into the air; and the magic +shoes carried him with greater speed than before down the Rhine valley, +and through Burgundy-land, and the low meadows, until he came to the +shores of the great North Sea. He sought the halls of old AEgir, the +Ocean-king; but he wist not which way to go,--whether across the North +Sea towards Isenland, or whether along the narrow channel between +Britain-land and the main. While he paused, uncertain where to turn, +he saw the pale-haired daughters of old AEgir, the white-veiled Waves, +playing in the moonlight near the shore. Of them he asked the way to +AEgir's hall. + +"Seven days' journey westward," said they, "beyond the green Isle of +Erin, is our father's hall. Seven days' journey northward, on the bleak +Norwegian shore, is our father's hall." + +And they stopped not once in their play, but rippled and danced on the +shelving beach, or dashed with force against the shore. + +"Where is your mother Ran, the Queen of the Ocean?" asked Loki. + +And they answered,-- + + "In the deep sea-caves + By the sounding shore, + In the dashing waves + When the wild storms roar, + In her cold green bowers + In the northern fiords, + She lurks and she glowers, + She grasps and she hoards, + And she spreads her strong net for her prey." + +Loki waited to hear no more; but he sprang into the air, and the magic +shoes carried him onwards over the water in search of the Ocean-queen. +He had not gone far when his sharp eyes espied her, lurking near a rocky +shore against which the breakers dashed with frightful fury. Half hidden +in the deep dark water, she lay waiting and watching; and she spread her +cunning net upon the waves, and reached out with her long greedy fingers +to seize whatever booty might come near her. + +When the wary queen saw Loki, she hastily drew in her net, and tried to +hide herself in the shadows of an overhanging rock. But Loki called her +by name, and said,-- + +"Sister Ran, fear not! I am your friend Loki, whom once you served as a +guest in AEgir's gold-lit halls." + +Then the Ocean-queen came out into the bright moonlight, and welcomed +Loki to her domain, and asked, "Why does Loki thus wander so far from +Asgard, and over the trackless waters?" + +And Loki answered, "I have heard of the net which you spread upon the +waves, and from which no creature once caught in its meshes can ever +escape. I have found a salmon where the Rhine-spring gushes from beneath +the mountains, and a very cunning salmon he is for no common skill can +catch him. Come, I pray, with your wondrous net, and cast it into the +stream where he lies. Do but take the wary fish for me, and you shall +have more gold than you have taken in a year from the wrecks of stranded +vessels." + +"I dare not go," cried Ran. "A bound is set, beyond which I may not +venture. If all the gold of earth were offered me, I could not go." + +"Then lend me your net," entreated Loki. "Lend me your net, and I will +bring it back to-morrow filled with gold." + +"Much I would like your gold," answered Ran; "but I cannot lend my net. +Should I do so, I might lose the richest prize that has ever come into +my husband's kingdom. For three days, now, a gold-rigged ship, bearing +a princely crew with rich armor and abundant wealth, has been sailing +carelessly over these seas. To-morrow I shall send my daughters and the +bewitching mermaids to decoy the vessel among the rocks. And into my net +the ship, and the brave warriors, and all their armor and gold, shall +fall. A rich prize it will be. No: I cannot part with my net, even for a +single hour." + +But Loki knew the power of flattering words. + +"Beautiful queen," said he, "there is no one on earth, nor even in +Asgard, who can equal you in wisdom and foresight. Yet I promise you, +that, if you will but lend me your net until the morning dawns, the ship +and the crew of which you speak shall be yours, and all their golden +treasures shall deck your azure halls in the deep sea." + +Then Ran carefully folded the net, and gave it to Loki. + +"Remember your promise," was all that she said. + +"An Asa never forgets," he answered. + +And he turned his face again towards Rhineland; and the magic shoes bore +him aloft, and carried him in a moment back to the ice-mountain and +the gorge and the infant river, which he had so lately left. The +salmon still rested in his place, and had not moved during Loki's short +absence. + +Loki unfolded the net, and cast it into the stream. The cunning fish +tried hard to avoid being caught in its meshes; but, dart which way +he would, he met the skilfully woven cords, and these drew themselves +around him, and held him fast. Then Loki pulled the net up out of the +water, and grasped the helpless fish in his right hand. But, lo! as he +held the struggling creature high in the air, it was no longer a fish, +but the cunning dwarf Andvari. + +"Thou King of the Elves," cried Loki, "thy cunning has not saved thee. +Tell me, on thy life, where thy hidden treasures lie!" + +The wise dwarf knew who it was that thus held him as in a vise; and he +answered frankly, for it was his only hope of escape, "Turn over the +stone upon which you stand. Beneath it you will find the treasure you +seek." + +Then Loki put his shoulder to the rock, and pushed with all his might. +But it seemed as firm as the mountain, and would not be moved. + +"Help us, thou cunning dwarf," he cried,--"help us, and thou shalt have +thy life!" + +The dwarf put his shoulder to the rock, and it turned over as if by +magic, and underneath was disclosed a wondrous chamber, whose walls +shone brighter than the sun, and on whose floor lay treasures of gold +and glittering gem-stones such as no man had ever seen. And Loki, in +great haste, seized upon the hoard, and placed it in the magic net which +he had borrowed from the Ocean-queen. Then he came out of the chamber; +and Andvari again put his shoulder to the rock which lay at the +entrance, and it swung back noiselessly to its place. + +"What is that upon thy finger?" suddenly cried Loki. "Wouldst keep back +a part of the treasure? Give me the ring thou hast!" + +But the dwarf shook his head, and made answer, "I have given thee all +the riches that the elves of the mountain have gathered since the world +began. This ring I cannot give thee, for without its help we shall never +be able to gather more treasures together." + +And Loki grew angry at these words of the dwarf; and he seized the ring, +and tore it by force from Andvari's fingers. It was a wondrous little +piece of mechanism shaped like a serpent, coiled, with its tail in its +mouth; and its scaly sides glittered with many a tiny diamond, and its +ruby eyes shone with an evil light. When the dwarf knew that Loki really +meant to rob him of the ring, he cursed it and all who should ever +possess it, saying,-- + +"May the ill-gotten treasure that you have seized tonight be your bane, +and the bane of all to whom it may come, whether by fair means or by +foul! And the ring which you have torn from my hand, may it entail upon +the one who wears it sorrow and untold ills, the loss of friends, and a +violent death! The Norns have spoken, and thus it must be." + +Loki was pleased with these words, and with the dark curses which +the dwarf pronounced upon the gold; for he loved wrong-doing, for +wrong-doing's sake, and he knew that no curses could ever make his own +life more cheerless than it always had been. So he thanked Andvari +for his curses and his treasures; and, throwing the magic net upon his +shoulder, he sprang again into the air, and was carried swiftly back to +Hunaland; and, just before the dawn appeared in the east, he alighted +at the door of the farmhouse where Odin and Hoenir still lay bound with +thongs, and guarded by Fafnir and Regin. + +Then the farmer, Hreidmar, brought the otter's skin, and spread it upon +the ground; and, lo! it grew, and spread out on all sides, until it +covered an acre of ground. And he cried out, "Fulfil now your promise! +Cover every hair of this hide with gold or with precious stones. If you +fail to do this, then your lives, by your own agreement, are forfeited, +and we shall do with you as we list." + +Odin took the magic net from Loki's shoulder; and opening it, he poured +the treasures of the mountain elves upon the otter-skin. And Loki and +Hoenir spread the yellow pieces carefully and evenly over every part +of the furry hide. But, after every piece had been laid in its place; +Hreidmar saw near the otter's mouth a single hair uncovered; and he +declared, that unless this hair, too, were covered, the bargain would +be unfulfilled, and the treasures and lives of his prisoners would be +forfeited. And the Asas looked at each other in dismay; for not another +piece of gold, and not another precious stone, could they find in the +net, although they searched with the greatest care. At last Odin took +from his bosom the ring which Loki had stolen from the dwarf; for he had +been so highly pleased with its form and workmanship, that he had hidden +it, hoping that it would not be needed to complete the payment of the +ransom. And they laid the ring upon the uncovered hair. And now no +portion of the otter's skin could be seen. And Fafnir and Regin, the +ransom being paid, loosed the shackles of Odin and Hoenir, and bade the +three huntsmen go on their way. + +Odin and Hoenir at once shook off their human disguises, and, taking +their own forms again, hastened with all speed back to Asgard. But Loki +tarried a little while, and said to Hreidmar and his sons,-- + +"By your greediness and falsehood you have won for yourselves the Curse +of the Earth, which lies before you. It shall be your bane. It shall +be the bane of every one who holds it. It shall kindle strife between +father and son, between brother and brother. It shall make you mean, +selfish, beastly. It shall transform you into monsters. The noblest king +among men-folk shall feel its curse. Such is gold, and such it shall +ever be to its worshippers. And the ring which you have gotten +shall impart to its possessor its own nature. Grasping, snaky, cold, +unfeeling, shall he live; and death through treachery shall be his +doom." + +Then he turned away, delighted that he had thus left the curse of +Andvari with Hreidmar and his sons, and hastened northward toward +the sea; for he wished to redeem the promise that he had made to the +Ocean-queen, to bring back her magic net, and to decoy the richly laden +ship into her clutches. + +No sooner were the strange huntsmen well out of sight than Fafnir and +Regin began to ask their father to divide the glittering hoard with +them. + +"By our strength and through our advice," said they, "this great store +has come into your hands. Let us place it in three equal heaps, and then +let each take his share and go his way." + +At this the farmer waxed very angry; and he loudly declared that he +would keep all the treasure for himself, and that his sons should not +have any portion of it whatever. So Fafnir and Regin, nursing their +disappointment, went to the fields to watch their sheep; but their +father sat down to guard his new-gotten treasure. And he took in his +hand the glittering serpent-ring, and gazed into its cold ruby eyes: +and, as he gazed, all his thoughts were fixed upon his gold; and there +was no room in his heart for love toward his fellows, nor for deeds +of kindness, nor for the worship of the All-Father. And behold, as he +continued to look at the snaky ring, a dreadful change came over him. +The warm red blood, which until that time had leaped through his veins, +and given him life and strength and human feelings, became purple and +cold and sluggish; and selfishness, like serpent-poison, took hold of +his heart. Then, as he kept on gazing at the hoard which lay before him, +he began to lose his human shape; his body lengthened into many scaly +folds, and he coiled himself around his loved treasures,--the very +likeness of the ring upon which he had looked so long. + +When the day drew near its close, Fafnir came back from the fields with +his herd of sheep, and thought to find his father guarding the treasure, +as he had left him in the morning; but instead he saw a glittering +snake, fast asleep, encircling the hoard like a huge scaly ring of gold. +His first thought was that the monster had devoured his father; and, +hastily drawing his sword, with one blow he severed the serpent's head +from its body. And, while yet the creature writhed in the death-agony, +he gathered up the hoard, and fled with it beyond the hills of Hunaland, +until on the seventh day he came to a barren heath far from the homes +of men. There he placed the treasures in one glittering heap; and he +clothed himself in a wondrous mail-coat of gold that was found among +them, and he put on the Helmet of Dread, which had once been the terror +of the mid-world, and the like of which no man had ever seen; and then +he gazed with greedy eyes upon the fateful ring, until he, too, was +changed into a cold and slimy reptile,--a monster dragon. And he coiled +himself about the hoard; and, with his restless eyes forever open, he +gloated day after day upon his loved gold, and watched with ceaseless +care that no one should come near to despoil him of it. This was ages +and ages ago; and still he wallows among his treasures on the Glittering +Heath, and guards as of yore the garnered wealth of Andvari.[EN#10] + +When I, Regin, the younger brother, came back in the late evening to my +father's dwelling, I saw that the treasure had been carried away; and, +when I beheld the dead serpent lying in its place, I knew that a part of +Andvari's curse had been fulfilled. And a strange fear came over me; and +I left every thing behind me, and fled from that dwelling, never more +to return. Then I came to the land of the Volsungs, where your father's +fathers dwelt, the noblest king-folk that the world has ever seen. But +a longing for the gold and the treasure, a hungry yearning, that would +never be satisfied, filled my soul. Then for a time I sought to forget +this craving. I spent my days in the getting of knowledge and in +teaching men-folk the ancient lore of my kin, the Dwarfs. I taught them +how to plant and to sow, and to reap the yellow grain. I showed them +where the precious metals of the earth lie hidden, and how to smelt iron +from its ores,--how to shape the ploughshare and the spade, the spear +and the battle-axe. I taught them how to tame the wild horses of the +meadows, and how to train the yoke-beasts to the plough; how to build +lordly dwellings and mighty strongholds, and how to sail in ships across +old AEgir's watery kingdom. But they gave me no thanks for what I had +done; and as the years went by they forgot who had been their teacher, +and they said that it was Frey who had given them this knowledge and +skill. And I taught the young maidens how to spin and weave, and +to handle the needle deftly,--to make rich garments, and to work in +tapestry and embroidery. But they, too, forgot me, and said that it was +Freyja who had taught them. Then I showed men how to read the mystic +runes aright, and how to make the sweet beverage of poetry, that charms +all hearts, and enlightens the world. But they say now that they had +these gifts from Odin. I taught them how to fashion the tales of old +into rich melodious songs, and with music and sweet-mouthed eloquence to +move the minds of their fellow-men. But they say that Bragi taught them +this; and they remember me only as Regin, the elfin schoolmaster, or +at best as Mimer, the master of smiths. At length my heart grew bitter +because of the neglect and ingratitude of men; and the old longing for +Andvari's hoard came back to me, and I forgot much of my cunning and +lore. But I lived on and on, and generations of short-lived men arose +and passed, and still the hoard was not mine; for I was weak, and no man +was strong enough to help me. + +Then I sought wisdom of the Norns, the weird women who weave the woof of +every creature's fate.[EN#6] and [EN#7] + +"How long," asked I, "must I hope and wait in weary expectation of that +day when the wealth of the world and the garnered wisdom of the ages +shall be mine?" + +And the witches answered, "When a prince of the Volsung race shall come +who shall excel thee in the smithying craft, and to whom the All-Father +shall give the Shining Hope as a helper, then the days of thy weary +watching, shall cease." + +"How long," asked I, "shall I live to enjoy this wealth and this wisdom, +and to walk as a god among men? Shall I be long-lived as the Asa-folk, +and dwell on the earth until the last Twilight comes?" + +"It is written," answered Skuld, "that a beardless youth shall see thy +death. But go thou now, and bide thy time." + +Here Regin ended his story, and both he and Siegfried sat for a long +time silent and thoughtful. + +"I know what you wish," said Siegfried at last. "You think that I am the +prince of whom the weird sisters spoke; and you would have me slay the +dragon Fafnir, and win for you the hoard of Andvari." + +"It is even so," answered Regin. + +"But the hoard is accursed," said the lad. + +"Let the curse be upon me," was the answer. "Is not the wisdom of the +ages mine? And think you that I cannot escape the curse? Is there aught +that can prevail against him who has all knowledge and the wealth of the +world at his call?" + +"Nothing but the word of the Norns and the will of the All-Father," +answered Siegfried. + +"But will you help me?" asked Regin, almost wild with earnestness. "Will +you help me to win that which is rightfully mine, and to rid the world +of a horrible evil?" + +"Why is the hoard of Andvari more thine than Fafnir's?" + +"He is a monster, and he keeps the treasure but to gloat upon its +glittering richness. I will use it to make myself a name upon the earth. +I will not hoard it away. But I am weak, and he is strong and terrible. +Will you help me?" + +"To-morrow," said Siegfried, "be ready to go with me to the Glittering +Heath. The treasure shall be thine, and also the curse." + +"And also the curse," echoed Regin. + + + + + +Adventure IV. Fafnir, the Dragon. + + + +Regin took up his harp, and his fingers smote the strings; and the music +which came forth sounded like the wail of the winter's wind through +the dead treetops of the forest. And the song which he sang was full of +grief and wild hopeless yearning for the things which were not to be. +When he had ceased, Siegfried said,-- + +"That was indeed a sorrowful song for one to sing who sees his hopes so +nearly realized. Why are you so sad? Is it because you fear the curse +which you have taken upon yourself? or is it because you know not what +you will do with so vast a treasure, and its possession begins already +to trouble you?" + +"Oh, many are the things I will do with that treasure!" answered Regin; +and his eyes flashed wildly, and his face grew red and pale. "I will +turn winter into summer; I will make the desert-places glad; I will +bring back the golden age; I will make myself a god: for mine shall be +the wisdom and the gathered wealth of the world. And yet I fear"-- + +"What do you fear?" + +"The ring, the ring--it is accursed! The Norns, too, have spoken, and my +doom is known. I cannot escape it." + +"The Norns have woven the woof of every man's life," answered Siegfried. +"To-morrow we fare to the Glittering Heath, and the end shall be as the +Norns have spoken." + +And so, early the next morning, Siegfried mounted Greyfell, and rode +out towards the desert-land that lay beyond the forest and the barren +mountain-range; and Regin, his eyes flashing with desire, and his feet +never tiring, trudged by his side. For seven days they wended their +way through the thick greenwood, sleeping at night on the bare ground +beneath the trees, while the wolves and other wild beasts of the forest +filled the air with their hideous howlings. But no evil creature dared +come near them, for fear of the shining beams of light which fell +from Greyfell's gleaming mane. On the eighth day they came to the open +country and to the hills, where the land was covered with black bowlders +and broken by yawning chasms. And no living thing was seen there, not +even an insect, nor a blade of grass; and the silence of the grave was +over all. And the earth was dry and parched, and the sun hung above them +like a painted shield in a blue-black sky, and there was neither shade +nor water anywhere. But Siegfried rode onwards in the way which Regin +pointed out, and faltered not, although he grew faint with thirst and +with the overpowering heat. Towards the evening of the next day they +came to a dark mountain-wall which stretched far out on either hand, and +rose high above them, so steep that it seemed to close up the way, and +to forbid them going farther. + +"This is the wall!" cried Regin. "Beyond this mountain is the Glittering +Heath, and the goal of all my hopes." + +And the little old man ran forwards, and scaled the rough side of the +mountain, and reached its summit, while Siegfried and Greyfell were yet +toiling among the rocks at its foot. Slowly and painfully they climbed +the steep ascent, sometimes following a narrow path which wound along +the edge of a precipice, sometimes leaping, from rock to rock, or over +some deep gorge, and sometimes picking their way among the crags and +cliffs. The sun at last went down, and one by one the stars came out; +and the moon was rising, round and red, when Siegfried stood by Regin's +side, and gazed from the mountain-top down upon the Glittering Heath +which lay beyond. And a strange, weird scene it was that met his sight. +At the foot of the mountain was a river, white and cold and still; and +beyond it was a smooth and barren plain, lying silent and lonely in +the pale moonlight. But in the distance was seen a circle of flickering +flames, ever changing,--now growing brighter, now fading away, and now +shining with a dull, cold light, like the glimmer of the glow-worm or +the fox-fire. And as Siegfried gazed upon the scene, he saw the dim +outline of some hideous monster moving hither and thither, and seeming +all the more terrible in the uncertain light. + +"It is he!" whispered Regin, and his lips were ashy pale, and his knees +trembled beneath him. "It is Fafnir, and he wears the Helmet of Terror! +Shall we not go back to the smithy by the great forest, and to the life +of ease and safety that may be ours there? Or will you rather dare to go +forwards, and meet the Terror in its abode?" + +"None but cowards give up an undertaking once begun," answered +Siegfried. "Go back to Rhineland yourself, if you are afraid; but you +must go alone. You have brought me thus far to meet the dragon of the +heath, to win the hoard of the swarthy elves, and to rid the world of +a terrible evil. Before the setting of another sun, the deed which you +have urged me to do will be done." + +Then he dashed down the eastern slope of the mountain, leaving Greyfell +and the trembling Regin behind him. Soon he stood on the banks of the +white river, which lay between the mountain and the heath; but the +stream was deep and sluggish, and the channel was very wide. He paused +a moment, wondering how he should cross; and the air seemed heavy with +deadly vapors, and the water was thick and cold. While he thus stood in +thought, a boat came silently out of the mists, and drew near; and the +boatman stood up and called to him, and said,-- + +"What man are you who dares come into this land of loneliness and fear?" + +"I am Siegfried," answered the lad; "and I have come to slay Fafnir, the +Terror." + +"Sit in my boat," said the boatman, "and I will carry you across the +river." + +And Siegfried sat by the boatman's side; and without the use of an oar, +and without a breath of air to drive it forwards, the little vessel +turned, and moved silently towards the farther shore. + +"In what way will you fight the dragon?" asked the boatman. + +"With my trusty sword Balmung I shall slay him," answered Siegfried. + +"But he wears the Helmet of Terror, and he breathes deathly poisons, and +his eyes dart forth lightning, and no man can withstand his strength," +said the boatman. + +"I will find some way by which to overcome him." + +"Then be wise, and listen to me," said the boatman. "As you go up from +the river you will find a road, worn deep and smooth, starting from +the water's edge, and winding over the moor. It is the trail of Fafnir, +adown which he comes at dawn of every day to slake his thirst at the +river. Do you dig a pit in this roadway,--a pit narrow and deep,--and +hide yourself within it. In the morning, when Fafnir passes over it, let +him feel the edge of Balmung." + +As the man ceased speaking, the boat touched the shore, and Siegfried +leaped out. He looked back to thank his unknown friend, but neither boat +nor boatman was to be seen. Only a thin white mist rose slowly from the +cold surface of the stream, and floated upwards and away towards the +mountain-tops. Then the lad remembered that the strange boatman had worn +a blue hood bespangled with golden stars, and that a gray kirtle was +thrown over his shoulders, and that his one eye glistened and sparkled +with a light that was more than human. And he knew that he had again +talked with Odin. Then, with a braver heart than before, he went +forwards, along the river-bank, until he came to Fafnir's trail,--a +deep, wide furrow in the earth, beginning at the river's bank, and +winding far away over the heath, until it was lost to sight in the +darkness. The bottom of the trail was soft and slimy, and its sides had +been worn smooth by Fafnir's frequent travel through it. + +In this road, at a point not far from the river, Siegfried, with his +trusty sword Balmung, scooped out a deep and narrow pit, as Odin had +directed. And when the gray dawn began to appear in the east he hid +himself within this trench, and waited for the coming of the monster. He +had not long to wait; for no sooner had the sky begun to redden in the +light of the coming sun than the dragon was heard bestirring himself. +Siegfried peeped warily from his hiding-place, and saw him coming far +down the road, hurrying with all speed, that he might quench his thirst +at the sluggish river, and hasten back to his gold; and the sound which +he made was like the trampling of many feet and the jingling of many +chains. With bloodshot eyes, and gaping mouth, and flaming nostrils, the +hideous creature came rushing onwards. His sharp, curved claws dug +deep into the soft earth; and his bat-like wings, half trailing on the +ground, half flapping in the air, made a sound like that which is heard +when Thor rides in his goat-drawn chariot over the dark thunder-clouds. +It was a terrible moment for Siegfried, but still he was not afraid. He +crouched low down in his hiding-place, and the bare blade of the trusty +Balmung glittered in the morning light. On came the hastening feet and +the flapping wings: the red gleam from the monster's flaming nostrils +lighted up the trench where Siegfried lay. He heard a roaring and a +rushing like the sound of a whirlwind in the forest; then a black, +inky mass rolled above him, and all was dark. Now was Siegfried's +opportunity. The bright edge of Balmung gleamed in the darkness one +moment, and then it smote the heart of Fafnir as he passed. Some men say +that Odin sat in the pit with Siegfried, and strengthened his arm and +directed his sword, or else he could not thus have slain the Terror. +But, be this as it may, the victory was soon won. The monster stopped +short, while but half of his long body had glided over the pit; for +sudden death had overtaken him. His horrid head fell lifeless upon +the ground; his cold wings flapped once, and then lay, quivering and +helpless, spread out on either side; and streams of thick black blood +flowed from his heart, through the wound beneath, and filled the trench +in which Siegfried was hidden, and ran like a mountain-torrent down the +road towards the river. Siegfried was covered from head to foot with the +slimy liquid, and, had he not quickly leaped from his hiding-place, he +would have been drowned in the swift-rushing, stream.[EN#11] + +The bright sun rose in the east, and gilded the mountain-tops, and fell +upon the still waters of the river, and lighted up the treeless plains +around. The south wind played gently against Siegfried's cheeks and in +his long hair, as he stood gazing on his fallen foe. And the sound of +singing birds, and rippling waters, and gay insects,--such as had not +broken the silence of the Glittering Heath for ages,--came to his ears. +The Terror was dead, and Nature had awakened from her sleep of dread. +And as the lad leaned upon his sword, and thought of the deed he had +done, behold! the shining Greyfell, with the beaming, hopeful mane, +having crossed the now bright river, stood by his side. And Regin, his +face grown wondrous cold, came trudging over the meadows; and his heart +was full of guile. Then the mountain vultures came wheeling downwards +to look upon the dead dragon; and with them were two ravens, black as +midnight. And when Siegfried saw these ravens he knew them to be Odin's +birds,--Hugin, thought, and Munin, memory. And they alighted on the +ground near by; and the lad listened to hear what they would say. Then +Hugin flapped his wings, and said,-- + +"The deed is done. Why tarries the hero?" + +And Munin said,-- + +"The world is wide. Fame waits for the hero." + +And Hugin answered,-- + +"What if he win the Hoard of the Elves? That is not honor. Let him seek +fame by nobler deeds." + +Then Munin flew past his ear, and whispered,-- + +"Beware of Regin, the master! His heart is poisoned. He would be thy +bane." + +And the two birds flew away to carry the news to Odin in the happy halls +of Gladsheim. + +When Regin drew near to look upon the dragon, Siegfried kindly accosted +him: but he seemed not to hear; and a snaky glitter lurked in his eyes, +and his mouth was set and dry, and he seemed as one walking in a dream. + +"It is mine now," he murmured: "it is all mine, now,--the Hoard of the +swarthy elf-folk, the garnered wisdom of ages. The strength of the world +is mine. I will keep, I will save, I will heap up; and none shall have +part or parcel of the treasure which is mine alone." + +Then his eyes fell upon Siegfried; and his cheeks grew dark with wrath, +and he cried out,-- + +"Why are you here in my way? I am the lord of the Glittering Heath: I am +the master of the Hoard. I am the master, and you are my thrall." + +Siegfried wondered at the change which had taken place in his old +master; but he only smiled at his strange words, and made no answer. + +"You have slain my brother!" Regin cried; and his face grew fearfully +black, and his mouth foamed with rage. + +"It was my deed and yours," calmly answered Siegfried. "I have rid the +world of a Terror: I have righted a grievous wrong." + +"You have slain my brother," said Regin; "and a murderer's ransom you +shall pay!" + +"Take the Hoard for your ransom, and let us each wend his way," said the +lad. + +"The Hoard is mine by rights," answered Regin still more wrathfully. "I +am the master, and you are my thrall. Why stand you in my way?" + +Then, blinded with madness, he rushed at Siegfried as if to strike him +down; but his foot slipped in a puddle of gore, and he pitched headlong +against the sharp edge of Balmung. So sudden was this movement, and so +unlooked for, that the sword was twitched out of Siegfried's hand, and +fell with a dull splash into the blood-filled pit before him; while +Regin, slain by his own rashness, sank dead upon the ground. Full of +horror, Siegfried turned away, and mounted Greyfell.[EN#12] + +"This is a place of blood," said he, "and the way to glory leads not +through it. Let the Hoard still lie on the Glittering Heath: I will go +my way from hence; and the world shall know me for better deeds than +this." + +And he turned his back on the fearful scene, and rode away; and so +swiftly did Greyfell carry him over the desert land and the mountain +waste, that, when night came, they stood on the shore of the great North +Sea, and the white waves broke at their feet. And the lad sat for a long +time silent upon the warm white sand of the beach, and Greyfell waited +at his side. And he watched the stars as they came out one by one, and +the moon, as it rose round and pale, and moved like a queen across the +sky. And the night wore away, and the stars grew pale, and the moon sank +to rest in the wilderness of waters. And at day-dawn Siegfried looked +towards the west, and midway between sky and sea he thought he saw dark +mountain-tops hanging above a land of mists that seemed to float upon +the edge of the sea. + +While he looked, a white ship, with sails all set, came speeding over +the waters towards him. It came nearer and nearer, and the sailors +rested upon their oars as it glided into the quiet harbor. A minstrel, +with long white beard floating in the wind, sat at the prow; and the +sweet music from his harp was wafted like incense to the shore. The +vessel touched the sands: its white sails were reefed as if by magic, +and the crew leaped out upon the beach. + +"Hail, Siegfried the Golden!" cried the harper. "Whither do you fare +this summer day?" + +"I have come from a land of horror and dread," answered the lad; "and I +would fain fare to a brighter." + +"Then go with me to awaken the earth from its slumber, and to robe the +fields in their garbs of beauty," said the harper. And he touched the +strings of his harp, and strains of the softest music arose in the still +morning air. And Siegfried stood entranced, for never before had he +heard such music. + +"Tell me who you are!" he cried, when the sounds died away. "Tell me who +you are, and I will go to the ends of the earth with you." + +"I am Bragi," answered the harper, smiling. And Siegfried noticed then +that the ship was laden with flowers of every hue, and that thousands +of singing birds circled around and above it, filling the air with the +sound of their glad twitterings. + +Now, Bragi was the sweetest musician in all the world. It was said by +some that his home was with the song-birds, and that he had learned his +skill from them. But this was only part of the truth: for wherever there +was loveliness or beauty, or things noble and pure, there was Bragi; +and his wondrous power in music and song was but the outward sign of +a blameless soul. When he touched the strings of his golden harp, all +Nature was charmed with the sweet harmony: the savage beasts of the wood +crept near to listen; the birds paused in their flight; the waves of the +sea were becalmed, and the winds were hushed; the leaping waterfall +was still, and the rushing torrent tarried in its bed; the elves forgot +their hidden treasures, and joined in silent dance around him; and the +strom-karls and the musicians of the wood vainly tried to imitate him. +And he was as fair of speech as he was skilful in song. His words were +so persuasive that he had been known to call the fishes from the sea, to +move great lifeless rocks, and, what is harder, the hearts of kings. He +understood the voice of the birds, and the whispering of the breeze, the +murmur of the waves, and the roar of the waterfalls. He knew the length +and breadth of the earth, and the secrets of the sea, and the language +of the stars. And every day he talked with Odin the All-Father, and with +the wise and good in the sunlit halls of Gladsheim. And once every year +he went to the North-lands, and woke the earth from its long winter's +sleep, and scattered music and smiles and beauty everywhere.[EN#13] + +Right gladly did Siegfried agree to sail with Bragi over the sea; for +he wot that the bright Asa-god would be a very different guide from +the cunning, evil-eyed Regin. So he went on board with Bragi, and the +gleaming Greyfell followed them, and the sailors sat at their oars. And +Bragi stood in the prow, and touched the strings of his harp. And, as +the music arose, the white sails leaped up the masts, and a warm south +breeze began to blow; and the little vessel, wafted by sweet sounds and +the incense of spring, sped gladly away over the sea. + + + + + +Adventure V. In AEgir's Kingdom. + + + +The vessel in which Siegfried sailed was soon far out at sea; for the +balmy south wind, and the songs of the birds, and the music from Bragi's +harp, all urged it cheerily on. And Siegfried sat at the helm, and +guided it in its course. By and by they lost all sight of land, and the +sailors wist not where they were; but they knew that Bragi, the Wise, +would bring them safely into some haven whenever it should so please +him, and they felt no fear. And the fishes leaped up out of the water +as the white ship sped by on woven wings; and the monsters of the deep +paused, and listened to the sweet music which floated down from above. +After a time the vessel began to meet great ice-mountains in the +sea,--mountains which the Reifriesen, and old Hoder, the King of the +winter months, had sent drifting down from the frozen land of the north. +But these melted at the sound of Bragi's music and at the sight of +Siegfried's radiant armor. And the cold breath of the Frost-giants, +which had driven them in their course, turned, and became the ally of +the south wind. + +At length they came in sight of a dark shore, which stretched on either +hand, north and south, as far as the eye could reach; and as they drew +nearer they saw a line of huge mountains, rising, as it were, out of +the water, and stretching their gray heads far above the clouds. And +the overhanging cliffs seemed to look down, half in anger, half in pity, +upon the little white winged vessel which had dared thus to sail through +these unknown waters. But the surface of the sea was smooth as glass; +and the gentle breeze drove the ship slowly forwards through the calm +water, and along the rock-bound coast, and within the dark shadows of +the mountain-peaks. Long ago the Frost-giants had piled great heaps of +snow upon these peaks, and built huge fortresses of ice between, +and sought, indeed, to clasp in their cold embrace the whole of the +Norwegian land. But the breezes of the South-land that came with Bragi's +ship now played among the rocky steeps, and swept over the frozen +slopes above, and melted the snow and ice; and thousands of rivulets of +half-frozen water ran down the mountain-sides, and tumbled into rocky +gorges, or plunged into the sea. And the grass began to grow on the +sunny slopes, and the flowers peeped up through the half-melted snow, +and the music of spring was heard on every side. Now and then the little +vessel passed by deep, dark inlets enclosed between high mountain-walls, +and reaching many leagues far into land. But the sailors steered clear +of these shadowy fjords; for they said that Ran, the dread Ocean-queen, +lived there, and spread her nets in the deep green waters to entangle +unwary seafaring men. And the sound of Bragi's harp awakened all +sleeping things; and it was carried from rock to rock, and from +mountain-height to valley, and was borne on the breeze far up the +fjords, and all over the land. + +One day, as they were sailing through these quiet waters, beneath the +overhanging cliffs, Bragi tuned his harp, and sang a song of sea. And +then he told Siegfried a story of AEgir and his gold-lit hall. + +Old AEgir was the Ocean-king. At most times he was rude and rough, and +his manners were uncouth and boisterous. But when Balder, the Shining +One, smiled kindly upon him from above, or when Bragi played his harp by +the seashore, or sailed his ship on the waters, the heart of the bluff +old king was touched with a kindly feeling, and he tried hard to curb +his ungentle passions, and to cease his blustering ways. He was one of +the old race of giants; and men believe that he would have been a very +good and quiet giant, had it not been for the evil ways of his wife, the +crafty Queen Ran. For, however kind at heart the king might be, his good +intentions were almost always thwarted by the queen. Ran could never be +trusted; and no one, unless it were Loki, the Mischief-maker, could ever +say any thing in her praise. She was always lurking among hidden rocks, +or in the deep sea, or along the shores of silent fjords, and reaching +out with her long lean fingers, seeking to clutch in her greedy grasp +whatever prey might unwarily come near her. And many richly-laden +vessels, and many brave seamen and daring warriors, had she dragged down +to her blue-hung chamber in old AEgir's hall. + +And this is the story that Bragi told of + + + +The Feast in AEgir's Hall. + + + +It happened long ago, when the good folk at Gladsheim were wont to visit +the mid-world oftener than now. On a day in early autumn Queen Ran, +with her older daughters,--Raging Sea, Breaker, Billow, Surge, and +Surf,--went out to search for plunder. But old AEgir staid at home, and +with him his younger daughters,--fair Purple-hair, gentle Diver, dancing +Ripple, and smiling Sky-clear. And as they played around him, and kissed +his old storm-beaten cheeks, the heart of the king was softened into +gentleness, and he began to think kindly of the green earth which +bordered his kingdom, and of the brave men who lived there; but most of +all did he think of the great and good Asa-folk, who dwell in Asgard, +and overlook the affairs of the world. Then he called his servants, +Funfeng and Elder, and bade them prepare a feast in his gold-lit hall. +And he sent fleet messengers to invite the Asa-folk to come and partake +of the good cheer. And his four young daughters played upon the beach, +and smiled and danced in the beaming sunlight. And the hearts of many +seafaring men were gladdened that day, as they spread their sails to the +wind; for they saw before them a pleasant voyage, and the happy issue of +many an undertaking. + +Long before the day had begun to wane, the Asa-folk arrived in a body +at AEgir's hall; for they were glad to answer the bidding of the +Ocean-king. Odin came, riding Sleipner, his eight-footed steed; Thor +rode in his iron chariot drawn by goats; Frey came with Gullinburste, +his golden-bristled boar. There, too, was the war-like Tyr, and blind +Hoder, and the silent Vidar, and the sage Forsete, and the hearkening +Heimdal, and Niord, the Ruler of the Winds, and Bragi, with his harp; +and lastly came many elves, the thralls of the Asa-folk, and Loki, the +cunning Mischief-maker. In his rude but hearty way old AEgir welcomed +them; and they went down into his amber hall, and rested themselves upon +the sea-green couches that had been spread for them. And a thousand +fair mermaids stood around them, and breathed sweet melodies through +sea-shells of rainbow hue, while the gentle white-veiled daughters of +the Ocean-king danced to the bewitching music. + +Hours passed by, and the sun began to slope towards the west, and the +waiting guests grew hungry and ill at ease; and then they began to +wonder why the feast was so long in getting ready. At last the host +himself became impatient; and he sent out in haste for his servants, +Funfeng and Elder. Trembling with fear, they came and stood before him. + +"Master," said they, "we know that you are angry because the feast is +not yet made ready; but we beg that your anger may not fall upon us. The +truth is, that some thief has stolen your brewing-kettle, and we have no +ale for your guests." + +Then old AEgir's brow grew dark, and his breath came quick and fast; +and, had not Niord held the winds tightly clutched in his hand, there +would have been a great uproar in the hall. Even as it was, the mermaids +fled away in great fright, and the white-veiled Waves stopped dancing, +and a strange silence fell upon all the company. + +"Some enemy has done this!" crier AEgir, as soon as he could speak. +"Some enemy has taken away my brewing-kettle; and, unless we can find +it, I fear our feast will be but a dry one." + +Then Thor said,-- + +"If any one knows where this kettle is, let him speak, and I will bring +it back; and I promise you you shall not wait long for the feast." + +But not one in all this company knew aught about the missing kettle. At +last Tyr stood up and said,-- + +"If we cannot find the same vessel that our host has lost, mayhap we +may find another as good. I know a dogwise giant who lives east of the +Rivers Elivagar, and who has a strong kettle, fully a mile deep, and +large enough to brew ale for all the world." + +"That is the very kettle we want!" cried Thor. "Think you that we can +get it?" + +"If we are cunning enough, we may," answered Tyr. "But old Hymer will +never give it up willingly." + +"Is it Hymer of whom you speak?" asked Thor. "Then I know him well; and, +willingly or not willingly he must let us have his kettle. For what is a +feast without the gladsome ale?" + +Then Thor and Tyr set out on their journey towards the land of Elivagar; +and they travelled many a league northwards, across snowy mountains +and barren plains, until they came to the shores of the frozen sea. And +there the sun rises and sets but once a year, and even in summer the sea +is full of ice. On the lonely beach, stood Hymer's dwelling,--a dark +and gloomy abode. Tyr knocked at the door; and it was opened by Hymer's +wife, a strangely handsome woman, who bade them come in. Inside the hall +they saw Hymer's old mother, sitting in the chimney-corner, and crooning +over the smouldering fire. She was a horribly ugly old giantess, with +nine hundred heads; but every head was blind and deaf and toothless. Ah, +me! what a wretched old age that must have been! + +"Is your husband at home?" asked Thor, speaking to the pretty woman who +had opened the door. + +"He is not," was the answer. "He is catching fish in the warm waters of +the sheltered bay; or, mayhap, he is tending his cows in the open sea, +just around the headland." + +For the great icebergs that float down from the frozen sea are called +old Hymer's cows. + +"We have come a very long journey," said Tyr. "Will you not give +two tired strangers food and lodging until they shall have rested +themselves?" + +The woman seemed in nowise loath to do this; and she set before the two +Asa-folk a plentiful meal of the best that she had in the house. When +they had eaten, she told them that it would be far safer for them to +hide themselves under the great kettles in the hall; for, she said, her +husband would soon be home, and he might not be kind to them. So Thor +and Tyr hid themselves, and listened for Hymer's coming. After a time, +the great hall-door opened, and they heard the heavy steps of the giant. + +"Welcome home!" cried the woman, as Hymer shook the frost from his hair +and beard, and stamped the snow from his feet. "I am so glad that you +have come! for there are two strangers in the hall, and they have asked +for you. One of them I know is Thor, the foe of the giants, and the +friend of man. The other is the one-armed god of war, the brave Tyr. +What can be their errand at Hymer's hall?" + +"Where are they?" roared Hymer, stamping so furiously, that even his +deaf old mother seemed to hear, and lifted up her heads. + +"They are under the kettles, at the gable-end of the hall," answered the +woman. + +Hymer cast a wrathful glance towards the place. The post at the end of +the hall was shivered in pieces by his very look; the beam that upheld +the floor of the loft was broken, and all the kettles tumbled down with +a fearful crash. Thor and Tyr crept out from among the rubbish, and +stood before old Hymer. The giant was not well pleased at the sight of +such guests come thus unbidden to his hall. But he knew that his rude +strength would count as nothing if matched with their skill and weapons: +hence he deemed it wise to treat the two Asas as his friends, and to +meet them with cunning and strategy. + +"Welcome to my hall!" he cried. "Fear no hurt from Hymer, for he was +never known to harm a guest." + +And Thor and Tyr were given the warmest seats at the fireside. And the +giant ordered his thralls to kill the fatted oxen, and to make ready a +great feast in honor of his guests. And, while the meal was being got +ready, he sat by Thor's side, and asked him many questions about what +was going on in the great South-land. And Thor answered him pleasantly, +meeting guile with guile. When the feast was in readiness, all sat down +at the table, which groaned beneath its weight of meat and drink; for +Hymer's thralls had killed three fat oxen, and baked them whole for +this meal, and they had filled three huge bowls with ale from his great +brewing-kettle. Hymer ate and drank very fast, and wished to make his +guests fear him, because he could eat so much. But Thor was not to be +taken aback in this way; for he at once ate two of the oxen, and quaffed +a huge bowl of ale which the giant had set aside for himself. The giant +saw that he was outdone, and he arose from the table, saying,-- + +"Not all my cows would serve to feed two guests so hungry as these. We +shall be obliged to live on fish now." + +He strode out of the hall without another word, and began getting his +boat ready for a sail. But Thor followed him. + +"It is a fine day for fishing," said Thor gayly. "How I should like to +go out with you!" + +"Such little fellows as you would better stay at home," growled Hymer. + +"But let me go with you," persisted Thor. "I can certainly row the boat +while you fish." + +"I have no need of help from such a stunted pygmy," muttered the giant. +"You could not be of the least use to me: you would only be in my way. +Still, if you are bent on doing so, you may go, and you shall take all +the risks. If I go as far as I do sometimes, and stay as long as I often +do, you may make up your mind never to see the dry land again; for you +will certainly catch your death of cold, and be food for the fishes--if, +indeed, they would deign to eat such a scrawny scrap!" + +These taunting words made Thor so angry, that he grasped his hammer, and +was sorely tempted to crush the giant's skull. But he checked himself, +and coolly said,-- + +"I pray you not to trouble yourself on my account I have set my head on +going with you, and go I will. Tell me where I can find something that I +can use for bait, and I will be ready in a trice." + +"I have no bait for you," roughly answered Hymer "You must look for it +yourself." + +Half a dozen oxen, the very finest and fattest of Hymer's herd, were +grazing on the short grass which grew on the sunnier slopes of the +hillside; for not all of the giant's cattle had yet taken to the water. +When Thor saw these great beasts, he ran quickly towards them, and +seizing the largest one, which Hymer called the Heaven-breaker, he +twisted off his head as easily as he would that of a small fowl, and ran +back with it to the boat. Hymer looked at him in anger and amazement, +but said nothing; and the two pushed the boat off from the shore. The +little vessel sped through the water more swiftly than it had ever done +before, for Thor plied the oars. + +In a moment the long, low beach was out of sight; and Hymer, who had +never travelled so fast, began to feel frightened. + +"Stop!" he cried. "Here is the place to fish: I have often caught great +store of flat-fish here. Let us out with our lines!" + +"No, no!" answered Thor; and he kept on plying the oars. "We are not yet +far enough from shore. The best fish are still many leagues out." + +And the boat skimmed onwards through the waters, and the white spray +dashed over the prow; and Hymer, now very much frightened, sat still, +and looked at his strange fellow-fisherman, but said not a word. On and +on they went; and the shore behind them first grew dim, and then sank +out of sight; and the high mountain-tops began to fade away in the sky, +and then were seen no more. And when at last the fishermen were so far +out at sea that nothing was in sight but the rolling waters on every +side, Thor stopped his rowing. + +"We have come too far!" cried the giant, trembling in every limb. "The +great Midgard snake lies hereabouts. Let us turn back!" + +"Not yet," answered Thor quietly. "We will fish here a little while." + +Without loss of time he took from his pocket a strong hook, wonderfully +made, to which he fastened a long line as strong as ten ships' cables +twisted together; then he carefully baited the hook with the gory head +of the Heaven-breaker ox, and threw it into the water. As the giant had +feared, they were now right over the head of the great Midgard snake. +The huge beast looked upward with his sleepy eyes, and saw the tempting +bait falling slowly through the water; but he did not see the boat, it +was so far above him. Thinking of no harm, he opened his leathern jaws, +and greedily gulped the morsel down; but the strong iron hook stuck fast +in his throat. Maddened by the pain, he began to lash his tail against +the floor of the sea; and he twisted and writhed until the ocean was +covered with foam, and the waves ran mountain-high. But Thor pulled hard +upon the line above, and strove to lift the reptile's head out of the +water; then the snake darted with lightning speed away, pulling the boat +after him so swiftly, that, had not Thor held on to the oar-locks, he +would have been thrown into the sea. Quickly he tightened his magic +girdle of strength around him, and, standing up in the boat, he pulled +with all his might. The snake would not be lifted. But the boat split in +two; and Thor slid into the water, and stood upon the bottom of the sea. +He seized the great snake in his hands, and raised his head clean above +the water. What a scene of frightful turmoil was there then! The earth +shook; the mountains belched forth fire; the lightnings flashed; the +caves howled; and the sky grew black and red. Nobody knows what the end +would have been, had not Hymer reached over, and cut the strong cord. +The slippery snake glided out of Thor's hands, and hid himself in the +deep sea; and every thing became quiet again. + +Silently Thor and Hymer sat in the broken boat, and rowed swiftly back +towards land. Thor felt really ashamed of himself, because he had gained +nothing by his venture. And the giant was not at all happy. + +When they reached the frozen shore and Hymer's cheerless castle again, +they found Tyr there, anxiously waiting for them. He felt that they were +tarrying too long in this dreary place; and he wished to be back among +his fellows in old AEgir's hall. Hymer felt very cross and ugly because +his boat had been broken; and, when they came into the hall, he said to +Thor,-- + +"You may think that you are very stout,--you who dared attack the +Midgard snake, and lifted him out of the sea. Yet there are many little +things that you cannot do. For instance, here is the earthen goblet from +which I drink my ale. Great men, like myself, can crush such goblets +between their thumbs and fingers; but such puny fellows as you will find +that they cannot break it by any means." + +"Let me try!" cried Thor. + +He took the great goblet in his hands, and threw it with all his +strength against a stone post in the middle of the hall. The post was +shattered into a thousand pieces, but the goblet was unharmed. + +"Ha, ha!" laughed the giant. "Try again!" + +Thor did so. This time he threw it against a huge granite rock that +stood like a mountain near the seashore. The rock crumbled in pieces and +fell, but the goblet was whole as ever. + +"What a very stout fellow you are!" cried Hymer in glee. "Go home now, +and tell the good Asa-folk that you cannot even break a goblet!" + +"Let me try once more," said Thor, amazed, but not disheartened. + +"Throw it against Hymer's forehead," whispered some one over his +shoulder. "It is harder than any rock." + +Thor looked, and saw that it was the giant's handsome wife who had +given him this kind advice. He took the goblet, and hurled it quickly, +straight at old Hymer's head. The giant had no time to dodge. The +vessel struck him squarely between the eyes, and was shattered into ten +thousand little pieces. But the giant's forehead was unhurt. + +"That drink was rather hot!" cried Hymer, trying to joke at his ill +luck. "But it doesn't take a very great man to break a goblet. There +is one thing, however, that you cannot do. Yonder is my great +brewing-kettle, a mile deep. No man has ever lifted it. Now, if you will +carry it out of the hall, where it sits, you may have it for your own." + +"Agreed!" cried Thor. "It is a fair bargain; and, if I fail, I will go +home and never trouble you again." + +Then he took hold of the edge of the great kettle, and lifted it with +all his might. The floor of Hymer's hall broke under him, and the walls +and roof came tumbling down; but he turned the kettle over his head, +and walked away with it, the great rings of the vessel clattering at his +heels. Tyr went before him, and cleared the way; and Hymer gazed +after him in utter amazement. The two Asa-folk had fairly won the +brewing-kettle. + +In due time they reached old AEgir's hall, where the guests were still +waiting for them. Some said that they had been gone three days, but most +agreed that it was only three hours. Be that as it may, AEgir's thralls, +Funfeng and Elder, brewed great store of ale in the kettle which Thor +had brought; and, when the guests were seated at the table, the foaming +liquor passed itself around to each, and there was much merriment and +glad good cheer. And old AEgir was so happy in the pleasant company of +the Asa-folk, that men say that he forgot to blow and bluster for a full +six months thereafter.[EN#14] + +Such was the story which the wise harper told to Siegfried as they +sailed gayly along the Norwegian shore. And with many other pleasant +tales did they beguile the hours away. And no one ever thought of +danger, for the sky was blue and cloudless. And, besides this, Bragi +himself was on board; and he could charm and control the rudest +elements. + +One day, however, the sea became unaccountably ruffled. There was no +wind; but yet the waves rose suddenly, and threatened to overwhelm the +little ship. Quickly the sailors sprang to their oars, and tried by +rowing to drive the vessel away from the shore and into the quieter +waters of the open sea. But all their strength was of no avail: the +swift stream carried the little bark onward in its course, as an autumn +leaf is borne on the bosom of a mighty river. Then the whole surface +of the water seemed lashed into fury. The waves formed hundreds of +currents, each stronger than a mountain torrent, and each seeming to +follow a course of its own. They clashed wildly against each other; they +heaved, and boiled, and hissed, and threw great clouds of spray high +into the air; they formed deep whirlpools, which twisted and twirled, +and broke into a thousand eddies, and then plunged deep down into rocky +caverns beneath, or laid bare the bottom of the sea. The helpless ship +was carried round and round, swiftly and more swiftly still; and vain +were the efforts of the crew to steer her out of the seething caldron +of waters. Then the cheeks of the sailors grew white with fear; and they +dropped their oars, and clung to the masts and ropes, and cried out,-- + +"Alas, we are lost! This is old AEgir's brewing-kettle!" + +But Siegfried stood by the helm, and said,-- + +"If that be true, then we may sup with him in his gold-lit hall." + +And all this time Bragi slept in the hold, and no one dared awaken him. +Faster and faster the ship was carried round the seething pool. The +flying spray was frozen in the air; and it filled the masts with snow, +and pattered like heavy hail upon the deck. The light of the sun seemed +shut out, and darkness closed around. A dismal chasm yawned deep before +them, and in the gray gloom the ship's crew saw many wondrous things. +Great sea-monsters swam among the rocks, and seemed not to heed the +uproar above them. Lovely mermaids sat in their green-and-purple caves, +and combed their tresses of golden hair; and thoughtful mermen groped +among the seaweeds, searching hopefully for lost or hidden treasures. +Then Siegfried caught a glimpse of the mighty AEgir, sitting in his +banquet-room; and, as he quaffed his foaming ale, he called aloud to his +daughters to leave their play, and come to their father in his gold-lit +hall. And the white-veiled Waves answered to their names, and came +at his call. First, Raging Sea entered the wide hall, and sat by the +Ocean-king's side; then Billow, then Surge, then Surf, and Breakers; +then came the Purple-haired, and the Diver; but AEgir's two youngest +daughters, Laughing Ripple and Smiling Sky-clear, came not at their +father's beck, but lingered to play among the rocks and in the open sea. + +So deeply engaged was Siegfried in watching this scene, that he did not +notice Bragi, who now came upon the deck with his harp in his hand. And +sweet music arose from among the dashing waves, and was heard far down +in the deep sea-caverns, and even in AEgir's hall. And, when Siegfried +looked up again, the eddying whirlpools, and the threatening waves, and +the flying spray, were no more; but the ship was gliding over the quiet +waters of a deep blue sea, and the sun was shining brightly in the clear +sky above. Then an east wind filled the sails; and, as Bragi's music +rose sweeter and higher, they glided swiftly away from the coast, and +soon the snow-capped mountain-peaks grew dim in the distance, and then +sank from sight. + +Many days they sailed over an unknown sea, and towards an unknown land; +and none but Bragi knew what the end of their voyage would be. And yet +no one doubted or was afraid, for the secrets of the earth and the sea +were known to the sweet singer. After a time, the water became as smooth +as glass: not a ripple moved upon its surface, and not the slightest +breath of air stirred among the idly-hanging sails. Then the sailors +went to their oars; but they seemed overcome with languor and +sleepiness, and only when Bragi played upon his harp did they move their +oars with their wonted strength and quickness. And at last they came in +sight of a long, low coast, and a shelving beach up which the tide was +slowly creeping in drowsy silence. And not half a league from the shore +was a grand old castle, with a tall tower and many turrets, and broad +halls and high battlements; and in the light of the setting sun every +thing was as green as emerald or as the fresh grass of early spring. And +a pale flickering light gleamed on the castle-walls, and the moat seemed +filled with a glowing fire. + +The ship glided silently up to the sandy beach, and the sailors moored +it to the shore. But Siegfried heard no sound upon the land, nor could +he see any moving, living thing. Silence brooded everywhere, and the +castle and its inmates seemed to be wrapped in slumber. The sentinels +could be seen upon the ramparts, standing like statues of stone, and +showing no signs of life; while above the barbacan gate the watchman was +at his post, motionless and asleep. + + + + + +Adventure VI. Brunhild. + + + +Siegfried and the harper sat together in the little ship as it lay +moored to the sandy shore; and their eyes were turned towards the +sea-green castle and its glowing walls, and they looked in vain for +any movement, or any sign of wakeful life. Every thing was still. Not a +breath of air was stirring. The leaves of the trees hung motionless, +as if they, too, were asleep. The great green banner on the tower's top +clung around the flagstaff as if it had never fluttered to the breeze. +No song of birds, nor hum of insects, came to their ears. There was +neither sound nor motion anywhere. + +"Play your harp, good Bragi, and awaken all these sleepers," said +Siegfried. + +Then the harper touched the magic strings, and strains of music, loud +and clear, but sweet as a baby's breath, rose up in the still air, +and floated over the quiet bay, and across the green meadows which lay +around the castle-walls; and it was borne upward over the battlements, +and among the shining turrets and towers, and was carried far out over +the hills, and among the silent trees of the plain. And Bragi sung of +the beginning of all things, and of whatsoever is beautiful on the land, +or in the sea, or in the sky. And Siegfried looked to see every thing +awakened, and quickened into life, as had oft been done before by +Bragi's music; but nothing stirred. The sun went down, and the gray +twilight hung over sea and land, and the red glow in the castle-moat +grew redder still; and yet every thing slept. Then Bragi ended his song, +and the strings of his harp were mute. + +"Music has no charms to waken from sleep like that," he said. + +And then he told Siegfried what it all meant; and, to make the story +plain, he began by telling of Odin's bright home at Gladsheim and of the +many great halls that were there. + +One of the halls in Gladsheim is called Valhal. This hall is so large +and wide, that all the armies of the earth might move within it. +Outside, it is covered with gold and with sun-bright shields. A fierce +wolf stands guard before it, and a mountain-eagle hovers over it. It has +five hundred and forty doors, each large enough for eight hundred heroes +to march through abreast. Inside, every thing is glittering bright. The +rafters are made of spears, and the ceiling is covered with shields, +and the walls are decked with war-coats. In this hall Odin sets daily +a feast for all the heroes that have been slain in battle. These sit +at the great table, and eat of the food which Odin's servants have +prepared, and drink of the heavenly mead which the Valkyries, Odin's +handmaids, bring them. + +But the Valkyries have a greater duty. When the battle rages, and swords +clash, and shields ring, and the air is filled with shouts and groans +and all the din of war, then these maidens hover over the field of blood +and death, and carry the slain heroes home to Valhal.[EN#15] + +One of Odin's Valkyries was named Brunhild, and she was the most +beautiful of all the maidens that chose heroes for his war-host. But she +was wilful too, and did not always obey the All-Father's behests. And +when Odin knew that she had sometimes snatched the doomed from death, +and sometimes helped her chosen friends to victory, he was very angry. +And he drove her away from Gladsheim, and sent her, friendless and poor, +to live among the children of men, and to be in all ways like them. But, +as she wandered weary and alone over the earth, the good old King of +Isenland saw her beauty and her distress, and pity and love moved +his heart; and, as he had no children of his own, he took her for his +daughter, and made her his heir. And not long afterward he died, and the +matchless Brunhild became queen of all the fair lands of Isenland and +the hall of Isenstein. When Odin heard of this, he was more angry still; +and he sent to Isenstein, and caused Brunhild to be stung with the thorn +of Sleep. And he said,-- + +"She shall sleep until one shall come who is brave enough to ride +through fire to awaken her." + +And all Isenland slept too, because Brunhild, the Maiden of Spring, lay +wounded with the Sleepful thorn. + +* * * * * + +When Siegfried heard this story, he knew that the land which lay before +them was Isenland, and that the castle was Isenstein, and that Brunhild +was sleeping within that circle of fire. + +"My songs have no power to awaken such a sleeper," said Bragi. "A hero +strong and brave must ride through the flame to arouse her. It is for +this that I have brought you hither; and here I will leave you, while I +sail onwards to brighten other lands with my music." + +Siegfried's heart leaped up with gladness; for he thought that here, +at last, was a worthy deed for him to do. And he bade his friend Bragi +good-by, and stepped ashore; and Greyfell followed him. And Bragi sat at +the prow of the ship, and played his harp again; and the sailors plied +their oars; and the little vessel moved swiftly out of the bay, and was +seen no more. And Siegfried stood alone on the silent, sandy beach. + +As he thus stood, the full moon rose white and dripping from the sea; +and its light fell on the quiet water, and the sloping meadows, and the +green turrets of the castle. And the last notes of Bragi's harp came +floating to him over the sea. + +Then a troop of fairies came down to dance upon the sands. It was the +first sign of life that Siegfried had seen. As the little creatures drew +near, he hid himself among the tall reeds which grew close to the shore; +for he wished to see them at their gambols, and to listen to their +songs. At first, as if half afraid of their own tiny shadows, they +danced in silence; but, as the moon rose higher, they grew bolder, and +began to sing. And their music was so sweet and soft, that Siegfried +forgot almost every thing, else for the time: they sang of the pleasant +summer days, and of cooling shades, and still fountains, and silent +birds, and peaceful slumber. And a strange longing for sleep took hold +of Siegfried; and his eyes grew heavy, and the sound of the singing +seemed dim and far away. But just as he was losing all knowledge of +outward things, and his senses seemed moving in a dream, the fairies +stopped dancing, and a little brown elf came up from the sea, and +saluted the queen of the tiny folk. + +"What news bring you from the great world beyond the water?" asked the +queen. + +"The prince is on his way hither," answered the elf. + +"And what will he do?" + +"If he is brave enough, he will awaken the princess, and arouse the +drowsy people of Isenstein; for the Norns have said that such a prince +shall surely come." + +"But he must be the bravest of men ere he can enter the enchanted +castle," said the queen; "for the wide moat is filled with flames, and +no faint heart will ever dare battle with them." + +"But I will dare!" cried Siegfried; and he sprang from his hiding-place, +forgetful of the little folk, who suddenly flitted away, and left him +alone upon the beach. He glanced across the meadows at the green turrets +glistening in the mellow moonlight, and then at the flickering flames +around the castle walls, and he resolved that on the morrow he would at +all hazards perform the perilous feat. + +In the morning, as soon as the gray dawn appeared, he began to make +ready for his difficult undertaking. But, when he looked again at the +red flames, he began to hesitate. He paused, uncertain whether to +wait for a sign and for help from the All-Father, or whether to go +straightway to the castle, and, trusting in his good armor alone, try +to pass through the burning moat. While he thus stood in doubt, his eyes +were dazzled by a sudden flash of light. He looked up. Greyfell came +dashing across the sands; and from his long mane a thousand sunbeams +gleamed and sparkled in the morning light. Siegfried had never seen the +wondrous creature so radiant; and as the steed stood by him in all his +strength and beauty he felt new hope and courage, as if Odin himself had +spoken to him. He hesitated no longer, but mounted the noble horse; and +Greyfell bore him swiftly over the plain, and paused not until he had +reached the brink of the burning moat. + +Now, indeed, would Siegfried's heart have failed him, had he not been +cheered by the sunbeam presence of Greyfell. For filling the wide, +deep ditch, were angry, hissing flames, which, like a thousand +serpent-tongues, reached out, and felt here and there, for what they +might devour; and ever and anon they took new forms, and twisted and +writhed like fiery snakes, and then they swirled in burning coils high +over the castle-walls. Siegfried stopped not a moment. He spoke the +word, and boldly the horse with his rider dashed into the fiery lake; +and the vile flames fled in shame and dismay before the pure sunbeam +flashes from Greyfell's mane. And, unscorched and unscathed, Siegfried +rode through the moat, and through the wide-open gate, and into the +castle-yard. + +The gate-keeper sat fast asleep in his lodge, while the chains and the +heavy key with which, when awake, he was wont to make the great gate +fast, lay rusting at his feet; and neither he, nor the sentinels on the +ramparts above, stirred or awoke at the sound of Greyfell's clattering +hoofs. As Siegfried passed from one part of the castle to another, many +strange sights met his eyes. In the stables the horses slumbered in +their stalls, and the grooms lay snoring by their sides. The birds sat +sound asleep on their nests beneath the eaves. The watch-dogs, with +fast-closed eyes, lay stretched at full-length before the open doors. In +the garden the fountain no longer played, the half-laden bees had +gone to sleep among the blossoms of the apple-trees, and the flowers +themselves had forgotten to open their petals to the sun. In the +kitchen the cook was dozing over the half-baked meats in front of the +smouldering fire; the butler was snoring in the pantry; the dairy-maid +was quietly napping among the milk-pans; and even the house-flies +had gone to sleep over the crumbs of sugar on the table. In the great +banquet-room a thousand knights, overcome with slumber, sat silent at +the festal board; and their chief, sitting on the dais, slept, with his +half-emptied goblet at his lips. + +Siegfried passed hurriedly from room to room and from hall to hall, and +cast but one hasty glance at the strange sights which met him at every +turn; for he knew that none of the drowsy ones in that spacious castle +could be awakened until he had aroused the Princess Brunhild. In the +grandest hall of the palace he found her. The peerless maiden, most +richly dight, reclined upon a couch beneath a gold-hung canopy; and her +attendants, the ladies of the court, sat near and around her. Sleep held +fast her eyelids, and her breathing was so gentle, that, but for the +blush upon her cheeks, Siegfried would have thought her dead. For long, +long years had her head thus lightly rested on that gold-fringed pillow; +and in all that time neither her youth had faded, nor her wondrous +beauty waned. + +Siegfried stood beside her. Gently he touched his lips to that matchless +forehead; softly he named her name,-- + +"Brunhild!" + +The charm was broken. Up rose the peerless princess in all her +queen-like beauty; up rose the courtly ladies round her. All over the +castle, from cellar to belfry-tower, from the stable to the banquet +hall, there was a sudden awakening, a noise of hurrying feet and +mingled voices, and sounds which had long been strangers to the halls of +Isenstein. The watchman on the tower, and the sentinels on the ramparts, +yawned, and would not believe they had been asleep; the porter picked +up his keys, and hastened to lock the long-forgotten gates; the horses +neighed in their stalls; the watchdogs barked at the sudden hubbub; the +birds, ashamed at having allowed the sun to find them napping, hastened +to seek their food in the meadows; the servants hurried here and there, +each intent upon his duty; the warriors in the banquet-hall clattered +their knives and plates, and began again their feast; and their chief +dropped his goblet, and rubbed his eyes, and wondered that sleep should +have overtaken him in the midst of such a meal.[EN#16] + +And Siegfried, standing at an upper window, looked out over the +castle-walls; and he saw that the flames no longer raged in the moat, +but that it was filled with clear sparkling water from the fountain +which played in the garden. And the south wind blew gently from the sea, +bringing from afar the sweetest strains of music from Bragi's golden +harp; and the breezes whispered among the trees, and the flowers opened +their petals to the sun, and birds and insects made the air melodious +with their glad voices. Then Brunhild, radiant with smiles, stood by +the hero's side, and welcomed him kindly to Isenland and to her +green-towered castle of Isenstein. + + + + + + +Adventure VII. In Nibelungen Land. + + + +Every one in the castle of Isenstein, from the princess to the +kitchen-maid, felt grateful to the young hero for what he had done. The +best rooms were fitted up for his use, and a score of serving men and +maidens were set apart to do his bidding, and ordered to be mindful of +his slightest wish. And all the earl-folk and brave men, and all the +fair ladies, and Brunhild, fairest of them all, besought him to make his +home there, nor ever think of going back to Rhineland. Siegfried yielded +to their persuasions, and for six months he tarried in the enchanted +land in one long round of merry-making and gay enjoyment. But his +thoughts were ever turned toward his father's home in the Lowlands +across the sea, and he longed to behold again his gentle mother +Sigelind. Then he grew tired of his life of idleness and ease, and he +wished that he might go out again into the busy world of manly action +and worthy deeds. And day by day this feeling grew stronger, and filled +him with unrest. + +One morning, as he sat alone by the seashore, and watched the lazy tide +come creeping up the sands, two ravens lighted near him. Glad was he to +see them, for he knew them to be Hugin and Munin, the sacred birds of +Odin, and he felt sure that they brought him words of cheer from the +All-Father. Then Hugin flapped his wings, and said, "In idleness the +stings of death lie hidden, but in busy action are the springs of life. +For a hundred years fair Brunhild slept, but why should Siegfried sleep? +The world awaits him, but it waits too long." + +Then Munin flapped his wings also, but he said nothing. And busy memory +carried Siegfried back to his boyhood days; and he called to mind the +wise words of his father Siegmund, and the fond hopes of his gentle +mother, and he thought, too, of the noble deeds of his kinsfolk of the +earlier days. And he rose in haste, and cried, "Life of ease, farewell! +I go where duty leads. To him who wills to do, the great All-Father will +send strength and help." + +While he spoke, his eyes were dazzled with a flash of light. He looked; +and the beaming Greyfell, his long mane sparkling like a thousand +sunbeams, dashed up the beach, and stood beside him. As the noble steed +in all his strength and beauty stood before him, the youth felt fresh +courage; for, in the presence of the shining hope which the All-Father +had given him, all hinderances seemed to vanish, and all difficulties to +be already overcome. He looked toward the sea again, and saw in the +blue distance a white-sailed ship drawing swiftly near, its golden +dragon-stem ploughing through the waves like some great bird of the +deep. And as with straining, eager eyes, he watched its coming, he felt +that Odin had sent it, and that the time had come wherein he must be up +and doing. The hour for thriving action comes to us once: if not seized +upon and used, it may never come again. + +The ship drew near the shore. The sailors rested on their oars. +Siegfried and the steed Greyfell sprang upon the deck; then the sailors +silently bent again to their rowing. The flapping sails were filled and +tightened by the strong west wind; and the light vessel leaped from wave +to wave like a thing of life, until Isenstein, with its tall towers and +its green marble halls, sank from sight in the distance and the mist. +And Siegfried and his noble steed seemed to be the only living beings +on board; for the sailors who plied the oars were so silent and +phantom-like, that they appeared to be nought but the ghosts of the +summer sea-breezes. As the ship sped swiftly on its way, all the +creatures in the sea paused to behold the sight. The mermen rested from +their weary search for hidden treasures, and the mermaids forgot to comb +their long tresses, as the radiant vessel and its hero-freight glided +past. And even old King AEgir left his brewing-kettle in his great hall, +and bade his daughters, the white-veiled Waves, cease playing until the +vessel should safely reach its haven. + +When, at length, the day had passed, and the evening twilight had come, +Siegfried saw that the ship was nearing land; but it was a strange +land.[EN#17] Like a fleecy cloud it appeared to rest above the waves, +midway between the earth and the sky; a dark mist hung upon it, and it +seemed a land of dreams and shadows. The ship drew nearer and nearer +to the mysterious shore, and as it touched the beach the sailors rested +from their rowing. Then Siegfried and the horse Greyfell leaped ashore; +but, when they looked back, the fair vessel that had carried them was +nowhere to be seen. Whether it had suddenly been clutched by the +greedy fingers of the Sea-queen Ran, and dragged down into her deep +sea-caverns, or whether, like the wondrous ship Skidbladner, it had been +folded up, and made invisible to the eyes of men, Siegfried never knew. +The thick mists and the darkness of night closed over and around both +hero and horse; and they dared not stir, but stood long hours in the +silent gloom, waiting for the coming of the dawn. + +At length the morning came, but the light was not strong enough to +scatter the fogs and thick vapors that rested upon the land. Then +Siegfried mounted Greyfell; and the sunbeams began to flash from the +horse's mane and from the hero's glittering mail-coat; and the hazy +clouds fled upward and away, until they were caught and held fast by +great mist-giants, who stood like sentinels on the mountain-tops. As +the shining pair came up from the sea, and passed through the woods and +valleys of the Nibelungen Land, there streamed over all that region such +a flood of sunlight as had never before been seen. + +In every leafy tree, and behind every blade of grass, elves and fairies +were hidden; and under every rock and in every crevice lurked cunning +dwarfs. But Siegfried rode straight forward until he came to the steep +side of a shadowy mountain. There, at the mouth of a cavern, a strange +sight met his eyes. Two young men, dressed in princes' clothing, sat +upon the ground: their features were all haggard and gaunt, and pinched +with hunger, and their eyes wild with wakefulness and fear; and all +around them were heaps of gold and precious stones,--more than a hundred +wagons could carry away. And neither of the two princes would leave +the shining hoard for food, nor close his eyes in sleep, lest the +other might seize and hide some part of the treasure. And thus they had +watched and hungered through many long days and sleepless nights, each +hoping that the other would die, and that the whole inheritance might be +his own. + +When they saw Siegfried riding near, they called out to him, and said, +"Noble stranger, stop a moment! Come and help us divide this treasure." + +"Who are you?" asked Siegfried; "and what treasure is it that lies +there?" + +"We are the sons of Niblung, who until lately was king of this Mist +Land. Our names are Schilbung and the young Niblung," faintly answered +the princes. + +"And what are you doing here with this gold and these glittering +stones?" + +"This is the great Nibelungen Hoard, which our father not long ago +brought from the South-land. It is not clear just how he obtained +it.[EN#18] Some say that he got it unjustly from his brother, whose +vassals had digged it from the earth. Others say that he found it +lying on the Glittering Heath, where Fafnir the Dragon had guarded it +zealously for ages past, until he was slain by a hero who cared nought +for his gold. But, be this as it may, our father is now dead, and we +have brought the hoard out of the cavern where he had hidden it, in +order that we may share it between us equally. But we cannot agree, and +we pray you to help us divide it." + +Then Siegfried dismounted from the horse Greyfell, and came near the two +princes. + +"I will gladly do as you ask," said he; "but first I must know more +about your father,--who he was, and whether this is really the Hoard of +the Glittering Heath." + +Then Niblung answered, as well as his feeble voice would allow, "Our +father was, from the earliest times, the ruler of this land, and the +lord of the fog and the mist. Many strongholds, and many noble halls, +had he in this land; and ten thousand brave warriors were ever ready to +do his bidding. The trolls, and the swarthy elves of the mountains, and +the giants of the cloudy peaks, were his vassals. But he did more than +rule over the Nibelungen Land. Twice every year he crossed the sea and +rambled through the Rhine valleys, or loitered in the moist Lowlands; +and now and then he brought rich trophies back to his island home. The +last time, he brought this treasure with him; but, as we have said, it +is not clear how he obtained it. We have heard men say that it was the +Hoard of Andvari, and that when Fafnir, the dragon who watched it, was +slain, the hero who slew him left it to be taken again by the swarthy +elves who had gathered it; but because of a curse which Andvari had +placed upon it, no one would touch it, until some man would assume its +ownership, and take upon himself the risk of incurring the curse. This +thing, it is said, our father did. And the dwarf Alberich undertook to +keep it for him; and he, with the help of the ten thousand elves who +live in these caverns, and the twelve giants whom you see standing on +the mountain-peaks around, guarded it faithfully so long as our father +lived. But, when he died, we and our thralls fetched it forth from the +cavern, and spread it here on the ground. And, lo! for many days we have +watched and tried to divide it equally. But we cannot agree." + +"What hire will you give me if I divide it for you?" asked Siegfried. + +"Name what you will have," answered the princes. + +"Give me the sword which lies before you on the glittering heap." + +Then Niblung handed him the sword, and said, "Right gladly will we give +it. It is a worthless blade that our father brought from the South-land. +They say that he found it also on the Glittering Heath, in the trench +where Fafnir was slain. And some will have it that it was forged by +Regin, Fafnir's own brother. But how that is, I do not know. At any +rate, it is of no use to us; for it turns against us whenever we try to +use it." + +Siegfried took the sword. It was his own Balmung, that had been lost so +long. + +Forthwith he began the task of dividing the treasure; and the two +brothers, so faint from hunger and want of sleep that they could +scarcely lift their heads, watched him with anxious, greedy eyes. First +he placed a piece of gold by Niblung's side, and then a piece of like +value he gave to Schilbung. And this he did again and again, until no +more gold was left. Then, in the same manner, he divided the precious +gem-stones until none remained. And the brothers were much pleased; and +they hugged their glittering treasures, and thanked Siegfried for his +kindness, and for the fairness with which he had given to each his +own. But one thing was left which had not fallen to the lot of either +brother. It was a ring of curious workmanship,--a serpent coiled, with +its tail in its mouth, and with ruby eyes glistening and cold. + +"What shall I do with this ring?" asked Siegfried. + +"Give it to me!" cried Niblung. + +"Give it to me!" cried Schilbung. + +And both tried to snatch it from Siegfried's hand. + +But the effort was too great for them. Their arms fell helpless at their +sides, their feet slipped beneath them, their limbs failed: they sank +fainting, each upon his pile of treasures. + +"O my dear, dear gold!" murmured Niblung, trying to clasp it all in his +arms,--"my dear, dear gold! Thou art mine, mine only. No one shall +take thee from me. Here thou art, here thou shalt rest. O my dear, dear +gold!" And then, calling up the last spark of life left in his famished +body, he cried out to Siegfried, "Give me the ring!--the ring, I say!" + +He hugged his cherished gold nearer to his bosom; he ran his thin +fingers deep down into the shining yellow heap; he pressed his pale lips +to the cold and senseless metal; he whispered faintly, "My dear, dear +gold!" and then he died. + +"O precious, precious gem-stones," faltered Schilbung, "how beautiful +you are! And you are mine, all mine. I will keep you safe. Come, come, +my bright-eyed beauties! No one but me shall touch you. You are mine, +mine, mine!" And he chattered and laughed as only madmen laugh. And he +kissed the hard stones, and sought to hide them in his bosom. But his +hands trembled and failed, dark mists swam before his eyes; he fancied +that he heard the black dwarfs clamoring for his treasure; he sprang up +quickly, he shrieked--and then fell lifeless upon his hoard of sparkling +gems. + +A strange, sad sight it was,--boundless wealth, and miserable death; +two piles of yellow gold and sun-bright diamonds, and two thin, starved +corpses stretched upon them. Some stories relate that the brothers were +slain by Siegfried, because their foolish strife and greediness had +angered him.[EN#19] But I like not to think so. It was the gold, and not +Siegfried, that slew them. + +"O gold, gold!" cried the hero sorrowfully, "truly thou art the +mid-world's curse; thou art man's bane. But when the bright spring-time +of the new world shall come, and Balder shall reign in his glory, then +will the curse be taken from thee, and thy yellow brightness will be the +sign of purity and enduring worth; and then thou wilt be a blessing to +mankind, and the precious plaything of the gods." + +But Siegfried had little time for thought and speech. A strange sound +was heard upon the mountain-side. The twelve great giants who had stood +as watchmen upon the peaks above were rushing down to avenge their +masters, and to drive the intruder out of Nibelungen Land. Siegfried +waited not for their onset; but he mounted the noble horse Greyfell, +and, with the sword Balmung in his hand, he rode forth to meet his foes, +who, with fearful threats and hideous roars, came striding toward him. +The sunbeams flashed from Greyfell's mane, and dazzled the dull eyes of +the giants, unused as they were to the full light of day. Doubtful, +they paused, and then again came forward. But they mistook every tree in +their way for an enemy, and every rock they thought a foe; and in their +fear they fancied a great host to be before them. Did you ever see the +dark and threatening storm-clouds on a summer's day scattered and put +to flight by the bright beams of the sun? It was thus that Siegfried's +giant foes were routed. One and all, they dropped their heavy clubs, and +stood ashamed and trembling, not knowing what to do. And Siegfried made +each one swear to serve him faithfully; and then he sent them back to +the snow-covered mountain-peaks to stand again as watchmen at their +posts. + +And now another danger appeared. Alberich the dwarf, the master of the +swarthy elves who guarded the Nibelungen Hoard, had come out from his +cavern, and seen the two princes lying dead beside their treasures, and +he thought that they had been murdered by Siegfried; and, when he beheld +the giants driven back to the mountain-tops, he lifted a little silver +horn to his lips, and blew a shrill bugle-call. And the little brown +elves came trooping forth by thousands: from under every rock, from +the nooks and crannies and crevices in the mountain-side, from the deep +cavern and the narrow gorge, they came at the call of their chief. Then, +at Alberich's word, they formed in line of battle, and stood in order +around the hoard and the bodies of their late masters. Their little +golden shields and their sharp-pointed spears were thick as the blades +of grass in a Rhine meadow. And Siegfried, when he saw them, was pleased +and surprised; for never before had such a host of pygmy warriors stood +before him. + +While he paused and looked, the elves became suddenly silent, and +Siegfried noticed that Alberich stood no longer at their head, but had +strangely vanished from sight. + +"Ah, Alberich!" cried the hero. "Thou art indeed cunning. I have heard +of thy tricks. Thou hast donned the Tarnkappe, the cloak of darkness, +which hides thee from sight, and makes thee as strong as twelve common +men. But come on, thou brave dwarf!" + +Scarcely had he spoken, when he felt a shock which almost sent him +reeling from his saddle, and made Greyfell plunge about with fright. +Quickly, then, did Siegfried dismount, and, with every sense alert, +he waited for the second onset of the unseen dwarf. It was plain that +Alberich wished to strike him unawares, for many minutes passed in utter +silence. Then a brisk breath of wind passed by Siegfried's face, and +he felt another blow; but, by a quick downward movement of his hand, he +caught the plucky elf-king, and tore off the magic Tarnkappe, and then, +with firm grasp, he held him, struggling in vain to get free. + +"Ah, Alberich!" he cried, "now I know thou art cunning. But the +Tarnkappe I must have for my own. What wilt thou give for thy freedom?" + +"Worthy prince," answered Alberich humbly, "you have fairly overcome +me in fight, and made me your prisoner. I and all mine, as well as +this treasure, rightfully belong to you. We are yours, and you we shall +obey." + +"Swear it!" said Siegfried. "Swear it, and thou shalt live, and be the +keeper of my treasures." + +And Alberich made a sign to his elfin host, and every spear was turned +point downwards, and every tiny shield was thrown to the ground, and +the ten thousand little warriors kneeled, as did also their chief, and +acknowledged Siegfried to be their rightful master, and the lord of the +Nibelungen Land, and the owner of the Hoard of Andvari. + +Then, by Alberich's orders, the elves carried the Hoard back into the +cavern, and there kept faithful watch and ward over it. And they buried +the starved bodies of the two princes on the top of the mist-veiled +mountain; and heralds were sent to all the strongholds in Nibelungen +Land, proclaiming that Siegfried, through his wisdom and might, had +become the true lord and king of the land. Afterwards the prince, riding +on the beaming Greyfell, went from place to place, scattering sunshine +and smiles where shadows and frowns had been before. And the Nibelungen +folk welcomed him everywhere with glad shouts and music and dancing; and +ten thousand warriors, and many noble earl-folk, came to meet him, and +plighted their faith to him. And the pure brightness of his hero-soul, +and the gleaming sunbeams from Greyfell's mane,--the light of hope and +faith,--lifted the curtain of mists and fogs that had so long darkened +the land, and let in the glorious glad light of day and the genial +warmth of summer. + + + + + +Adventure VIII. Siegfried's Welcome Home. + + + +In Santen Castle, one day, there was a strange uproar and confusion. +Everybody was hurrying aimlessly about, and no one seemed to know just +what to do. On every side there were restless whisperings, and hasty +gestures, and loud commands. The knights and warriors were busy donning +their war-coats, and buckling on their swords and helmets. Wise King +Siegmund sat in his council-chamber, and the knowing men of the kingdom +stood around him; and the minds of all seemed troubled with doubt, if +not with fear. + +What could have caused so great an uproar in the once quiet old castle? +What could have brought perplexity to the mind of the wisest king in +all Rhineland? It was this: a herald had just come from the seashore, +bringing word that a strange fleet of a hundred white-sailed vessels had +cast anchor off the coast, and that an army of ten thousand fighting men +had landed, and were making ready to march against Santen. Nobody had +ever heard of so large a fleet before; and no one could guess who the +strangers might be, nor whence they had come, nor why they should thus, +without asking leave, land in the country of a peace-loving king. + +The news spread quickly over all the land. People from every part came +hastening to the friendly shelter of the castle. The townsmen, with +their goods and cattle, hurried within the walls. The sentinels on the +ramparts paced uneasily to and fro, and scanned with watchful eye every +stranger that came near the walls. The warders stood ready to hoist +the drawbridge, and close the gate, at the first signal given by the +watchman above, who was straining his eyes to their utmost in order to +see the first approach of the foe. + +A heavy mist hung over the meadow-lands between Santen and the sea, +and nothing was visible beyond the gates of the town. The ten thousand +strange warriors might be within half a league of the castle, and yet +the sharpest eagle-eye could not see them. + +All at once a clatter of horse's hoofs was heard; the dark mist rose up +from the ground, and began to roll away, like a great cloud, into the +sky; and then strange sunbeam-flashes were seen where the fog had lately +rested. + +"They come!" cried one of the sentinels. "I see the glitter of their +shields and lances." + +"Not so," said the watchman from his place on the tower above. "I see +but one man, and he rides with the speed of the wind, and lightning +flashes from the mane of the horse which carries him." + +The drawbridge was hastily hoisted. The heavy gates were quickly shut, +and fastened with bolts and bars. Every man in the castle was at his +post, ready to defend the fortress with his life. In a short time the +horse and his rider drew near. All who looked out upon them were dazzled +with the golden brightness of the hero's armor, as well as with +the lightning gleams that flashed from the horse's mane. And some +whispered,-- + +"This is no man who thus comes in such kingly splendor. More likely +it is Odin on one of his journeys, or the Shining Balder come again to +earth." + +As the stranger paused on the outer edge of the moat, the sentinels +challenged him,-- + +"Who are you who come thus, uninvited and unheralded, to Santen?" + +"One who has the right to come," answered the stranger. "I am Siegfried; +and I have come to see my father, the good Siegmund, and my mother, the +gentle Sigelind." + +It was indeed Siegfried; and he had come from his kingdom in the +Nibelungen Land, with his great fleet, and the noblest of his warriors, +to see once more his boyhood's home, and to cheer for a time the hearts +of his loving parents. For he had done many noble deeds, and had ruled +wisely and well, and he felt that he was now not unworthy to be called +the son of Siegmund, and to claim kinship with the heroes of the earlier +days. + +As soon as it was surely known that he who stood before the castle-walls +was the young prince who had been gone so many years, and about whom +they had heard so many wonderful stories, the drawbridge was hastily let +down, and the great gates were thrown wide open. And Siegfried, whose +return had been so long wished for, stood once again in his father's +halls. And the fear and confusion which had prevailed gave place to +gladness and gayety; and all the folk of Santen greeted the returned +hero with cheers, and joyfully welcomed him home. And in the whole world +there was no one more happy than Siegmund and Sigelind. + +On the morrow the ten thousand Nibelungen warriors came to Santen; and +Siegmund made for them a great banquet, and entertained them in a right +kingly way, as the faithful liegemen of his son. And Siegfried, when he +had given them rich gifts, sent them with the fleet back to Nibelungen +Land; for he meant to stay for a time with his father and mother at +Santen. + +When the harvest had been gathered, and the fruit was turning purple and +gold, and the moon rode round and full in the clear autumn sky, a gay +high-tide was held for Siegfried's sake; and everybody in the Lowland +country, whether high or low, rich or poor, was asked to come to +the feast. For seven days, nought but unbridled gayety prevailed in +Siegmund's halls. On every hand were sounds of music and laughter, and +sickness and poverty and pain were for the time forgotten. A mock-battle +was fought on the grassy plain not far from the town, and the young men +vied with each other in feats of strength and skill. Never before had +so many beautiful ladies nor so many brave men been seen in Santen. +And, when the time of jollity and feasting had drawn to an end, Siegmund +called together all his guests, and gave to each choice gifts,--a festal +garment, and a horse with rich trappings. And Queen Sigelind scattered +gold without stint among the poor, and many were the blessings she +received. Then all the folk went back to their homes with light hearts +and happy faces.[EN#20] + +The autumn days passed quickly by, and Siegfried began to grow weary of +the idle, inactive life in his father's halls; and Greyfell in his stall +pined for the fresh, free air, and his mane lost all its brightness. +When Siegmund saw how full of unrest his son had become, he said to +him,-- + +"Siegfried, I have grown old and feeble, and have no longer the strength +of my younger days. My kingdom would fare better were a younger ruler +placed over it. Take my crown, I pray you, and let me withdraw from +kingly cares." + +But Siegfried would not listen to such an offer. He had his own kingdom +of the Nibelungens, he said; and, besides, he would never sit on his +father's throne while yet that father lived. And although he loved the +pleasant companionship of his mother, and was delighted to listen to +the wise counsels of his father, the craving for action, and the unrest +which would not be satisfied, grew greater day by day. At last he +said,-- + +"I will ride out into the world again. Mayhap I may find some other +wrong to right, or some other kingdom to win. It was thus that my kin, +in the golden age long past, went faring over the land and sea, and met +their doom at last. They were not home-abiders, nor tillers of the soil; +but the world was their abiding-place, and they filled the hearts of +men." + +And, when his father and mother heard this, they tried no longer to +keep him with them; for they knew that it would be more cruel than the +keeping of a caged bird away from the sunlight. + +"Only go not into Burgundy," said his father. "The kings of that country +are not friendly to us, and they may do you harm. Hagen, the kinsman of +the kings, and the chief of their fighting-men, is old and crafty, and +he cannot brook a greater hero than himself." + +Siegfried laughed. + +"That is all the better reason why I should go to Burgundy-land," he +said. + +"Then take ten thousand of my warriors," said his father, "and make +yourself master of the land." + +"No, no!" cried Siegfried. "One kingdom is enough for me. My own +Nibelungen Land is all I want. I will take my twelve Nibelungen knights +that I have with me here, and we will fare forth to see the world and +its beauties, and men's work; and, when we have tired with riding, we +will sail across the sea to our Nibelungen home." + + + + + +Adventure IX. The Journey to Burgundy-Land. + + + +For many days before Siegfried's departure, the queen, and all the women +of the household, busily plied their needles; and many suits of rich +raiment made they for the prince and his worthy comrades. At length the +time for leave-taking came, and all the inmates of the castle went out +to the gate to bid the heroes God-speed. Siegfried sat upon his noble +horse Greyfell, and his trusty sword Balmung hung at his side. And his +Nibelungen knights were mounted on lordly steeds, with gold-red saddles +and silver trappings chased with gold; and their glittering helmets, and +burnished shields, and war-coats of polished steel, when added to +their noble bearing and manlike forms, made up a picture of beauty and +strength such as no one in Santen had ever seen before, or would ever +see again. + +"Only go not into Burgundy-land," were the parting words of Siegmund. + +And all who had come to bid them farewell wept bitterly as the young men +rode out of the city, and were lost to sight in the distance. + +"Only go not into Burgundy-land!" These words of his father sounded +still in Siegfried's ears; and he turned his horse's head towards the +west and south; and they rode through the level country, and among the +fields, from which the corn had already been gathered; and at night they +slept in the open air, upon the still warm ground. Thus for many days +they travelled. And they left the Lowlands far behind them, and Burgundy +far to the left of them; and by and by they came to a country covered +with high hills, and mountains that seemed to touch the sky. The crags +and peaks were covered with snow, and ice lay all summer in the dales +and in the deep gorges cleft long time ago by giant hands. Here it is +that the rivers take their beginning. And here it is that the purple +grapes and the rare fruits of milder climes are found; for the sun +shines warm in the valleys and upon the plains, and the soil is +exceeding rich. It is said that these mountains are midway between the +cold regions of Jotunheim and the glowing gardens of Muspelheim, and +that, in ages past, they were the scene of many battles between the +giants who would overwhelm the earth,--these with ice, and those +with fire. Here and there were frowning caves dug out of the solid +mountain-side; while higher up were great pits, half-filled with ashes, +where, it is said, the dwarf-folk, when they were mighty on earth, had +their forges. + +Siegfried stopped not long in this land. Thoughts of the Nibelungen +Land, and of his faithful liegemen who waited for his return, began to +fill his mind. Then the heroes turned their horses' heads, and rode back +towards the north, following the course of the River Rhine, as it wound, +here and there, between hills and mountains, and through meadows where +the grass was springing up anew, and by the side of woodlands, now +beginning to be clothed in green again; for the winter was well over, +and spring was hastening on apace. And as they rode down the valley of +the Rhine they came, ere they were aware, into the Burgundian Land, +and the high towers of King Gunther's castle rose up before them. Then +Siegfried remembered again his father's words,-- + +"Only go not into Burgundy-land." + +But it was now too late to go back, and they determined to stop for +a few days with the Burgundian kings. They rode onwards through the +meadows and the pleasant farming-lands which lay around the city; and +they passed a wonderful garden of roses, said to belong to Kriemhild, +the peerless princess of the Rhine country; and at last they halted +before the castle-gate. So lordly was their bearing, that a company of +knights came out to meet them, and offered, as the custom was, to take +charge of their horses and their shields. But Siegfried asked that they +be led at once to King Gunther and his brothers; and, as their stay +would not be long, they said they would have no need to part with horses +or with shields. Then they followed their guides, and rode through the +great gateway, and into the open court, and halted beneath the palace +windows. + +And the three kings--Gunther, Gernot, and Giselher--and their young +sister, the matchless Kriemhild, looked down upon them from above, and +hazarded many guesses as to who the lordly strangers might be. And all +the inmates of the castle stood at the doors and windows, or gathered in +curious groups in the courtyard, and gazed with open-mouthed wonder upon +the rich armor and noble bearing of the thirteen heroes. But all eyes +were turned most towards Siegfried and the wondrous steed Greyfell. Some +of the knights whispered that this was Odin, and some that it was Thor, +the thunderer, making a tour through Rhineland. But others said that +Thor was never known to ride on horseback, and that the youth who sat +on the milk-white steed was little like the ancient Odin. And the ladies +who looked down upon the heroes from the palace windows said that this +man could be no other than the Sunbright Balder, come from his home in +Breidablik, to breathe gladness and sunshine into the hearts and lives +of men. + +Only one among all the folk in the castle knew who the hero was who had +ridden thus boldly into the heart of Burgundy-land. That one was +Hagen, the uncle of the three kings, and the doughtiest warrior in all +Rhineland. With a dark frown and a sullen scowl he looked out upon the +little party, and already plotted in his mind how he might outwit, and +bring to grief, the youth whose name and fame were known the whole world +over. For his evil mind loved deeds of darkness, and hated the pure and +good. By his side, at an upper window, stood Kriemhild, the peerless +maiden of the Rhine; but her thoughts were as far from his thoughts as +the heaven-smile on her face was unlike the sullen scowl on his grim +visage. As the moon in her calm beauty is sometimes seen in the sky, +riding gloriously by the side of a dark thunder-cloud,--the one more +lovely, the other more dreadful, by their very nearness,--so seemed +Kriemhild standing there by the side of Hagen. + +"Think you not, dear uncle," she said, "that this is the Shining Balder +come to earth again?" + +"The gods have forgotten the earth," answered Hagen in surly tones. "But +if, indeed, this should be Balder, we shall, without doubt, find another +blind archer, who, with another sprig of mistletoe, will send him back +again to Hela." + +"What do you mean?" asked Kriemhild earnestly. + +But old Hagen said not a word in answer. He quietly withdrew from the +room, and left the maiden and her mother, the good dame Ute, alone. + +"What does uncle Hagen mean by his strange words? and why does he look +so sullen and angry?" asked Kriemhild. + +"Indeed, I know not," answered the queen-mother. "His ways are dark, and +he is cunning. I fear that evil will yet come to our house through him." + +Meanwhile the three kings and their chiefs had gone into the courtyard +to greet their unknown guests. Very kindly did Gunther welcome the +strangers to his home; and then he courteously asked them whence they +came, and what the favors they wished. + +"I have heard," answered Siegfried, "that many knights and heroes live +in this land, and that they are the bravest and the proudest in the +world. I, too, am a knight; and some time, if I am worthy, I shall be a +king. But first I would make good my right to rule over land and folk; +and for this reason I have come hither. If, indeed, you are as brave as +all the world says you are, ride now to the meadows with us, and let us +fight man to man; and he who wins shall rule over the lands of both. We +will wager our kingdom and our heads against yours." + +King Gunther and his brothers were amazed at this unlooked-for speech. + +"Such is not the way to try where true worth lies!" they cried. "We have +no cause of quarrel with you, neither have you any cause of quarrel with +us. Why, then, should we spill each other's blood?" + +Again Siegfried urged them to fight with him; but they flatly refused. +And Gernot said,-- + +"The Burgundian kings have never wished to rule over folk that are not +their own. Much less would they gain new lands at the cost of their best +heroes' blood. And they have never taken part in needless quarrels. Good +men in Burgundy are worth more than the broadest lands, and we will not +hazard the one for the sake of gaining the other. No, we will not fight. +But we greet you most heartily as our friends and guests." + +All the others joined in urging Siegfried and his comrades to dismount +from their steeds, and partake of the cheer with which it was their use +to entertain strangers. And at last he yielded to their kind wishes, +and alighted from Greyfell, and, grasping King Gunther's hand, he +made himself known. And there was great rejoicing in the castle and +throughout all the land; and the most sumptuous rooms were set apart for +the use of Siegfried and his Nibelungen knights; and a banquet was at +once made ready; and no pains were spared in giving the strangers +a right hearty welcome to the kingly halls of Burgundy. But Hagen, +dark-browed and evil-eyed, stood silent and alone in his chamber and +waited his time. + + + + + +Adventure X. Kriemhild's Dream. + + + +Early on the morrow morning, ere the sun had risen high, the peerless +Kriemhild walked alone amid the sweet-scented bowers of her rose-garden. +The dewdrops still hung thick on flower and thorn, and the wild birds +carolled their songs of merry welcome to the new-born day. Every +thing seemed to have put on its handsomest colors, and to be using +its sweetest voice, on purpose to gladden the heart of the maiden. But +Kriemhild was not happy. There was a shadow on her face and a sadness +in her eye that the beauty and the music of that morning could not drive +away. + +"What ails thee, my child?" asked her mother, Queen Ute, who met her. +"Why so sad, as if thy heart were heavy with care? Has any one spoken +unkindly, or has aught grievous happened to thee?" + +"Oh, no, dearest mother!" said Kriemhild. "It is nothing that saddens +me,--nothing but a foolish dream. I cannot forget it." + +"Tell me the dream," said her mother: "mayhap it betokens something that +the Norns have written for thee." + +Then Kriemhild answered, "I dreamed that I sat at my window, high up in +the eastern tower; and the sun shone bright in the heavens, and the +air was mild and warm, and I thought of nought but the beauty and the +gladness of the hour. Then in the far north I saw a falcon flying. At +first he seemed but a black speck in the sky; but swiftly he drew nearer +and nearer, until at last he flew in at the open window, and I caught +him in my arms. Oh, how strong and beautiful he was! His wings were +purple and gold, and his eyes were as bright as the sun. Oh, a glorious +prize I thought him! and I held him on my wrist, and spoke kind words to +him. Then suddenly, from out of the sky above, two eagles dashed in at +the window, and snatched my darling from me, and they tore him in pieces +before my eyes, and laughed at my distress." + +"Thy dream," said Queen Ute, "is easy to explain. A king shall come from +the north-land, and a mighty king shall he be. And he shall seek thee, +and love thee, and wed thee, and thy heart shall overflow with bliss. +The two eagles are the foes who shall slay him; but who they may be, or +whence they may come, is known only to the Norns." + +"But I slept, and I dreamed again," said Kriemhild. "This time I sat in +the meadow, and three women came to me. And they span, and they wove +a woof more fair than any I have ever seen. And methought that another +woof was woven, which crossed the first, and yet it was no whit less +beautiful. Then the women who wove the woofs cried out, 'Enough!' And +a fair white arm reached out and seized the rare fabrics, and tore them +into shreds. And then the sky was overcast, and the thunder began to +roll and the lightning to flash, and red fires gleamed, and fierce +wolves howled around me, and I awoke." + +"This dream," said Queen Ute, "is more than I can understand. Only this +I can see and explain, that in the dim future the woof of another's fate +shall cross thy own. But trouble not thyself because of that which +shall be. While yet the sun shines for thee, and the birds sing, and +the flowers shed their sweet perfume, it is for thee to rejoice and +be light-hearted. What the Norns have woven is woven, and it cannot be +undone."[EN#21] + + + + + +Adventure XI. How the Spring-time Came. + + + +Siegfried, when he came to Gunther's castle, thought of staying there +but a few days only. But the king and his brothers made every thing so +pleasant for their honored guest, that weeks slipped by unnoticed, and +still the hero remained in Burgundy. + +Spring had fairly come, and the weeping April clouds had given place to +the balmy skies of May. The young men and maidens, as was their wont, +made ready for the May-day games; and Siegfried and his knights were +asked to take part in the sport. + +On the smooth greensward, which they called Nanna's carpet, beneath the +shade of ash-trees and elms, he who played Old Winter's part lingered +with his few attendants. These were clad in the dull gray garb which +becomes the sober season of the year, and were decked with yellow +straw, and dead, brown leaves. Out of the wood came the May-king and his +followers, clad in the gayest raiment, and decked with evergreens and +flowers. With staves and willow-withes they fell upon Old Winter's +champions, and tried to drive them from the sward. In friendly fray +they fought, and many mishaps fell to both parties. But at length the +May-king won; and grave Winter, battered and bruised, was made prisoner, +and his followers were driven from the field. Then, in merry sport, +sentence was passed on the luckless wight, for he was found guilty of +killing the flowers, and of covering the earth with hoar-frost; and +he was doomed to a long banishment from music and the sunlight. The +laughing party then set up a wooden likeness of the worsted winter-king, +and pelted it with stones and turf; and when they were tired they threw +it down, and put out its eyes, and cast it into the river. And then a +pole, decked with wild-flowers and fresh green leaves, was planted in +the midst of the sward, and all joined in merry dance around it. And +they chose the most beautiful of all the maidens to be the Queen of May, +and they crowned her with a wreath of violets and yellow buttercups; and +for a whole day all yielded fealty to her, and did her bidding. + +It was thus that May Day came in Burgundy. And in the evening, when the +party were seated in King Gunther's hall, Siegfried, at the command of +the May-queen,--who was none other than Kriemhild the peerless,--amused +them by telling the story of + + + +Idun and Her Apples. + + + +It is a story that Bragi told while at the feast in AEgir's hall. Idun +is Bragi's wife. Very handsome is she; but the beauty of her face is by +no means greater than the goodness of her heart. Right attentive is she +to every duty, and her words and thoughts are always worthy and wise. +A long time ago the good Asa-folk who dwell in heaven-towering Asgard, +knowing how trustworthy Idun was, gave into her keeping a treasure +which they would not have placed in the hands of any other person. +This treasure was a box of apples, and Idun kept the golden key safely +fastened to her girdle. You ask me why the gods should prize a box of +apples so highly? I will tell you. + +Old age, you know, spares none, not even Odin and his Asa-folk. They all +grow old and gray; and, if there were no cure for age, they would become +feeble and toothless and blind, deaf, tottering, and weak minded. The +apples which Idun guarded so carefully were the priceless boon of youth. +Whenever the gods felt old age coming on, they went to her, and she gave +them of her fruit; and, when they had tasted, they grew young and strong +and handsome again. Once, however, they came near losing the apples,--or +losing rather Idun and her golden key, without which no one could ever +open the box. + +In those early days Odin delighted to come down now and then from his +high home above the clouds, and to wander, disguised, among the woods +and mountains, and by the seashore, and in wild desert places. For +nothing pleases him more than to commune with Nature as she is found +in the loneliness of vast solitudes, or in the boisterous uproar of the +elements. Once on a time he took with him his friends Hoenir and Loki; +and they rambled many days among the icy cliffs, and along the barren +shores, of the great frozen sea. In that country there was no game, and +no fish was found in the cold waters; and the three wanderers, as they +had brought no food with them, became very hungry. Late in the afternoon +of the seventh day, they reached some pasture-lands belonging to the +giant Hymer, and saw a herd of the giant's cattle browsing upon the +short grass which grew in the sheltered nooks among the hills. + +"Ah!" cried Loki: "after fasting for a week, we shall now have food in +abundance. Let us kill and eat." + +So saying, he hurled a sharp stone at the fattest of Hymer's cows, and +killed her; and the three quickly dressed the choicest pieces of flesh +for their supper. Then Loki gathered twigs and dry grass, and kindled a +blazing fire; Hoenir filled the pot with water from melted ice; and Odin +threw into it the bits of tender meat. But, make the fire as hot as they +would, the water would not boil, and the flesh would not cook. + +All night long the supperless three sat hungry around the fire; and, +every time they peeped into the kettle, the meat was as raw and gustless +as before. Morning came, but no breakfast. And all day Loki kept +stirring the fire, and Odin and Hoenir waited hopefully but impatiently. +When the sun again went down, the flesh was still uncooked, and their +supper seemed no nearer ready than it was the night before. As they were +about yielding to despair, they heard a noise overhead, and, looking up, +they saw a huge gray eagle sitting on the dead branch of an oak. + +"Ha, ha!" cried the bird. "You are pretty fellows indeed! To sit hungry +by the fire a night and a day, rather than eat raw flesh, becomes you +well. Do but give me my share of it as it is, and I warrant you the rest +shall boil, and you shall have a fat supper." + +"Agreed," answered Loki eagerly. "Come down and get your share." + +The eagle waited for no second asking. Down he swooped right over the +blazing fire, and snatched not only the eagle's share, but also what the +Lybians call the lion's share; that is, he grasped in his strong talons +the kettle, with all the meat in it, and, flapping his huge wings, +slowly rose into the air, carrying his booty with him. The three gods +were astonished. Loki was filled with anger. He seized a long pole, upon +the end of which a sharp hook was fixed, and struck at the treacherous +bird. The hook stuck fast in the eagle's back, and Loki could not loose +his hold of the other end of the pole. The great bird soared high +above the tree-tops, and over the hills, and carried the astonished +mischief-maker with him. + +But it was no eagle. It was no bird that had thus outwitted the hungry +gods: it was the giant Old Winter, clothed in his eagle-plumage. Over +the lonely woods, and the snow-crowned mountains, and the frozen sea, +he flew, dragging the helpless Loki through tree-tops, and over jagged +rocks, scratching and bruising his body, and almost tearing his arms +from his shoulders. At last he alighted on the craggy top of an iceberg, +where the storm-winds shrieked, and the air was filled with driving +snow. As soon as Loki could speak, he begged the giant to carry him back +to his comrades,--Odin and Hoenir. + +"On one condition only will I carry you back," answered Old Winter. +"Swear to me that you will betray into my hands dame Idun and her golden +key." + +Loki asked no questions, but gladly gave the oath; and the giant flew +back with him across the sea, and dropped him, torn and bleeding and +lame, by the side of the fire, where Odin and Hoenir still lingered. And +the three made all haste to leave that cheerless place, and returned to +Odin's glad home in Asgard. + +Some weeks after this, Loki, the Prince of Mischief-makers, went to +Bragi's house to see Idun. He found her busied with her household cares, +not thinking of a visit from any of the gods. + +"I have come, good dame," said he, "to taste your apples again; for I +feel old age coming on apace." + +Idun was astonished. + +"You are not looking old," she answered. "There is not a single gray +hair upon your head, and not a wrinkle on your brow. If it were not for +that scar upon your cheek, and the arm which you carry in a sling you +would look as stout and as well as I have ever seen you. Besides, I +remember that it was only a year ago when you last tasted of my fruit. +Is it possible that a single winter should make you old?" + +"A single winter has made me very lame and feeble, at least," said Loki. +"I have been scarcely able to walk about since my return from the North. +Another winter without a taste of your apples will be the death of me." + +Then the kind-hearted Idun, when she saw that Loki was really lame, went +to the box, and opened it with her golden key, and gave him one of the +precious apples to taste. He took the fruit in his hand, bit it, and +gave it back to the good dame. She put it in its place again, closed the +lid, and locked it with her usual care. + +"Your apples are not so good as they used to be," said Loki, making a +very wry face. "Why don't you fill your box with fresh fruit?" + +Idun was amazed. Her apples were supposed to be always fresh,--fresher +by far than any that grow nowadays. None of the gods had ever before +complained about them; and she told Loki so. + +"Very well," said he. "I see you do not believe me, and that you mean to +feed us on your sour, withered apples, when we might as well have golden +fruit. If you were not so bent on having your own way, I could tell you +where you might fill your box with the choicest of apples, such as Odin +loves. I saw them in the forest over yonder, hanging ripe on the trees. +But women will always have their own way; and you must have yours, even +though you do feed the gods on withered apples." + +So saying, and without waiting to hear an answer, he limped out at the +door, and was soon gone from sight. + +Idun thought long and anxiously upon the words which Loki had spoken; +and, the more she thought, the more she felt troubled. If her husband, +the wise Bragi, had been at home, what would she not have given? He +would have understood the mischief-maker's cunning. But he had gone on +a long journey to the South, singing in Nature's choir, and painting +Nature's landscapes, and she would not see him again until the return +of spring. At length she opened the box, and looked at the fruit. The +apples were certainly fair and round: she could not see a wrinkle or a +blemish on any of them; their color was the same golden-red,--like the +sky at dawn of a summer's day; yet she thought there must be something +wrong about them. She took up one of the apples, and tasted it. She +fancied that it really was sour, and she hastily put it back, and locked +the box again. + +"He said that he had seen better apples than these growing in the +woods," said she to herself. "I half believe that he told the truth, +although everybody knows that he is not always trustworthy. I think I +shall go to the forest and see for myself, at any rate." + +So she donned her cloak and hood, and, with a basket on her arm, left +the house, and walked rapidly away, along the road which led to the +forest. It was much farther than she had thought, and the sun was almost +down when she reached the edge of the wood. But no apple-trees were +there. Tall oaks stretched their bare arms up towards the sky, as if +praying for help. There were thorn-trees and brambles everywhere; but +there was no fruit, neither were there any flowers, nor even green +leaves. The Frost-giants had been there. + +Idun was about to turn her footsteps homewards, when she heard a wild +shriek in the tree-tops over her head; and, before she could look up, +she felt herself seized in the eagle-talons of Old Winter. Struggle as +she would, she could not free herself. High up, over wood and stream, +the giant carried her; and then he flew swiftly away with her, towards +his home in the chill North-land; and, when morning came, poor Idun +found herself in an ice-walled castle in the cheerless country of the +giants. But she was glad to know that the precious box was safely locked +at home, and that the golden key was still at her girdle. + +Time passed; and I fear that Idun would have been forgotten by all, +save her husband Bragi, had not the gods begun to feel the need of her +apples. Day after day they came to Idun's house, hoping to find the good +dame and her golden key at home; and each day they went away some hours +older than when they had come. Bragi was beside himself with grief, and +his golden harp was unstrung and forgotten. No one had seen the missing +Idun since the day when Loki had visited her, and none could guess what +had become of her. The heads of all the folk grew white with age; deep +furrows were ploughed in their faces; their eyes grew dim, and their +hearing failed; their hands trembled; their limbs became palsied; their +feet tottered; and all feared that Old Age would bring Death in his +train. + +Then Bragi and Thor questioned Loki very sharply; and when he felt that +he, too, was growing odd and feeble, he regretted the mischief he had +done, and told them how he had decoyed Idun into Old Winter's clutches. +The gods were very angry; and Thor threatened to crush Loki with his +hammer, if he did not at once bring Idun safe home again. + +So Loki borrowed the falcon-plumage of Freyja, the goddess of love, and +with it flew to the country of the giants. When he reached Old Winter's +castle, he found the good dame Idun shut up in the prison-tower, and +bound with fetters of ice; but the giant himself was on the frozen sea, +herding old Hymer's cows. And Loki quickly broke the bonds that held +Idun, and led her out of her prison-house; and then he shut her up in a +magic nut-shell which he held between his claws, and flew with the speed +of the wind back towards the South-land and the home of the gods. But +Old Winter coming home, and learning what had been done, donned his +eagle-plumage and followed swiftly in pursuit. + +Bragi and Thor, anxiously gazing into the sky, saw Loki, in Freyja's +falcon-plumage, speeding homewards, with the nut-shell in his talons, +and Old Winter, in his eagle-plumage, dashing after in sharp pursuit. +Quickly they gathered chips and slender twigs, and placed them high upon +the castle-wall; and, when Loki with his precious burden had flown past, +they touched fire to the dry heap, and the flames blazed up to the sky, +and caught Old Winter's plumage, as, close behind the falcon, he blindly +pressed. And his wings were scorched in the flames; and he fell helpless +to the ground, and was slain within the castle-gates. Loki slackened +his speed; and, when he reached Bragi's house, he dropped the nut-shell +softly before the door. As it touched the ground, it gently opened, and +Idun, radiant with smiles, and clothed in gay attire, stepped forth, +and greeted her husband and the waiting gods. And the heavenly music of +Bragi's long-silent harp welcomed her home; and she took the golden key +from her girdle, and unlocked the box, and gave of her apples to the +aged company; and, when they had tasted, their youth was renewed.[EN#22] + +It is thus with the seasons and their varied changes. The gifts of +Spring are youth and jollity, and renewed strength; and the music of air +and water and all things, living and lifeless, follow in her train. The +desolating Winter plots to steal her from the earth, and the Summer-heat +deserts and betrays her. Then the music of Nature is hushed, and all +creatures pine in sorrow for her absence, and the world seems dying of +white Old Age. But at length the Summer-heat repents, and frees her from +her prison-house; and the icy fetters with which Old Winter bound her +are melted in the beams of the returning sun, and the earth is young +again. + + + + + +Adventure XII. The War with the North-kings. + + + +So swiftly and so pleasantly the days went by, that weeks lengthened +into months, and the spring-time passed, and the summer came, and still +Siegfried lingered in Burgundy with his kind friends. The time was spent +in all manner of joyance,--in hunting the deer in the deep oak-woods, +in riding over the daisied meadows or among the fields of corn, in manly +games and sports, in music and dancing, in feasting and in pleasant +talk. And of all the noble folk who had ever sat at Gunther's table, or +hunted in the Burgundian woods, none were so worthy or so fair as the +proud young lord of the Nibelungens. + +One day in early autumn a party of strange knights rode up to the +castle, and asked to speak with the Burgundian kings. They were led +straightway into the great hall; and Gunther and his brothers welcomed +them, as was their wont, right heartily, and asked them from what +country they had come, and what was their errand. + +"We come," they answered, "from the North country; and we bring word +from our lords and kings, Leudiger and Leudigast." + +"And what would our kingly neighbors say to us?" asked Gunther. + +Then the strangers said that their lords had become very angry with the +Burgundian kings, and that they meant, within twelve weeks from that +day, to come with a great army, and lay the country waste, and besiege +their city and castle. All this they had sworn to do unless the +Burgundians would make peace with them upon such terms as Leudiger and +Leudigast should please to grant. + +When Gunther and his brothers heard this, they were struck with dismay. +But they ordered the messengers to be well cared for and handsomely +entertained within the palace until the morrow, at which time they +should have the Burgundians' answer. All the noblest knights and +earl-folk were called together, and the matter was laid before them. + +"What answer shall we send to our rude neighbors of the North?" asked +Gunther. + +Gernot and the young Giselher declared at once for war. Old Hagen and +other knights, whose prudence was at least equal to their bravery, said +but little. It was known, that, in the armies of the North-kings, there +were at least forty thousand soldiers; but in Burgundy there were not +more than thirty thousand fighting-men, all told. The North-kings' +forces were already equipped, and ready to march; but the Burgundians +could by no means raise and arm any considerable body of men in the +short space of twelve weeks. It would be the part of wisdom to delay, +and to see what terms could best be made with their enemies. Such were +the prudent counsels of the older knights, but Gernot and the young +chief Volker would not listen to such words. + +"The Burgundians are not cowards," said they. "We have never been foiled +in battle; never have we been the vassals of a stranger. Why, then, +shall we cringe and cower before such men as Leudiger and Leudigast?" + +Then Hagen answered, "Let us ask our friend and guest Siegfried. Let us +learn what he thinks about this business. Everybody knows that he is as +wise in council as he is brave in the field. We will abide by what he +says." + +But Gunther and Gernot and the young Giselher were unwilling to do this; +for it was not their custom to annoy their guests with questions which +should be allowed to trouble themselves alone. And the kings and their +counsellors went out of the council-chamber, each to ponder in silence +upon the troublesome question. + +As Gunther, with downcast head and troubled brow, walked thoughtfully +through the great hall, he unexpectedly met Siegfried. + +"What evil tidings have you heard?" asked the prince, surprised at the +strange mien of the king. "What has gone amiss, that should cause such +looks of dark perplexity?" + +"That is a matter which I can tell only to friends long tried and true," +answered Gunther. + +Siegfried was surprised and hurt by these words; and he cried out,-- + +"What more would Gunther ask of me that I might prove my friendship? +Surely I have tried to merit his esteem and trust. Tell me what troubles +you, and I will further show myself to be your friend both tried and +true." + +Then Gunther was ashamed of the words he had spoken to his guest; and he +took Siegfried into his own chamber, and told him all; and he asked +him what answer they should send on the morrow to the overbearing +North-kings. + +"Tell them we will fight," answered Siegfried. "I myself will lead +your warriors to the fray. Never shall it be said that my friends have +suffered wrong, and I not tried to help them." + +Then he and Gunther talked over the plans which they would follow. And +the clouds fled at once from the brow of the king, and he was no longer +troubled or doubtful; for he believed in Siegfried. + +The next morning the heralds of the North-kings were brought again +before Gunther and his brothers; and they were told to carry this word +to their masters,-- + +"The Burgundians will fight. They will make no terms with their enemies, +save such as they make of their own free-will." + +Then the heralds were loaded with costly presents, and a company of +knights and warriors went with them to the border-line of Burgundy; and, +filled with wonder at what they had seen, they hastened back to their +liege lords, and told all that had happened to them. And Leudiger +and Leudigast were very wroth when they heard the answer which the +Burgundians had sent to them; but, when they learned that the noble +Siegfried was at Gunther's castle, they shook their heads, and seemed to +feel more doubtful of success. + +Many and busy were the preparations for war, and in a very few days all +things were in readiness for the march northwards. It was settled that +Siegfried with his twelve Nibelungen chiefs, and a thousand picked +men, should go forth to battle against their boastful enemies. The +dark-browed Hagen, as he had always done, rode at the head of the +company, and by his side was Siegfried on the noble horse Greyfell. Next +came Gernot and the bold chief Volker, bearing the standard, upon which +a golden dragon was engraved; then followed Dankwart and Ortwin, and the +twelve worthy comrades of Siegfried; and then the thousand warriors, +the bravest in all Rhineland, mounted on impatient steeds, and clad +in bright steel armor, with broad shields, and plumed helmets, and +burnished swords, and sharp-pointed spears. And all rode proudly out +through the great castle-gate. And Gunther and the young Giselher and +all the fair ladies of the court bade them God-speed. + +The little army passed through the forest, and went northwards, until, +on the fifth day, they reached the boundaries of Saxon Land. And +Siegfried gave spur to his horse Greyfell, and, leaving the little army +behind him, hastened forwards to see where the enemy was encamped. As +he reached the top of a high hill, he saw the armies of the North-kings +resting carelessly in the valley beyond. Knights, mounted on their +horses, rode hither and thither: the soldiers sauntered lazily among +the trees, or slept upon the grass; arms were thrown about in great +disorder, or stacked in piles near the smoking camp-fires. No one +dreamed of danger; but all supposed that the Burgundians were still at +home, and would never dare to attack a foe so numerous and so strong. + +For it was, indeed, a mighty army which Siegfried saw before him. Full +forty thousand men were there; and they not only filled the valley, but +spread over the hills beyond, and far to the right and left. + +While he stood at the top of the hill, and gazed upon this sight, a +warrior, who had spied him from below, rode up, and paused before him. +Like two black thunder-clouds, with lightning flashing between, the +two knights stood facing each other, and casting wrathful glances from +beneath their visors. Then each spurred his horse, and charged with fury +upon the other; and the heavy lances of both were broken in shivers upon +the opposing shields. Then, quick as thought, they turned and drew +their swords, and hand to hand they fought. But soon Siegfried, by an +unlooked-for stroke, sent his enemy's sword flying from him, broken in a +dozen pieces, and by a sudden movement he threw him from his horse. The +heavy shield of the fallen knight was no hinderance to the quick strokes +of Siegfried's sword; and his glittering armor, soiled by the mud into +which he had been thrown, held him down. He threw up his hands, and +begged for mercy. + +"I am Leudigast the king!" he cried. "Spare my life. I am your +prisoner." + +Siegfried heard the prayer of the discomfited king; and, lifting him +from the ground, he helped him to remount his charger. But, while he was +doing this, thirty warriors, who had seen the combat from below, came +dashing up the hill to the rescue of their liege-lord. Siegfried faced +about with his horse Greyfell, and quietly waited for their onset. But, +as they drew near, they were so awed by the noble bearing and grand +proportions of the hero, and so astonished at sight of the sunbeam mane +of Greyfell, and the cold glitter of the blade Balmung, that in sudden +fright they stopped, then turned, and fled in dismay down the sloping +hillside, nor paused until they were safe among their friends. + +In the mean while Leudiger, the other king, seeing what was going on +at the top of the hill, had caused an alarm to be sounded; and all his +hosts had hastily arranged themselves in battle-array. At the same time +Hagen and Gernot, and their little army of heroes, hove in sight, and +came quickly to Siegfried's help, and the dragon-banner was planted upon +the crest of the hill. The captive king, Leudigast, was taken to the +rear, and a guard was placed over him. The champions of the Rhine formed +in line, and faced their foes. The great army of the North-kings moved +boldly up the hill: and, when they saw how few were the Burgundians, +they laughed and cheered most lustily; for they felt that the odds was +in their favor--and forty to one is no small odds. + +Then Siegfried and his twelve comrades, and Hagen and the thousand +Burgundian knights, dashed upon them with the fury of the whirlwind. +The lances flew so thick in the air, that they hid the sun from sight; +swords flashed on every side; the sound of clashing steel, and horses' +hoofs, and soldiers' shouts, filled earth and sky with a horrid din. And +soon the boastful foes of the Burgundians were everywhere worsted, and +thrown into disorder. Siegfried dashed hither and thither, from one part +of the field to another, in search of King Leudiger. Thrice he cut his +way through the ranks, and at last he met face to face the one for whom +he sought. + +King Leudiger saw the flashing sunbeams that glanced from Greyfell's +mane, he saw the painted crown upon the hero's broad shield, and then he +felt the fearful stroke of the sword Balmung, as it clashed against +his own, and cut it clean in halves. He dropped his weapons, raised his +visor, and gave himself up as a prisoner. + +"Give up the fight, my brave fellows," he cried. "This is Siegfried the +brave, the Prince of the Lowlands, and the Lord of Nibelungen Land. It +were foolishness to fight against him. Save yourselves as best you can." + +This was the signal for a frightful panic. All turned and fled. Each +thought of nothing but his own safety; and knights and warriors, +horsemen and foot-soldiers, in one confused mass, throwing shields and +weapons here and there, rushed wildly down the hill, and through the +valley and ravines, and sought, as best they could, their way homeward. +The Burgundian heroes were the masters of the field, and on the morrow +they turned their faces joyfully towards Rhineland. And all joined in +saying that to Siegfried was due the praise for this wonderful victory +which they had gained. + +Heralds had been sent on the fleetest horses to carry the glad news to +Burgundy; and when, one morning, they dashed into the court-yard of the +castle, great was the anxiety to know what tidings they brought. And +King Gunther, and the young Giselher, and the peerless Kriemhild, +came out to welcome them, and eagerly to inquire what had befallen the +heroes. With breathless haste the heralds told the story of all that had +happened. + +"And how fares our brother Gernot?" asked Kriemhild. + +"There is no happier man on earth," answered the herald. "In truth, +there was not a coward among them all; but the bravest of the brave was +Siegfried. He it was who took the two kings prisoners; and everywhere in +the thickest of the fight there was Siegfried. And now our little army +is on its homeward march, with a thousand prisoners, and large numbers +of the enemy's wounded. Had it not been for the brave Siegfried, no such +victory could have been won." + +In a few days the Rhine champions reached their home. And gayly were the +castle and all the houses in the city decked in honor of them. And all +those who had been left behind went out to meet them as they came down +from the forest-road, and drew near to the castle. And the young girls +strewed flowers in their path, and hung garlands upon their horses; +and music and song followed the heroes into the city, and through the +castle-gate. + +When they reached the palace, the two prisoner kings, Leudiger and +Leudigast, were loosed from their bonds, and handsomely entertained at +Gunther's table. And the Burgundian kings assured them that they should +be treated as honored guests, and have the freedom of the court and +castle, if they would pledge themselves not to try to escape from +Burgundy until terms of peace should be agreed upon. This pledge they +gladly gave, and rich apartments in the palace were assigned for their +use. Like favors were shown to all the prisoners, according to their +rank; and the wounded were kindly cared for. And the Burgundians made +ready for a gay high-tide,--a glad festival of rejoicing, to be held at +the next full moon. + +When the day drew near which had been set for this high-tide, the folk +from all parts of Rhineland began to flock towards the city. They +came in companies, with music and laughter, and the glad songs of +the spring-time. And all the knights were mounted on gallant horses +caparisoned with gold-red saddles, from which hung numbers of tinkling +silver bells. As they rode up the sands towards the castle-gate, +with their dazzling shields upon their saddle-bows, and their gay and +many-colored banners floating in the air, King Gernot and the young +Giselher, with the noblest knights of the fortress, went courteously out +to meet them; and the friendly greetings which were offered by the two +young kings won the hearts of all. Thirty and two princes and more than +five thousand warriors came as bidden guests. The city and castle were +decked in holiday attire, and all the people in the land gave themselves +up to enjoyment. The sick and the wounded, who until now had thought +themselves at death's door, forgot their ailments and their pains as +they heard the shouts of joy and the peals of music in the streets. + +In a green field outside of the city walls, arrangements had been made +for the games, and galleries and high stages had been built for the +lookers-on. Here jousts and tournaments were held, and the knights and +warriors engaged in trials of strength and skill. When King Gunther saw +with what keen enjoyment both his own people and his guests looked upon +these games, and took part in the gay festivities, he asked of those +around him,-- + +"What more can we do to heighten the pleasures of the day?" + +And one of his counsellors answered,-- + +"My lord, the ladies of the court, and the little children, pine in +silence in the sunless rooms of the palace, while we enjoy the free air +and light of heaven, the music, and the gay scenes before us. There is +nothing wanting to make this day's joy complete, save the presence of +our dear ones to share these pleasures with us." + +Gunther was delighted to hear these words; and he sent a herald to the +palace, and invited all the ladies of the court and all the children to +come out and view the games, and join in the general gladness. + +When Dame Ute heard the message which the herald brought from her kingly +son, she hastened to make ready rich dresses and costly jewels wherewith +to adorn the dames and damsels of the court. And, when all were in +readiness, the peerless Kriemhild, with her mother at her side, went +forth from the castle; and a hundred knights, all sword in hand, went +with her as a body-guard, and a great number of noble ladies dressed in +rich attire followed her. As the red dawn peers forth from behind gray +clouds, and drives the mists and shadows away from earth, so came +the lovely one. As the bright full moon in radiant splendor moves in +queen-like beauty before her train of attendant stars, and outshines +them all, so was Kriemhild the most glorious among all the noble ladies +there. And the thousand knights and warriors paused in their games, and +greeted the peerless princess as was due to one so noble and fair. Upon +the highest platform, under a rich canopy of cloth-of-gold, seats were +made ready for the maiden and her mother and the fair ladies in their +train; and all the most worthy princes in Rhineland sat around, and the +games were begun again. + +For twelve days the gay high-tide lasted, and nought was left undone +whereby the joy might be increased. And of all the heroes and princes +who jousted in the tournament, or took part in the games, none could +equal the unassuming Siegfried; and his praises were heard on every +hand, and all agreed that he was the most worthy prince that they had +ever seen. + +When at last the festal days came to an end, Gunther and his brothers +called their guests and vassals around them, and loaded them with costly +gifts, and bade them God-speed. And tears stood in the eyes of all at +parting. + +The captive kings, Leudiger and Leudigast, were not forgotten. + +"What will ye give me for your freedom?" asked King Gunther, half in +jest. + +They answered,-- + +"If you will allow us without further hinderance to go back to our +people, we pledge our lives and our honor that we will straightway send +you gold, as much as half a thousand horses can carry." + +Then Gunther turned to Siegfried, and said,-- + +"What think you, friend Siegfried, of such princely ransom?" + +"Noble lord," said Siegfried, "I think you are in need of no such +ransom. Friendship is worth much more than gold. If your kingly captives +will promise, on their honor, never more to come towards Burgundy as +enemies, let them go. We have no need of gold." + +"'Tis well said," cried Gunther highly pleased. + +And Leudiger and Leudigast, with tears of thankfulness, gladly made +the asked-for promise, and on the morrow, with light hearts and costly +gifts, they set out on their journey homewards. + +When all the guests had gone, and the daily routine of idle palace-life +set in again, Siegfried began to talk of going back to Nibelungen +Land. But young Giselher, and the peerless Kriemhild, and King Gunther, +besought him to stay yet a little longer. And he yielded to their kind +wishes. And autumn passed away with its fruits and its vintage, and grim +old winter came howling down from the north, and Siegfried was still +in Burgundy. And then old Hoder, the king of the winter months, +came blustering through the Rhine valley; and with him were the +Reifriesen,--the thieves that steal the daylight from the earth and +the warmth from the sun. And they nipped the flowers, and withered the +grass, and stripped the trees, and sealed up the rivers, and covered the +earth with a white mantle of sorrow. + +But within King Gunther's wide halls there was joy and good cheer. +And the season of the Yule-feast came, and still Siegfried tarried in +Burgundy-land. + + + + + +Adventure XIII. The Story of Balder. + + + +There was mirth in King Gunther's dwelling, for the time of the +Yule-feast had come. The broad banquet hall was gayly decked with cedar +and spruce and sprigs of the mistletoe; and the fires roared in the +great chimneys, throwing warmth and a ruddy glow of light into every +corner of the room. The long table fairly groaned under its weight of +good cheer. At its head sat the kings and the earl-folk; and before +them, on a silver platter of rare workmanship, was the head of a huge +wild boar,--the festal offering to the good Frey, in honor of whom +the Yule-feast was held. For now the sun, which had been driven by the +Frost-giants far away towards the South-land, had begun to return, and +Frey was on his way once more to scatter peace and plenty over the land. + +The harp and the wassail-bowl went round; and each one of the company +sang a song, or told a story, or in some way did his part to add to the +evening's enjoyment. And a young sea-king who sat at Siegfried's side +told most bewitching tales of other lands which lie beyond Old AEgir's +kingdom. Then, when the harp came to him, he sang the wondrous song of +the shaping of the earth. And all who heard were charmed with the sweet +sound and with the pleasant words. He sang of the sunlight and the south +winds and the summer-time, of the storms and the snow and the sombre +shadows of the North-land. And he sang of the dead Ymir, the giant whose +flesh had made the solid earth, and whose blood the sea, and whose bones +the mountains, whose teeth the cliffs and crags, and whose skull the +heavens. And he sang of Odin, the earth's preserver, the Giver of life, +the Father of all; and of the Asa-folk who dwell in Asgard; and of +the ghostly heroes in Valhal. Then he sang of the heaven-tower of the +thunder-god, and of the shimmering Asa-bridge, or rainbow, all afire; +and, lastly, of the four dwarfs who hold the blue sky-dome above them, +and of the elves of the mountains, and of the wood-sprites and +the fairies. Then he laid aside his harp, and told the old but +ever-beautiful story of the death of Balder the Good. + + + +The Story. + + + +Balder, as you know, was Odin's son; and he was the brightest and +best of all the Asa-folk. Wherever he went, there were gladness and +light-hearted mirth, and blooming flowers, and singing birds, and +murmuring waterfalls. Balder, too, was a hero, but not one of the +blustering kind, like Thor. He slew no giants; he never went into +battle; he never tried to make for himself a name among the dwellers of +the mid-world; and yet he was a hero of the noblest type. He dared to do +right, and to stand up for the good, the true, and the beautiful. There +are still some such heroes, but the world does not always hear of them. + +Hoder, the blind king of the winter months, was Balder's brother, and as +unlike him as darkness is unlike daylight. While one rejoiced, and +was merry and cheerful, the other was low-spirited and sad. While one +scattered sunshine and blessings everywhere, the other carried with him +a sense of cheerlessness and gloom. Yet the brothers loved each other +dearly. + +One night Balder dreamed a strange dream, and when he awoke he could not +forget it. All day long he was thoughtful and sad, and he was not his +own bright, happy self. His mother, the Asa-queen, saw that something +troubled him; and she asked,-- + +"Whence comes that cloud upon your brow? Will you suffer it to chase +away all your sunshine? and will you become, like your brother Hoder, +all frowns and sighs and tears?" + +Then Balder told her what he had dreamed; and she, too, was sorely +troubled, for it was a frightful dream, and foreboded dire disasters. +Then both she and Balder went to Odin, and to him they told the cause +of their uneasiness. And the All-Father also was distressed; for he knew +that such dreams, dreamed by Asa-folk, were the forewarnings of evil. So +he saddled his eight-footed steed Sleipner; and, without telling any one +where he was going, he rode with the speed of the winds down into +the Valley of Death. The dog that guards the gateway to that dark and +doleful land came out to meet him. Blood was on the fierce beast's +breast, and he barked loudly and angrily at the All-Father and his +wondrous horse. But Odin sang sweet magic songs as he drew near; and the +dog was charmed with the sound, and Sleipner and his rider went onward +in safety. And they passed the dark halls of the pale-faced queen, and +came to the east gate of the valley. There stood the low hut of a witch +who lived in darkness, and, like the Norns, spun the thread of fate for +gods and men. + +Odin stood before the hut, and sang a wondrous song of witchery and +enchantment; and he laid a spell upon the weird woman, and forced her to +come out of her dark dwelling, and to answer his questions. + +"Who is this stranger?" asked the witch. "Who is this unknown who calls +me from my narrow home, and sets an irksome task for me? Long have I +been left alone in my quiet house; nor recked I that the snow sometimes +covered with its cold white mantle both me and my resting-place, or that +the pattering rain and the gently falling dew often moistened the roof +of my dwelling. Long have I rested quietly, and I do not wish now to be +aroused." + +"I am Valtam's son," said Odin; "and I come to learn of thee. Tell me, +I pray, for whom are the soft couches prepared that I saw in the broad +halls of Death? For whom are the jewels, and the rings, and the rich +clothing, and the shining shield?" + +"All are for Balder, Odin's son," she answered. "And the mead which has +been brewed for him is hidden beneath the shining shield." + +Then Odin asked who would be the slayer of Balder, and she answered that +Hoder was the one who would send the shining Asa to the halls of Death. + +"Who will avenge Balder, and bring distress upon his slayer?" asked +Odin. + +"A son of Earth but one day old shall be Balder's avenger. Go thou now +home, Odin; for I know thou art not Valtam's son. Go home; and none +shall again awaken me, nor disturb me at my task, until the new day +shall dawn, and Balder shall rule over the young world in its purity, +and there shall be no more Death." + +Then Odin rode sorrowfully homeward; but he told no one of his journey +to the Dark Valley, nor of what the weird witch had said to him. + +Balder's mother, the Asa-queen, could not rest because of the ill-omened +dream that her son had had; and in her distress she called all the +Asa-folk together to consider what should be done. But they were +speechless with sorrow and alarm; and none could offer advice, nor set +her mind at ease. Then she sought out every living creature, and every +lifeless thing, upon the earth, and asked each one to swear that it +would not on any account hurt Balder, nor touch him to do him harm. And +this oath was willingly made by fire and water, earth and air, by all +beasts and creeping things and birds and fishes, by the rocks and by the +trees and all metals; for every thing loved Balder the Good. + +Then the Asa-folk thought that great honor was shown to Balder each time +any thing refused to hurt him; and to show their love for him, as well +as to amuse themselves, they often hewed at him with their battle-axes, +or struck at him with their sharp swords, or hurled toward him their +heavy lances. For every weapon turned aside from its course, and would +neither mark nor bruise the shining target at which it was aimed; and +Balder's princely beauty shone as bright and as pure as ever. + +When Loki the Mischief-maker saw how all things loved and honored +Balder, his heart was filled with jealous hate, and he sought all over +the earth for some beast or bird or tree or lifeless thing, that had +not taken the oath. But he could find not one. Then, disguised as a fair +maiden, he went to Fensal Hall, where dwelt Balder's mother. The fair +Asa-queen was busy at her distaff, with her golden spindles, spinning +flax to be woven into fine linen for the gods. And her maid-servant, +Fulla of the flowing hair, sat on a stool beside her. When the queen saw +Loki, she asked,-- + +"Whence come you, fair stranger? and what favor would you ask of Odin's +wife?" + +"I come," answered the disguised Loki, "from the plains of Ida, where +the gods meet for pleasant pastime, as well as to talk of the weightier +matters of their kingdom." + +"And how do they while away their time to-day?" asked the queen. + +"They have a pleasant game which they call Balder's Honor," was the +answer. "The shining hero stands before them as a target, and each one +tries his skill at hurling some weapon toward him. First Odin throws at +him the spear Gungner, which never before was known to miss its mark; +but it passes harmlessly over Balder's head. Then Thor takes up a huge +rock, and hurls it full at Balder's breast; but it turns in its course, +and will not smite the sun-bright target. Then Tyr seizes a battle-axe, +and strikes at Balder as though he would hew him down; but the keen edge +refuses to touch him: and in this way the Asa-folk show honor to the +best of their number." + +The Asa-queen smiled in the glad pride of her mother-heart, and said, +"Yes, every thing shows honor to the best of Odin's sons; for neither +metal nor wood nor stone nor fire nor water will touch Balder to do him +harm." + +"Is it true, then," asked Loki, "that every thing has made an oath to +you, and promised not to hurt your son?" + +And the queen, not thinking what harm an unguarded word might do, +answered, "Every thing has promised, save a little feeble sprig that men +call the mistletoe. So small and weak it is, that I knew it could never +harm any one; and so I passed it by, and did not ask it to take the +oath." + +Then Loki went out of Fensal Hall, and left the Asa-queen at her +spinning. And he walked briskly away, and paused not until he came to +the eastern side of Valhal, where, on the branches of an old oak, the +mistletoe grew. Rudely he tore the plant from its supporting branch, and +hid it under his cloak. Then he walked leisurely back to the place where +the Asa-folk were wont to meet in council. + +The next day the Asas went out, as usual, to engage in pleasant pastimes +on the plains of Ida. When they had tired of leaping and foot-racing and +tilting, they placed Balder before them as a target again; and, as +each threw his weapon toward the shining mark, they laughed to see the +missile turn aside from its course, and refuse to strike the honored +one. But blind Hoder stood sorrowfully away from the others, and did not +join in any of their sports. Loki, seeing this, went to him and said,-- + +"Brother of the gloomy brow, why do you not take part with us in our +games?" + +"I am blind," answered Hoder. "I can neither leap, nor run, nor throw +the lance." + +"But you can shoot arrows from your bow," said Loki. + +"Alas!" said Hoder, "that I can do only as some one shall direct my aim, +for I can see no target." + +"Do you hear that laughter?" asked Loki. "Thor has hurled the straight +trunk of a pine-tree at your brother; and, rather than touch such a +glorious mark; it has turned aside, and been shivered to pieces upon the +rocks over there. It is thus that the Asa-folk, and all things living +and lifeless, honor Balder. Hoder is the only one who hangs his head, +and fears to do his part. Come, now, let me fit this little arrow in +your bow, and then, as I point it, do you shoot. When you hear the gods +laugh, you will know that your arrow has shown honor to the hero by +refusing to hit him." + +And Hoder, thinking no harm, did as Loki wished. And the deadly arrow +sped from the bow, and pierced the heart of shining Balder, and he +sank lifeless upon the ground. Then the Asa-folk who saw it were struck +speechless with sorrow and dismay; and, had it not been that the Ida +plains where they then stood were sacred to peace, they would have +seized upon Loki, and put him to death. + +Forthwith the world was draped in mourning for Balder the Good; +the birds stopped singing, and flew with drooping wings to the far +South-land; the beasts sought to hide themselves in their lairs and +in the holes of the ground; the trees shivered and sighed until their +leaves fell withered to the earth; the flowers closed their eyes, and +died; the rivers stopped flowing, and dark and threatening billows +veiled the sea; even the sun shrouded his face, and withdrew silently +towards the south. + +When Balder's good mother heard the sad news, she left her golden +spindle in Fensal Hall, and with her maidens hastened to the Ida-plains, +where the body of her son still lay. Nanna, the faithful wife of Balder, +was already there; and wild was her grief at sight of the lifeless +loved one. And all the Asa-folk--save guilty Loki, who had fled for +his life--stood about them in dumb amazement. But Odin was the most +sorrowful of all; for he knew, that, with Balder, the world had lost its +most gladsome life. + +They lifted the body, and carried it down to the sea, where the great +ship "Ringhorn," which Balder himself had built, lay ready to be +launched. And a great company followed, and stood upon the beach, and +bewailed the untimely death of the hero. First came Odin, with his +grief-stricken queen, and then his troop of handmaidens, the Valkyrien, +followed by his ravens Hugin and Munin. Then came Thor in his goat-drawn +car, and Heimdal on his horse Goldtop; then Frey, in his wagon, behind +the boar Gullinbruste of the golden bristles. Then Freyja, in her +chariot drawn by cats, came weeping tears of gold. Lastly, poor blind +Hoder, overcome with grief, was carried thither on the back of one of +the Frost-giants. And Old AEgir, the Ocean king, raised his dripping +head above the water, and gazed with dewy eyes upon the scene; and the +waves, as if affrighted, left off their playing, and were still. + +High on the deck they built the funeral-pile; and they placed the body +upon it, and covered it with costly garments, and with woods of the +finest scent; and the noble horse which had been Balder's they slew, and +placed beside him, that he might not have to walk to the halls of Death. +And Odin took from his finger the ring Draupner, the earth's enricher, +and laid it on the pile. Then Nanna, the faithful wife, was overcome +with grief, and her gentle heart was broken, and she fell lifeless at +the feet of the Asa-queen. And they carried her upon the ship, and laid +her by her husband's side. + +When all things were in readiness to set fire to the pile, the gods +tried to launch the ship; but it was so heavy that they could not move +it. So they sent in haste to Jotunheim for the stout giantess Hyrroken; +and she came with the speed of the whirlwind, and riding on a wolf, +which she guided with a bridle of writhing snakes. + +"What will you have me do?" she asked. + +"We would have you launch the great ship 'Ring horn,'" answered Odin. + +"That I will do!" roared the grim giantess. And, giving the vessel a +single push, she sent it sliding with speed into the deep waters of the +bay. Then she gave the word to her grisly steed, and she flew onwards +and away, no one knew whither. + +The "Ringhorn" floated nobly upon the water,--a worthy bier for the body +which it bore. The fire was set to the funeral-pile, and the red flames +shot upwards to the sky; but their light was but a flickering beam when +matched with the sun-bright beauty of Balder, whose body they consumed. + +Then the sorrowing folk turned away, and went back to their homes: a +cheerless gloom rested heavily where light gladness had ruled before. +And, when they reached the high halls of Asgard, the Asa-queen spoke, +and said,-- + +"Who now, for the love of Balder and his stricken mother, will undertake +an errand? Who will go down into the Valley of Death, and seek for +Balder, and ransom him, and bring him back to Asgard and the mid-world?" + +Then Hermod the Nimble, the brother of Balder, answered, "I will go. I +will find him, and, with Hela's leave, will bring him back." + +And he mounted Sleipner, the eight-footed steed, and galloped swiftly +away. Nine days and nine nights he rode through strange valleys and +mountain gorges, where the sun's light had never been, and through +gloomy darkness and fearful silence, until he came to the black river, +and the glittering, golden bridge which crosses it. Over the bridge his +strong horse carried him; although it shook and swayed and threatened to +throw him into the raging, inky flood below. On the other side a maiden +keeps the gate, and Hermod stopped to pay the toll. + +"What is thy name?" she asked. + +"My name is Hermod, and I am called the Nimble," he answered. + +"What is thy father's name?" + +"His name is Odin. Mayhap you have heard of him." + +"Why ridest thou with such thunderous speed? Five kingdoms of dead men +passed over this bridge yesterday, and it shook not with their weight +as it did with thee and thy strange steed. Thou art not of the pale +multitude that are wont to pass this gate. What is thy errand? and why +ridest thou to the domains of the dead?" + +"I go to find my brother Balder," answered Hermod. "It is but a short +time since he unwillingly came down into these shades." + +"Three days ago," said the maiden, "Balder passed this way, and by his +side rode the faithful Nanna. So bright was his presence, even here, +that the whole valley was lighted up as it had never before been +lighted. The black river glittered like a gem; the frowning mountains +smiled for once; and Hela herself, the queen of these regions, slunk far +away into her most distant halls. But Balder went on his way, and even +now he sups with Nanna in the dark castle over yonder." + +Then Hermod rode forward till he came to the castle walls. These were +built of black marble; and the iron gate was barred and bolted, and none +who went in had ever yet come out. Hermod called loudly to the porter +to open the gate and let him in; but no one seemed to hear nor heed him, +for the words of the living are unknown in that place. Then he drew +the saddle-girths more tightly around the horse Sleipner, and urged him +forward. High up, the great horse leaped; and he sprang clear over the +gates, and landed at the open door of the great hall. Leaving his steed, +Hermod went boldly in; and there he found his brother Balder and the +faithful Nanna seated at the festal board, and honored as the most +worthy of all the guests. With Balder, Hermod staid until the night had +passed; and many were the pleasant words they spoke. When morning came, +Hermod went into the presence of Hela, and said,-- + +"O mighty queen! I come to ask a boon of thee. Balder the Good, whom +both gods and men loved, has been sent to dwell with thee here in thy +darksome house; and all the world weeps for him, and has donned the garb +of mourning, and cannot be consoled until his bright light shall shine +upon them again. And the gods have sent me, his brother, to ask thee to +let Balder ride back with me to Asgard, to his noble, sorrowing mother, +the Asa-queen; for then will hope live again in the hearts of men, and +happiness will return to the earth." + +The Death-queen was silent for a moment; and then she said in a sad +voice, "Hardly can I believe that any being is so greatly loved by +things living and lifeless; for surely Balder is not more the friend of +earth than I am, and yet men love me not. But go thou back to Asgard; +and, if every thing shall weep for Balder, then I will send him to +you. But, if any thing shall refuse to weep, then I will keep him in my +halls." + +So Hermod made ready to return home; and Balder gave him the ring +Draupner to carry to his father as a keepsake; and Nanna sent to the +queen-mother a rich carpet of purest green. Then the nimble messenger +mounted his horse, and rode swiftly back over the dark river, and +through the frowning valleys, until he at last reached Odin's halls. + +When the Asa-folk learned upon what terms they might have Balder again +with them, they sent heralds all over the world to beseech every thing +to mourn for him. And men and beasts, and creeping things, and birds and +fishes, and trees and stones, and air and water,--all things, living and +lifeless, joined in weeping for the lost Balder. + +But, as the heralds were on their way back to Asgard, they met a +giantess named Thok, and they asked her to join in the universal grief. +And she answered, "What good thing did Balder ever do for Thok? What +gladness did he ever bring her? If she should weep for him, it would be +with dry tears. Let Hela keep him in her halls."[EN#23] + +"And yet the day shall come," added the story-teller, "when the words of +the weird woman to Odin shall prove true; and Balder shall come again to +rule over a newborn world in which there shall be no wrong-doing and no +more death." + + + + + +Adventure XIV. How Gunther Outwitted Brunhild. + + + +While still the festivities were at their height, an old man of noble +mien, and with snow-white beard and hair, came into the great hall, and +sang for the gay company. And some whispered that this must be Bragi, +for surely such rare music could not be made by any other. But he sang +not of spring, as Bragi does, nor yet of youth nor of beauty, nor like +one whose home is with the song-birds, and who lives beside the babbling +brooks and the leaping waterfalls. His song was a sorrowful one,--of +dying flowers, and falling leaves, and the wailing winds of autumn, of +forgotten joys, of blasted hopes, of a crushed ambition, of gray hairs, +of uttering footsteps, of old age, of a lonely grave. And, as he sang, +all were moved to tears by the mournful melody and the sad, sad words. + +"Good friend," said Siegfried, "thy music agrees not well with this time +and place; for, where nothing but mirth and joy are welcome, thou hast +brought sorrowful thoughts and gloomy forebodings. Come, now, and undo +the harm thou hast done, by singing a song which shall tell only of +mirth and gladness." + +The old man shook his head, and answered, "Were I Bragi; as some think +I am, or were I even a strolling harper, I might do as you ask. But I am +neither, and I know no gladsome songs. Men have called me a messenger of +ill omen; and such, indeed, I have sometimes been, although through no +wish of my own. I come as a herald from a far-off land, and I bear a +message to all the kings and the noblest chiefs of Rhineland. If King +Gunther will allow me, I will now make that message known." + +"Let the herald speak on," said Gunther graciously. + +"Far over the sea," said the herald, "there lies a dreamy land called +Isenland; and in that land there is a glorious castle, with six and +eighty towers, built of purest marble, green as grass. In that castle +there lives the fairest of all Earth's daughters, Brunhild, the maiden +of the spring-time. In the early days she was one of Odin's Valkyrien; +and with other heavenly maidens it was her duty to follow, unseen, in +the wake of armies, and when they met in battle to hover over the field, +and with kisses to waken the dead heroes, and lead their souls away +to Odin's glad banquet-hall. But upon a day she failed to do the +All-Father's bidding, and he, in anger, sent her to live among men, and +like them to be short-lived, and subject to old age and death. But the +childless old king of Isenland took pity upon the friendless maiden, and +called her his daughter, and made her his heir. Then Odin, still more +angered, sent the thorn of sleep to wound the princess. And sleep seized +upon every creature in Isenland, and silence reigned in the halls of the +marble palace. For Odin said, 'Thus shall they all sleep until the hero +comes, who will ride through fire, and awaken Brunhild with a kiss.' + +"At last the hero so long waited for came. He passed the fiery barrier +safe, and awoke the slumbering maiden; and all the castle sprang +suddenly into life again. And Brunhild became known once more as the +most glorious princess in this mid-world. But the sun-bright hero who +freed her from her prison of sleep vanished from Isenland, and no one +knew where he went; but men say that he rides through the noble world, +the fairest and the best of kings. And Brunhild has sought for him in +many lands; and, although all folk have heard of his deeds, none know +where he dwells. And so, as a last resort, she has sent heralds into +every land to challenge every king to match his skill with hers in three +games of strength,--in casting the spear, in hurling the heavy stone, +and in leaping. The one who can equal her in these feats shall be king +of Isenland, and share with her the throne of Isenstein. And by this +means she hopes to find the long-absent hero; for she believes that +there is no other prince on earth whose strength and skill are equal to +her own. Many men have already risked their lives in this adventure, and +all have failed. + +"And now, King Gunther," continued the herald, "I have come by her +orders into Rhineland, and I deliver the challenge to you. If you +accept, and are beaten, your life is forfeited. If you succeed, the +fairest kingdom and the most beautiful queen in the world are yours; for +you will have proved that you are at least the equal of the hero whom +she seeks. What reply shall I carry back to Isenland?" + +King Gunther answered hastily, and as one dazed and in a dream, "Say +that I accept the challenge, and that when the spring-time comes again, +and the waters in the river are unlocked, I shall go to Isenland, and +match my skill and strength with that of the fair and mighty Brunhild." + +All who stood around were greatly astonished at Gunther's reply; for, +although his mind was somewhat weak, he was not given to rash and +hazardous undertakings. And Siegfried, who was at his side, whispered, +"Think twice, friend Gunther, ere you decide. You do not know the +strength of this mighty but lovely warrior-maiden. Were your strength +four times what it is, you could not hope to excel her in those feats. +Give up this hasty plan, I pray you, and recall your answer to the +challenge. Think no more of such an undertaking, for it surely will cost +you your life." + +But these warnings, and the words of others who tried to dissuade him, +only made Gunther the more determined; and he vowed that nothing should +hinder him from undertaking the adventure. Then the dark-browed Hagen +said,-- + +"Our friend Siegfried seems to know much about Isenland and its +maiden-queen. And indeed, if there is any truth in hearsay, he has had +the best of means for learning. Now, if our good King Gunther has set +his mind on going upon this dangerous enterprise, mayhap Siegfried would +be willing to bear him company." + +Gunther was pleased with Hagen's words; and he said to Siegfried, "My +best of friends, go with me to Isenland, and help me. If we do well in +our undertaking, ask of me any reward you wish, and I will give it you, +so far as in my power lies." + +"You know, kind Gunther," answered Siegfried, "that for myself I have +no fear; and yet again I would warn you to shun the unknown dangers with +which this enterprise is fraught. But if, after all, your heart is set +upon it, make ready to start as soon as the warm winds shall have melted +the ice from the river. I will go with you." + +The king grasped Siegfried's hand, and thanked him heartily. + +"We must build a fleet," said he. "A thousand fighting-men shall go with +us, and we will land in Isenland with a retinue such as no other prince +has had. A number of stanch vessels shall be built at once, and in the +early spring they shall be launched upon the Rhine." + +Siegfried was amused at Gunther's earnestness, and he answered, "Do +not think of taking such a following. You would waste twelve months in +building and victualling such a fleet. You would take from Burgundy its +only safeguard against foes from without; and, after you should reach +Isenland, you would find such a large force to be altogether useless. +Take my advice: have one small vessel built and rigged and victualled +for the long and dangerous voyage; and, when the time shall come, +you and I, and your kinsmen Hagen and Dankwart,--we four only,--will +undertake the voyage and the emprise you have decided upon." + +Gunther knew that his friend's judgment in this matter was better than +his own, and he agreed readily to all of Siegfried's plans. + +* * * * * + +When, at length, the winter months began to wane, many hands were busy +making ready for the voyage. The peerless Kriemhild called together +thirty of her maidens, the most skilful seamstresses in Burgundyland, +and began the making of rich clothing for her brother and his +friends.[EN#24] With her own fair hands she cut out garments from the +rarest stuffs,--from the silky skins brought from the sunny lands of +Lybia; from the rich cloth of Zazemang, green as clover; from the silk +that traders bring from Araby, white as the drifted snow. For seven +weeks the clever maidens and their gentle mistress plied their busy +needles, and twelve suits of wondrous beauty they made for each of +the four heroes. And the princely garments were covered with fine +needle-work, and with curious devices all studded with rare and costly +jewels; and all were wrought with threads of gold. + +Many carpenters and ship-builders were busy with axes and hammers, and +flaming forges, working day and night to make ready a vessel new and +stanch, to carry the adventurers over the sea. And great stores of +food, and of all things needful to their safety or comfort, were brought +together and put on board. + +Neither were the heroes themselves idle; for when not busy in giving +directions to the workmen, or in overseeing the preparations that were +elsewhere going on, they spent the time in polishing their armor (now +long unused), in looking after their weapons, or in providing for the +management of their business while away. And Siegfried forgot not his +trusty sword Balmung, nor his cloak of darkness the priceless Tarnkappe, +which he had captured from the dwarf Alberich in the Nibelungen Land. + +Then the twelve suits of garments which fair fingers had wrought were +brought. And when the men tried them on, so faultless was the fit, so +rare and perfect was every piece in richness and beauty, that even the +wearers were amazed, and all declared that such dazzling and kingly +raiment had never before been seen. + +At last the spring months had fairly vanquished all the forces of the +cold North-land. The warm breezes had melted the snow and ice, and +unlocked the river; and the time had come for Gunther and his comrades +to embark. The little ship, well victualled, and made stanch and stout +in every part, had been launched upon the Rhine; and she waited with +flying streamers and impatient sails the coming of her crew. Down the +sands at length they came, riding upon their steeds; and behind them +followed a train of vassals bearing their kingly garments and their +gold-red shields. And on the banks stood many of the noblest folk of +Burgundy,--Gernot and the young Giselher, and Ute the queen-mother, and +Kriemhild the peerless, and a number of earl-folk, and warriors, and +fair dames, and blushing damsels. And the heroes bade farewell to their +weeping friends, and went upon the waiting vessel, taking their steeds +with them. And Siegfried seized an oar, and pushed the bark off from the +shore. + +"I myself will be the steersman, for I know the way," he said. + +And the sails were unfurled to the brisk south wind, and the vessel sped +swiftly toward the sea; and many fair eyes were filled tears as they +watched it until it could be seen no more. And with sighs and gloomy +forebodings the good people went back to their homes, and but few hoped +ever again to see their king and his brave comrades. + +Driven by favorable winds, the trusty little vessel sailed gayly down +the Rhine, and, ere many days had passed, was out in the boundless sea. +For a long time the heroes sailed and rowed through Old AEgir's watery +kingdom. But they kept good cheer, and their hearts rose higher and +higher; for each day they drew nearer the end of their voyage and the +goal of their hopes. At length they came in sight of a far-reaching +coast and a lovely land; and not far from the shore they saw a noble +fortress, with a number of tall towers pointing toward the sky. + +"What land is that?" asked the king.[EN#25] + +And Siegfried answered that it was Isenland, and that the fortress which +they saw was the Castle of Isenstein and the green marble hall of the +Princess Brunhild. But he warned his friends to be very wary when they +should arrive at the hall. + +"Let all tell this story," said he: "say that Gunther is the king, and +that I am his faithful vassal. The success of our undertaking depends on +this." And his three comrades promised to do as he advised. + +As the vessel neared the shore, the whole castle seemed to be alive. +From every tower and turret-window, from every door and balcony, +lords and ladies, fighting-men and serving-men, looked out to see what +strangers these were who came thus unheralded to Isenland. The heroes +went on shore with their steeds, leaving the vessel moored to the bank; +and then they rode slowly up the beach, and across the narrow plain, and +came to the drawbridge and the great gateway, where they paused. + +The matchless Brunhild in her chamber had been told of the coming of the +strangers; and she asked the maidens who stood around,-- + +"Who, think you, are the unknown warriors who thus come boldly to +Isenstein without asking leave? What is their bearing? Do they seem to +be worthy of our notice? or are they some straggling beggars who have +lost their way?" + +And one of the maidens, looking through the casement, answered, "The +first is a king, I know, from his noble mien and the respect which his +fellows pay to him. But the second bears himself with a prouder grace, +and seems the noblest of them all. He reminds me much of the brave young +Siegfried of former days. Indeed, it must be Siegfried; for he rides +a steed with sunbeam mane, which can be none other than Greyfell. The +third is a dark and gloomy man: he wears a sullen frown upon his brow, +and his eyes seem to shoot quick glances around. How nervously he grasps +his sword-hilt, as if ever guarding against surprise! I think his temper +must be grim and fiery, and his heart a heart of flint. The fourth +and last of the company is young and fair, and of gentle port. Little +business has he with rude warriors; and many tears, methinks, would be +shed for him at home should harm overtake him. Never before have I +seen so noble a company of strangers in Isenland. Their garments are +of dazzling lustre; their saddles are covered with gem-stones; their +weapons are of unequalled brightness. Surely they are worthy of your +notice." + +When Brunhild heard that Siegfried was one of the company, she was +highly pleased, and she hastened to make ready to meet them in the great +hall. And she sent ten worthy lords to open the gate, and to welcome the +heroes to Isenland. + +When Siegfried and his comrades passed through the great gateway, and +came into the castle-yard, their horses were led away to the stables, +and the clanging armor and the broad shields and swords which they +carried were taken from them, and placed in the castle armory. Little +heed was paid to Hagen's surly complaint at thus having every means of +defence taken away. He was told that such had always been the rule at +Isenstein, and that he, like others, must submit. + +After a short delay the heroes were shown into the great hall, where the +matchless Brunhild already was awaiting them. Clad in richest raiment, +from every fold of which rare jewels gleamed, and wearing a coronet of +pearls and gold, the warrior-maiden sat on a throne of snow-white ivory. +Five hundred earl-folk and warriors, the bravest in Isenland, stood +around her with drawn swords, and fierce, determined looks. Surely men +of mettle less heroic than that of the four knights from Rhineland would +have quaked with fear in such a presence. + +King Gunther and his comrades went forward to salute the queen. With +a winning smile she kindly greeted them, and then said to Siegfried, +"Gladly do we welcome you back to our land, friend Siegfried, We have +ever remembered you as our best friend. May we ask what is your will, +and who are these warriors whom you have with you?" + +"Most noble queen," answered he, "right thankful am I that you have +not forgotten me, and that you should deign to notice me while in the +presence of this my liege lord," and he pointed towards King Gunther. +"The king of all Burgundy-land, whose humble vassal I am, has heard the +challenge you have sent into different lands, and he has come to match +his strength with yours." + +"Does he know the conditions?" asked Brunhild. + +"He does," was the answer. "In case of success, the fairest of women for +his queen: in case of failure, death." + +"Yet scores of worthy men have made trial, and all have failed," said +she. "I warn your liege lord to pause, and weigh well the chances ere he +runs so great a risk." + +Then Gunther stepped forward and spoke:-- + +"The chances, fairest queen, have all been weighed, and nothing can +change our mind. Make your own terms, arrange every thing as pleases +you best. We accept your challenge, and ask to make a trial of our +strength." + +The warrior-maiden, without more words, bade her servants help her to +make ready at once for the contest. She donned a rich war-coat, brought +long ago from the far-off Lybian shores,--an armor which, it was said, +no sword could dint, and upon which the heaviest stroke of spear fell +harmless. Her hemlet was edged with golden lace, and sparkled all over +with rich gem-stones. Her lance, of wondrous length, a heavy weight for +three stout men, was brought. Her shield was as broad and as bright as +the sun, and three spans thick with steel and gold. + +While the princess was thus arming herself, the heroes looked on with +amazement and fear. But Siegfried, unnoticed, hastened quietly out of +the hall, and through the open castle-gate, and sped like the wind to +the seashore and to their little ship. There he arrayed himself in the +Tarnkappe, and then, silent and unseen, he ran back to his friends in +the great hall. + +"Be of good cheer," he whispered in the ears of the trembling Gunther. + +But the king could not see who it was that spoke to him, so well was +the hero hidden in the cloak of darkness. Yet he knew that it must be +Siegfried and he felt greatly encouraged. + +Hagen's frowning face grew darker, and the uneasy glances which shot +from beneath his shaggy eyebrows were not those of fear, but of anger +and deep anxiety. Dankwart gave up all as lost, and loudly bewailed +their folly. + +"Must we, unarmed, stand still and see our liege lord slain for a +woman's whim?" he cried. "Had we only our good swords, we might defy +this maiden-queen and all her Isenland." + +Brunhild overheard his words. Scornfully she called to her servants, +"Bring to these boasters their armor, and let them have their keen-edged +swords. Brunhild has no fear of such men, whether they be armed or +unarmed." + +When Hagen and Dankwart felt their limbs again enclosed in steel, and +when they held their trusty swords in hand, their uneasiness vanished, +and hope returned. + +In the castle-yard a space was cleared, and Brunhild's five hundred +warriors stood around as umpires. The unseen Siegfried kept close by +Gunther's side. + +"Fear not," he said. "Do my bidding, and you are safe. Let me take your +shield. When the time comes, make you the movements, and trust me to do +the work." + +Then Brunhild threw her spear at Gunther's shield. The mighty weapon +sped through the air with the swiftness of lightning; and, when it +struck the shield, both Gunther and the unseen Siegfried fell to the +ground, borne down by its weight and the force with which it was thrown. +Blood gushed from the nostrils of both; and sad would have been their +fate if the friendly Tarnkappe had not hidden Siegfried from sight, and +given him the strength of twelve giants. Quickly they rose. And Gunther +seemed to pick up the heavy shaft, but it was really Siegfried who +raised it from the ground. For one moment he poised the great beam in +the air, and then, turning the blunt end foremost, he sent it flying +back more swiftly than it had come. It struck the huge shield which +Brunhild held before her, with a sound that echoed to the farthest +cliffs of Isenland. The warrior-maiden was dashed to the earth; but, +rising at once, she cried,-- + +"That was a noble blow, Sir Gunther. I confess myself fairly outdone. +But there are two chances yet, and you will do well if you equal me in +those. We will now try hurling the stone, and jumping." + +Twelve men came forward, carrying a huge rough stone in weight a ton or +more. And Brunhild raised this mass of rock in her white arms, and held +it high above her head; then she swung it backwards once, and threw it a +dozen fathoms across the castle-yard. Scarcely had it reached the ground +when the mighty maiden leaped after, and landed just beside it. And the +thousand lookers-on shouted in admiration. But old Hagen bit his unshorn +lip, and cursed the day that had brought them to Isenland. + +Gunther and the unseen Siegfried, not at all disheartened, picked up the +heavy stone, which was half buried in the ground, and, lifting it with +seeming ease, threw it swiftly forward. Not twelve, but twenty, fathoms +it flew; and Siegfried, snatching up Gunther in his arms, leaped after, +and landed close to the castle-wall. And Brunhild believed that Gunther +alone had done these great feats through his own strength and skill; +and she at once acknowledged herself beaten in the games, and bade her +vassals do homage to Gunther as their rightful liege lord. + +Alas that the noblest of men-folk should gave stooped to such deed of +base deception! The punishment, although long delayed, came surely at +last; for not even the highest are exempt from obedience to Heaven's +behests and the laws of right. + +When the contest was ended, the unseen Siegfried ran quickly back to the +little ship, and hastily doffed the magic Tarnkappe. Then, in his own +form, he returned to the castle, and leisurely entered the castle-yard. +When he met his pleased comrades and the vanquished maiden-queen, he +asked in careless tones when the games would begin. All who heard his +question laughed; and Brunhild said,-- + +"Surely, Sir Siegfried, the old sleep-thorn of Isenstein must have +caught you, and held you in your ship. The games are over, and Gunther, +your liege lord, is the winner." + +At this news Siegfried seemed much delighted, as indeed he was. And all +went together to the great banquet-hall, where a rich feast was served +to our heroes and to the worthy earl-folk and warriors of Isenland. + + + + + +Adventure XV. In Nibelungen Land Again. + + + +When the folk of Isenland learned that their queen had been outwitted +and won by a strange chief from a far-off and unknown land, great was +their sorrow and dismay; for they loved the fair maiden-queen, and they +feared to exchange her mild reign for that of an untried foreigner. Nor +was the queen herself at all pleased with the issue of the late contest. +She felt no wish to leave her loved people, and her pleasant home, and +the fair island which was her kingdom, to take up her abode in a strange +land, as the queen of one for whom she could feel no respect. And every +one wondered how it was that a man like Gunther, so commonplace, and so +feeble in his every look and act, could have done such deeds, and won +the wary warrior-maiden. + +"If it had only been Siegfried!" whispered the maidens among themselves. + +"If it had only been Siegfried!" murmured the knights and the +fighting-men. + +"If it had only been Siegfried!" thought the queen, away down in the +most secret corner of her heart. And she shut herself up in her room, +and gave wild vent to her feelings of grief and disappointment. + +Then heralds mounted the swiftest horses, and hurried to every village +and farm, and to every high-towered castle, in the land. And they +carried word to all of Brunhild's kinsmen and liegemen, bidding them to +come without delay to Isenstein. And every man arose as with one accord, +and hastened to obey the call of their queen. And the whole land was +filled with the notes of busy preparation for war. And day by day to the +castle the warriors came and went, and the sound of echoing horse-hoofs, +and the rattling of ready swords, and the ringing of the war-shields, +were heard on every hand. + +"What means this treason?" cried Gunther in dismay. "The coy +warrior-maiden would fain break her plighted word; and we, here in our +weakness, shall perish from her wrath." + +And even old Hagen, who had never felt a fear when meeting a host in +open battle, was troubled at the thought of the mischief which was +brewing. + +"'Tis true, too true," he said, and the dark frown deepened on his face, +"that we have done a foolish thing. For we four men have come to this +cheerless land upon a hopeless errand; and, if we await the gathering of +the storm, our ruin will be wrought." And he grasped his sword-hilt with +such force, that his knuckles grew white as he paced fiercely up and +down the hall. + +Dankwart, too, bewailed the fate that had driven them into this net, +from which he saw no way of escape. And both the warriors besought King +Gunther to take ship at once, and to sail for Rhineland before it was +too late. But Siegfried said,-- + +"What account will you give to the folk at home, if you thus go back +beaten, outwitted, and ashamed? Brave warriors, indeed! we should be +called. Wait a few days, and trust all to me. When Brunhild's warriors +shall be outnumbered by our own, she will no longer hesitate, and our +return to Rhineland shall be a triumphant one; for we shall carry the +glorious warrior-queen home with us." + +"Yes," answered Hagen, mocking, "we will wait until her warriors are +outnumbered by our own. But how long shall that be? Will the lightning +carry the word to Burgundy? and will the storm-clouds bring our brave +men from across the sea? Had you allowed King Gunther's plans to be +followed, they would have been here with us now, and we might have +quelled this treason at the first." + +And Dankwart said, "By this time the fields of the South-land are green +with young corn, and the meadows are full of sweet-smelling flowers, and +the summer comes on apace. Why should we stay longer in this chilly and +fog-ridden land, waiting upon the whims of a fickle maiden,--as fickle +as the winds themselves? Better face the smiles and the jeers of the +folk at home than suffer shameful shipwreck in this cold Isenland." + +But Siegfried would not be moved by the weak and wavering words of his +once valiant comrades. + +"Trust me," he said, "and all will yet be well. Wait here but a few days +longer in quietness, while I go aboard ship, and fare away. Within three +days I will bring to Isenstein a host of warriors such as you have never +seen. And then the fickle fancies of Brunhild will flee, and she will no +longer refuse to sail with us to the now sunny South-land." + +Hagen frowned still more deeply; and as he strode away he muttered, +"He only wants to betray us, and leave us to die in this trap which he +himself has doubtless set for us." + +But Gunther anxiously grasped the hand of Siegfried, and said, "Go! I +trust you, and believe in you. But be sure not to linger, for no one +knows what a day may bring forth in this uncertain and variable clime." + +Without saying a word in reply, Siegfried turned, and hastened down to +the shore. Without any loss of time he unmoored the little ship, and +stepped aboard. Then he donned his Tarnkappe, spread the sails, and +seized the helm; and the vessel, like a bird with woven wings, +sped swiftly out of the bay, and Isenstein, with its wide halls +and glass-green towers, was soon lost to the sight of the invisible +helmsman. For four and twenty hours did Siegfried guide the flying +vessel as it leaped from wave to wave, and sent the white foam dashing +to left and right like flakes of snow. And late on the morrow he came to +a rock-bound coast, where steep cliffs and white mountain-peaks rose up, +as it were, straight out of the blue sea. Having found a safe and +narrow inlet, he moored his little bark; and, keeping the Tarnkappe well +wrapped around him, he stepped ashore. Briskly he walked along the rough +shore, and through a dark mountain-pass, until he came to a place well +known to him,--a place where, years before, he had seen a cavern's +yawning mouth, and a great heap of shining treasures, and two princes +dying of hunger. But now, upon the selfsame spot there stood a frowning +fortress, dark and gloomy and strong, which Siegfried himself had built +in after-years; and the iron gates were barred and bolted fast, and no +living being was anywhere to be seen. + +Loud and long did Siegfried, wrapped in his cloak of darkness, knock and +call outside. At last a grim old giant, who sat within, and kept watch +and ward of the gate, cried out,-- + +"Who knocks there?" + +Siegfried, angrily and in threatening tones, answered,-- + +"Open the gate at once, lazy laggard, and ask no questions. A stranger, +who has lost his way among the mountains, seeks shelter from the storm +which is coming. Open the gate without delay, or I will break it down +upon your dull head." + +Then the giant in hot anger seized a heavy iron beam, and flung the gate +wide open, and leaped quickly out to throttle the insolent stranger. +Warily he glanced around on every side; but Siegfried was clad in the +magic Tarnkappe, and the giant could see no one. Amazed and ashamed, he +turned to shut the gate, and to go again to his place; for he began to +believe that a foolish dream had awakened and deceived him. Then the +unseen Siegfried seized him from behind; and though he struggled hard, +and fought with furious strength, our hero threw him upon the ground, +and bound him with cords of sevenfold strength. + +The unwonted noise at the gate rang through the castle, and awakened +the sleeping inmates. The dwarf Alberich, who kept the fortress against +Siegfried's return, and who watched the Nibelungen treasure, which was +stored in the hollow hill, arose, and donned his armor, and hurried to +the giant's help. A right stout dwarf was Alberich; and, as we have seen +in a former adventure, he was as bold as stout. Armed in a war-coat of +steel, he ran out to the gate, flourishing a seven-thonged whip, on each +thong of which a heavy golden ball was hung. Great was his amazement +and his wrath when he saw the giant lying bound and helpless upon the +ground; and with sharp, eager eyes he peered warily around to see if, +perchance, he might espy his hidden foe. But, when he could find no +one, his anger grew hotter than before, and he swung his golden scourge +fiercely about his head. Well was it for Siegfried then, that the +Tarnkappe hid him from sight; for the dwarf kept pounding about in air +so sturdily and strong, that, even as it was, he split the hero's shield +from the centre to the rim. Then Siegfried rushed quickly upon the +doughty little fellow, and seized him by his long gray beard, and threw +him so roughly upon the ground, that Alberich shrieked with pain. + +"Spare me, I pray you," he cried. "I know that you are no mean knight; +and, if I had not promised to serve my master Siegfried until death, I +fain would acknowledge you as my lord." + +But Siegfried bound the writhing dwarf, and placed him, struggling and +helpless, by the side of the giant. + +"Tell me, now, your name, I pray," said the dwarf; "for I must give an +account of this adventure to my master when he comes." + +"Who is your master?" + +"His name is Siegfried; and he is king of the Nibelungens, and lord, by +right, of the great Nibelungen Hoard. To me and to my fellows he long +ago intrusted the keeping of this castle and of the Hoard that lies deep +hidden in the hollow hill; and I have sworn to keep it safe until his +return." + +Then Siegfried threw off his Tarnkappe, and stood in his own proper +person before the wonder-stricken dwarf. + +"Noble Siegfried," cried the delighted Alberich, "right glad I am that +you have come again to claim your own. Spare my life, and pardon me, I +pray, and let me know what is your will. Your bidding shall be done at +once." + +"Hasten, then," said Siegfried, loosing him from his bonds,--"hasten, +and arouse my Nibelungen hosts. Tell them that their chief has come +again to Mist Land, and that he has work for them to do." + +Then Alberich, when he had set the giant gatekeeper free, sent heralds +to every town and castle in the land to make known the words and wishes +of Siegfried. And the gallant Nibelungen warriors, when they heard that +their liege lord had come again, sprang up joyously, and girded on +their armor, and hastened to obey his summons. And soon the strong-built +castle was full of noble men,--of earls, and the faithful liegemen +who had known Siegfried of old. And joyful and happy were the words of +greeting. + +In the mean while, Alberich had busied himself in preparing a great +feast for his master and his master's chieftains. In the long low hall +that the dwarfs had hollowed out within the mountain's heart, the table +was spread, and on it was placed every delicacy that could be wished. +There were fruits and wines from the sunny South-land, and snow-white +loaves made from the wheat of Gothland, and fish from Old AEgir's +kingdom, and venison from the king's wild-wood, and the flesh of many a +fowl most delicately baked, and, near the head of the board, a huge wild +boar roasted whole. And the hall was lighted by a thousand tapers, each +held in the hands of a swarthy elf; and the guests were served by the +elf-women, who ran hither and thither, obedient to every call. But +Alberich, at Siegfried's desire, sat upon the dais at his lord's right +hand. Merriment ruled the hour, and happy greetings were heard on every +side. And, when the feast was at its height, a troop of hill-folk came +dancing into the hall; and a hundred little fiddlers, perched in the +niches of the wall, made merry music, and kept time for the busy, +clattering little feet. And when the guests had tired of music and +laughter, and the dancers had gone away, and the tables no longer +groaned under the weight of good cheer Siegfried and his earls still +sat at their places, and beguiled the hours with pleasant talk and with +stories of the earlier days. And Alberich, as the master of the feast, +told a tale of the dwarf-folk, and how once they were visited in their +hill-home by Loki the Mischief-maker. + + + +Alberich's Story. + + + +My story begins with the Asa-folk, and has as much to do with the gods +as with my kinsmen the dwarfs. It happened long ago, when the world was +young, and the elf-folk had not yet lost all their ancient glory. + +Sif, as you all know, is Thor's young wife, and she is very fair. It is +said, too, that she is as gentle and lovable as her husband is rude +and strong; and that while he rides noisily through storm and wind, +furiously fighting the foes of the mid-world, she goes quietly about, +lifting up the down-trodden, and healing the broken-hearted. In the +summer season, when the Thunderer has driven the Storm-giants back to +their mist-hidden mountain homes, and the black clouds have been rolled +away, and piled upon each other in the far east, Sif comes gleefully +tripping through the meadows, raising up the bruised flowers, and with +smiles calling the frightened birds from their hiding-places to frolic +and sing in the fresh sunshine again. The growing fields and the +grassy mountain slopes are hers; and the rustling green leaves, and the +sparkling dewdrops, and the sweet odors of spring blossoms, and the glad +songs of the summer-time, follow in her footsteps. + +Sif, as I have said, is very fair; and, at the time of my story, there +was one thing of which she was a trifle vain. That was her long silken +hair, which fell in glossy waves almost to her feet. On calm, warm days, +she liked to sit by the side of some still pool, and gaze at her own +beauty pictured in the water below, while, like the sea-maidens of old +AEgir's kingdom, she combed and braided her rich, flowing tresses. +And in all the mid-world nothing has ever been seen so like the golden +sunbeams as was Sif's silken hair. + +At that time the cunning Mischief-maker, Loki, was still living with the +Asa-folk. And, as you well know, this evil worker was never pleased save +when he was plotting trouble for those who were better than himself. +He liked to meddle with business which was not his own, and was always +trying to mar the pleasures of others. His tricks and jokes were seldom +of the harmless kind, and yet great good sometimes grew out of them. + +When Loki saw how proud Sif was of her long hair, and how much time +she spent in combing and arranging it, he planned a very cruel piece of +mischief. He hid himself in a little rocky cavern, near the pool where +Sif was wont to sit, and slily watched her all the morning as she +braided and unbraided her flowing silken locks. At last, overcome by the +heat of the mid-day sun, she fell asleep upon the grassy bank. Then the +Mischief-maker quietly crept near, and with his sharp shears cut off all +that wealth of hair, and shaved her head until it was as smooth as +her snow-white hand. Then he hid himself again in the little cave, and +chuckled with great glee at the wicked thing he had done. + +By and by Sif awoke, and looked into the stream; but she started quickly +back with horror and affright at the image which she saw. She felt of +her shorn head; and, when she learned that those rich waving tresses +which had been her joy and pride were no longer there, she knew not what +to do. Hot, burning tears ran down her cheeks, and with sobs and shrieks +she began to call aloud for Thor. Forthwith there was a terrible uproar. +The lightning flashed, and the thunder rolled, and an earthquake shook +the rocks and trees. Loki, looking out from his hiding-place, saw that +Thor was coming, and he trembled with fear; for he knew, that, should +the Thunderer catch him, he would have to pay dearly for his wicked +sport. He ran quickly out of the cavern, and leaped into the river, and +changed himself into a salmon, and swam as swiftly as he could away from +the shore. + +But Thor was not so easily fooled; for he had long known Loki, and was +acquainted with all his cunning ways. So when he saw Sif bewailing her +stolen hair, and beheld the frightened salmon hurrying alone towards +the deep water, he was at no loss to know whose work this mischief was. +Straightway he took upon himself the form of a sea-gull, and soared high +up over the water. Then, poising a moment in the air, he darted, swift +as an arrow, down into the river. When he arose from the water, he held +the struggling salmon tightly grasped in his strong talons. + +"Vile Mischief-maker!" cried Thor, as he alighted upon the top of +a neighboring crag: "I know thee who thou art; and I will make thee +bitterly rue the work of this day. Limb from limb will I tear thee, and +thy bones will I grind into powder." + +Loki, when he saw that he could not by any means get away from the angry +Thunderer, changed himself back to his own form, and humbly said to +Thor,-- + +"What if you do your worst with me? Will that give back a single hair to +Sif's shorn head? What I did was only a thoughtless joke, and I really +meant no harm. Do but spare my life, and I will more than make good the +mischief I have done." + +"How can that be?" asked Thor. + +"I will hie me straight to the secret smithies of dwarfs," answered +Loki; "and those cunning little kinsmen of mine shall make golden +tresses for fair Sif, which will grow upon her head like other hair, and +cause her to be an hundred-fold more beautiful than before." + +Thor knew that Loki was a slippery fellow, and that he did not always do +what he promised, and hence he would not let him go. He called to Frey, +who had just come up, and said,-- + +"Come, cousin Frey, help me to rid the world of this sly thief. While I +hold fast to his raven hair, and his long slim arms, do you seize him by +the heels, and we will give his limbs to the fishes, and his body to the +birds, for food." + +Loki, now thoroughly frightened, wept, and kissed Frey's feet, and +humbly begged for mercy. And he promised that he would bring from the +dwarf's smithy, not only the golden hair for Sif, but also a mighty +hammer for Thor, and a swift steed for Frey. So earnest were his +words, and so pitiful was his plea, that Thor at last set the trembling +Mischief-maker free, and bade him hasten away on his errand. Quickly, +then, he went in search of the smithy of the dwarfs. + +He crossed the desert moorlands, and came, after three days, to the +bleak hill-country, and the rugged mountain-land of the South. There the +earthquake had split the mountains apart, and dug dark and bottomless +gorges, and hollowed out many a low-walled cavern, where the light +of day was never seen. Through deep, winding ways, and along narrow +crevices, Loki crept; and he glided under huge rocks, and downward +through slanting, crooked clefts, until at last he came to a great +underground hall, where his eyes were dazzled by a light which was +stronger and brighter than day; for on every side were glowing fires, +roaring in wonderful little forges, and blown by wonderful little +bellows And the vaulted roof above was thickly set with diamonds and +precious stones, that sparkled and shone like thousands of bright stars +in the blue sky. And the little dwarfs, with comical brown faces, +and wearing strange leathern aprons, and carrying heavy hammers, were +hurrying here and there, each busy at his task. Some were smelting pure +gold from the coarse rough rocks; others were making precious gems, and +rich rare jewels, such as the proudest king would be glad to wear. Here, +one was shaping pure, round pearls from dewdrops and maidens' tears; +there, another wrought green emeralds from the first leaves of spring. +So busy were they all, that they neither stopped nor looked up when Loki +came into their hall, but all kept hammering and blowing and working, as +if their lives depended upon their being always busy. + +After Loki had curiously watched their movements for some time, he spoke +to the dwarf whose forge was nearest to him, and made known his errand. +But the little fellow was fashioning a flashing diamond, which he called +the Mountain of Light; and he scarcely looked up as he answered,-- + +"I do not work in gold. Go to Ivald's sons: they will make whatever you +wish." + +To Ivald's sons, then, in the farthest and brightest corner of the hall, +Loki went. They very readily agreed to make the golden hair for Sif, +and they began the work at once. A lump of purest gold was brought, and +thrown into the glowing furnace; and it was melted and drawn, and melted +and drawn, seven times. Then it was given to a little brown elf with +merry, twinkling eyes, who carried it with all speed to another part of +the great hall, where the dwarfs' pretty wives were spinning. One of +the little women took the yellow lump from the elf's hands, and laid it, +like flax, upon her spinning-wheel. Then she sat down and began to spin; +and, as she span, the dwarf-wives sang a strange, sweet song of the old, +old days when the dwarf-folk ruled the world. And the tiny brown elves +danced gleefully around the spinner, and the thousand little anvils rang +out a merry chorus to the music of the singers. And the yellow gold was +twisted into threads, and the threads ran into hair softer than silk, +and finer than gossamer. And at last the dwarf-woman held in her hand +long golden tresses ten times more beautiful than the amber locks that +Loki had cut from Sif's fair head. When Ivald's sons, proud of their +skill, gave the rare treasure to the Mischief-maker, Loki smiled as if +he were well pleased; but in his heart he was angry because the dwarfs +had made so fair a piece of workmanship. Then he said,-- + +"This is, indeed, very handsome, and will be very becoming to Sif. Oh, +what an uproar was made about those flaxen tresses that she loved so +well! And that reminds me that her husband, the gruff old Giant-killer, +wants a hammer. I promised to get him one; and, if I fail, he will +doubtless be rude with me. I pray you make such a hammer as will be of +most use to him in fighting the Jotuns, and you may win favor both for +yourselves and me." + +"Not now," said the elder of Ivald's sons. "We cannot make it now; for +who would dare to send a present to Thor before he has offered one to +Odin, the great All-Father?" + +"Make me, then, a gift for Odin," cried Loki; "and he will shelter me +from the Thunderer's wrath." + +So the dwarfs put iron into their furnace, and heated it to a glowing +white-heat; and then they drew it out, and rolled it upon their anvils, +and pounded it with heavy hammers, until they had wrought a wondrous +spear, such as no man had ever seen. Then they inlaid it with priceless +jewels, and plated the point with gold seven times tried. + +"This is the spear Gungner," said they. "Take it to the great All-Father +as the best gift of his humble earth-workers." + +"Make me now a present for Frey the gentle," said Loki. "I owe my life +to him; and I have promised to take him a swift steed that will bear him +everywhere." + +Then Ivald's sons threw gold into the furnace, and blew with their +bellows until the very roof of the great cave-hall seemed to tremble, +and the smoke rolled up the wide chimney, and escaped in dense fumes +from the mountain-top. When they left off working, and the fire died +away, a fairy ship, with masts and sails, and two banks of long oars, +and a golden dragon stem, rose out of the glowing coals; and it grew in +size until it filled a great part of the hall, and might have furnished +room for a thousand warriors with their arms and steeds. Then, at a word +from the dwarfs, it began to shrink, and it became smaller and smaller +until it was no broader than an oak-leaf. And the younger of Ivald's +sons folded it up like a napkin, and gave it to Loki, saying,-- + +"Take this to Frey the gentle. It is the ship Skidbladner. When it is +wanted for a voyage, it will carry all the Asa-folk and their weapons +and stores; and, no matter where they wish to go, the wind will always +drive it straight to the desired port. But, when it is not needed, the +good Frey may fold it up, as I have done, and carry it safely in his +pocket." + +Loki was much pleased; and, although he felt disappointed because he had +no present for Thor, he heartily thanked the dwarfs for their kindness; +and taking the golden hair, and the spear Gungner, and the ship +Skidbladner, he bade Ivald's sons good-by, and started for home. But, +before he reached the narrow doorway which led out of the cave, he met +two crooked-backed dwarfs, much smaller and much uglier than any he had +seen before. + +"What have you there?" asked one of them, whose name was Brok. + +"Hair for Sif, a spear for Odin, and a ship for Frey," answered Loki. + +"Let us see them," said Brok. + +Loki kindly showed them the strange gifts, and told them, that, in +his belief, no dwarfs in all the world had ever before wrought such +wonderful things. + +"Who made them?" inquired Brok. + +"Ivald's sons." + +"Ah! Ivald's sons sometimes do good work, but there are many other +dwarfs who can do better. For instance, my brother Sindre, who stands +here, can make three other treasures altogether as good as those you +have." + +"It cannot be!" cried Loki. + +"I tell you the truth," said the dwarf. "And, to show you that I mean +just what I say, I will wager against your head all the diamonds in +the ceiling above us, that he will make not only as good treasures, but +those which the Asas will esteem much higher." + +"Agreed!" cried Loki,--"agreed! I take the wager. Let your brother try +his skill at once." + +The three went straightway to Sindre's forge, and the brothers began +their task. When the fire was roaring hot, and the sparks flew from the +chimney like showers of shooting-stars, Sindre put a pig-skin into the +furnace, and bade Brok blow the bellows with all his might, and never +stop until he should speak the word. The flames leaped up white and +hot, and the furnace glowed with a dazzling light, while Brok plied the +bellows, and Sindre, with unblinking eyes, watched the slowly changing +colors that played around the melted and shapeless mass within. While +the brothers were thus intent upon their work, Loki changed himself to +a great horse-fly, and settled upon Brok's hand, and bit him without +mercy. But the dwarf kept on blowing the bellows, and stopped not until +his brother cried out,-- + +"Enough!" + +Then Sindre drew out of the flickering blue flames a huge wild boar with +long tusks of ivory, and golden bristles that glittered and shone like +the beams of the sun. + +"This is Golden Bristle," said the dwarf. "It is the gift of Brok and +his brother to the gentle Frey. His ship Skidbladner can carry him only +over the sea; but Golden Bristle shall be a trusty steed that will bear +him with the speed of the wind over the land or through the air." + +Next the dwarfs threw gold into the furnace, and Brok plied the bellows, +and Sindre gazed into the flames, as before. And the great horse-fly +buzzed in Brok's face, and darted at his eyes, and at last settled upon +his neck, and stung him until the pain caused big drops of sweat to roll +off of his forehead. But the dwarf stopped not nor faltered, until his +brother again cried out,-- + +"Enough!" + +This time Sindre drew out a wondrous ring of solid gold, sparkling all +over with the rarest and most costly jewels. + +"This is the ring Draupner," said he. "It is well worthy to be worn on +Odin's finger. Every ninth day eight other rings, equal to it in every +way, shall drop from it. It shall enrich the earth, and make the desert +blossom as the rose; and it shall bring plentiful harvests, and fill the +farmers' barns with grain, and their houses with glad good cheer. Take +it to the All-Father as the best gift of the earth-folk to him and to +mankind." + +After this the dwarfs took iron which had been brought from the +mountains of Norse Land; and, after beating it upon their bellows until +it glowed white and hot, Sindre threw it into the furnace. + +"This shall be the gift of gifts," said he to Brok. "Ply the bellows +as before, and do not, for your life, stop or falter until the work is +done." + +But as Brok blew the bellows, and his brother gazed into the glowing +fire, the horse-fly came again. This time he settled between the dwarf's +eyes, and stung his eyelids until the blood filled his eyes, and ran +down his cheeks, and blinded him so that he could not see. At last, +in sore distress, and wild with pain, Brok let go of the bellows, and +lifted his hand to drive the fly away. Then Sindre drew his work out of +the furnace. It was a blue steel hammer, well made in every way, save +that the handle was half an inch too short. + +"This is the mighty Mjolner," said Sindre to Loki, who had again taken +his proper shape. "The Thunderer may have the hammer that you promised +him; although it is our gift, and not yours. The stoutest giant will not +be able now to cope with Thor. No shield nor armor, nor mountain-wall, +nor, indeed, any thing on earth, shall be proof against the +lightning-strokes of Mjolner." + +And Brok took the three treasures which Sindre had fashioned, and went +with Loki to Asgard, the home of the Asa-folk. And they chose Odin and +Thor and Frey to examine and judge which was best,--Loki's three gifts, +the work of Ivald's sons; or Brok's three gifts, the work of Sindre. +When the judges were seated, and all were in readiness, Loki went +forward and gave to Odin the spear Gungner, that would always hit +the mark; and to Frey he gave the ship Skidbladner, that would sail +whithersoever he wished. Then he gave the golden hair to Thor, who +placed it upon the head of fair Sif; and it grew there, and was a +thousand-fold more beautiful than the silken tresses she had worn +before. + +After the Asas had carefully looked at these treasures, and talked of +their merits, little Brok came humbly forward and offered his gifts. To +Odin he gave the precious ring Draupner, already dropping richness. To +Frey he gave the boar Golden Bristle, telling him that wherever he chose +to go this steed would serve him well, and would carry him faster than +any horse, while his shining bristles would light the way on the darkest +night or in the gloomiest path. At last he gave to Thor the hammer +Mjolner, and said that it, like Odin's spear, would never miss the mark, +and that whatever it struck, it would crush in pieces, and whithersoever +it might be hurled, it would come back to his hand again. + +Then the Asas declared at once that Thor's hammer was the best of all +the gifts, and that the dwarf had fairly won the wager. But, when +Brok demanded Loki's head as the price of the wager, the cunning +Mischief-maker said,-- + +"My head is, by the terms of our agreement, yours; but my neck is my +own, and you shall not on any account touch or harm it."[EN#26] + +So Brok went back to his brother and his smithy without the head of +Loki, but he was loaded with rich and rare presents from the Asa-folk. + + + + + +Adventure XVI. How Brunhild Was Welcomed Home. + + + +When the next morning's sun arose, and its light gilded the mountain +peaks, and fell in a flood of splendor down upon the rich uplands and +the broad green fields of Nibelungen Land, Siegfried, with his earls and +mighty men, rode through the valley, and down to the seashore. There a +pleasant sight met his eyes: for the little bay was white with the sails +of a hundred gold-beaked vessels which lay at anchor; and on the sandy +beach there stood in order three thousand island warriors,--the bravest +and the best of all the Nibelungens,--clad in armor, and ready to hear +and to do their master's bidding. And Siegfried told them why he had +thus hastily called them together; and he gave to each one rich gifts +of gold and jewels and costly raiment. Then he chose from among them +one thousand of the most trustworthy, who should follow him back to +Isenland; and these went aboard the waiting vessels, amid the cheers +and the farewells of their comrades who were left behind. And when every +thing was in readiness, the anchors were hoisted and the sails were set, +and the little fleet, wafted by pleasant winds, sailed out of the bay, +and eastward across the calm blue sea. And Siegfried's vessel, with a +golden dragon banner floating from the masthead, led all the rest. + +On the fourth day after Siegfried's departure from Isenland, Dankwart +and grim old Hagen sat in a room of the castle at Isenstein. Outside and +below they heard the fair-haired warriors of Queen Brunhild pacing to +and fro, and ready, at a word, to seize upon the strangers, and either +to put them to death, or to drive them forever from the land. +Old Hagen's brows were closely knit, and his face was dark as a +thunder-cloud, and his hands played nervously with his sword-hilt, as he +said,-- + +"Where now is Gunther, the man whom we once called king?" + +"He is standing on the balcony above, talking with the queen and her +maidens," answered Dankwart. + +"The craven that he is!" cried Hagen hoarsely. "Once he was a king, and +worthy to be obeyed; but now who is the king? That upstart Siegfried has +but to say what shall be done, and our master Gunther, blindly and like +a child, complies. Four days ago we might have taken ship, and sailed +safely home. Now our vessel is gone, the boasted hero is gone, and +nothing is left for us to do but to fight and die." + +"But we are sure of Odin's favor," returned Dankwart; and a wild light +gleamed from his eyes, and he brandished his sword high over his head. +"A place in Valhal is promised to us; for, him who bravely dies with +his blood-stained sword beside him and his heart unrent with fears, the +All-Father's victory-wafters will gently carry home. Even now, methinks, +I sit in the banqueting-hall of the heroes, and quaff the flowing mead." + +* * * * * + +In the mean while Gunther stood with Queen Brunhild at an upper window, +and looked out upon the great sea that spread forever and away towards +the setting sun. And all at once, as if by magic, the water was covered +with white-sailed ships, which, driven by friendly winds and the helping +hands of AEgir's daughters and the brawny arms of many a stalwart +oarsman, came flying towards the bay. + +"What ships are those with the snow-white sails and the dragon-stems?" +asked Brunhild, wondering. + +Gunther gazed for a moment towards the swift-coming fleet, and his eyes +were gladdened with the sight of Siegfried's dragon-banner floating from +the vessel in the van. A great load seemed lifted from his breast, +for now he knew that the hoped-for help was at hand. And, smiling he +answered the queen,-- + +"Those white-sailed ships are mine. My body-guard--a thousand of my +trustiest fighting-men--are on board, and every man is ready to die for +me." + +And as the vessels came into the harbor, and the sailors furled the +sails, and cast the anchors into the sea, Siegfried was seen standing on +the golden prow of his ship, arrayed in princely raiment, with his earls +and chiefs around him. And their bright armor glittered in the sunlight, +and their burnished shields shone like so many golden mirrors. A fairer +sight had the folk of Isenstein never seen. + +Long and earnestly Queen Brunhild gazed, and then, turning away, she +burst into tears; for she knew that she had been again outwitted, and +that it was vain for her to struggle against the Norns' decrees. Then, +crushing back the grief and the sore longing that rose in her heart, she +spoke again to Gunther, and her eyes shone stern and strange. + +"What now will you have me do?" she asked; "for you have fairly won +me, and my wayward fancies shall no longer vex you. Shall I greet your +friends with kindness, or shall we send them back again over the sea?" + +"I pray you give them welcome to the broad halls of Isenstein," he +answered; "for no truer, nobler men live than these my liegemen." + +So the queen sent word to Siegfried and his Nibelungen warriors to leave +the ships and come ashore. And she herself, as radiant now as a morning +in May, went down to meet them and welcome them. Then she had a great +feast made in honor of the heroes, and the long, low-raftered feast-hall +rang with the sounds of merriment, instead of with the clash of arms. +The fair-haired, blue-eyed warriors of the queen sat side by side with +the tall strangers from over the sea. And in the high-seat was Brunhild, +her face exceeding pale, yet beauteous to behold; and by her side sat +Gunther, smiling and glad, and clad in his kingly raiments. And around +them were the earls and chieftains, and many a fair lady of Isenland, +and Hagen, smiling through his frowns, and Dankwart, now grown fearless, +and Siegfried sad and thoughtful. Mirth and gladness ruled the hour, and +not until the morning star began to fade in the coming sunlight lid the +guests retire to rest. + +Only a few days longer did the heroes tarry in Isenland; for the mild +spring days were growing warmer, and all faces were southward turned, +and the queen herself was anxious to haste to her South-land home. When, +at last, the time for leave-taking came, the folk of Isenland gathered +around to bid their queen Godspeed. Then Brunhild called to Dankwart, +and gave him her golden keys, and bade him unlock her closets where her +gold and jewels were stored, and to scatter with hands unstinted her +treasures among the poor. And many were the tearful blessings, and many +the kind words said, as the radiant queen went down to the waiting, +white-winged vessel, and stepped aboard with Gunther and the heroes of +the Rhine. But she was not to go alone to the land of strangers; for +with her were to sail a hundred fair young damsels, and more than +fourscore noble dames, and two thousand blue-eyed warriors, the bravest +of her land. + +When all had gone on board the waiting fleet, the anchors were hoisted, +and the sails were unfurled to the breeze; and amid the tearful +farewells of friends, and the joyful shouting of the sailors, the +hundred heavy-laden vessels glided from the bay, and were soon far out +at sea. And the sorrowing folk of Isenland turned away, and went back to +their daily tasks, and to the old life of mingled pain and pleasure, of +shadow and sunshine; and they never saw their loved warrior-queen again. + +The gay white fleet, with its precious cargo of noble men and fair +ladies, sped swiftly onwards through Old AEgir's kingdom; and it seemed +as if Queen Ran had forgotten to spread her nets, so smooth and quiet +was the sea; and the waves slept on the peaceful bosom of the waters: +only Ripple and Sky-clear danced in the wake of the flying ships, and +added to the general joy. And on shipboard music and song enlivened the +dragging hours; and from morn till eve no sounds were heard, save those +of merriment and sport, and glad good cheer. Yet, as day after day +passed by, and no sight met their eyes but the calm blue waters beneath, +and the calm blue sky above, all began to wish for a view, once more, of +the solid earth, and the fields, and the wild greenwood. But the ships +sailed steadily onward, and every hour brought them nearer and nearer to +the wished-for haven. + +At length, on the ninth day, they came in sight of a long, flat coast, +stretching far away towards the Lowlands, where Old AEgir and his +daughters--sometimes by wasting warfare, sometimes by stealthy +strategy--ever plot and toil to widen the Sea-king's domains. When the +sailors saw the green shore rising up, as it were, out of the quiet +water, and the wild woodland lying dense and dark beyond, and when they +knew that they were nearing the end of their long sea-voyage, they rent +the air with their joyful shouts. And a brisker breeze sprang up, and +filled the sails, and made the ships leap forward over the water, like +glad living creatures. + +It was then that the thought came to King Gunther that he ought to send +fleet heralds to Burgundy-land to make known the happy issue of his +bold emprise, and to tell of his glad home-coming, with Brunhild, the +warrior-maiden, as his queen. So he called old Hagen to him, and told +him of his thoughts, and asked him if he would be that herald. + +"Nay," answered the frowning chief. "No bearer of glad tidings am I. To +every man Odin has given gifts. To some he has given light hearts, and +cheery faces, and glad voices; and such alone are fitted to carry good +news and happy greetings. To others he has given darker souls, and less +lightsome faces, and more uncouth manners; and these may bear the brunt +of the battle, and rush with Odin's heroes to the slaughter: but they +would be ill at ease standing in the presence of fair ladies, or telling +glad tidings at court. Let me still linger, I pray, on board this narrow +ship, and send your friend Siegfried as herald to Burgundy-land. He is +well fitted for such a duty." + +So Gunther sent at once for Siegfried, to whom, when he had come, he +said,-- + +"My best of friends, although we are now in sight of land, our voyage +still is a long one; for the river is yet far away, and, when it is +reached, its course is winding, and the current will be against us, and +our progress must needs be slow. The folk at home have had no tidings +from us since we left them in the early spring; and no doubt their +hearts grow anxious, and they long to hear of our whereabouts, and +whether we prosper or no. Now, as we near the headland which juts out +dark and green before us, we will set you on shore, with the noble +Greyfell, and as many comrades as you wish, to haste with all speed to +Burgundy, to tell the glad news of our coming to the loved ones waiting +there." + +Siegfried at first held back, and tried to excuse himself from +undertaking this errand,--not because he felt any fear of danger, but +because he scorned to be any man's thrall, to go and do at his beck and +bidding. Then Gunther spoke again, and in a different tone. + +"Gentle Siegfried," he said, "if you will not do this errand for my +sake, I pray that you will undertake it for the sake of my sister, the +fair Kriemhild, who has so long waited for our coming." + +Then willingly did the prince agree to be the king's herald. And on the +morrow the ship touched land; and Siegfried bade his companions a short +farewell, and went ashore with four and twenty Nibelungen chiefs, +who were to ride with him to Burgundy. And, when every thing was in +readiness, he mounted the noble Greyfell, as did also each warrior his +favorite steed, and they galloped briskly away; and their glittering +armor and nodding plumes were soon lost to sight among the green trees +of the wood. And the ship which bore Gunther and his kingly party +weighed anchor, and moved slowly along the shore towards the distant +river's mouth. + +For many days, and through many strange lands, rode Siegfried and his +Nibelungen chiefs. They galloped through the woodland, and over a stony +waste, and came to a peopled country rich in farms and meadows, and +dotted with pleasant towns. And the folk of that land wondered greatly +at sight of the radiant Siegfried, and the tall warriors with him, and +their noble steeds, and their sunbright armor. For they thought that it +was a company of the gods riding through the mid-world, as the gods were +wont to do in the golden days of old. So they greeted them with smiles, +and kind, good words, and scattered flowers and blessings in their way. + +They stopped for a day in Vilkina-land, where dwelt one Eigill, a +famous archer, who, it is said, was a brother of Veliant, Siegfried's +fellow-apprentice in the days of his boyhood. And men told them this +story of Eigill. That once on a time old Nidung, the king of that land, +in order to test his skill with the bow, bade him shoot an apple, or, as +some say, an acorn, from the head of his own little son. And Eigill +did this; but two other arrows, which he had hidden beneath his coat, +dropped to the ground. And when the king asked him what these were for +he answered, "To kill thee, wretch, had I slain my child."[EN#27] + +After this our heroes rode through a rough hill-country, where the +ground was covered with sharp stones, and the roads were steep and hard. +And their horses lost their shoes, and were so lamed by the travel, +that they were forced to turn aside to seek the house of one Welland, a +famous smith, who re-shod their steeds, and entertained them most +kindly three days and nights. And it is said by some that Welland is but +another name for Veliant, and that this was the selfsame foreman whom we +knew in Siegfried's younger days. But, be this as it may, he was at this +time the master of all smiths, and no one ever wrought more cunningly. +And men say that his grandfather was Vilkinus, the first king of that +land; and that his grandmother, Wachitu, was a fair mermaid, who lived +in the deep green sea; and that his father, Wada, had carried him, +when a child, upon his shoulders through water five fathoms deep, to +apprentice him to the cunning dwarfs, from whom he learned his trade. +And if this story is true, he could not have been Veliant. He was wedded +to a beautiful lady, who sometimes took the form of a swan, and flew +away to a pleasant lake near by, where, with other swan-maidens, she +spent the warm summer days among the reeds and the water-lilies. And +many other strange tales were told of Welland the smith: how he had once +made a boat from the single trunk of a tree, and had sailed in it all +around the mid-world; how, being lame in one foot, he had forged a +wondrous winged garment, and flown like a falcon through the air; +and how he had wrought for Beowulf, the Anglo-Saxon hero, a gorgeous +war-coat that no other smith could equal.[EN#28] And so pleasantly did +Welland entertain his guests that they were loath to leave him; but on +the fourth day they bade him farewell, and wended again their way. + +Now our heroes rode forward, with greater speed than before, across many +a mile of waste land, and over steep hills, and through pleasant wooded +dales. Then, again, they came to fair meadows, and broad pasture-lands, +and fields green with growing corn; and every one whom they met blessed +them, and bade them a hearty God-speed. Then they left the farmlands +and the abodes of men far behind them; and they passed by the shore of a +sparkling lake, where they heard the swan-maidens talking to each other +as they swam among the rushes, or singing in silvery tones of gladness +as they circled in the air above. Then they crossed a dreary moor, where +nothing grew but heather; and they climbed a barren, stony mountain, +where the feet of men had never been, and came at last to a wild, dark +forest, where silence reigned undisturbed forever. + +It was the wood in which dwells Vidar, the silent god, far from the +sound of man's busy voice, in the solemn shade of century-living oaks +and elms. There he sits in quiet but awful grandeur,--strong almost as +Thor, but holding his mighty strength in check. Hoary and gray, he sits +alone in Nature's temple, and communes with Nature's self, waiting for +the day when Nature's silent but resistless forces shall be quickened +into dread action. His head is crowned with sear and yellow leaves, +and long white moss hangs pendent from his brows and cheeks, and his +garments are rusted with age. On his feet are iron shoes, with soles +made thick with the scraps of leather gathered through centuries past; +and with these, it is said, he shall, in the last great twilight of the +mid-world, rend the jaws of the Fenris-wolf.[EN#29] + +"Who is this Fenris-wolf?" asked one of the Nibelungens as they rode +through the solemn shadows of the wood. + +And Siegfried thereupon related how that fierce creature had been +brought up and cared for by the Asa-folk; and how, when he grew large +and strong, they sought to keep him from doing harm by binding him with +an iron chain called Leding. But the strength of the monster was so +great, that he burst the chain asunder, and escaped. Then the Asas made +another chain twice as strong, which they called Drome. And they called +to the wolf, and besought him to allow them to bind him again, so that, +in bursting the second chain, he might clear up all doubts in regard to +his strength. Flattered by the words of the Asas, the wolf complied; +and they chained him with Drome, and fastened him to a great rock. But +Fenris stretched his legs, and shook himself, and the great chain was +snapped in pieces. Then the Asas knew that there was no safety for them +so long as a monster so huge and terrible was unbound; and they besought +the swarthy elves to forge them another and a stronger chain. This the +elves did. They made a most wondrous chain, smooth as silk, and soft as +down, yet firmer than granite, and stronger than steel. They called it +Gleipner; and it was made of the sinews of a bear, the footsteps of a +cat, the beard of a woman, the breath of a fish, the sweat of a bird, +and the roots of a mountain. When the Asas had obtained this chain, they +lured the Fenris-wolf to the rocky Island of Lyngve, and by flattery +persuaded him to be bound again. But this he would not agree to do until +Tyr placed his hand in his mouth as a pledge of good faith. Then they +tied him as before, and laughingly bade him break the silken cord. The +huge creature stretched himself as before, and tried with all his might +to burst away; but Gleipner held him fast, and the worst that he could +do was to bite off the hand of unlucky Tyr. And this is why Tyr is +called the one-armed god. + +"But it is said," added Siegfried, "that in the last twilight the +Fenris-wolf will break his chain, and that he will swallow the sun, and +slay the great Odin himself, and that none can subdue him save Vidar the +Silent." + +It was thus that the heroes conversed with each other as they rode +through the silent ways of the wood. + +At length, one afternoon in early summer, the little company reached the +Rhine valley; and looking down from the sloping hill-tops, green with +growing corn, they saw the pleasant town of the Burgundians and the high +gray towers of Gunther's dwelling. And not long afterwards they rode +through the streets of the old town, and, tired and travel-stained, +halted outside of the castle-gates. Very soon it became noised about +that Siegfried and a company of strange knights, fair and tall, had come +again to Burgundy and to the home of the Burgundian kings. But when it +was certainly known that neither Gunther the king, nor Hagen of the evil +eye, nor Dankwart his brother, had returned, the people felt many +sad misgivings; for they greatly feared that some hard mischance had +befallen their loved king. Then Gernot and the young Giselher, having +heard of Siegfried's arrival, came out with glad but anxious faces to +greet him. + +"Welcome, worthy chief!" they cried. "But why are you alone? What are +your tidings? Where is our brother? and where are our brave uncles, +Hagen and Dankwart? And who are those strange, fair men who ride with +you? And what about Brunhild, the warrior-maiden? Alas! if our brother +has fallen by her cruel might, then woe to Burgundy! Tell us quickly all +about it!" + +"Have patience, friends!" answered Siegfried. "Give me time to speak, +and I will gladden the hearts of all the folk of Burgundy with my news. +Your brother Gunther is alive and well; and he is the happiest man in +the whole mid-world, because he has won the matchless Brunhild for his +bride. And he is ere now making his way up the river with a mighty fleet +of a hundred vessels and more than two thousand warriors. Indeed, you +may look for him any day. And he has sent me, with these my Nibelungen +earls, to bid you make ready for his glad home-coming." + +Then, even before he had alighted from Greyfell, he went on to tell of +the things that had happened at Isenstein; but he said nothing of the +part which he had taken in the strange contest. And a crowd of eager +listeners stood around, and heard with unfeigned joy of the happy +fortune of their king. + +"And now," said Siegfried to Giselher, when he had finished his story, +"carry the glad news to your mother and your sister; for they, too, must +be anxious to learn what fate has befallen King Gunther." + +"Nay," answered the prince, "you yourself are the king's herald, and you +shall be the one to break the tidings to them. Full glad they'll be to +hear the story from your own lips, for long have they feared that +our brother would never be seen by us again. I will tell them of your +coming, but you must be the first to tell them the news you bring." + +"Very well," answered Siegfried. "It shall be as you say." + +Then he dismounted from Greyfell, and, with his Nibelungen earls, was +shown into the grand hall, where they were entertained in a right kingly +manner. + +When Kriemhild the peerless, and Ute her mother, heard that Siegfried +had come again to Burgundy, and that he brought news from Gunther the +king, they hastened to make ready to see him. And, when he came before +them, he seemed so noble, so bright, and so glad, that they knew he bore +no evil tidings. + +"Most noble prince," said Kriemhild, trembling in his presence, "right +welcome are you to our dwelling! But wherefore are you come? How fares +my brother Gunther? Why came he not with you back to Burgundy-land? Oh! +undone are we, if, through the cruel might of the warrior-queen, he has +been lost to us." + +"Now give me a herald's fees!" cried Siegfried, laughing. "King Gunther +is alive and well. In the games of strength to which fair Brunhild +challenged him, he was the winner. And now he comes up the Rhine with +his bride, and a great retinue of lords and ladies and fighting-men. +Indeed, the sails of his ships whiten the river for miles. And I am +come by his desire to ask that every thing be made ready for his glad +home-coming and the loving welcome of his peerless queen." + +Great was the joy of Kriemhild and her queenly mother when they heard +this gladsome news; and they thanked the prince most heartily for all +that he had done. + +"You have truly earned a herald's fee," said the lovely maiden, "and +gladly would I pay it you in gold; for you have cheered us with pleasant +tidings, and lightened our minds of a heavy load. But men of your noble +rank take neither gifts nor fees, and hence we have only to offer our +deepest and heartiest thanks." + +"Not so," answered Siegfried gayly. "Think not I would scorn a fee. Had +I a kingdom of thirty realms, I should still be proud of a gift from +you." + +"Then, you shall have your herald's fee!" cried Kriemhild; and she sent +her maidens to fetch the gift. And with her own lily hands she gave him +twenty golden bracelets, richly inwrought with every kind of rare and +costly gem-stones. Happy, indeed, was Siegfried to take such priceless +gift from the hand of so peerless a maiden; and his face shone radiant +with sunbeams as he humbly bowed, and thanked her. But he had no need +for the jewels, nor wished he to keep them long: so he gave them, with +gracious wishes, to the fair young maidens at court. + +From this time forward, for many days, there was great bustle in +Gunther's dwelling. On every side was heard the noise of busy hands, +making ready for the glad day when the king should be welcomed home. +The broad halls and the tall gray towers were decked with flowers, and +floating banners, and many a gay device; the houses and streets of the +pleasant burgh put on their holiday attire; the shady road which led +through Kriemhild's rose-garden down to the river-banks was dusted and +swept with daily care; and the watchman was cautioned to keep on the +lookout every moment for the coming of the expected fleet. And heralds +had been sent to every burgh and castle, and to every countryside in +Burgundy, announcing the happy home-coming of Gunther and his bride, and +bidding every one, both high and low, to the glad merry-making. + +On the morning of the eleventh day, ere the sun had dried the dew from +the springing grass, the keen-eyed watchman, in his perch on the topmost +tower, cried out in happy accents to the waiting folk below,-- + +"They come at last! I see the white-winged ships still far down the +stream. But a breeze springs up from the northward, and the sailors are +at the oars, and swift speed the hastening vessels, as if borne on the +wings of the wind. Ride forth, O ye brave and fair, to welcome the fair +and the brave!" + +Then quickly the king-folk, and the warriors, and fair ladies, mounted +their ready steeds, and gayly through the gates of the castle they rode +out river-wards. And Ute, the noble queen-mother, went first. And the +company moved in glittering array, with flying banners, and music, and +the noisy flourish of drums, adown the rose-covered pathway which led +to the water's side. And the peerless Kriemhild followed, with a hundred +lovely maidens, all mounted on snow-white palfreys; and Siegfried, proud +and happy, on Greyfell, rode beside her. + +When the party reached the river-bank, a pleasant sight met their eyes; +for the fleet had now drawn near, and the whole river, as far as the +eye could reach, glittered with the light reflected from the shield-hung +rails and the golden prows of the swift-coming ships. King Gunther's own +vessel led all the rest; and the king himself stood on the deck, with +the glorious Brunhild by his side. Nearer and nearer the fresh breeze +of the summer morning wafted the vessel to the shore, where stood +the waiting multitude. Softly the golden dragon glided in to the +landing-place, and quickly was it moored to the banks; then Gunther, +clad in his kingly garments, stepped ashore, and with him his lovely +queen. And a mighty shout of welcome, and an answering shout of +gladness, seemed to rend the sky as the waiting hosts beheld the sight. +And the queen-mother Ute, and the peerless Kriemhild, and her kingly +brothers, went forward to greet the pair. And Kriemhild took Brunhild by +the hand, and kissed her, and said,-- + +"Welcome, thrice welcome, dear sister! to thy home and thy kindred and +thy people, who hail thee as queen. And may thy days be full of joyance, +and thy years be full of peace!" + +Then all the folk cried out their goodly greetings; and the sound of +their glad voices rang out sweet and clear in the morning air, and rose +up from the riverside, and was echoed among the hill-slopes, and carried +over the meadows and vineyards, to the farthest bounds of Burgundy-land. +And the matchless Brunhild, smiling, returned the happy greeting; and +her voice was soft and sweet, as she said,-- + +"O kin of the fair Rhineland, and folk of my new-found home! may your +days be summer sunshine, and your lives lack grief and pain; and may +this hour of glad rejoicing be the type of all hours to come!" + +Then the lovely queen was seated in a golden wain which stood in waiting +for her; and Gunther mounted his own war-steed; and the whole company +made ready to ride to the castle. Never before had so pleasant a sight +been seen in Rhineland, as that glorious array of king-folk and lords +and ladies wending from river to fortress along the rose-strewn roadway. +Foremost went the king, and by his side was Siegfried on the radiant +Greyfell. Then came the queen's golden wain, drawn by two snow-white +oxen, which were led with silken cords by sweet-faced maidens; and +in it, on an ivory throne deep-carved with mystic runes, sat glorious +Brunhild. Behind rode the queen-mother and her kingly sons, and frowning +Hagen, and Dankwart, and Volker, and all the earl-folk and mighty +warriors of Burgundy and of Nibelungen Land. And lastly came Kriemhild +and her hundred damsels, sitting on their snow-white steeds. And they +rode past the blooming gardens, and through the glad streets of the +burgh, and then, like a radiant vision, they entered the castle-halls; +and the lovely pageant was seen no more. + +For twelve days after this, a joyful high-tide was held at the castle; +and the broad halls rang with merriment and music and festive mirth. +And games and tournaments were held in honor of the king's return. +Brave horsemen dashed here and there at break-neck speed, or contended +manfully in the lists; lances flew thick in the air; shouts and glad +cries were heard on every hand; and for a time the most boisterous +tumult reigned. But gladness and good-feeling ruled the hour, and no one +thought of aught but merry-making and careless joy. At length, when +the days of feasting were past, the guests bade Gunther and his queen +farewell; and each betook himself to his own home, and to whatsoever +his duty called him. And one would have thought that none but happy days +were henceforth in store for the kingly folk of Burgundy. But alas! +too soon the cruel frost and the cold north winds nipped the buds and +blossoms of the short summer, and the days of gladness gave place to +nights of gloom. + + + + + +Adventure XVII. How Siegfried Lived in Nibelungen Land. + + + +When the twelve-days' high-tide at King Gunther's home-coming had +been brought to an end, and the guests had all gone to their homes, +Siegfried, too, prepared to bid farewell to the Rhineland kings, and to +wend to his own country. But he was not to go alone; for Kriemhild, the +peerless princess, was to go with him as his bride. They had been wedded +during the merry festivities which had just closed, and that event had +added greatly to the general joy; for never was there a fairer or a +nobler pair than Siegfried the fearless, and Kriemhild the peerless. + +"It grieves my heart to part with you," said Gunther, wringing +Siegfried's hand. "It will fare but ill with us, I fear, when we no +longer see your radiant face, or hear your cheery voice." + +"Say not so, my brother," answered Siegfried; "for the gods have many +good things in store for you. And, if ever you need the help of my arm, +you have but to say the word, and I will hasten to your aid." + +Then the Burgundian kings besought the hero to take the fourth part +of their kingdom as his own and Kriemhild's, and to think no more of +leaving them. But Siegfried would not agree to this. His heart yearned +to see his father and mother once again, and then to return to his own +loved Nibelungen Land. So he thanked the kings for their kind offer, and +hastened to make ready for his intended journey. + +Early on Midsummer Day the hero and his bride rode out of Gunther's +dwelling, and turned their faces northward. And with them was a noble +retinue of warriors,--five hundred brave Burgundians, with Eckewart as +their chief,--who had sworn to be Queen Kriemhild's vassals in her new, +far-distant home. Thirty and two fair maidens, too, went with her. And +with Siegfried were his Nibelungen earls. + +As the company rode down the sands, and filed gayly along the +river-road, it seemed a lovely although a sad sight to their kinsmen +who gazed after them from the castle-towers. Fair and young were all the +folk; and the world, to most, was still untried. And they rode, in the +morning sunlight, away from their native land, nor recked that never +again would they return. Each warrior sat upon a charger, richly geared +with gilt-red saddle, and gorgeous bridle, and trappings of every hue; +and their war-coats were bright and dazzling; and their spears glanced +in the sun; and their golden shields threw rays of resplendent light +around them. The maidens, too, were richly dight in broidered cloaks +of blue, and rare stuffs brought from far-off Araby; and each sat on a +snow-white palfrey geared with silken housings, and trappings of bright +blue. + +For some days the company followed the course of the river, passing +through many a rich meadow, and between lovely vineyards, and fields of +yellow corn. Then they rode over a dreary, barren waste, and through +a wild greenwood, and reached, at last, the hills which marked the +beginning of King Siegmund's domains. Then Siegfried sent fleet heralds +before them to carry to his father the tidings of his coming with +his bride, fair Kriemhild. Glad, indeed, were old King Siegmund and +Siegfried's gentle mother when they heard this news. + +"Oh, happy is the day!" cried the king. "Thrice happy be the day that +shall see fair Kriemhild a crowned queen, and Siegfried a king in the +throne of his fathers!" + +And they showered upon the heralds who had brought the happy news rich +fees of gold and silver, and gave them garments of silken velvet. And on +the morrow they set out, with a train of earl-folk and lovely ladies, +to meet their son and his bride. For one whole day they journeyed to +the old fortress of Santen, where in former days the king's dwelling had +been. There they met the happy bridal-party, and fond and loving were +the hearty greetings they bestowed upon Kriemhild and the radiant +Siegfried. Then, without delay, they returned to Siegmund's kingly hall; +and for twelve days a high tide, more happy and more splendid than +that which had been held in Burgundy, was made in honor of Siegfried's +marriage-day. And, in the midst of those days of sport and joyance, +the old king gave his crown and sceptre to his son; and all the people +hailed Siegfried, king of the broad Lowlands, and Kriemhild his lovely +queen. + +Old stories tell how Siegfried reigned in peace and glad contentment in +his fatherland; and how the joyous sunshine shone wherever he went, and +poured a flood of light and warmth and happiness into every nook and +corner of his kingdom; and how, at length, after the gentle Sigelind +had died, he moved his court to that other country of his,--the far-off +Nibelungen Land. And it is in that strange, dream-haunted land, in a +strong-built mountain fortress, that we shall next find him. + +Glad were the Nibelungen folk when their own king and his lovely wife +came to dwell among them; and the mists once more were lifted, and the +skies grew bright and clear, and men said that the night had departed, +and the better days were near. Golden, indeed, and most glorious, was +that summer-time; and long to be remembered was Siegfried's too brief +reign in Nibelungen Land. And, ages afterward, folk loved to sing of his +care for his people's welfare, of his wisdom and boundless lore, of his +deeds in the time of warring, and the victories gained in peace. And +strong and brave were the men-folk, and wise and fair were the women, +and broad and rich were the acres, in Siegfried's well-ruled land. The +farm-lands were yellow with the abundant harvests, fruitful orchards +grew in the pleasant dales, and fair vineyards crowned the hills. Fine +cities sprang up along the seacoast, and strong fortresses were built +on every height. Great ships were made, which sailed to every land, and +brought home rich goods from every clime,--coffee and spices from India, +rich silks from Zazemang, fine fruits from the Iberian shore, and soft +furs, and ivory tusks of the sea-beast, from the frozen coasts of the +north. Never before was country so richly blessed; for Siegfried taught +his people how to till the soil best, and how to delve far down into the +earth for hidden treasures, and how to work skilfully in iron and bronze +and all other metals, and how to make the winds and the waters, and even +the thunderbolt, their thralls and helpful servants. And he was as great +in war as in peace; for no other people dared harm, or in any way impose +upon, the Nibelungen folk, or any of his faithful liegemen. + +It is told how, once on a time, he warred against the Hundings, who +had done his people an injury, and how he sailed against them in a long +dragon-ship of a hundred oars. When he was far out in the mid-sea, and +no land was anywhere in sight, a dreadful storm arose. The lightnings +flashed, and the winds roared, and threatened to carry the ship to +destruction. Quickly the fearful sailors began to reef the sails, but +Siegfried bade them stop. + +"Why be afraid?" he cried. "The Norns have woven the woof of every man's +life, and no man can escape his destiny. If the gods will that we should +drown, it is folly for us to strive against fate. We are bound to the +shore of the Hundings' land, and thither must our good ship carry us. +Hoist the sails high on the masts, even though the wind should tear them +into shreds, and split the masts into splinters!" + +The sailors did as they were bidden; and the hurricane caught the ship +in its mighty arms, and hurried it over the rolling waves with the speed +of lightning. And Siegfried stood calmly at the helm, and guided the +flying vessel. Presently they saw a rocky point rising up out of the +waters before them; and on it stood an old man, his gray cloak streaming +in the wind, and his blue hood tied tightly down over his head. + +"Whose ship is that which comes riding on the storm?" cried the man. + +"King Siegfried's ship," answered the man at the prow. "There lives no +braver man on earth than he." + +"Thou sayest truly," came back from the rock. "Lay by your oars, reef +the sails, and take me on board!" + +"What is your name?" asked the sailor, as the ship swept past him. + +"When the raven croaks gladly over his battle-feast, men call me Hnikar. +But call me now Karl from the mountain, Fengr, or Fjolner. Reef, quick, +your sails, and take me in!" + +The men, at Siegfried's command, obeyed. And at once the wind ceased +blowing, and the sea was calm, and the warm sun shone through the rifted +clouds, and the coast of Hundings Land lay close before them. But when +they looked for Fjolner, as he called himself, they could not find him. + +One day Siegfried sat in his sun-lit hall in Nibelungen Land; and +Kriemhild, lovely as a morning in June, sat beside him. And they talked +of the early days when alone he fared through the mid-world, and alone +did deeds of wondrous daring. And Siegfried bethought him then of the +glittering Hoard of Andvari, and the cave and the mountain fortress, +where the faithful dwarf Alberich still guarded the measureless +treasure. + +"How I should like to see that mountain fastness and that glittering +hoard!" cried Kriemhild. + +"You shall see," answered the king. + +And at once horses were saddled, and preparations were made for a +morning's jaunt into the mountains. And, ere an hour had passed, +Siegfried and his queen, and a small number of knights and ladies, +were riding through the passes. About noon they came to Alberich's +dwelling,--a frowning fortress of granite built in the mountain-side. +The gate was opened by the sleepy giant who always sat within, and the +party rode into the narrow court-yard. There they were met by Alberich, +seeming smaller and grayer, and more pinched and wan, than ever before. + +"Hail, noble master!" cried he, bowing low before Siegfried. "How can +Alberich serve you to-day?" + +"Lead us to the treasure-vaults," answered the king. "My queen would +fain feast her eyes upon the yellow, sparkling hoard." + +The dwarf obeyed. Through a narrow door they were ushered into a long, +low cavern, so frowning and gloomy, that the queen started back in +affright. But, re-assured by Siegfried's smiling face, she went forward +again. The entrance-way was lighted by little torches held in the hands +of tiny elves, who bowed in humble politeness to the kingly party. But, +when once beyond the entrance-hall, no torches were needed to show the +way; for the huge pile of glittering gold and sparkling jewels, which +lay heaped up to the cavern's roof, lighted all the space around with a +glory brighter than day. + +"There is the dwarf's treasure!" cried Siegfried. "Behold the Hoard of +Andvari, the gathered wealth of the ages! Henceforth, fair Kriemhild, it +is yours--all yours, save this serpent-ring." + +"And why not that too?" asked the queen; for she admired its glittering +golden scales, and its staring ruby eyes. + +"Alas!" answered he, "a curse rests upon it,--the curse which Andvari +the ancient laid upon it when Loki tore it from his hand. A miser's +heart--selfish, cold, snaky--is bred in its owner's being; and he +thenceforth lives a very serpent's life. Or, should he resist its +influence, then death through the guile of pretended friends is sure to +be his fate." + +"Then why," asked the queen,--"why do you keep it yourself? Why do you +risk its bane? Why not give it to your sworn foe, or cast it into the +sea, or melt it in the fire, and thus escape the curse?" + +Siegfried answered by telling how, when in the heyday of his youth, he +had slain Fafnir, the keeper of this hoard, upon the Glittering Heath; +and how, while still in the narrow trench which he had dug, the blood of +the horrid beast had flown in upon him, and covered him up. + +"And this I have been told by Odin's birds," he went on to say, "that +every part of my body that was touched by the slimy flood was made +forever proof against sword and spear, and sharp weapons of every kind. +Hence I have no cause to fear the stroke, either of open foes or of +traitorous false friends." + +"But was all of your body covered with the dragon's blood? Was there no +small spot untouched?" asked the queen, more anxious now than she had +ever seemed to be before she had known aught of her husband's strange +security from wounds. + +"Only one very little spot between the shoulders was left untouched," +answered Siegfried. "I afterwards found a lime-leaf sticking there, and +I know that the slimy blood touched not that spot. But then who fears a +thrust in the back? None save cowards are wounded there." + +"Ah!" said the queen, toying tremulously with the fatal ring, "that +little lime-leaf may yet bring us unutterable woe." + +But Siegfried laughed at her fears; and he took the serpent-ring, and +slipped it upon his forefinger, and said that he would wear it there, +bane or no bane, so long as Odin would let him live. + +Then, after another long look at the heaps of glittering gold and +priceless gem-stones, the company turned, and followed Alberich back, +through the gloomy entranceway and the narrow door, to the open air +again. And mounting their steeds, which stood ready, they started +homewards. But, at the outer gate, Siegfried paused, and said to the +dwarf at parting,-- + +"Hearken, Alberich! The Hoard of Andvari is no longer mine. I have made +a present of it to my queen. Hold it and guard it, therefore, as hers +and hers alone; and, whatever her bidding may be regarding it, that do." + +"Your word is law, and shall be obeyed," said the dwarf, bowing low. + +Then the drowsy gate-keeper swung the heavy gate to its place, and the +kingly party rode gayly away. + +On their way home the company went, by another route, through the narrow +mountain pass which led towards the sea, and thence through a rocky +gorge between two smoking mountains. And on one side of this road a +great cavern yawned, so dark and deep that no man had ever dared to step +inside of it. And as they paused before it, and listened, they heard, +away down in its dismal depths, horrid groans, sad moanings, and faint +wild shrieks, so far away that it seemed as if they had come from the +very centre of the earth. And, while they still listened, the ground +around them trembled and shook, and the smoking mountain on the other +side of the gorge smoked blacker than before. + +"Loki is uneasy to-day," said Siegfried, as they all put spurs to their +horses, and galloped swiftly home. + +It was the Cavern of the Mischief-maker which the party had visited; +and that evening, as they again sat in Siegfried's pleasant hall, they +amused themselves by telling many strange old tales of the mid-world's +childhood, when the gods, and the giants, and the dwarf-folk, had their +dwelling on the earth. But they talked most of Loki, the flame, the +restless, the evil-doer. And this, my children, is the story that was +told of the Doom of the Mischief-maker.[EN#30] + + + +The Story. + + + +You have heard of the feast that old AEgir once made for the Asa-folk in +his gold-lit dwelling in the deep sea; and how the feast was hindered, +through the loss of his great brewing-kettle, until Thor had obtained +a still larger vessel from Hymer the giant. It is very likely that +the thief who stole King AEgir's kettle was none other than Loki the +Mischief-maker; but, if this was so, he was not long unpunished for his +meanness. + +There was great joy in the Ocean-king's hall, when at last the banquet +was ready, and the foaming ale began to pass itself around to the +guests. But Thor, who had done so much to help matters along, could not +stay to the merry-making: for he had heard that the Storm-giants were +marshalling their forces for a raid upon some unguarded corner of the +mid-world; and so, grasping his hammer Mjolner, he bade his kind host +good-by, and leaped into his iron car. + +"Business always before pleasure!" he cried, as he gave the word to his +swift, strong goats, and rattled away at a wonderful rate through the +air. + +In old AEgir's hall glad music resounded on every side; and the gleeful +Waves danced merrily as the Asa-folk sat around the festal-board, and +partook of the Ocean-king's good fare. AEgir's two thralls, the faithful +Funfeng and the trusty Elder, waited upon the guests, and carefully +supplied their wants. Never in all the world had two more thoughtful +servants been seen; and every one spoke in praise of their quickness, +and their skill, and their ready obedience. + +Then Loki, unable to keep his hands from mischief, waxed very angry, +because every one seemed happy and free from trouble, and no one noticed +or cared for him. So, while good Funfeng was serving him to meat, he +struck the faithful thrall with a carving-knife, and killed him. Then +arose a great uproar in the Ocean-king's feast-hall. The Asa-folk rose +up from the table, and drove the Mischief-maker out from among them; and +in their wrath they chased him across the waters, and forced him to hide +in the thick greenwood. After this they went back to AEgir's hall, and +sat down again to the feast. But they had scarcely begun to eat, when +Loki came quietly out of his hiding-place, and stole slyly around to +AEgir's kitchen, where he found Elder, the other thrall, grieving sadly +because of his brother's death. + +"I hear a great chattering and clattering over there in the feast-hall," +said Loki. "The greedy, silly Asa-folk seem to be very busy indeed, both +with their teeth and their tongues. Tell me, now, good Elder, what they +talk about while they sit over their meat and ale." + +"They talk of noble deeds," answered Elder. "They speak of gallant +heroes, and brave men, and fair women, and strong hearts, and willing +hands, and gentle manners, and kind friends. And for all these they have +words of praise, and songs of beauty; but none of them speak well of +Loki, the thief and the vile traitor." + +"Ah!" said Loki wrathfully, twisting himself into a dozen different +shapes, "no one could ask so great a kindness from such folk. I must go +into the feast-hall, and take a look at this fine company, and listen to +their noisy merry-making. I have a fine scolding laid up for those good +fellows; and, unless they are careful with their tongues, they will find +many hard words mixed with their ale." + +Then he went boldly into the great hall, and stood up before the +wonder-stricken guests at the table. When the Asa-folk saw who it was +that had darkened the doorway, and was now in their midst, a painful +silence fell upon them, and all their merriment was at an end. And Loki +stretched himself up to his full height, and said to them,-- + +"Hungry and thirsty come I to AEgir's gold lit hall. Long and rough was +the road I trod, and wearisome was the way. Will no one bid me welcome? +Will none give me a seat at the feast? Will none offer me a drink of the +precious mead? Why are you all so dumb? Why so sulky and stiff-necked, +when your best friend stands before you? Give me a seat among you,--yes, +one of the high-seats,--or else drive me from your hall! In either case, +the world will never forget me. I am Loki." + +Then one among the Asa-folk spoke up, and said, "Let him sit with us. +He is mad; and when he slew Funfeng, he was not in his right mind. He is +not answerable for his rash act." + +But Bragi the Wise, who sat on the innermost seat, arose, and said, +"Nay, we will not give him a seat among us. Nevermore shall he feast +or sup with us, or share our good-fellowship. Thieves and murderers we +know, and will shun." + +This speech enraged Loki all the more; and he spared not vile words, +but heaped abuse without stint upon all the folk before him. And by main +force he seized hold of the silent Vidar, who had come from the forest +solitudes to be present at the feast, and dragged him away from the +table, and seated himself in his place. Then, as he quaffed the foaming +ale, he flung out taunts and jeers and hard words to all who sat around, +but chiefly to Bragi the Wise. Then he turned to Sif, the beautiful wife +of Thor, and began to twit her about her golden hair. + +"Oh, how handsome you were, when you looked at your bald head in the +mirror that day! Oh, what music you made when your hands touched your +smooth pate! And now whose hair do you wear?" + +And the wretch laughed wickedly, as he saw the tears welling up in poor +Sif's eyes. + +Then suddenly a great tumult was heard outside. The mountains shook +and trembled; and the bottom of the sea seemed moved; and the waves, +affrighted and angry, rushed hither and thither in confusion. All the +guests looked up in eager expectation, and some of them fled in alarm +from the hall. Then the mighty Thor strode through the door, and up +to the table, swinging his hammer, and casting wrathful glances at the +Mischief-maker. Loki trembled, and dropped his goblet, and sank down +upon his knees before the terrible Asa. + +"I yield me!" he cried. "Spare my life, I pray you, and I will be your +thrall forever!" + +"I want no such thrall," answered Thor. "And I spare your life on one +condition only,--that you go at once from hence, and nevermore presume +to come into the company of Asa-folk." + +"I promise all that you ask," said Loki, trembling more than ever. "Let +me go." + +Thor stepped aside; and the frightened culprit fled from the hall, and +was soon out of sight. The feast was broken up. The folk bade AEgir a +kind farewell, and all embarked on Frey's good ship Skidbladner; and +fair winds wafted them swiftly home to Asgard. + +Loki fled to the dark mountain gorges of Mist Land, and sought for a +while to hide himself from the sight of both gods and men. In a deep +ravine by the side of a roaring torrent, he built himself a house of +iron and stone, and placed a door on each of its four sides, so that he +could see whatever passed around him. There, for many winters, he lived +in lonely solitude, planning with himself how he might baffle the gods, +and regain his old place in Asgard. And now and then he slipped slyly +away from his hiding-place, and wrought much mischief for a time among +the abodes of men. But when Thor heard of his evil-doings, and sought +to catch him, and punish him for his evil deeds, he was nowhere to be +found. And at last the Asa-folk determined, that, if he could ever be +captured, the safety of the world required that he should be bound hand +and foot, and kept forever in prison. + +Loki often amused himself in his mountain home by taking upon him his +favorite form of a salmon, and lying listlessly, beneath the waters +of the great Fanander Cataract, which fell from the shelving rocks a +thousand feet above him. One day while thus lying, he bethought himself +of former days, when he walked the glad young earth in company with +the All-Father. And among other things he remembered how he had once +borrowed the magic net of Ran, the Ocean-queen, and had caught with it +the dwarf Andvari, disguised, as he himself now was, in the form of a +slippery salmon. + +"I will make me such a net!" he cried. "I will make it strong and good; +and I, too, will fish for men." + +So he took again his proper shape, and went back to his cheerless home +in the ravine. And he gathered flax and wool and long hemp, and spun +yarn and strong cords, and wove them into meshes, after the pattern of +Queen Ran's magic net; for men had not, at that time, learned how to +make or use nets for fishing. And the first fisherman who caught fish in +that way is said to have taken Loki's net as a model. + +Odin sat, on the morrow, in his high hall of Hlidskialf, and looked +out over all the world, and saw, even to the uttermost corners, what +men-folk were everywhere doing. When his eye rested upon the dark line +which marked the mountain-land of the Mist Country, he started up in +quick surprise, and cried out, + +"Who is that who sits by the Fanander Force, and ties strong cords +together?" + +But none of those who stood around could tell, for their eyes were not +strong enough and clear enough to see so far. + +"Bring Heimdal!" then cried Odin. + +Now, Heimdal the White dwells among the blue mountains of sunny +Himminbjorg, where the rainbow, the shimmering Asa-bridge, spans the +space betwixt heaven and earth. He is the son of Odin, golden-toothed, +pure-faced, and clean-hearted; and he ever keeps watch and ward over the +mid-world and the homes of frail men-folk, lest the giants shall break +in, and destroy and slay. He rides upon a shining steed named Goldtop; +and he holds in his hand a horn called Gjallar-horn, with which, in +the last great twilight, he shall summon the world to battle with +the Fenris-wolf and the sons of Loki. This watchful guardian of the +mid-world is as wakeful as the birds. And his hearing is so keen, that +no sound on earth escapes him,--not even that of the rippling waves upon +the seashore, nor of the quiet sprouting of the grass in the meadows, +nor even of the growth of the soft wool on the backs of sheep. And his +eyesight, too, is wondrous clear and sharp; for he can see by night as +well as by day, and the smallest thing, although a hundred leagues away, +cannot be hidden from him. + +To Heimdal, then, the heralds hastened, bearing the words which Odin +had spoken. And the watchful warder of the mid-world came at once to the +call of the All-Father. + +"Turn your eyes to the sombre mountains that guard the shadowy Mist-land +from the sea," said Odin, "Now look far down into the rocky gorge in +which the Fanander Cataract pours, and tell me what you see." + +Heimdal did as he was bidden. + +"I see a shape," said he, "sitting by the torrent's side. It is Loki's +shape, and he seems strangely busy with strong strings and cords." + +"Call all our folk together!" commanded Odin. "The wily Mischief-maker +plots our hurt. He must be driven from his hiding-place, and put where +he can do no further harm." + +Great stir was there then in Asgard. Every one hastened to answer Odin's +call, and to join in the quest for the Mischief-maker. Thor came on +foot, with his hammer tightly grasped in his hands, and lightning +flashing from beneath his red brows. Tyr, the one-handed, came with +his sword. Then followed Bragi the Wise, with his harp and his sage +counsels; then Hermod the Nimble, with his quick wit and ready hands; +and, lastly, a great company of elves and wood-sprites and trolls. +Then a whirlwind caught them up in its swirling arms, and carried +them through the air, over the hill-tops and the country-side, and +the meadows and the mountains, and set them down in the gorge of the +Fanander Force. + +But Loki was not caught napping. His wakeful ears had heard the tumult +in the air, and he guessed who it was that was coming. He threw the net, +which he had just finished, into the fire, and jumped quickly into the +swift torrent, where, changing himself into a salmon, he lay hidden +beneath the foaming waters. + +When the eager Asa-folk reached Loki's dwelling, they found that he whom +they sought had fled; and although they searched high and low, among the +rocks and the caves and the snowy crags, they could see no signs of the +cunning fugitive. Then they went back to his house again to consult what +next to do. And, while standing by the hearth, Kwaser, a sharp-sighted +elf, whose eyes were quicker than the sunbeam, saw the white ashes of +the burned net lying undisturbed in the still hot embers, the woven +meshes unbroken and whole. + +"See what the cunning fellow has been making!" cried the elf. "It must +have been a trap for catching fish." + +"Or rather for catching men," said Bragi; "for it is strangely like the +Sea-queen's net." + +"In that case," said Hermod the Nimble, "he has made a trap for himself; +for, no doubt, he has changed himself, as is his wont, to a slippery +salmon, and lies at this moment hidden beneath the Fanander torrent. +Here are plenty of cords of flax and hemp and wool, with which he +intended to make other nets. Let us take them, and weave one like the +pattern which lies there in the embers; and then, if I mistake not, we +shall catch the too cunning fellow." + +All saw the wisdom of these words, and all set quickly to work. In +a short time they had made a net strong and large, and full of fine +meshes, like the model among the coals. Then they threw it into the +roaring stream, Thor holding to one end, and all the other folk pulling +at the other. With great toil, they dragged it forwards, against the +current, even to the foot of the waterfall. But the cunning Loki crept +close down between two sharp stones, and lay there quietly while the net +passed harmlessly over him. + +"Let us try again!" cried Thor. "I am sure that something besides dead +rocks lies at the bottom of the stream." + +So they hung heavy weights to the net, and began to drag it a +second time, this time going down stream. Loki looked out from his +hiding-place, and saw that he would not be able to escape again by lying +between the rocks, and that his only chance for safety was either to +leap over the net, and hide himself behind the rushing cataract itself, +or to swim with the current out to the sea. But the way to the sea was +long, and there were many shallow places; and Loki had doubts as to +how old AEgir would receive him in his kingdom. He feared greatly to +undertake so dangerous and uncertain a course. So, turning upon his +foes, and calling up all his strength, he made a tremendous leap high +into the air, and clean over the net. But Thor was too quick for him. As +he fell towards the water, the Thunderer quickly threw out his hand, and +caught the slippery salmon, holding him firmly by the tail. + +When Loki found that he was surely caught, and could not by any means +escape, he took again his proper shape. Fiercely did he struggle with +mighty Thor, and bitter were the curses which he poured down upon his +enemies. But he could not get free. Into the deep, dark cavern, beneath +the smoking mountain, where daylight never comes, nor the warmth of +the sun, nor the sound of Nature's music, the fallen Mischief-maker was +carried. And they bound him firmly to the sharp rocks, with his face +turned upwards toward the dripping roof; for they said that nevermore, +until the last dread twilight, should he be free to vex the world with +his wickedness. And Skade, the giant wife of Niord and the daughter of +grim Old Winter, took a hideous poison snake, and hung it up above Loki, +so that its venom would drop into his upturned face. But Sigyn, the +loving wife of the suffering wretch, left her home in the pleasant halls +of Asgard, and came to his horrible prison-house to soothe and comfort +him; and evermore she holds a basin above his head, and catches in it +the poisonous drops as they fall. When the basin is filled, and she +turns to empty it in the tar-black river that flows through that home +of horrors, the terrible venom falls upon his unprotected face, and Loki +writhes and shrieks in fearful agony, until the earth around him +shakes and trembles, and the mountains spit forth fire, and fumes of +sulphur-smoke. + +And there the Mischief-maker, the spirit of evil, shall lie in torment +until the last great day and the dread twilight of all mid-world things. +How strange and how sad, that, while Loki lies thus bound and harmless, +evil still walks the earth, and that so much mischief and such dire +disasters were prepared for Siegfried and the folk of Nibelungen Land! + + + + + +Adventure XVIII. How the Mischief Began to Brew. + + + +One day a party of strangers came to Siegfried's Nibelungen dwelling, +and asked to speak with the king. + +"Who are you? and what is your errand?" asked the porter at the gate. + +"Our errand is to the king, and he will know who we are when he sees +us," was the answer. + +When Siegfried was told of the strange men who waited below, and of +the strange way in which they had answered the porter's question, he +asked,-- + +"From what country seem they to have come? For surely their dress and +manners will betray something of that matter to you. Are they South-land +folk, or East-land folk? Are they from the mountains, or from the sea?" + +"They belong to none of the neighbor-lands," answered the earl who had +brought the word to the king. "No such men live upon our borders. They +seem to have come from a far-off land; for they are travel-worn, and +their sea-stained clothing betokens a people from the south. They are +tall and dark, and their hair is black, and they look much like those +Rhineland warriors who came hither with our lady the queen. And they +carry a blood-red banner with a golden dragon painted upon it." + +"Oh, they must be from Burgundy!" cried the queen, who had overheard +these words. And she went at once to the window to see the strangers, +who were waiting in the courtyard below. + +There, indeed, she saw thirty tall Burgundians, clad in the gay costume +of Rhineland, now faded and worn with long travel. But all save one were +young, and strangers to Kriemhild. That one was their leader,--an old +man with a kind face, and a right noble bearing. + +"See!" said the queen to Siegfried: "there is our brave captain Gere, +who, ever since my childhood, has been the trustiest man in my brother +Gunther's household. Those men are from the fatherland, and they bring +tidings from the dear old Burgundian home." + +"Welcome are they to our Nibelungen Land!" cried the delighted king. + +And he ordered that the strangers should be brought into the castle, +and that the most sumptuous rooms should be allotted to them, and a +plenteous meal prepared, and every thing done to entertain them in a +style befitting messengers from Kriemhild's fatherland. Then Gere, the +trusty captain, was led into the presence of the king and queen. Right +gladly did they welcome him, and many were the questions they asked +about their kin-folk, and the old Rhineland home. + +"Tell us, good Gere," said Siegfried, "what is thy message from our +friends; for we are anxious to know whether they are well and happy, or +whether some ill luck has overtaken them. If any harm threatens them, +they have but to speak, and I, with my sword and my treasures, will +hasten to their help." + +"They are all well," answered the captain. "No ill has befallen them, +and no harm threatens them. Peace rules all the land; and fair weather +and sunshine have filled the people's barns, and made their hearts glad. +And thus it has been ever since Gunther brought to his dwelling the +warrior-maiden Brunhild to be his queen. And this is my errand and the +message that I bring: King Gunther, blessed with happiness, intends +to hold a grand high-tide of joy and thanksgiving at the time of the +harvest-moon. And nothing is wanting to complete the gladness of that +time, but the sight of you and the peerless Kriemhild in your old places +at the feast. And it is to invite you to this festival of rejoicing that +I have come, at the king's command, to Nibelungen Land." + +Siegfried sat a moment in silence, and then thoughtfully answered,-- + +"It is a long, long journey from this land to Burgundy, and many dangers +beset the road; and my own people would sadly miss me while away, and I +know not what mishaps might befall." + +Then Gere spoke of the queen-mother Ute, now grown old and feeble, +who wished once more, ere death called her hence, to see her daughter +Kriemhild. And he told how all the people, both high and low, yearned +for another sight of the radiant hero who in former days had blessed +their land with his presence and his noble deeds. And his persuasive +words had much weight with Siegfried, who said at length,-- + +"Tarry a few days yet for my answer. I will talk with my friends and the +Nibelungen earls; and what they think best, that will I do." + +For nine days, then, waited Gere at Siegfried's hall; but still the king +put off his answer. + +"Wait until to-morrow," he said each day, for his heart whispered dim +forebodings. + +At length, as midsummer was fast drawing near, the impatient captain +could stay no longer; and he bade his followers make ready to go back +forthwith to Burgundy. When the queen saw that they were ready to +take their leave, and that Gere could wait no longer upon the king's +pleasure, she urged her husband to say to Gunther that they would come +to his harvest festival. And the lords and noble earl-folk added their +persuasions to hers. + +"Send word back to the Burgundian king," said they, "that you will go, +as he desires. We will see to it that no harm comes to your kingdom +while you are away." + +So Siegfried called Gere and his comrades into the ball, and loaded them +with costly gifts such as they had never before seen, and bade them say +to their master that he gladly accepted the kind invitation he had sent, +and that, ere the harvest high-tide began, he and Kriemhild would be +with him in Burgundy. + +And the messengers went back with all speed, and told what wondrous +things they had seen in Nibelungen Land, and in what great splendor +Siegfried lived. And, when they showed the rare presents which had been +given them, all joined in praising the goodness and greatness of the +hero-king. But old chief Hagen frowned darkly as he said,-- + +"It is little wonder that he can do such things, for the Shining Hoard +of Andvari is his. If we had such a treasure, we, too, might live in +more than kingly grandeur." + +Early in the month of roses, Siegfried and his peerless queen, with a +retinue of more than a thousand warriors and many fair ladies, started +on their long and toilsome journey to the South-land. And the folk who +went with them to the city gates bade them mane tearful farewells, and +returned to their homes, feeling that the sunshine had gone forever from +the Nibelungen Land. But the sky was blue and cloudless, and the breezes +warm and mild, and glad was the song of the reapers as adown the seaward +highway the kingly company rode. Two days they rode through Mist Land, +to the shore of the peaceful sea. Ten days they sailed on the waters. +And the winds were soft and gentle; and the waves slept in the sunlight, +or merrily danced in their wake. But each day, far behind them, there +followed a storm-cloud, dark as night, and the pleasant shores of Mist +Land were hidden forever behind it. Five days they rode through the +Lowlands, and glad were the Lowland folk with sight of their hero-king. +Two days through the silent greenwood, and one o'er the barren moor, and +three amid vineyards and fields, and between orchards fruitful and fair, +they rode. And on the four and twentieth day they came in sight of the +quiet town, and the tall gray towers, where dwelt the Burgundian kings. +And a great company on horseback, with flashing shields and fine-wrought +garments and nodding plumes, came out to meet them. It was King Gernot +and a thousand of the best men and fairest women in Burgundy; and they +welcomed Siegfried and Kriemhild and their Nibelungen-folk to the fair +land of the Rhine. And then they turned, and rode back with them to the +castle. And, as the company passed through the pleasant streets of the +town, the people stood by the wayside, anxious to catch sight of the +radiant Siegfried on his sunbright steed, and of the peerless Kriemhild, +riding on a palfrey by his side. And young girls strewed roses in their +pathway, and hung garlands upon their horses; and every one shouted, +"Hail to the conquering hero! Hail to the matchless queen!" + +When they reached the castle, King Gunther and Giselher met them, and +ushered them into the old familiar halls, where a right hearty welcome +greeted them from all the kingly household. And none seemed more glad +in this happy hour than Brunhild the warrior-queen, now more gloriously +beautiful than even in the days of yore. + +When the harvest-moon began to shine full and bright, lighting up the +whole world from evening till morn with its soft radiance, the gay +festival so long looked forward to began. And care and anxiety, and the +fatigues of the long journey, were forgotten amid the endless round of +pleasure which for twelve days enlivened the whole of Burgundy. And the +chiefest honors were everywhere paid to Siegfried the hero-king, and to +Kriemhild the peerless queen of beauty. + +Then Queen Brunhild called to mind, how, on a time, it had been told +her in Isenland that Siegfried was but the liegeman and vassal of King +Gunther; and she wondered why such honor should be paid to an underling, +and why the king himself should treat him with so much respect. And as +she thought of this, and of the high praises with which every one spoke +of Kriemhild, her mind became filled with jealous broodings. And soon +her bitter jealousy was turned to deadly hate; for she remembered then, +how, in the days long past, a noble youth, more beautiful and more +glorious than the world would ever see again, had awakened her from the +deep sleep that Odin's thorn had given; and she remembered how Gunther +had won her by deeds of strength and skill which he never afterwards +could even imitate; and she thought how grand indeed was Kriemhild's +husband compared with her own weak and wavering and commonplace lord. +And her soul was filled with sorrow and bitterness and deepest misery, +when, putting these thoughts together, she believed that she had in some +way been duped and cheated into becoming Gunther's wife. + +When at last the gay feast was ended, and most of the guests had gone +to their homes, she sought her husband, and thus broached the matter to +him. + +"Often have I asked you," said she, "why your sister Kriemhild was given +in marriage to a vassal, and as often have you put me off with vague +excuses. Often, too, have I wondered why your vassal, Siegfried, has +never paid you tribute for the lands which he holds from you, and why he +has never come to render you homage. Now he is here in your castle; but +he sets himself up, not as your vassal, but as your peer. I pray you, +tell me what such strange things mean. Was an underling and a vassal +ever known before to put himself upon a level with his liege lord?" + +Gunther was greatly troubled, and he knew not what to say; for he feared +to tell the queen how they had deceived her when he had won the games at +Isenstein, and how the truth had ever since been kept hidden from her. + +"Ask me not to explain this matter further than I have already done," +he answered. "It is enough that Siegfried is the greatest of all my +vassals, and that his lands are broader even than my own. He has helped +me out of many straits, and has added much to the greatness and strength +of my kingdom: for this reason he has never been asked to pay us +tribute, and for this reason we grant him highest honors." + +But this answer failed to satisfy the queen. + +"Is it not the first duty of a vassal," she asked, "to help his liege +lord in every undertaking? If so, Siegfried has but done his duty, and +you owe him nothing. But you have not told me all. You have deceived me, +and you would fain deceive me again. You have a secret, and I will find +it out." + +The king made no answer, but walked silently and thoughtfully away. + +It happened one evening, not long thereafter, that the two queens sat +together at an upper window, and looked down upon a company of men in +the courtyard below. Among them were the noblest earl-folk of Burgundy, +and Gunther the king, and Siegfried. But Siegfried towered above all the +rest; and he moved like a god among men. + +"See my noble Siegfried!" cried Kriemhild in her pride. "How grandly he +stands there! What a type of manly beauty and strength! No one cares to +look at other men when he is near." + +"He maybe handsome," answered Brunhild sadly; "and, for aught I know, he +may be noble. But what is all that by the side of kingly power? Were he +but the peer of your brother Gunther, then you might well boast." + +"He is the peer of Gunther," returned Kriemhild. "And not only his peer, +but more; for he stands as high above him in kingly power and worth as +in bodily stature." + +"How can that be?" asked Brunhild, growing angry. "For, when Gunther so +gallantly won me at Isenstein, he told me that Siegfried was his vassal; +and often since that time I have heard the same. And even your husband +told me that Gunther was his liege lord." + +Queen Kriemhild laughed at these words, and answered, "I tell you again +that Siegfried is a king far nobler and richer and higher than any other +king on earth. Think you that my brothers would have given me to a mere +vassal to be his wife?" + +Then Brunhild, full of wrath, replied, "Your husband is Gunther's vassal +and my own, and he shall do homage to us as the humblest and meanest of +our underlings. He shall not go from this place until he has paid all +the tribute that has so long been due from him. Then we shall see who is +the vassal, and who is the lord." + +"Nay," answered Kriemhild. "It shall not be. No tribute was ever due; +and, if homage is to be paid, it is rather Gunther who must pay it." + +"It shall be settled once for all!" cried Brunhild, now boiling over +with rage. "I will know the truth. If Siegfried is not our vassal, then +I have been duped; and I will have revenge." + +"It is well," was the mild answer. "Let it be settled, once for all; +and then, mayhap, we shall know who it was who really won the games at +Isenstein, and you for Gunther's wife." + +And the two queens parted in wrath.[EN#31] + +Kriemhild's anger was as fleeting as an April cloud, which does but +threaten, and then passes away in tears and sunshine. But Brunhild's was +like the dread winter storm that sweeps down from Niflheim, and brings +ruin and death in its wake. She felt that she had been cruelly wronged +in some way, and that her life had been wrecked, and she rested not +until she had learned the truth. + +It was Hagen who at last told her the story of the cruel deceit that +had made her Gunther's wife; and then her wrath and her shame knew no +bounds. + +"Woe betide the day!" she cried,--"woe betide the day that brought me to +Rhineland, and made me the wife of a weakling and coward, and the jest +of him who might have done nobler things!" + +Hagen smiled. He had long waited for this day. + +"It was Siegfried, and Siegfried alone, who plotted to deceive you," +he said. "Had it not been for him, you might still have been the happy +maiden-queen of Isenland. And now he laughs at you, and urges his queen, +Kriemhild, to scorn you as she would an underling." + +"I know it, I know it," returned the queen in distress. "And yet how +grandly noble is the man! How he rushed through the flames to awaken me, +when no one else could save! How brave, how handsome,--and yet he has +been my bane. I can have no peace while he lives." + +Hagen smiled again, and a strange light gleamed from his dark eye. Then +he said, "Truly handsome and brave is he, but a viler traitor was never +born. He even now plots to seize this kingdom, and to add it to his +domain. Why else should he bring so great a retinue of Nibelungen +warriors to Burgundy? I will see King Gunther at once, and we will put +an end to his wicked projects." + +"Do even so, good Hagen," said Brunhild. "Take him from my path, and +bring low the haughty pride of his wife, and I shall be content." + +"That I will do!" cried Hagen. "That I will do! Gunther is and shall be +the king without a peer; and no one shall dare dispute the worth and the +queenly beauty of his wife." + +Then the wily chief sought Gunther, and with cunning words poisoned his +weak mind. The feeble old king was easily made to believe that Siegfried +was plotting against his life, and seeking to wrest the kingdom from +him. And he forgot the many kind favors he had received at the hero's +hand. He no longer remembered how Siegfried had slain the terror of the +Glittering Heath, and freed the Burgundians from many a fear; and how +he had routed the warlike hosts of the North-land, and made prisoners +of their kings; and how he had brought his voyage to Isenland to a happy +and successful ending. He forgot, also, that Siegfried was his sister's +husband. He had ears and mind only for Hagen's wily words. + +"While this man lives," said the dark-browed chief, "none of us are +safe. See how the people follow him! Hear how they shout at his coming! +They look upon him as a god, and upon Gunther as a nobody. If we are +wise, we shall rid ourselves of so dangerous a man." + +"It is but a week until he takes his leave of us, and goes back to his +own home in Nibelungen Land. Watch him carefully until that time, but do +him no harm. When he is once gone, he shall never come back again," said +the king. But he spoke thus, not because of any kind feelings towards +Siegfried, but rather because he feared the Nibelungen hero. + +"He has no thought of going at that time," answered Hagen. "He speaks of +it, only to hide his wicked and traitorous plots. Instead of going home, +his plans will then be ready for action, and it will be too late for +us to save ourselves. Still, if you will not believe me, take your own +course. You have been warned." + +The cunning chief arose to leave the room; but Gunther, now thoroughly +frightened, stopped him. + +"Hagen," he said, "you have always been my friend, and the words which +you say are wise. Save us and our kingdom now, in whatsoever way you may +deem best. I know not what to do." + +Then the weak king and the warrior-chief talked long together in low, +hoarse whispers. And, when they parted, shame and guilt were stamped in +plain lines on Gunther's face, from which they were nevermore erased; +and he dared not lift his gaze from the floor, fearing that his eyes +would betray him, if seen by any more pure-hearted than he. But a smile +of triumph played under the lurking gleams of Hagen's eye; and he walked +erect and bold, as if he had done a praiseworthy deed. + +That night a storm came sweeping down from the North, and the cold rain +fell in torrents; and great hailstones pattered on the roofs and towers +of the castle, and cruelly pelted the cattle in the fields, and the +birds in the friendly shelter of the trees. And old Thor fought +bravely with the Storm-giants; and all night long the rattle of his +chariot-wheels, and the heavy strokes of his dread hammer, were heard +resounding through the heavens. In his lonely chamber Hagen sat and +rubbed his hands together, and grimly smiled. + +"The time so long waited for has come at last," he said. + +But the guilty king, unable to sleep, walked restlessly to and fro, and +trembled with fear at every sound of the storm-gust without. + +When day dawned at last, a sad scene met the eyes of all beholders. The +earth was covered with the broken branches of leafy trees; the flowers +and shrubs were beaten pitilessly to the ground; and here and there lay +the dead bodies of little feathered songsters, who, the day before, had +made the woods glad with their music. + +The sun had scarcely risen above this sorrowful scene, gilding the gray +towers and turrets and the drooping trees with the promise of +better things, than a strange confusion was noticed outside of the +castle-gates. Thirty and two horsemen wearing the livery of the +North-lands stood there, and asked to be led to the Burgundian kings. + +"Who are you? and what is your errand?" asked the gate-keeper. + +"We come as heralds and messengers from Leudiger and Leudigast, the +mighty kings of the North," they answered. "But our errand we can tell +to no man save to Gunther your king, or to his brothers Gernot and +Giselher." + +Then they were led by the king's command into the council-hall, where +sat Gunther, Gernot, and the noble Giselher; and behind them stood their +uncle and chief, brave old Hagen. + +"What message bring you from our old friends Leudiger and Leudigast?" +asked Gunther of the strangers. + +"Call them not your friends," answered the chief of the company. "We +bring you this message from our liege lords, whom you may well count as +enemies. Many years ago they were sorely beaten in battle, and suffered +much hurt at your hands. And they vowed then to avenge the injury, and +to wipe out the disgrace you had caused them, just so soon as they were +strong enough to do so. Now they are ready, with fifty thousand men, to +march into your country. And they swear to lay waste your lands, and to +burn your towns and villages and all your castles, unless you at once +acknowledge yourselves their vassals, and agree to pay them tribute. +This is the kings' message. And we were further ordered not to wait for +an answer, but to carry back to them without delay your reply, whether +you will agree to their terms or no." + +King Gunther, as was his wont, turned to Hagen for advice. + +"Send for Siegfried," whispered the chief. + +It was done. And soon the hero came into the hall. His kingly grace and +warlike bearing were such that Gunther dared not raise his guilty eyes +from the ground; and Hagen's furtive glances were, for the moment, +freighted with fear and shame. The message of the heralds was repeated +to Siegfried; and Gunther said,-- + +"Most noble friend, you hear what word these traitorous kings dare send +us. Now, we remember, that, long years ago, you led us against them, +and gave us a glorious victory. We remember, too, how, by your counsel, +their lives were spared, and they were sent home with costly gifts. It +is thus they repay our kindness. What answer shall we send them?" + +"Say that we will fight," answered Siegfried at once. "I will lead my +brave Nibelungens against them, and they shall learn how serious a thing +it is to break an oath, or to return treason for kindness." + +The news soon spread through all the town and through the country-side, +that Leudiger and Leudigast, with fifty thousand men, were marching into +Burgundy, and destroying every thing in their way. And great flight and +confusion prevailed. Men and women hurried hither and thither in dismay. +Soldiers busily sharpened their weapons, and burnished their armor, +ready for the fray. Little children were seen cowering at every sound, +and anxious faces were found everywhere. + +When Queen Kriemhild saw the busy tumult, and heard the shouts and cries +in the street and the courtyard, and learned the cause of it all, she +was greatly troubled, and went at once to seek Siegfried. When she found +him, she drew him aside, and besought him not to take part in the war +which threatened, but to hasten with all speed back to their own loved +Nibelungen Land. + +"And why would my noble queen wish me thus to play the part of a coward, +and to leave my friends when they most need my help?" asked Siegfried in +surprise. + +"I would not have you play the coward," answered Kriemhild, and hot +tears stood in her eyes. "But some unseen danger overhangs. There are +other traitors than Leudiger and Leudigast, and men to be more feared +than they. Last night I dreamed a fearful dream, and it follows me +still. I dreamed that you hunted in the forest, and that two wild boars +attacked you. The grass and the flowers were stained with your gore, +and the cruel tusks of the beasts tore you in pieces, and no one came +to your help. And I cried out in my distress, and awoke; and the +storm-clouds roared and threatened, and the hail pattered on the roof, +and the wind and rain beat against the windowpanes. Then I slept again, +and another dream, as fearful as the first, came to me. I dreamed that +you rode in the forest, and that music sprang up in your footsteps, and +all things living called you blessed, but that suddenly two mountains +rose up from the ground, and their high granite crags toppled over, and +fell upon you, and buried you from my sight forever. Then I awoke again, +and my heart has ever since been heavy with fearful forebodings. I know +that some dread evil threatens us; yet, what it is, I cannot tell. But +go not out against the North-kings. Our Nibelungen-folk wait too long +for your coming." + +Siegfried gayly laughed at his queen's fears, and said, "The woof of +every man's fate has been woven by the Norns, and neither he nor his +foes can change it. When his hour comes, then he must go to meet his +destiny." + +Then he led her gently back to her room in the castle, and bade her a +loving farewell, saying, "When the foes of our Burgundian hosts are put +to flight, and there is no longer need for us here, then will we hasten +back to Nibelungen Land. Have patience and hope for a few days only, and +all will yet be well. Forget your foolish dreams, and think only of my +glad return." + +It was arranged, that, in the march against the North-kings, Siegfried +with his Nibelungens should take the lead; while Hagen, with a picked +company of fighting-men, should bring up the rear. Every one was eager +to join in the undertaking; and no one, save King Gunther and his +cunning counsellor, and Ortwin and Dankwart, knew that the pretended +heralds from the North-kings were not heralds at all, but merely the +false tools of wicked Hagen. For the whole was but a well-planned plot, +as we shall see, to entrap unwary, trusting Siegfried. + +Soon all things were in readiness for the march; but, as the day was now +well spent, it was agreed, that, at early dawn of the morrow, the little +army should set out. And every one went home to put his affairs in +order, and to rest for the night. + +Late that evening old Hagen went to bid Siegfried's queen good-by. +Kriemhild had tried hard to drown her gloomy fears, and to forget her +sad, foreboding dreams; but it was all in vain, for deep anxiety still +rested heavily upon her mind. Yet she welcomed her dark-browed uncle +with the kindest words. + +"How glad I am," she said, "that my husband is here to help my kinsfolk +in this their time of need! I know right well, that, with him to lead, +you shall win. But, dear uncle, remember, when you are in the battle, +that we have always loved you, and that Siegfried has done many +kindnesses to the Burgundians; and, if any danger threaten him, turn +it aside, I pray you, for Kriemhild's sake. I know that I merit Queen +Brunhild's anger, because of the sharp words I lately spoke to her; but +let not my husband suffer blame for that which is my fault alone." + +"Kriemhild," answered Hagen, "no one shall suffer blame,--neither +Siegfried nor yourself. We are all forgetful, and sometimes speak hasty +words; but that which we say in angry thoughtlessness should not be +cherished up against us. There is no one who thinks more highly of +Siegfried than I, and there is nothing I would not do to serve him." + +"I should not fear for him," said she, "if he were not so bold and +reckless. When he is in the battle, he never thinks of his own safety. +And I tremble lest at some time he may dare too much, and meet his +death. If you knew every thing, as I do, you would fear for him too." + +"What is it?" asked Hagen, trying to hide his eagerness,--"what is it +that gives you cause for fear? Tell me all about it, and then I will +know the better how to shield him from danger. I will lay down my life +for his sake." + +Then Kriemhild, trusting in her uncle's word, and forgetful of every +caution, told him the secret of the dragon's blood, and of Siegfried's +strange bath, and of the mischief-working lime-leaf. + +"And now," she added, "since I know that there is one spot which a +deadly weapon might reach, I am in constant fear that the spear of +an enemy may, perchance, strike him there. Is there not some way of +shielding that spot?" + +"There is," answered Hagen. "Make some mark, or put some sign, upon his +coat, that I may know where that spot is. And, when the battle rages, I +will ride close behind him, and ward off every threatened stroke." + +And Kriemhild joyfully promised that she would at once embroider a +silken lime-leaf on the hero's coat, just over the fatal spot. And +Hagen, well pleased, bade her farewell, and went away. + +Without delay the chief sought the weak-minded Gunther, and to him he +related all that the trustful Kriemhild had told him. And, until the +midnight hour, the two plotters sat in the king's bed-chamber, and laid +their cunning plans. Both thought it best, now they had learned the +fatal secret, to give up the sham march against the North-kings, and to +seek by other and easier means to lure Siegfried to his death. + +"The chiefs will be much displeased," said Gunther. "For all will come, +ready to march at the rising of the sun. What shall we do to please +them, and make them more ready to change their plans?" + +Hagen thought a moment, and then the grim smile that was wont to break +the dark lines of his face when he was pleased spread over his features. + +"We will have a grand hunt in the Odenwald to-morrow," he hoarsely +whispered. + + + + + +Adventure XIX. How They Hunted in the Odenwald. + + + +Next morning, at earliest daybreak, while yet the stars were bright, and +the trees hung heavy with dew-drops, and the clouds were light and high, +King Siegfried stood with his warriors before the castle-gate. They +waited but for the sunrise, and a word from Gunther the king, to ride +forth over dale and woodland, and through forest and brake and field, to +meet, as they believed, the hosts of the North-land kings. And Siegfried +moved among them, calm-faced and bright as a war-god, upon the radiant +Greyfell. And men said, long years afterward, that never had the shining +hero seemed so glorious to their sight. Within the spacious courtyard a +thousand Burgundian braves stood waiting, too, for the signal, and the +king's word of command. And at their head stood Hagen, dark as a cloud +in summer, guilefully hiding his vile plots, and giving out orders for +the marching. There, too, were honest Gernot, fearless and upright, and +Giselher, true as gold; and neither of them dreamed of evil, or of the +dark deed that day was doomed to see. Close by the gate was Ortwin, +bearing aloft the blood-red dragon-banner, which the Burgundians were +wont to carry in honor of Siegfried's famous fight with Fafnir. And +there was Dankwart, also, ever ready to boast when no danger threatened, +and ever willing to do chief Hagen's bidding. And next came Volker the +Fiddler good, with the famed sword Fiddle-bow by him, on which, it +is said, he could make the sweetest music while fighting his foes in +battle. + +At length the sun began to peep over the eastern hills, and his beams +fell upon the castle-walls, and shot away through the trees, and over +the meadows, and made the dewdrops glisten like myriads of diamonds +among the dripping leaves and blossoms. And a glad shout went up from +the throats of the waiting heroes; for they thought that the looked-for +moment had come, and the march would soon begin. And the shout was +echoed from walls to turrets, and from turrets to trees, and from trees +to hills, and from the hills to the vaulted sky above. And nothing was +wanting now but King Gunther's word of command. + +Suddenly, far down the street, the sound of a bugle was heard, and then +of the swift clattering of horses' hoofs coming up the hill towards the +castle. + +"Who are they who come thus to join us at the last moment?" asked Hagen +of the watchman above the gate. + +"They are strangers," answered the watchman; "and they carry a +peace-flag." + +In a few moments the strange horsemen dashed up, and halted some +distance from the castle-gate, where Siegfried and his heroes stood. + +"Who are you? and what is your errand?" cried Hagen, in the king's name. + +They answered that they were heralds from the North-land kings, sent +quickly to correct the message of the day before; for their liege +lords, Leudiger and Leudigast, they said, had given up warring against +Burgundy, and had gone back to their homes. And they had sent humbly to +ask the Rhineland kings to forget the rash threats which they had made, +and to allow them to swear fealty to Gunther, and henceforth to be his +humble vassals, if only they might be forgiven. + +"Right cheerfully do we forgive them!" cried Gunther, not waiting to +consult with his wise men. "And our forgiveness shall be so full, that +we shall ask neither fealty nor tribute from them." + +Then he turned to Siegfried, and said, "You hear, friend Siegfried, how +this troublesome matter has been happily ended. Accept our thanks, we +pray you, for your proffered help; for, without it, it might have gone +but roughly with us in a second war with the Northland kings. But now +you are free to do what pleases you. If, as you said yesterday, you +would fain return to Nibelungen Land, you may send your warriors on the +way to-day, for they are already equipped for the journey. But abide you +with us another day, and to-morrow we will bid you God-speed, and you +may easily overtake your Nibelungen friends ere they have reached our +own boundaries." + +Siegfried was not well pleased to give up an undertaking scarce begun, +and still less could he understand why the king should be so ready to +forgive the affront which the North-land kings had offered him. And +he was not slow in reading the look of shame and guilt that lurked in +Gunther's face, or the smile of jealous hate that Hagen could no longer +hide. Yet no word of displeasure spoke he, nor seemed he to understand +that any mischief was brewing; for he feared neither force nor guile. +So he bade his Nibelungens to begin their homeward march, saying that he +and Kriemhild, and the ladies of her train, would follow swiftly on the +morrow. + +"Since it is your last day with us," said Gunther, grown cunning through +Hagen's teaching, "what say you, dear Siegfried, to a hunt in Odin's +Wood?" + +"Right glad will I be to join you in such sport," answered Siegfried. +"I will change my war-coat for a hunting-suit, and be ready within an +hour." + +Then Siegfried went to his apartments, and doffed his steel-clad armor, +and searched in vain through his wardrobe for his favorite hunting-suit. +But it was nowhere to be found; and he was fain to put on the rich +embroidered coat which he sometimes wore in battle, instead of a +coat-of-mail. And he did not see the white lime-leaf that Kriemhild with +anxious care had worked in silk upon it. Then he sought the queen, and +told her of the unlooked-for change of plans, and how, on the morrow, +they would ride towards Nibelungen Land; but to-day he said he had +promised Gunther to hunt with him in the Odenwald. + +But Kriemhild, to his great surprise, begged him not to leave her, even +to hunt in the Odenwald. For she had begun to fear that she had made a +great mistake in telling Hagen the story of the lime-leaf; and yet she +could not explain to Siegfried the true cause of her uneasiness. + +"Oh, do not join in the hunt!" she cried. "Something tells me that +danger lurks hidden in the wood. Stay in the castle with me, and help me +put things in readiness for our journey homewards to-morrow. Last night +I had another dream. I thought that Odin's birds, Hugin and Munin, sat +on a tree before me. And Hugin flapped his wings, and said, 'What more +vile than a false friend? What more to be feared than a secret foe? +Harder than stone is his unfeeling heart; sharper than the adder's +poison-fangs are his words; a snake in the grass is he!' Then Munin +flapped his wings too, but said nothing. And I awoke, and thought at +once of the sunbright Balder, slain through Loki's vile deceit. And, as +I thought upon his sad death, a withered leaf came fluttering through +the casement, and fell upon my couch. Sad signs and tokens are these, my +husband; and much grief, I fear, they foretell." + +But Siegfried was deaf to her words of warning, and he laughed at the +foolish dream. Then he bade her farewell till even-tide, and hastened to +join the party of huntsmen who waited for him impatiently at the gate. + +When the party reached the Odenwald, they separated; each man taking his +own course, and following his own game. Siegfried, with but one trusty +huntsman and his own fleet-footed hound, sought at once the wildest and +thickest part of the wood. And great was the slaughter he made among the +fierce beasts of the forest; for nothing that was worthy of notice could +hide from his sight, or escape him. From his lair in a thorny thicket, a +huge wild boar sprang up; and with glaring red eyes, and mouth foaming, +and tusks gnashing with rage, he charged fiercely upon the hero. But, +with one skilful stroke from his great spear, Siegfried laid the beast +dead on the heather. Next he met a tawny lion, couched ready to spring +upon him; but, drawing quickly his heavy bow, he sent a quivering arrow +through the animal's heart. Then, one after another, he slew a buffalo, +four bisons, a mighty elk with branching horns, and many deers and stags +and savage beasts. + +At one time the hound drove from its hiding-place another wild boar, +much greater than the first, and far more fierce. Quickly Siegfried +dismounted from his horse, and met the grizzly creature as it rushed +with raving fury towards him. The sword of the hero cleft the beast in +twain, and its bloody parts lay lifeless on the ground. Then Siegfried's +huntsman, in gay mood, said, "My lord, would it not be better to rest a +while! If you keep on slaughtering at this rate, there will soon be no +game left in Odenwald." + +Siegfried laughed heartily at the merry words, and at once called in +his hound, saying, "You are right! We will hunt no more until our good +friends have joined us." + +Soon afterward the call of a bugle was heard; and Gunther and Hagen and +Dankwart and Ortwin, with their huntsmen and hounds, came riding up. + +"What luck have you had, my friends?" asked Siegfried. + +Then Hagen told what game they had taken,--a deer, a young bear, and two +small wild boars. But, when they learned what Siegfried had done, the +old chief's face grew dark, and he knit his eyebrows, and bit his lips +in jealous hate: for four knights, ten huntsmen, and four and twenty +hounds, had beaten every bush, and followed every trail; and yet the +Nibelungen king, with but one follower and one hound, had slain ten +times as much game as they. + +While they stood talking over the successes of the day, the sound of a +horn was heard, calling the sportsmen together for the mid-day meal; and +knights and huntsmen turned their steeds, and rode slowly towards the +trysting-place. Suddenly a huge bear, roused by the noise of baying +hounds and tramping feet, crossed their pathway. + +"Ah!" cried Siegfried, "there goes our friend Bruin, just in time to +give us a bit of fun, and some needed sport at dinner. He shall go with +us, and be our guest!" + +With these words he loosed his hound, and dashed swiftly forwards after +the beast. Through thick underbrush and tangled briers, and over fallen +trees, the frightened creature ran, until at last it reached a steep +hillside. There, in a rocky cleft, it stood at bay, and fought fiercely +for its life. When Siegfried came up, and saw that his hound dared not +take hold of the furious beast, he sprang from his horse, and seized +the bear in his own strong arms, and bound him safely with a stout cord. +Then he fastened an end of the cord to his saddle-bows, and remounted +his steed. And thus he rode through the forest to the place where the +dinner waited, dragging the unwilling bear behind him, while the dog +bounded gayly along by his side. + +No nobler sight had ever been seen in that forest than that which +Gunther's people saw that day. The Nibelungen king was dressed as well +became so great a hero. His suit was of the speckled lynx's hide and +rich black silk, upon which were embroidered many strange devices, +with threads of gold. (But, alas! between the shoulders was the silken +lime-leaf that Queen Kriemhild's busy fingers had wrought.) His cap was +of the blackest fur, brought from the frozen Siberian land. Over his +shoulder was thrown his well-filled quiver, made of lion's skin; and in +his hands he carried his bow of mulberry,--a very beam in size, and so +strong that no man save himself could bend it. A golden hunting-horn was +at his side, and his sunbright shield lay on his saddle-bow; while his +mighty sword, the fire-edged Balmung, in its sheath glittering with +gemstones, hung from his jewelled belt. + +The men who stood around chief Hagen, and who saw the hero coming thus +god-like through the greenwood, admired and trembled; and Dankwart +whispered a word of caution to his dark-browed brother. But the old +chief's face grew gloomier than before; and he scowled fiercely upon the +faint-hearted Dankwart, as he hoarsely whispered in return,-- + +"What though he be Odin himself, still will I dare! It is not I: it is +the Norns, who shape every man's fate." + +When Siegfried reached the camp with his prize, the huntsmen shouted +with delight; and the hounds howled loudly, and shook their chains, and +tried hard to get at the shaggy beast. The king leaped to the ground, +and unloosed the cords which bound him; and at the same time the hounds +were unleashed, and set upon the angry, frightened creature. Hemmed in +on every side, the bear rushed blindly forwards, and leaped over the +fires, where the cooks were busy with the dinner. Pots and kettles were +knocked about in great confusion, and the scared cooks thrown sprawling +upon the ground; and many a dainty dish and savory mess was spoiled. The +bear fled fast down the forest road, followed by the baying hounds and +the fleet-footed warriors. But none dared shoot an arrow at him for fear +of killing the dogs; and it seemed as if he would surely escape, so +fast he ran away. Then Siegfried bounded forwards, swifter than a +deer, overtook the bear, and with one stroke of the sword gave him his +death-blow. And all who saw this feat of strength and quickness wondered +greatly, and felt that such a hero must indeed be without a peer. + +When Gunther's cooks had made the dinner ready, the company sat down on +the grass, and all partook of a merry meal; for the bracing air and the +morning's sport had made sharp appetites. But, when they had eaten, they +were surprised to find that there was nothing to drink. Indeed, there +was neither wine nor water in the camp. + +"How glad I am," said Siegfried gayly, "that I am not a huntsman by +trade, if it is a huntsman's way to go thus dry! Oh for a glass of wine, +or even a cup of cold spring-water, to quench my thirst!" + +"We will make up for this oversight when we go back home," said Gunther; +and his heart was black with falsehood. "The blame in this matter should +rest on Hagen, for it was he who was to look after the drinkables." + +"My lord," said Hagen, "I fell into a mistake by thinking that we would +dine, not here, but at the Spessart Springs; and thither I sent the +wine." + +"And is there no water near?" asked Siegfried. + +"Yes," answered Hagen. "There is a cool, shady spring not far from +here, where the water gushes in a clear, cold stream from beneath a +linden-tree. Do but forgive me for the lack of wine, and I will lead you +to it. It is a rare spring, and the water is almost as good as wine." + +"Better than wine for me!" cried Siegfried. And he asked to be shown to +the spring at once. + +Hagen arose, and pointed to a tree not far away, beneath whose spreading +branches Siegfried could see the water sparkling in the sunlight. + +"Men have told me," said the chief, "that the Nibelungen king is very +fleet of foot, and that no one has ever outstripped him in the race. +Time was, when King Gunther and myself were spoken of as very swift +runners; and, though we are now growing old, I fancy that many young men +would, even now, fail to keep pace with us. Suppose we try a race to the +spring, and see which of the three can win." + +"Agreed!" cried Siegfried. "We will run; and, if I am beaten, I will +kneel down in the grass to him who wins. I will give the odds in your +favor too; for I will carry with me my spear, and my shield, and my +helmet and sword, and all the trappings of the chase, while you may doff +from your shoulders whatever might hinder your speed." + +So Gunther and Hagen laid aside all their arms, and put off their +heavy clothing; but Siegfried took up his bow and quiver, and his heavy +shield, and his beamlike spear. Then the word was given, and all three +ran with wondrous speed. Gunther and his chief flew over the grass as +light-footed as two wild panthers: but Siegfried sped swift as an arrow +shot from the hand of a skilful bowman. He reached the spring when yet +the others were not half way to it. He laid his spear and sword, and +bow and quiver of arrows, upon the ground, and leaned his heavy shield +against the linden-tree; and then he waited courteously for King Gunther +to come up, for his knightly honor would not allow him to drink until +his host had quenched his thirst. + +Gunther, when he reached the spring, stooped over, and drank heartily +of the cool, refreshing water; and, after he had risen, Siegfried knelt +upon the grass at the edge of the pool to quaff from the same gushing +fountain. Stealthily then, and with quickness, did chief Hagen hide his +huge bow and his quiver, and his good sword Balmung, and, seizing the +hero's spear, he lifted it in air, and with too steady aim struck the +silken lime-leaf that the loving Kriemhild had embroidered. Never in all +the wide mid-world was known a deed more cowardly, never a baser act. +The hero was pierced with his own weapon by one he had deemed his +friend. His blood gushed forth in torrents, and dyed the green grass +red, and discolored the sparkling water, and even filled the face and +eyes of vile Hagen. + +Yet, in the hour of death, King Siegfried showed how noble was his soul, +how great his strength of will. Up he rose from his bended knees, and +fiercely glanced around. Then, had not the evil-eyed chief, who never +before had shunned a foe, fled with fleet-footed fear, quick vengeance +would have overtaken him. In vain did the dying king look for his bow +and his trusty sword: too safely had they been hidden. Then, though +death was fast dimming his eyes, he seized his heavy shield, and sprang +after the flying Hagen. Swift as the wind he followed him, quickly he +overtook him. With his last strength he felled the vile wretch to the +ground, and beat him with the shield, until the heavy plates of brass +and steel were broken, and the jewels which adorned it were scattered +among the grass. The sound of the heavy blows was heard far through the +forest; and, had the hero's strength held out, Hagen would have had his +reward.[EN#32] But Siegfried, weak and pale from the loss of blood, now +staggered, and fell among the trampled flowers of the wood. + +Then with his last breath he thus upbraided his false friends:-- + +"Cowards and traitors, ye! A curse shall fall upon you. My every care +has been to serve and please you, and thus I am requited. Bitterly shall +you rue this deed. The brand of traitor is set upon your foreheads, and +it shall be a mark of loathing and shame to you forever." + +Then the weak old Gunther began to wring his hands, and to bewail the +death of Siegfried. But the hero bade him hush, and asked him of what +use it was to regret an act which could have been done only by his leave +and sanction. + +"Better to have thought of tears and groans before," said he. "I have +always known that you were a man of weak mind, but never did I dream +that you could lend yourself to so base a deed. And now, if there is +left aught of manliness in your bosom, I charge you to have a care for +Kriemhild your sister. Long shall my loved Nibelungen-folk await my +coming home." + +The glorious hero struggled in the last agony. The grass and flowers +were covered with his blood; the trees shivered, as if in sympathy +with him, and dropped their leaves upon the ground; the birds stopped +singing, and sorrowfully flew away; and a solemn silence fell upon the +earth, as if the very heart of Nature had been crushed. + +And the men who stood around--all save the four guilty ones--bowed their +heads upon their hands, and gave way to one wild burst of grief. Then +tenderly they took up Siegfried, and laid him upon a shield, with his +mighty weapons by him. And, when the sorrowing Night had spread her +black mantle over the mid-world, they carried him silently out of the +forest, and across the river, and brought him, by Gunther's orders, +to the old castle, which now nevermore would resound with mirth and +gladness. And they laid him at Kriemhild's door, and stole sadly away to +their own places, and each one thought bitterly of the morrow.[EN#33] + + + + + +Adventure XX. How the Hoard Was Brought to Burgundy. + + + +And what was done on the morrow? + +Too sad is the tale of Kriemhild's woe and her grief for the mighty +dead. Let us pass it by in tearful, pitying silence, nor wish to awaken +the echoes of that morning of hopeless anguish which dawned on the cold +and cheerless dwelling of the kings. For peace had fled from Burgundy, +nevermore to return. + +Siegfried was dead. Faded, now, was the glory of the Nibelungen Land, +and gone was the mid-world's hope. + +It is told in ancient story, how men built a funeral-pile far out on the +grassy meadows, where the quiet river flows; and how, in busy silence, +they laid the sun-dried beams of ash and elm together, and made ready +the hero's couch; and how the pile was dight with many a sun-bright +shield, with war-coats and glittering helms, and silks and rich dyed +cloths from the South-land, and furs, and fine-wrought ivory, and +gem-stones priceless and rare; and how, over all, they scattered sweet +spices from Araby, and the pleasantest of all perfumes. Then they +brought the golden Siegfried, and laid him on his couch; and beside him +were his battered shield, and Balmung with its fire-edge bare. And, +as the sun rose high in heaven, the noblest earl-folk who had loved +Siegfried best touched fire to the funeral-pile. And a pleasant breeze +from the Southland fanned the fire to a flame, and the white blaze +leaped on high, and all the folk cried out in mighty agony to the gods. + +Such was the story that men told to each other when the world was still +young, and the heroes were unforgotten.[EN#34] And some said, too, that +Brunhild, the fair and hapless queen, died then of a broken heart and of +a hopeless, yearning sorrow, and that she was burned with Siegfried on +that high-built funeral-pile. + +"They are gone,--the lovely, the mighty, the hope of the ancient earth: +It shall labor and bear the burden as before the day of their birth:... +It shall yearn, and be oft-times holpen, and forget their deeds no more, +Till the new sun beams on Balder and the happy sealess shore."[EN#35] + +Another and much later story is sometimes told of these last sad +days,--how the hero's body was laid in a coffin, and buried in the quiet +earth, amid the sorrowful lamentations of all the Rhineland folk; and +how, at Kriemhild's earnest wish, it was afterwards removed to the place +where now stands the little minster of Lorsch. As to which of these +stories is the true one, it is not for me to say. Enough it is to know +that Siegfried was dead, and that the spring-time had fled, and the +summer-season with all its golden glories had faded away from Rhineland, +and that the powers of darkness and of cold and of evil had prevailed. + +To this day the city where was the dwelling of the Burgundian kings is +called Worms, in remembrance of the dragon, or worm, which Siegfried +slew; and a figure of that monster was for many years painted upon +the city arms, and borne on the banner of the Burgundians. And, until +recently, travellers were shown the Reisen-haus,--a stronghold, which, +men say, Siegfried built; and in it were many strange and mighty +weapons, which, they claim, were wielded by the hero. The lance which +was shown there was a great beam nearly eighty feet in length; and the +war-coat, wrought with steel and gold, and bespangled with gem-stones, +was a wonder to behold. And now, in the Church of St. Cecilia, you may +see what purports to be the hero's grave. And a pleasant meadow, not far +from the town, is still called Kriemhild's Rose-garden; while farther +away is the place called Drachenfels, or the dragon's field, where, they +say, Siegfried met Fafnir. But whether it is the same as the Glittering +Heath of the ancient legend, I know not. + +And what became of the Hoard of Andvari? + +The story is briefly told.[EN#36] When the days of mourning were past, +and the people had gone back sadly to their homes, Queen Kriemhild began +to speak of returning to the land of the Nibelungens. But Ute, her aged +mother, could not bear to part with her, and besought her to stay, for +a while at least, in the now desolate Burgundian castle. And Gernot and +Giselher, her true and loving brothers, added their words of entreaty +also. And so, though heart-sick, and with many misgivings, she agreed to +abide for a season in this cheerless and comfortless place. Many days, +even months, dragged by, and still she remained; for she found it still +harder and harder to tear herself away from her mother, and all that her +heart held dear. Yet never, for three years and more, did she even speak +to Gunther, or by any sign show that she remembered him. And, as for +Hagen, no words could utter the deep and settled hate she felt towards +him. But the dark-browed chief cared nought either for love or hate; and +he walked erect, as in the days of yore, and he smiled and frowned alike +for both evil and good. And he said, "It was not I: it was the Norns, +who wove the woof of his life and mine." + +The years went by on leaden wings, and brought no sunlight to Gunther's +dwelling; for his days were full of sadness, and his nights of fearful +dreams. At length he said to chief Hagen, "If there is aught in the +mid-world that can drive away this gloom, I pray thee to help me find +it; for madness steals upon me." + +"There is one thing," answered Hagen, "which might brighten our land +again, and lift up your drooping spirits, and bring gladness to your +halls." + +"What is that?" asked the king. + +"It is the Nibelungen Hoard," said the chief. "It is the wondrous +treasure of Andvari, which Siegfried gave as a gift to Kriemhild. If it +were ours, we might become the masters of the world." + +"But how can we obtain it?" + +"It is Kriemhild's," was the answer. "But she does not care for it; +neither could she use it if she wished. If you could only gain her favor +and forgiveness, I feel sure that she would let you do with it as you +wish." + +Then Gunther besought his younger brothers to intercede for him with +Kriemhild, that she would so far forgive him as to look upon his face, +and speak with him once more. And this the queen at last consented to +do. And, when Gunther came into her presence, she was so touched at +sight of his haggard face and whitened locks, and his earnest words +of sorrow, that she forgave him the great wrong that he had done, and +welcomed him again as her brother. And he swore that never would he +again wrong her or hers, nor do aught to grieve her. But it was not +until a long time after this, that he proposed to her that they should +bring the Hoard of Andvari away from the Nibelungen Land. + +"For, if it were here, dear sister," he said, "it might be of great use +to you." + +"Do whatever seems best to you," answered Kriemhild. "Only remember the +oath that you have given me." + +Then Gunther, because he was anxious to see the wondrous Hoard, but more +because he was urged on by Hagen, made ready to send to the Nibelungen +Land to bring away the treasure by Kriemhild's command. Eight thousand +men, with Gernot and Giselher as their leaders, sailed over the sea in +stanch vessels, and landed on the Nibelungen shore. And when they told +who they were, and whence they came, and showed the queen's signet-ring, +they were welcomed heartily by the fair-haired folk of Mist Land, +who gladly acknowledged themselves the faithful liegemen of the loved +Kriemhild. + +When the Burgundians made known their errand to Alberich the dwarf, +who still held watch and ward over the mountain stronghold, he was much +amazed, and he grieved to part with his cherished treasure. + +"But," said he to his little followers, who stood around him by +thousands, each anxious to fight the intruders,--"but there is Queen +Kriemhild's order and her signet-ring, and we must, perforce, obey. Yet +had we again the good Tarnkappe which Siegfried took from us, the Hoard +should never leave us." + +Then sadly he gave up the keys, and the Burgundians began to remove the +treasure. For four whole days and nights they toiled, carrying the Hoard +in huge wagons down to the sea. And on the fifth day they set sail, and +without mishap arrived in good time at Worms. And many of Alberich's +people, the swarthy elves of the cave, came with Gernot to Rhineland; +for they could not live away from the Hoard. And it is said, that hidden +among the gold and the gem-stones was the far-famed Wishing-rod, which +would give to its owner the power of becoming the lord of the wide +mid-world. + +And the vast treasure was stored in the towers and vaults of the castle. +And Queen Kriemhild alone held the keys, and lavishly she scattered the +gold wherever it was needed most. The hungry were fed, the naked were +clothed, the sick were cared for; and everybody near and far blessed the +peerless Queen of Nibelungen Land. + +Then Hagen, always plotting evil, whispered to King Gunther, and said, +"It is dangerous to suffer your sister to hold so vast a treasure. All +the people are even now ready to leave you, and follow her. She will yet +plot to seize the kingdom, and destroy us." + +And he urged the king to take the keys and to make the Nibelungen Hoard +his own. + +But Gunther answered, "I have already done too great a wrong. And I have +sworn to my sister never to harm her again, or to do aught that will +grieve her." + +"Let the guilt, then, rest on me," said Hagen. And he strode away, and +took the keys from Kriemhild by force. + +When Gernot and Giselher heard of this last vile act of the evil-eyed +chief, they waxed very angry, and vowed that they would help their +sister regain that which was her own. But the wary Hagen was not to be +foiled; for, while the brothers were away from the burgh, he caused the +great Hoard to be carried to the river, at a place called Lochheim, +and sunk, fathoms deep, beneath the water. And then, for fear of the +vengeance which might be wreaked upon him, he fled from Rhineland, and +hid himself for a while among the mountains and the barren hill-country +of the South. + +And this was the end of the fated Hoard of Andvari. + + + + + +The After Word. + + + +Such is the story of Siegfried (or Sigurd), as we gather it from various +German and Scandinavian legends. In this recital I have made no attempt +to follow any one of the numerous originals, but have selected here +and there such incidents as best suited my purpose in constructing one +connected story which would convey to your minds some notion of the +beauty and richness of our ancient myths. In doing this, I have drawn, +now from the Volsunga Saga, now from the Nibelungen Lied, now from one +of the Eddas, and now from some of the minor legends relating to the +great hero of the North. These ancient stories, although differing +widely in particulars, have a certain general relationship and agreement +which proves beyond doubt a common origin. "The primeval myth," says +Thomas Carlyle, "whether it were at first philosophical truth, or +historical incident, floats too vaguely on the breath of men: each has +the privilege of inventing, and the far wider privilege of borrowing +and new modelling from all that preceded him. Thus, though tradition +may have but one root, it grows, like a banian, into a whole overarching +labyrinth of trees." + +If you would follow the tradition of Siegfried to the end; if you would +learn how, after the great Hoard had been buried in the Rhine, the curse +of the dwarf Andvari still followed those who had possessed it, and how +Kriemhild wreaked a terrible vengeance upon Siegfried's murderers,--you +must read the original story as related in the Volsung Myth or in the +Nibelungen Song. Our story ends with Siegfried. + +The episodes which I have inserted here and there--the stories of AEgir, +and of Balder, and of Idun, and of Thor--do not, as you may know, belong +properly to the legend of Siegfried; but I have thrown them in, in order +to acquaint you with some of the most beautiful mythical conceptions of +our ancestors. + +A grand old people were those early kinsmen of ours,--not at all so +savage and inhuman as our histories would sometimes make us believe. For +however mistaken their notions may have been, and however ignorant they +were, according to our ideas of things, they were strong-hearted, brave +workers; and, so far as opportunity was afforded them, they acted well +their parts. What their notions were of true manhood,--a strong mind in +a strong body, good, brave, and handsome,--may be learned from the story +of Siegfried. + + +End of The Story of Siegfried. + + + + + +The Story of Siegfried Endnotes. + + + +[EN#1] Siegfried's Boyhood. + +"All men agree that Siegfried was a king's son. He was born, as we here +have good reason to know, 'at Santen in Netherland,' of Siegmund and the +fair Siegelinde; yet by some family misfortune or discord, of which the +accounts are very various, he came into singular straits during boyhood, +having passed that happy period of life, not under the canopies of +costly state, but by the sooty stithy, in one Mimer, a blacksmith's +shop."--Thomas Carlyle, The Nibelungen Lied. + +The older versions of this story represent Siegfried, under the name of +Sigurd, as being brought up at the court of the Danish King Hialprek; +his own father Sigmund having been slain in battle, as related in this +chapter. He was early placed under the tuition of Regin, or Regino, an +elf, who instructed his pupil in draughts, runes, languages, and various +other accomplishments.--See Preface to Vollmer's Nibelunge Not, also the +Song of Sigurd Fafnisbane, in the Elder Edda, and the Icelandic Volsunga +Saga. + + + +[EN#2]--Mimer. + +"The Vilkinasaga brings before us yet another smith, Mimer, by whom not +only is Velint instructed in his art, but Sigfrit (Siegfried) is brought +up,--another smith's apprentice. He is occasionally mentioned in the +later poem of Biterolf, as Mime the Old. The old name of Munster in +Westphalia was Mimigardiford; the Westphalian Minden was originally +Mimidun; and Memleben on the Unstrut, Mimileba.. .. The elder Norse +tradition names him just as often, and in several different connections. +In one place, a Mimingus, a wood-satyr, and possessor of a sword and +jewels, is interwoven into the myth of Balder and Hoder. The Edda gives +a higher position to its Mimer. He has a fountain, in which wisdom +and understanding lie hidden: drinking of it every morning, he is the +wisest, most intelligent, of men. To Mimer's fountain came Odin, and +desired a drink, but did not receive it till he had given one of his +eyes in pledge, and hidden it in the fountain: this accounts for Odin +being one-eyed.... Mimer is no Asa, but an exalted being with whom the +Asas hold converse, of whom they make use,--the sum total of wisdom, +possibly an older Nature-god. Later fables degraded him into a +wood-sprite, or clever smith."--Grimm's Deutsche Mythologie, I. p. 379. + +Concerning the Mimer of the Eddas, Professor Anderson says, "The name +Mimer means the knowing. The Giants, being older than the Asas, looked +deeper than the latter into the darkness of the past. They had witnessed +the birth of the gods and the beginning of the world, and they foresaw +their downfall. Concerning both these events, the gods had to go to +them for knowledge. It is this wisdom that Mimer keeps in his +fountain."--Norse Mythology, p 209. + +In the older versions of the legend, the smith who cared for Siegfried +(Sigurd) is called, as we have before noticed, Regin. He is thus +described by Morris:-- + + "The lore of all men he knew, + And was deft in every cunning, save the dealings of the + sword. + So sweet was his tongue-speech fashioned, that men + trowed his every word. + His hand with the harp-strings blended was the mingler + of delight + With the latter days of sorrow: all tales he told + aright. + The Master of the Masters in the smithying craft was + he; + And he dealt with the wind and the weather and the + stilling of the sea; + Nor might any learn him leech-craft, for before that + race was made, + And that man-folk's generation, all their life-days had + he weighed." + + Sigurd the Volsung, Bk. II. + + +[EN#3]--The Sword. + +"By this sword Balmung also hangs a tale. Doubtless it was one of those +invaluable weapons sometimes fabricated by the old Northern smiths, +compared with which our modern Foxes and Ferraras and Toledos are mere +leaden tools. Von der Hagen seems to think it simply the sword Mimung +under another name; in which case, Siegfried's old master, Mimer, had +been the maker of it, and called it after himself, as if it had been his +son."--Carlyle, on the Nibelungen Lied, note. + +In Scandinavian legends, the story of Mimer and Amilias is given, +differing but slightly from the rendering in this chapter.--See Weber +and Jamieson's Illustrations of Northern Antiquities. + +In the older versions of the myth, the sword is called Gram, or the +Wrath. It was wrought from the shards, or broken pieces, of Sigmund's +sword, the gift of Odin. It was made by Regin for Sigurd's (Siegfried's) +use, and its temper was tested as here described. + + + +[EN#4]--Sigmund The Volsung. + +Sigmund the Volsung, in the Volsunga Saga, is represented as the father +of Sigurd (Siegfried); but there is such a marked contrast between him, +and the wise, home-abiding King Siegmund of the later stories, that I +have thought proper to speak of them here as two different individuals. +The word "Sigmund," or "Siegmund," means literally the mouth of victory. +The story of the Volsungs, as here supposed to be related by Mimer, is +derived mainly from the Volsunga Saga. + + + +[EN#5]--Siegfried's Journey Into The Forest. + + + +"In the shop of Mimer, Siegfried was nowise in his proper element, ever +quarrelling with his fellow-apprentices, nay, as some say, breaking the +hardest anvils into shivers by his too stout hammering; so that Mimer, +otherwise a first-rate smith, could by no means do with him there. He +sends him, accordingly, to the neighboring forest to fetch charcoal, +well aware that a monstrous dragon, one Regin, the smith's own brother, +would meet him, and devour him. But far otherwise it proved."--Carlyle, +on The Nibelungen Lied. + + + +[EN#6]--The Norns. + +The Norns are the Fates, which watch over man through life. They are +Urd the Past, Verdande the Present, and Skuld the Future. They approach +every new-born child, and utter his doom. They are represented as +spinning the thread of fate, one end of which is hidden by Urd in the +far east, the other by Verdande in the far west. Skuld stands ready +to rend it in pieces. --See Grimm's Teutonic Mythology, p. 405, also +Anderson's Norse Mythology, p. 209. + +The three weird women in Shakespeare's Tragedy of Macbeth represent a +later conception of the three Norns, now degraded to mere witches. + +Compare the Norns with the Fates of the Greek Mythology. These, also, +are three in number. They sit clothed in white, and garlanded, singing +of destiny. Clotho, the Past, spins; Lachesis, the Present, divides; and +Atropos, the Future, stands ready with her shears to cut the thread. + + + +[EN#7]--The Idea of Fatality. + +Throughout the story of the Nibelungs and Volsungs, of Sigurd and of +Siegfried,--whether we follow the older versions or the mote recent +renderings,--there is, as it were, an ever-present but indefinable +shadow of coming fate, "a low, inarticulate voice of Doom," foretelling +the inevitable. This is but in consonance with the general ideas of +our Northern ancestors regarding the fatality which shapes and controls +every man's life. These ideas are embodied in more than one ancient +legend. We find them in the old Anglo-Saxon poem of Beowulf. "To +us," cries Beowulf in his last fight, "to us it shall be as our Weird +betides,--that Weird that is every man's lord!" "Each man of us shall +abide the end of his life-work; let him that may work, work his doomed +deeds ere death comes!" Similar ideas prevailed among the Greeks. Read, +for example, that passage in the Iliad describing the parting of Hector +and Andromache, and notice the deeper meaning of Hector's words. + + + +[EN#8]--Regin. + + + +As we have already observed (EN#1), the older versions of this myth +called Siegfried's master and teacher Regin, while the more recent +versions call him Mimer. We have here endeavored to harmonize the two +versions by representing Mimer as being merely Regin in disguise. + + + +[EN#9]--Gripir. + +"A man of few words was Gripir; but he knew of all deeds that had been; +And times there came upon him, when the deeds to be were seen: No sword +had he held in his hand since his father fell to field, And against the +life of the slayer he bore undinted shield: Yet no fear in his heart +abided, nor desired he aught at all: But he noted the deeds that had +been, and looked for what should befall." Morris's Sigurd the Volsung, +Bk. II. + + +[EN#10]--The Hoard. + +This story is found in both the Elder and the Younger Eddas, and is +really the basis upon which the entire plot of the legend of Sigurd, or +Siegfried, is constructed. See also EN#18. + + + +[EN#11]--The Dragon. + +The oldest form of this story is the Song of Sigurd Fafnisbane, in the +Elder Edda. The English legend of St. George and the Dragon was probably +derived from the same original sources. A similar myth may be found +among all Aryan peoples. Sometimes it is a treasure, sometimes a +beautiful maiden, that the monster guards, or attempts to destroy. Its +first meaning was probably this: The maiden, or the treasure, is the +earth in its beauty and fertility. "The monster is the storm-cloud. +The hero who fights it is the sun, with his glorious sword, the +lightning-flash. By his victory the earth is relieved from her peril. +The fable has been varied to suit the atmospheric peculiarities of +different climes in which the Aryans found themselves.... In Northern +mythology the serpent is probably the winter cloud, which broods over +and keeps from mortals the gold of the sun's light and heat, till in the +spring the bright orb overcomes the powers of darkness and tempest, and +scatters his gold over the face of the earth." This myth appears in a +great variety of forms among the Scandinavian and German nations. In +the Eddas, Sigurd (Siegfried) is represented as roasting the heart of +Fafnir, and touching it to his lips. We have ventured to present a less +revolting version.--See Baring-Gould's Curious Myths of the Middle Ages. + +"The slaying of the dragon Fafnir reminds us of Python, whom Apollo +overcame; and, as Python guarded the Delphic Oracle, the dying Fafnir +prophesies."--Jacob Grimm. + + + +[EN#12.] + +In order to harmonize subsequent passages in the story as related in +different versions, we here represent Siegfried as turning his back +upon the Glittering Heath, and leaving the Hoard to some other hero or +discoverer. In the Younger Edda, Siegfried (Sigurd) rides onward until +he comes to Fafnir's bed, from which "he took out all the gold, packed +it in two bags, and laid it on Grane's (Greyfell's) back, then got on +himself and rode away." + + + +[EN#13]--BRAGI. This episode of Bragi and his vessel is no part of the +original story of Siegfried, but is here introduced in order to acquaint +you with some of the older myths of our ancestors. Bragi was the +impersonation of music and eloquence, and here represents the music of +Nature,--the glad songs and sounds of the spring-time. "Above any other +god," says Grimm, "one would like to see a more general veneration of +Bragi revived, in whom was vested the gift of poetry and eloquence.... +He appears to have stood in pretty close relation to AEgir." + + + +[EN#14]--AEgir. + +"AEgir was the god presiding over the stormy sea. He entertains the +gods every harvest, and brews ale for them. The name still survives +in provincial English for the sea-wave on rivers."--Anderson's Norse +Mythology. See Carlyle's Heroes and Hero-Worship. + + + +[EN#15]--The Valkyries. + +See Grimm's Teutonic Mythology, p. 417, and Anderson's Norse Mythology, +p. 265. + + + +[EN#16]--Brunhild. + +In the Elder Edda, Brunhild's inaccessible hall stands on a mountain, +where she was doomed to sleep under her shield until Sigurd should +release her. In the Nibelungen Lied, she is represented as ruling +in Isenland, an island far over the sea. The well-known story of the +Sleeping Beauty is derived from this myth. + + + +[EN#17]--Nibelungen Land. + +"Vain were it to inquire where that Nibelungen Land specially is. +Its very name is Nebel-land, or Nifl-land, the land of Darkness, of +Invisibility.... Far beyond the firm horizon, that wonder-bearing +region swims on the infinite waters, unseen by bodily eye, or, at +most, discerned as a faint streak hanging in the blue depths, uncertain +whether island or cloud."--Carlyle, on The Nibelungen Lied. + + + +[EN#18]--Schilbung and Nibelung. + +"Old King Nibelung, the former lord of the land, had left, when he died, +a mighty hoard concealed within a mountain-cavern. As Siegfried rode +past the mountain-side alone, he found Schilbung and Nibelung, the +king's sons, seated at the mouth of the cavern surrounded by more gold +and precious stones than a hundred wagons could bear away. Espying +Siegfried, they called upon him to settle their dispute, offering him +as reward their father's mighty sword Balmung."--Auber Forestier's +Translation of the Nibelungen Lied. + +We have here made some slight variations from the original versions. +(See also EN#12.) + +An ancient legend relates how King Schilbung had obtained the Hoard in +the upper Rhine valley, and how he was afterwards slain by his brother +Niblung. This Niblung possessed a magic ring in the shape of a coiled +serpent with ruby eyes. It had been presented to him by a prince named +Gunthwurm, who had come to him in the guise of a serpent, desiring the +hand of his daughter in marriage. This ring, according to the Eddas, was +the one taken by Loki from the dwarf Andvari, and was given by Sigurd +(Siegfried) to Brunhild in token of betrothal. It was the cause of all +the disasters that afterwards occurred.--See W. Jordan's Sigfridssaga. +See also EN#10. + + + +[EN#19] + + "... Siegfried the hero good + Failed the long task to finish: this stirred their + angry mood. + The treasure undivided he needs must let remain, + When the two kings indignant set on him with their + train; + But Siegfried gripped sharp Balmung (so hight their + father's sword), + And took from them their country, and the beaming, + precious hoard." + The Nibelungenlied, Lettsom, 96, 97 + + + +[EN#20]--Siegfried's Welcome Home. + +In the Nibelungen Lied this is our first introduction to the hero. The +"High-tide" held in honor of Siegfried's coming to manhood, and which we +suppose to have occurred at this time, forms the subject of the Second +Adventure in that poem. + + + +[EN#21]--Kriemhild's Dream. + +This forms the subject of the first chapter of the Nibelungen Lied. "The +eagles of Kriemhild's dream," says Auber Forestier, "are winter-giants, +whose wont it was to transform themselves into eagles; while the pure +gods were in the habit of assuming the falcon's form." + + + +[EN#22]--Idun. + +The story of Idun and her Apples is related in the Younger Edda. It is +there represented as having been told by Bragi himself to his friend +AEgir. This myth means, that the ever-renovating spring (Idun) being +taken captive by the desolating winter (Thjasse), all Nature (all +the Asa-folk) languishes until she regains her freedom through the +intervention of the summer's heat (Loki). --See Anderson's Norse +Mythology. + + + +[EN#23]--Balder. + +The story of Balder is, in reality, the most ancient form of the +Siegfried myth. Both Balder and Siegfried are impersonations of the +beneficent light of the summer's sun, and both are represented as being +treacherously slain by the powers of winter. The errand of Hermod to +the Halls of Death (Hela) reminds us of the errand of Hermes to Hades +to bring back Persephone to her mother Demetre. We perceive also a +resemblance in this story to the myth of Orpheus, in which that hero is +described as descending into the lower regions to bring away his wife +Eurydice. + + + +[EN#24] + +The making of rich clothing for the heroes is frequently referred to in +the Nibelungen Lied. Carlyle says, "This is a never-failing preparative +for all expeditions, and is always specified and insisted on with a +simple, loving, almost female impressiveness." + + + +[EN#25]--The Winning of Brunhild. + +The story of the outwitting of Brunhild, as related in the pages which +follow, is essentially the same as that given in the Nibelungen Lied. It +is quite different from the older versions. + + + +[EN#26]--Sif. + +Sif corresponds to the Ceres of the Southern mythology. (See Grimm, p. +309.) The story of Loki and the Dwarfs is derived from the Younger Edda. +It has been beautifully rendered by the German poet Oelenschlager, a +translation of whose poem on this subject may be found in Longfellow's +Poets and Poetry of Europe. + + + +[EN#27]--Eigill. + +Eigill is the original William Tell. The story is related in the Saga +of Thidrik. For a full history of the Tell myth, see Grimm's Teutonic +Mythology, p. 380, and Baring-Gould's Curious Myths of the Middle Ages, +p. 110. + + + +[EN#28]--Welland the Smith. + +The name of this smith is variously given as Weland, Wieland, Welland, +Volundr, Velint etc. The story is found in the Vilkina Saga, and was one +of the most popular of middle age myths. (See Grimm's Mythology.) Sir +Walter Scott, in his novel of Kenilworth, has made use of this legend in +introducing the episode of Wayland Smith. + + + +[EN#29]--Vidar[FN#1] the Silent. + +"Vidar is the name of the silent Asa. He has a very thick shoe, and he +is the strongest next to Thor. From him the gods have much help in all +hard tasks."--The Younger Edda (Anderson's translation). + +[FN#1] The word Vidar means forest. + + + +[EN#30]--Loki. + +"Loki, in nature, is the corrupting element in air, fire, and water. In +the bowels of the earth he is the volcanic flame, in the sea he appears +as a fierce serpent, and in the lower world we recognize him as pale +death. Like Odin, he pervades all nature. He symbolizes sin, shrewdness, +deceitfulness, treachery, malice etc."--Anderson's Mythology, p. 372. + +He corresponds to the Ahriman of the Persians, to the Satan of the +Christians, and remotely to the Prometheus of the Greeks. + + + +[EN#31]--The Quarrel of the Queens. + +In the ancient versions, the culmination of this quarrel occurred while +the queens were bathing in the river: in the Nibelungen Lied it happened +on the steps leading up to the door of the church. + + + +[EN#32]--Hagen. + +Hagen corresponds to the Hoder of the more ancient myth of Balder. In +the Sigurd Sagas he is called Hogni, and is a brother instead of an +uncle, of Gunther (Gunnar). + + + +[EN#33]--The Death of Siegfried. + +This story is related here essentially as found in the Nibelungen +Lied. It is quite differently told in the older versions. Siegfried's +invulnerability save in one spot reminds us of Achilles, who also was +made invulnerable by a bath, and who could be wounded only in the heel. + + + +[EN#34]--The Burial of Siegfried. + +The story of the burning of Siegfried's body upon a funeral-pile, as +related of Sigurd in the older myths, reminds us of the burning of +Balder upon the ship "Ringhorn." (See p. 162.) The Nibelungen Lied +represents him as being buried in accordance with the rites of the +Roman-Catholic Church. This version of the story must, of course, have +been made after the conversion of the Germans to Christianity. "When +the Emperor Frederick III. (1440-93) visited Worms after his Netherlands +campaign," says Forestier, "he undertook to have the mighty hero's bones +disinterred, probably in view of proving the truth of the marvellous +story then sung throughout Germany; but, although he had the ground dug +into until water streamed forth, no traces of these became manifest." + + + +[EN#35]--Morris: Sigurd the Volsung, Bk. III. + + +[EN#36]--The Hoard. + +The story of bringing the Hoard from Nibelungen Land belongs to the +later versions of the myth, and fitly closes the First Part of the +Nibelungen Lied. Lochheim, the place where the Hoard was sunk, was not +far from Bingen on the Rhine. + + + +[EN#37]--a Short Vocabulary of the Principal Proper Names Mentioned in +this Story. + + AEGIR. The god of the sea. + ALBERICH and ANDVARI. Dwarfs who guard the great Hoard. + ASA. A name applied to the gods of the Norse mythology. + ASGARD. The home of the gods. + BALDER. The god of the summer sunlight. + BRAGI. The god of eloquence and of poetry. + DRAUPNER. Odin's ring, which gives fertility to the earth. + FAFNIR. The dragon whom Siegfried slays. + FENRIS-WOLF. The monster who in the last twilight slays + Odin. + FREYJA. The goddess of love. + REY. The god of peace and plenty. + GRIPIR. The giant who gives wise counsel to Siegfried + (Sigurd). + GUNTHER. In the older myths called Gunnar. + HEIMDAL. The heavenly watchman. + HELA. The goddess of death. + HERMOD. The quick messenger who is sent to Hela for Balder. + HODER. The winter-god. He slays Balder. + HOENIR. One of the three most ancient gods. + HUGIN. Odin's raven, Thought. + IDUN. The goddess of spring. + IVALD. A skilful dwarf. + JOTUNHEIM. The home of the giants. + KRIEMHILD. In the older myths called Gudrun. + LOKI. The mischief-maker. The god of evil. + MIMER. In the later German mythology a skilful smith. In the + older mythology a wise giant. + NORNS. The three Fates,--Urd, Verdande, and Skuld. + ODIN. The chief of the gods. + REGIN. The teacher of Sigurd, by whom he is slain. + SIEGFRIED. In the older myths called Sigurd. + SIF. Thor's wife. + SLEIPNER. Odin's eight-footed horse. + TYR. The god of war. + THOR. The god of thunder. The foe of the giants. + VALHAL. The hall of the slain. + VALKYRIES. The choosers of the slain. Odin's handmaidens. + VIDAR. The silent god. + YMIR. The huge giant out of whose body the world was made. + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of Siegfried, by James Baldwin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF SIEGFRIED *** + +***** This file should be named 6866.txt or 6866.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/6/8/6/6866/ + +Produced by J. C. 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Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Story of Siegfried + +Author: James Baldwin + +Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6866] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on February 2, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF SIEGFRIED *** + + + + +Produced by J. C. Byers + + + + + The Story of Siegfried + + By + James Baldwin + + New York Charles Scribner's Sons + 1899 + + + + To My Children, + + Winfred, Louis, and Nellie, + + This Book Is Affectionately Inscribed. + + + + + + The Fore Word. + + + + When the world was in its childhood, men looked upon the + works of Nature with a strange kind of awe. They fancied + that every thing upon the earth, in the air, or in the + water, had a life like their own, and that every sight which + they saw, and every sound which they heard, was caused by + some intelligent being. All men were poets, so far as their + ideas and their modes of expression were concerned, although + it is not likely that any of them wrote poetry. This was + true in regard to the Saxon in his chilly northern home, as + well as to the Greek in the sunny southland. But, while the + balmy air and clear sky of the south tended to refine men's + thoughts and language, the rugged scenery and bleak storms + of the north made them uncouth, bold, and energetic. Yet + both the cultured Greek and the rude Saxon looked upon + Nature with much the same eyes, and there was a strange + resemblance in their manner of thinking and speaking. They + saw, that, in all the phenomena which took place around + them, there was a certain system or regularity, as if these + were controlled by some law or by some superior being; and + they sought, in their simple poetical way, to account for + these appearances. They had not yet learned to measure the + distances of the stars, nor to calculate the motions of the + earth. The changing of the seasons was a mystery which they + scarcely sought to penetrate. But they spoke of these + occurrences in a variety of ways, and invented many + charming, stories with reference to them, not so much with a + view towards accounting for the mystery, as towards giving + expression to their childlike but picturesque ideas. + + Thus, in the south, when reference was made to the coming of + winter and to the dreariness and discomforts of that season + of the year, men did not know nor care to explain it all, as + our teachers now do at school; but they sometimes told how + Hades had stolen Persephone (the summer) from her mother + Demetre (the earth), and had carried her, in a chariot drawn + by four coal black steeds, to the gloomy land of shadows; + and how, in sorrow for her absence, the Earth clothed + herself in mourning, and no leaves grew upon the trees, nor + flowers in the gardens, and the very birds ceased singing, + because Persephone was no more. But they added, that in a + few months the fair maiden would return for a time to her + sorrowing mother, and that then the flowers would bloom, and + the trees would bear fruit, and the harvest-fields would + again be full of golden grain. + + In the north a different story was told, but the meaning was + the same. Sometimes men told how Odin (the All-Father) had + become angry with Brunhild (the maid of spring), and had + wounded her with the thorn of sleep, and how all the castle + in which she slept was wrapped in deathlike slumber until + Sigurd or Siegfried (the sunbeam) rode through flaming fire, + and awakened her with a kiss. Sometimes men told how Loki + (heat) had betrayed Balder (the sunlight), and had induced + blind old Hoder (the winter months) to slay him, and how all + things, living and inanimate, joined in weeping for the + bright god, until Hela (death) should permit him to revisit + the earth for a time. + + So, too, when the sun arose, and drove away the darkness and + the hidden terrors of the night, our ancestors thought of + the story of a noble young hero slaying a hideous dragon, or + taking possession of the golden treasures of Mist Land. And + when the springtime came, and the earth renewed its youth, + and the fields and woods were decked in beauty, and there + was music everywhere, they loved to tell of Idun (the + spring) and her youth-giving apples, and of her wise husband + Bragi (Nature's musician). When storm-clouds loomed up from + the horizon and darkened the sky, and thunder rolled + overhead, and lightning flashed on every hand, they talked + about the mighty Thor riding over the clouds in his goat- + drawn chariot, and battling with the giants of the air. When + the mountain-meadows were green with long grass, and the + corn was yellow for the sickles of the reapers, they spoke + of Sif, the golden-haired wife of Thor, the queen of the + pastures and the fields. When the seasons were mild, and the + harvests were plentiful, and peace and gladness prevailed, + they blessed Frey, the giver of good gifts to men. + + To them the blue sky-dome which everywhere hung over them + like an arched roof was but the protecting mantle which the + All-Father had suspended above the earth. The rainbow was + the shimmering bridge which stretches from earth to heaven. + The sun and the moon were the children of a giant, whom two + wolves chased forever around the earth. The stars were + sparks from the fire-land of the south, set in the heavens + by the gods. Night was a giantess, dark and swarthy, who + rode in a car drawn by a steed the foam from whose bits + sometimes covered the earth with dew. And Day was the son of + Night; and the steed which he rode lighted all the sky and + the earth with the beams which glistened from his mane. + + + It was thus that men in the earlier ages of the world looked + upon and spoke of the workings of Nature; and it was in this + manner that many myths, or poetical fables, were formed. By + and by, as the world grew older, and mankind became less + poetical and more practical, the first or mythical meaning + of these stories was forgotten, and they were regarded no + longer as mere poetical fancies, but as historical facts. + Perhaps some real hero had indeed performed daring deeds, + and had made the world around him happier and better. It was + easy to liken him to Sigurd, or to some other mythical + slayer of giants; and soon the deeds of both were ascribed + to but one. And thus many myth-stories probably contain some + historical facts blended with the mass of poetical fancies + which mainly compose them; but, in such cases, it is + generally impossible to distinguish what is fact from what + is mere fancy. + + All nations have had their myth-stories; but, to my mind, + the purest and grandest are those which we have received + from our northern ancestors. They are particularly + interesting to us; because they are what our fathers once + believed, and because they are ours by right of inheritance. + And, when we are able to make them still more our own by + removing the blemishes which rude and barbarous ages have + added to some of them, we shall discover in them many things + that are beautiful and true, and well calculated to make us + wiser and better. + + It is not known when or by whom these myth-stories were + first put into writing, nor when they assumed the shape in + which we now have them. But it is said, that, about the year + 1100, an Icelandic scholar called Saemund the Wise collected + a number of songs and poems into a book which is now known + as the "Elder Edda;" and that, about a century later, Snorre + Sturleson, another Icelander, wrote a prose-work of a + similar character, which is called the "Younger Edda." And + it is to these two books that we owe the preservation of + almost all that is now known of the myths and the strange + religion of our Saxon and Norman forefathers. But, besides + these, there are a number of semi-mythological stories of + great interest and beauty,--stories partly mythical, and + partly founded upon remote and forgotten historical facts. + One of the oldest and finest of these is the story of + Sigurd, the son of Sigmund. There are many versions of this + story, differing from each other according to the time in + which they were written and the character of the people + among whom they were received. We find the first mention of + Sigurd and his strange daring deeds in the song of Fafnir, + in the "Elder Edda." Then, in the "Younger Edda," the story + is repeated in the myth of the Niflungs and the Gjukungs. It + is told again in the "Volsunga Saga" of Iceland. It is + repeated and re-repeated in various forms and different + languages, and finally appears in the "Nibelungen Lied," a + grand old German poem, which may well be compared with the + Iliad of the Greeks. In this last version, Sigurd is called + Siegfried; and the story is colored and modified by the + introduction of many notions peculiar to the middle ages, + and unknown to our Pagan fathers of the north. In our own + time this myth has been woven into a variety of forms. + William Morris has embodied it in his noble poem of "Sigurd + the Volsung;" Richard Wagner, the famous German composer, + has constructed from it his inimitable drama, the + "Nibelungen Ring;" W. Jordan, another German writer, has + given it to the world in his "Sigfrid's Saga;" and Emanuel + Geibel has derived from it the materials for his "Tragedy of + Brunhild." + + + And now I, too, come with the STORY OF SIEGFRIED, still + another version of the time-honored legend. The story as I + shall tell it you is not in all respects a literal rendering + of the ancient myth; but I have taken the liberty to change + and recast such portions of it as I have deemed advisable. + Sometimes I have drawn materials from one version of the + story, sometimes from another, and sometimes largely from my + own imagination alone. Nor shall I be accused of impropriety + in thus reshaping a narrative, which, although hallowed by + an antiquity of a thousand years and more, has already + appeared in so many different forms, and been clothed in so + many different garbs; for, however much I may have allowed + my fancy or my judgment to retouch and remodel the + immaterial portions of the legend, the essential parts of + this immortal myth remain the same. And, if I succeed in + leading you to a clearer understanding and a wiser + appreciation of the thoughts and feelings of our old + northern ancestors, I shall have accomplished the object for + which I have written this Story of Siegfried. + + + + + + Contents. + + + + The Fore Word + I. Mimer, the Master + II. Greyfell + III. The Curse of Gold + IV. Fafnir, the Dragon + V. In AEgir's Kingdom + VI. Brunhild + VII. In Nibelungen Land + VIII. Siegfried's Welcome Home + IX. The Journey to Burgundy-land + X. Kriemhill's Dream + XI. How the Spring Time Came + XII. The War with the North-kings + XIII. The Story of Balder + XIV. How Gunther Outwitted Brunhild + XV. In Nibelungen Land Again + XVI. How Brunhild Was Welcomed Home + XVII. How Siegfried Lived in Nibelungen Land + XVIII. How the Mischief Began to Brew + XIX. How They Hunted in the Odenwald + XX. How the Hoard Was Brought to Burgundy + The After Word + Notes + + + + + + Adventure I. + Mimer, the Master. + + + + At Santen, in the Lowlands, there once lived a young prince + named Siegfried. His father, Siegmund, was king of the rich + country through which the lazy Rhine winds its way just + before reaching the great North Sea; and he was known, both + far and near, for his good deeds and his prudent thrift. And + Siegfried's mother, the gentle Sigelind, was loved by all + for her goodness of heart and her kindly charity to the + poor. Neither king nor queen left aught undone that might + make the young prince happy, or fit him for life's + usefulness. Wise men were brought from far-off lands to be + his teachers; and every day something was added to his store + of knowledge or his stock of happiness. And very skilful did + he become in warlike games and in manly feats of strength. + No other youth could throw the spear with so great force, or + shoot the arrow with surer aim. No other youth could run + more swiftly, or ride with more becoming ease. His gentle + mother took delight in adding to the beauty of his matchless + form, by clothing him in costly garments decked with the + rarest jewels. The old, the young, the rich, the poor, the + high, the low, all praised the fearless Siegfried, and all + vied in friendly strife to win his favor. One would have + thought that the life of the young prince could never be + aught but a holiday, and that the birds would sing, and the + flowers would bloom, and the sun would shine forever for his + sake. + + But the business of man's life is not mere pastime; and none + knew this truth better than the wise old king, Siegmund. + + "All work is noble," said he to Siegfried; "and he who + yearns to win fame must not shun toil. Even princes should + know how to earn a livelihood by the labor of their hands." + + And so, while Siegfried was still a young lad, his father + sent him to live with a smith called Mimer, whose smithy was + among the hills not far from the great forest. For in those + early times the work of the smith was looked upon as the + most worthy of all trades,--a trade which the gods + themselves were not ashamed to follow. And this smith Mimer + was a wonderful master,--the wisest and most cunning that + the world had ever seen. Men said that he was akin to the + dwarf-folk who had ruled the earth in the early days, and + who were learned in every lore, and skilled in every craft; + and they said that he was so exceeding old that no one could + remember the day when he came to dwell in the land of + Siegmund's fathers. And some said, too, that he was the + keeper of a wonderful well, or flowing spring, the waters of + which imparted wisdom and far-seeing knowledge to all who + drank of them. + + To Mimer's school, then, where he would be taught to work + skilfully and to think wisely, Siegfried was sent, to be in + all respects like the other pupils there. A coarse blue + blouse, and heavy leggings, and a leathern apron, took the + place of the costly clothing which he had worn in his + father's dwelling. His feet were incased in awkward wooden + shoes, and his head was covered with a wolf-skin cap. The + dainty bed, with its downy pillows, wherein every night his + mother had been wont, with gentle care, to see him safely + covered, was given up for a rude heap of straw in a corner + of the smithy. And the rich food to which he had been used + gave place to the coarsest and humblest fare. But the lad + did not complain. The days which he passed in the smithy + were mirthful and happy; and the sound of his hammer rang + cheerfully, and the sparks from his forge flew briskly, from + morning till night. + + And a wonderful smith he became. No one could do more work + than he, and none wrought with greater skill. The heaviest + chains and the strongest bolts, for prison or for + treasure-house, were but as toys in his stout hands, so + easily and quickly did he beat them into shape. And he was + alike cunning in work of the most delicate and brittle kind. + Ornaments of gold and silver, studded with the rarest + jewels, were fashioned into beautiful forms by his deft + fingers. And among all of Mimer's apprentices none learned + the master's lore so readily, nor gained the master's favor + more.[EN#1] + + One morning the master, Mimer, came to the smithy with a + troubled look upon his face. It was clear that something had + gone amiss; and what it was the apprentices soon learned + from the smith himself. Never, until lately, had any one + questioned Mimer's right to be called the foremost smith in + all the world; but now a rival had come forward. An unknown + upstart--one Amilias, in Burgundy-land--had made a suit of + armor, which, he boasted, no stroke of sword could dint, and + no blow of spear could scratch; and he had sent a challenge + to all other smiths, both in the Rhine country and + elsewhere, to equal that piece of workmanship, or else + acknowledge themselves his underlings and vassals. For many + days had Mimer himself toiled, alone and vainly, trying to + forge a sword whose edge the boasted armor of Amilias could + not foil; and now, in despair, he came to ask the help of + his pupils and apprentices. + + "Who among you is skilful enough to forge such a sword?" he + asked. + + One after another, the pupils shook their heads. And + Veliant, the foreman of the apprentices, said, "I have heard + much about that wonderful armor, and its extreme hardness, + and I doubt if any skill can make a sword with edge so sharp + and true as to cut into it. The best that can be done is to + try to make another war-coat whose temper shall equal that + of Amilias's armor." + + Then the lad Siegfried quickly said, "I will make such a + sword as you want,--a blade that no war-coat can foil. Give + me but leave to try!" + + The other pupils laughed in scorn, but Mimer checked them. + "You hear how this boy can talk: we will see what he can do. + He is the king's son, and we know that he has uncommon + talent. He shall make the sword; but if, upon trial, it + fail, I will make him rue the day." + + Then Siegfried went to his task. And for seven days and + seven nights the sparks never stopped flying from his forge; + and the ringing of his anvil, and the hissing of the hot + metal as he tempered it, were heard continuously. On the + eighth day the sword was fashioned, and Siegfried brought it + to Mimer. + + The smith felt the razor-edge of the bright weapon, and + said, "This seems, indeed, a fair fire-edge. Let us make a + trial of its keenness." + + Then a thread of wool as light as thistle-down was thrown + upon water, and, as it floated there, Mimer struck it with + the sword. The glittering blade cleft the slender thread in + twain, and the pieces floated undisturbed upon the surface + of the liquid. + + "Well done!" cried the delighted smith. "Never have I seen a + keener edge. If its temper is as true as its sharpness would + lead us to believe, it will indeed serve me well." + + But Siegfried took the sword again, and broke it into many + pieces; and for three days he welded it in a white-hot fire, + and tempered it with milk and oatmeal. Then, in sight of + Mimer and the sneering apprentices, he cast a light ball of + fine-spun wool upon the flowing water of the brook; and it + was caught in the swift eddies of the stream, and whirled + about until it met the bared blade of the sword, which was + held in Mimer's hands. And it was parted as easily and clean + as the rippling water, and not the smallest thread was moved + out of its place. + + Then back to the smithy Siegfried went again; and his forge + glowed with a brighter fire, and his hammer rang upon the + anvil with a cheerier sound, than ever before. But he + suffered none to come near, and no one ever knew what + witchery he used. But some of his fellow-pupils afterwards + told how, in the dusky twilight, they had seen a one-eyed + man, long-bearded, and clad in a cloud-gray kirtle, and + wearing a sky-blue hood, talking with Siegfried at the + smithy door. And they said that the stranger's face was at + once pleasant and fearful to look upon, and that his one eye + shone in the gloaming like the evening star, and that, when + he had placed in Siegfried's hands bright shards, like + pieces of a broken sword, he faded suddenly from their + sight, and was seen no more. + + For seven weeks the lad wrought day and night at his forge; + and then, pale and haggard, but with a pleased smile upon + his face, he stood before Mimer, with the gleaming sword in + his hands. "It is finished," he said. "Behold the glittering + terror!--the blade Balmung. Let us try its edge, and prove + its temper once again, that so we may know whether you can + place your trust in it." + + And Mimer looked long at the ruddy hilts of the weapon, and + at the mystic runes that were scored upon its sides, and at + the keen edge, which gleamed like a ray of sunlight in the + gathering gloom of the evening. But no word came from his + lips, and his eyes were dim and dazed; and he seemed as one + lost in thoughts of days long past and gone. + + Siegfried raised the blade high over his head; and the + gleaming edge flashed hither and thither, like the + lightning's play when Thor rides over the storm-clouds. Then + suddenly it fell upon the master's anvil, and the great + block of iron was cleft in two; but the bright blade was no + whit dulled by the stroke, and the line of light which + marked the edge was brighter than before. + + Then to the flowing brook they went; and a great pack of + wool, the fleeces of ten sheep, was brought, and thrown upon + the swirling water. As the stream bore the bundle downwards, + Mimer held the sword in its way. And the whole was divided + as easily and as clean as the woollen ball or the slender + woollen thread had been cleft before. + + "Now, indeed," cried Mimer, "I no longer fear to meet that + upstart, Amilias. If his war-coat can withstand the stroke + of such a sword as Balmung, then I shall not be ashamed to + be his underling. But, if this good blade is what it seems + to be, it will not fail me; and I, Mimer the Old, shall + still be called the wisest and greatest of smiths." + + And he sent word at once to Amilias, in Burgundy-land, to + meet him on a day, and settle forever the question as to + which of the two should be the master, and which the + underling. And heralds proclaimed it in every town and + dwelling. When the time which had been set drew near, Mimer, + bearing the sword Balmung, and followed by all his pupils + and apprentices, wended his way towards the place of + meeting. Through the forest they went, and then along the + banks of the sluggish river, for many a league, to the + height of land which marked the line between King Siegmund's + country and the country of the Burgundians. It was in this + place, midway between the shops of Mimer and Amilias, that + the great trial of metal and of skill was to be made. And + here were already gathered great numbers of people from the + Lowlands and from Burgundy, anxiously waiting for the coming + of the champions. On the one side were the wise old Siegmund + and his gentle queen, and their train of knights and + courtiers and fair ladies. On the other side were the three + Burgundian kings, Gunther, Gernot, and Giselher, and a + mighty retinue of warriors, led by grim old Hagen, the uncle + of the kings, and the wariest chief in all Rhineland. + + When every thing was in readiness for the contest, Amilias, + clad in his boasted war-coat, went up to the top of the + hill, and sat upon a great rock, and waited for Mimer's + coming. As he sat there, he looked, to the people below, + like some great castle-tower; for he was almost a giant in + size, and his coat of mail, so skilfully wrought, was so + huge that twenty men of common mould might have found + shelter, or hidden themselves, within it. As the smith + Mimer, so dwarfish in stature, toiled up the steep hillside, + Amilias smiled to see him; for he felt no fear of the + slender, gleaming blade that was to try the metal of his + war-coat. And already a shout of expectant triumph went up + from the throats of the Burgundian hosts, so sure were they + of their champion's success. + + But Mimer's friends waited in breathless silence, hoping, + and yet fearing. Only King Siegmund whispered to his queen, + and said, "Knowledge is stronger than brute force. The + smallest dwarf who has drunk from the well of the Knowing + One may safely meet the stoutest giant in battle." + + When Mimer reached the top of the hill, Amilias folded his + huge arms, and smiled again; for he felt that this contest + was mere play for him, and that Mimer was already as good as + beaten, and his thrall. The smith paused a moment to take + breath, and as he stood by the side of his foe he looked to + those below like a mere black speck close beside a + steel-gray castle-tower. + + "Are you ready?" asked the smith. + + "Ready," answered Amilias. "Strike!" + + Mimer raised the beaming blade in the air, and for a moment + the lightning seemed to play around his head. The muscles on + his short, brawny arms, stood out like great ropes; and then + Balmung, descending, cleft the air from right to left. The + waiting lookers-on in the plain below thought to hear the + noise of clashing steel; but they listened in vain, for no + sound came to their ears, save a sharp hiss like that which + red-hot iron gives when plunged into a tank of cold water. + The huge Amilias sat unmoved, with his arms still folded + upon his breast; but the smile had faded from his face. + + "How do you feel now?" asked Mimer in a half-mocking tone. + + "Rather strangely, as if cold iron had touched me," faintly + answered the upstart. + + "Shake thyself!" cried Mimer. + + Amilias did so, and, lo! he fell in two halves; for the + sword had cut sheer through the vaunted war-coat, and cleft + in twain the great body incased within. Down tumbled the + giant head and the still folded arms, and they rolled with + thundering noise to the foot of the hill, and fell with a + fearful splash into the deep waters of the river; and there, + fathoms down, they may even now be seen, when the water is + clear, lying like great gray rocks among the sand and gravel + below. The rest of the body, with the armor which incased + it, still sat upright in its place; and to this day + travellers sailing down the river are shown on moonlit + evenings the luckless armor of Amilias on the high hill-top. + In the dim, uncertain light, one easily fancies it to be the + ivy covered ruins of some old castle of feudal times. + + The master, Mimer, sheathed his sword, and walked slowly + down the hillside to the plain, where his friends welcomed + him with glad cheers and shouts of joy. But the Burgundians, + baffled, and feeling vexed, turned silently homeward, nor + cast a single look back to the scene of their disappointment + and their ill-fated champion's defeat. + + And Siegfried went again with the master and his fellows to + the smoky smithy, to his roaring bellows and ringing anvil, + and to his coarse fare, and rude, hard bed, and to a life of + labor. And while all men praised Mimer and his knowing + skill, and the fiery edge of the sunbeam blade, no one knew + that it was the boy Siegfried who had wrought that piece of + workmanship. + + But after a while it was whispered around that not Mimer, + but one of his pupils, had forged the sword. And, when the + master was asked what truth there was in this story, his + eyes twinkled, and the corners of his mouth twitched + strangely, and he made no answer. But Veliant, the foreman + of the smithy, and the greatest of boasters said, "It was I + who forged the fire-edge of the blade Balmung." And, + although none denied the truth of what he said, but few who + knew what sort of a man he was believed his story. And this + is the reason, my children, that, in the ancient songs and + stories which tell of this wondrous sword, it is said by + most that Mimer, and by a few that Veliant, forged its + blade. But I prefer to believe that it was made by + Siegfried, the hero who afterwards wielded it in so many + adventures. [EN#3] Be this as it may, however, blind hate + and jealousy were from this time uppermost in the coarse and + selfish mind of Veliant; and he sought how he might drive + the lad away from the smithy in disgrace. "This boy has done + what no one else could do," said he. "He may yet do greater + deeds, and set himself up as the master smith of the world, + and then we shall all have to humble ourselves before him as + his underlings and thralls." + + And he nursed this thought, and brooded over the hatred + which he felt towards the blameless boy; but he did not dare + to harm him, for fear of their master, Mimer. And Siegfried + busied himself at his forge, where the sparks flew as + briskly and as merrily as ever before, and his bellows + roared from early morning till late at evening. Nor did the + foreman's unkindness trouble him for a moment, for he knew + that the master's heart was warm towards him. + + Oftentimes, when the day's work was done, Siegfried sat with + Mimer by the glowing light of the furnace-fire, and listened + to the sweet tales which the master told of the deeds of the + early days, when the world was young, and the dwarf-folk and + the giants had a name and a place upon earth. And one night, + as they thus sat, the master talked of Odin the All-Father, + and of the gods who dwell with him in Asgard, and of the + puny men-folk whom they protect and befriend, until his + words grew full of bitterness, and his soul of a fierce + longing for something he dared not name. And the lad's heart + was stirred with a strange uneasiness, and he said,-- + + "Tell me, I pray, dear master, something about my own kin, + my father's fathers,--those mighty kings, who, I have heard + said, were the bravest and best of men." + + Then the smith seemed pleased again. And his eyes grew + brighter, and lost their far-away look; and a smile played + among the wrinkles of his swarthy face, as he told a tale of + old King Volsung and of the deeds of the Volsung kings:-- + + "Long years ago, before the evil days had dawned, King + Volsung ruled over all the land which lies between the sea + and the country of the Goths. The days were golden; and the + good Frey dropped peace and plenty everywhere, and men went + in and out and feared no wrong. King Volsung had a dwelling + in the midst of fertile fields and fruitful gardens. Fairer + than any dream was that dwelling. The roof was thatched with + gold, and red turrets and towers rose above. The great + feast-hall was long and high, and its walls were hung with + sun-bright shields; and the door-nails were of silver. In + the middle of the hall stood the pride of the Volsungs,--a + tree whose blossoms filled the air with fragrance, and whose + green branches, thrusting themselves through the ceiling, + covered the roof with fair foliage. It was Odin's tree, and + King Volsung had planted it there with his own hands. + + "On a day in winter King Volsung held a great feast in his + hall in honor of Siggeir, the King of the Goths, who was his + guest. And the fires blazed bright in the broad chimneys, + and music and mirth went round. But in the midst of the + merry-making the guests were startled by a sudden peal of + thunder, which seemed to come from the cloudless sky, and + which made the shields upon the walls rattle and ring. In + wonder they looked around. A strange man stood in the + doorway, and laughed, but said not a word. And they noticed + that he wore no shoes upon his feet, but that a cloud-gray + cloak was thrown over his shoulders, and a blue hood was + drawn down over his head. His face was half-hidden by a + heavy beard; and he had but one eye, which twinkled and + glowed like a burning coal. And all the guests sat moveless + in their seats, so awed were they in the presence of him who + stood at the door; for they knew that he was none other than + Odin the All-Father, the king of gods and men. He spoke not + a word, but straight into the hall he strode, and he paused + not until he stood beneath the blossoming branches of the + tree. Then, forth from beneath his cloud-gray cloak, he drew + a gleaming sword, and struck the blade deep into the + wood,--so deep that nothing but the hilt was left in sight. + And, turning to the awe-struck guests, he said, 'A blade of + mighty worth have I hidden in this tree. Never have the + earth-folk wrought better steel, nor has any man ever + wielded a more trusty sword. Whoever there is among you + brave enough and strong enough to draw it forth from the + wood, he shall have it as a gift from Odin.' Then slowly to + the door he strode again, and no one saw him any more. + + "And after he had gone, the Volsungs and their guests sat a + long time silent, fearing to stir, lest the vision should + prove a dream. But at last the old king arose, and cried, + 'Come, guests and kinsmen, and set your hands to the ruddy + hilt! Odin's gift stays, waiting for its fated owner. Let us + see which one of you is the favored of the All-Father.' + First Siggeir, the King of the Goths, and his earls, the + Volsungs' guests, tried their hands. But the blade stuck + fast; and the stoutest man among them failed to move it. + Then King Volsung, laughing, seized the hilt, and drew with + all his strength; but the sword held still in the wood of + Odin's tree. And one by one the nine sons of Volsung tugged + and strained in vain; and each was greeted with shouts and + laughter, as, ashamed and beaten, he wended to his seat + again. Then, at last, Sigmund, the youngest son, stood up, + and laid his hand upon the ruddy hilt, scarce thinking to + try what all had failed to do. When, lo! the blade came out + of the tree as if therein it had all along lain loose. And + Sigmund raised it high over his head, and shook it, and the + bright flame that leaped from its edge lit up the hall like + the lightning's gleaming; and the Volsungs and their guests + rent the air with cheers and shouts of gladness. For no one + among all the men of the mid-world was more worthy of Odin's + gift than young Sigmund the brave." + + But the rest of Mimer's story would be too long to tell you + now; for he and his young apprentice sat for hours by the + dying coals, and talked of Siegfried's kinfolk, --the + Volsung kings of old. And he told how Siggeir, the Goth + king, was wedded to Signy the fair, the only daughter of + Volsung, and the pride of the old king's heart; and how he + carried her with him to his home in the land of the Goths; + and how he coveted Sigmund's sword, and plotted to gain it + by guile; and how, through presence of friendship, he + invited the Volsung kings to visit him in Gothland, as the + guests of himself and Signy; and how he betrayed and slew + them, save Sigmund alone, who escaped, and for long years + lived an outlaw in the land of his treacherous foe. And then + he told how Sigmund afterwards came back to his own country + of the Volsungs; and how his people welcomed him, and he + became a mighty king, such as the world had never known + before; and how, when he had grown old, and full of years + and honors, he went out with his earls and fighting-men to + battle against the hosts of King Lyngi the Mighty; and how, + in the midst of the fight, when his sword had hewn down + numbers of the foe, and the end of the strife and victory + seemed near, an old man, one eyed and bearded, and wearing a + cloud-gray cloak, stood up before him in the din, and his + sword was broken in pieces, and he fell dead on the heap of + the slain.[EN#4] And, when Mimer had finished his tale, his + dark face seemed to grow darker, and his twinkling eyes grew + brighter, as he cried out in a tone of despair and hopeless + yearning,-- + + "Oh, past are those days of old and the worthy deeds of the + brave! And these are the days of the home-stayers, --of the + wise, but feeble-hearted. Yet the Norns have spoken; and it + must be that another hero shall arise of the Volsung blood, + and he shall restore the name and the fame of his kin of the + early days. And he shall be my bane; and in him shall the + race of heroes have an end."[EN#7] + + Siegfried's heart was strangely stirred within him as he + hearkened to this story of ancient times and to the fateful + words of the master, and for a long time he sat in silent + thought; and neither he nor Mimer moved, or spoke again, + until the darkness of the night had begun to fade, and the + gray light of morning to steal into the smithy. Then, as if + moved by a sudden impulse, he turned to the master, and + said,-- + + "You speak of the Norns, dear master, and of their + foretelling; but your words are vague, and their meaning + very broad. When shall that hero come? and who shall he be? + and what deeds shall be his doing?" + + "Alas!" answered Mimer, "I know not, save that he shall be + of the Volsung race, and that my fate is linked with his." + + "And why do you not know?" returned Siegfried. "Are you not + that old Mimer, in whom it is said the garnered wisdom of + the world is stored? Is there not truth in the old story + that even Odin pawned one of his eyes for a single draught + from your fountain of knowledge? And is the possessor of so + much wisdom unable to look into the future with clearness + and certainty?" + + "Alas!" answered Mimer again, and his words came hard and + slow, "I am not that Mimer, of whom old stories tell, who + gave wisdom to the All-Father in exchange for an eye. He is + one of the giants, and he still watches his fountain in + far-off Jotunheim.[EN#2] I claim kinship with the dwarfs, + and am sometimes known as an elf, sometimes as a + wood-sprite. Men have called me Mimer because of my wisdom + and skill, and the learning which I impart to my pupils. + Could I but drink from the fountain of the real Mimer, then + the wisdom of the world would in truth be mine, and the + secrets of the future would be no longer hidden. But I must + wait, as I have long waited, for the day and the deed and + the doom that the Norns have foretold." + + And the old strange look of longing came again into his + eyes, and the wrinkles on his swarthy face seemed to deepen + with agony, as he arose, and left the smithy. And Siegfried + sat alone before the smouldering fire, and pondered upon + what he had heard. + + + + + + Adventure II. + Greyfell. + + + + Many were the pleasant days that Siegfried spent in Mimer's + smoky smithy; and if he ever thought of his father's stately + dwelling, or of the life of ease which he might have enjoyed + within its halls, he never by word or deed showed signs of + discontent. For Mimer taught him all the secrets of his + craft and all the lore of the wise men. To beat hot iron, to + shape the fire-edged sword, to smithy war-coats, to fashion + the slender bracelet of gold and jewels,--all this he had + already learned. But there were many other things to know, + and these the wise master showed him. He told him how to + carve the mystic runes which speak to the knowing ones with + silent, unseen tongues; he told him of the men of other + lands, and taught him their strange speech; he showed him + how to touch the harp-strings, and bring forth bewitching + music: and the heart of Siegfried waxed very wise, while his + body grew wondrous strong. And the master loved his pupil + dearly. + + But the twelve apprentices grew more jealous day by day, and + when Mimer was away they taunted Siegfried with cruel jests, + and sought by harsh threats to drive him from the smithy; + but the lad only smiled, and made the old shop ring again + with the music from his anvil. On a day when Mimer had gone + on a journey, Veliant, the foreman, so far forgot himself as + to strike the boy. For a moment Siegfried gazed at him with + withering scorn; then he swung his hammer high in air, and + brought it swiftly down, not upon the head of Veliant, who + was trembling with expectant fear, but upon the foreman's + anvil. The great block of iron was shivered by the blow, and + flew into a thousand pieces. Then, turning again towards the + thoroughly frightened foreman, Siegfried said, while angry + lightning-flashes darted from his eyes,-- + + "What if I were to strike you thus?" + + Veliant sank upon the ground, and begged for mercy. + + "You are safe," said Siegfried, walking away. "I would scorn + to harm a being like you!" + + The apprentices were struck dumb with amazement and fear; + and when Siegfried had returned to his anvil they one by one + dropped their hammers, and stole away from the smithy. In a + secret place not far from the shop, they met together, to + plot some means by which they might rid themselves of him + whom they both hated and feared. + + The next morning Veliant came to Siegfried's forge, with a + sham smile upon his face. The boy knew that cowardice and + base deceit lurked, ill concealed, beneath that smile; yet, + as he was wont to do, he welcomed the foreman kindly. + + "Siegfried," said Veliant, "let us be friends again. I am + sorry that I was so foolish and so rash yesterday, and I + promise that I will never again be so rude and unmanly as to + become angry at you. Let us be friends, good Siegfried! Give + me your hand, I pray you, and with it your forgiveness." + + Siegfried grasped the rough palm of the young smith with + such a gripe, that the smile vanished from Veliant's face, + and his muscles writhed with pain. + + "I give you my hand, certainly," said the boy, "and I will + give you my forgiveness when I know that you are worthy of + it." + + As soon as Veliant's aching hand allowed him speech, he + said,-- + + "Siegfried, you know that we have but little charcoal left + for our forges, and our master will soon return from his + journey. It will never do for him to find us idle, and the + fires cold. Some one must go to-day to the forest-pits, and + bring home a fresh supply of charcoal. How would you like + the errand? It is but a pleasant day's journey to the pits; + and a ride into the greenwood this fine summer day would + certainly be more agreeable than staying in the smoky shop." + + "I should like the drive very much," answered Siegfried; + "but I have never been to the coal-pits, and I might lose my + way in the forest." + + "No danger of that," said Veliant. "Follow the road that + goes straight into the heart of the forest, and you cannot + miss your way. It will lead you to the house of Regin, the + master, the greatest charcoal-man in all Rhineland. He will + be right glad to see you for Mimer's sake, and you may lodge + with him for the night. In the morning he will fill your + cart with the choicest charcoal, and you can drive home at + your leisure; and, when our master comes again, he will find + our forges flaming, and our bellows roaring, and our anvils + ringing, as of yore." + + Siegfried, after some further parley, agreed to undertake + the errand, although he felt that Veliant, in urging him to + do so, wished to work him some harm. He harnessed the donkey + to the smith's best cart, and drove merrily away along the + road which led towards the forest.[EN#5] The day was bright + and clear; and as Siegfried rode through the flowery + meadows, or betwixt the fields of corn, a thousand sights + and sounds met him, and made him glad. Now and then he would + stop to watch the reapers in the fields, or to listen to the + song of some heaven-soaring lark lost to sight in the blue + sea overhead. Once he met a company of gayly dressed youths + and maidens, carrying sheaves of golden grain, --for it was + now the harvest-time,--and singing in praise of Frey, the + giver of peace and plenty. + + "Whither away, young prince?" they merrily asked. + + "To Regin, the coal-burner, in the deep greenwood," he + answered. + + "Then may the good Frey have thee in keeping!" they cried. + "It is a long and lonesome journey." And each one blessed + him as they passed. + + It was nearly noon when he drove into the forest, and left + the blooming meadows and the warm sunshine behind him. And + now he urged the donkey forwards with speed; for he knew + that he had lost much precious time, and that many miles + still lay between him and Regin's charcoal-pits. And there + was nothing here amid the thick shadows of the wood to make + him wish to linger; for the ground was damp, and the air was + chilly, and every thing was silent as the grave. And not a + living creature did Siegfried see, save now and then a gray + wolf slinking across the road, or a doleful owl sitting low + down in some tree-top, and blinking at him in the dull but + garish light. Evening at last drew on, and the shadows in + the wood grew deeper; and still no sign of charcoal-burner, + nor of other human being, was seen. Night came, and thick + darkness settled around; and all the demons of the forest + came forth, and clamored and chattered, and shrieked and + howled. But Siegfried was not afraid. The bats and vampires + came out of their hiding-places, and flapped their clammy + wings in his face; and he thought that he saw ogres and many + fearful creatures peeping out from behind every tree and + shrub. But, when he looked upwards through the overhanging + tree-tops, he saw the star-decked roof of heaven, the blue + mantle which the All-Father has hung as a shelter over the + world; and he went bravely onwards, never doubting but that + Odin has many good things in store for those who are willing + to trust him. + + And by and by the great round moon arose in the east, and + the fearful sounds that had made the forest hideous began to + die away; and Siegfried saw, far down the path, a red light + feebly gleaming. And he was glad, for he knew that it must + come from the charcoal-burners' pits. Soon he came out upon + a broad, cleared space; and the charcoal-burners' fires + blazed bright before him; and some workmen, swarthy and + soot-begrimed, came forwards to meet him. + + "Who are you?" they asked; "and why do you come through the + forest at this late hour?" + + "I am Siegfried," answered the boy; "and I come from Mimer's + smithy. I seek Regin, the king of charcoal-burners; for I + must have coal for my master's smithy." + + "Come with me," said one of the men: "I will lead you to + Regin." + + Siegfried alighted from his cart, and followed the man to a + low-roofed hut not far from the burning pits. As they drew + near, they heard the sound of a harp, and strange, wild + music within; and Siegfried's heart was stirred with wonder + as he listened. The man knocked softly at the door, and the + music ceased. + + "Who comes to break into Regin's rest at such a time as + this?" said a rough voice within. + + "A youth who calls himself Siegfried," answered the man. "He + says that he comes from Mimer's smithy, and he would see + you, my master." + + "Let him come in," said the voice. + + Siegfried passed through the low door, and into the room + beyond; and so strange was the sight that met him that he + stood for a while in awe, for never in so lowly a dwelling + had treasures so rich been seen. Jewels sparkled from the + ceiling; rare tapestry covered the walls; and on the floor + were heaps of ruddy gold and silver, still unfashioned. And + in the midst of all this wealth stood Regin, the king of the + forest, the greatest of charcoal-men. And a strange old man + he was, wrinkled and gray and beardless; but out of his eyes + sharp glances gleamed of a light that was not human, and his + heavy brow and broad forehead betokened wisdom and shrewd + cunning. And he welcomed Siegfried kindly for Mimer's sake, + and set before him a rich repast of venison, and wild honey, + and fresh white bread, and luscious grapes. And, when the + meal was finished, the boy would have told his errand, but + Regin stopped him. + + "Say nothing of your business to-night," said he; "for the + hour is already late, and you are weary. Better lie down, + and rest until the morrow; and then we will talk of the + matter which has brought you hither." + + And Siegfried was shown to a couch of the fragrant leaves of + the myrtle and hemlock, overspread with soft white linen, + such as is made in the far-off Emerald Isle; and he was + lulled to sleep by sweet strains of music from Regin's + harp,--music which told of the days when the gods were young + on the earth. And as he slept he dreamed. He dreamed that he + stood upon the crag of a high mountain, and that the eagles + flew screaming around him, and the everlasting snows lay at + his feet, and the world in all its beauty was stretched out + like a map below him; and he longed to go forth to partake + of its abundance, and to make for himself a name among men. + Then came the Norns, who spin the thread, and weave the + woof, of every man's life; and they held in their hands the + web of his own destiny. And Urd, the Past, sat on the tops + of the eastern mountains, where the sun begins to rise at + dawn; while Verdanda, the Present, stood in the western sea, + where sky and water meet. And they stretched the web between + them, and its ends were hidden in the far-away mists. Then + with all their might the two Norns span the purple and + golden threads, and wove the fatal woof. But as it began to + grow in beauty and in strength, and to shadow the earth with + its gladness and its glory, Skuld, the pitiless Norn of the + Future, seized it with rude fingers, and tore it into + shreds, and cast it down at the feet of Hela, the white + queen of the dead.[EN#6] And the eagles shrieked, and the + mountain shook, and the crag toppled, and Siegfried awoke. + + The next morning, at earliest break of day, the youth sought + Regin, and made known his errand. + + "I have come for charcoal for my master Mimer's forges. My + cart stands ready outside; and I pray you to have it filled + at once, for the way is long, and I must be back betimes." + + Then a strange smile stole over Regin's wrinkled face, and + he said,-- + + "Does Siegfried the prince come on such a lowly errand? Does + he come to me through the forest, driving a donkey, and + riding in a sooty coal-cart? I have known the day when his + kin were the mightiest kings of earth, and they fared + through every land the noblest men of men-folk." + + The taunting word, the jeering tones, made Siegfried's anger + rise. The blood boiled in his veins; but he checked his + tongue, and mildly answered,-- + + "It is true that I am a prince, and my father is the wisest + of kings; and it is for this reason that I come thus to you. + Mimer is my master, and my father early taught me that even + princes must obey their masters' behests." + + Then Regin laughed, and asked, "How long art thou to be + Mimer's thrall? Does no work wait for thee but at his smoky + forge?" + + "When Mimer gives me leave, and Odin calls me," answered the + lad, "then I, too, will go faring over the world, like my + kin of the earlier days, to carve me a name and great glory, + and a place with the noble of earth." + + Regin said not a word; but he took his harp, and smote the + strings, and a sad, wild music filled the room. And he sang + of the gods and the dwarf-folk, and of the deeds that had + been in the time long past and gone. And a strange mist swam + before Siegfried's eyes; and so bewitching were the strains + that fell upon his ears, and filled his soul, that he forgot + about his errand, and his master Mimer, and his father + Siegmund, and his lowland home, and thought only of the + heart-gladdening sounds. By and by the music ended, the + spell was lifted, and Siegfried turned his eyes towards the + musician. A wonderful change had taken place. The little old + man still stood before him with the harp in his hand; but + his wrinkled face was hidden by a heavy beard, and his thin + gray locks were covered with a long black wig, and he seemed + taller and stouter than before. As Siegfried started with + surprise, his host held out his hand, and said,-- + + "You need not be alarmed, my boy. It is time for you to know + that Regin and Mimer are the same person, or rather that + Mimer is Regin disguised.[EN#8] The day has come for you to + go your way into the world, and Mimer gives you leave." + + Siegfried was so amazed he could not say a word. He took the + master's hand, and gazed long into his deep, bright eyes. + Then the two sat down together, and Mimer, or Regin as we + shall now call him, told the prince many tales of the days + that had been, and of his bold, wise forefathers. And the + lad's heart swelled within him; and he longed to be like + them,--to dare and do and suffer, and gloriously win at + last. And he turned to Regin and said,-- + + "Tell me, wisest of masters, what I shall do to win fame, + and to make myself worthy to rule the fair land which my + fathers held." + + "Go forth in your own strength, and with Odin's help," + answered Regin,--"go forth to right the wrong, to help the + weak, to punish evil, and come not back to your father's + kingdom until the world shall know your noble deeds." + + "But whither shall I go?" asked Siegfried. + + "I will tell you," answered Regin. "Put on these garments, + which better befit a prince than those soot-begrimed clothes + you have worn so long. Gird about you this sword, the good + Balmung, and go northward. When you come to the waste lands + which border upon the sea, you will find the ancient Gripir, + the last of the kin of the giants. Ask of him a war-steed, + and Odin will tell you the rest." + + So, when the sun had risen high above the trees, Siegfried + bade Regin good-by, and went forth like a man, to take + whatsoever fortune should betide. He went through the great + forest, and across the bleak moorland beyond, and over the + huge black mountains that stretched themselves across his + way, and came to a pleasant country all dotted with white + farmhouses, and yellow with waving, corn. But he tarried not + here, though many kind words were spoken to him, and all + besought him to stay. Right onwards he went, until he + reached the waste land which borders the sounding sea. And + there high mountains stood, with snow-crowned crags beetling + over the waves; and a great river, all foaming with the + summer floods, went rolling through the valley. And in the + deep dales between the mountains were rich meadows, green + with grass, and speckled with thousands of flowers of every + hue, where herds of cattle and deer, and noble elks, and + untamed horses, fed in undisturbed peace. And Siegfried, + when he saw, knew that these were the pastures of Gripir the + ancient. + + High up among the gray mountain-peaks stood Gripir's + dwelling,--a mighty house, made of huge bowlders brought by + giant hands from the far north-land. And the wild eagle, + built their nests around it, and the mountain vultures + screamed about its doors. But Siegfried was not afraid. He + climbed the steep pathway which the feet of men had never + touched before, and, without pausing, walked straightway + into the high-built hall. The room was so dark that at first + he could see nothing save the white walls, and the + glass-green pillars which upheld the roof. But the light + grew stronger soon; and Siegfried saw, beneath a heavy + canopy of stone, the ancient Gripir, seated in a chair made + from the sea-horse's teeth.[EN#9] And the son of the giants + held in his hand an ivory staff; and a purple mantle was + thrown over his shoulders, and his white beard fell in + sweeping waves almost to the sea-green floor. Very wise he + seemed, and he gazed at Siegfried with a kindly smile. + + "Hail, Siegfried!" he cried. "Hail, prince with the gleaming + eye! I know thee, and I know the woof that the Norns have + woven for thee. Welcome to my lonely mountain home! Come and + sit by my side in the high-seat where man has never sat, and + I will tell thee of things that have been, and of things + that are yet to be." + + Then Siegfried fearlessly went and sat by the side of the + ancient wise one. And long hours they talked + together,--strong youth and hoariest age; and each was glad + that in the other he had found some source of hope and + comfort. And they talked of the great midworld, and of the + starry dome above it, and of the seas which gird it, and of + the men who live upon it. All night long they talked, and in + the morning Siegfried arose to go. + + "Thou hast not told me of thy errand," said Gripir; "but I + know what it is. Come first with me, and see this great + mid-world for thyself." + + Then Gripir, leaning on his staff, led the way out of the + great hall, and up to the top of the highest mountain-crag. + And the wild eagles circled in the clear, cold air above + them; and far below them the white waves dashed against the + mountain's feet; and the frosty winds swept around them + unchecked, bringing to their ears the lone lamenting of the + north giants, moaning for the days that had been and for the + glories that were past. Then Siegfried looked to the north, + and he saw the dark mountain-wall of Norway trending away in + solemn grandeur towards the frozen sea, but broken here and + there by sheltering fjords, and pleasant, sunny dales. He + looked to the east, and saw a great forest stretching away + and away until it faded to sight in the blue distance. He + looked to the south, and saw a pleasant land, with farms and + vineyards, and towns and strong-built castles; and through + it wound the River Rhine, like a great white serpent, + reaching from the snow-capped Alps to the northern sea. And + he saw his father's little kingdom of the Netherlands lying + like a green speck on the shore of the ocean. Then he looked + to the west, and nothing met his sight but a wilderness of + rolling, restless waters, save, in the far distance, a green + island half hidden by sullen mists and clouds. And Siegfried + sighed, and said,-- + + "The world is so wide, and the life of man so short!" + + "The world is all before thee," answered Gripir. "Take what + the Norns have allotted thee. Choose from my pastures a + battle-steed, and ride forth to win for thyself a name and + fame among the sons of men." + + Then Siegfried ran down the steep side of the mountain to + the grassy dell where the horses were feeding. But the + beasts were all so fair and strong, that he knew not which + to choose. While he paused, uncertain what to do, a strange + man stood before him. Tall and handsome was the man, with + one bright eye, and a face beaming like the dawn in summer; + and upon his head he wore a sky-blue hood bespangled with + golden stars, and over his shoulder was thrown a cloak of + ashen gray. + + "Would you choose a horse, Sir Siegfried?" asked the + stranger. + + "Indeed I would," answered he. "But it is hard to make a + choice among so many." + + "There is one in the meadow," said the man, "far better than + all the rest. They say that he came from Odin's pastures on + the green hill-slopes of Asgard, and that none but the + noblest shall ride him." + + "Which is he?" asked Siegfried. + + "Drive the herd into the river," was the answer, "and then + see if you can pick him out." + + And Siegfried and the stranger drove the horses down the + sloping bank, and into the rolling stream; but the flood was + too strong for them. Some soon turned back to the shore; + while others, struggling madly, were swept away, and carried + out to the sea. Only one swam safely over. He shook the + dripping water from his mane, tossed his head in the air, + and then plunged again into the stream. Right bravely he + stemmed the torrent the second time. He clambered up the + shelving bank, and stood by Siegfried's side. + + "What need to tell you that this is the horse?" said the + stranger. "Take him: he is yours. He is Greyfell, the + shining hope that Odin sends to his chosen heroes." + + And then Siegfried noticed that the horse's mane glimmered + and flashed like a thousand rays from the sun, and that his + coat was as white and clear as the fresh-fallen snow on the + mountains. He turner to speak to the stranger, but he was + nowhere to be seen and Siegfried bethought him how he had + talked with Odin unawares. Then he mounted the noble + Greyfell and rode with a light heart across the flowery + meadows. + + "Whither ridest thou?" cried Gripir the ancient, from his + doorway among the crags. + + "I ride into the wide world," said Siegfried; "but I know + not whither. I would right the wrong, and help the weak, and + make myself a name on the earth, as did my kinsmen of yore. + Tell me, I pray you, where I shall go; for you are wise, and + you know the things which have been, and those which shall + befall." + + "Ride back to Regin, the master of masters," answered + Gripir. "He will tell thee of a wrong to be righted." + + And the ancient son of the giants withdrew into his lonely + abode; and Siegfried, on the shining Greyfell, rode swiftly + away towards the south. + + + + + + Adventure III. + The Curse of Gold. + + + + Forth then rode Siegfried, upon the beaming Greyfell, out + into the broad mid-world. And the sun shone bright above + him, and the air was soft and pure, and the earth seemed + very lovely, and life a gladsome thing. And his heart was + big within him as he thought of the days to come, of the + deeds of love and daring, of the righting of many wrongs, of + the people's praise, and the glory of a life well lived. And + he wended his way back again toward the south and the fair + lands of the Rhine. He left the barren moorlands behind him, + and the pleasant farms and villages of the fruitful + countryside, and after many days came once more to Regin's + woodland dwelling. For he said to himself, "My old master is + very wise; and he knows of the deeds that were done when yet + the world was young, and my kin were the mightiest of men. I + will go to him, and learn what grievous evil it is that he + has so often vaguely hinted at." + + Regin, when he saw the lad and the beaming Greyfell standing + like a vision of light at his door, welcomed them most + gladly, and led Siegfried into the inner room, where they + sat down together amid the gold, and the gem-stones, and the + fine-wrought treasures there. + + "Truly," said the master, "the days of my long waiting are + drawing to a close, and at last the deed shall be done." + + And the old look of longing came again into his eyes, and + his pinched face seemed darker and more wrinkled than + before, and his thin lips trembled with emotion as he spoke. + + "What is that deed of which you speak?" asked Siegfried. + + "It is the righting of a grievous wrong," answered Regin, + "and the winning of treasures untold. Lo, many years have I + waited for the coming of this day; and now my heart tells me + that the hero so long hoped for is here, and the wisdom and + the wealth of the world shall be mine." + + "But what is the wrong to be righted?" asked Siegfried. "And + what is this treasure that you speak of as your own?" + + "Alas!" answered Regin, "the treasure is indeed mine; and + yet wrongfully has it been withheld from me. But listen a + while to a tale of the early days, and thou shalt know what + the treasure is, and what is the wrong to be righted." + + He took his harp and swept the strings, and played a soft, + low melody which told of the dim past, and of blighted + hopes, and of a nameless, never-satisfied yearning for that + which might have been. And then he told Siegfried this + story: + + + + Regin's Story. + + + + When the earth was still very young, and men were feeble and + few, and the Dwarfs were many and strong, the Asa-folk were + wont oft-times to leave their halls in heaven-towering + Asgard in order to visit the new-formed mid-world, and to + see what the short-lived sons of men were doing. Sometimes + they came in their own godlike splendor and might; sometimes + they came disguised as feeble men-folk, with all man's + weaknesses and all his passions. Sometimes Odin, as a + beggar, wandered from one country to another, craving + charity; sometimes, as a warrior clad in coat of mail, he + rode forth to battle for the cause of right; or as a + minstrel he sang from door to door, and played sweet music + in the halls of the great; or as a huntsman he dashed + through brakes and fens, and into dark forests, and climbed + steep mountains in search of game; or as a sailor he + embarked upon the sea, and sought new scenes in unknown + lands. And many times did men-folk entertain him unawares. + + Once on a time he came to the mid-world in company with + Hoenir and Loki; and the three wandered through many lands + and in many climes, each giving gifts wherever they went. + Odin gave knowledge and strength, and taught men how to read + the mystic runes; Hoenir gave gladness and good cheer, and + lightened many hearts with the glow of his comforting + presence; but Loki had nought to give but cunning deceit and + base thoughts, and he left behind him bitter strife and many + aching breasts. At last, growing tired of the fellowship of + men, the three Asas sought the solitude of the forest, and + as huntsmen wandered long among the hills and over the + wooded heights of Hunaland. Late one afternoon they came to + a mountain-stream at a place where it poured over a ledge of + rocks, and fell in clouds of spray into a rocky gorge below. + As they stood, and with pleased eyes gazed upon the + waterfall, they saw near the bank an otter lazily making + ready to eat a salmon which he had caught. And Loki, ever + bent on doing mischief, hurled a stone at the harmless + beast, and killed it. And he boasted loudly that he had done + a worthy deed. And he took both the otter, and the fish + which it had caught, and carried them with him as trophies + of the day's success. + + Just at nightfall the three huntsmen came to a lone + farmhouse in the valley, and asked for food, and for shelter + during the night. + + "Shelter you shall have," said the farmer, whose name was + Hreidmar, "for the rising clouds foretell a storm. But food + I have none to give you. Surely huntsmen of skill should not + want for food; since the forest teems with game, and the + streams are full of fish." + + Then Loki threw upon the ground the otter and the fish, and + said, "We have sought in both forest and stream, and we have + taken from them at one blow both flesh and fish. Give us but + the shelter you promise, and we will not trouble you for + food." + + The farmer gazed with horror upon the lifeless body of the + otter, and cried out, "This creature which you mistook for + an otter, and which you have robbed and killed, is my son + Oddar, who for mere pastime had taken the form of the furry + beast. You are but thieves and murderers!" + + Then he called loudly for help: and his two sons Fafnir and + Regin, sturdy and valiant kin of the dwarf-folk, rushed in, + and seized upon the huntsmen, and bound them hand and foot; + for the three Asas, having taken upon themselves the forms + of men, had no more than human strength, and were unable to + withstand them. + + Then Odin and his fellows bemoaned their ill fate. And Loki + said, "Wherefore did we foolishly take upon ourselves the + likenesses of puny men? Had I my own power once more, I + would never part with it in exchange for man's weaknesses." + + And Hoenir sighed, and said, "Now, indeed, will darkness + win: and the frosty breath of the Reimthursen giants will + blast the fair handiwork of the sunlight and the heat; for + the givers of life and light and warmth are helpless + prisoners in the hands of these cunning and unforgiving + jailers." + + "Surely," said Odin, "not even the highest are free from + obedience to heaven's behests and the laws of right. I, whom + men call the Preserver of Life, have demeaned myself by + being found in evil company; and, although I have done no + other wrong, I suffer rightly for the doings of this + mischief-maker with whom I have stooped to have fellowship. + For all are known, not so much by what they are as by what + they seem to be, and they bear the bad name which their + comrades bear. Now I am fallen from my high estate. Eternal + right is higher than I. And in the last Twilight of the gods + I must needs meet the dread Fenris-wolf, and in the end the + world will be made new again, and the shining Balder will + rule in sunlight majesty forever." + + Then the Asas asked Hreidmar, their jailer, what ransom they + should pay for their freedom; and he, not knowing who they + were, said, "I must first know what ransom you are able to + give." + + "We will give any thing you may ask," hastily answered Loki. + + Hreidmar then called his sons, and bade them strip the skin + from the otter's body. When this was done, they brought the + furry hide and spread it upon the ground; and Hreidmar said, + "Bring shining gold and precious stones enough to cover + every part of this otter-skin. When you have paid so much + ransom, you shall have your freedom." + + "That we will do," answered Odin. "But one of us must have + leave to go and fetch it: the other two will stay fast bound + until the morning dawns. If, by that time, the gold is not + here, you may do with us as you please." + + Hreidmar and the two young men agreed to Odin's offer; and, + lots being cast, it fell to Loki to go and fetch the + treasure. When he had been loosed from the cords which bound + him, Loki donned his magic shoes, which had carried him over + land and sea from the farthest bounds of the mid-world, and + hastened away upon his errand. And he sped with the + swiftness of light, over the hills and the wooded slopes, + and the deep dark valleys, and the fields and forests and + sleeping hamlets, until he came to the place where dwelt the + swarthy elves and the cunning dwarf Andvari. There the River + Rhine, no larger than a meadow-brook, breaks forth from + beneath a mountain of ice, which the Frost giants and blind + old Hoder, the Winter-king, had built long years before; for + they had vainly hoped that they might imprison the river at + its fountain-head. But the baby-brook had eaten its way + beneath the frozen mass, and had sprung out from its prison, + and gone on, leaping and smiling, and kissing the sunlight, + in its ever-widening course towards Burgundy and the sea. + + Loki came to this place, because he knew that here was the + home of the elves who had laid up the greatest hoard of + treasures ever known in the mid-world. He scanned with + careful eyes the mountain-side, and the deep, rocky caverns, + and the dark gorge through which the little river rushed; + but in the dim moonlight not a living being could he see, + save a lazy salmon swimming in the quieter eddies of the + stream. Any one but Loki would have lost all hope of finding + treasure there, at least before the dawn of day; but his + wits were quick, and his eyes were very sharp. + + "One salmon has brought us into this trouble, and another + shall help us out of it!" he cried. + + Then, swift as thought, he sprang again into the air; and + the magic shoes carried him with greater speed than before + down the Rhine valley, and through Burgundy-land, and the + low meadows, until he came to the shores of the great North + Sea. He sought the halls of old AEgir, the Ocean-king; but + he wist not which way to go,--whether across the North Sea + towards Isenland, or whether along the narrow channel + between Britain-land and the main. While he paused, + uncertain where to turn, he saw the pale-haired daughters of + old AEgir, the white-veiled Waves, playing in the moonlight + near the shore. Of them he asked the way to AEgir's hall. + + "Seven days' journey westward," said they, "beyond the green + Isle of Erin, is our father's hall. Seven days' journey + northward, on the bleak Norwegian shore, is our father's + hall." + + And they stopped not once in their play, but rippled and + danced on the shelving beach, or dashed with force against + the shore. + + "Where is your mother Ran, the Queen of the Ocean?" asked + Loki. + + And they answered,-- + + "In the deep sea-caves + By the sounding shore, + In the dashing waves + When the wild storms roar, + In her cold green bowers + In the northern fiords, + She lurks and she glowers, + She grasps and she hoards, + And she spreads her strong net for her prey." + + Loki waited to hear no more; but he sprang into the air, and + the magic shoes carried him onwards over the water in search + of the Ocean-queen. He had not gone far when his sharp eyes + espied her, lurking near a rocky shore against which the + breakers dashed with frightful fury. Half hidden in the deep + dark water, she lay waiting and watching; and she spread her + cunning net upon the waves, and reached out with her long + greedy fingers to seize whatever booty might come near her. + + When the wary queen saw Loki, she hastily drew in her net, + and tried to hide herself in the shadows of an overhanging + rock. But Loki called her by name, and said,-- + + "Sister Ran, fear not! I am your friend Loki, whom once you + served as a guest in AEgir's gold-lit halls." + + Then the Ocean-queen came out into the bright moonlight, and + welcomed Loki to her domain, and asked, "Why does Loki thus + wander so far from Asgard, and over the trackless waters?" + + And Loki answered, "I have heard of the net which you spread + upon the waves, and from which no creature once caught in + its meshes can ever escape. I have found a salmon where the + Rhine-spring gushes from beneath the mountains, and a very + cunning salmon he is for no common skill can catch him. + Come, I pray, with your wondrous net, and cast it into the + stream where he lies. Do but take the wary fish for me, and + you shall have more gold than you have taken in a year from + the wrecks of stranded vessels." + + "I dare not go," cried Ran. "A bound is set, beyond which I + may not venture. If all the gold of earth were offered me, I + could not go." + + "Then lend me your net," entreated Loki. "Lend me your net, + and I will bring it back to-morrow filled with gold." + + "Much I would like your gold," answered Ran; "but I cannot + lend my net. Should I do so, I might lose the richest prize + that has ever come into my husband's kingdom. For three + days, now, a gold-rigged ship, bearing a princely crew with + rich armor and abundant wealth, has been sailing carelessly + over these seas. To-morrow I shall send my daughters and the + bewitching mermaids to decoy the vessel among the rocks. And + into my net the ship, and the brave warriors, and all their + armor and gold, shall fall. A rich prize it will be. No: I + cannot part with my net, even for a single hour." + + But Loki knew the power of flattering words. + + "Beautiful queen," said he, "there is no one on earth, nor + even in Asgard, who can equal you in wisdom and foresight. + Yet I promise you, that, if you will but lend me your net + until the morning dawns, the ship and the crew of which you + speak shall be yours, and all their golden treasures shall + deck your azure halls in the deep sea." + + Then Ran carefully folded the net, and gave it to Loki. + + "Remember your promise," was all that she said. + + "An Asa never forgets," he answered. + + And he turned his face again towards Rhineland; and the + magic shoes bore him aloft, and carried him in a moment back + to the ice-mountain and the gorge and the infant river, + which he had so lately left. The salmon still rested in his + place, and had not moved during Loki's short absence. + + Loki unfolded the net, and cast it into the stream. The + cunning fish tried hard to avoid being caught in its meshes; + but, dart which way he would, he met the skilfully woven + cords, and these drew themselves around him, and held him + fast. Then Loki pulled the net up out of the water, and + grasped the helpless fish in his right hand. But, lo! as he + held the struggling creature high in the air, it was no + longer a fish, but the cunning dwarf Andvari. + + "Thou King of the Elves," cried Loki, "thy cunning has not + saved thee. Tell me, on thy life, where thy hidden treasures + lie!" + + The wise dwarf knew who it was that thus held him as in a + vise; and he answered frankly, for it was his only hope of + escape, "Turn over the stone upon which you stand. Beneath + it you will find the treasure you seek." + + Then Loki put his shoulder to the rock, and pushed with all + his might. But it seemed as firm as the mountain, and would + not be moved. + + "Help us, thou cunning dwarf," he cried,--"help us, and thou + shalt have thy life!" + + The dwarf put his shoulder to the rock, and it turned over + as if by magic, and underneath was disclosed a wondrous + chamber, whose walls shone brighter than the sun, and on + whose floor lay treasures of gold and glittering gem-stones + such as no man had ever seen. And Loki, in great haste, + seized upon the hoard, and placed it in the magic net which + he had borrowed from the Ocean-queen. Then he came out of + the chamber; and Andvari again put his shoulder to the rock + which lay at the entrance, and it swung back noiselessly to + its place. + + "What is that upon thy finger?" suddenly cried Loki. + "Wouldst keep back a part of the treasure? Give me the ring + thou hast!" + + But the dwarf shook his head, and made answer, "I have given + thee all the riches that the elves of the mountain have + gathered since the world began. This ring I cannot give + thee, for without its help we shall never be able to gather + more treasures together." + + And Loki grew angry at these words of the dwarf; and he + seized the ring, and tore it by force from Andvari's + fingers. It was a wondrous little piece of mechanism shaped + like a serpent, coiled, with its tail in its mouth; and its + scaly sides glittered with many a tiny diamond, and its ruby + eyes shone with an evil light. When the dwarf knew that Loki + really meant to rob him of the ring, he cursed it and all + who should ever possess it, saying,-- + + "May the ill-gotten treasure that you have seized tonight be + your bane, and the bane of all to whom it may come, whether + by fair means or by foul! And the ring which you have torn + from my hand, may it entail upon the one who wears it sorrow + and untold ills, the loss of friends, and a violent death! + The Norns have spoken, and thus it must be." + + Loki was pleased with these words, and with the dark curses + which the dwarf pronounced upon the gold; for he loved + wrong-doing, for wrong-doing's sake, and he knew that no + curses could ever make his own life more cheerless than it + always had been. So he thanked Andvari for his curses and + his treasures; and, throwing the magic net upon his + shoulder, he sprang again into the air, and was carried + swiftly back to Hunaland; and, just before the dawn appeared + in the east, he alighted at the door of the farmhouse where + Odin and Hoenir still lay bound with thongs, and guarded by + Fafnir and Regin. + + Then the farmer, Hreidmar, brought the otter's skin, and + spread it upon the ground; and, lo! it grew, and spread out + on all sides, until it covered an acre of ground. And he + cried out, "Fulfil now your promise! Cover every hair of + this hide with gold or with precious stones. If you fail to + do this, then your lives, by your own agreement, are + forfeited, and we shall do with you as we list." + + Odin took the magic net from Loki's shoulder; and opening + it, he poured the treasures of the mountain elves upon the + otter-skin. And Loki and Hoenir spread the yellow pieces + carefully and evenly over every part of the furry hide. But, + after every piece had been laid in its place; Hreidmar saw + near the otter's mouth a single hair uncovered; and he + declared, that unless this hair, too, were covered, the + bargain would be unfulfilled, and the treasures and lives of + his prisoners would be forfeited. And the Asas looked at + each other in dismay; for not another piece of gold, and not + another precious stone, could they find in the net, although + they searched with the greatest care. At last Odin took from + his bosom the ring which Loki had stolen from the dwarf; for + he had been so highly pleased with its form and workmanship, + that he had hidden it, hoping that it would not be needed to + complete the payment of the ransom. And they laid the ring + upon the uncovered hair. And now no portion of the otter's + skin could be seen. And Fafnir and Regin, the ransom being + paid, loosed the shackles of Odin and Hoenir, and bade the + three huntsmen go on their way. + + Odin and Hoenir at once shook off their human disguises, + and, taking their own forms again, hastened with all speed + back to Asgard. But Loki tarried a little while, and said to + Hreidmar and his sons,-- + + "By your greediness and falsehood you have won for + yourselves the Curse of the Earth, which lies before you. It + shall be your bane. It shall be the bane of every one who + holds it. It shall kindle strife between father and son, + between brother and brother. It shall make you mean, + selfish, beastly. It shall transform you into monsters. The + noblest king among men-folk shall feel its curse. Such is + gold, and such it shall ever be to its worshippers. And the + ring which you have gotten shall impart to its possessor its + own nature. Grasping, snaky, cold, unfeeling, shall he live; + and death through treachery shall be his doom." + + Then he turned away, delighted that he had thus left the + curse of Andvari with Hreidmar and his sons, and hastened + northward toward the sea; for he wished to redeem the + promise that he had made to the Ocean-queen, to bring back + her magic net, and to decoy the richly laden ship into her + clutches. + + No sooner were the strange huntsmen well out of sight than + Fafnir and Regin began to ask their father to divide the + glittering hoard with them. + + "By our strength and through our advice," said they, "this + great store has come into your hands. Let us place it in + three equal heaps, and then let each take his share and go + his way." + + At this the farmer waxed very angry; and he loudly declared + that he would keep all the treasure for himself, and that + his sons should not have any portion of it whatever. So + Fafnir and Regin, nursing their disappointment, went to the + fields to watch their sheep; but their father sat down to + guard his new-gotten treasure. And he took in his hand the + glittering serpent-ring, and gazed into its cold ruby eyes: + and, as he gazed, all his thoughts were fixed upon his gold; + and there was no room in his heart for love toward his + fellows, nor for deeds of kindness, nor for the worship of + the All-Father. And behold, as he continued to look at the + snaky ring, a dreadful change came over him. The warm red + blood, which until that time had leaped through his veins, + and given him life and strength and human feelings, became + purple and cold and sluggish; and selfishness, like + serpent-poison, took hold of his heart. Then, as he kept on + gazing at the hoard which lay before him, he began to lose + his human shape; his body lengthened into many scaly folds, + and he coiled himself around his loved treasures,--the very + likeness of the ring upon which he had looked so long. + + When the day drew near its close, Fafnir came back from the + fields with his herd of sheep, and thought to find his + father guarding the treasure, as he had left him in the + morning; but instead he saw a glittering snake, fast asleep, + encircling the hoard like a huge scaly ring of gold. His + first thought was that the monster had devoured his father; + and, hastily drawing his sword, with one blow he severed the + serpent's head from its body. And, while yet the creature + writhed in the death-agony, he gathered up the hoard, and + fled with it beyond the hills of Hunaland, until on the + seventh day he came to a barren heath far from the homes of + men. There he placed the treasures in one glittering heap; + and he clothed himself in a wondrous mail-coat of gold that + was found among them, and he put on the Helmet of Dread, + which had once been the terror of the mid-world, and the + like of which no man had ever seen; and then he gazed with + greedy eyes upon the fateful ring, until he, too, was + changed into a cold and slimy reptile,--a monster dragon. + And he coiled himself about the hoard; and, with his + restless eyes forever open, he gloated day after day upon + his loved gold, and watched with ceaseless care that no one + should come near to despoil him of it. This was ages and + ages ago; and still he wallows among his treasures on the + Glittering Heath, and guards as of yore the garnered wealth + of Andvari.[EN#10] + + When I, Regin, the younger brother, came back in the late + evening to my father's dwelling, I saw that the treasure had + been carried away; and, when I beheld the dead serpent lying + in its place, I knew that a part of Andvari's curse had been + fulfilled. And a strange fear came over me; and I left every + thing behind me, and fled from that dwelling, never more to + return. Then I came to the land of the Volsungs, where your + father's fathers dwelt, the noblest king-folk that the world + has ever seen. But a longing for the gold and the treasure, + a hungry yearning, that would never be satisfied, filled my + soul. Then for a time I sought to forget this craving. I + spent my days in the getting of knowledge and in teaching + men-folk the ancient lore of my kin, the Dwarfs. I taught + them how to plant and to sow, and to reap the yellow grain. + I showed them where the precious metals of the earth lie + hidden, and how to smelt iron from its ores,--how to shape + the ploughshare and the spade, the spear and the battle-axe. + I taught them how to tame the wild horses of the meadows, + and how to train the yoke-beasts to the plough; how to build + lordly dwellings and mighty strongholds, and how to sail in + ships across old AEgir's watery kingdom. But they gave me no + thanks for what I had done; and as the years went by they + forgot who had been their teacher, and they said that it was + Frey who had given them this knowledge and skill. And I + taught the young maidens how to spin and weave, and to + handle the needle deftly,--to make rich garments, and to + work in tapestry and embroidery. But they, too, forgot me, + and said that it was Freyja who had taught them. Then I + showed men how to read the mystic runes aright, and how to + make the sweet beverage of poetry, that charms all hearts, + and enlightens the world. But they say now that they had + these gifts from Odin. I taught them how to fashion the + tales of old into rich melodious songs, and with music and + sweet-mouthed eloquence to move the minds of their + fellow-men. But they say that Bragi taught them this; and + they remember me only as Regin, the elfin schoolmaster, or + at best as Mimer, the master of smiths. At length my heart + grew bitter because of the neglect and ingratitude of men; + and the old longing for Andvari's hoard came back to me, and + I forgot much of my cunning and lore. But I lived on and on, + and generations of short-lived men arose and passed, and + still the hoard was not mine; for I was weak, and no man was + strong enough to help me. + + Then I sought wisdom of the Norns, the weird women who weave + the woof of every creature's fate.[EN#6] and [EN#7] + + "How long," asked I, "must I hope and wait in weary + expectation of that day when the wealth of the world and the + garnered wisdom of the ages shall be mine?" + + And the witches answered, "When a prince of the Volsung race + shall come who shall excel thee in the smithying craft, and + to whom the All-Father shall give the Shining Hope as a + helper, then the days of thy weary watching, shall cease." + + "How long," asked I, "shall I live to enjoy this wealth and + this wisdom, and to walk as a god among men? Shall I be + long-lived as the Asa-folk, and dwell on the earth until the + last Twilight comes?" + + "It is written," answered Skuld, "that a beardless youth + shall see thy death. But go thou now, and bide thy time." + + Here Regin ended his story, and both he and Siegfried sat + for a long time silent and thoughtful. + + "I know what you wish," said Siegfried at last. "You think + that I am the prince of whom the weird sisters spoke; and + you would have me slay the dragon Fafnir, and win for you + the hoard of Andvari." + + "It is even so," answered Regin. + + "But the hoard is accursed," said the lad. + + "Let the curse be upon me," was the answer. "Is not the + wisdom of the ages mine? And think you that I cannot escape + the curse? Is there aught that can prevail against him who + has all knowledge and the wealth of the world at his call?" + + "Nothing but the word of the Norns and the will of the + All-Father," answered Siegfried. + + "But will you help me?" asked Regin, almost wild with + earnestness. "Will you help me to win that which is + rightfully mine, and to rid the world of a horrible evil?" + + "Why is the hoard of Andvari more thine than Fafnir's?" + + "He is a monster, and he keeps the treasure but to gloat + upon its glittering richness. I will use it to make myself a + name upon the earth. I will not hoard it away. But I am + weak, and he is strong and terrible. Will you help me?" + + "To-morrow," said Siegfried, "be ready to go with me to the + Glittering Heath. The treasure shall be thine, and also the + curse." + + "And also the curse," echoed Regin. + + + + + + Adventure IV. + Fafnir, the Dragon. + + + + Regin took up his harp, and his fingers smote the strings; + and the music which came forth sounded like the wail of the + winter's wind through the dead treetops of the forest. And + the song which he sang was full of grief and wild hopeless + yearning for the things which were not to be. When he had + ceased, Siegfried said,-- + + "That was indeed a sorrowful song for one to sing who sees + his hopes so nearly realized. Why are you so sad? Is it + because you fear the curse which you have taken upon + yourself? or is it because you know not what you will do + with so vast a treasure, and its possession begins already + to trouble you?" + + "Oh, many are the things I will do with that treasure!" + answered Regin; and his eyes flashed wildly, and his face + grew red and pale. "I will turn winter into summer; I will + make the desert-places glad; I will bring back the golden + age; I will make myself a god: for mine shall be the wisdom + and the gathered wealth of the world. And yet I fear"-- + + "What do you fear?" + + "The ring, the ring--it is accursed! The Norns, too, have + spoken, and my doom is known. I cannot escape it." + + "The Norns have woven the woof of every man's life," + answered Siegfried. "To-morrow we fare to the Glittering + Heath, and the end shall be as the Norns have spoken." + + And so, early the next morning, Siegfried mounted Greyfell, + and rode out towards the desert-land that lay beyond the + forest and the barren mountain-range; and Regin, his eyes + flashing with desire, and his feet never tiring, trudged by + his side. For seven days they wended their way through the + thick greenwood, sleeping at night on the bare ground + beneath the trees, while the wolves and other wild beasts of + the forest filled the air with their hideous howlings. But + no evil creature dared come near them, for fear of the + shining beams of light which fell from Greyfell's gleaming + mane. On the eighth day they came to the open country and to + the hills, where the land was covered with black bowlders + and broken by yawning chasms. And no living thing was seen + there, not even an insect, nor a blade of grass; and the + silence of the grave was over all. And the earth was dry and + parched, and the sun hung above them like a painted shield + in a blue-black sky, and there was neither shade nor water + anywhere. But Siegfried rode onwards in the way which Regin + pointed out, and faltered not, although he grew faint with + thirst and with the overpowering heat. Towards the evening + of the next day they came to a dark mountain-wall which + stretched far out on either hand, and rose high above them, + so steep that it seemed to close up the way, and to forbid + them going farther. + + "This is the wall!" cried Regin. "Beyond this mountain is + the Glittering Heath, and the goal of all my hopes." + + And the little old man ran forwards, and scaled the rough + side of the mountain, and reached its summit, while + Siegfried and Greyfell were yet toiling among the rocks at + its foot. Slowly and painfully they climbed the steep + ascent, sometimes following a narrow path which wound along + the edge of a precipice, sometimes leaping, from rock to + rock, or over some deep gorge, and sometimes picking their + way among the crags and cliffs. The sun at last went down, + and one by one the stars came out; and the moon was rising, + round and red, when Siegfried stood by Regin's side, and + gazed from the mountain-top down upon the Glittering Heath + which lay beyond. And a strange, weird scene it was that met + his sight. At the foot of the mountain was a river, white + and cold and still; and beyond it was a smooth and barren + plain, lying silent and lonely in the pale moonlight. But in + the distance was seen a circle of flickering flames, ever + changing,--now growing brighter, now fading away, and now + shining with a dull, cold light, like the glimmer of the + glow-worm or the fox-fire. And as Siegfried gazed upon the + scene, he saw the dim outline of some hideous monster moving + hither and thither, and seeming all the more terrible in the + uncertain light. + + "It is he!" whispered Regin, and his lips were ashy pale, + and his knees trembled beneath him. "It is Fafnir, and he + wears the Helmet of Terror! Shall we not go back to the + smithy by the great forest, and to the life of ease and + safety that may be ours there? Or will you rather dare to go + forwards, and meet the Terror in its abode?" + + "None but cowards give up an undertaking once begun," + answered Siegfried. "Go back to Rhineland yourself, if you + are afraid; but you must go alone. You have brought me thus + far to meet the dragon of the heath, to win the hoard of the + swarthy elves, and to rid the world of a terrible evil. + Before the setting of another sun, the deed which you have + urged me to do will be done." + + Then he dashed down the eastern slope of the mountain, + leaving Greyfell and the trembling Regin behind him. Soon he + stood on the banks of the white river, which lay between the + mountain and the heath; but the stream was deep and + sluggish, and the channel was very wide. He paused a moment, + wondering how he should cross; and the air seemed heavy with + deadly vapors, and the water was thick and cold. While he + thus stood in thought, a boat came silently out of the + mists, and drew near; and the boatman stood up and called to + him, and said,-- + + "What man are you who dares come into this land of + loneliness and fear?" + + "I am Siegfried," answered the lad; "and I have come to slay + Fafnir, the Terror." + + "Sit in my boat," said the boatman, "and I will carry you + across the river." + + And Siegfried sat by the boatman's side; and without the use + of an oar, and without a breath of air to drive it forwards, + the little vessel turned, and moved silently towards the + farther shore. + + "In what way will you fight the dragon?" asked the boatman. + + "With my trusty sword Balmung I shall slay him," answered + Siegfried. + + "But he wears the Helmet of Terror, and he breathes deathly + poisons, and his eyes dart forth lightning, and no man can + withstand his strength," said the boatman. + + "I will find some way by which to overcome him." + + "Then be wise, and listen to me," said the boatman. "As you + go up from the river you will find a road, worn deep and + smooth, starting from the water's edge, and winding over the + moor. It is the trail of Fafnir, adown which he comes at + dawn of every day to slake his thirst at the river. Do you + dig a pit in this roadway,--a pit narrow and deep,--and hide + yourself within it. In the morning, when Fafnir passes over + it, let him feel the edge of Balmung." + + As the man ceased speaking, the boat touched the shore, and + Siegfried leaped out. He looked back to thank his unknown + friend, but neither boat nor boatman was to be seen. Only a + thin white mist rose slowly from the cold surface of the + stream, and floated upwards and away towards the + mountain-tops. Then the lad remembered that the strange + boatman had worn a blue hood bespangled with golden stars, + and that a gray kirtle was thrown over his shoulders, and + that his one eye glistened and sparkled with a light that + was more than human. And he knew that he had again talked + with Odin. Then, with a braver heart than before, he went + forwards, along the river-bank, until he came to Fafnir's + trail,--a deep, wide furrow in the earth, beginning at the + river's bank, and winding far away over the heath, until it + was lost to sight in the darkness. The bottom of the trail + was soft and slimy, and its sides had been worn smooth by + Fafnir's frequent travel through it. + + In this road, at a point not far from the river, Siegfried, + with his trusty sword Balmung, scooped out a deep and narrow + pit, as Odin had directed. And when the gray dawn began to + appear in the east he hid himself within this trench, and + waited for the coming of the monster. He had not long to + wait; for no sooner had the sky begun to redden in the light + of the coming sun than the dragon was heard bestirring + himself. Siegfried peeped warily from his hiding-place, and + saw him coming far down the road, hurrying with all speed, + that he might quench his thirst at the sluggish river, and + hasten back to his gold; and the sound which he made was + like the trampling of many feet and the jingling of many + chains. With bloodshot eyes, and gaping mouth, and flaming + nostrils, the hideous creature came rushing onwards. His + sharp, curved claws dug deep into the soft earth; and his + bat-like wings, half trailing on the ground, half flapping + in the air, made a sound like that which is heard when Thor + rides in his goat-drawn chariot over the dark + thunder-clouds. It was a terrible moment for Siegfried, but + still he was not afraid. He crouched low down in his + hiding-place, and the bare blade of the trusty Balmung + glittered in the morning light. On came the hastening feet + and the flapping wings: the red gleam from the monster's + flaming nostrils lighted up the trench where Siegfried lay. + He heard a roaring and a rushing like the sound of a + whirlwind in the forest; then a black, inky mass rolled + above him, and all was dark. Now was Siegfried's + opportunity. The bright edge of Balmung gleamed in the + darkness one moment, and then it smote the heart of Fafnir + as he passed. Some men say that Odin sat in the pit with + Siegfried, and strengthened his arm and directed his sword, + or else he could not thus have slain the Terror. But, be + this as it may, the victory was soon won. The monster + stopped short, while but half of his long body had glided + over the pit; for sudden death had overtaken him. His horrid + head fell lifeless upon the ground; his cold wings flapped + once, and then lay, quivering and helpless, spread out on + either side; and streams of thick black blood flowed from + his heart, through the wound beneath, and filled the trench + in which Siegfried was hidden, and ran like a + mountain-torrent down the road towards the river. Siegfried + was covered from head to foot with the slimy liquid, and, + had he not quickly leaped from his hiding-place, he would + have been drowned in the swift-rushing, stream.[EN#11] + + The bright sun rose in the east, and gilded the + mountain-tops, and fell upon the still waters of the river, + and lighted up the treeless plains around. The south wind + played gently against Siegfried's cheeks and in his long + hair, as he stood gazing on his fallen foe. And the sound of + singing birds, and rippling waters, and gay insects,--such + as had not broken the silence of the Glittering Heath for + ages,--came to his ears. The Terror was dead, and Nature had + awakened from her sleep of dread. And as the lad leaned upon + his sword, and thought of the deed he had done, behold! the + shining Greyfell, with the beaming, hopeful mane, having + crossed the now bright river, stood by his side. And Regin, + his face grown wondrous cold, came trudging over the + meadows; and his heart was full of guile. Then the mountain + vultures came wheeling downwards to look upon the dead + dragon; and with them were two ravens, black as midnight. + And when Siegfried saw these ravens he knew them to be + Odin's birds,--Hugin, thought, and Munin, memory. And they + alighted on the ground near by; and the lad listened to hear + what they would say. Then Hugin flapped his wings, and + said,-- + + "The deed is done. Why tarries the hero?" + + And Munin said,-- + + "The world is wide. Fame waits for the hero." + + And Hugin answered,-- + + "What if he win the Hoard of the Elves? That is not honor. + Let him seek fame by nobler deeds." + + Then Munin flew past his ear, and whispered,-- + + "Beware of Regin, the master! His heart is poisoned. He + would be thy bane." + + And the two birds flew away to carry the news to Odin in the + happy halls of Gladsheim. + + When Regin drew near to look upon the dragon, Siegfried + kindly accosted him: but he seemed not to hear; and a snaky + glitter lurked in his eyes, and his mouth was set and dry, + and he seemed as one walking in a dream. + + "It is mine now," he murmured: "it is all mine, now,--the + Hoard of the swarthy elf-folk, the garnered wisdom of ages. + The strength of the world is mine. I will keep, I will save, + I will heap up; and none shall have part or parcel of the + treasure which is mine alone." + + Then his eyes fell upon Siegfried; and his cheeks grew dark + with wrath, and he cried out,-- + + "Why are you here in my way? I am the lord of the Glittering + Heath: I am the master of the Hoard. I am the master, and + you are my thrall." + + Siegfried wondered at the change which had taken place in + his old master; but he only smiled at his strange words, and + made no answer. + + "You have slain my brother!" Regin cried; and his face grew + fearfully black, and his mouth foamed with rage. + + "It was my deed and yours," calmly answered Siegfried. "I + have rid the world of a Terror: I have righted a grievous + wrong." + + "You have slain my brother," said Regin; "and a murderer's + ransom you shall pay!" + + "Take the Hoard for your ransom, and let us each wend his + way," said the lad. + + "The Hoard is mine by rights," answered Regin still more + wrathfully. "I am the master, and you are my thrall. Why + stand you in my way?" + + Then, blinded with madness, he rushed at Siegfried as if to + strike him down; but his foot slipped in a puddle of gore, + and he pitched headlong against the sharp edge of Balmung. + So sudden was this movement, and so unlooked for, that the + sword was twitched out of Siegfried's hand, and fell with a + dull splash into the blood-filled pit before him; while + Regin, slain by his own rashness, sank dead upon the ground. + Full of horror, Siegfried turned away, and mounted + Greyfell.[EN#12] + + "This is a place of blood," said he, "and the way to glory + leads not through it. Let the Hoard still lie on the + Glittering Heath: I will go my way from hence; and the world + shall know me for better deeds than this." + + And he turned his back on the fearful scene, and rode away; + and so swiftly did Greyfell carry him over the desert land + and the mountain waste, that, when night came, they stood on + the shore of the great North Sea, and the white waves broke + at their feet. And the lad sat for a long time silent upon + the warm white sand of the beach, and Greyfell waited at his + side. And he watched the stars as they came out one by one, + and the moon, as it rose round and pale, and moved like a + queen across the sky. And the night wore away, and the stars + grew pale, and the moon sank to rest in the wilderness of + waters. And at day-dawn Siegfried looked towards the west, + and midway between sky and sea he thought he saw dark + mountain-tops hanging above a land of mists that seemed to + float upon the edge of the sea. + + While he looked, a white ship, with sails all set, came + speeding over the waters towards him. It came nearer and + nearer, and the sailors rested upon their oars as it glided + into the quiet harbor. A minstrel, with long white beard + floating in the wind, sat at the prow; and the sweet music + from his harp was wafted like incense to the shore. The + vessel touched the sands: its white sails were reefed as if + by magic, and the crew leaped out upon the beach. + + "Hail, Siegfried the Golden!" cried the harper. "Whither do + you fare this summer day?" + + "I have come from a land of horror and dread," answered the + lad; "and I would fain fare to a brighter." + + "Then go with me to awaken the earth from its slumber, and + to robe the fields in their garbs of beauty," said the + harper. And he touched the strings of his harp, and strains + of the softest music arose in the still morning air. And + Siegfried stood entranced, for never before had he heard + such music. + + "Tell me who you are!" he cried, when the sounds died away. + "Tell me who you are, and I will go to the ends of the earth + with you." + + "I am Bragi," answered the harper, smiling. And Siegfried + noticed then that the ship was laden with flowers of every + hue, and that thousands of singing birds circled around and + above it, filling the air with the sound of their glad + twitterings. + + Now, Bragi was the sweetest musician in all the world. It + was said by some that his home was with the song-birds, and + that he had learned his skill from them. But this was only + part of the truth: for wherever there was loveliness or + beauty, or things noble and pure, there was Bragi; and his + wondrous power in music and song was but the outward sign of + a blameless soul. When he touched the strings of his golden + harp, all Nature was charmed with the sweet harmony: the + savage beasts of the wood crept near to listen; the birds + paused in their flight; the waves of the sea were becalmed, + and the winds were hushed; the leaping waterfall was still, + and the rushing torrent tarried in its bed; the elves forgot + their hidden treasures, and joined in silent dance around + him; and the strom-karls and the musicians of the wood + vainly tried to imitate him. And he was as fair of speech as + he was skilful in song. His words were so persuasive that he + had been known to call the fishes from the sea, to move + great lifeless rocks, and, what is harder, the hearts of + kings. He understood the voice of the birds, and the + whispering of the breeze, the murmur of the waves, and the + roar of the waterfalls. He knew the length and breadth of + the earth, and the secrets of the sea, and the language of + the stars. And every day he talked with Odin the All-Father, + and with the wise and good in the sunlit halls of Gladsheim. + And once every year he went to the North-lands, and woke the + earth from its long winter's sleep, and scattered music and + smiles and beauty everywhere.[EN#13] + + Right gladly did Siegfried agree to sail with Bragi over the + sea; for he wot that the bright Asa-god would be a very + different guide from the cunning, evil-eyed Regin. So he + went on board with Bragi, and the gleaming Greyfell followed + them, and the sailors sat at their oars. And Bragi stood in + the prow, and touched the strings of his harp. And, as the + music arose, the white sails leaped up the masts, and a warm + south breeze began to blow; and the little vessel, wafted by + sweet sounds and the incense of spring, sped gladly away + over the sea. + + + + + + Adventure V. + In AEgir's Kingdom. + + + + The vessel in which Siegfried sailed was soon far out at + sea; for the balmy south wind, and the songs of the birds, + and the music from Bragi's harp, all urged it cheerily on. + And Siegfried sat at the helm, and guided it in its course. + By and by they lost all sight of land, and the sailors wist + not where they were; but they knew that Bragi, the Wise, + would bring them safely into some haven whenever it should + so please him, and they felt no fear. And the fishes leaped + up out of the water as the white ship sped by on woven + wings; and the monsters of the deep paused, and listened to + the sweet music which floated down from above. After a time + the vessel began to meet great ice-mountains in the + sea,--mountains which the Reifriesen, and old Hoder, the + King of the winter months, had sent drifting down from the + frozen land of the north. But these melted at the sound of + Bragi's music and at the sight of Siegfried's radiant armor. + And the cold breath of the Frost-giants, which had driven + them in their course, turned, and became the ally of the + south wind. + + At length they came in sight of a dark shore, which + stretched on either hand, north and south, as far as the eye + could reach; and as they drew nearer they saw a line of huge + mountains, rising, as it were, out of the water, and + stretching their gray heads far above the clouds. And the + overhanging cliffs seemed to look down, half in anger, half + in pity, upon the little white winged vessel which had dared + thus to sail through these unknown waters. But the surface + of the sea was smooth as glass; and the gentle breeze drove + the ship slowly forwards through the calm water, and along + the rock-bound coast, and within the dark shadows of the + mountain-peaks. Long ago the Frost-giants had piled great + heaps of snow upon these peaks, and built huge fortresses of + ice between, and sought, indeed, to clasp in their cold + embrace the whole of the Norwegian land. But the breezes of + the South-land that came with Bragi's ship now played among + the rocky steeps, and swept over the frozen slopes above, + and melted the snow and ice; and thousands of rivulets of + half-frozen water ran down the mountain-sides, and tumbled + into rocky gorges, or plunged into the sea. And the grass + began to grow on the sunny slopes, and the flowers peeped up + through the half-melted snow, and the music of spring was + heard on every side. Now and then the little vessel passed + by deep, dark inlets enclosed between high mountain-walls, + and reaching many leagues far into land. But the sailors + steered clear of these shadowy fjords; for they said that + Ran, the dread Ocean-queen, lived there, and spread her nets + in the deep green waters to entangle unwary seafaring men. + And the sound of Bragi's harp awakened all sleeping things; + and it was carried from rock to rock, and from + mountain-height to valley, and was borne on the breeze far + up the fjords, and all over the land. + + One day, as they were sailing through these quiet waters, + beneath the overhanging cliffs, Bragi tuned his harp, and + sang a song of sea. And then he told Siegfried a story of + AEgir and his gold-lit hall. + + Old AEgir was the Ocean-king. At most times he was rude and + rough, and his manners were uncouth and boisterous. But when + Balder, the Shining One, smiled kindly upon him from above, + or when Bragi played his harp by the seashore, or sailed his + ship on the waters, the heart of the bluff old king was + touched with a kindly feeling, and he tried hard to curb his + ungentle passions, and to cease his blustering ways. He was + one of the old race of giants; and men believe that he would + have been a very good and quiet giant, had it not been for + the evil ways of his wife, the crafty Queen Ran. For, + however kind at heart the king might be, his good intentions + were almost always thwarted by the queen. Ran could never be + trusted; and no one, unless it were Loki, the + Mischief-maker, could ever say any thing in her praise. She + was always lurking among hidden rocks, or in the deep sea, + or along the shores of silent fjords, and reaching out with + her long lean fingers, seeking to clutch in her greedy grasp + whatever prey might unwarily come near her. And many + richly-laden vessels, and many brave seamen and daring + warriors, had she dragged down to her blue-hung chamber in + old AEgir's hall. + + And this is the story that Bragi told of + + + + The Feast in AEgir's Hall. + + + + It happened long ago, when the good folk at Gladsheim were + wont to visit the mid-world oftener than now. On a day in + early autumn Queen Ran, with her older daughters,--Raging + Sea, Breaker, Billow, Surge, and Surf,--went out to search + for plunder. But old AEgir staid at home, and with him his + younger daughters,--fair Purple-hair, gentle Diver, dancing + Ripple, and smiling Sky-clear. And as they played around + him, and kissed his old storm-beaten cheeks, the heart of + the king was softened into gentleness, and he began to think + kindly of the green earth which bordered his kingdom, and of + the brave men who lived there; but most of all did he think + of the great and good Asa-folk, who dwell in Asgard, and + overlook the affairs of the world. Then he called his + servants, Funfeng and Elder, and bade them prepare a feast + in his gold-lit hall. And he sent fleet messengers to invite + the Asa-folk to come and partake of the good cheer. And his + four young daughters played upon the beach, and smiled and + danced in the beaming sunlight. And the hearts of many + seafaring men were gladdened that day, as they spread their + sails to the wind; for they saw before them a pleasant + voyage, and the happy issue of many an undertaking. + + Long before the day had begun to wane, the Asa-folk arrived + in a body at AEgir's hall; for they were glad to answer the + bidding of the Ocean-king. Odin came, riding Sleipner, his + eight-footed steed; Thor rode in his iron chariot drawn by + goats; Frey came with Gullinburste, his golden-bristled + boar. There, too, was the war-like Tyr, and blind Hoder, and + the silent Vidar, and the sage Forsete, and the hearkening + Heimdal, and Niord, the Ruler of the Winds, and Bragi, with + his harp; and lastly came many elves, the thralls of the + Asa-folk, and Loki, the cunning Mischief-maker. In his rude + but hearty way old AEgir welcomed them; and they went down + into his amber hall, and rested themselves upon the + sea-green couches that had been spread for them. And a + thousand fair mermaids stood around them, and breathed sweet + melodies through sea-shells of rainbow hue, while the gentle + white-veiled daughters of the Ocean-king danced to the + bewitching music. + + Hours passed by, and the sun began to slope towards the + west, and the waiting guests grew hungry and ill at ease; + and then they began to wonder why the feast was so long in + getting ready. At last the host himself became impatient; + and he sent out in haste for his servants, Funfeng and + Elder. Trembling with fear, they came and stood before him. + + "Master," said they, "we know that you are angry because the + feast is not yet made ready; but we beg that your anger may + not fall upon us. The truth is, that some thief has stolen + your brewing-kettle, and we have no ale for your guests." + + Then old AEgir's brow grew dark, and his breath came quick + and fast; and, had not Niord held the winds tightly clutched + in his hand, there would have been a great uproar in the + hall. Even as it was, the mermaids fled away in great + fright, and the white-veiled Waves stopped dancing, and a + strange silence fell upon all the company. + + "Some enemy has done this!" crier AEgir, as soon as he could + speak. "Some enemy has taken away my brewing-kettle; and, + unless we can find it, I fear our feast will be but a dry + one." + + Then Thor said,-- + + "If any one knows where this kettle is, let him speak, and I + will bring it back; and I promise you you shall not wait + long for the feast." + + But not one in all this company knew aught about the missing + kettle. At last Tyr stood up and said,-- + + "If we cannot find the same vessel that our host has lost, + mayhap we may find another as good. I know a dogwise giant + who lives east of the Rivers Elivagar, and who has a strong + kettle, fully a mile deep, and large enough to brew ale for + all the world." + + "That is the very kettle we want!" cried Thor. "Think you + that we can get it?" + + "If we are cunning enough, we may," answered Tyr. "But old + Hymer will never give it up willingly." + + "Is it Hymer of whom you speak?" asked Thor. "Then I know + him well; and, willingly or not willingly he must let us + have his kettle. For what is a feast without the gladsome + ale?" + + Then Thor and Tyr set out on their journey towards the land + of Elivagar; and they travelled many a league northwards, + across snowy mountains and barren plains, until they came to + the shores of the frozen sea. And there the sun rises and + sets but once a year, and even in summer the sea is full of + ice. On the lonely beach, stood Hymer's dwelling,--a dark + and gloomy abode. Tyr knocked at the door; and it was opened + by Hymer's wife, a strangely handsome woman, who bade them + come in. Inside the hall they saw Hymer's old mother, + sitting in the chimney-corner, and crooning over the + smouldering fire. She was a horribly ugly old giantess, with + nine hundred heads; but every head was blind and deaf and + toothless. Ah, me! what a wretched old age that must have + been! + + "Is your husband at home?" asked Thor, speaking to the + pretty woman who had opened the door. + + "He is not," was the answer. "He is catching fish in the + warm waters of the sheltered bay; or, mayhap, he is tending + his cows in the open sea, just around the headland." + + For the great icebergs that float down from the frozen sea + are called old Hymer's cows. + + "We have come a very long journey," said Tyr. "Will you not + give two tired strangers food and lodging until they shall + have rested themselves?" + + The woman seemed in nowise loath to do this; and she set + before the two Asa-folk a plentiful meal of the best that + she had in the house. When they had eaten, she told them + that it would be far safer for them to hide themselves under + the great kettles in the hall; for, she said, her husband + would soon be home, and he might not be kind to them. So + Thor and Tyr hid themselves, and listened for Hymer's + coming. After a time, the great hall-door opened, and they + heard the heavy steps of the giant. + + "Welcome home!" cried the woman, as Hymer shook the frost + from his hair and beard, and stamped the snow from his feet. + "I am so glad that you have come! for there are two + strangers in the hall, and they have asked for you. One of + them I know is Thor, the foe of the giants, and the friend + of man. The other is the one-armed god of war, the brave + Tyr. What can be their errand at Hymer's hall?" + + "Where are they?" roared Hymer, stamping so furiously, that + even his deaf old mother seemed to hear, and lifted up her + heads. + + "They are under the kettles, at the gable-end of the hall," + answered the woman. + + Hymer cast a wrathful glance towards the place. The post at + the end of the hall was shivered in pieces by his very look; + the beam that upheld the floor of the loft was broken, and + all the kettles tumbled down with a fearful crash. Thor and + Tyr crept out from among the rubbish, and stood before old + Hymer. The giant was not well pleased at the sight of such + guests come thus unbidden to his hall. But he knew that his + rude strength would count as nothing if matched with their + skill and weapons: hence he deemed it wise to treat the two + Asas as his friends, and to meet them with cunning and + strategy. + + "Welcome to my hall!" he cried. "Fear no hurt from Hymer, + for he was never known to harm a guest." + + And Thor and Tyr were given the warmest seats at the + fireside. And the giant ordered his thralls to kill the + fatted oxen, and to make ready a great feast in honor of his + guests. And, while the meal was being got ready, he sat by + Thor's side, and asked him many questions about what was + going on in the great South-land. And Thor answered him + pleasantly, meeting guile with guile. When the feast was in + readiness, all sat down at the table, which groaned beneath + its weight of meat and drink; for Hymer's thralls had killed + three fat oxen, and baked them whole for this meal, and they + had filled three huge bowls with ale from his great + brewing-kettle. Hymer ate and drank very fast, and wished to + make his guests fear him, because he could eat so much. But + Thor was not to be taken aback in this way; for he at once + ate two of the oxen, and quaffed a huge bowl of ale which + the giant had set aside for himself. The giant saw that he + was outdone, and he arose from the table, saying,-- + + "Not all my cows would serve to feed two guests so hungry as + these. We shall be obliged to live on fish now." + + He strode out of the hall without another word, and began + getting his boat ready for a sail. But Thor followed him. + + "It is a fine day for fishing," said Thor gayly. "How I + should like to go out with you!" + + "Such little fellows as you would better stay at home," + growled Hymer. + + "But let me go with you," persisted Thor. "I can certainly + row the boat while you fish." + + "I have no need of help from such a stunted pygmy," muttered + the giant. "You could not be of the least use to me: you + would only be in my way. Still, if you are bent on doing so, + you may go, and you shall take all the risks. If I go as far + as I do sometimes, and stay as long as I often do, you may + make up your mind never to see the dry land again; for you + will certainly catch your death of cold, and be food for the + fishes--if, indeed, they would deign to eat such a scrawny + scrap!" + + These taunting words made Thor so angry, that he grasped his + hammer, and was sorely tempted to crush the giant's skull. + But he checked himself, and coolly said,-- + + "I pray you not to trouble yourself on my account I have set + my head on going with you, and go I will. Tell me where I + can find something that I can use for bait, and I will be + ready in a trice." + + "I have no bait for you," roughly answered Hymer "You must + look for it yourself." + + Half a dozen oxen, the very finest and fattest of Hymer's + herd, were grazing on the short grass which grew on the + sunnier slopes of the hillside; for not all of the giant's + cattle had yet taken to the water. When Thor saw these great + beasts, he ran quickly towards them, and seizing the largest + one, which Hymer called the Heaven-breaker, he twisted off + his head as easily as he would that of a small fowl, and ran + back with it to the boat. Hymer looked at him in anger and + amazement, but said nothing; and the two pushed the boat off + from the shore. The little vessel sped through the water + more swiftly than it had ever done before, for Thor plied + the oars. + + In a moment the long, low beach was out of sight; and Hymer, + who had never travelled so fast, began to feel frightened. + + "Stop!" he cried. "Here is the place to fish: I have often + caught great store of flat-fish here. Let us out with our + lines!" + + "No, no!" answered Thor; and he kept on plying the oars. "We + are not yet far enough from shore. The best fish are still + many leagues out." + + And the boat skimmed onwards through the waters, and the + white spray dashed over the prow; and Hymer, now very much + frightened, sat still, and looked at his strange + fellow-fisherman, but said not a word. On and on they went; + and the shore behind them first grew dim, and then sank out + of sight; and the high mountain-tops began to fade away in + the sky, and then were seen no more. And when at last the + fishermen were so far out at sea that nothing was in sight + but the rolling waters on every side, Thor stopped his + rowing. + + "We have come too far!" cried the giant, trembling in every + limb. "The great Midgard snake lies hereabouts. Let us turn + back!" + + "Not yet," answered Thor quietly. "We will fish here a + little while." + + Without loss of time he took from his pocket a strong hook, + wonderfully made, to which he fastened a long line as strong + as ten ships' cables twisted together; then he carefully + baited the hook with the gory head of the Heaven-breaker ox, + and threw it into the water. As the giant had feared, they + were now right over the head of the great Midgard snake. The + huge beast looked upward with his sleepy eyes, and saw the + tempting bait falling slowly through the water; but he did + not see the boat, it was so far above him. Thinking of no + harm, he opened his leathern jaws, and greedily gulped the + morsel down; but the strong iron hook stuck fast in his + throat. Maddened by the pain, he began to lash his tail + against the floor of the sea; and he twisted and writhed + until the ocean was covered with foam, and the waves ran + mountain-high. But Thor pulled hard upon the line above, and + strove to lift the reptile's head out of the water; then the + snake darted with lightning speed away, pulling the boat + after him so swiftly, that, had not Thor held on to the + oar-locks, he would have been thrown into the sea. Quickly + he tightened his magic girdle of strength around him, and, + standing up in the boat, he pulled with all his might. The + snake would not be lifted. But the boat split in two; and + Thor slid into the water, and stood upon the bottom of the + sea. He seized the great snake in his hands, and raised his + head clean above the water. What a scene of frightful + turmoil was there then! The earth shook; the mountains + belched forth fire; the lightnings flashed; the caves + howled; and the sky grew black and red. Nobody knows what + the end would have been, had not Hymer reached over, and cut + the strong cord. The slippery snake glided out of Thor's + hands, and hid himself in the deep sea; and every thing + became quiet again. + + Silently Thor and Hymer sat in the broken boat, and rowed + swiftly back towards land. Thor felt really ashamed of + himself, because he had gained nothing by his venture. And + the giant was not at all happy. + + When they reached the frozen shore and Hymer's cheerless + castle again, they found Tyr there, anxiously waiting for + them. He felt that they were tarrying too long in this + dreary place; and he wished to be back among his fellows in + old AEgir's hall. Hymer felt very cross and ugly because his + boat had been broken; and, when they came into the hall, he + said to Thor,-- + + "You may think that you are very stout,--you who dared + attack the Midgard snake, and lifted him out of the sea. Yet + there are many little things that you cannot do. For + instance, here is the earthen goblet from which I drink my + ale. Great men, like myself, can crush such goblets between + their thumbs and fingers; but such puny fellows as you will + find that they cannot break it by any means." + + "Let me try!" cried Thor. + + He took the great goblet in his hands, and threw it with all + his strength against a stone post in the middle of the hall. + The post was shattered into a thousand pieces, but the + goblet was unharmed. + + "Ha, ha!" laughed the giant. "Try again!" + + Thor did so. This time he threw it against a huge granite + rock that stood like a mountain near the seashore. The rock + crumbled in pieces and fell, but the goblet was whole as + ever. + + "What a very stout fellow you are!" cried Hymer in glee. "Go + home now, and tell the good Asa-folk that you cannot even + break a goblet!" + + "Let me try once more," said Thor, amazed, but not + disheartened. + + "Throw it against Hymer's forehead," whispered some one over + his shoulder. "It is harder than any rock." + + Thor looked, and saw that it was the giant's handsome wife + who had given him this kind advice. He took the goblet, and + hurled it quickly, straight at old Hymer's head. The giant + had no time to dodge. The vessel struck him squarely between + the eyes, and was shattered into ten thousand little pieces. + But the giant's forehead was unhurt. + + "That drink was rather hot!" cried Hymer, trying to joke at + his ill luck. "But it doesn't take a very great man to break + a goblet. There is one thing, however, that you cannot do. + Yonder is my great brewing-kettle, a mile deep. No man has + ever lifted it. Now, if you will carry it out of the hall, + where it sits, you may have it for your own." + + "Agreed!" cried Thor. "It is a fair bargain; and, if I fail, + I will go home and never trouble you again." + + Then he took hold of the edge of the great kettle, and + lifted it with all his might. The floor of Hymer's hall + broke under him, and the walls and roof came tumbling down; + but he turned the kettle over his head, and walked away with + it, the great rings of the vessel clattering at his heels. + Tyr went before him, and cleared the way; and Hymer gazed + after him in utter amazement. The two Asa-folk had fairly + won the brewing-kettle. + + In due time they reached old AEgir's hall, where the guests + were still waiting for them. Some said that they had been + gone three days, but most agreed that it was only three + hours. Be that as it may, AEgir's thralls, Funfeng and + Elder, brewed great store of ale in the kettle which Thor + had brought; and, when the guests were seated at the table, + the foaming liquor passed itself around to each, and there + was much merriment and glad good cheer. And old AEgir was so + happy in the pleasant company of the Asa-folk, that men say + that he forgot to blow and bluster for a full six months + thereafter.[EN#14] + + Such was the story which the wise harper told to Siegfried + as they sailed gayly along the Norwegian shore. And with + many other pleasant tales did they beguile the hours away. + And no one ever thought of danger, for the sky was blue and + cloudless. And, besides this, Bragi himself was on board; + and he could charm and control the rudest elements. + + One day, however, the sea became unaccountably ruffled. + There was no wind; but yet the waves rose suddenly, and + threatened to overwhelm the little ship. Quickly the sailors + sprang to their oars, and tried by rowing to drive the + vessel away from the shore and into the quieter waters of + the open sea. But all their strength was of no avail: the + swift stream carried the little bark onward in its course, + as an autumn leaf is borne on the bosom of a mighty river. + Then the whole surface of the water seemed lashed into fury. + The waves formed hundreds of currents, each stronger than a + mountain torrent, and each seeming to follow a course of its + own. They clashed wildly against each other; they heaved, + and boiled, and hissed, and threw great clouds of spray high + into the air; they formed deep whirlpools, which twisted and + twirled, and broke into a thousand eddies, and then plunged + deep down into rocky caverns beneath, or laid bare the + bottom of the sea. The helpless ship was carried round and + round, swiftly and more swiftly still; and vain were the + efforts of the crew to steer her out of the seething caldron + of waters. Then the cheeks of the sailors grew white with + fear; and they dropped their oars, and clung to the masts + and ropes, and cried out,-- + + "Alas, we are lost! This is old AEgir's brewing-kettle!" + + But Siegfried stood by the helm, and said,-- + + "If that be true, then we may sup with him in his gold-lit + hall." + + And all this time Bragi slept in the hold, and no one dared + awaken him. Faster and faster the ship was carried round the + seething pool. The flying spray was frozen in the air; and + it filled the masts with snow, and pattered like heavy hail + upon the deck. The light of the sun seemed shut out, and + darkness closed around. A dismal chasm yawned deep before + them, and in the gray gloom the ship's crew saw many + wondrous things. Great sea-monsters swam among the rocks, + and seemed not to heed the uproar above them. Lovely + mermaids sat in their green-and-purple caves, and combed + their tresses of golden hair; and thoughtful mermen groped + among the seaweeds, searching hopefully for lost or hidden + treasures. Then Siegfried caught a glimpse of the mighty + AEgir, sitting in his banquet-room; and, as he quaffed his + foaming ale, he called aloud to his daughters to leave their + play, and come to their father in his gold-lit hall. And the + white-veiled Waves answered to their names, and came at his + call. First, Raging Sea entered the wide hall, and sat by + the Ocean-king's side; then Billow, then Surge, then Surf, + and Breakers; then came the Purple-haired, and the Diver; + but AEgir's two youngest daughters, Laughing Ripple and + Smiling Sky-clear, came not at their father's beck, but + lingered to play among the rocks and in the open sea. + + So deeply engaged was Siegfried in watching this scene, that + he did not notice Bragi, who now came upon the deck with his + harp in his hand. And sweet music arose from among the + dashing waves, and was heard far down in the deep + sea-caverns, and even in AEgir's hall. And, when Siegfried + looked up again, the eddying whirlpools, and the threatening + waves, and the flying spray, were no more; but the ship was + gliding over the quiet waters of a deep blue sea, and the + sun was shining brightly in the clear sky above. Then an + east wind filled the sails; and, as Bragi's music rose + sweeter and higher, they glided swiftly away from the coast, + and soon the snow-capped mountain-peaks grew dim in the + distance, and then sank from sight. + + Many days they sailed over an unknown sea, and towards an + unknown land; and none but Bragi knew what the end of their + voyage would be. And yet no one doubted or was afraid, for + the secrets of the earth and the sea were known to the sweet + singer. After a time, the water became as smooth as glass: + not a ripple moved upon its surface, and not the slightest + breath of air stirred among the idly-hanging sails. Then the + sailors went to their oars; but they seemed overcome with + languor and sleepiness, and only when Bragi played upon his + harp did they move their oars with their wonted strength and + quickness. And at last they came in sight of a long, low + coast, and a shelving beach up which the tide was slowly + creeping in drowsy silence. And not half a league from the + shore was a grand old castle, with a tall tower and many + turrets, and broad halls and high battlements; and in the + light of the setting sun every thing was as green as emerald + or as the fresh grass of early spring. And a pale flickering + light gleamed on the castle-walls, and the moat seemed + filled with a glowing fire. + + The ship glided silently up to the sandy beach, and the + sailors moored it to the shore. But Siegfried heard no sound + upon the land, nor could he see any moving, living thing. + Silence brooded everywhere, and the castle and its inmates + seemed to be wrapped in slumber. The sentinels could be seen + upon the ramparts, standing like statues of stone, and + showing no signs of life; while above the barbacan gate the + watchman was at his post, motionless and asleep. + + + + + + Adventure VI + Brunhild. + + + + Siegfried and the harper sat together in the little ship as + it lay moored to the sandy shore; and their eyes were turned + towards the sea-green castle and its glowing walls, and they + looked in vain for any movement, or any sign of wakeful + life. Every thing was still. Not a breath of air was + stirring. The leaves of the trees hung motionless, as if + they, too, were asleep. The great green banner on the + tower's top clung around the flagstaff as if it had never + fluttered to the breeze. No song of birds, nor hum of + insects, came to their ears. There was neither sound nor + motion anywhere. + + "Play your harp, good Bragi, and awaken all these sleepers," + said Siegfried. + + Then the harper touched the magic strings, and strains of + music, loud and clear, but sweet as a baby's breath, rose up + in the still air, and floated over the quiet bay, and across + the green meadows which lay around the castle-walls; and it + was borne upward over the battlements, and among the shining + turrets and towers, and was carried far out over the hills, + and among the silent trees of the plain. And Bragi sung of + the beginning of all things, and of whatsoever is beautiful + on the land, or in the sea, or in the sky. And Siegfried + looked to see every thing awakened, and quickened into life, + as had oft been done before by Bragi's music; but nothing + stirred. The sun went down, and the gray twilight hung over + sea and land, and the red glow in the castle-moat grew + redder still; and yet every thing slept. Then Bragi ended + his song, and the strings of his harp were mute. + + "Music has no charms to waken from sleep like that," he + said. + + And then he told Siegfried what it all meant; and, to make + the story plain, he began by telling of Odin's bright home + at Gladsheim and of the many great halls that were there. + + One of the halls in Gladsheim is called Valhal. This hall is + so large and wide, that all the armies of the earth might + move within it. Outside, it is covered with gold and with + sun-bright shields. A fierce wolf stands guard before it, + and a mountain-eagle hovers over it. It has five hundred and + forty doors, each large enough for eight hundred heroes to + march through abreast. Inside, every thing is glittering + bright. The rafters are made of spears, and the ceiling is + covered with shields, and the walls are decked with + war-coats. In this hall Odin sets daily a feast for all the + heroes that have been slain in battle. These sit at the + great table, and eat of the food which Odin's servants have + prepared, and drink of the heavenly mead which the + Valkyries, Odin's handmaids, bring them. + + But the Valkyries have a greater duty. When the battle + rages, and swords clash, and shields ring, and the air is + filled with shouts and groans and all the din of war, then + these maidens hover over the field of blood and death, and + carry the slain heroes home to Valhal.[EN#15] + + One of Odin's Valkyries was named Brunhild, and she was the + most beautiful of all the maidens that chose heroes for his + war-host. But she was wilful too, and did not always obey + the All-Father's behests. And when Odin knew that she had + sometimes snatched the doomed from death, and sometimes + helped her chosen friends to victory, he was very angry. And + he drove her away from Gladsheim, and sent her, friendless + and poor, to live among the children of men, and to be in + all ways like them. But, as she wandered weary and alone + over the earth, the good old King of Isenland saw her beauty + and her distress, and pity and love moved his heart; and, as + he had no children of his own, he took her for his daughter, + and made her his heir. And not long afterward he died, and + the matchless Brunhild became queen of all the fair lands of + Isenland and the hall of Isenstein. When Odin heard of this, + he was more angry still; and he sent to Isenstein, and + caused Brunhild to be stung with the thorn of Sleep. And he + said,-- + + "She shall sleep until one shall come who is brave enough to + ride through fire to awaken her." + + And all Isenland slept too, because Brunhild, the Maiden of + Spring, lay wounded with the Sleepful thorn. + + * * * * * + + When Siegfried heard this story, he knew that the land which + lay before them was Isenland, and that the castle was + Isenstein, and that Brunhild was sleeping within that circle + of fire. + + "My songs have no power to awaken such a sleeper," said + Bragi. "A hero strong and brave must ride through the flame + to arouse her. It is for this that I have brought you + hither; and here I will leave you, while I sail onwards to + brighten other lands with my music." + + Siegfried's heart leaped up with gladness; for he thought + that here, at last, was a worthy deed for him to do. And he + bade his friend Bragi good-by, and stepped ashore; and + Greyfell followed him. And Bragi sat at the prow of the + ship, and played his harp again; and the sailors plied their + oars; and the little vessel moved swiftly out of the bay, + and was seen no more. And Siegfried stood alone on the + silent, sandy beach. + + As he thus stood, the full moon rose white and dripping from + the sea; and its light fell on the quiet water, and the + sloping meadows, and the green turrets of the castle. And + the last notes of Bragi's harp came floating to him over the + sea. + + Then a troop of fairies came down to dance upon the sands. + It was the first sign of life that Siegfried had seen. As + the little creatures drew near, he hid himself among the + tall reeds which grew close to the shore; for he wished to + see them at their gambols, and to listen to their songs. At + first, as if half afraid of their own tiny shadows, they + danced in silence; but, as the moon rose higher, they grew + bolder, and began to sing. And their music was so sweet and + soft, that Siegfried forgot almost every thing, else for the + time: they sang of the pleasant summer days, and of cooling + shades, and still fountains, and silent birds, and peaceful + slumber. And a strange longing for sleep took hold of + Siegfried; and his eyes grew heavy, and the sound of the + singing seemed dim and far away. But just as he was losing + all knowledge of outward things, and his senses seemed + moving in a dream, the fairies stopped dancing, and a little + brown elf came up from the sea, and saluted the queen of the + tiny folk. + + "What news bring you from the great world beyond the water?" + asked the queen. + + "The prince is on his way hither," answered the elf. + + "And what will he do?" + + "If he is brave enough, he will awaken the princess, and + arouse the drowsy people of Isenstein; for the Norns have + said that such a prince shall surely come." + + "But he must be the bravest of men ere he can enter the + enchanted castle," said the queen; "for the wide moat is + filled with flames, and no faint heart will ever dare battle + with them." + + "But I will dare!" cried Siegfried; and he sprang from his + hiding-place, forgetful of the little folk, who suddenly + flitted away, and left him alone upon the beach. He glanced + across the meadows at the green turrets glistening in the + mellow moonlight, and then at the flickering flames around + the castle walls, and he resolved that on the morrow he + would at all hazards perform the perilous feat. + + In the morning, as soon as the gray dawn appeared, he began + to make ready for his difficult undertaking. But, when he + looked again at the red flames, he began to hesitate. He + paused, uncertain whether to wait for a sign and for help + from the All-Father, or whether to go straightway to the + castle, and, trusting in his good armor alone, try to pass + through the burning moat. While he thus stood in doubt, his + eyes were dazzled by a sudden flash of light. He looked up. + Greyfell came dashing across the sands; and from his long + mane a thousand sunbeams gleamed and sparkled in the morning + light. Siegfried had never seen the wondrous creature so + radiant; and as the steed stood by him in all his strength + and beauty he felt new hope and courage, as if Odin himself + had spoken to him. He hesitated no longer, but mounted the + noble horse; and Greyfell bore him swiftly over the plain, + and paused not until he had reached the brink of the burning + moat. + + Now, indeed, would Siegfried's heart have failed him, had he + not been cheered by the sunbeam presence of Greyfell. For + filling the wide, deep ditch, were angry, hissing flames, + which, like a thousand serpent-tongues, reached out, and + felt here and there, for what they might devour; and ever + and anon they took new forms, and twisted and writhed like + fiery snakes, and then they swirled in burning coils high + over the castle-walls. Siegfried stopped not a moment. He + spoke the word, and boldly the horse with his rider dashed + into the fiery lake; and the vile flames fled in shame and + dismay before the pure sunbeam flashes from Greyfell's mane. + And, unscorched and unscathed, Siegfried rode through the + moat, and through the wide-open gate, and into the + castle-yard. + + The gate-keeper sat fast asleep in his lodge, while the + chains and the heavy key with which, when awake, he was wont + to make the great gate fast, lay rusting at his feet; and + neither he, nor the sentinels on the ramparts above, stirred + or awoke at the sound of Greyfell's clattering hoofs. As + Siegfried passed from one part of the castle to another, + many strange sights met his eyes. In the stables the horses + slumbered in their stalls, and the grooms lay snoring by + their sides. The birds sat sound asleep on their nests + beneath the eaves. The watch-dogs, with fast-closed eyes, + lay stretched at full-length before the open doors. In the + garden the fountain no longer played, the half-laden bees + had gone to sleep among the blossoms of the apple-trees, and + the flowers themselves had forgotten to open their petals to + the sun. In the kitchen the cook was dozing over the + half-baked meats in front of the smouldering fire; the + butler was snoring in the pantry; the dairy-maid was quietly + napping among the milk-pans; and even the house-flies had + gone to sleep over the crumbs of sugar on the table. In the + great banquet-room a thousand knights, overcome with + slumber, sat silent at the festal board; and their chief, + sitting on the dais, slept, with his half-emptied goblet at + his lips. + + Siegfried passed hurriedly from room to room and from hall + to hall, and cast but one hasty glance at the strange sights + which met him at every turn; for he knew that none of the + drowsy ones in that spacious castle could be awakened until + he had aroused the Princess Brunhild. In the grandest hall + of the palace he found her. The peerless maiden, most richly + dight, reclined upon a couch beneath a gold-hung canopy; and + her attendants, the ladies of the court, sat near and around + her. Sleep held fast her eyelids, and her breathing was so + gentle, that, but for the blush upon her cheeks, Siegfried + would have thought her dead. For long, long years had her + head thus lightly rested on that gold-fringed pillow; and in + all that time neither her youth had faded, nor her wondrous + beauty waned. + + Siegfried stood beside her. Gently he touched his lips to + that matchless forehead; softly he named her name,-- + + "Brunhild!" + + The charm was broken. Up rose the peerless princess in all + her queen-like beauty; up rose the courtly ladies round her. + All over the castle, from cellar to belfry-tower, from the + stable to the banquet hall, there was a sudden awakening, a + noise of hurrying feet and mingled voices, and sounds which + had long been strangers to the halls of Isenstein. The + watchman on the tower, and the sentinels on the ramparts, + yawned, and would not believe they had been asleep; the + porter picked up his keys, and hastened to lock the + long-forgotten gates; the horses neighed in their stalls; + the watchdogs barked at the sudden hubbub; the birds, + ashamed at having allowed the sun to find them napping, + hastened to seek their food in the meadows; the servants + hurried here and there, each intent upon his duty; the + warriors in the banquet-hall clattered their knives and + plates, and began again their feast; and their chief dropped + his goblet, and rubbed his eyes, and wondered that sleep + should have overtaken him in the midst of such a + meal.[EN#16] + + And Siegfried, standing at an upper window, looked out over + the castle-walls; and he saw that the flames no longer raged + in the moat, but that it was filled with clear sparkling + water from the fountain which played in the garden. And the + south wind blew gently from the sea, bringing from afar the + sweetest strains of music from Bragi's golden harp; and the + breezes whispered among the trees, and the flowers opened + their petals to the sun, and birds and insects made the air + melodious with their glad voices. Then Brunhild, radiant + with smiles, stood by the hero's side, and welcomed him + kindly to Isenland and to her green-towered castle of + Isenstein. + + + + + + + Adventure VII + In Nibelungen Land. + + + + Every one in the castle of Isenstein, from the princess to + the kitchen-maid, felt grateful to the young hero for what + he had done. The best rooms were fitted up for his use, and + a score of serving men and maidens were set apart to do his + bidding, and ordered to be mindful of his slightest wish. + And all the earl-folk and brave men, and all the fair + ladies, and Brunhild, fairest of them all, besought him to + make his home there, nor ever think of going back to + Rhineland. Siegfried yielded to their persuasions, and for + six months he tarried in the enchanted land in one long + round of merry-making and gay enjoyment. But his thoughts + were ever turned toward his father's home in the Lowlands + across the sea, and he longed to behold again his gentle + mother Sigelind. Then he grew tired of his life of idleness + and ease, and he wished that he might go out again into the + busy world of manly action and worthy deeds. And day by day + this feeling grew stronger, and filled him with unrest. + + One morning, as he sat alone by the seashore, and watched + the lazy tide come creeping up the sands, two ravens lighted + near him. Glad was he to see them, for he knew them to be + Hugin and Munin, the sacred birds of Odin, and he felt sure + that they brought him words of cheer from the All-Father. + Then Hugin flapped his wings, and said, "In idleness the + stings of death lie hidden, but in busy action are the + springs of life. For a hundred years fair Brunhild slept, + but why should Siegfried sleep? The world awaits him, but it + waits too long." + + Then Munin flapped his wings also, but he said nothing. And + busy memory carried Siegfried back to his boyhood days; and + he called to mind the wise words of his father Siegmund, and + the fond hopes of his gentle mother, and he thought, too, of + the noble deeds of his kinsfolk of the earlier days. And he + rose in haste, and cried, "Life of ease, farewell! I go + where duty leads. To him who wills to do, the great + All-Father will send strength and help." + + While he spoke, his eyes were dazzled with a flash of light. + He looked; and the beaming Greyfell, his long mane sparkling + like a thousand sunbeams, dashed up the beach, and stood + beside him. As the noble steed in all his strength and + beauty stood before him, the youth felt fresh courage; for, + in the presence of the shining hope which the All-Father had + given him, all hinderances seemed to vanish, and all + difficulties to be already overcome. He looked toward the + sea again, and saw in the blue distance a white-sailed ship + drawing swiftly near, its golden dragon-stem ploughing + through the waves like some great bird of the deep. And as + with straining, eager eyes, he watched its coming, he felt + that Odin had sent it, and that the time had come wherein he + must be up and doing. The hour for thriving action comes to + us once: if not seized upon and used, it may never come + again. + + The ship drew near the shore. The sailors rested on their + oars. Siegfried and the steed Greyfell sprang upon the deck; + then the sailors silently bent again to their rowing. The + flapping sails were filled and tightened by the strong west + wind; and the light vessel leaped from wave to wave like a + thing of life, until Isenstein, with its tall towers and its + green marble halls, sank from sight in the distance and the + mist. And Siegfried and his noble steed seemed to be the + only living beings on board; for the sailors who plied the + oars were so silent and phantom-like, that they appeared to + be nought but the ghosts of the summer sea-breezes. As the + ship sped swiftly on its way, all the creatures in the sea + paused to behold the sight. The mermen rested from their + weary search for hidden treasures, and the mermaids forgot + to comb their long tresses, as the radiant vessel and its + hero-freight glided past. And even old King AEgir left his + brewing-kettle in his great hall, and bade his daughters, + the white-veiled Waves, cease playing until the vessel + should safely reach its haven. + + When, at length, the day had passed, and the evening + twilight had come, Siegfried saw that the ship was nearing + land; but it was a strange land.[EN#17] Like a fleecy cloud + it appeared to rest above the waves, midway between the + earth and the sky; a dark mist hung upon it, and it seemed a + land of dreams and shadows. The ship drew nearer and nearer + to the mysterious shore, and as it touched the beach the + sailors rested from their rowing. Then Siegfried and the + horse Greyfell leaped ashore; but, when they looked back, + the fair vessel that had carried them was nowhere to be + seen. Whether it had suddenly been clutched by the greedy + fingers of the Sea-queen Ran, and dragged down into her deep + sea-caverns, or whether, like the wondrous ship Skidbladner, + it had been folded up, and made invisible to the eyes of + men, Siegfried never knew. The thick mists and the darkness + of night closed over and around both hero and horse; and + they dared not stir, but stood long hours in the silent + gloom, waiting for the coming of the dawn. + + At length the morning came, but the light was not strong + enough to scatter the fogs and thick vapors that rested upon + the land. Then Siegfried mounted Greyfell; and the sunbeams + began to flash from the horse's mane and from the hero's + glittering mail-coat; and the hazy clouds fled upward and + away, until they were caught and held fast by great + mist-giants, who stood like sentinels on the mountain-tops. + As the shining pair came up from the sea, and passed through + the woods and valleys of the Nibelungen Land, there streamed + over all that region such a flood of sunlight as had never + before been seen. + + In every leafy tree, and behind every blade of grass, elves + and fairies were hidden; and under every rock and in every + crevice lurked cunning dwarfs. But Siegfried rode straight + forward until he came to the steep side of a shadowy + mountain. There, at the mouth of a cavern, a strange sight + met his eyes. Two young men, dressed in princes' clothing, + sat upon the ground: their features were all haggard and + gaunt, and pinched with hunger, and their eyes wild with + wakefulness and fear; and all around them were heaps of gold + and precious stones,--more than a hundred wagons could carry + away. And neither of the two princes would leave the shining + hoard for food, nor close his eyes in sleep, lest the other + might seize and hide some part of the treasure. And thus + they had watched and hungered through many long days and + sleepless nights, each hoping that the other would die, and + that the whole inheritance might be his own. + + When they saw Siegfried riding near, they called out to him, + and said, "Noble stranger, stop a moment! Come and help us + divide this treasure." + + "Who are you?" asked Siegfried; "and what treasure is it + that lies there?" + + "We are the sons of Niblung, who until lately was king of + this Mist Land. Our names are Schilbung and the young + Niblung," faintly answered the princes. + + "And what are you doing here with this gold and these + glittering stones?" + + "This is the great Nibelungen Hoard, which our father not + long ago brought from the South-land. It is not clear just + how he obtained it.[EN#18] Some say that he got it unjustly + from his brother, whose vassals had digged it from the + earth. Others say that he found it lying on the Glittering + Heath, where Fafnir the Dragon had guarded it zealously for + ages past, until he was slain by a hero who cared nought for + his gold. But, be this as it may, our father is now dead, + and we have brought the hoard out of the cavern where he had + hidden it, in order that we may share it between us equally. + But we cannot agree, and we pray you to help us divide it." + + Then Siegfried dismounted from the horse Greyfell, and came + near the two princes. + + "I will gladly do as you ask," said he; "but first I must + know more about your father,--who he was, and whether this + is really the Hoard of the Glittering Heath." + + Then Niblung answered, as well as his feeble voice would + allow, "Our father was, from the earliest times, the ruler + of this land, and the lord of the fog and the mist. Many + strongholds, and many noble halls, had he in this land; and + ten thousand brave warriors were ever ready to do his + bidding. The trolls, and the swarthy elves of the mountains, + and the giants of the cloudy peaks, were his vassals. But he + did more than rule over the Nibelungen Land. Twice every + year he crossed the sea and rambled through the Rhine + valleys, or loitered in the moist Lowlands; and now and then + he brought rich trophies back to his island home. The last + time, he brought this treasure with him; but, as we have + said, it is not clear how he obtained it. We have heard men + say that it was the Hoard of Andvari, and that when Fafnir, + the dragon who watched it, was slain, the hero who slew him + left it to be taken again by the swarthy elves who had + gathered it; but because of a curse which Andvari had placed + upon it, no one would touch it, until some man would assume + its ownership, and take upon himself the risk of incurring + the curse. This thing, it is said, our father did. And the + dwarf Alberich undertook to keep it for him; and he, with + the help of the ten thousand elves who live in these + caverns, and the twelve giants whom you see standing on the + mountain-peaks around, guarded it faithfully so long as our + father lived. But, when he died, we and our thralls fetched + it forth from the cavern, and spread it here on the ground. + And, lo! for many days we have watched and tried to divide + it equally. But we cannot agree." + + "What hire will you give me if I divide it for you?" asked + Siegfried. + + "Name what you will have," answered the princes. + + "Give me the sword which lies before you on the glittering + heap." + + Then Niblung handed him the sword, and said, "Right gladly + will we give it. It is a worthless blade that our father + brought from the South-land. They say that he found it also + on the Glittering Heath, in the trench where Fafnir was + slain. And some will have it that it was forged by Regin, + Fafnir's own brother. But how that is, I do not know. At any + rate, it is of no use to us; for it turns against us + whenever we try to use it." + + Siegfried took the sword. It was his own Balmung, that had + been lost so long. + + Forthwith he began the task of dividing the treasure; and + the two brothers, so faint from hunger and want of sleep + that they could scarcely lift their heads, watched him with + anxious, greedy eyes. First he placed a piece of gold by + Niblung's side, and then a piece of like value he gave to + Schilbung. And this he did again and again, until no more + gold was left. Then, in the same manner, he divided the + precious gem-stones until none remained. And the brothers + were much pleased; and they hugged their glittering + treasures, and thanked Siegfried for his kindness, and for + the fairness with which he had given to each his own. But + one thing was left which had not fallen to the lot of either + brother. It was a ring of curious workmanship,--a serpent + coiled, with its tail in its mouth, and with ruby eyes + glistening and cold. + + "What shall I do with this ring?" asked Siegfried. + + "Give it to me!" cried Niblung. + + "Give it to me!" cried Schilbung. + + And both tried to snatch it from Siegfried's hand. + + But the effort was too great for them. Their arms fell + helpless at their sides, their feet slipped beneath them, + their limbs failed: they sank fainting, each upon his pile + of treasures. + + "O my dear, dear gold!" murmured Niblung, trying to clasp it + all in his arms,--"my dear, dear gold! Thou art mine, mine + only. No one shall take thee from me. Here thou art, here + thou shalt rest. O my dear, dear gold!" And then, calling up + the last spark of life left in his famished body, he cried + out to Siegfried, "Give me the ring!--the ring, I say!" + + He hugged his cherished gold nearer to his bosom; he ran his + thin fingers deep down into the shining yellow heap; he + pressed his pale lips to the cold and senseless metal; he + whispered faintly, "My dear, dear gold!" and then he died. + + "O precious, precious gem-stones," faltered Schilbung, "how + beautiful you are! And you are mine, all mine. I will keep + you safe. Come, come, my bright-eyed beauties! No one but me + shall touch you. You are mine, mine, mine!" And he chattered + and laughed as only madmen laugh. And he kissed the hard + stones, and sought to hide them in his bosom. But his hands + trembled and failed, dark mists swam before his eyes; he + fancied that he heard the black dwarfs clamoring for his + treasure; he sprang up quickly, he shrieked--and then fell + lifeless upon his hoard of sparkling gems. + + A strange, sad sight it was,--boundless wealth, and + miserable death; two piles of yellow gold and sun-bright + diamonds, and two thin, starved corpses stretched upon them. + Some stories relate that the brothers were slain by + Siegfried, because their foolish strife and greediness had + angered him.[EN#19] But I like not to think so. It was the + gold, and not Siegfried, that slew them. + + "O gold, gold!" cried the hero sorrowfully, "truly thou art + the mid-world's curse; thou art man's bane. But when the + bright spring-time of the new world shall come, and Balder + shall reign in his glory, then will the curse be taken from + thee, and thy yellow brightness will be the sign of purity + and enduring worth; and then thou wilt be a blessing to + mankind, and the precious plaything of the gods." + + But Siegfried had little time for thought and speech. A + strange sound was heard upon the mountain-side. The twelve + great giants who had stood as watchmen upon the peaks above + were rushing down to avenge their masters, and to drive the + intruder out of Nibelungen Land. Siegfried waited not for + their onset; but he mounted the noble horse Greyfell, and, + with the sword Balmung in his hand, he rode forth to meet + his foes, who, with fearful threats and hideous roars, came + striding toward him. The sunbeams flashed from Greyfell's + mane, and dazzled the dull eyes of the giants, unused as + they were to the full light of day. Doubtful, they paused, + and then again came forward. But they mistook every tree in + their way for an enemy, and every rock they thought a foe; + and in their fear they fancied a great host to be before + them. Did you ever see the dark and threatening storm-clouds + on a summer's day scattered and put to flight by the bright + beams of the sun? It was thus that Siegfried's giant foes + were routed. One and all, they dropped their heavy clubs, + and stood ashamed and trembling, not knowing what to do. And + Siegfried made each one swear to serve him faithfully; and + then he sent them back to the snow-covered mountain-peaks to + stand again as watchmen at their posts. + + And now another danger appeared. Alberich the dwarf, the + master of the swarthy elves who guarded the Nibelungen + Hoard, had come out from his cavern, and seen the two + princes lying dead beside their treasures, and he thought + that they had been murdered by Siegfried; and, when he + beheld the giants driven back to the mountain-tops, he + lifted a little silver horn to his lips, and blew a shrill + bugle-call. And the little brown elves came trooping forth + by thousands: from under every rock, from the nooks and + crannies and crevices in the mountain-side, from the deep + cavern and the narrow gorge, they came at the call of their + chief. Then, at Alberich's word, they formed in line of + battle, and stood in order around the hoard and the bodies + of their late masters. Their little golden shields and their + sharp-pointed spears were thick as the blades of grass in a + Rhine meadow. And Siegfried, when he saw them, was pleased + and surprised; for never before had such a host of pygmy + warriors stood before him. + + While he paused and looked, the elves became suddenly + silent, and Siegfried noticed that Alberich stood no longer + at their head, but had strangely vanished from sight. + + "Ah, Alberich!" cried the hero. "Thou art indeed cunning. I + have heard of thy tricks. Thou hast donned the Tarnkappe, + the cloak of darkness, which hides thee from sight, and + makes thee as strong as twelve common men. But come on, thou + brave dwarf!" + + Scarcely had he spoken, when he felt a shock which almost + sent him reeling from his saddle, and made Greyfell plunge + about with fright. Quickly, then, did Siegfried dismount, + and, with every sense alert, he waited for the second onset + of the unseen dwarf. It was plain that Alberich wished to + strike him unawares, for many minutes passed in utter + silence. Then a brisk breath of wind passed by Siegfried's + face, and he felt another blow; but, by a quick downward + movement of his hand, he caught the plucky elf-king, and + tore off the magic Tarnkappe, and then, with firm grasp, he + held him, struggling in vain to get free. + + "Ah, Alberich!" he cried, "now I know thou art cunning. But + the Tarnkappe I must have for my own. What wilt thou give + for thy freedom?" + + "Worthy prince," answered Alberich humbly, "you have fairly + overcome me in fight, and made me your prisoner. I and all + mine, as well as this treasure, rightfully belong to you. We + are yours, and you we shall obey." + + "Swear it!" said Siegfried. "Swear it, and thou shalt live, + and be the keeper of my treasures." + + And Alberich made a sign to his elfin host, and every spear + was turned point downwards, and every tiny shield was thrown + to the ground, and the ten thousand little warriors kneeled, + as did also their chief, and acknowledged Siegfried to be + their rightful master, and the lord of the Nibelungen Land, + and the owner of the Hoard of Andvari. + + Then, by Alberich's orders, the elves carried the Hoard back + into the cavern, and there kept faithful watch and ward over + it. And they buried the starved bodies of the two princes on + the top of the mist-veiled mountain; and heralds were sent + to all the strongholds in Nibelungen Land, proclaiming that + Siegfried, through his wisdom and might, had become the true + lord and king of the land. Afterwards the prince, riding on + the beaming Greyfell, went from place to place, scattering + sunshine and smiles where shadows and frowns had been + before. And the Nibelungen folk welcomed him everywhere with + glad shouts and music and dancing; and ten thousand + warriors, and many noble earl-folk, came to meet him, and + plighted their faith to him. And the pure brightness of his + hero-soul, and the gleaming sunbeams from Greyfell's + mane,--the light of hope and faith,--lifted the curtain of + mists and fogs that had so long darkened the land, and let + in the glorious glad light of day and the genial warmth of + summer. + + + + + + Adventure VIII. + Siegfried's Welcome Home. + + + + In Santen Castle, one day, there was a strange uproar and + confusion. Everybody was hurrying aimlessly about, and no + one seemed to know just what to do. On every side there were + restless whisperings, and hasty gestures, and loud commands. + The knights and warriors were busy donning their war-coats, + and buckling on their swords and helmets. Wise King Siegmund + sat in his council-chamber, and the knowing men of the + kingdom stood around him; and the minds of all seemed + troubled with doubt, if not with fear. + + What could have caused so great an uproar in the once quiet + old castle? What could have brought perplexity to the mind + of the wisest king in all Rhineland? It was this: a herald + had just come from the seashore, bringing word that a + strange fleet of a hundred white-sailed vessels had cast + anchor off the coast, and that an army of ten thousand + fighting men had landed, and were making ready to march + against Santen. Nobody had ever heard of so large a fleet + before; and no one could guess who the strangers might be, + nor whence they had come, nor why they should thus, without + asking leave, land in the country of a peace-loving king. + + The news spread quickly over all the land. People from every + part came hastening to the friendly shelter of the castle. + The townsmen, with their goods and cattle, hurried within + the walls. The sentinels on the ramparts paced uneasily to + and fro, and scanned with watchful eye every stranger that + came near the walls. The warders stood ready to hoist the + drawbridge, and close the gate, at the first signal given by + the watchman above, who was straining his eyes to their + utmost in order to see the first approach of the foe. + + A heavy mist hung over the meadow-lands between Santen and + the sea, and nothing was visible beyond the gates of the + town. The ten thousand strange warriors might be within half + a league of the castle, and yet the sharpest eagle-eye could + not see them. + + All at once a clatter of horse's hoofs was heard; the dark + mist rose up from the ground, and began to roll away, like a + great cloud, into the sky; and then strange sunbeam-flashes + were seen where the fog had lately rested. + + "They come!" cried one of the sentinels. "I see the glitter + of their shields and lances." + + "Not so," said the watchman from his place on the tower + above. "I see but one man, and he rides with the speed of + the wind, and lightning flashes from the mane of the horse + which carries him." + + The drawbridge was hastily hoisted. The heavy gates were + quickly shut, and fastened with bolts and bars. Every man in + the castle was at his post, ready to defend the fortress + with his life. In a short time the horse and his rider drew + near. All who looked out upon them were dazzled with the + golden brightness of the hero's armor, as well as with the + lightning gleams that flashed from the horse's mane. And + some whispered,-- + + "This is no man who thus comes in such kingly splendor. More + likely it is Odin on one of his journeys, or the Shining + Balder come again to earth." + + As the stranger paused on the outer edge of the moat, the + sentinels challenged him,-- + + "Who are you who come thus, uninvited and unheralded, to + Santen?" + + "One who has the right to come," answered the stranger. "I + am Siegfried; and I have come to see my father, the good + Siegmund, and my mother, the gentle Sigelind." + + It was indeed Siegfried; and he had come from his kingdom in + the Nibelungen Land, with his great fleet, and the noblest + of his warriors, to see once more his boyhood's home, and to + cheer for a time the hearts of his loving parents. For he + had done many noble deeds, and had ruled wisely and well, + and he felt that he was now not unworthy to be called the + son of Siegmund, and to claim kinship with the heroes of the + earlier days. + + As soon as it was surely known that he who stood before the + castle-walls was the young prince who had been gone so many + years, and about whom they had heard so many wonderful + stories, the drawbridge was hastily let down, and the great + gates were thrown wide open. And Siegfried, whose return had + been so long wished for, stood once again in his father's + halls. And the fear and confusion which had prevailed gave + place to gladness and gayety; and all the folk of Santen + greeted the returned hero with cheers, and joyfully welcomed + him home. And in the whole world there was no one more happy + than Siegmund and Sigelind. + + On the morrow the ten thousand Nibelungen warriors came to + Santen; and Siegmund made for them a great banquet, and + entertained them in a right kingly way, as the faithful + liegemen of his son. And Siegfried, when he had given them + rich gifts, sent them with the fleet back to Nibelungen + Land; for he meant to stay for a time with his father and + mother at Santen. + + When the harvest had been gathered, and the fruit was + turning purple and gold, and the moon rode round and full in + the clear autumn sky, a gay high-tide was held for + Siegfried's sake; and everybody in the Lowland country, + whether high or low, rich or poor, was asked to come to the + feast. For seven days, nought but unbridled gayety prevailed + in Siegmund's halls. On every hand were sounds of music and + laughter, and sickness and poverty and pain were for the + time forgotten. A mock-battle was fought on the grassy plain + not far from the town, and the young men vied with each + other in feats of strength and skill. Never before had so + many beautiful ladies nor so many brave men been seen in + Santen. And, when the time of jollity and feasting had drawn + to an end, Siegmund called together all his guests, and gave + to each choice gifts,--a festal garment, and a horse with + rich trappings. And Queen Sigelind scattered gold without + stint among the poor, and many were the blessings she + received. Then all the folk went back to their homes with + light hearts and happy faces.[EN#20] + + The autumn days passed quickly by, and Siegfried began to + grow weary of the idle, inactive life in his father's halls; + and Greyfell in his stall pined for the fresh, free air, and + his mane lost all its brightness. When Siegmund saw how full + of unrest his son had become, he said to him,-- + + "Siegfried, I have grown old and feeble, and have no longer + the strength of my younger days. My kingdom would fare + better were a younger ruler placed over it. Take my crown, I + pray you, and let me withdraw from kingly cares." + + But Siegfried would not listen to such an offer. He had his + own kingdom of the Nibelungens, he said; and, besides, he + would never sit on his father's throne while yet that father + lived. And although he loved the pleasant companionship of + his mother, and was delighted to listen to the wise counsels + of his father, the craving for action, and the unrest which + would not be satisfied, grew greater day by day. At last he + said,-- + + "I will ride out into the world again. Mayhap I may find + some other wrong to right, or some other kingdom to win. It + was thus that my kin, in the golden age long past, went + faring over the land and sea, and met their doom at last. + They were not home-abiders, nor tillers of the soil; but the + world was their abiding-place, and they filled the hearts of + men." + + And, when his father and mother heard this, they tried no + longer to keep him with them; for they knew that it would be + more cruel than the keeping of a caged bird away from the + sunlight. + + "Only go not into Burgundy," said his father. "The kings of + that country are not friendly to us, and they may do you + harm. Hagen, the kinsman of the kings, and the chief of + their fighting-men, is old and crafty, and he cannot brook a + greater hero than himself." + + Siegfried laughed. + + "That is all the better reason why I should go to + Burgundy-land," he said. + + "Then take ten thousand of my warriors," said his father, + "and make yourself master of the land." + + "No, no!" cried Siegfried. "One kingdom is enough for me. My + own Nibelungen Land is all I want. I will take my twelve + Nibelungen knights that I have with me here, and we will + fare forth to see the world and its beauties, and men's + work; and, when we have tired with riding, we will sail + across the sea to our Nibelungen home." + + + + + + Adventure IX + The Journey to Burgundy-Land. + + + + For many days before Siegfried's departure, the queen, and + all the women of the household, busily plied their needles; + and many suits of rich raiment made they for the prince and + his worthy comrades. At length the time for leave-taking + came, and all the inmates of the castle went out to the gate + to bid the heroes God-speed. Siegfried sat upon his noble + horse Greyfell, and his trusty sword Balmung hung at his + side. And his Nibelungen knights were mounted on lordly + steeds, with gold-red saddles and silver trappings chased + with gold; and their glittering helmets, and burnished + shields, and war-coats of polished steel, when added to + their noble bearing and manlike forms, made up a picture of + beauty and strength such as no one in Santen had ever seen + before, or would ever see again. + + "Only go not into Burgundy-land," were the parting words of + Siegmund. + + And all who had come to bid them farewell wept bitterly as + the young men rode out of the city, and were lost to sight + in the distance. + + "Only go not into Burgundy-land!" These words of his father + sounded still in Siegfried's ears; and he turned his horse's + head towards the west and south; and they rode through the + level country, and among the fields, from which the corn had + already been gathered; and at night they slept in the open + air, upon the still warm ground. Thus for many days they + travelled. And they left the Lowlands far behind them, and + Burgundy far to the left of them; and by and by they came to + a country covered with high hills, and mountains that seemed + to touch the sky. The crags and peaks were covered with + snow, and ice lay all summer in the dales and in the deep + gorges cleft long time ago by giant hands. Here it is that + the rivers take their beginning. And here it is that the + purple grapes and the rare fruits of milder climes are + found; for the sun shines warm in the valleys and upon the + plains, and the soil is exceeding rich. It is said that + these mountains are midway between the cold regions of + Jotunheim and the glowing gardens of Muspelheim, and that, + in ages past, they were the scene of many battles between + the giants who would overwhelm the earth,--these with ice, + and those with fire. Here and there were frowning caves dug + out of the solid mountain-side; while higher up were great + pits, half-filled with ashes, where, it is said, the + dwarf-folk, when they were mighty on earth, had their + forges. + + Siegfried stopped not long in this land. Thoughts of the + Nibelungen Land, and of his faithful liegemen who waited for + his return, began to fill his mind. Then the heroes turned + their horses' heads, and rode back towards the north, + following the course of the River Rhine, as it wound, here + and there, between hills and mountains, and through meadows + where the grass was springing up anew, and by the side of + woodlands, now beginning to be clothed in green again; for + the winter was well over, and spring was hastening on apace. + And as they rode down the valley of the Rhine they came, ere + they were aware, into the Burgundian Land, and the high + towers of King Gunther's castle rose up before them. Then + Siegfried remembered again his father's words,-- + + "Only go not into Burgundy-land." + + But it was now too late to go back, and they determined to + stop for a few days with the Burgundian kings. They rode + onwards through the meadows and the pleasant farming-lands + which lay around the city; and they passed a wonderful + garden of roses, said to belong to Kriemhild, the peerless + princess of the Rhine country; and at last they halted + before the castle-gate. So lordly was their bearing, that a + company of knights came out to meet them, and offered, as + the custom was, to take charge of their horses and their + shields. But Siegfried asked that they be led at once to + King Gunther and his brothers; and, as their stay would not + be long, they said they would have no need to part with + horses or with shields. Then they followed their guides, and + rode through the great gateway, and into the open court, and + halted beneath the palace windows. + + And the three kings--Gunther, Gernot, and Giselher--and + their young sister, the matchless Kriemhild, looked down + upon them from above, and hazarded many guesses as to who + the lordly strangers might be. And all the inmates of the + castle stood at the doors and windows, or gathered in + curious groups in the courtyard, and gazed with open-mouthed + wonder upon the rich armor and noble bearing of the thirteen + heroes. But all eyes were turned most towards Siegfried and + the wondrous steed Greyfell. Some of the knights whispered + that this was Odin, and some that it was Thor, the + thunderer, making a tour through Rhineland. But others said + that Thor was never known to ride on horseback, and that the + youth who sat on the milk-white steed was little like the + ancient Odin. And the ladies who looked down upon the heroes + from the palace windows said that this man could be no other + than the Sunbright Balder, come from his home in Breidablik, + to breathe gladness and sunshine into the hearts and lives + of men. + + Only one among all the folk in the castle knew who the hero + was who had ridden thus boldly into the heart of + Burgundy-land. That one was Hagen, the uncle of the three + kings, and the doughtiest warrior in all Rhineland. With a + dark frown and a sullen scowl he looked out upon the little + party, and already plotted in his mind how he might outwit, + and bring to grief, the youth whose name and fame were known + the whole world over. For his evil mind loved deeds of + darkness, and hated the pure and good. By his side, at an + upper window, stood Kriemhild, the peerless maiden of the + Rhine; but her thoughts were as far from his thoughts as the + heaven-smile on her face was unlike the sullen scowl on his + grim visage. As the moon in her calm beauty is sometimes + seen in the sky, riding gloriously by the side of a dark + thunder-cloud,--the one more lovely, the other more + dreadful, by their very nearness,--so seemed Kriemhild + standing there by the side of Hagen. + + "Think you not, dear uncle," she said, "that this is the + Shining Balder come to earth again?" + + "The gods have forgotten the earth," answered Hagen in surly + tones. "But if, indeed, this should be Balder, we shall, + without doubt, find another blind archer, who, with another + sprig of mistletoe, will send him back again to Hela." + + "What do you mean?" asked Kriemhild earnestly. + + But old Hagen said not a word in answer. He quietly withdrew + from the room, and left the maiden and her mother, the good + dame Ute, alone. + + "What does uncle Hagen mean by his strange words? and why + does he look so sullen and angry?" asked Kriemhild. + + "Indeed, I know not," answered the queen-mother. "His ways + are dark, and he is cunning. I fear that evil will yet come + to our house through him." + + Meanwhile the three kings and their chiefs had gone into the + courtyard to greet their unknown guests. Very kindly did + Gunther welcome the strangers to his home; and then he + courteously asked them whence they came, and what the favors + they wished. + + "I have heard," answered Siegfried, "that many knights and + heroes live in this land, and that they are the bravest and + the proudest in the world. I, too, am a knight; and some + time, if I am worthy, I shall be a king. But first I would + make good my right to rule over land and folk; and for this + reason I have come hither. If, indeed, you are as brave as + all the world says you are, ride now to the meadows with us, + and let us fight man to man; and he who wins shall rule over + the lands of both. We will wager our kingdom and our heads + against yours." + + King Gunther and his brothers were amazed at this + unlooked-for speech. + + "Such is not the way to try where true worth lies!" they + cried. "We have no cause of quarrel with you, neither have + you any cause of quarrel with us. Why, then, should we spill + each other's blood?" + + Again Siegfried urged them to fight with him; but they + flatly refused. And Gernot said,-- + + "The Burgundian kings have never wished to rule over folk + that are not their own. Much less would they gain new lands + at the cost of their best heroes' blood. And they have never + taken part in needless quarrels. Good men in Burgundy are + worth more than the broadest lands, and we will not hazard + the one for the sake of gaining the other. No, we will not + fight. But we greet you most heartily as our friends and + guests." + + All the others joined in urging Siegfried and his comrades + to dismount from their steeds, and partake of the cheer with + which it was their use to entertain strangers. And at last + he yielded to their kind wishes, and alighted from Greyfell, + and, grasping King Gunther's hand, he made himself known. + And there was great rejoicing in the castle and throughout + all the land; and the most sumptuous rooms were set apart + for the use of Siegfried and his Nibelungen knights; and a + banquet was at once made ready; and no pains were spared in + giving the strangers a right hearty welcome to the kingly + halls of Burgundy. But Hagen, dark-browed and evil-eyed, + stood silent and alone in his chamber and waited his time. + + + + + + Adventure X + Kriemhild's Dream. + + + + Early on the morrow morning, ere the sun had risen high, the + peerless Kriemhild walked alone amid the sweet-scented + bowers of her rose-garden. The dewdrops still hung thick on + flower and thorn, and the wild birds carolled their songs of + merry welcome to the new-born day. Every thing seemed to + have put on its handsomest colors, and to be using its + sweetest voice, on purpose to gladden the heart of the + maiden. But Kriemhild was not happy. There was a shadow on + her face and a sadness in her eye that the beauty and the + music of that morning could not drive away. + + "What ails thee, my child?" asked her mother, Queen Ute, who + met her. "Why so sad, as if thy heart were heavy with care? + Has any one spoken unkindly, or has aught grievous happened + to thee?" + + "Oh, no, dearest mother!" said Kriemhild. "It is nothing + that saddens me,--nothing but a foolish dream. I cannot + forget it." + + "Tell me the dream," said her mother: "mayhap it betokens + something that the Norns have written for thee." + + Then Kriemhild answered, "I dreamed that I sat at my window, + high up in the eastern tower; and the sun shone bright in + the heavens, and the air was mild and warm, and I thought of + nought but the beauty and the gladness of the hour. Then in + the far north I saw a falcon flying. At first he seemed but + a black speck in the sky; but swiftly he drew nearer and + nearer, until at last he flew in at the open window, and I + caught him in my arms. Oh, how strong and beautiful he was! + His wings were purple and gold, and his eyes were as bright + as the sun. Oh, a glorious prize I thought him! and I held + him on my wrist, and spoke kind words to him. Then suddenly, + from out of the sky above, two eagles dashed in at the + window, and snatched my darling from me, and they tore him + in pieces before my eyes, and laughed at my distress." + + "Thy dream," said Queen Ute, "is easy to explain. A king + shall come from the north-land, and a mighty king shall he + be. And he shall seek thee, and love thee, and wed thee, and + thy heart shall overflow with bliss. The two eagles are the + foes who shall slay him; but who they may be, or whence they + may come, is known only to the Norns." + + "But I slept, and I dreamed again," said Kriemhild. "This + time I sat in the meadow, and three women came to me. And + they span, and they wove a woof more fair than any I have + ever seen. And methought that another woof was woven, which + crossed the first, and yet it was no whit less beautiful. + Then the women who wove the woofs cried out, 'Enough!' And a + fair white arm reached out and seized the rare fabrics, and + tore them into shreds. And then the sky was overcast, and + the thunder began to roll and the lightning to flash, and + red fires gleamed, and fierce wolves howled around me, and I + awoke." + + "This dream," said Queen Ute, "is more than I can + understand. Only this I can see and explain, that in the dim + future the woof of another's fate shall cross thy own. But + trouble not thyself because of that which shall be. While + yet the sun shines for thee, and the birds sing, and the + flowers shed their sweet perfume, it is for thee to rejoice + and be light-hearted. What the Norns have woven is woven, + and it cannot be undone."[EN#21] + + + + + + Adventure XI + How the Spring-time Came. + + + + Siegfried, when he came to Gunther's castle, thought of + staying there but a few days only. But the king and his + brothers made every thing so pleasant for their honored + guest, that weeks slipped by unnoticed, and still the hero + remained in Burgundy. + + Spring had fairly come, and the weeping April clouds had + given place to the balmy skies of May. The young men and + maidens, as was their wont, made ready for the May-day + games; and Siegfried and his knights were asked to take part + in the sport. + + On the smooth greensward, which they called Nanna's carpet, + beneath the shade of ash-trees and elms, he who played Old + Winter's part lingered with his few attendants. These were + clad in the dull gray garb which becomes the sober season of + the year, and were decked with yellow straw, and dead, brown + leaves. Out of the wood came the May-king and his followers, + clad in the gayest raiment, and decked with evergreens and + flowers. With staves and willow-withes they fell upon Old + Winter's champions, and tried to drive them from the sward. + In friendly fray they fought, and many mishaps fell to both + parties. But at length the May-king won; and grave Winter, + battered and bruised, was made prisoner, and his followers + were driven from the field. Then, in merry sport, sentence + was passed on the luckless wight, for he was found guilty of + killing the flowers, and of covering the earth with + hoar-frost; and he was doomed to a long banishment from + music and the sunlight. The laughing party then set up a + wooden likeness of the worsted winter-king, and pelted it + with stones and turf; and when they were tired they threw it + down, and put out its eyes, and cast it into the river. And + then a pole, decked with wild-flowers and fresh green + leaves, was planted in the midst of the sward, and all + joined in merry dance around it. And they chose the most + beautiful of all the maidens to be the Queen of May, and + they crowned her with a wreath of violets and yellow + buttercups; and for a whole day all yielded fealty to her, + and did her bidding. + + It was thus that May Day came in Burgundy. And in the + evening, when the party were seated in King Gunther's hall, + Siegfried, at the command of the May-queen,--who was none + other than Kriemhild the peerless,--amused them by telling + the story of + + + + Idun and Her Apples. + + + + It is a story that Bragi told while at the feast in AEgir's + hall. Idun is Bragi's wife. Very handsome is she; but the + beauty of her face is by no means greater than the goodness + of her heart. Right attentive is she to every duty, and her + words and thoughts are always worthy and wise. A long time + ago the good Asa-folk who dwell in heaven-towering Asgard, + knowing how trustworthy Idun was, gave into her keeping a + treasure which they would not have placed in the hands of + any other person. This treasure was a box of apples, and + Idun kept the golden key safely fastened to her girdle. You + ask me why the gods should prize a box of apples so highly? + I will tell you. + + Old age, you know, spares none, not even Odin and his + Asa-folk. They all grow old and gray; and, if there were no + cure for age, they would become feeble and toothless and + blind, deaf, tottering, and weak minded. The apples which + Idun guarded so carefully were the priceless boon of youth. + Whenever the gods felt old age coming on, they went to her, + and she gave them of her fruit; and, when they had tasted, + they grew young and strong and handsome again. Once, + however, they came near losing the apples,--or losing rather + Idun and her golden key, without which no one could ever + open the box. + + In those early days Odin delighted to come down now and then + from his high home above the clouds, and to wander, + disguised, among the woods and mountains, and by the + seashore, and in wild desert places. For nothing pleases him + more than to commune with Nature as she is found in the + loneliness of vast solitudes, or in the boisterous uproar of + the elements. Once on a time he took with him his friends + Hoenir and Loki; and they rambled many days among the icy + cliffs, and along the barren shores, of the great frozen + sea. In that country there was no game, and no fish was + found in the cold waters; and the three wanderers, as they + had brought no food with them, became very hungry. Late in + the afternoon of the seventh day, they reached some + pasture-lands belonging to the giant Hymer, and saw a herd + of the giant's cattle browsing upon the short grass which + grew in the sheltered nooks among the hills. + + "Ah!" cried Loki: "after fasting for a week, we shall now + have food in abundance. Let us kill and eat." + + So saying, he hurled a sharp stone at the fattest of Hymer's + cows, and killed her; and the three quickly dressed the + choicest pieces of flesh for their supper. Then Loki + gathered twigs and dry grass, and kindled a blazing fire; + Hoenir filled the pot with water from melted ice; and Odin + threw into it the bits of tender meat. But, make the fire as + hot as they would, the water would not boil, and the flesh + would not cook. + + All night long the supperless three sat hungry around the + fire; and, every time they peeped into the kettle, the meat + was as raw and gustless as before. Morning came, but no + breakfast. And all day Loki kept stirring the fire, and Odin + and Hoenir waited hopefully but impatiently. When the sun + again went down, the flesh was still uncooked, and their + supper seemed no nearer ready than it was the night before. + As they were about yielding to despair, they heard a noise + overhead, and, looking up, they saw a huge gray eagle + sitting on the dead branch of an oak. + + "Ha, ha!" cried the bird. "You are pretty fellows indeed! To + sit hungry by the fire a night and a day, rather than eat + raw flesh, becomes you well. Do but give me my share of it + as it is, and I warrant you the rest shall boil, and you + shall have a fat supper." + + "Agreed," answered Loki eagerly. "Come down and get your + share." + + The eagle waited for no second asking. Down he swooped right + over the blazing fire, and snatched not only the eagle's + share, but also what the Lybians call the lion's share; that + is, he grasped in his strong talons the kettle, with all the + meat in it, and, flapping his huge wings, slowly rose into + the air, carrying his booty with him. The three gods were + astonished. Loki was filled with anger. He seized a long + pole, upon the end of which a sharp hook was fixed, and + struck at the treacherous bird. The hook stuck fast in the + eagle's back, and Loki could not loose his hold of the other + end of the pole. The great bird soared high above the + tree-tops, and over the hills, and carried the astonished + mischief-maker with him. + + But it was no eagle. It was no bird that had thus outwitted + the hungry gods: it was the giant Old Winter, clothed in his + eagle-plumage. Over the lonely woods, and the snow-crowned + mountains, and the frozen sea, he flew, dragging the + helpless Loki through tree-tops, and over jagged rocks, + scratching and bruising his body, and almost tearing his + arms from his shoulders. At last he alighted on the craggy + top of an iceberg, where the storm-winds shrieked, and the + air was filled with driving snow. As soon as Loki could + speak, he begged the giant to carry him back to his + comrades,--Odin and Hoenir. + + "On one condition only will I carry you back," answered Old + Winter. "Swear to me that you will betray into my hands dame + Idun and her golden key." + + Loki asked no questions, but gladly gave the oath; and the + giant flew back with him across the sea, and dropped him, + torn and bleeding and lame, by the side of the fire, where + Odin and Hoenir still lingered. And the three made all haste + to leave that cheerless place, and returned to Odin's glad + home in Asgard. + + Some weeks after this, Loki, the Prince of Mischief-makers, + went to Bragi's house to see Idun. He found her busied with + her household cares, not thinking of a visit from any of the + gods. + + "I have come, good dame," said he, "to taste your apples + again; for I feel old age coming on apace." + + Idun was astonished. + + "You are not looking old," she answered. "There is not a + single gray hair upon your head, and not a wrinkle on your + brow. If it were not for that scar upon your cheek, and the + arm which you carry in a sling you would look as stout and + as well as I have ever seen you. Besides, I remember that it + was only a year ago when you last tasted of my fruit. Is it + possible that a single winter should make you old?" + + "A single winter has made me very lame and feeble, at + least," said Loki. "I have been scarcely able to walk about + since my return from the North. Another winter without a + taste of your apples will be the death of me." + + Then the kind-hearted Idun, when she saw that Loki was + really lame, went to the box, and opened it with her golden + key, and gave him one of the precious apples to taste. He + took the fruit in his hand, bit it, and gave it back to the + good dame. She put it in its place again, closed the lid, + and locked it with her usual care. + + "Your apples are not so good as they used to be," said Loki, + making a very wry face. "Why don't you fill your box with + fresh fruit?" + + Idun was amazed. Her apples were supposed to be always + fresh,--fresher by far than any that grow nowadays. None of + the gods had ever before complained about them; and she told + Loki so. + + "Very well," said he. "I see you do not believe me, and that + you mean to feed us on your sour, withered apples, when we + might as well have golden fruit. If you were not so bent on + having your own way, I could tell you where you might fill + your box with the choicest of apples, such as Odin loves. I + saw them in the forest over yonder, hanging ripe on the + trees. But women will always have their own way; and you + must have yours, even though you do feed the gods on + withered apples." + + So saying, and without waiting to hear an answer, he limped + out at the door, and was soon gone from sight. + + Idun thought long and anxiously upon the words which Loki + had spoken; and, the more she thought, the more she felt + troubled. If her husband, the wise Bragi, had been at home, + what would she not have given? He would have understood the + mischief-maker's cunning. But he had gone on a long journey + to the South, singing in Nature's choir, and painting + Nature's landscapes, and she would not see him again until + the return of spring. At length she opened the box, and + looked at the fruit. The apples were certainly fair and + round: she could not see a wrinkle or a blemish on any of + them; their color was the same golden-red,--like the sky at + dawn of a summer's day; yet she thought there must be + something wrong about them. She took up one of the apples, + and tasted it. She fancied that it really was sour, and she + hastily put it back, and locked the box again. + + "He said that he had seen better apples than these growing + in the woods," said she to herself. "I half believe that he + told the truth, although everybody knows that he is not + always trustworthy. I think I shall go to the forest and see + for myself, at any rate." + + So she donned her cloak and hood, and, with a basket on her + arm, left the house, and walked rapidly away, along the road + which led to the forest. It was much farther than she had + thought, and the sun was almost down when she reached the + edge of the wood. But no apple-trees were there. Tall oaks + stretched their bare arms up towards the sky, as if praying + for help. There were thorn-trees and brambles everywhere; + but there was no fruit, neither were there any flowers, nor + even green leaves. The Frost-giants had been there. + + Idun was about to turn her footsteps homewards, when she + heard a wild shriek in the tree-tops over her head; and, + before she could look up, she felt herself seized in the + eagle-talons of Old Winter. Struggle as she would, she could + not free herself. High up, over wood and stream, the giant + carried her; and then he flew swiftly away with her, towards + his home in the chill North-land; and, when morning came, + poor Idun found herself in an ice-walled castle in the + cheerless country of the giants. But she was glad to know + that the precious box was safely locked at home, and that + the golden key was still at her girdle. + + Time passed; and I fear that Idun would have been forgotten + by all, save her husband Bragi, had not the gods begun to + feel the need of her apples. Day after day they came to + Idun's house, hoping to find the good dame and her golden + key at home; and each day they went away some hours older + than when they had come. Bragi was beside himself with + grief, and his golden harp was unstrung and forgotten. No + one had seen the missing Idun since the day when Loki had + visited her, and none could guess what had become of her. + The heads of all the folk grew white with age; deep furrows + were ploughed in their faces; their eyes grew dim, and their + hearing failed; their hands trembled; their limbs became + palsied; their feet tottered; and all feared that Old Age + would bring Death in his train. + + Then Bragi and Thor questioned Loki very sharply; and when + he felt that he, too, was growing odd and feeble, he + regretted the mischief he had done, and told them how he had + decoyed Idun into Old Winter's clutches. The gods were very + angry; and Thor threatened to crush Loki with his hammer, if + he did not at once bring Idun safe home again. + + So Loki borrowed the falcon-plumage of Freyja, the goddess + of love, and with it flew to the country of the giants. When + he reached Old Winter's castle, he found the good dame Idun + shut up in the prison-tower, and bound with fetters of ice; + but the giant himself was on the frozen sea, herding old + Hymer's cows. And Loki quickly broke the bonds that held + Idun, and led her out of her prison-house; and then he shut + her up in a magic nut-shell which he held between his claws, + and flew with the speed of the wind back towards the + South-land and the home of the gods. But Old Winter coming + home, and learning what had been done, donned his + eagle-plumage and followed swiftly in pursuit. + + Bragi and Thor, anxiously gazing into the sky, saw Loki, in + Freyja's falcon-plumage, speeding homewards, with the + nut-shell in his talons, and Old Winter, in his + eagle-plumage, dashing after in sharp pursuit. Quickly they + gathered chips and slender twigs, and placed them high upon + the castle-wall; and, when Loki with his precious burden had + flown past, they touched fire to the dry heap, and the + flames blazed up to the sky, and caught Old Winter's + plumage, as, close behind the falcon, he blindly pressed. + And his wings were scorched in the flames; and he fell + helpless to the ground, and was slain within the + castle-gates. Loki slackened his speed; and, when he reached + Bragi's house, he dropped the nut-shell softly before the + door. As it touched the ground, it gently opened, and Idun, + radiant with smiles, and clothed in gay attire, stepped + forth, and greeted her husband and the waiting gods. And the + heavenly music of Bragi's long-silent harp welcomed her + home; and she took the golden key from her girdle, and + unlocked the box, and gave of her apples to the aged + company; and, when they had tasted, their youth was + renewed.[EN#22] + + It is thus with the seasons and their varied changes. The + gifts of Spring are youth and jollity, and renewed strength; + and the music of air and water and all things, living and + lifeless, follow in her train. The desolating Winter plots + to steal her from the earth, and the Summer-heat deserts and + betrays her. Then the music of Nature is hushed, and all + creatures pine in sorrow for her absence, and the world + seems dying of white Old Age. But at length the Summer-heat + repents, and frees her from her prison-house; and the icy + fetters with which Old Winter bound her are melted in the + beams of the returning sun, and the earth is young again. + + + + + + Adventure XII + The War with the North-kings. + + + + So swiftly and so pleasantly the days went by, that weeks + lengthened into months, and the spring-time passed, and the + summer came, and still Siegfried lingered in Burgundy with + his kind friends. The time was spent in all manner of + joyance,--in hunting the deer in the deep oak-woods, in + riding over the daisied meadows or among the fields of corn, + in manly games and sports, in music and dancing, in feasting + and in pleasant talk. And of all the noble folk who had ever + sat at Gunther's table, or hunted in the Burgundian woods, + none were so worthy or so fair as the proud young lord of + the Nibelungens. + + One day in early autumn a party of strange knights rode up + to the castle, and asked to speak with the Burgundian kings. + They were led straightway into the great hall; and Gunther + and his brothers welcomed them, as was their wont, right + heartily, and asked them from what country they had come, + and what was their errand. + + "We come," they answered, "from the North country; and we + bring word from our lords and kings, Leudiger and + Leudigast." + + "And what would our kingly neighbors say to us?" asked + Gunther. + + Then the strangers said that their lords had become very + angry with the Burgundian kings, and that they meant, within + twelve weeks from that day, to come with a great army, and + lay the country waste, and besiege their city and castle. + All this they had sworn to do unless the Burgundians would + make peace with them upon such terms as Leudiger and + Leudigast should please to grant. + + When Gunther and his brothers heard this, they were struck + with dismay. But they ordered the messengers to be well + cared for and handsomely entertained within the palace until + the morrow, at which time they should have the Burgundians' + answer. All the noblest knights and earl-folk were called + together, and the matter was laid before them. + + "What answer shall we send to our rude neighbors of the + North?" asked Gunther. + + Gernot and the young Giselher declared at once for war. Old + Hagen and other knights, whose prudence was at least equal + to their bravery, said but little. It was known, that, in + the armies of the North-kings, there were at least forty + thousand soldiers; but in Burgundy there were not more than + thirty thousand fighting-men, all told. The North-kings' + forces were already equipped, and ready to march; but the + Burgundians could by no means raise and arm any considerable + body of men in the short space of twelve weeks. It would be + the part of wisdom to delay, and to see what terms could + best be made with their enemies. Such were the prudent + counsels of the older knights, but Gernot and the young + chief Volker would not listen to such words. + + "The Burgundians are not cowards," said they. "We have never + been foiled in battle; never have we been the vassals of a + stranger. Why, then, shall we cringe and cower before such + men as Leudiger and Leudigast?" + + Then Hagen answered, "Let us ask our friend and guest + Siegfried. Let us learn what he thinks about this business. + Everybody knows that he is as wise in council as he is brave + in the field. We will abide by what he says." + + But Gunther and Gernot and the young Giselher were unwilling + to do this; for it was not their custom to annoy their + guests with questions which should be allowed to trouble + themselves alone. And the kings and their counsellors went + out of the council-chamber, each to ponder in silence upon + the troublesome question. + + As Gunther, with downcast head and troubled brow, walked + thoughtfully through the great hall, he unexpectedly met + Siegfried. + + "What evil tidings have you heard?" asked the prince, + surprised at the strange mien of the king. "What has gone + amiss, that should cause such looks of dark perplexity?" + + "That is a matter which I can tell only to friends long + tried and true," answered Gunther. + + Siegfried was surprised and hurt by these words; and he + cried out,-- + + "What more would Gunther ask of me that I might prove my + friendship? Surely I have tried to merit his esteem and + trust. Tell me what troubles you, and I will further show + myself to be your friend both tried and true." + + Then Gunther was ashamed of the words he had spoken to his + guest; and he took Siegfried into his own chamber, and told + him all; and he asked him what answer they should send on + the morrow to the overbearing North-kings. + + "Tell them we will fight," answered Siegfried. "I myself + will lead your warriors to the fray. Never shall it be said + that my friends have suffered wrong, and I not tried to help + them." + + Then he and Gunther talked over the plans which they would + follow. And the clouds fled at once from the brow of the + king, and he was no longer troubled or doubtful; for he + believed in Siegfried. + + The next morning the heralds of the North-kings were brought + again before Gunther and his brothers; and they were told to + carry this word to their masters,-- + + "The Burgundians will fight. They will make no terms with + their enemies, save such as they make of their own + free-will." + + Then the heralds were loaded with costly presents, and a + company of knights and warriors went with them to the + border-line of Burgundy; and, filled with wonder at what + they had seen, they hastened back to their liege lords, and + told all that had happened to them. And Leudiger and + Leudigast were very wroth when they heard the answer which + the Burgundians had sent to them; but, when they learned + that the noble Siegfried was at Gunther's castle, they shook + their heads, and seemed to feel more doubtful of success. + + Many and busy were the preparations for war, and in a very + few days all things were in readiness for the march + northwards. It was settled that Siegfried with his twelve + Nibelungen chiefs, and a thousand picked men, should go + forth to battle against their boastful enemies. The + dark-browed Hagen, as he had always done, rode at the head + of the company, and by his side was Siegfried on the noble + horse Greyfell. Next came Gernot and the bold chief Volker, + bearing the standard, upon which a golden dragon was + engraved; then followed Dankwart and Ortwin, and the twelve + worthy comrades of Siegfried; and then the thousand + warriors, the bravest in all Rhineland, mounted on impatient + steeds, and clad in bright steel armor, with broad shields, + and plumed helmets, and burnished swords, and sharp-pointed + spears. And all rode proudly out through the great + castle-gate. And Gunther and the young Giselher and all the + fair ladies of the court bade them God-speed. + + The little army passed through the forest, and went + northwards, until, on the fifth day, they reached the + boundaries of Saxon Land. And Siegfried gave spur to his + horse Greyfell, and, leaving the little army behind him, + hastened forwards to see where the enemy was encamped. As he + reached the top of a high hill, he saw the armies of the + North-kings resting carelessly in the valley beyond. + Knights, mounted on their horses, rode hither and thither: + the soldiers sauntered lazily among the trees, or slept upon + the grass; arms were thrown about in great disorder, or + stacked in piles near the smoking camp-fires. No one dreamed + of danger; but all supposed that the Burgundians were still + at home, and would never dare to attack a foe so numerous + and so strong. + + For it was, indeed, a mighty army which Siegfried saw before + him. Full forty thousand men were there; and they not only + filled the valley, but spread over the hills beyond, and far + to the right and left. + + While he stood at the top of the hill, and gazed upon this + sight, a warrior, who had spied him from below, rode up, and + paused before him. Like two black thunder-clouds, with + lightning flashing between, the two knights stood facing + each other, and casting wrathful glances from beneath their + visors. Then each spurred his horse, and charged with fury + upon the other; and the heavy lances of both were broken in + shivers upon the opposing shields. Then, quick as thought, + they turned and drew their swords, and hand to hand they + fought. But soon Siegfried, by an unlooked-for stroke, sent + his enemy's sword flying from him, broken in a dozen pieces, + and by a sudden movement he threw him from his horse. The + heavy shield of the fallen knight was no hinderance to the + quick strokes of Siegfried's sword; and his glittering + armor, soiled by the mud into which he had been thrown, held + him down. He threw up his hands, and begged for mercy. + + "I am Leudigast the king!" he cried. "Spare my life. I am + your prisoner." + + Siegfried heard the prayer of the discomfited king; and, + lifting him from the ground, he helped him to remount his + charger. But, while he was doing this, thirty warriors, who + had seen the combat from below, came dashing up the hill to + the rescue of their liege-lord. Siegfried faced about with + his horse Greyfell, and quietly waited for their onset. But, + as they drew near, they were so awed by the noble bearing + and grand proportions of the hero, and so astonished at + sight of the sunbeam mane of Greyfell, and the cold glitter + of the blade Balmung, that in sudden fright they stopped, + then turned, and fled in dismay down the sloping hillside, + nor paused until they were safe among their friends. + + In the mean while Leudiger, the other king, seeing what was + going on at the top of the hill, had caused an alarm to be + sounded; and all his hosts had hastily arranged themselves + in battle-array. At the same time Hagen and Gernot, and + their little army of heroes, hove in sight, and came quickly + to Siegfried's help, and the dragon-banner was planted upon + the crest of the hill. The captive king, Leudigast, was + taken to the rear, and a guard was placed over him. The + champions of the Rhine formed in line, and faced their foes. + The great army of the North-kings moved boldly up the hill: + and, when they saw how few were the Burgundians, they + laughed and cheered most lustily; for they felt that the + odds was in their favor--and forty to one is no small odds. + + Then Siegfried and his twelve comrades, and Hagen and the + thousand Burgundian knights, dashed upon them with the fury + of the whirlwind. The lances flew so thick in the air, that + they hid the sun from sight; swords flashed on every side; + the sound of clashing steel, and horses' hoofs, and + soldiers' shouts, filled earth and sky with a horrid din. + And soon the boastful foes of the Burgundians were + everywhere worsted, and thrown into disorder. Siegfried + dashed hither and thither, from one part of the field to + another, in search of King Leudiger. Thrice he cut his way + through the ranks, and at last he met face to face the one + for whom he sought. + + King Leudiger saw the flashing sunbeams that glanced from + Greyfell's mane, he saw the painted crown upon the hero's + broad shield, and then he felt the fearful stroke of the + sword Balmung, as it clashed against his own, and cut it + clean in halves. He dropped his weapons, raised his visor, + and gave himself up as a prisoner. + + "Give up the fight, my brave fellows," he cried. "This is + Siegfried the brave, the Prince of the Lowlands, and the + Lord of Nibelungen Land. It were foolishness to fight + against him. Save yourselves as best you can." + + This was the signal for a frightful panic. All turned and + fled. Each thought of nothing but his own safety; and + knights and warriors, horsemen and foot-soldiers, in one + confused mass, throwing shields and weapons here and there, + rushed wildly down the hill, and through the valley and + ravines, and sought, as best they could, their way homeward. + The Burgundian heroes were the masters of the field, and on + the morrow they turned their faces joyfully towards + Rhineland. And all joined in saying that to Siegfried was + due the praise for this wonderful victory which they had + gained. + + Heralds had been sent on the fleetest horses to carry the + glad news to Burgundy; and when, one morning, they dashed + into the court-yard of the castle, great was the anxiety to + know what tidings they brought. And King Gunther, and the + young Giselher, and the peerless Kriemhild, came out to + welcome them, and eagerly to inquire what had befallen the + heroes. With breathless haste the heralds told the story of + all that had happened. + + "And how fares our brother Gernot?" asked Kriemhild. + + "There is no happier man on earth," answered the herald. "In + truth, there was not a coward among them all; but the + bravest of the brave was Siegfried. He it was who took the + two kings prisoners; and everywhere in the thickest of the + fight there was Siegfried. And now our little army is on its + homeward march, with a thousand prisoners, and large numbers + of the enemy's wounded. Had it not been for the brave + Siegfried, no such victory could have been won." + + In a few days the Rhine champions reached their home. And + gayly were the castle and all the houses in the city decked + in honor of them. And all those who had been left behind + went out to meet them as they came down from the + forest-road, and drew near to the castle. And the young + girls strewed flowers in their path, and hung garlands upon + their horses; and music and song followed the heroes into + the city, and through the castle-gate. + + When they reached the palace, the two prisoner kings, + Leudiger and Leudigast, were loosed from their bonds, and + handsomely entertained at Gunther's table. And the + Burgundian kings assured them that they should be treated as + honored guests, and have the freedom of the court and + castle, if they would pledge themselves not to try to escape + from Burgundy until terms of peace should be agreed upon. + This pledge they gladly gave, and rich apartments in the + palace were assigned for their use. Like favors were shown + to all the prisoners, according to their rank; and the + wounded were kindly cared for. And the Burgundians made + ready for a gay high-tide,--a glad festival of rejoicing, to + be held at the next full moon. + + When the day drew near which had been set for this + high-tide, the folk from all parts of Rhineland began to + flock towards the city. They came in companies, with music + and laughter, and the glad songs of the spring-time. And all + the knights were mounted on gallant horses caparisoned with + gold-red saddles, from which hung numbers of tinkling silver + bells. As they rode up the sands towards the castle-gate, + with their dazzling shields upon their saddle-bows, and + their gay and many-colored banners floating in the air, King + Gernot and the young Giselher, with the noblest knights of + the fortress, went courteously out to meet them; and the + friendly greetings which were offered by the two young kings + won the hearts of all. Thirty and two princes and more than + five thousand warriors came as bidden guests. The city and + castle were decked in holiday attire, and all the people in + the land gave themselves up to enjoyment. The sick and the + wounded, who until now had thought themselves at death's + door, forgot their ailments and their pains as they heard + the shouts of joy and the peals of music in the streets. + + In a green field outside of the city walls, arrangements had + been made for the games, and galleries and high stages had + been built for the lookers-on. Here jousts and tournaments + were held, and the knights and warriors engaged in trials of + strength and skill. When King Gunther saw with what keen + enjoyment both his own people and his guests looked upon + these games, and took part in the gay festivities, he asked + of those around him,-- + + "What more can we do to heighten the pleasures of the day?" + + And one of his counsellors answered,-- + + "My lord, the ladies of the court, and the little children, + pine in silence in the sunless rooms of the palace, while we + enjoy the free air and light of heaven, the music, and the + gay scenes before us. There is nothing wanting to make this + day's joy complete, save the presence of our dear ones to + share these pleasures with us." + + Gunther was delighted to hear these words; and he sent a + herald to the palace, and invited all the ladies of the + court and all the children to come out and view the games, + and join in the general gladness. + + When Dame Ute heard the message which the herald brought + from her kingly son, she hastened to make ready rich dresses + and costly jewels wherewith to adorn the dames and damsels + of the court. And, when all were in readiness, the peerless + Kriemhild, with her mother at her side, went forth from the + castle; and a hundred knights, all sword in hand, went with + her as a body-guard, and a great number of noble ladies + dressed in rich attire followed her. As the red dawn peers + forth from behind gray clouds, and drives the mists and + shadows away from earth, so came the lovely one. As the + bright full moon in radiant splendor moves in queen-like + beauty before her train of attendant stars, and outshines + them all, so was Kriemhild the most glorious among all the + noble ladies there. And the thousand knights and warriors + paused in their games, and greeted the peerless princess as + was due to one so noble and fair. Upon the highest platform, + under a rich canopy of cloth-of-gold, seats were made ready + for the maiden and her mother and the fair ladies in their + train; and all the most worthy princes in Rhineland sat + around, and the games were begun again. + + For twelve days the gay high-tide lasted, and nought was + left undone whereby the joy might be increased. And of all + the heroes and princes who jousted in the tournament, or + took part in the games, none could equal the unassuming + Siegfried; and his praises were heard on every hand, and all + agreed that he was the most worthy prince that they had ever + seen. + + When at last the festal days came to an end, Gunther and his + brothers called their guests and vassals around them, and + loaded them with costly gifts, and bade them God-speed. And + tears stood in the eyes of all at parting. + + The captive kings, Leudiger and Leudigast, were not + forgotten. + + "What will ye give me for your freedom?" asked King Gunther, + half in jest. + + They answered,-- + + "If you will allow us without further hinderance to go back + to our people, we pledge our lives and our honor that we + will straightway send you gold, as much as half a thousand + horses can carry." + + Then Gunther turned to Siegfried, and said,-- + + "What think you, friend Siegfried, of such princely ransom?" + + "Noble lord," said Siegfried, "I think you are in need of no + such ransom. Friendship is worth much more than gold. If + your kingly captives will promise, on their honor, never + more to come towards Burgundy as enemies, let them go. We + have no need of gold." + + "'Tis well said," cried Gunther highly pleased. + + And Leudiger and Leudigast, with tears of thankfulness, + gladly made the asked-for promise, and on the morrow, with + light hearts and costly gifts, they set out on their journey + homewards. + + When all the guests had gone, and the daily routine of idle + palace-life set in again, Siegfried began to talk of going + back to Nibelungen Land. But young Giselher, and the + peerless Kriemhild, and King Gunther, besought him to stay + yet a little longer. And he yielded to their kind wishes. + And autumn passed away with its fruits and its vintage, and + grim old winter came howling down from the north, and + Siegfried was still in Burgundy. And then old Hoder, the + king of the winter months, came blustering through the Rhine + valley; and with him were the Reifriesen,--the thieves that + steal the daylight from the earth and the warmth from the + sun. And they nipped the flowers, and withered the grass, + and stripped the trees, and sealed up the rivers, and + covered the earth with a white mantle of sorrow. + + But within King Gunther's wide halls there was joy and good + cheer. And the season of the Yule-feast came, and still + Siegfried tarried in Burgundy-land. + + + + + + Adventure XIII + The Story of Balder. + + + + There was mirth in King Gunther's dwelling, for the time of + the Yule-feast had come. The broad banquet hall was gayly + decked with cedar and spruce and sprigs of the mistletoe; + and the fires roared in the great chimneys, throwing warmth + and a ruddy glow of light into every corner of the room. The + long table fairly groaned under its weight of good cheer. At + its head sat the kings and the earl-folk; and before them, + on a silver platter of rare workmanship, was the head of a + huge wild boar,--the festal offering to the good Frey, in + honor of whom the Yule-feast was held. For now the sun, + which had been driven by the Frost-giants far away towards + the South-land, had begun to return, and Frey was on his way + once more to scatter peace and plenty over the land. + + The harp and the wassail-bowl went round; and each one of + the company sang a song, or told a story, or in some way did + his part to add to the evening's enjoyment. And a young + sea-king who sat at Siegfried's side told most bewitching + tales of other lands which lie beyond Old AEgir's kingdom. + Then, when the harp came to him, he sang the wondrous song + of the shaping of the earth. And all who heard were charmed + with the sweet sound and with the pleasant words. He sang of + the sunlight and the south winds and the summer-time, of the + storms and the snow and the sombre shadows of the + North-land. And he sang of the dead Ymir, the giant whose + flesh had made the solid earth, and whose blood the sea, and + whose bones the mountains, whose teeth the cliffs and crags, + and whose skull the heavens. And he sang of Odin, the + earth's preserver, the Giver of life, the Father of all; and + of the Asa-folk who dwell in Asgard; and of the ghostly + heroes in Valhal. Then he sang of the heaven-tower of the + thunder-god, and of the shimmering Asa-bridge, or rainbow, + all afire; and, lastly, of the four dwarfs who hold the blue + sky-dome above them, and of the elves of the mountains, and + of the wood-sprites and the fairies. Then he laid aside his + harp, and told the old but ever-beautiful story of the death + of Balder the Good. + + + + The Story. + + + + Balder, as you know, was Odin's son; and he was the + brightest and best of all the Asa-folk. Wherever he went, + there were gladness and light-hearted mirth, and blooming + flowers, and singing birds, and murmuring waterfalls. + Balder, too, was a hero, but not one of the blustering kind, + like Thor. He slew no giants; he never went into battle; he + never tried to make for himself a name among the dwellers of + the mid-world; and yet he was a hero of the noblest type. He + dared to do right, and to stand up for the good, the true, + and the beautiful. There are still some such heroes, but the + world does not always hear of them. + + Hoder, the blind king of the winter months, was Balder's + brother, and as unlike him as darkness is unlike daylight. + While one rejoiced, and was merry and cheerful, the other + was low-spirited and sad. While one scattered sunshine and + blessings everywhere, the other carried with him a sense of + cheerlessness and gloom. Yet the brothers loved each other + dearly. + + One night Balder dreamed a strange dream, and when he awoke + he could not forget it. All day long he was thoughtful and + sad, and he was not his own bright, happy self. His mother, + the Asa-queen, saw that something troubled him; and she + asked,-- + + "Whence comes that cloud upon your brow? Will you suffer it + to chase away all your sunshine? and will you become, like + your brother Hoder, all frowns and sighs and tears?" + + Then Balder told her what he had dreamed; and she, too, was + sorely troubled, for it was a frightful dream, and foreboded + dire disasters. Then both she and Balder went to Odin, and + to him they told the cause of their uneasiness. And the + All-Father also was distressed; for he knew that such + dreams, dreamed by Asa-folk, were the forewarnings of evil. + So he saddled his eight-footed steed Sleipner; and, without + telling any one where he was going, he rode with the speed + of the winds down into the Valley of Death. The dog that + guards the gateway to that dark and doleful land came out to + meet him. Blood was on the fierce beast's breast, and he + barked loudly and angrily at the All-Father and his wondrous + horse. But Odin sang sweet magic songs as he drew near; and + the dog was charmed with the sound, and Sleipner and his + rider went onward in safety. And they passed the dark halls + of the pale-faced queen, and came to the east gate of the + valley. There stood the low hut of a witch who lived in + darkness, and, like the Norns, spun the thread of fate for + gods and men. + + Odin stood before the hut, and sang a wondrous song of + witchery and enchantment; and he laid a spell upon the weird + woman, and forced her to come out of her dark dwelling, and + to answer his questions. + + "Who is this stranger?" asked the witch. "Who is this + unknown who calls me from my narrow home, and sets an + irksome task for me? Long have I been left alone in my quiet + house; nor recked I that the snow sometimes covered with its + cold white mantle both me and my resting-place, or that the + pattering rain and the gently falling dew often moistened + the roof of my dwelling. Long have I rested quietly, and I + do not wish now to be aroused." + + "I am Valtam's son," said Odin; "and I come to learn of + thee. Tell me, I pray, for whom are the soft couches + prepared that I saw in the broad halls of Death? For whom + are the jewels, and the rings, and the rich clothing, and + the shining shield?" + + "All are for Balder, Odin's son," she answered. "And the + mead which has been brewed for him is hidden beneath the + shining shield." + + Then Odin asked who would be the slayer of Balder, and she + answered that Hoder was the one who would send the shining + Asa to the halls of Death. + + "Who will avenge Balder, and bring distress upon his + slayer?" asked Odin. + + "A son of Earth but one day old shall be Balder's avenger. + Go thou now home, Odin; for I know thou art not Valtam's + son. Go home; and none shall again awaken me, nor disturb me + at my task, until the new day shall dawn, and Balder shall + rule over the young world in its purity, and there shall be + no more Death." + + Then Odin rode sorrowfully homeward; but he told no one of + his journey to the Dark Valley, nor of what the weird witch + had said to him. + + Balder's mother, the Asa-queen, could not rest because of + the ill-omened dream that her son had had; and in her + distress she called all the Asa-folk together to consider + what should be done. But they were speechless with sorrow + and alarm; and none could offer advice, nor set her mind at + ease. Then she sought out every living creature, and every + lifeless thing, upon the earth, and asked each one to swear + that it would not on any account hurt Balder, nor touch him + to do him harm. And this oath was willingly made by fire and + water, earth and air, by all beasts and creeping things and + birds and fishes, by the rocks and by the trees and all + metals; for every thing loved Balder the Good. + + Then the Asa-folk thought that great honor was shown to + Balder each time any thing refused to hurt him; and to show + their love for him, as well as to amuse themselves, they + often hewed at him with their battle-axes, or struck at him + with their sharp swords, or hurled toward him their heavy + lances. For every weapon turned aside from its course, and + would neither mark nor bruise the shining target at which it + was aimed; and Balder's princely beauty shone as bright and + as pure as ever. + + When Loki the Mischief-maker saw how all things loved and + honored Balder, his heart was filled with jealous hate, and + he sought all over the earth for some beast or bird or tree + or lifeless thing, that had not taken the oath. But he could + find not one. Then, disguised as a fair maiden, he went to + Fensal Hall, where dwelt Balder's mother. The fair Asa-queen + was busy at her distaff, with her golden spindles, spinning + flax to be woven into fine linen for the gods. And her + maid-servant, Fulla of the flowing hair, sat on a stool + beside her. When the queen saw Loki, she asked,-- + + "Whence come you, fair stranger? and what favor would you + ask of Odin's wife?" + + "I come," answered the disguised Loki, "from the plains of + Ida, where the gods meet for pleasant pastime, as well as to + talk of the weightier matters of their kingdom." + + "And how do they while away their time to-day?" asked the + queen. + + "They have a pleasant game which they call Balder's Honor," + was the answer. "The shining hero stands before them as a + target, and each one tries his skill at hurling some weapon + toward him. First Odin throws at him the spear Gungner, + which never before was known to miss its mark; but it passes + harmlessly over Balder's head. Then Thor takes up a huge + rock, and hurls it full at Balder's breast; but it turns in + its course, and will not smite the sun-bright target. Then + Tyr seizes a battle-axe, and strikes at Balder as though he + would hew him down; but the keen edge refuses to touch him: + and in this way the Asa-folk show honor to the best of their + number." + + The Asa-queen smiled in the glad pride of her mother-heart, + and said, "Yes, every thing shows honor to the best of + Odin's sons; for neither metal nor wood nor stone nor fire + nor water will touch Balder to do him harm." + + "Is it true, then," asked Loki, "that every thing has made + an oath to you, and promised not to hurt your son?" + + And the queen, not thinking what harm an unguarded word + might do, answered, "Every thing has promised, save a little + feeble sprig that men call the mistletoe. So small and weak + it is, that I knew it could never harm any one; and so I + passed it by, and did not ask it to take the oath." + + Then Loki went out of Fensal Hall, and left the Asa-queen at + her spinning. And he walked briskly away, and paused not + until he came to the eastern side of Valhal, where, on the + branches of an old oak, the mistletoe grew. Rudely he tore + the plant from its supporting branch, and hid it under his + cloak. Then he walked leisurely back to the place where the + Asa-folk were wont to meet in council. + + The next day the Asas went out, as usual, to engage in + pleasant pastimes on the plains of Ida. When they had tired + of leaping and foot-racing and tilting, they placed Balder + before them as a target again; and, as each threw his weapon + toward the shining mark, they laughed to see the missile + turn aside from its course, and refuse to strike the honored + one. But blind Hoder stood sorrowfully away from the others, + and did not join in any of their sports. Loki, seeing this, + went to him and said,-- + + "Brother of the gloomy brow, why do you not take part with + us in our games?" + + "I am blind," answered Hoder. "I can neither leap, nor run, + nor throw the lance." + + "But you can shoot arrows from your bow," said Loki. + + "Alas!" said Hoder, "that I can do only as some one shall + direct my aim, for I can see no target." + + "Do you hear that laughter?" asked Loki. "Thor has hurled + the straight trunk of a pine-tree at your brother; and, + rather than touch such a glorious mark; it has turned aside, + and been shivered to pieces upon the rocks over there. It is + thus that the Asa-folk, and all things living and lifeless, + honor Balder. Hoder is the only one who hangs his head, and + fears to do his part. Come, now, let me fit this little + arrow in your bow, and then, as I point it, do you shoot. + When you hear the gods laugh, you will know that your arrow + has shown honor to the hero by refusing to hit him." + + And Hoder, thinking no harm, did as Loki wished. And the + deadly arrow sped from the bow, and pierced the heart of + shining Balder, and he sank lifeless upon the ground. Then + the Asa-folk who saw it were struck speechless with sorrow + and dismay; and, had it not been that the Ida plains where + they then stood were sacred to peace, they would have seized + upon Loki, and put him to death. + + Forthwith the world was draped in mourning for Balder the + Good; the birds stopped singing, and flew with drooping + wings to the far South-land; the beasts sought to hide + themselves in their lairs and in the holes of the ground; + the trees shivered and sighed until their leaves fell + withered to the earth; the flowers closed their eyes, and + died; the rivers stopped flowing, and dark and threatening + billows veiled the sea; even the sun shrouded his face, and + withdrew silently towards the south. + + When Balder's good mother heard the sad news, she left her + golden spindle in Fensal Hall, and with her maidens hastened + to the Ida-plains, where the body of her son still lay. + Nanna, the faithful wife of Balder, was already there; and + wild was her grief at sight of the lifeless loved one. And + all the Asa-folk--save guilty Loki, who had fled for his + life--stood about them in dumb amazement. But Odin was the + most sorrowful of all; for he knew, that, with Balder, the + world had lost its most gladsome life. + + They lifted the body, and carried it down to the sea, where + the great ship "Ringhorn," which Balder himself had built, + lay ready to be launched. And a great company followed, and + stood upon the beach, and bewailed the untimely death of the + hero. First came Odin, with his grief-stricken queen, and + then his troop of handmaidens, the Valkyrien, followed by + his ravens Hugin and Munin. Then came Thor in his goat-drawn + car, and Heimdal on his horse Goldtop; then Frey, in his + wagon, behind the boar Gullinbruste of the golden bristles. + Then Freyja, in her chariot drawn by cats, came weeping + tears of gold. Lastly, poor blind Hoder, overcome with + grief, was carried thither on the back of one of the + Frost-giants. And Old AEgir, the Ocean king, raised his + dripping head above the water, and gazed with dewy eyes upon + the scene; and the waves, as if affrighted, left off their + playing, and were still. + + High on the deck they built the funeral-pile; and they + placed the body upon it, and covered it with costly + garments, and with woods of the finest scent; and the noble + horse which had been Balder's they slew, and placed beside + him, that he might not have to walk to the halls of Death. + And Odin took from his finger the ring Draupner, the earth's + enricher, and laid it on the pile. Then Nanna, the faithful + wife, was overcome with grief, and her gentle heart was + broken, and she fell lifeless at the feet of the Asa-queen. + And they carried her upon the ship, and laid her by her + husband's side. + + When all things were in readiness to set fire to the pile, + the gods tried to launch the ship; but it was so heavy that + they could not move it. So they sent in haste to Jotunheim + for the stout giantess Hyrroken; and she came with the speed + of the whirlwind, and riding on a wolf, which she guided + with a bridle of writhing snakes. + + "What will you have me do?" she asked. + + "We would have you launch the great ship 'Ring horn,'" + answered Odin. + + "That I will do!" roared the grim giantess. And, giving the + vessel a single push, she sent it sliding with speed into + the deep waters of the bay. Then she gave the word to her + grisly steed, and she flew onwards and away, no one knew + whither. + + The "Ringhorn" floated nobly upon the water,--a worthy bier + for the body which it bore. The fire was set to the + funeral-pile, and the red flames shot upwards to the sky; + but their light was but a flickering beam when matched with + the sun-bright beauty of Balder, whose body they consumed. + + Then the sorrowing folk turned away, and went back to their + homes: a cheerless gloom rested heavily where light gladness + had ruled before. And, when they reached the high halls of + Asgard, the Asa-queen spoke, and said,-- + + "Who now, for the love of Balder and his stricken mother, + will undertake an errand? Who will go down into the Valley + of Death, and seek for Balder, and ransom him, and bring him + back to Asgard and the mid-world?" + + Then Hermod the Nimble, the brother of Balder, answered, "I + will go. I will find him, and, with Hela's leave, will bring + him back." + + And he mounted Sleipner, the eight-footed steed, and + galloped swiftly away. Nine days and nine nights he rode + through strange valleys and mountain gorges, where the sun's + light had never been, and through gloomy darkness and + fearful silence, until he came to the black river, and the + glittering, golden bridge which crosses it. Over the bridge + his strong horse carried him; although it shook and swayed + and threatened to throw him into the raging, inky flood + below. On the other side a maiden keeps the gate, and Hermod + stopped to pay the toll. + + "What is thy name?" she asked. + + "My name is Hermod, and I am called the Nimble," he + answered. + + "What is thy father's name?" + + "His name is Odin. Mayhap you have heard of him." + + "Why ridest thou with such thunderous speed? Five kingdoms + of dead men passed over this bridge yesterday, and it shook + not with their weight as it did with thee and thy strange + steed. Thou art not of the pale multitude that are wont to + pass this gate. What is thy errand? and why ridest thou to + the domains of the dead?" + + "I go to find my brother Balder," answered Hermod. "It is + but a short time since he unwillingly came down into these + shades." + + "Three days ago," said the maiden, "Balder passed this way, + and by his side rode the faithful Nanna. So bright was his + presence, even here, that the whole valley was lighted up as + it had never before been lighted. The black river glittered + like a gem; the frowning mountains smiled for once; and Hela + herself, the queen of these regions, slunk far away into her + most distant halls. But Balder went on his way, and even now + he sups with Nanna in the dark castle over yonder." + + Then Hermod rode forward till he came to the castle walls. + These were built of black marble; and the iron gate was + barred and bolted, and none who went in had ever yet come + out. Hermod called loudly to the porter to open the gate and + let him in; but no one seemed to hear nor heed him, for the + words of the living are unknown in that place. Then he drew + the saddle-girths more tightly around the horse Sleipner, + and urged him forward. High up, the great horse leaped; and + he sprang clear over the gates, and landed at the open door + of the great hall. Leaving his steed, Hermod went boldly in; + and there he found his brother Balder and the faithful Nanna + seated at the festal board, and honored as the most worthy + of all the guests. With Balder, Hermod staid until the night + had passed; and many were the pleasant words they spoke. + When morning came, Hermod went into the presence of Hela, + and said,-- + + "O mighty queen! I come to ask a boon of thee. Balder the + Good, whom both gods and men loved, has been sent to dwell + with thee here in thy darksome house; and all the world + weeps for him, and has donned the garb of mourning, and + cannot be consoled until his bright light shall shine upon + them again. And the gods have sent me, his brother, to ask + thee to let Balder ride back with me to Asgard, to his + noble, sorrowing mother, the Asa-queen; for then will hope + live again in the hearts of men, and happiness will return + to the earth." + + The Death-queen was silent for a moment; and then she said + in a sad voice, "Hardly can I believe that any being is so + greatly loved by things living and lifeless; for surely + Balder is not more the friend of earth than I am, and yet + men love me not. But go thou back to Asgard; and, if every + thing shall weep for Balder, then I will send him to you. + But, if any thing shall refuse to weep, then I will keep him + in my halls." + + So Hermod made ready to return home; and Balder gave him the + ring Draupner to carry to his father as a keepsake; and + Nanna sent to the queen-mother a rich carpet of purest + green. Then the nimble messenger mounted his horse, and rode + swiftly back over the dark river, and through the frowning + valleys, until he at last reached Odin's halls. + + When the Asa-folk learned upon what terms they might have + Balder again with them, they sent heralds all over the world + to beseech every thing to mourn for him. And men and beasts, + and creeping things, and birds and fishes, and trees and + stones, and air and water,--all things, living and lifeless, + joined in weeping for the lost Balder. + + But, as the heralds were on their way back to Asgard, they + met a giantess named Thok, and they asked her to join in the + universal grief. And she answered, "What good thing did + Balder ever do for Thok? What gladness did he ever bring + her? If she should weep for him, it would be with dry tears. + Let Hela keep him in her halls."[EN#23] + + "And yet the day shall come," added the story-teller, "when + the words of the weird woman to Odin shall prove true; and + Balder shall come again to rule over a newborn world in + which there shall be no wrong-doing and no more death." + + + + + + Adventure XIV + How Gunther Outwitted Brunhild. + + + + While still the festivities were at their height, an old man + of noble mien, and with snow-white beard and hair, came into + the great hall, and sang for the gay company. And some + whispered that this must be Bragi, for surely such rare + music could not be made by any other. But he sang not of + spring, as Bragi does, nor yet of youth nor of beauty, nor + like one whose home is with the song-birds, and who lives + beside the babbling brooks and the leaping waterfalls. His + song was a sorrowful one,--of dying flowers, and falling + leaves, and the wailing winds of autumn, of forgotten joys, + of blasted hopes, of a crushed ambition, of gray hairs, of + uttering footsteps, of old age, of a lonely grave. And, as + he sang, all were moved to tears by the mournful melody and + the sad, sad words. + + "Good friend," said Siegfried, "thy music agrees not well + with this time and place; for, where nothing but mirth and + joy are welcome, thou hast brought sorrowful thoughts and + gloomy forebodings. Come, now, and undo the harm thou hast + done, by singing a song which shall tell only of mirth and + gladness." + + The old man shook his head, and answered, "Were I Bragi; as + some think I am, or were I even a strolling harper, I might + do as you ask. But I am neither, and I know no gladsome + songs. Men have called me a messenger of ill omen; and such, + indeed, I have sometimes been, although through no wish of + my own. I come as a herald from a far-off land, and I bear a + message to all the kings and the noblest chiefs of + Rhineland. If King Gunther will allow me, I will now make + that message known." + + "Let the herald speak on," said Gunther graciously. + + "Far over the sea," said the herald, "there lies a dreamy + land called Isenland; and in that land there is a glorious + castle, with six and eighty towers, built of purest marble, + green as grass. In that castle there lives the fairest of + all Earth's daughters, Brunhild, the maiden of the + spring-time. In the early days she was one of Odin's + Valkyrien; and with other heavenly maidens it was her duty + to follow, unseen, in the wake of armies, and when they met + in battle to hover over the field, and with kisses to waken + the dead heroes, and lead their souls away to Odin's glad + banquet-hall. But upon a day she failed to do the + All-Father's bidding, and he, in anger, sent her to live + among men, and like them to be short-lived, and subject to + old age and death. But the childless old king of Isenland + took pity upon the friendless maiden, and called her his + daughter, and made her his heir. Then Odin, still more + angered, sent the thorn of sleep to wound the princess. And + sleep seized upon every creature in Isenland, and silence + reigned in the halls of the marble palace. For Odin said, + 'Thus shall they all sleep until the hero comes, who will + ride through fire, and awaken Brunhild with a kiss.' + + "At last the hero so long waited for came. He passed the + fiery barrier safe, and awoke the slumbering maiden; and all + the castle sprang suddenly into life again. And Brunhild + became known once more as the most glorious princess in this + mid-world. But the sun-bright hero who freed her from her + prison of sleep vanished from Isenland, and no one knew + where he went; but men say that he rides through the noble + world, the fairest and the best of kings. And Brunhild has + sought for him in many lands; and, although all folk have + heard of his deeds, none know where he dwells. And so, as a + last resort, she has sent heralds into every land to + challenge every king to match his skill with hers in three + games of strength,--in casting the spear, in hurling the + heavy stone, and in leaping. The one who can equal her in + these feats shall be king of Isenland, and share with her + the throne of Isenstein. And by this means she hopes to find + the long-absent hero; for she believes that there is no + other prince on earth whose strength and skill are equal to + her own. Many men have already risked their lives in this + adventure, and all have failed. + + "And now, King Gunther," continued the herald, "I have come + by her orders into Rhineland, and I deliver the challenge to + you. If you accept, and are beaten, your life is forfeited. + If you succeed, the fairest kingdom and the most beautiful + queen in the world are yours; for you will have proved that + you are at least the equal of the hero whom she seeks. What + reply shall I carry back to Isenland?" + + King Gunther answered hastily, and as one dazed and in a + dream, "Say that I accept the challenge, and that when the + spring-time comes again, and the waters in the river are + unlocked, I shall go to Isenland, and match my skill and + strength with that of the fair and mighty Brunhild." + + All who stood around were greatly astonished at Gunther's + reply; for, although his mind was somewhat weak, he was not + given to rash and hazardous undertakings. And Siegfried, who + was at his side, whispered, "Think twice, friend Gunther, + ere you decide. You do not know the strength of this mighty + but lovely warrior-maiden. Were your strength four times + what it is, you could not hope to excel her in those feats. + Give up this hasty plan, I pray you, and recall your answer + to the challenge. Think no more of such an undertaking, for + it surely will cost you your life." + + But these warnings, and the words of others who tried to + dissuade him, only made Gunther the more determined; and he + vowed that nothing should hinder him from undertaking the + adventure. Then the dark-browed Hagen said,-- + + "Our friend Siegfried seems to know much about Isenland and + its maiden-queen. And indeed, if there is any truth in + hearsay, he has had the best of means for learning. Now, if + our good King Gunther has set his mind on going upon this + dangerous enterprise, mayhap Siegfried would be willing to + bear him company." + + Gunther was pleased with Hagen's words; and he said to + Siegfried, "My best of friends, go with me to Isenland, and + help me. If we do well in our undertaking, ask of me any + reward you wish, and I will give it you, so far as in my + power lies." + + "You know, kind Gunther," answered Siegfried, "that for + myself I have no fear; and yet again I would warn you to + shun the unknown dangers with which this enterprise is + fraught. But if, after all, your heart is set upon it, make + ready to start as soon as the warm winds shall have melted + the ice from the river. I will go with you." + + The king grasped Siegfried's hand, and thanked him heartily. + + "We must build a fleet," said he. "A thousand fighting-men + shall go with us, and we will land in Isenland with a + retinue such as no other prince has had. A number of stanch + vessels shall be built at once, and in the early spring they + shall be launched upon the Rhine." + + Siegfried was amused at Gunther's earnestness, and he + answered, "Do not think of taking such a following. You + would waste twelve months in building and victualling such a + fleet. You would take from Burgundy its only safeguard + against foes from without; and, after you should reach + Isenland, you would find such a large force to be altogether + useless. Take my advice: have one small vessel built and + rigged and victualled for the long and dangerous voyage; + and, when the time shall come, you and I, and your kinsmen + Hagen and Dankwart,--we four only,--will undertake the + voyage and the emprise you have decided upon." + + Gunther knew that his friend's judgment in this matter was + better than his own, and he agreed readily to all of + Siegfried's plans. + + * * * * * + + When, at length, the winter months began to wane, many hands + were busy making ready for the voyage. The peerless + Kriemhild called together thirty of her maidens, the most + skilful seamstresses in Burgundyland, and began the making + of rich clothing for her brother and his friends.[EN#24] + With her own fair hands she cut out garments from the rarest + stuffs,--from the silky skins brought from the sunny lands + of Lybia; from the rich cloth of Zazemang, green as clover; + from the silk that traders bring from Araby, white as the + drifted snow. For seven weeks the clever maidens and their + gentle mistress plied their busy needles, and twelve suits + of wondrous beauty they made for each of the four heroes. + And the princely garments were covered with fine + needle-work, and with curious devices all studded with rare + and costly jewels; and all were wrought with threads of + gold. + + Many carpenters and ship-builders were busy with axes and + hammers, and flaming forges, working day and night to make + ready a vessel new and stanch, to carry the adventurers over + the sea. And great stores of food, and of all things needful + to their safety or comfort, were brought together and put on + board. + + Neither were the heroes themselves idle; for when not busy + in giving directions to the workmen, or in overseeing the + preparations that were elsewhere going on, they spent the + time in polishing their armor (now long unused), in looking + after their weapons, or in providing for the management of + their business while away. And Siegfried forgot not his + trusty sword Balmung, nor his cloak of darkness the + priceless Tarnkappe, which he had captured from the dwarf + Alberich in the Nibelungen Land. + + Then the twelve suits of garments which fair fingers had + wrought were brought. And when the men tried them on, so + faultless was the fit, so rare and perfect was every piece + in richness and beauty, that even the wearers were amazed, + and all declared that such dazzling and kingly raiment had + never before been seen. + + At last the spring months had fairly vanquished all the + forces of the cold North-land. The warm breezes had melted + the snow and ice, and unlocked the river; and the time had + come for Gunther and his comrades to embark. The little + ship, well victualled, and made stanch and stout in every + part, had been launched upon the Rhine; and she waited with + flying streamers and impatient sails the coming of her crew. + Down the sands at length they came, riding upon their + steeds; and behind them followed a train of vassals bearing + their kingly garments and their gold-red shields. And on the + banks stood many of the noblest folk of Burgundy,--Gernot + and the young Giselher, and Ute the queen-mother, and + Kriemhild the peerless, and a number of earl-folk, and + warriors, and fair dames, and blushing damsels. And the + heroes bade farewell to their weeping friends, and went upon + the waiting vessel, taking their steeds with them. And + Siegfried seized an oar, and pushed the bark off from the + shore. + + "I myself will be the steersman, for I know the way," he + said. + + And the sails were unfurled to the brisk south wind, and the + vessel sped swiftly toward the sea; and many fair eyes were + filled tears as they watched it until it could be seen no + more. And with sighs and gloomy forebodings the good people + went back to their homes, and but few hoped ever again to + see their king and his brave comrades. + + Driven by favorable winds, the trusty little vessel sailed + gayly down the Rhine, and, ere many days had passed, was out + in the boundless sea. For a long time the heroes sailed and + rowed through Old AEgir's watery kingdom. But they kept good + cheer, and their hearts rose higher and higher; for each day + they drew nearer the end of their voyage and the goal of + their hopes. At length they came in sight of a far-reaching + coast and a lovely land; and not far from the shore they saw + a noble fortress, with a number of tall towers pointing + toward the sky. + + "What land is that?" asked the king.[EN#25] + + And Siegfried answered that it was Isenland, and that the + fortress which they saw was the Castle of Isenstein and the + green marble hall of the Princess Brunhild. But he warned + his friends to be very wary when they should arrive at the + hall. + + "Let all tell this story," said he: "say that Gunther is the + king, and that I am his faithful vassal. The success of our + undertaking depends on this." And his three comrades + promised to do as he advised. + + As the vessel neared the shore, the whole castle seemed to + be alive. From every tower and turret-window, from every + door and balcony, lords and ladies, fighting-men and + serving-men, looked out to see what strangers these were who + came thus unheralded to Isenland. The heroes went on shore + with their steeds, leaving the vessel moored to the bank; + and then they rode slowly up the beach, and across the + narrow plain, and came to the drawbridge and the great + gateway, where they paused. + + The matchless Brunhild in her chamber had been told of the + coming of the strangers; and she asked the maidens who stood + around,-- + + "Who, think you, are the unknown warriors who thus come + boldly to Isenstein without asking leave? What is their + bearing? Do they seem to be worthy of our notice? or are + they some straggling beggars who have lost their way?" + + And one of the maidens, looking through the casement, + answered, "The first is a king, I know, from his noble mien + and the respect which his fellows pay to him. But the second + bears himself with a prouder grace, and seems the noblest of + them all. He reminds me much of the brave young Siegfried of + former days. Indeed, it must be Siegfried; for he rides a + steed with sunbeam mane, which can be none other than + Greyfell. The third is a dark and gloomy man: he wears a + sullen frown upon his brow, and his eyes seem to shoot quick + glances around. How nervously he grasps his sword-hilt, as + if ever guarding against surprise! I think his temper must + be grim and fiery, and his heart a heart of flint. The + fourth and last of the company is young and fair, and of + gentle port. Little business has he with rude warriors; and + many tears, methinks, would be shed for him at home should + harm overtake him. Never before have I seen so noble a + company of strangers in Isenland. Their garments are of + dazzling lustre; their saddles are covered with gem-stones; + their weapons are of unequalled brightness. Surely they are + worthy of your notice." + + When Brunhild heard that Siegfried was one of the company, + she was highly pleased, and she hastened to make ready to + meet them in the great hall. And she sent ten worthy lords + to open the gate, and to welcome the heroes to Isenland. + + When Siegfried and his comrades passed through the great + gateway, and came into the castle-yard, their horses were + led away to the stables, and the clanging armor and the + broad shields and swords which they carried were taken from + them, and placed in the castle armory. Little heed was paid + to Hagen's surly complaint at thus having every means of + defence taken away. He was told that such had always been + the rule at Isenstein, and that he, like others, must + submit. + + After a short delay the heroes were shown into the great + hall, where the matchless Brunhild already was awaiting + them. Clad in richest raiment, from every fold of which rare + jewels gleamed, and wearing a coronet of pearls and gold, + the warrior-maiden sat on a throne of snow-white ivory. Five + hundred earl-folk and warriors, the bravest in Isenland, + stood around her with drawn swords, and fierce, determined + looks. Surely men of mettle less heroic than that of the + four knights from Rhineland would have quaked with fear in + such a presence. + + King Gunther and his comrades went forward to salute the + queen. With a winning smile she kindly greeted them, and + then said to Siegfried, "Gladly do we welcome you back to + our land, friend Siegfried, We have ever remembered you as + our best friend. May we ask what is your will, and who are + these warriors whom you have with you?" + + "Most noble queen," answered he, "right thankful am I that + you have not forgotten me, and that you should deign to + notice me while in the presence of this my liege lord," and + he pointed towards King Gunther. "The king of all + Burgundy-land, whose humble vassal I am, has heard the + challenge you have sent into different lands, and he has + come to match his strength with yours." + + "Does he know the conditions?" asked Brunhild. + + "He does," was the answer. "In case of success, the fairest + of women for his queen: in case of failure, death." + + "Yet scores of worthy men have made trial, and all have + failed," said she. "I warn your liege lord to pause, and + weigh well the chances ere he runs so great a risk." + + Then Gunther stepped forward and spoke:-- + + "The chances, fairest queen, have all been weighed, and + nothing can change our mind. Make your own terms, arrange + every thing as pleases you best. We accept your challenge, + and ask to make a trial of our strength." + + The warrior-maiden, without more words, bade her servants + help her to make ready at once for the contest. She donned a + rich war-coat, brought long ago from the far-off Lybian + shores,--an armor which, it was said, no sword could dint, + and upon which the heaviest stroke of spear fell harmless. + Her hemlet was edged with golden lace, and sparkled all over + with rich gem-stones. Her lance, of wondrous length, a heavy + weight for three stout men, was brought. Her shield was as + broad and as bright as the sun, and three spans thick with + steel and gold. + + While the princess was thus arming herself, the heroes + looked on with amazement and fear. But Siegfried, unnoticed, + hastened quietly out of the hall, and through the open + castle-gate, and sped like the wind to the seashore and to + their little ship. There he arrayed himself in the + Tarnkappe, and then, silent and unseen, he ran back to his + friends in the great hall. + + "Be of good cheer," he whispered in the ears of the + trembling Gunther. + + But the king could not see who it was that spoke to him, so + well was the hero hidden in the cloak of darkness. Yet he + knew that it must be Siegfried and he felt greatly + encouraged. + + Hagen's frowning face grew darker, and the uneasy glances + which shot from beneath his shaggy eyebrows were not those + of fear, but of anger and deep anxiety. Dankwart gave up all + as lost, and loudly bewailed their folly. + + "Must we, unarmed, stand still and see our liege lord slain + for a woman's whim?" he cried. "Had we only our good swords, + we might defy this maiden-queen and all her Isenland." + + Brunhild overheard his words. Scornfully she called to her + servants, "Bring to these boasters their armor, and let them + have their keen-edged swords. Brunhild has no fear of such + men, whether they be armed or unarmed." + + When Hagen and Dankwart felt their limbs again enclosed in + steel, and when they held their trusty swords in hand, their + uneasiness vanished, and hope returned. + + In the castle-yard a space was cleared, and Brunhild's five + hundred warriors stood around as umpires. The unseen + Siegfried kept close by Gunther's side. + + "Fear not," he said. "Do my bidding, and you are safe. Let + me take your shield. When the time comes, make you the + movements, and trust me to do the work." + + Then Brunhild threw her spear at Gunther's shield. The + mighty weapon sped through the air with the swiftness of + lightning; and, when it struck the shield, both Gunther and + the unseen Siegfried fell to the ground, borne down by its + weight and the force with which it was thrown. Blood gushed + from the nostrils of both; and sad would have been their + fate if the friendly Tarnkappe had not hidden Siegfried from + sight, and given him the strength of twelve giants. Quickly + they rose. And Gunther seemed to pick up the heavy shaft, + but it was really Siegfried who raised it from the ground. + For one moment he poised the great beam in the air, and + then, turning the blunt end foremost, he sent it flying back + more swiftly than it had come. It struck the huge shield + which Brunhild held before her, with a sound that echoed to + the farthest cliffs of Isenland. The warrior-maiden was + dashed to the earth; but, rising at once, she cried,-- + + "That was a noble blow, Sir Gunther. I confess myself fairly + outdone. But there are two chances yet, and you will do well + if you equal me in those. We will now try hurling the stone, + and jumping." + + Twelve men came forward, carrying a huge rough stone in + weight a ton or more. And Brunhild raised this mass of rock + in her white arms, and held it high above her head; then she + swung it backwards once, and threw it a dozen fathoms across + the castle-yard. Scarcely had it reached the ground when the + mighty maiden leaped after, and landed just beside it. And + the thousand lookers-on shouted in admiration. But old Hagen + bit his unshorn lip, and cursed the day that had brought + them to Isenland. + + Gunther and the unseen Siegfried, not at all disheartened, + picked up the heavy stone, which was half buried in the + ground, and, lifting it with seeming ease, threw it swiftly + forward. Not twelve, but twenty, fathoms it flew; and + Siegfried, snatching up Gunther in his arms, leaped after, + and landed close to the castle-wall. And Brunhild believed + that Gunther alone had done these great feats through his + own strength and skill; and she at once acknowledged herself + beaten in the games, and bade her vassals do homage to + Gunther as their rightful liege lord. + + Alas that the noblest of men-folk should gave stooped to + such deed of base deception! The punishment, although long + delayed, came surely at last; for not even the highest are + exempt from obedience to Heaven's behests and the laws of + right. + + When the contest was ended, the unseen Siegfried ran quickly + back to the little ship, and hastily doffed the magic + Tarnkappe. Then, in his own form, he returned to the castle, + and leisurely entered the castle-yard. When he met his + pleased comrades and the vanquished maiden-queen, he asked + in careless tones when the games would begin. All who heard + his question laughed; and Brunhild said,-- + + "Surely, Sir Siegfried, the old sleep-thorn of Isenstein + must have caught you, and held you in your ship. The games + are over, and Gunther, your liege lord, is the winner." + + At this news Siegfried seemed much delighted, as indeed he + was. And all went together to the great banquet-hall, where + a rich feast was served to our heroes and to the worthy + earl-folk and warriors of Isenland. + + + + + + Adventure XV + In Nibelungen Land Again. + + + + When the folk of Isenland learned that their queen had been + outwitted and won by a strange chief from a far-off and + unknown land, great was their sorrow and dismay; for they + loved the fair maiden-queen, and they feared to exchange her + mild reign for that of an untried foreigner. Nor was the + queen herself at all pleased with the issue of the late + contest. She felt no wish to leave her loved people, and her + pleasant home, and the fair island which was her kingdom, to + take up her abode in a strange land, as the queen of one for + whom she could feel no respect. And every one wondered how + it was that a man like Gunther, so commonplace, and so + feeble in his every look and act, could have done such + deeds, and won the wary warrior-maiden. + + "If it had only been Siegfried!" whispered the maidens among + themselves. + + "If it had only been Siegfried!" murmured the knights and + the fighting-men. + + "If it had only been Siegfried!" thought the queen, away + down in the most secret corner of her heart. And she shut + herself up in her room, and gave wild vent to her feelings + of grief and disappointment. + + Then heralds mounted the swiftest horses, and hurried to + every village and farm, and to every high-towered castle, in + the land. And they carried word to all of Brunhild's kinsmen + and liegemen, bidding them to come without delay to + Isenstein. And every man arose as with one accord, and + hastened to obey the call of their queen. And the whole land + was filled with the notes of busy preparation for war. And + day by day to the castle the warriors came and went, and the + sound of echoing horse-hoofs, and the rattling of ready + swords, and the ringing of the war-shields, were heard on + every hand. + + "What means this treason?" cried Gunther in dismay. "The coy + warrior-maiden would fain break her plighted word; and we, + here in our weakness, shall perish from her wrath." + + And even old Hagen, who had never felt a fear when meeting a + host in open battle, was troubled at the thought of the + mischief which was brewing. + + "'Tis true, too true," he said, and the dark frown deepened + on his face, "that we have done a foolish thing. For we four + men have come to this cheerless land upon a hopeless errand; + and, if we await the gathering of the storm, our ruin will + be wrought." And he grasped his sword-hilt with such force, + that his knuckles grew white as he paced fiercely up and + down the hall. + + Dankwart, too, bewailed the fate that had driven them into + this net, from which he saw no way of escape. And both the + warriors besought King Gunther to take ship at once, and to + sail for Rhineland before it was too late. But Siegfried + said,-- + + "What account will you give to the folk at home, if you thus + go back beaten, outwitted, and ashamed? Brave warriors, + indeed! we should be called. Wait a few days, and trust all + to me. When Brunhild's warriors shall be outnumbered by our + own, she will no longer hesitate, and our return to + Rhineland shall be a triumphant one; for we shall carry the + glorious warrior-queen home with us." + + "Yes," answered Hagen, mocking, "we will wait until her + warriors are outnumbered by our own. But how long shall that + be? Will the lightning carry the word to Burgundy? and will + the storm-clouds bring our brave men from across the sea? + Had you allowed King Gunther's plans to be followed, they + would have been here with us now, and we might have quelled + this treason at the first." + + And Dankwart said, "By this time the fields of the + South-land are green with young corn, and the meadows are + full of sweet-smelling flowers, and the summer comes on + apace. Why should we stay longer in this chilly and + fog-ridden land, waiting upon the whims of a fickle + maiden,--as fickle as the winds themselves? Better face the + smiles and the jeers of the folk at home than suffer + shameful shipwreck in this cold Isenland." + + But Siegfried would not be moved by the weak and wavering + words of his once valiant comrades. + + "Trust me," he said, "and all will yet be well. Wait here + but a few days longer in quietness, while I go aboard ship, + and fare away. Within three days I will bring to Isenstein a + host of warriors such as you have never seen. And then the + fickle fancies of Brunhild will flee, and she will no longer + refuse to sail with us to the now sunny South-land." + + Hagen frowned still more deeply; and as he strode away he + muttered, "He only wants to betray us, and leave us to die + in this trap which he himself has doubtless set for us." + + But Gunther anxiously grasped the hand of Siegfried, and + said, "Go! I trust you, and believe in you. But be sure not + to linger, for no one knows what a day may bring forth in + this uncertain and variable clime." + + Without saying a word in reply, Siegfried turned, and + hastened down to the shore. Without any loss of time he + unmoored the little ship, and stepped aboard. Then he donned + his Tarnkappe, spread the sails, and seized the helm; and + the vessel, like a bird with woven wings, sped swiftly out + of the bay, and Isenstein, with its wide halls and + glass-green towers, was soon lost to the sight of the + invisible helmsman. For four and twenty hours did Siegfried + guide the flying vessel as it leaped from wave to wave, and + sent the white foam dashing to left and right like flakes of + snow. And late on the morrow he came to a rock-bound coast, + where steep cliffs and white mountain-peaks rose up, as it + were, straight out of the blue sea. Having found a safe and + narrow inlet, he moored his little bark; and, keeping the + Tarnkappe well wrapped around him, he stepped ashore. + Briskly he walked along the rough shore, and through a dark + mountain-pass, until he came to a place well known to + him,--a place where, years before, he had seen a cavern's + yawning mouth, and a great heap of shining treasures, and + two princes dying of hunger. But now, upon the selfsame spot + there stood a frowning fortress, dark and gloomy and strong, + which Siegfried himself had built in after-years; and the + iron gates were barred and bolted fast, and no living being + was anywhere to be seen. + + Loud and long did Siegfried, wrapped in his cloak of + darkness, knock and call outside. At last a grim old giant, + who sat within, and kept watch and ward of the gate, cried + out,-- + + "Who knocks there?" + + Siegfried, angrily and in threatening tones, answered,-- + + "Open the gate at once, lazy laggard, and ask no questions. + A stranger, who has lost his way among the mountains, seeks + shelter from the storm which is coming. Open the gate + without delay, or I will break it down upon your dull head." + + Then the giant in hot anger seized a heavy iron beam, and + flung the gate wide open, and leaped quickly out to throttle + the insolent stranger. Warily he glanced around on every + side; but Siegfried was clad in the magic Tarnkappe, and the + giant could see no one. Amazed and ashamed, he turned to + shut the gate, and to go again to his place; for he began to + believe that a foolish dream had awakened and deceived him. + Then the unseen Siegfried seized him from behind; and though + he struggled hard, and fought with furious strength, our + hero threw him upon the ground, and bound him with cords of + sevenfold strength. + + The unwonted noise at the gate rang through the castle, and + awakened the sleeping inmates. The dwarf Alberich, who kept + the fortress against Siegfried's return, and who watched the + Nibelungen treasure, which was stored in the hollow hill, + arose, and donned his armor, and hurried to the giant's + help. A right stout dwarf was Alberich; and, as we have seen + in a former adventure, he was as bold as stout. Armed in a + war-coat of steel, he ran out to the gate, flourishing a + seven-thonged whip, on each thong of which a heavy golden + ball was hung. Great was his amazement and his wrath when he + saw the giant lying bound and helpless upon the ground; and + with sharp, eager eyes he peered warily around to see if, + perchance, he might espy his hidden foe. But, when he could + find no one, his anger grew hotter than before, and he swung + his golden scourge fiercely about his head. Well was it for + Siegfried then, that the Tarnkappe hid him from sight; for + the dwarf kept pounding about in air so sturdily and strong, + that, even as it was, he split the hero's shield from the + centre to the rim. Then Siegfried rushed quickly upon the + doughty little fellow, and seized him by his long gray + beard, and threw him so roughly upon the ground, that + Alberich shrieked with pain. + + "Spare me, I pray you," he cried. "I know that you are no + mean knight; and, if I had not promised to serve my master + Siegfried until death, I fain would acknowledge you as my + lord." + + But Siegfried bound the writhing dwarf, and placed him, + struggling and helpless, by the side of the giant. + + "Tell me, now, your name, I pray," said the dwarf; "for I + must give an account of this adventure to my master when he + comes." + + "Who is your master?" + + "His name is Siegfried; and he is king of the Nibelungens, + and lord, by right, of the great Nibelungen Hoard. To me and + to my fellows he long ago intrusted the keeping of this + castle and of the Hoard that lies deep hidden in the hollow + hill; and I have sworn to keep it safe until his return." + + Then Siegfried threw off his Tarnkappe, and stood in his own + proper person before the wonder-stricken dwarf. + + "Noble Siegfried," cried the delighted Alberich, "right glad + I am that you have come again to claim your own. Spare my + life, and pardon me, I pray, and let me know what is your + will. Your bidding shall be done at once." + + "Hasten, then," said Siegfried, loosing him from his + bonds,--"hasten, and arouse my Nibelungen hosts. Tell them + that their chief has come again to Mist Land, and that he + has work for them to do." + + Then Alberich, when he had set the giant gatekeeper free, + sent heralds to every town and castle in the land to make + known the words and wishes of Siegfried. And the gallant + Nibelungen warriors, when they heard that their liege lord + had come again, sprang up joyously, and girded on their + armor, and hastened to obey his summons. And soon the + strong-built castle was full of noble men,--of earls, and + the faithful liegemen who had known Siegfried of old. And + joyful and happy were the words of greeting. + + In the mean while, Alberich had busied himself in preparing + a great feast for his master and his master's chieftains. In + the long low hall that the dwarfs had hollowed out within + the mountain's heart, the table was spread, and on it was + placed every delicacy that could be wished. There were + fruits and wines from the sunny South-land, and snow-white + loaves made from the wheat of Gothland, and fish from Old + AEgir's kingdom, and venison from the king's wild-wood, and + the flesh of many a fowl most delicately baked, and, near + the head of the board, a huge wild boar roasted whole. And + the hall was lighted by a thousand tapers, each held in the + hands of a swarthy elf; and the guests were served by the + elf-women, who ran hither and thither, obedient to every + call. But Alberich, at Siegfried's desire, sat upon the dais + at his lord's right hand. Merriment ruled the hour, and + happy greetings were heard on every side. And, when the + feast was at its height, a troop of hill-folk came dancing + into the hall; and a hundred little fiddlers, perched in the + niches of the wall, made merry music, and kept time for the + busy, clattering little feet. And when the guests had tired + of music and laughter, and the dancers had gone away, and + the tables no longer groaned under the weight of good cheer + Siegfried and his earls still sat at their places, and + beguiled the hours with pleasant talk and with stories of + the earlier days. And Alberich, as the master of the feast, + told a tale of the dwarf-folk, and how once they were + visited in their hill-home by Loki the Mischief-maker. + + + + Alberich's Story. + + + + My story begins with the Asa-folk, and has as much to do + with the gods as with my kinsmen the dwarfs. It happened + long ago, when the world was young, and the elf-folk had not + yet lost all their ancient glory. + + Sif, as you all know, is Thor's young wife, and she is very + fair. It is said, too, that she is as gentle and lovable as + her husband is rude and strong; and that while he rides + noisily through storm and wind, furiously fighting the foes + of the mid-world, she goes quietly about, lifting up the + down-trodden, and healing the broken-hearted. In the summer + season, when the Thunderer has driven the Storm-giants back + to their mist-hidden mountain homes, and the black clouds + have been rolled away, and piled upon each other in the far + east, Sif comes gleefully tripping through the meadows, + raising up the bruised flowers, and with smiles calling the + frightened birds from their hiding-places to frolic and sing + in the fresh sunshine again. The growing fields and the + grassy mountain slopes are hers; and the rustling green + leaves, and the sparkling dewdrops, and the sweet odors of + spring blossoms, and the glad songs of the summer-time, + follow in her footsteps. + + Sif, as I have said, is very fair; and, at the time of my + story, there was one thing of which she was a trifle vain. + That was her long silken hair, which fell in glossy waves + almost to her feet. On calm, warm days, she liked to sit by + the side of some still pool, and gaze at her own beauty + pictured in the water below, while, like the sea-maidens of + old AEgir's kingdom, she combed and braided her rich, + flowing tresses. And in all the mid-world nothing has ever + been seen so like the golden sunbeams as was Sif's silken + hair. + + At that time the cunning Mischief-maker, Loki, was still + living with the Asa-folk. And, as you well know, this evil + worker was never pleased save when he was plotting trouble + for those who were better than himself. He liked to meddle + with business which was not his own, and was always trying + to mar the pleasures of others. His tricks and jokes were + seldom of the harmless kind, and yet great good sometimes + grew out of them. + + When Loki saw how proud Sif was of her long hair, and how + much time she spent in combing and arranging it, he planned + a very cruel piece of mischief. He hid himself in a little + rocky cavern, near the pool where Sif was wont to sit, and + slily watched her all the morning as she braided and + unbraided her flowing silken locks. At last, overcome by the + heat of the mid-day sun, she fell asleep upon the grassy + bank. Then the Mischief-maker quietly crept near, and with + his sharp shears cut off all that wealth of hair, and shaved + her head until it was as smooth as her snow-white hand. Then + he hid himself again in the little cave, and chuckled with + great glee at the wicked thing he had done. + + By and by Sif awoke, and looked into the stream; but she + started quickly back with horror and affright at the image + which she saw. She felt of her shorn head; and, when she + learned that those rich waving tresses which had been her + joy and pride were no longer there, she knew not what to do. + Hot, burning tears ran down her cheeks, and with sobs and + shrieks she began to call aloud for Thor. Forthwith there + was a terrible uproar. The lightning flashed, and the + thunder rolled, and an earthquake shook the rocks and trees. + Loki, looking out from his hiding-place, saw that Thor was + coming, and he trembled with fear; for he knew, that, should + the Thunderer catch him, he would have to pay dearly for his + wicked sport. He ran quickly out of the cavern, and leaped + into the river, and changed himself into a salmon, and swam + as swiftly as he could away from the shore. + + But Thor was not so easily fooled; for he had long known + Loki, and was acquainted with all his cunning ways. So when + he saw Sif bewailing her stolen hair, and beheld the + frightened salmon hurrying alone towards the deep water, he + was at no loss to know whose work this mischief was. + Straightway he took upon himself the form of a sea-gull, and + soared high up over the water. Then, poising a moment in the + air, he darted, swift as an arrow, down into the river. When + he arose from the water, he held the struggling salmon + tightly grasped in his strong talons. + + "Vile Mischief-maker!" cried Thor, as he alighted upon the + top of a neighboring crag: "I know thee who thou art; and I + will make thee bitterly rue the work of this day. Limb from + limb will I tear thee, and thy bones will I grind into + powder." + + Loki, when he saw that he could not by any means get away + from the angry Thunderer, changed himself back to his own + form, and humbly said to Thor,-- + + "What if you do your worst with me? Will that give back a + single hair to Sif's shorn head? What I did was only a + thoughtless joke, and I really meant no harm. Do but spare + my life, and I will more than make good the mischief I have + done." + + "How can that be?" asked Thor. + + "I will hie me straight to the secret smithies of dwarfs," + answered Loki; "and those cunning little kinsmen of mine + shall make golden tresses for fair Sif, which will grow upon + her head like other hair, and cause her to be an + hundred-fold more beautiful than before." + + Thor knew that Loki was a slippery fellow, and that he did + not always do what he promised, and hence he would not let + him go. He called to Frey, who had just come up, and said,-- + + "Come, cousin Frey, help me to rid the world of this sly + thief. While I hold fast to his raven hair, and his long + slim arms, do you seize him by the heels, and we will give + his limbs to the fishes, and his body to the birds, for + food." + + Loki, now thoroughly frightened, wept, and kissed Frey's + feet, and humbly begged for mercy. And he promised that he + would bring from the dwarf's smithy, not only the golden + hair for Sif, but also a mighty hammer for Thor, and a swift + steed for Frey. So earnest were his words, and so pitiful + was his plea, that Thor at last set the trembling + Mischief-maker free, and bade him hasten away on his errand. + Quickly, then, he went in search of the smithy of the + dwarfs. + + He crossed the desert moorlands, and came, after three days, + to the bleak hill-country, and the rugged mountain-land of + the South. There the earthquake had split the mountains + apart, and dug dark and bottomless gorges, and hollowed out + many a low-walled cavern, where the light of day was never + seen. Through deep, winding ways, and along narrow crevices, + Loki crept; and he glided under huge rocks, and downward + through slanting, crooked clefts, until at last he came to a + great underground hall, where his eyes were dazzled by a + light which was stronger and brighter than day; for on every + side were glowing fires, roaring in wonderful little forges, + and blown by wonderful little bellows And the vaulted roof + above was thickly set with diamonds and precious stones, + that sparkled and shone like thousands of bright stars in + the blue sky. And the little dwarfs, with comical brown + faces, and wearing strange leathern aprons, and carrying + heavy hammers, were hurrying here and there, each busy at + his task. Some were smelting pure gold from the coarse rough + rocks; others were making precious gems, and rich rare + jewels, such as the proudest king would be glad to wear. + Here, one was shaping pure, round pearls from dewdrops and + maidens' tears; there, another wrought green emeralds from + the first leaves of spring. So busy were they all, that they + neither stopped nor looked up when Loki came into their + hall, but all kept hammering and blowing and working, as if + their lives depended upon their being always busy. + + After Loki had curiously watched their movements for some + time, he spoke to the dwarf whose forge was nearest to him, + and made known his errand. But the little fellow was + fashioning a flashing diamond, which he called the Mountain + of Light; and he scarcely looked up as he answered,-- + + "I do not work in gold. Go to Ivald's sons: they will make + whatever you wish." + + To Ivald's sons, then, in the farthest and brightest corner + of the hall, Loki went. They very readily agreed to make the + golden hair for Sif, and they began the work at once. A lump + of purest gold was brought, and thrown into the glowing + furnace; and it was melted and drawn, and melted and drawn, + seven times. Then it was given to a little brown elf with + merry, twinkling eyes, who carried it with all speed to + another part of the great hall, where the dwarfs' pretty + wives were spinning. One of the little women took the yellow + lump from the elf's hands, and laid it, like flax, upon her + spinning-wheel. Then she sat down and began to spin; and, as + she span, the dwarf-wives sang a strange, sweet song of the + old, old days when the dwarf-folk ruled the world. And the + tiny brown elves danced gleefully around the spinner, and + the thousand little anvils rang out a merry chorus to the + music of the singers. And the yellow gold was twisted into + threads, and the threads ran into hair softer than silk, and + finer than gossamer. And at last the dwarf-woman held in her + hand long golden tresses ten times more beautiful than the + amber locks that Loki had cut from Sif's fair head. When + Ivald's sons, proud of their skill, gave the rare treasure + to the Mischief-maker, Loki smiled as if he were well + pleased; but in his heart he was angry because the dwarfs + had made so fair a piece of workmanship. Then he said,-- + + "This is, indeed, very handsome, and will be very becoming + to Sif. Oh, what an uproar was made about those flaxen + tresses that she loved so well! And that reminds me that her + husband, the gruff old Giant-killer, wants a hammer. I + promised to get him one; and, if I fail, he will doubtless + be rude with me. I pray you make such a hammer as will be of + most use to him in fighting the Jotuns, and you may win + favor both for yourselves and me." + + "Not now," said the elder of Ivald's sons. "We cannot make + it now; for who would dare to send a present to Thor before + he has offered one to Odin, the great All-Father?" + + "Make me, then, a gift for Odin," cried Loki; "and he will + shelter me from the Thunderer's wrath." + + So the dwarfs put iron into their furnace, and heated it to + a glowing white-heat; and then they drew it out, and rolled + it upon their anvils, and pounded it with heavy hammers, + until they had wrought a wondrous spear, such as no man had + ever seen. Then they inlaid it with priceless jewels, and + plated the point with gold seven times tried. + + "This is the spear Gungner," said they. "Take it to the + great All-Father as the best gift of his humble + earth-workers." + + "Make me now a present for Frey the gentle," said Loki. "I + owe my life to him; and I have promised to take him a swift + steed that will bear him everywhere." + + Then Ivald's sons threw gold into the furnace, and blew with + their bellows until the very roof of the great cave-hall + seemed to tremble, and the smoke rolled up the wide chimney, + and escaped in dense fumes from the mountain-top. When they + left off working, and the fire died away, a fairy ship, with + masts and sails, and two banks of long oars, and a golden + dragon stem, rose out of the glowing coals; and it grew in + size until it filled a great part of the hall, and might + have furnished room for a thousand warriors with their arms + and steeds. Then, at a word from the dwarfs, it began to + shrink, and it became smaller and smaller until it was no + broader than an oak-leaf. And the younger of Ivald's sons + folded it up like a napkin, and gave it to Loki, saying,-- + + "Take this to Frey the gentle. It is the ship Skidbladner. + When it is wanted for a voyage, it will carry all the + Asa-folk and their weapons and stores; and, no matter where + they wish to go, the wind will always drive it straight to + the desired port. But, when it is not needed, the good Frey + may fold it up, as I have done, and carry it safely in his + pocket." + + Loki was much pleased; and, although he felt disappointed + because he had no present for Thor, he heartily thanked the + dwarfs for their kindness; and taking the golden hair, and + the spear Gungner, and the ship Skidbladner, he bade Ivald's + sons good-by, and started for home. But, before he reached + the narrow doorway which led out of the cave, he met two + crooked-backed dwarfs, much smaller and much uglier than any + he had seen before. + + "What have you there?" asked one of them, whose name was + Brok. + + "Hair for Sif, a spear for Odin, and a ship for Frey," + answered Loki. + + "Let us see them," said Brok. + + Loki kindly showed them the strange gifts, and told them, + that, in his belief, no dwarfs in all the world had ever + before wrought such wonderful things. + + "Who made them?" inquired Brok. + + "Ivald's sons." + + "Ah! Ivald's sons sometimes do good work, but there are many + other dwarfs who can do better. For instance, my brother + Sindre, who stands here, can make three other treasures + altogether as good as those you have." + + "It cannot be!" cried Loki. + + "I tell you the truth," said the dwarf. "And, to show you + that I mean just what I say, I will wager against your head + all the diamonds in the ceiling above us, that he will make + not only as good treasures, but those which the Asas will + esteem much higher." + + "Agreed!" cried Loki,--"agreed! I take the wager. Let your + brother try his skill at once." + + The three went straightway to Sindre's forge, and the + brothers began their task. When the fire was roaring hot, + and the sparks flew from the chimney like showers of + shooting-stars, Sindre put a pig-skin into the furnace, and + bade Brok blow the bellows with all his might, and never + stop until he should speak the word. The flames leaped up + white and hot, and the furnace glowed with a dazzling light, + while Brok plied the bellows, and Sindre, with unblinking + eyes, watched the slowly changing colors that played around + the melted and shapeless mass within. While the brothers + were thus intent upon their work, Loki changed himself to a + great horse-fly, and settled upon Brok's hand, and bit him + without mercy. But the dwarf kept on blowing the bellows, + and stopped not until his brother cried out,-- + + "Enough!" + + Then Sindre drew out of the flickering blue flames a huge + wild boar with long tusks of ivory, and golden bristles that + glittered and shone like the beams of the sun. + + "This is Golden Bristle," said the dwarf. "It is the gift of + Brok and his brother to the gentle Frey. His ship + Skidbladner can carry him only over the sea; but Golden + Bristle shall be a trusty steed that will bear him with the + speed of the wind over the land or through the air." + + Next the dwarfs threw gold into the furnace, and Brok plied + the bellows, and Sindre gazed into the flames, as before. + And the great horse-fly buzzed in Brok's face, and darted at + his eyes, and at last settled upon his neck, and stung him + until the pain caused big drops of sweat to roll off of his + forehead. But the dwarf stopped not nor faltered, until his + brother again cried out,-- + + "Enough!" + + This time Sindre drew out a wondrous ring of solid gold, + sparkling all over with the rarest and most costly jewels. + + "This is the ring Draupner," said he. "It is well worthy to + be worn on Odin's finger. Every ninth day eight other rings, + equal to it in every way, shall drop from it. It shall + enrich the earth, and make the desert blossom as the rose; + and it shall bring plentiful harvests, and fill the farmers' + barns with grain, and their houses with glad good cheer. + Take it to the All-Father as the best gift of the earth-folk + to him and to mankind." + + After this the dwarfs took iron which had been brought from + the mountains of Norse Land; and, after beating it upon + their bellows until it glowed white and hot, Sindre threw it + into the furnace. + + "This shall be the gift of gifts," said he to Brok. "Ply the + bellows as before, and do not, for your life, stop or falter + until the work is done." + + But as Brok blew the bellows, and his brother gazed into the + glowing fire, the horse-fly came again. This time he settled + between the dwarf's eyes, and stung his eyelids until the + blood filled his eyes, and ran down his cheeks, and blinded + him so that he could not see. At last, in sore distress, and + wild with pain, Brok let go of the bellows, and lifted his + hand to drive the fly away. Then Sindre drew his work out of + the furnace. It was a blue steel hammer, well made in every + way, save that the handle was half an inch too short. + + "This is the mighty Mjolner," said Sindre to Loki, who had + again taken his proper shape. "The Thunderer may have the + hammer that you promised him; although it is our gift, and + not yours. The stoutest giant will not be able now to cope + with Thor. No shield nor armor, nor mountain-wall, nor, + indeed, any thing on earth, shall be proof against the + lightning-strokes of Mjolner." + + And Brok took the three treasures which Sindre had + fashioned, and went with Loki to Asgard, the home of the + Asa-folk. And they chose Odin and Thor and Frey to examine + and judge which was best,--Loki's three gifts, the work of + Ivald's sons; or Brok's three gifts, the work of Sindre. + When the judges were seated, and all were in readiness, Loki + went forward and gave to Odin the spear Gungner, that would + always hit the mark; and to Frey he gave the ship + Skidbladner, that would sail whithersoever he wished. Then + he gave the golden hair to Thor, who placed it upon the head + of fair Sif; and it grew there, and was a thousand-fold more + beautiful than the silken tresses she had worn before. + + After the Asas had carefully looked at these treasures, and + talked of their merits, little Brok came humbly forward and + offered his gifts. To Odin he gave the precious ring + Draupner, already dropping richness. To Frey he gave the + boar Golden Bristle, telling him that wherever he chose to + go this steed would serve him well, and would carry him + faster than any horse, while his shining bristles would + light the way on the darkest night or in the gloomiest path. + At last he gave to Thor the hammer Mjolner, and said that + it, like Odin's spear, would never miss the mark, and that + whatever it struck, it would crush in pieces, and + whithersoever it might be hurled, it would come back to his + hand again. + + Then the Asas declared at once that Thor's hammer was the + best of all the gifts, and that the dwarf had fairly won the + wager. But, when Brok demanded Loki's head as the price of + the wager, the cunning Mischief-maker said,-- + + "My head is, by the terms of our agreement, yours; but my + neck is my own, and you shall not on any account touch or + harm it."[EN#26] + + So Brok went back to his brother and his smithy without the + head of Loki, but he was loaded with rich and rare presents + from the Asa-folk. + + + + + + Adventure XVI + How Brunhild Was Welcomed Home. + + + + When the next morning's sun arose, and its light gilded the + mountain peaks, and fell in a flood of splendor down upon + the rich uplands and the broad green fields of Nibelungen + Land, Siegfried, with his earls and mighty men, rode through + the valley, and down to the seashore. There a pleasant sight + met his eyes: for the little bay was white with the sails of + a hundred gold-beaked vessels which lay at anchor; and on + the sandy beach there stood in order three thousand island + warriors,--the bravest and the best of all the + Nibelungens,--clad in armor, and ready to hear and to do + their master's bidding. And Siegfried told them why he had + thus hastily called them together; and he gave to each one + rich gifts of gold and jewels and costly raiment. Then he + chose from among them one thousand of the most trustworthy, + who should follow him back to Isenland; and these went + aboard the waiting vessels, amid the cheers and the + farewells of their comrades who were left behind. And when + every thing was in readiness, the anchors were hoisted and + the sails were set, and the little fleet, wafted by pleasant + winds, sailed out of the bay, and eastward across the calm + blue sea. And Siegfried's vessel, with a golden dragon + banner floating from the masthead, led all the rest. + + On the fourth day after Siegfried's departure from Isenland, + Dankwart and grim old Hagen sat in a room of the castle at + Isenstein. Outside and below they heard the fair-haired + warriors of Queen Brunhild pacing to and fro, and ready, at + a word, to seize upon the strangers, and either to put them + to death, or to drive them forever from the land. Old + Hagen's brows were closely knit, and his face was dark as a + thunder-cloud, and his hands played nervously with his + sword-hilt, as he said,-- + + "Where now is Gunther, the man whom we once called king?" + + "He is standing on the balcony above, talking with the queen + and her maidens," answered Dankwart. + + "The craven that he is!" cried Hagen hoarsely. "Once he was + a king, and worthy to be obeyed; but now who is the king? + That upstart Siegfried has but to say what shall be done, + and our master Gunther, blindly and like a child, complies. + Four days ago we might have taken ship, and sailed safely + home. Now our vessel is gone, the boasted hero is gone, and + nothing is left for us to do but to fight and die." + + "But we are sure of Odin's favor," returned Dankwart; and a + wild light gleamed from his eyes, and he brandished his + sword high over his head. "A place in Valhal is promised to + us; for, him who bravely dies with his blood-stained sword + beside him and his heart unrent with fears, the All-Father's + victory-wafters will gently carry home. Even now, methinks, + I sit in the banqueting-hall of the heroes, and quaff the + flowing mead." + + * * * * * + + In the mean while Gunther stood with Queen Brunhild at an + upper window, and looked out upon the great sea that spread + forever and away towards the setting sun. And all at once, + as if by magic, the water was covered with white-sailed + ships, which, driven by friendly winds and the helping hands + of AEgir's daughters and the brawny arms of many a stalwart + oarsman, came flying towards the bay. + + "What ships are those with the snow-white sails and the + dragon-stems?" asked Brunhild, wondering. + + Gunther gazed for a moment towards the swift-coming fleet, + and his eyes were gladdened with the sight of Siegfried's + dragon-banner floating from the vessel in the van. A great + load seemed lifted from his breast, for now he knew that the + hoped-for help was at hand. And, smiling he answered the + queen,-- + + "Those white-sailed ships are mine. My body-guard--a + thousand of my trustiest fighting-men--are on board, and + every man is ready to die for me." + + And as the vessels came into the harbor, and the sailors + furled the sails, and cast the anchors into the sea, + Siegfried was seen standing on the golden prow of his ship, + arrayed in princely raiment, with his earls and chiefs + around him. And their bright armor glittered in the + sunlight, and their burnished shields shone like so many + golden mirrors. A fairer sight had the folk of Isenstein + never seen. + + Long and earnestly Queen Brunhild gazed, and then, turning + away, she burst into tears; for she knew that she had been + again outwitted, and that it was vain for her to struggle + against the Norns' decrees. Then, crushing back the grief + and the sore longing that rose in her heart, she spoke again + to Gunther, and her eyes shone stern and strange. + + "What now will you have me do?" she asked; "for you have + fairly won me, and my wayward fancies shall no longer vex + you. Shall I greet your friends with kindness, or shall we + send them back again over the sea?" + + "I pray you give them welcome to the broad halls of + Isenstein," he answered; "for no truer, nobler men live than + these my liegemen." + + So the queen sent word to Siegfried and his Nibelungen + warriors to leave the ships and come ashore. And she + herself, as radiant now as a morning in May, went down to + meet them and welcome them. Then she had a great feast made + in honor of the heroes, and the long, low-raftered + feast-hall rang with the sounds of merriment, instead of + with the clash of arms. The fair-haired, blue-eyed warriors + of the queen sat side by side with the tall strangers from + over the sea. And in the high-seat was Brunhild, her face + exceeding pale, yet beauteous to behold; and by her side sat + Gunther, smiling and glad, and clad in his kingly raiments. + And around them were the earls and chieftains, and many a + fair lady of Isenland, and Hagen, smiling through his + frowns, and Dankwart, now grown fearless, and Siegfried sad + and thoughtful. Mirth and gladness ruled the hour, and not + until the morning star began to fade in the coming sunlight + lid the guests retire to rest. + + Only a few days longer did the heroes tarry in Isenland; for + the mild spring days were growing warmer, and all faces were + southward turned, and the queen herself was anxious to haste + to her South-land home. When, at last, the time for + leave-taking came, the folk of Isenland gathered around to + bid their queen Godspeed. Then Brunhild called to Dankwart, + and gave him her golden keys, and bade him unlock her + closets where her gold and jewels were stored, and to + scatter with hands unstinted her treasures among the poor. + And many were the tearful blessings, and many the kind words + said, as the radiant queen went down to the waiting, + white-winged vessel, and stepped aboard with Gunther and the + heroes of the Rhine. But she was not to go alone to the land + of strangers; for with her were to sail a hundred fair young + damsels, and more than fourscore noble dames, and two + thousand blue-eyed warriors, the bravest of her land. + + When all had gone on board the waiting fleet, the anchors + were hoisted, and the sails were unfurled to the breeze; and + amid the tearful farewells of friends, and the joyful + shouting of the sailors, the hundred heavy-laden vessels + glided from the bay, and were soon far out at sea. And the + sorrowing folk of Isenland turned away, and went back to + their daily tasks, and to the old life of mingled pain and + pleasure, of shadow and sunshine; and they never saw their + loved warrior-queen again. + + The gay white fleet, with its precious cargo of noble men + and fair ladies, sped swiftly onwards through Old AEgir's + kingdom; and it seemed as if Queen Ran had forgotten to + spread her nets, so smooth and quiet was the sea; and the + waves slept on the peaceful bosom of the waters: only Ripple + and Sky-clear danced in the wake of the flying ships, and + added to the general joy. And on shipboard music and song + enlivened the dragging hours; and from morn till eve no + sounds were heard, save those of merriment and sport, and + glad good cheer. Yet, as day after day passed by, and no + sight met their eyes but the calm blue waters beneath, and + the calm blue sky above, all began to wish for a view, once + more, of the solid earth, and the fields, and the wild + greenwood. But the ships sailed steadily onward, and every + hour brought them nearer and nearer to the wished-for haven. + + At length, on the ninth day, they came in sight of a long, + flat coast, stretching far away towards the Lowlands, where + Old AEgir and his daughters--sometimes by wasting warfare, + sometimes by stealthy strategy--ever plot and toil to widen + the Sea-king's domains. When the sailors saw the green shore + rising up, as it were, out of the quiet water, and the wild + woodland lying dense and dark beyond, and when they knew + that they were nearing the end of their long sea-voyage, + they rent the air with their joyful shouts. And a brisker + breeze sprang up, and filled the sails, and made the ships + leap forward over the water, like glad living creatures. + + It was then that the thought came to King Gunther that he + ought to send fleet heralds to Burgundy-land to make known + the happy issue of his bold emprise, and to tell of his glad + home-coming, with Brunhild, the warrior-maiden, as his + queen. So he called old Hagen to him, and told him of his + thoughts, and asked him if he would be that herald. + + "Nay," answered the frowning chief. "No bearer of glad + tidings am I. To every man Odin has given gifts. To some he + has given light hearts, and cheery faces, and glad voices; + and such alone are fitted to carry good news and happy + greetings. To others he has given darker souls, and less + lightsome faces, and more uncouth manners; and these may + bear the brunt of the battle, and rush with Odin's heroes to + the slaughter: but they would be ill at ease standing in the + presence of fair ladies, or telling glad tidings at court. + Let me still linger, I pray, on board this narrow ship, and + send your friend Siegfried as herald to Burgundy-land. He is + well fitted for such a duty." + + So Gunther sent at once for Siegfried, to whom, when he had + come, he said,-- + + "My best of friends, although we are now in sight of land, + our voyage still is a long one; for the river is yet far + away, and, when it is reached, its course is winding, and + the current will be against us, and our progress must needs + be slow. The folk at home have had no tidings from us since + we left them in the early spring; and no doubt their hearts + grow anxious, and they long to hear of our whereabouts, and + whether we prosper or no. Now, as we near the headland which + juts out dark and green before us, we will set you on shore, + with the noble Greyfell, and as many comrades as you wish, + to haste with all speed to Burgundy, to tell the glad news + of our coming to the loved ones waiting there." + + Siegfried at first held back, and tried to excuse himself + from undertaking this errand,--not because he felt any fear + of danger, but because he scorned to be any man's thrall, to + go and do at his beck and bidding. Then Gunther spoke again, + and in a different tone. + + "Gentle Siegfried," he said, "if you will not do this errand + for my sake, I pray that you will undertake it for the sake + of my sister, the fair Kriemhild, who has so long waited for + our coming." + + Then willingly did the prince agree to be the king's herald. + And on the morrow the ship touched land; and Siegfried bade + his companions a short farewell, and went ashore with four + and twenty Nibelungen chiefs, who were to ride with him to + Burgundy. And, when every thing was in readiness, he mounted + the noble Greyfell, as did also each warrior his favorite + steed, and they galloped briskly away; and their glittering + armor and nodding plumes were soon lost to sight among the + green trees of the wood. And the ship which bore Gunther and + his kingly party weighed anchor, and moved slowly along the + shore towards the distant river's mouth. + + For many days, and through many strange lands, rode + Siegfried and his Nibelungen chiefs. They galloped through + the woodland, and over a stony waste, and came to a peopled + country rich in farms and meadows, and dotted with pleasant + towns. And the folk of that land wondered greatly at sight + of the radiant Siegfried, and the tall warriors with him, + and their noble steeds, and their sunbright armor. For they + thought that it was a company of the gods riding through the + mid-world, as the gods were wont to do in the golden days of + old. So they greeted them with smiles, and kind, good words, + and scattered flowers and blessings in their way. + + They stopped for a day in Vilkina-land, where dwelt one + Eigill, a famous archer, who, it is said, was a brother of + Veliant, Siegfried's fellow-apprentice in the days of his + boyhood. And men told them this story of Eigill. That once + on a time old Nidung, the king of that land, in order to + test his skill with the bow, bade him shoot an apple, or, as + some say, an acorn, from the head of his own little son. And + Eigill did this; but two other arrows, which he had hidden + beneath his coat, dropped to the ground. And when the king + asked him what these were for he answered, "To kill thee, + wretch, had I slain my child."[EN#27] + + After this our heroes rode through a rough hill-country, + where the ground was covered with sharp stones, and the + roads were steep and hard. And their horses lost their + shoes, and were so lamed by the travel, that they were + forced to turn aside to seek the house of one Welland, a + famous smith, who re-shod their steeds, and entertained them + most kindly three days and nights. And it is said by some + that Welland is but another name for Veliant, and that this + was the selfsame foreman whom we knew in Siegfried's younger + days. But, be this as it may, he was at this time the master + of all smiths, and no one ever wrought more cunningly. And + men say that his grandfather was Vilkinus, the first king of + that land; and that his grandmother, Wachitu, was a fair + mermaid, who lived in the deep green sea; and that his + father, Wada, had carried him, when a child, upon his + shoulders through water five fathoms deep, to apprentice him + to the cunning dwarfs, from whom he learned his trade. And + if this story is true, he could not have been Veliant. He + was wedded to a beautiful lady, who sometimes took the form + of a swan, and flew away to a pleasant lake near by, where, + with other swan-maidens, she spent the warm summer days + among the reeds and the water-lilies. And many other strange + tales were told of Welland the smith: how he had once made a + boat from the single trunk of a tree, and had sailed in it + all around the mid-world; how, being lame in one foot, he + had forged a wondrous winged garment, and flown like a + falcon through the air; and how he had wrought for Beowulf, + the Anglo-Saxon hero, a gorgeous war-coat that no other + smith could equal.[EN#28] And so pleasantly did Welland + entertain his guests that they were loath to leave him; but + on the fourth day they bade him farewell, and wended again + their way. + + Now our heroes rode forward, with greater speed than before, + across many a mile of waste land, and over steep hills, and + through pleasant wooded dales. Then, again, they came to + fair meadows, and broad pasture-lands, and fields green with + growing corn; and every one whom they met blessed them, and + bade them a hearty God-speed. Then they left the farmlands + and the abodes of men far behind them; and they passed by + the shore of a sparkling lake, where they heard the + swan-maidens talking to each other as they swam among the + rushes, or singing in silvery tones of gladness as they + circled in the air above. Then they crossed a dreary moor, + where nothing grew but heather; and they climbed a barren, + stony mountain, where the feet of men had never been, and + came at last to a wild, dark forest, where silence reigned + undisturbed forever. + + It was the wood in which dwells Vidar, the silent god, far + from the sound of man's busy voice, in the solemn shade of + century-living oaks and elms. There he sits in quiet but + awful grandeur,--strong almost as Thor, but holding his + mighty strength in check. Hoary and gray, he sits alone in + Nature's temple, and communes with Nature's self, waiting + for the day when Nature's silent but resistless forces shall + be quickened into dread action. His head is crowned with + sear and yellow leaves, and long white moss hangs pendent + from his brows and cheeks, and his garments are rusted with + age. On his feet are iron shoes, with soles made thick with + the scraps of leather gathered through centuries past; and + with these, it is said, he shall, in the last great twilight + of the mid-world, rend the jaws of the Fenris-wolf.[EN#29] + + "Who is this Fenris-wolf?" asked one of the Nibelungens as + they rode through the solemn shadows of the wood. + + And Siegfried thereupon related how that fierce creature had + been brought up and cared for by the Asa-folk; and how, when + he grew large and strong, they sought to keep him from doing + harm by binding him with an iron chain called Leding. But + the strength of the monster was so great, that he burst the + chain asunder, and escaped. Then the Asas made another chain + twice as strong, which they called Drome. And they called to + the wolf, and besought him to allow them to bind him again, + so that, in bursting the second chain, he might clear up all + doubts in regard to his strength. Flattered by the words of + the Asas, the wolf complied; and they chained him with + Drome, and fastened him to a great rock. But Fenris + stretched his legs, and shook himself, and the great chain + was snapped in pieces. Then the Asas knew that there was no + safety for them so long as a monster so huge and terrible + was unbound; and they besought the swarthy elves to forge + them another and a stronger chain. This the elves did. They + made a most wondrous chain, smooth as silk, and soft as + down, yet firmer than granite, and stronger than steel. They + called it Gleipner; and it was made of the sinews of a bear, + the footsteps of a cat, the beard of a woman, the breath of + a fish, the sweat of a bird, and the roots of a mountain. + When the Asas had obtained this chain, they lured the + Fenris-wolf to the rocky Island of Lyngve, and by flattery + persuaded him to be bound again. But this he would not agree + to do until Tyr placed his hand in his mouth as a pledge of + good faith. Then they tied him as before, and laughingly + bade him break the silken cord. The huge creature stretched + himself as before, and tried with all his might to burst + away; but Gleipner held him fast, and the worst that he + could do was to bite off the hand of unlucky Tyr. And this + is why Tyr is called the one-armed god. + + "But it is said," added Siegfried, "that in the last + twilight the Fenris-wolf will break his chain, and that he + will swallow the sun, and slay the great Odin himself, and + that none can subdue him save Vidar the Silent." + + It was thus that the heroes conversed with each other as + they rode through the silent ways of the wood. + + At length, one afternoon in early summer, the little company + reached the Rhine valley; and looking down from the sloping + hill-tops, green with growing corn, they saw the pleasant + town of the Burgundians and the high gray towers of + Gunther's dwelling. And not long afterwards they rode + through the streets of the old town, and, tired and + travel-stained, halted outside of the castle-gates. Very + soon it became noised about that Siegfried and a company of + strange knights, fair and tall, had come again to Burgundy + and to the home of the Burgundian kings. But when it was + certainly known that neither Gunther the king, nor Hagen of + the evil eye, nor Dankwart his brother, had returned, the + people felt many sad misgivings; for they greatly feared + that some hard mischance had befallen their loved king. Then + Gernot and the young Giselher, having heard of Siegfried's + arrival, came out with glad but anxious faces to greet him. + + "Welcome, worthy chief!" they cried. "But why are you alone? + What are your tidings? Where is our brother? and where are + our brave uncles, Hagen and Dankwart? And who are those + strange, fair men who ride with you? And what about + Brunhild, the warrior-maiden? Alas! if our brother has + fallen by her cruel might, then woe to Burgundy! Tell us + quickly all about it!" + + "Have patience, friends!" answered Siegfried. "Give me time + to speak, and I will gladden the hearts of all the folk of + Burgundy with my news. Your brother Gunther is alive and + well; and he is the happiest man in the whole mid-world, + because he has won the matchless Brunhild for his bride. And + he is ere now making his way up the river with a mighty + fleet of a hundred vessels and more than two thousand + warriors. Indeed, you may look for him any day. And he has + sent me, with these my Nibelungen earls, to bid you make + ready for his glad home-coming." + + Then, even before he had alighted from Greyfell, he went on + to tell of the things that had happened at Isenstein; but he + said nothing of the part which he had taken in the strange + contest. And a crowd of eager listeners stood around, and + heard with unfeigned joy of the happy fortune of their king. + + "And now," said Siegfried to Giselher, when he had finished + his story, "carry the glad news to your mother and your + sister; for they, too, must be anxious to learn what fate + has befallen King Gunther." + + "Nay," answered the prince, "you yourself are the king's + herald, and you shall be the one to break the tidings to + them. Full glad they'll be to hear the story from your own + lips, for long have they feared that our brother would never + be seen by us again. I will tell them of your coming, but + you must be the first to tell them the news you bring." + + "Very well," answered Siegfried. "It shall be as you say." + + Then he dismounted from Greyfell, and, with his Nibelungen + earls, was shown into the grand hall, where they were + entertained in a right kingly manner. + + When Kriemhild the peerless, and Ute her mother, heard that + Siegfried had come again to Burgundy, and that he brought + news from Gunther the king, they hastened to make ready to + see him. And, when he came before them, he seemed so noble, + so bright, and so glad, that they knew he bore no evil + tidings. + + "Most noble prince," said Kriemhild, trembling in his + presence, "right welcome are you to our dwelling! But + wherefore are you come? How fares my brother Gunther? Why + came he not with you back to Burgundy-land? Oh! undone are + we, if, through the cruel might of the warrior-queen, he has + been lost to us." + + "Now give me a herald's fees!" cried Siegfried, laughing. + "King Gunther is alive and well. In the games of strength to + which fair Brunhild challenged him, he was the winner. And + now he comes up the Rhine with his bride, and a great + retinue of lords and ladies and fighting-men. Indeed, the + sails of his ships whiten the river for miles. And I am come + by his desire to ask that every thing be made ready for his + glad home-coming and the loving welcome of his peerless + queen." + + Great was the joy of Kriemhild and her queenly mother when + they heard this gladsome news; and they thanked the prince + most heartily for all that he had done. + + "You have truly earned a herald's fee," said the lovely + maiden, "and gladly would I pay it you in gold; for you have + cheered us with pleasant tidings, and lightened our minds of + a heavy load. But men of your noble rank take neither gifts + nor fees, and hence we have only to offer our deepest and + heartiest thanks." + + "Not so," answered Siegfried gayly. "Think not I would scorn + a fee. Had I a kingdom of thirty realms, I should still be + proud of a gift from you." + + "Then, you shall have your herald's fee!" cried Kriemhild; + and she sent her maidens to fetch the gift. And with her own + lily hands she gave him twenty golden bracelets, richly + inwrought with every kind of rare and costly gem-stones. + Happy, indeed, was Siegfried to take such priceless gift + from the hand of so peerless a maiden; and his face shone + radiant with sunbeams as he humbly bowed, and thanked her. + But he had no need for the jewels, nor wished he to keep + them long: so he gave them, with gracious wishes, to the + fair young maidens at court. + + From this time forward, for many days, there was great + bustle in Gunther's dwelling. On every side was heard the + noise of busy hands, making ready for the glad day when the + king should be welcomed home. The broad halls and the tall + gray towers were decked with flowers, and floating banners, + and many a gay device; the houses and streets of the + pleasant burgh put on their holiday attire; the shady road + which led through Kriemhild's rose-garden down to the + river-banks was dusted and swept with daily care; and the + watchman was cautioned to keep on the lookout every moment + for the coming of the expected fleet. And heralds had been + sent to every burgh and castle, and to every countryside in + Burgundy, announcing the happy home-coming of Gunther and + his bride, and bidding every one, both high and low, to the + glad merry-making. + + On the morning of the eleventh day, ere the sun had dried + the dew from the springing grass, the keen-eyed watchman, in + his perch on the topmost tower, cried out in happy accents + to the waiting folk below,-- + + "They come at last! I see the white-winged ships still far + down the stream. But a breeze springs up from the northward, + and the sailors are at the oars, and swift speed the + hastening vessels, as if borne on the wings of the wind. + Ride forth, O ye brave and fair, to welcome the fair and the + brave!" + + Then quickly the king-folk, and the warriors, and fair + ladies, mounted their ready steeds, and gayly through the + gates of the castle they rode out river-wards. And Ute, the + noble queen-mother, went first. And the company moved in + glittering array, with flying banners, and music, and the + noisy flourish of drums, adown the rose-covered pathway + which led to the water's side. And the peerless Kriemhild + followed, with a hundred lovely maidens, all mounted on + snow-white palfreys; and Siegfried, proud and happy, on + Greyfell, rode beside her. + + When the party reached the river-bank, a pleasant sight met + their eyes; for the fleet had now drawn near, and the whole + river, as far as the eye could reach, glittered with the + light reflected from the shield-hung rails and the golden + prows of the swift-coming ships. King Gunther's own vessel + led all the rest; and the king himself stood on the deck, + with the glorious Brunhild by his side. Nearer and nearer + the fresh breeze of the summer morning wafted the vessel to + the shore, where stood the waiting multitude. Softly the + golden dragon glided in to the landing-place, and quickly + was it moored to the banks; then Gunther, clad in his kingly + garments, stepped ashore, and with him his lovely queen. And + a mighty shout of welcome, and an answering shout of + gladness, seemed to rend the sky as the waiting hosts beheld + the sight. And the queen-mother Ute, and the peerless + Kriemhild, and her kingly brothers, went forward to greet + the pair. And Kriemhild took Brunhild by the hand, and + kissed her, and said,-- + + "Welcome, thrice welcome, dear sister! to thy home and thy + kindred and thy people, who hail thee as queen. And may thy + days be full of joyance, and thy years be full of peace!" + + Then all the folk cried out their goodly greetings; and the + sound of their glad voices rang out sweet and clear in the + morning air, and rose up from the riverside, and was echoed + among the hill-slopes, and carried over the meadows and + vineyards, to the farthest bounds of Burgundy-land. And the + matchless Brunhild, smiling, returned the happy greeting; + and her voice was soft and sweet, as she said,-- + + "O kin of the fair Rhineland, and folk of my new-found home! + may your days be summer sunshine, and your lives lack grief + and pain; and may this hour of glad rejoicing be the type of + all hours to come!" + + Then the lovely queen was seated in a golden wain which + stood in waiting for her; and Gunther mounted his own + war-steed; and the whole company made ready to ride to the + castle. Never before had so pleasant a sight been seen in + Rhineland, as that glorious array of king-folk and lords and + ladies wending from river to fortress along the rose-strewn + roadway. Foremost went the king, and by his side was + Siegfried on the radiant Greyfell. Then came the queen's + golden wain, drawn by two snow-white oxen, which were led + with silken cords by sweet-faced maidens; and in it, on an + ivory throne deep-carved with mystic runes, sat glorious + Brunhild. Behind rode the queen-mother and her kingly sons, + and frowning Hagen, and Dankwart, and Volker, and all the + earl-folk and mighty warriors of Burgundy and of Nibelungen + Land. And lastly came Kriemhild and her hundred damsels, + sitting on their snow-white steeds. And they rode past the + blooming gardens, and through the glad streets of the burgh, + and then, like a radiant vision, they entered the + castle-halls; and the lovely pageant was seen no more. + + For twelve days after this, a joyful high-tide was held at + the castle; and the broad halls rang with merriment and + music and festive mirth. And games and tournaments were held + in honor of the king's return. Brave horsemen dashed here + and there at break-neck speed, or contended manfully in the + lists; lances flew thick in the air; shouts and glad cries + were heard on every hand; and for a time the most boisterous + tumult reigned. But gladness and good-feeling ruled the + hour, and no one thought of aught but merry-making and + careless joy. At length, when the days of feasting were + past, the guests bade Gunther and his queen farewell; and + each betook himself to his own home, and to whatsoever his + duty called him. And one would have thought that none but + happy days were henceforth in store for the kingly folk of + Burgundy. But alas! too soon the cruel frost and the cold + north winds nipped the buds and blossoms of the short + summer, and the days of gladness gave place to nights of + gloom. + + + + + + Adventure XVII + How Siegfried Lived in Nibelungen Land. + + + + When the twelve-days' high-tide at King Gunther's + home-coming had been brought to an end, and the guests had + all gone to their homes, Siegfried, too, prepared to bid + farewell to the Rhineland kings, and to wend to his own + country. But he was not to go alone; for Kriemhild, the + peerless princess, was to go with him as his bride. They had + been wedded during the merry festivities which had just + closed, and that event had added greatly to the general joy; + for never was there a fairer or a nobler pair than Siegfried + the fearless, and Kriemhild the peerless. + + "It grieves my heart to part with you," said Gunther, + wringing Siegfried's hand. "It will fare but ill with us, I + fear, when we no longer see your radiant face, or hear your + cheery voice." + + "Say not so, my brother," answered Siegfried; "for the gods + have many good things in store for you. And, if ever you + need the help of my arm, you have but to say the word, and I + will hasten to your aid." + + Then the Burgundian kings besought the hero to take the + fourth part of their kingdom as his own and Kriemhild's, and + to think no more of leaving them. But Siegfried would not + agree to this. His heart yearned to see his father and + mother once again, and then to return to his own loved + Nibelungen Land. So he thanked the kings for their kind + offer, and hastened to make ready for his intended journey. + + Early on Midsummer Day the hero and his bride rode out of + Gunther's dwelling, and turned their faces northward. And + with them was a noble retinue of warriors,--five hundred + brave Burgundians, with Eckewart as their chief,--who had + sworn to be Queen Kriemhild's vassals in her new, + far-distant home. Thirty and two fair maidens, too, went + with her. And with Siegfried were his Nibelungen earls. + + As the company rode down the sands, and filed gayly along + the river-road, it seemed a lovely although a sad sight to + their kinsmen who gazed after them from the castle-towers. + Fair and young were all the folk; and the world, to most, + was still untried. And they rode, in the morning sunlight, + away from their native land, nor recked that never again + would they return. Each warrior sat upon a charger, richly + geared with gilt-red saddle, and gorgeous bridle, and + trappings of every hue; and their war-coats were bright and + dazzling; and their spears glanced in the sun; and their + golden shields threw rays of resplendent light around them. + The maidens, too, were richly dight in broidered cloaks of + blue, and rare stuffs brought from far-off Araby; and each + sat on a snow-white palfrey geared with silken housings, and + trappings of bright blue. + + For some days the company followed the course of the river, + passing through many a rich meadow, and between lovely + vineyards, and fields of yellow corn. Then they rode over a + dreary, barren waste, and through a wild greenwood, and + reached, at last, the hills which marked the beginning of + King Siegmund's domains. Then Siegfried sent fleet heralds + before them to carry to his father the tidings of his coming + with his bride, fair Kriemhild. Glad, indeed, were old King + Siegmund and Siegfried's gentle mother when they heard this + news. + + "Oh, happy is the day!" cried the king. "Thrice happy be the + day that shall see fair Kriemhild a crowned queen, and + Siegfried a king in the throne of his fathers!" + + And they showered upon the heralds who had brought the happy + news rich fees of gold and silver, and gave them garments of + silken velvet. And on the morrow they set out, with a train + of earl-folk and lovely ladies, to meet their son and his + bride. For one whole day they journeyed to the old fortress + of Santen, where in former days the king's dwelling had + been. There they met the happy bridal-party, and fond and + loving were the hearty greetings they bestowed upon + Kriemhild and the radiant Siegfried. Then, without delay, + they returned to Siegmund's kingly hall; and for twelve days + a high tide, more happy and more splendid than that which + had been held in Burgundy, was made in honor of Siegfried's + marriage-day. And, in the midst of those days of sport and + joyance, the old king gave his crown and sceptre to his son; + and all the people hailed Siegfried, king of the broad + Lowlands, and Kriemhild his lovely queen. + + Old stories tell how Siegfried reigned in peace and glad + contentment in his fatherland; and how the joyous sunshine + shone wherever he went, and poured a flood of light and + warmth and happiness into every nook and corner of his + kingdom; and how, at length, after the gentle Sigelind had + died, he moved his court to that other country of his,--the + far-off Nibelungen Land. And it is in that strange, + dream-haunted land, in a strong-built mountain fortress, + that we shall next find him. + + Glad were the Nibelungen folk when their own king and his + lovely wife came to dwell among them; and the mists once + more were lifted, and the skies grew bright and clear, and + men said that the night had departed, and the better days + were near. Golden, indeed, and most glorious, was that + summer-time; and long to be remembered was Siegfried's too + brief reign in Nibelungen Land. And, ages afterward, folk + loved to sing of his care for his people's welfare, of his + wisdom and boundless lore, of his deeds in the time of + warring, and the victories gained in peace. And strong and + brave were the men-folk, and wise and fair were the women, + and broad and rich were the acres, in Siegfried's well-ruled + land. The farm-lands were yellow with the abundant harvests, + fruitful orchards grew in the pleasant dales, and fair + vineyards crowned the hills. Fine cities sprang up along the + seacoast, and strong fortresses were built on every height. + Great ships were made, which sailed to every land, and + brought home rich goods from every clime,--coffee and spices + from India, rich silks from Zazemang, fine fruits from the + Iberian shore, and soft furs, and ivory tusks of the + sea-beast, from the frozen coasts of the north. Never before + was country so richly blessed; for Siegfried taught his + people how to till the soil best, and how to delve far down + into the earth for hidden treasures, and how to work + skilfully in iron and bronze and all other metals, and how + to make the winds and the waters, and even the thunderbolt, + their thralls and helpful servants. And he was as great in + war as in peace; for no other people dared harm, or in any + way impose upon, the Nibelungen folk, or any of his faithful + liegemen. + + It is told how, once on a time, he warred against the + Hundings, who had done his people an injury, and how he + sailed against them in a long dragon-ship of a hundred oars. + When he was far out in the mid-sea, and no land was anywhere + in sight, a dreadful storm arose. The lightnings flashed, + and the winds roared, and threatened to carry the ship to + destruction. Quickly the fearful sailors began to reef the + sails, but Siegfried bade them stop. + + "Why be afraid?" he cried. "The Norns have woven the woof of + every man's life, and no man can escape his destiny. If the + gods will that we should drown, it is folly for us to strive + against fate. We are bound to the shore of the Hundings' + land, and thither must our good ship carry us. Hoist the + sails high on the masts, even though the wind should tear + them into shreds, and split the masts into splinters!" + + The sailors did as they were bidden; and the hurricane + caught the ship in its mighty arms, and hurried it over the + rolling waves with the speed of lightning. And Siegfried + stood calmly at the helm, and guided the flying vessel. + Presently they saw a rocky point rising up out of the waters + before them; and on it stood an old man, his gray cloak + streaming in the wind, and his blue hood tied tightly down + over his head. + + "Whose ship is that which comes riding on the storm?" cried + the man. + + "King Siegfried's ship," answered the man at the prow. + "There lives no braver man on earth than he." + + "Thou sayest truly," came back from the rock. "Lay by your + oars, reef the sails, and take me on board!" + + "What is your name?" asked the sailor, as the ship swept + past him. + + "When the raven croaks gladly over his battle-feast, men + call me Hnikar. But call me now Karl from the mountain, + Fengr, or Fjolner. Reef, quick, your sails, and take me in!" + + The men, at Siegfried's command, obeyed. And at once the + wind ceased blowing, and the sea was calm, and the warm sun + shone through the rifted clouds, and the coast of Hundings + Land lay close before them. But when they looked for + Fjolner, as he called himself, they could not find him. + + One day Siegfried sat in his sun-lit hall in Nibelungen + Land; and Kriemhild, lovely as a morning in June, sat beside + him. And they talked of the early days when alone he fared + through the mid-world, and alone did deeds of wondrous + daring. And Siegfried bethought him then of the glittering + Hoard of Andvari, and the cave and the mountain fortress, + where the faithful dwarf Alberich still guarded the + measureless treasure. + + "How I should like to see that mountain fastness and that + glittering hoard!" cried Kriemhild. + + "You shall see," answered the king. + + And at once horses were saddled, and preparations were made + for a morning's jaunt into the mountains. And, ere an hour + had passed, Siegfried and his queen, and a small number of + knights and ladies, were riding through the passes. About + noon they came to Alberich's dwelling,--a frowning fortress + of granite built in the mountain-side. The gate was opened + by the sleepy giant who always sat within, and the party + rode into the narrow court-yard. There they were met by + Alberich, seeming smaller and grayer, and more pinched and + wan, than ever before. + + "Hail, noble master!" cried he, bowing low before Siegfried. + "How can Alberich serve you to-day?" + + "Lead us to the treasure-vaults," answered the king. "My + queen would fain feast her eyes upon the yellow, sparkling + hoard." + + The dwarf obeyed. Through a narrow door they were ushered + into a long, low cavern, so frowning and gloomy, that the + queen started back in affright. But, re-assured by + Siegfried's smiling face, she went forward again. The + entrance-way was lighted by little torches held in the hands + of tiny elves, who bowed in humble politeness to the kingly + party. But, when once beyond the entrance-hall, no torches + were needed to show the way; for the huge pile of glittering + gold and sparkling jewels, which lay heaped up to the + cavern's roof, lighted all the space around with a glory + brighter than day. + + "There is the dwarf's treasure!" cried Siegfried. "Behold + the Hoard of Andvari, the gathered wealth of the ages! + Henceforth, fair Kriemhild, it is yours--all yours, save + this serpent-ring." + + "And why not that too?" asked the queen; for she admired its + glittering golden scales, and its staring ruby eyes. + + "Alas!" answered he, "a curse rests upon it,--the curse + which Andvari the ancient laid upon it when Loki tore it + from his hand. A miser's heart--selfish, cold, snaky--is + bred in its owner's being; and he thenceforth lives a very + serpent's life. Or, should he resist its influence, then + death through the guile of pretended friends is sure to be + his fate." + + "Then why," asked the queen,--"why do you keep it yourself? + Why do you risk its bane? Why not give it to your sworn foe, + or cast it into the sea, or melt it in the fire, and thus + escape the curse?" + + Siegfried answered by telling how, when in the heyday of his + youth, he had slain Fafnir, the keeper of this hoard, upon + the Glittering Heath; and how, while still in the narrow + trench which he had dug, the blood of the horrid beast had + flown in upon him, and covered him up. + + "And this I have been told by Odin's birds," he went on to + say, "that every part of my body that was touched by the + slimy flood was made forever proof against sword and spear, + and sharp weapons of every kind. Hence I have no cause to + fear the stroke, either of open foes or of traitorous false + friends." + + "But was all of your body covered with the dragon's blood? + Was there no small spot untouched?" asked the queen, more + anxious now than she had ever seemed to be before she had + known aught of her husband's strange security from wounds. + + "Only one very little spot between the shoulders was left + untouched," answered Siegfried. "I afterwards found a + lime-leaf sticking there, and I know that the slimy blood + touched not that spot. But then who fears a thrust in the + back? None save cowards are wounded there." + + "Ah!" said the queen, toying tremulously with the fatal + ring, "that little lime-leaf may yet bring us unutterable + woe." + + But Siegfried laughed at her fears; and he took the + serpent-ring, and slipped it upon his forefinger, and said + that he would wear it there, bane or no bane, so long as + Odin would let him live. + + Then, after another long look at the heaps of glittering + gold and priceless gem-stones, the company turned, and + followed Alberich back, through the gloomy entranceway and + the narrow door, to the open air again. And mounting their + steeds, which stood ready, they started homewards. But, at + the outer gate, Siegfried paused, and said to the dwarf at + parting,-- + + "Hearken, Alberich! The Hoard of Andvari is no longer mine. + I have made a present of it to my queen. Hold it and guard + it, therefore, as hers and hers alone; and, whatever her + bidding may be regarding it, that do." + + "Your word is law, and shall be obeyed," said the dwarf, + bowing low. + + Then the drowsy gate-keeper swung the heavy gate to its + place, and the kingly party rode gayly away. + + On their way home the company went, by another route, + through the narrow mountain pass which led towards the sea, + and thence through a rocky gorge between two smoking + mountains. And on one side of this road a great cavern + yawned, so dark and deep that no man had ever dared to step + inside of it. And as they paused before it, and listened, + they heard, away down in its dismal depths, horrid groans, + sad moanings, and faint wild shrieks, so far away that it + seemed as if they had come from the very centre of the + earth. And, while they still listened, the ground around + them trembled and shook, and the smoking mountain on the + other side of the gorge smoked blacker than before. + + "Loki is uneasy to-day," said Siegfried, as they all put + spurs to their horses, and galloped swiftly home. + + It was the Cavern of the Mischief-maker which the party had + visited; and that evening, as they again sat in Siegfried's + pleasant hall, they amused themselves by telling many + strange old tales of the mid-world's childhood, when the + gods, and the giants, and the dwarf-folk, had their dwelling + on the earth. But they talked most of Loki, the flame, the + restless, the evil-doer. And this, my children, is the story + that was told of the Doom of the Mischief-maker.[EN#30] + + + + The Story. + + + + You have heard of the feast that old AEgir once made for the + Asa-folk in his gold-lit dwelling in the deep sea; and how + the feast was hindered, through the loss of his great + brewing-kettle, until Thor had obtained a still larger + vessel from Hymer the giant. It is very likely that the + thief who stole King AEgir's kettle was none other than Loki + the Mischief-maker; but, if this was so, he was not long + unpunished for his meanness. + + There was great joy in the Ocean-king's hall, when at last + the banquet was ready, and the foaming ale began to pass + itself around to the guests. But Thor, who had done so much + to help matters along, could not stay to the merry-making: + for he had heard that the Storm-giants were marshalling + their forces for a raid upon some unguarded corner of the + mid-world; and so, grasping his hammer Mjolner, he bade his + kind host good-by, and leaped into his iron car. + + "Business always before pleasure!" he cried, as he gave the + word to his swift, strong goats, and rattled away at a + wonderful rate through the air. + + In old AEgir's hall glad music resounded on every side; and + the gleeful Waves danced merrily as the Asa-folk sat around + the festal-board, and partook of the Ocean-king's good fare. + AEgir's two thralls, the faithful Funfeng and the trusty + Elder, waited upon the guests, and carefully supplied their + wants. Never in all the world had two more thoughtful + servants been seen; and every one spoke in praise of their + quickness, and their skill, and their ready obedience. + + Then Loki, unable to keep his hands from mischief, waxed + very angry, because every one seemed happy and free from + trouble, and no one noticed or cared for him. So, while good + Funfeng was serving him to meat, he struck the faithful + thrall with a carving-knife, and killed him. Then arose a + great uproar in the Ocean-king's feast-hall. The Asa-folk + rose up from the table, and drove the Mischief-maker out + from among them; and in their wrath they chased him across + the waters, and forced him to hide in the thick greenwood. + After this they went back to AEgir's hall, and sat down + again to the feast. But they had scarcely begun to eat, when + Loki came quietly out of his hiding-place, and stole slyly + around to AEgir's kitchen, where he found Elder, the other + thrall, grieving sadly because of his brother's death. + + "I hear a great chattering and clattering over there in the + feast-hall," said Loki. "The greedy, silly Asa-folk seem to + be very busy indeed, both with their teeth and their + tongues. Tell me, now, good Elder, what they talk about + while they sit over their meat and ale." + + "They talk of noble deeds," answered Elder. "They speak of + gallant heroes, and brave men, and fair women, and strong + hearts, and willing hands, and gentle manners, and kind + friends. And for all these they have words of praise, and + songs of beauty; but none of them speak well of Loki, the + thief and the vile traitor." + + "Ah!" said Loki wrathfully, twisting himself into a dozen + different shapes, "no one could ask so great a kindness from + such folk. I must go into the feast-hall, and take a look at + this fine company, and listen to their noisy merry-making. I + have a fine scolding laid up for those good fellows; and, + unless they are careful with their tongues, they will find + many hard words mixed with their ale." + + Then he went boldly into the great hall, and stood up before + the wonder-stricken guests at the table. When the Asa-folk + saw who it was that had darkened the doorway, and was now in + their midst, a painful silence fell upon them, and all their + merriment was at an end. And Loki stretched himself up to + his full height, and said to them,-- + + "Hungry and thirsty come I to AEgir's gold lit hall. Long + and rough was the road I trod, and wearisome was the way. + Will no one bid me welcome? Will none give me a seat at the + feast? Will none offer me a drink of the precious mead? Why + are you all so dumb? Why so sulky and stiff-necked, when + your best friend stands before you? Give me a seat among + you,--yes, one of the high-seats,--or else drive me from + your hall! In either case, the world will never forget me. I + am Loki." + + Then one among the Asa-folk spoke up, and said, "Let him sit + with us. He is mad; and when be slew Funfeng, he was not in + his right mind. He is not answerable for his rash act." + + But Bragi the Wise, who sat on the innermost seat, arose, + and said, "Nay, we will not give him a seat among us. + Nevermore shall he feast or sup with us, or share our + good-fellowship. Thieves and murderers we know, and will + shun." + + This speech enraged Loki all the more; and he spared not + vile words, but heaped abuse without stint upon all the folk + before him. And by main force he seized hold of the silent + Vidar, who had come from the forest solitudes to be present + at the feast, and dragged him away from the table, and + seated himself in his place. Then, as he quaffed the foaming + ale, he flung out taunts and jeers and hard words to all who + sat around, but chiefly to Bragi the Wise. Then he turned to + Sif, the beautiful wife of Thor, and began to twit her about + her golden hair. + + "Oh, how handsome you were, when you looked at your bald + head in the mirror that day! Oh, what music you made when + your hands touched your smooth pate! And now whose hair do + you wear?" + + And the wretch laughed wickedly, as he saw the tears welling + up in poor Sif's eyes. + + Then suddenly a great tumult was heard outside. The + mountains shook and trembled; and the bottom of the sea + seemed moved; and the waves, affrighted and angry, rushed + hither and thither in confusion. All the guests looked up in + eager expectation, and some of them fled in alarm from the + hall. Then the mighty Thor strode through the door, and up + to the table, swinging his hammer, and casting wrathful + glances at the Mischief-maker. Loki trembled, and dropped + his goblet, and sank down upon his knees before the terrible + Asa. + + "I yield me!" he cried. "Spare my life, I pray you, and I + will be your thrall forever!" + + "I want no such thrall," answered Thor. "And I spare your + life on one condition only,--that you go at once from hence, + and nevermore presume to come into the company of Asa-folk." + + "I promise all that you ask," said Loki, trembling more than + ever. "Let me go." + + Thor stepped aside; and the frightened culprit fled from the + hall, and was soon out of sight. The feast was broken up. + The folk bade AEgir a kind farewell, and all embarked on + Frey's good ship Skidbladner; and fair winds wafted them + swiftly home to Asgard. + + Loki fled to the dark mountain gorges of Mist Land, and + sought for a while to hide himself from the sight of both + gods and men. In a deep ravine by the side of a roaring + torrent, he built himself a house of iron and stone, and + placed a door on each of its four sides, so that he could + see whatever passed around him. There, for many winters, he + lived in lonely solitude, planning with himself how he might + baffle the gods, and regain his old place in Asgard. And now + and then he slipped slyly away from his hiding-place, and + wrought much mischief for a time among the abodes of men. + But when Thor heard of his evil-doings, and sought to catch + him, and punish him for his evil deeds, he was nowhere to be + found. And at last the Asa-folk determined, that, if he + could ever be captured, the safety of the world required + that he should be bound hand and foot, and kept forever in + prison. + + Loki often amused himself in his mountain home by taking + upon him his favorite form of a salmon, and lying + listlessly, beneath the waters of the great Fanander + Cataract, which fell from the shelving rocks a thousand feet + above him. One day while thus lying, he bethought himself of + former days, when he walked the glad young earth in company + with the All-Father. And among other things he remembered + how he had once borrowed the magic net of Ran, the + Ocean-queen, and had caught with it the dwarf Andvari, + disguised, as he himself now was, in the form of a slippery + salmon. + + "I will make me such a net!" he cried. "I will make it + strong and good; and I, too, will fish for men." + + So he took again his proper shape, and went back to his + cheerless home in the ravine. And he gathered flax and wool + and long hemp, and spun yarn and strong cords, and wove them + into meshes, after the pattern of Queen Ran's magic net; for + men had not, at that time, learned how to make or use nets + for fishing. And the first fisherman who caught fish in that + way is said to have taken Loki's net as a model. + + Odin sat, on the morrow, in his high hall of Hlidskialf, and + looked out over all the world, and saw, even to the + uttermost corners, what men-folk were everywhere doing. When + his eye rested upon the dark line which marked the + mountain-land of the Mist Country, he started up in quick + surprise, and cried out, + + "Who is that who sits by the Fanander Force, and ties strong + cords together?" + + But none of those who stood around could tell, for their + eyes were not strong enough and clear enough to see so far. + + "Bring Heimdal!" then cried Odin. + + Now, Heimdal the White dwells among the blue mountains of + sunny Himminbjorg, where the rainbow, the shimmering + Asa-bridge, spans the space betwixt heaven and earth. He is + the son of Odin, golden-toothed, pure-faced, and + clean-hearted; and he ever keeps watch and ward over the + mid-world and the homes of frail men-folk, lest the giants + shall break in, and destroy and slay. He rides upon a + shining steed named Goldtop; and he holds in his hand a horn + called Gjallar-horn, with which, in the last great twilight, + he shall summon the world to battle with the Fenris-wolf and + the sons of Loki. This watchful guardian of the mid-world is + as wakeful as the birds. And his hearing is so keen, that no + sound on earth escapes him,--not even that of the rippling + waves upon the seashore, nor of the quiet sprouting of the + grass in the meadows, nor even of the growth of the soft + wool on the backs of sheep. And his eyesight, too, is + wondrous clear and sharp; for he can see by night as well as + by day, and the smallest thing, although a hundred leagues + away, cannot be hidden from him. + + To Heimdal, then, the heralds hastened, bearing the words + which Odin had spoken. And the watchful warder of the + mid-world came at once to the call of the All-Father. + + "Turn your eyes to the sombre mountains that guard the + shadowy Mist-land from the sea," said Odin, "Now look far + down into the rocky gorge in which the Fanander Cataract + pours, and tell me what you see." + + Heimdal did as he was bidden. + + "I see a shape," said he, "sitting by the torrent's side. It + is Loki's shape, and he seems strangely busy with strong + strings and cords." + + "Call all our folk together!" commanded Odin. "The wily + Mischief-maker plots our hurt. He must be driven from his + hiding-place, and put where he can do no further harm." + + Great stir was there then in Asgard. Every one hastened to + answer Odin's call, and to join in the quest for the + Mischief-maker. Thor came on foot, with his hammer tightly + grasped in his hands, and lightning flashing from beneath + his red brows. Tyr, the one-handed, came with his sword. + Then followed Bragi the Wise, with his harp and his sage + counsels; then Hermod the Nimble, with his quick wit and + ready hands; and, lastly, a great company of elves and + wood-sprites and trolls. Then a whirlwind caught them up in + its swirling arms, and carried them through the air, over + the hill-tops and the country-side, and the meadows and the + mountains, and set them down in the gorge of the Fanander + Force. + + But Loki was not caught napping. His wakeful ears had heard + the tumult in the air, and he guessed who it was that was + coming. He threw the net, which he had just finished, into + the fire, and jumped quickly into the swift torrent, where, + changing himself into a salmon, he lay hidden beneath the + foaming waters. + + When the eager Asa-folk reached Loki's dwelling, they found + that he whom they sought had fled; and although they + searched high and low, among the rocks and the caves and the + snowy crags, they could see no signs of the cunning + fugitive. Then they went back to his house again to consult + what next to do. And, while standing by the hearth, Kwaser, + a sharp-sighted elf, whose eyes were quicker than the + sunbeam, saw the white ashes of the burned net lying + undisturbed in the still hot embers, the woven meshes + unbroken and whole. + + "See what the cunning fellow has been making!" cried the + elf. "It must have been a trap for catching fish." + + "Or rather for catching men," said Bragi; "for it is + strangely like the Sea-queen's net." + + "In that case," said Hermod the Nimble, "he has made a trap + for himself; for, no doubt, he has changed himself, as is + his wont, to a slippery salmon, and lies at this moment + hidden beneath the Fanander torrent. Here are plenty of + cords of flax and hemp and wool, with which he intended to + make other nets. Let us take them, and weave one like the + pattern which lies there in the embers; and then, if I + mistake not, we shall catch the too cunning fellow." + + All saw the wisdom of these words, and all set quickly to + work. In a short time they had made a net strong and large, + and full of fine meshes, like the model among the coals. + Then they threw it into the roaring stream, Thor holding to + one end, and all the other folk pulling at the other. With + great toil, they dragged it forwards, against the current, + even to the foot of the waterfall. But the cunning Loki + crept close down between two sharp stones, and lay there + quietly while the net passed harmlessly over him. + + "Let us try again!" cried Thor. "I am sure that something + besides dead rocks lies at the bottom of the stream." + + So they hung heavy weights to the net, and began to drag it + a second time, this time going down stream. Loki looked out + from his hiding-place, and saw that he would not be able to + escape again by lying between the rocks, and that his only + chance for safety was either to leap over the net, and hide + himself behind the rushing cataract itself, or to swim with + the current out to the sea. But the way to the sea was long, + and there were many shallow places; and Loki had doubts as + to how old AEgir would receive him in his kingdom. He feared + greatly to undertake so dangerous and uncertain a course. + So, turning upon his foes, and calling up all his strength, + he made a tremendous leap high into the air, and clean over + the net. But Thor was too quick for him. As he fell towards + the water, the Thunderer quickly threw out his hand, and + caught the slippery salmon, holding him firmly by the tail. + + When Loki found that he was surely caught, and could not by + any means escape, he took again his proper shape. Fiercely + did he struggle with mighty Thor, and bitter were the curses + which he poured down upon his enemies. But he could not get + free. Into the deep, dark cavern, beneath the smoking + mountain, where daylight never comes, nor the warmth of the + sun, nor the sound of Nature's music, the fallen + Mischief-maker was carried. And they bound him firmly to the + sharp rocks, with his face turned upwards toward the + dripping roof; for they said that nevermore, until the last + dread twilight, should he be free to vex the world with his + wickedness. And Skade, the giant wife of Niord and the + daughter of grim Old Winter, took a hideous poison snake, + and hung it up above Loki, so that its venom would drop into + his upturned face. But Sigyn, the loving wife of the + suffering wretch, left her home in the pleasant halls of + Asgard, and came to his horrible prison-house to soothe and + comfort him; and evermore she holds a basin above his head, + and catches in it the poisonous drops as they fall. When the + basin is filled, and she turns to empty it in the tar-black + river that flows through that home of horrors, the terrible + venom falls upon his unprotected face, and Loki writhes and + shrieks in fearful agony, until the earth around him shakes + and trembles, and the mountains spit forth fire, and fumes + of sulphur-smoke. + + And there the Mischief-maker, the spirit of evil, shall lie + in torment until the last great day and the dread twilight + of all mid-world things. How strange and how sad, that, + while Loki lies thus bound and harmless, evil still walks + the earth, and that so much mischief and such dire disasters + were prepared for Siegfried and the folk of Nibelungen Land! + + + + + + Adventure XVIII + How the Mischief Began to Brew. + + + + One day a party of strangers came to Siegfried's Nibelungen + dwelling, and asked to speak with the king. + + "Who are you? and what is your errand?" asked the porter at + the gate. + + "Our errand is to the king, and he will know who we are when + he sees us," was the answer. + + When Siegfried was told of the strange men who waited below, + and of the strange way in which they had answered the + porter's question, he asked,-- + + "From what country seem they to have come? For surely their + dress and manners will betray something of that matter to + you. Are they South-land folk, or East-land folk? Are they + from the mountains, or from the sea?" + + "They belong to none of the neighbor-lands," answered the + earl who had brought the word to the king. "No such men live + upon our borders. They seem to have come from a far-off + land; for they are travel-worn, and their sea-stained + clothing betokens a people from the south. They are tall and + dark, and their hair is black, and they look much like those + Rhineland warriors who came hither with our lady the queen. + And they carry a blood-red banner with a golden dragon + painted upon it." + + "Oh, they must be from Burgundy!" cried the queen, who had + overheard these words. And she went at once to the window to + see the strangers, who were waiting in the courtyard below. + + There, indeed, she saw thirty tall Burgundians, clad in the + gay costume of Rhineland, now faded and worn with long + travel. But all save one were young, and strangers to + Kriemhild. That one was their leader,--an old man with a + kind face, and a right noble bearing. + + "See!" said the queen to Siegfried: "there is our brave + captain Gere, who, ever since my childhood, has been the + trustiest man in my brother Gunther's household. Those men + are from the fatherland, and they bring tidings from the + dear old Burgundian home." + + "Welcome are they to our Nibelungen Land!" cried the + delighted king. + + And he ordered that the strangers should be brought into the + castle, and that the most sumptuous rooms should be allotted + to them, and a plenteous meal prepared, and every thing done + to entertain them in a style befitting messengers from + Kriemhild's fatherland. Then Gere, the trusty captain, was + led into the presence of the king and queen. Right gladly + did they welcome him, and many were the questions they asked + about their kin-folk, and the old Rhineland home. + + "Tell us, good Gere," said Siegfried, "what is thy message + from our friends; for we are anxious to know whether they + are well and happy, or whether some ill luck has overtaken + them. If any harm threatens them, they have but to speak, + and I, with my sword and my treasures, will hasten to their + help." + + "They are all well," answered the captain. "No ill has + befallen them, and no harm threatens them. Peace rules all + the land; and fair weather and sunshine have filled the + people's barns, and made their hearts glad. And thus it has + been ever since Gunther brought to his dwelling the + warrior-maiden Brunhild to be his queen. And this is my + errand and the message that I bring: King Gunther, blessed + with happiness, intends to hold a grand high-tide of joy and + thanksgiving at the time of the harvest-moon. And nothing is + wanting to complete the gladness of that time, but the sight + of you and the peerless Kriemhild in your old places at the + feast. And it is to invite you to this festival of rejoicing + that I have come, at the king's command, to Nibelungen + Land." + + Siegfried sat a moment in silence, and then thoughtfully + answered,-- + + "It is a long, long journey from this land to Burgundy, and + many dangers beset the road; and my own people would sadly + miss me while away, and I know not what mishaps might + befall." + + Then Gere spoke of the queen-mother Ute, now grown old and + feeble, who wished once more, ere death called her hence, to + see her daughter Kriemhild. And he told how all the people, + both high and low, yearned for another sight of the radiant + hero who in former days had blessed their land with his + presence and his noble deeds. And his persuasive words had + much weight with Siegfried, who said at length,-- + + "Tarry a few days yet for my answer. I will talk with my + friends and the Nibelungen earls; and what they think best, + that will I do." + + For nine days, then, waited Gere at Siegfried's hall; but + still the king put off his answer. + + "Wait until to-morrow," he said each day, for his heart + whispered dim forebodings. + + At length, as midsummer was fast drawing near, the impatient + captain could stay no longer; and he bade his followers make + ready to go back forthwith to Burgundy. When the queen saw + that they were ready to take their leave, and that Gere + could wait no longer upon the king's pleasure, she urged her + husband to say to Gunther that they would come to his + harvest festival. And the lords and noble earl-folk added + their persuasions to hers. + + "Send word back to the Burgundian king," said they, "that + you will go, as he desires. We will see to it that no harm + comes to your kingdom while you are away." + + So Siegfried called Gere and his comrades into the ball, and + loaded them with costly gifts such as they had never before + seen, and bade them say to their master that he gladly + accepted the kind invitation he had sent, and that, ere the + harvest high-tide began, he and Kriemhild would be with him + in Burgundy. + + And the messengers went back with all speed, and told what + wondrous things they had seen in Nibelungen Land, and in + what great splendor Siegfried lived. And, when they showed + the rare presents which had been given them, all joined in + praising the goodness and greatness of the hero-king. But + old chief Hagen frowned darkly as he said,-- + + "It is little wonder that he can do such things, for the + Shining Hoard of Andvari is his. If we had such a treasure, + we, too, might live in more than kingly grandeur." + + Early in the month of roses, Siegfried and his peerless + queen, with a retinue of more than a thousand warriors and + many fair ladies, started on their long and toilsome journey + to the South-land. And the folk who went with them to the + city gates bade them mane tearful farewells, and returned to + their homes, feeling that the sunshine had gone forever from + the Nibelungen Land. But the sky was blue and cloudless, and + the breezes warm and mild, and glad was the song of the + reapers as adown the seaward highway the kingly company + rode. Two days they rode through Mist Land, to the shore of + the peaceful sea. Ten days they sailed on the waters. And + the winds were soft and gentle; and the waves slept in the + sunlight, or merrily danced in their wake. But each day, far + behind them, there followed a storm-cloud, dark as night, + and the pleasant shores of Mist Land were hidden forever + behind it. Five days they rode through the Lowlands, and + glad were the Lowland folk with sight of their hero-king. + Two days through the silent greenwood, and one o'er the + barren moor, and three amid vineyards and fields, and + between orchards fruitful and fair, they rode. And on the + four and twentieth day they came in sight of the quiet town, + and the tall gray towers, where dwelt the Burgundian kings. + And a great company on horseback, with flashing shields and + fine-wrought garments and nodding plumes, came out to meet + them. It was King Gernot and a thousand of the best men and + fairest women in Burgundy; and they welcomed Siegfried and + Kriemhild and their Nibelungen-folk to the fair land of the + Rhine. And then they turned, and rode back with them to the + castle. And, as the company passed through the pleasant + streets of the town, the people stood by the wayside, + anxious to catch sight of the radiant Siegfried on his + sunbright steed, and of the peerless Kriemhild, riding on a + palfrey by his side. And young girls strewed roses in their + pathway, and hung garlands upon their horses; and every one + shouted, "Hail to the conquering hero! Hail to the matchless + queen!" + + When they reached the castle, King Gunther and Giselher met + them, and ushered them into the old familiar halls, where a + right hearty welcome greeted them from all the kingly + household. And none seemed more glad in this happy hour than + Brunhild the warrior-queen, now more gloriously beautiful + than even in the days of yore. + + When the harvest-moon began to shine full and bright, + lighting up the whole world from evening till morn with its + soft radiance, the gay festival so long looked forward to + began. And care and anxiety, and the fatigues of the long + journey, were forgotten amid the endless round of pleasure + which for twelve days enlivened the whole of Burgundy. And + the chiefest honors were everywhere paid to Siegfried the + hero-king, and to Kriemhild the peerless queen of beauty. + + Then Queen Brunhild called to mind, how, on a time, it had + been told her in Isenland that Siegfried was but the + liegeman and vassal of King Gunther; and she wondered why + such honor should be paid to an underling, and why the king + himself should treat him with so much respect. And as she + thought of this, and of the high praises with which every + one spoke of Kriemhild, her mind became filled with jealous + broodings. And soon her bitter jealousy was turned to deadly + hate; for she remembered then, how, in the days long past, a + noble youth, more beautiful and more glorious than the world + would ever see again, had awakened her from the deep sleep + that Odin's thorn had given; and she remembered how Gunther + had won her by deeds of strength and skill which he never + afterwards could even imitate; and she thought how grand + indeed was Kriemhild's husband compared with her own weak + and wavering and commonplace lord. And her soul was filled + with sorrow and bitterness and deepest misery, when, putting + these thoughts together, she believed that she had in some + way been duped and cheated into becoming Gunther's wife. + + When at last the gay feast was ended, and most of the guests + had gone to their homes, she sought her husband, and thus + broached the matter to him. + + "Often have I asked you," said she, "why your sister + Kriemhild was given in marriage to a vassal, and as often + have you put me off with vague excuses. Often, too, have I + wondered why your vassal, Siegfried, has never paid you + tribute for the lands which he holds from you, and why he + has never come to render you homage. Now he is here in your + castle; but he sets himself up, not as your vassal, but as + your peer. I pray you, tell me what such strange things + mean. Was an underling and a vassal ever known before to put + himself upon a level with his liege lord?" + + Gunther was greatly troubled, and he knew not what to say; + for he feared to tell the queen how they had deceived her + when he had won the games at Isenstein, and how the truth + had ever since been kept hidden from her. + + "Ask me not to explain this matter further than I have + already done," he answered. "It is enough that Siegfried is + the greatest of all my vassals, and that his lands are + broader even than my own. He has helped me out of many + straits, and has added much to the greatness and strength of + my kingdom: for this reason he has never been asked to pay + us tribute, and for this reason we grant him highest + honors." + + But this answer failed to satisfy the queen. + + "Is it not the first duty of a vassal," she asked, "to help + his liege lord in every undertaking? If so, Siegfried has + but done his duty, and you owe him nothing. But you have not + told me all. You have deceived me, and you would fain + deceive me again. You have a secret, and I will find it + out." + + The king made no answer, but walked silently and + thoughtfully away. + + It happened one evening, not long thereafter, that the two + queens sat together at an upper window, and looked down upon + a company of men in the courtyard below. Among them were the + noblest earl-folk of Burgundy, and Gunther the king, and + Siegfried. But Siegfried towered above all the rest; and he + moved like a god among men. + + "See my noble Siegfried!" cried Kriemhild in her pride. "How + grandly he stands there! What a type of manly beauty and + strength! No one cares to look at other men when he is + near." + + "He maybe handsome," answered Brunhild sadly; "and, for + aught I know, he may be noble. But what is all that by the + side of kingly power? Were he but the peer of your brother + Gunther, then you might well boast." + + "He is the peer of Gunther," returned Kriemhild. "And not + only his peer, but more; for he stands as high above him in + kingly power and worth as in bodily stature." + + "How can that be?" asked Brunhild, growing angry. "For, when + Gunther so gallantly won me at Isenstein, he told me that + Siegfried was his vassal; and often since that time I have + heard the same. And even your husband told me that Gunther + was his liege lord." + + Queen Kriemhild laughed at these words, and answered, "I + tell you again that Siegfried is a king far nobler and + richer and higher than any other king on earth. Think you + that my brothers would have given me to a mere vassal to be + his wife?" + + Then Brunhild, full of wrath, replied, "Your husband is + Gunther's vassal and my own, and he shall do homage to us as + the humblest and meanest of our underlings. He shall not go + from this place until he has paid all the tribute that has + so long been due from him. Then we shall see who is the + vassal, and who is the lord." + + "Nay," answered Kriemhild. "It shall not be. No tribute was + ever due; and, if homage is to be paid, it is rather Gunther + who must pay it." + + "It shall be settled once for all!" cried Brunhild, now + boiling over with rage. "I will know the truth. If Siegfried + is not our vassal, then I have been duped; and I will have + revenge." + + "It is well," was the mild answer. "Let it be settled, once + for all; and then, mayhap, we shall know who it was who + really won the games at Isenstein, and you for Gunther's + wife." + + And the two queens parted in wrath.[EN#31] + + Kriemhild's anger was as fleeting as an April cloud, which + does but threaten, and then passes away in tears and + sunshine. But Brunhild's was like the dread winter storm + that sweeps down from Niflheim, and brings ruin and death in + its wake. She felt that she had been cruelly wronged in some + way, and that her life had been wrecked, and she rested not + until she had learned the truth. + + It was Hagen who at last told her the story of the cruel + deceit that had made her Gunther's wife; and then her wrath + and her shame knew no bounds. + + "Woe betide the day!" she cried,--"woe betide the day that + brought me to Rhineland, and made me the wife of a weakling + and coward, and the jest of him who might have done nobler + things!" + + Hagen smiled. He had long waited for this day. + + "It was Siegfried, and Siegfried alone, who plotted to + deceive you," he said. "Had it not been for him, you might + still have been the happy maiden-queen of Isenland. And now + he laughs at you, and urges his queen, Kriemhild, to scorn + you as she would an underling." + + "I know it, I know it," returned the queen in distress. "And + yet how grandly noble is the man! How he rushed through the + flames to awaken me, when no one else could save! How brave, + how handsome,--and yet he has been my bane. I can have no + peace while he lives." + + Hagen smiled again, and a strange light gleamed from his + dark eye. Then he said, "Truly handsome and brave is he, but + a viler traitor was never born. He even now plots to seize + this kingdom, and to add it to his domain. Why else should + he bring so great a retinue of Nibelungen warriors to + Burgundy? I will see King Gunther at once, and we will put + an end to his wicked projects." + + "Do even so, good Hagen," said Brunhild. "Take him from my + path, and bring low the haughty pride of his wife, and I + shall be content." + + "That I will do!" cried Hagen. "That I will do! Gunther is + and shall be the king without a peer; and no one shall dare + dispute the worth and the queenly beauty of his wife." + + Then the wily chief sought Gunther, and with cunning words + poisoned his weak mind. The feeble old king was easily made + to believe that Siegfried was plotting against his life, and + seeking to wrest the kingdom from him. And he forgot the + many kind favors he had received at the hero's hand. He no + longer remembered how Siegfried had slain the terror of the + Glittering Heath, and freed the Burgundians from many a + fear; and how he had routed the warlike hosts of the + North-land, and made prisoners of their kings; and how he + had brought his voyage to Isenland to a happy and successful + ending. He forgot, also, that Siegfried was his sister's + husband. He had ears and mind only for Hagen's wily words. + + "While this man lives," said the dark-browed chief, "none of + us are safe. See how the people follow him! Hear how they + shout at his coming! They look upon him as a god, and upon + Gunther as a nobody. If we are wise, we shall rid ourselves + of so dangerous a man." + + "It is but a week until he takes his leave of us, and goes + back to his own home in Nibelungen Land. Watch him carefully + until that time, but do him no harm. When he is once gone, + he shall never come back again," said the king. But he spoke + thus, not because of any kind feelings towards Siegfried, + but rather because he feared the Nibelungen hero. + + "He has no thought of going at that time," answered Hagen. + "He speaks of it, only to hide his wicked and traitorous + plots. Instead of going home, his plans will then be ready + for action, and it will be too late for us to save + ourselves. Still, if you will not believe me, take your own + course. You have been warned." + + The cunning chief arose to leave the room; but Gunther, now + thoroughly frightened, stopped him. + + "Hagen," he said, "you have always been my friend, and the + words which you say are wise. Save us and our kingdom now, + in whatsoever way you may deem best. I know not what to do." + + Then the weak king and the warrior-chief talked long + together in low, hoarse whispers. And, when they parted, + shame and guilt were stamped in plain lines on Gunther's + face, from which they were nevermore erased; and he dared + not lift his gaze from the floor, fearing that his eyes + would betray him, if seen by any more pure-hearted than he. + But a smile of triumph played under the lurking gleams of + Hagen's eye; and he walked erect and bold, as if he had done + a praiseworthy deed. + + That night a storm came sweeping down from the North, and + the cold rain fell in torrents; and great hailstones + pattered on the roofs and towers of the castle, and cruelly + pelted the cattle in the fields, and the birds in the + friendly shelter of the trees. And old Thor fought bravely + with the Storm-giants; and all night long the rattle of his + chariot-wheels, and the heavy strokes of his dread hammer, + were heard resounding through the heavens. In his lonely + chamber Hagen sat and rubbed his hands together, and grimly + smiled. + + "The time so long waited for has come at last," he said. + + But the guilty king, unable to sleep, walked restlessly to + and fro, and trembled with fear at every sound of the + storm-gust without. + + When day dawned at last, a sad scene met the eyes of all + beholders. The earth was covered with the broken branches of + leafy trees; the flowers and shrubs were beaten pitilessly + to the ground; and here and there lay the dead bodies of + little feathered songsters, who, the day before, had made + the woods glad with their music. + + The sun had scarcely risen above this sorrowful scene, + gilding the gray towers and turrets and the drooping trees + with the promise of better things, than a strange confusion + was noticed outside of the castle-gates. Thirty and two + horsemen wearing the livery of the North-lands stood there, + and asked to be led to the Burgundian kings. + + "Who are you? and what is your errand?" asked the + gate-keeper. + + "We come as heralds and messengers from Leudiger and + Leudigast, the mighty kings of the North," they answered. + "But our errand we can tell to no man save to Gunther your + king, or to his brothers Gernot and Giselher." + + Then they were led by the king's command into the + council-hall, where sat Gunther, Gernot, and the noble + Giselher; and behind them stood their uncle and chief, brave + old Hagen. + + "What message bring you from our old friends Leudiger and + Leudigast?" asked Gunther of the strangers. + + "Call them not your friends," answered the chief of the + company. "We bring you this message from our liege lords, + whom you may well count as enemies. Many years ago they were + sorely beaten in battle, and suffered much hurt at your + hands. And they vowed then to avenge the injury, and to wipe + out the disgrace you had caused them, just so soon as they + were strong enough to do so. Now they are ready, with fifty + thousand men, to march into your country. And they swear to + lay waste your lands, and to burn your towns and villages + and all your castles, unless you at once acknowledge + yourselves their vassals, and agree to pay them tribute. + This is the kings' message. And we were further ordered not + to wait for an answer, but to carry back to them without + delay your reply, whether you will agree to their terms or + no." + + King Gunther, as was his wont, turned to Hagen for advice. + + "Send for Siegfried," whispered the chief. + + It was done. And soon the hero came into the hall. His + kingly grace and warlike bearing were such that Gunther + dared not raise his guilty eyes from the ground; and Hagen's + furtive glances were, for the moment, freighted with fear + and shame. The message of the heralds was repeated to + Siegfried; and Gunther said,-- + + "Most noble friend, you hear what word these traitorous + kings dare send us. Now, we remember, that, long years ago, + you led us against them, and gave us a glorious victory. We + remember, too, how, by your counsel, their lives were + spared, and they were sent home with costly gifts. It is + thus they repay our kindness. What answer shall we send + them?" + + "Say that we will fight," answered Siegfried at once. "I + will lead my brave Nibelungens against them, and they shall + learn how serious a thing it is to break an oath, or to + return treason for kindness." + + The news soon spread through all the town and through the + country-side, that Leudiger and Leudigast, with fifty + thousand men, were marching into Burgundy, and destroying + every thing in their way. And great flight and confusion + prevailed. Men and women hurried hither and thither in + dismay. Soldiers busily sharpened their weapons, and + burnished their armor, ready for the fray. Little children + were seen cowering at every sound, and anxious faces were + found everywhere. + + When Queen Kriemhild saw the busy tumult, and heard the + shouts and cries in the street and the courtyard, and + learned the cause of it all, she was greatly troubled, and + went at once to seek Siegfried. When she found him, she drew + him aside, and besought him not to take part in the war + which threatened, but to hasten with all speed back to their + own loved Nibelungen Land. + + "And why would my noble queen wish me thus to play the part + of a coward, and to leave my friends when they most need my + help?" asked Siegfried in surprise. + + "I would not have you play the coward," answered Kriemhild, + and hot tears stood in her eyes. "But some unseen danger + overhangs. There are other traitors than Leudiger and + Leudigast, and men to be more feared than they. Last night I + dreamed a fearful dream, and it follows me still. I dreamed + that you hunted in the forest, and that two wild boars + attacked you. The grass and the flowers were stained with + your gore, and the cruel tusks of the beasts tore you in + pieces, and no one came to your help. And I cried out in my + distress, and awoke; and the storm-clouds roared and + threatened, and the hail pattered on the roof, and the wind + and rain beat against the windowpanes. Then I slept again, + and another dream, as fearful as the first, came to me. I + dreamed that you rode in the forest, and that music sprang + up in your footsteps, and all things living called you + blessed, but that suddenly two mountains rose up from the + ground, and their high granite crags toppled over, and fell + upon you, and buried you from my sight forever. Then I awoke + again, and my heart has ever since been heavy with fearful + forebodings. I know that some dread evil threatens us; yet, + what it is, I cannot tell. But go not out against the + North-kings. Our Nibelungen-folk wait too long for your + coming." + + Siegfried gayly laughed at his queen's fears, and said, "The + woof of every man's fate has been woven by the Norns, and + neither he nor his foes can change it. When his hour comes, + then he must go to meet his destiny." + + Then he led her gently back to her room in the castle, and + bade her a loving farewell, saying, "When the foes of our + Burgundian hosts are put to flight, and there is no longer + need for us here, then will we hasten back to Nibelungen + Land. Have patience and hope for a few days only, and all + will yet be well. Forget your foolish dreams, and think only + of my glad return." + + It was arranged, that, in the march against the North-kings, + Siegfried with his Nibelungens should take the lead; while + Hagen, with a picked company of fighting-men, should bring + up the rear. Every one was eager to join in the undertaking; + and no one, save King Gunther and his cunning counsellor, + and Ortwin and Dankwart, knew that the pretended heralds + from the North-kings were not heralds at all, but merely the + false tools of wicked Hagen. For the whole was but a + well-planned plot, as we shall see, to entrap unwary, + trusting Siegfried. + + Soon all things were in readiness for the march; but, as the + day was now well spent, it was agreed, that, at early dawn + of the morrow, the little army should set out. And every one + went home to put his affairs in order, and to rest for the + night. + + Late that evening old Hagen went to bid Siegfried's queen + good-by. Kriemhild had tried hard to drown her gloomy fears, + and to forget her sad, foreboding dreams; but it was all in + vain, for deep anxiety still rested heavily upon her mind. + Yet she welcomed her dark-browed uncle with the kindest + words. + + "How glad I am," she said, "that my husband is here to help + my kinsfolk in this their time of need! I know right well, + that, with him to lead, you shall win. But, dear uncle, + remember, when you are in the battle, that we have always + loved you, and that Siegfried has done many kindnesses to + the Burgundians; and, if any danger threaten him, turn it + aside, I pray you, for Kriemhild's sake. I know that I merit + Queen Brunhild's anger, because of the sharp words I lately + spoke to her; but let not my husband suffer blame for that + which is my fault alone." + + "Kriemhild," answered Hagen, "no one shall suffer + blame,--neither Siegfried nor yourself. We are all + forgetful, and sometimes speak hasty words; but that which + we say in angry thoughtlessness should not be cherished up + against us. There is no one who thinks more highly of + Siegfried than I, and there is nothing I would not do to + serve him." + + "I should not fear for him," said she, "if he were not so + bold and reckless. When he is in the battle, he never thinks + of his own safety. And I tremble lest at some time he may + dare too much, and meet his death. If you knew every thing, + as I do, you would fear for him too." + + "What is it?" asked Hagen, trying to hide his + eagerness,--"what is it that gives you cause for fear? Tell + me all about it, and then I will know the better how to + shield him from danger. I will lay down my life for his + sake." + + Then Kriemhild, trusting in her uncle's word, and forgetful + of every caution, told him the secret of the dragon's blood, + and of Siegfried's strange bath, and of the mischief-working + lime-leaf. + + "And now," she added, "since I know that there is one spot + which a deadly weapon might reach, I am in constant fear + that the spear of an enemy may, perchance, strike him there. + Is there not some way of shielding that spot?" + + "There is," answered Hagen. "Make some mark, or put some + sign, upon his coat, that I may know where that spot is. + And, when the battle rages, I will ride close behind him, + and ward off every threatened stroke." + + And Kriemhild joyfully promised that she would at once + embroider a silken lime-leaf on the hero's coat, just over + the fatal spot. And Hagen, well pleased, bade her farewell, + and went away. + + Without delay the chief sought the weak-minded Gunther, and + to him he related all that the trustful Kriemhild had told + him. And, until the midnight hour, the two plotters sat in + the king's bed-chamber, and laid their cunning plans. Both + thought it best, now they had learned the fatal secret, to + give up the sham march against the North-kings, and to seek + by other and easier means to lure Siegfried to his death. + + "The chiefs will be much displeased," said Gunther. "For all + will come, ready to march at the rising of the sun. What + shall we do to please them, and make them more ready to + change their plans?" + + Hagen thought a moment, and then the grim smile that was + wont to break the dark lines of his face when he was pleased + spread over his features. + + "We will have a grand hunt in the Odenwald to-morrow," he + hoarsely whispered. + + + + + + Adventure XIX + How They Hunted in the Odenwald. + + + + Next morning, at earliest daybreak, while yet the stars were + bright, and the trees hung heavy with dew-drops, and the + clouds were light and high, King Siegfried stood with his + warriors before the castle-gate. They waited but for the + sunrise, and a word from Gunther the king, to ride forth + over dale and woodland, and through forest and brake and + field, to meet, as they believed, the hosts of the + North-land kings. And Siegfried moved among them, calm-faced + and bright as a war-god, upon the radiant Greyfell. And men + said, long years afterward, that never had the shining hero + seemed so glorious to their sight. Within the spacious + courtyard a thousand Burgundian braves stood waiting, too, + for the signal, and the king's word of command. And at their + head stood Hagen, dark as a cloud in summer, guilefully + hiding his vile plots, and giving out orders for the + marching. There, too, were honest Gernot, fearless and + upright, and Giselher, true as gold; and neither of them + dreamed of evil, or of the dark deed that day was doomed to + see. Close by the gate was Ortwin, bearing aloft the + blood-red dragon-banner, which the Burgundians were wont to + carry in honor of Siegfried's famous fight with Fafnir. And + there was Dankwart, also, ever ready to boast when no danger + threatened, and ever willing to do chief Hagen's bidding. + And next came Volker the Fiddler good, with the famed sword + Fiddle-bow by him, on which, it is said, he could make the + sweetest music while fighting his foes in battle. + + At length the sun began to peep over the eastern hills, and + his beams fell upon the castle-walls, and shot away through + the trees, and over the meadows, and made the dewdrops + glisten like myriads of diamonds among the dripping leaves + and blossoms. And a glad shout went up from the throats of + the waiting heroes; for they thought that the looked-for + moment had come, and the march would soon begin. And the + shout was echoed from walls to turrets, and from turrets to + trees, and from trees to hills, and from the hills to the + vaulted sky above. And nothing was wanting now but King + Gunther's word of command. + + Suddenly, far down the street, the sound of a bugle was + heard, and then of the swift clattering of horses' hoofs + coming up the hill towards the castle. + + "Who are they who come thus to join us at the last moment?" + asked Hagen of the watchman above the gate. + + "They are strangers," answered the watchman; "and they carry + a peace-flag." + + In a few moments the strange horsemen dashed up, and halted + some distance from the castle-gate, where Siegfried and his + heroes stood. + + "Who are you? and what is your errand?" cried Hagen, in the + king's name. + + They answered that they were heralds from the North-land + kings, sent quickly to correct the message of the day + before; for their liege lords, Leudiger and Leudigast, they + said, had given up warring against Burgundy, and had gone + back to their homes. And they had sent humbly to ask the + Rhineland kings to forget the rash threats which they had + made, and to allow them to swear fealty to Gunther, and + henceforth to be his humble vassals, if only they might be + forgiven. + + "Right cheerfully do we forgive them!" cried Gunther, not + waiting to consult with his wise men. "And our forgiveness + shall be so full, that we shall ask neither fealty nor + tribute from them." + + Then he turned to Siegfried, and said, "You hear, friend + Siegfried, how this troublesome matter has been happily + ended. Accept our thanks, we pray you, for your proffered + help; for, without it, it might have gone but roughly with + us in a second war with the Northland kings. But now you are + free to do what pleases you. If, as you said yesterday, you + would fain return to Nibelungen Land, you may send your + warriors on the way to-day, for they are already equipped + for the journey. But abide you with us another day, and + to-morrow we will bid you God-speed, and you may easily + overtake your Nibelungen friends ere they have reached our + own boundaries." + + Siegfried was not well pleased to give up an undertaking + scarce begun, and still less could he understand why the + king should be so ready to forgive the affront which the + North-land kings had offered him. And he was not slow in + reading the look of shame and guilt that lurked in Gunther's + face, or the smile of jealous hate that Hagen could no + longer hide. Yet no word of displeasure spoke he, nor seemed + he to understand that any mischief was brewing; for he + feared neither force nor guile. So he bade his Nibelungens + to begin their homeward march, saying that he and Kriemhild, + and the ladies of her train, would follow swiftly on the + morrow. + + "Since it is your last day with us," said Gunther, grown + cunning through Hagen's teaching, "what say you, dear + Siegfried, to a hunt in Odin's Wood?" + + "Right glad will I be to join you in such sport," answered + Siegfried. "I will change my war-coat for a hunting-suit, + and be ready within an hour." + + Then Siegfried went to his apartments, and doffed his + steel-clad armor, and searched in vain through his wardrobe + for his favorite hunting-suit. But it was nowhere to be + found; and he was fain to put on the rich embroidered coat + which he sometimes wore in battle, instead of a + coat-of-mail. And he did not see the white lime-leaf that + Kriemhild with anxious care had worked in silk upon it. Then + he sought the queen, and told her of the unlooked-for change + of plans, and how, on the morrow, they would ride towards + Nibelungen Land; but to-day he said he had promised Gunther + to hunt with him in the Odenwald. + + But Kriemhild, to his great surprise, begged him not to + leave her, even to hunt in the Odenwald. For she had begun + to fear that she had made a great mistake in telling Hagen + the story of the lime-leaf; and yet she could not explain to + Siegfried the true cause of her uneasiness. + + "Oh, do not join in the hunt!" she cried. "Something tells + me that danger lurks hidden in the wood. Stay in the castle + with me, and help me put things in readiness for our journey + homewards to-morrow. Last night I had another dream. I + thought that Odin's birds, Hugin and Munin, sat on a tree + before me. And Hugin flapped his wings, and said, 'What more + vile than a false friend? What more to be feared than a + secret foe? Harder than stone is his unfeeling heart; + sharper than the adder's poison-fangs are his words; a snake + in the grass is he!' Then Munin flapped his wings too, but + said nothing. And I awoke, and thought at once of the + sunbright Balder, slain through Loki's vile deceit. And, as + I thought upon his sad death, a withered leaf came + fluttering through the casement, and fell upon my couch. Sad + signs and tokens are these, my husband; and much grief, I + fear, they foretell." + + But Siegfried was deaf to her words of warning, and he + laughed at the foolish dream. Then he bade her farewell till + even-tide, and hastened to join the party of huntsmen who + waited for him impatiently at the gate. + + When the party reached the Odenwald, they separated; each + man taking his own course, and following his own game. + Siegfried, with but one trusty huntsman and his own + fleet-footed hound, sought at once the wildest and thickest + part of the wood. And great was the slaughter he made among + the fierce beasts of the forest; for nothing that was worthy + of notice could hide from his sight, or escape him. From his + lair in a thorny thicket, a huge wild boar sprang up; and + with glaring red eyes, and mouth foaming, and tusks gnashing + with rage, he charged fiercely upon the hero. But, with one + skilful stroke from his great spear, Siegfried laid the + beast dead on the heather. Next he met a tawny lion, couched + ready to spring upon him; but, drawing quickly his heavy + bow, he sent a quivering arrow through the animal's heart. + Then, one after another, he slew a buffalo, four bisons, a + mighty elk with branching horns, and many deers and stags + and savage beasts. + + At one time the hound drove from its hiding-place another + wild boar, much greater than the first, and far more fierce. + Quickly Siegfried dismounted from his horse, and met the + grizzly creature as it rushed with raving fury towards him. + The sword of the hero cleft the beast in twain, and its + bloody parts lay lifeless on the ground. Then Siegfried's + huntsman, in gay mood, said, "My lord, would it not be + better to rest a while! If you keep on slaughtering at this + rate, there will soon be no game left in Odenwald." + + Siegfried laughed heartily at the merry words, and at once + called in his hound, saying, "You are right! We will hunt no + more until our good friends have joined us." + + Soon afterward the call of a bugle was heard; and Gunther + and Hagen and Dankwart and Ortwin, with their huntsmen and + hounds, came riding up. + + "What luck have you had, my friends?" asked Siegfried. + + Then Hagen told what game they had taken,--a deer, a young + bear, and two small wild boars. But, when they learned what + Siegfried had done, the old chief's face grew dark, and he + knit his eyebrows, and bit his lips in jealous hate: for + four knights, ten huntsmen, and four and twenty hounds, had + beaten every bush, and followed every trail; and yet the + Nibelungen king, with but one follower and one hound, had + slain ten times as much game as they. + + While they stood talking over the successes of the day, the + sound of a horn was heard, calling the sportsmen together + for the mid-day meal; and knights and huntsmen turned their + steeds, and rode slowly towards the trysting-place. Suddenly + a huge bear, roused by the noise of baying hounds and + tramping feet, crossed their pathway. + + "Ah!" cried Siegfried, "there goes our friend Bruin, just in + time to give us a bit of fun, and some needed sport at + dinner. He shall go with us, and be our guest!" + + With these words he loosed his hound, and dashed swiftly + forwards after the beast. Through thick underbrush and + tangled briers, and over fallen trees, the frightened + creature ran, until at last it reached a steep hillside. + There, in a rocky cleft, it stood at bay, and fought + fiercely for its life. When Siegfried came up, and saw that + his hound dared not take hold of the furious beast, he + sprang from his horse, and seized the bear in his own strong + arms, and bound him safely with a stout cord. Then he + fastened an end of the cord to his saddle-bows, and + remounted his steed. And thus he rode through the forest to + the place where the dinner waited, dragging the unwilling + bear behind him, while the dog bounded gayly along by his + side. + + No nobler sight had ever been seen in that forest than that + which Gunther's people saw that day. The Nibelungen king was + dressed as well became so great a hero. His suit was of the + speckled lynx's hide and rich black silk, upon which were + embroidered many strange devices, with threads of gold. + (But, alas! between the shoulders was the silken lime-leaf + that Queen Kriemhild's busy fingers had wrought.) His cap + was of the blackest fur, brought from the frozen Siberian + land. Over his shoulder was thrown his well-filled quiver, + made of lion's skin; and in his hands he carried his bow of + mulberry,--a very beam in size, and so strong that no man + save himself could bend it. A golden hunting-horn was at his + side, and his sunbright shield lay on his saddle-bow; while + his mighty sword, the fire-edged Balmung, in its sheath + glittering with gemstones, hung from his jewelled belt. + + The men who stood around chief Hagen, and who saw the hero + coming thus god-like through the greenwood, admired and + trembled; and Dankwart whispered a word of caution to his + dark-browed brother. But the old chief's face grew gloomier + than before; and he scowled fiercely upon the faint-hearted + Dankwart, as he hoarsely whispered in return,-- + + "What though he be Odin himself, still will I dare! It is + not I: it is the Norns, who shape every man's fate." + + When Siegfried reached the camp with his prize, the huntsmen + shouted with delight; and the hounds howled loudly, and + shook their chains, and tried hard to get at the shaggy + beast. The king leaped to the ground, and unloosed the cords + which bound him; and at the same time the hounds were + unleashed, and set upon the angry, frightened creature. + Hemmed in on every side, the bear rushed blindly forwards, + and leaped over the fires, where the cooks were busy with + the dinner. Pots and kettles were knocked about in great + confusion, and the scared cooks thrown sprawling upon the + ground; and many a dainty dish and savory mess was spoiled. + The bear fled fast down the forest road, followed by the + baying hounds and the fleet-footed warriors. But none dared + shoot an arrow at him for fear of killing the dogs; and it + seemed as if he would surely escape, so fast he ran away. + Then Siegfried bounded forwards, swifter than a deer, + overtook the bear, and with one stroke of the sword gave him + his death-blow. And all who saw this feat of strength and + quickness wondered greatly, and felt that such a hero must + indeed be without a peer. + + When Gunther's cooks had made the dinner ready, the company + sat down on the grass, and all partook of a merry meal; for + the bracing air and the morning's sport had made sharp + appetites. But, when they had eaten, they were surprised to + find that there was nothing to drink. Indeed, there was + neither wine nor water in the camp. + + "How glad I am," said Siegfried gayly, "that I am not a + huntsman by trade, if it is a huntsman's way to go thus dry! + Oh for a glass of wine, or even a cup of cold spring-water, + to quench my thirst!" + + "We will make up for this oversight when we go back home," + said Gunther; and his heart was black with falsehood. "The + blame in this matter should rest on Hagen, for it was he who + was to look after the drinkables." + + "My lord," said Hagen, "I fell into a mistake by thinking + that we would dine, not here, but at the Spessart Springs; + and thither I sent the wine." + + "And is there no water near?" asked Siegfried. + + "Yes," answered Hagen. "There is a cool, shady spring not + far from here, where the water gushes in a clear, cold + stream from beneath a linden-tree. Do but forgive me for the + lack of wine, and I will lead you to it. It is a rare + spring, and the water is almost as good as wine." + + "Better than wine for me!" cried Siegfried. And he asked to + be shown to the spring at once. + + Hagen arose, and pointed to a tree not far away, beneath + whose spreading branches Siegfried could see the water + sparkling in the sunlight. + + "Men have told me," said the chief, "that the Nibelungen + king is very fleet of foot, and that no one has ever + outstripped him in the race. Time was, when King Gunther and + myself were spoken of as very swift runners; and, though we + are now growing old, I fancy that many young men would, even + now, fail to keep pace with us. Suppose we try a race to the + spring, and see which of the three can win." + + "Agreed!" cried Siegfried. "We will run; and, if I am + beaten, I will kneel down in the grass to him who wins. I + will give the odds in your favor too; for I will carry with + me my spear, and my shield, and my helmet and sword, and all + the trappings of the chase, while you may doff from your + shoulders whatever might hinder your speed." + + So Gunther and Hagen laid aside all their arms, and put off + their heavy clothing; but Siegfried took up his bow and + quiver, and his heavy shield, and his beamlike spear. Then + the word was given, and all three ran with wondrous speed. + Gunther and his chief flew over the grass as light-footed as + two wild panthers: but Siegfried sped swift as an arrow shot + from the hand of a skilful bowman. He reached the spring + when yet the others were not half way to it. He laid his + spear and sword, and bow and quiver of arrows, upon the + ground, and leaned his heavy shield against the linden-tree; + and then he waited courteously for King Gunther to come up, + for his knightly honor would not allow him to drink until + his host had quenched his thirst. + + Gunther, when he reached the spring, stooped over, and drank + heartily of the cool, refreshing water; and, after he had + risen, Siegfried knelt upon the grass at the edge of the + pool to quaff from the same gushing fountain. Stealthily + then, and with quickness, did chief Hagen hide his huge bow + and his quiver, and his good sword Balmung, and, seizing the + hero's spear, he lifted it in air, and with too steady aim + struck the silken lime-leaf that the loving Kriemhild had + embroidered. Never in all the wide mid-world was known a + deed more cowardly, never a baser act. The hero was pierced + with his own weapon by one he had deemed his friend. His + blood gushed forth in torrents, and dyed the green grass + red, and discolored the sparkling water, and even filled the + face and eyes of vile Hagen. + + Yet, in the hour of death, King Siegfried showed how noble + was his soul, how great his strength of will. Up he rose + from his bended knees, and fiercely glanced around. Then, + had not the evil-eyed chief, who never before had shunned a + foe, fled with fleet-footed fear, quick vengeance would have + overtaken him. In vain did the dying king look for his bow + and his trusty sword: too safely had they been hidden. Then, + though death was fast dimming his eyes, he seized his heavy + shield, and sprang after the flying Hagen. Swift as the wind + he followed him, quickly he overtook him. With his last + strength he felled the vile wretch to the ground, and beat + him with the shield, until the heavy plates of brass and + steel were broken, and the jewels which adorned it were + scattered among the grass. The sound of the heavy blows was + heard far through the forest; and, had the hero's strength + held out, Hagen would have had his reward.[EN#32] But + Siegfried, weak and pale from the loss of blood, now + staggered, and fell among the trampled flowers of the wood. + + Then with his last breath he thus upbraided his false + friends:-- + + "Cowards and traitors, ye! A curse shall fall upon you. My + every care has been to serve and please you, and thus I am + requited. Bitterly shall you rue this deed. The brand of + traitor is set upon your foreheads, and it shall be a mark + of loathing and shame to you forever." + + Then the weak old Gunther began to wring his hands, and to + bewail the death of Siegfried. But the hero bade him hush, + and asked him of what use it was to regret an act which + could have been done only by his leave and sanction. + + "Better to have thought of tears and groans before," said + he. "I have always known that you were a man of weak mind, + but never did I dream that you could lend yourself to so + base a deed. And now, if there is left aught of manliness in + your bosom, I charge you to have a care for Kriemhild your + sister. Long shall my loved Nibelungen-folk await my coming + home." + + The glorious hero struggled in the last agony. The grass and + flowers were covered with his blood; the trees shivered, as + if in sympathy with him, and dropped their leaves upon the + ground; the birds stopped singing, and sorrowfully flew + away; and a solemn silence fell upon the earth, as if the + very heart of Nature had been crushed. + + And the men who stood around--all save the four guilty + ones--bowed their heads upon their hands, and gave way to + one wild burst of grief. Then tenderly they took up + Siegfried, and laid him upon a shield, with his mighty + weapons by him. And, when the sorrowing Night had spread her + black mantle over the mid-world, they carried him silently + out of the forest, and across the river, and brought him, by + Gunther's orders, to the old castle, which now nevermore + would resound with mirth and gladness. And they laid him at + Kriemhild's door, and stole sadly away to their own places, + and each one thought bitterly of the morrow.[EN#33] + + + + + + Adventure XX + How the Hoard Was Brought to Burgundy. + + + + And what was done on the morrow? + + Too sad is the tale of Kriemhild's woe and her grief for the + mighty dead. Let us pass it by in tearful, pitying silence, + nor wish to awaken the echoes of that morning of hopeless + anguish which dawned on the cold and cheerless dwelling of + the kings. For peace had fled from Burgundy, nevermore to + return. + + Siegfried was dead. Faded, now, was the glory of the + Nibelungen Land, and gone was the mid-world's hope. + + It is told in ancient story, how men built a funeral-pile + far out on the grassy meadows, where the quiet river flows; + and how, in busy silence, they laid the sun-dried beams of + ash and elm together, and made ready the hero's couch; and + how the pile was dight with many a sun-bright shield, with + war-coats and glittering helms, and silks and rich dyed + cloths from the South-land, and furs, and fine-wrought + ivory, and gem-stones priceless and rare; and how, over all, + they scattered sweet spices from Araby, and the pleasantest + of all perfumes. Then they brought the golden Siegfried, and + laid him on his couch; and beside him were his battered + shield, and Balmung with its fire-edge bare. And, as the sun + rose high in heaven, the noblest earl-folk who had loved + Siegfried best touched fire to the funeral-pile. And a + pleasant breeze from the Southland fanned the fire to a + flame, and the white blaze leaped on high, and all the folk + cried out in mighty agony to the gods. + + Such was the story that men told to each other when the + world was still young, and the heroes were + unforgotten.[EN#34] And some said, too, that Brunhild, the + fair and hapless queen, died then of a broken heart and of a + hopeless, yearning sorrow, and that she was burned with + Siegfried on that high-built funeral-pile. + + "They are gone,--the lovely, the mighty, the hope of the + ancient earth: + It shall labor and bear the burden as before the day of + their birth: . . . + It shall yearn, and be oft-times holpen, and forget their + deeds no more, + Till the new sun beams on Balder and the happy sealess + shore."[EN#35] + + Another and much later story is sometimes told of these last + sad days,--how the hero's body was laid in a coffin, and + buried in the quiet earth, amid the sorrowful lamentations + of all the Rhineland folk; and how, at Kriemhild's earnest + wish, it was afterwards removed to the place where now + stands the little minster of Lorsch. As to which of these + stories is the true one, it is not for me to say. Enough it + is to know that Siegfried was dead, and that the spring-time + had fled, and the summer-season with all its golden glories + had faded away from Rhineland, and that the powers of + darkness and of cold and of evil had prevailed. + + To this day the city where was the dwelling of the + Burgundian kings is called Worms, in remembrance of the + dragon, or worm, which Siegfried slew; and a figure of that + monster was for many years painted upon the city arms, and + borne on the banner of the Burgundians. And, until recently, + travellers were shown the Reisen-haus,--a stronghold, which, + men say, Siegfried built; and in it were many strange and + mighty weapons, which, they claim, were wielded by the hero. + The lance which was shown there was a great beam nearly + eighty feet in length; and the war-coat, wrought with steel + and gold, and bespangled with gem-stones, was a wonder to + behold. And now, in the Church of St. Cecilia, you may see + what purports to be the hero's grave. And a pleasant meadow, + not far from the town, is still called Kriemhild's + Rose-garden; while farther away is the place called + Drachenfels, or the dragon's field, where, they say, + Siegfried met Fafnir. But whether it is the same as the + Glittering Heath of the ancient legend, I know not. + + And what became of the Hoard of Andvari? + + The story is briefly told.[EN#36] When the days of mourning + were past, and the people had gone back sadly to their + homes, Queen Kriemhild began to speak of returning to the + land of the Nibelungens. But Ute, her aged mother, could not + bear to part with her, and besought her to stay, for a while + at least, in the now desolate Burgundian castle. And Gernot + and Giselher, her true and loving brothers, added their + words of entreaty also. And so, though heart-sick, and with + many misgivings, she agreed to abide for a season in this + cheerless and comfortless place. Many days, even months, + dragged by, and still she remained; for she found it still + harder and harder to tear herself away from her mother, and + all that her heart held dear. Yet never, for three years and + more, did she even speak to Gunther, or by any sign show + that she remembered him. And, as for Hagen, no words could + utter the deep and settled hate she felt towards him. But + the dark-browed chief cared nought either for love or hate; + and he walked erect, as in the days of yore, and he smiled + and frowned alike for both evil and good. And he said, "It + was not I: it was the Norns, who wove the woof of his life + and mine." + + The years went by on leaden wings, and brought no sunlight + to Gunther's dwelling; for his days were full of sadness, + and his nights of fearful dreams. At length he said to chief + Hagen, "If there is aught in the mid-world that can drive + away this gloom, I pray thee to help me find it; for madness + steals upon me." + + "There is one thing," answered Hagen, "which might brighten + our land again, and lift up your drooping spirits, and bring + gladness to your halls." + + "What is that?" asked the king. + + "It is the Nibelungen Hoard," said the chief. "It is the + wondrous treasure of Andvari, which Siegfried gave as a gift + to Kriemhild. If it were ours, we might become the masters + of the world." + + "But how can we obtain it?" + + "It is Kriemhild's," was the answer. "But she does not care + for it; neither could she use it if she wished. If you could + only gain her favor and forgiveness, I feel sure that she + would let you do with it as you wish." + + Then Gunther besought his younger brothers to intercede for + him with Kriemhild, that she would so far forgive him as to + look upon his face, and speak with him once more. And this + the queen at last consented to do. And, when Gunther came + into her presence, she was so touched at sight of his + haggard face and whitened locks, and his earnest words of + sorrow, that she forgave him the great wrong that he had + done, and welcomed him again as her brother. And he swore + that never would he again wrong her or hers, nor do aught to + grieve her. But it was not until a long time after this, + that he proposed to her that they should bring the Hoard of + Andvari away from the Nibelungen Land. + + "For, if it were here, dear sister," he said, "it might be + of great use to you." + + "Do whatever seems best to you," answered Kriemhild. "Only + remember the oath that you have given me." + + Then Gunther, because he was anxious to see the wondrous + Hoard, but more because he was urged on by Hagen, made ready + to send to the Nibelungen Land to bring away the treasure by + Kriemhild's command. Eight thousand men, with Gernot and + Giselher as their leaders, sailed over the sea in stanch + vessels, and landed on the Nibelungen shore. And when they + told who they were, and whence they came, and showed the + queen's signet-ring, they were welcomed heartily by the + fair-haired folk of Mist Land, who gladly acknowledged + themselves the faithful liegemen of the loved Kriemhild. + + When the Burgundians made known their errand to Alberich the + dwarf, who still held watch and ward over the mountain + stronghold, he was much amazed, and he grieved to part with + his cherished treasure. + + "But," said he to his little followers, who stood around him + by thousands, each anxious to fight the intruders,--"but + there is Queen Kriemhild's order and her signet-ring, and we + must, perforce, obey. Yet had we again the good Tarnkappe + which Siegfried took from us, the Hoard should never leave + us." + + Then sadly he gave up the keys, and the Burgundians began to + remove the treasure. For four whole days and nights they + toiled, carrying the Hoard in huge wagons down to the sea. + And on the fifth day they set sail, and without mishap + arrived in good time at Worms. And many of Alberich's + people, the swarthy elves of the cave, came with Gernot to + Rhineland; for they could not live away from the Hoard. And + it is said, that hidden among the gold and the gem-stones + was the far-famed Wishing-rod, which would give to its owner + the power of becoming the lord of the wide mid-world. + + And the vast treasure was stored in the towers and vaults of + the castle. And Queen Kriemhild alone held the keys, and + lavishly she scattered the gold wherever it was needed most. + The hungry were fed, the naked were clothed, the sick were + cared for; and everybody near and far blessed the peerless + Queen of Nibelungen Land. + + Then Hagen, always plotting evil, whispered to King Gunther, + and said, "It is dangerous to suffer your sister to hold so + vast a treasure. All the people are even now ready to leave + you, and follow her. She will yet plot to seize the kingdom, + and destroy us." + + And he urged the king to take the keys and to make the + Nibelungen Hoard his own. + + But Gunther answered, "I have already done too great a + wrong. And I have sworn to my sister never to harm her + again, or to do aught that will grieve her." + + "Let the guilt, then, rest on me," said Hagen. And he strode + away, and took the keys from Kriemhild by force. + + When Gernot and Giselher heard of this last vile act of the + evil-eyed chief, they waxed very angry, and vowed that they + would help their sister regain that which was her own. But + the wary Hagen was not to be foiled; for, while the brothers + were away from the burgh, he caused the great Hoard to be + carried to the river, at a place called Lochheim, and sunk, + fathoms deep, beneath the water. And then, for fear of the + vengeance which might be wreaked upon him, he fled from + Rhineland, and hid himself for a while among the mountains + and the barren hill-country of the South. + + And this was the end of the fated Hoard of Andvari. + + + + + + The After Word. + + + + Such is the story of Siegfried (or Sigurd), as we gather it + from various German and Scandinavian legends. In this + recital I have made no attempt to follow any one of the + numerous originals, but have selected here and there such + incidents as best suited my purpose in constructing one + connected story which would convey to your minds some notion + of the beauty and richness of our ancient myths. In doing + this, I have drawn, now from the Volsunga Saga, now from the + Nibelungen Lied, now from one of the Eddas, and now from + some of the minor legends relating to the great hero of the + North. These ancient stories, although differing widely in + particulars, have a certain general relationship and + agreement which proves beyond doubt a common origin. "The + primeval myth," says Thomas Carlyle, "whether it were at + first philosophical truth, or historical incident, floats + too vaguely on the breath of men: each has the privilege of + inventing, and the far wider privilege of borrowing and new + modelling from all that preceded him. Thus, though tradition + may have but one root, it grows, like a banian, into a whole + overarching labyrinth of trees." + + If you would follow the tradition of Siegfried to the end; + if you would learn how, after the great Hoard had been + buried in the Rhine, the curse of the dwarf Andvari still + followed those who had possessed it, and how Kriemhild + wreaked a terrible vengeance upon Siegfried's + murderers,--you must read the original story as related in + the Volsung Myth or in the Nibelungen Song. Our story ends + with Siegfried. + + The episodes which I have inserted here and there--the + stories of AEgir, and of Balder, and of Idun, and of + Thor--do not, as you may know, belong properly to the legend + of Siegfried; but I have thrown them in, in order to + acquaint you with some of the most beautiful mythical + conceptions of our ancestors. + + A grand old people were those early kinsmen of ours,--not at + all so savage and inhuman as our histories would sometimes + make us believe. For however mistaken their notions may have + been, and however ignorant they were, according to our ideas + of things, they were strong-hearted, brave workers; and, so + far as opportunity was afforded them, they acted well their + parts. What their notions were of true manhood,--a strong + mind in a strong body, good, brave, and handsome,--may be + learned from the story of Siegfried. + + + + + End of The Story of Siegfried. + + + + + + + The Story of Siegfried + Endnotes. + + + + [EN#1] Siegfried's Boyhood. + + "All men agree that Siegfried was a king's son. He was born, + as we here have good reason to know, 'at Santen in + Netherland,' of Siegmund and the fair Siegelinde; yet by + some family misfortune or discord, of which the accounts are + very various, he came into singular straits during boyhood, + having passed that happy period of life, not under the + canopies of costly state, but by the sooty stithy, in one + Mimer, a blacksmith's shop."--Thomas Carlyle, The Nibelungen + Lied. + + The older versions of this story represent Siegfried, under + the name of Sigurd, as being brought up at the court of the + Danish King Hialprek; his own father Sigmund having been + slain in battle, as related in this chapter. He was early + placed under the tuition of Regin, or Regino, an elf, who + instructed his pupil in draughts, runes, languages, and + various other accomplishments.--See Preface to Vollmer's + Nibelunge Not, also the Song of Sigurd Fafnisbane, in the + Elder Edda, and the Icelandic Volsunga Saga. + + + + [EN#2]--Mimer. + + "The Vilkinasaga brings before us yet another smith, Mimer, + by whom not only is Velint instructed in his art, but + Sigfrit (Siegfried) is brought up,--another smith's + apprentice. He is occasionally mentioned in the later poem + of Biterolf, as Mime the Old. The old name of Munster in + Westphalia was Mimigardiford; the Westphalian Minden was + originally Mimidun; and Memleben on the Unstrut, Mimileba. . + . . The elder Norse tradition names him just as often, and + in several different connections. In one place, a Mimingus, + a wood-satyr, and possessor of a sword and jewels, is + interwoven into the myth of Balder and Hoder. The Edda gives + a higher position to its Mimer. He has a fountain, in which + wisdom and understanding lie hidden: drinking of it every + morning, he is the wisest, most intelligent, of men. To + Mimer's fountain came Odin, and desired a drink, but did not + receive it till he had given one of his eyes in pledge, and + hidden it in the fountain: this accounts for Odin being + one-eyed. . . . Mimer is no Asa, but an exalted being with + whom the Asas hold converse, of whom they make use,--the sum + total of wisdom, possibly an older Nature-god. Later fables + degraded him into a wood-sprite, or clever smith.--Grimm's + Deutsche Mythologie, I. p. 379. + + Concerning the Mimer of the Eddas, Professor Anderson says, + "The name Mimer means the knowing. The Giants, being older + than the Asas, looked deeper than the latter into the + darkness of the past. They had witnessed the birth of the + gods and the beginning of the world, and they foresaw their + downfall. Concerning both these events, the gods had to go + to them for knowledge. It is this wisdom that Mimer keeps in + his fountain."--Norse Mythology, p 209. + + In the older versions of the legend, the smith who cared for + Siegfried (Sigurd) is called, as we have before noticed, + Regin. He is thus described by Morris:-- + + "The lore of all men he knew, + And was deft in every cunning, save the dealings of the + sword. + So sweet was his tongue-speech fashioned, that men + trowed his every word. + His hand with the harp-strings blended was the mingler + of delight + With the latter days of sorrow: all tales he told + aright. + The Master of the Masters in the smithying craft was + he; + And he dealt with the wind and the weather and the + stilling of the sea; + Nor might any learn him leech-craft, for before that + race was made, + And that man-folk's generation, all their life-days had + he weighed." + Sigurd the Volsung, Bk. II. + + + + [EN#3]--The Sword. + + "By this sword Balmung also hangs a tale. Doubtless it was + one of those invaluable weapons sometimes fabricated by the + old Northern smiths, compared with which our modern Foxes + and Ferraras and Toledos are mere leaden tools. Von der + Hagen seems to think it simply the sword Mimung under + another name; in which case, Siegfried's old master, Mimer, + had been the maker of it, and called it after himself, as if + it had been his son."--Carlyle, on the Nibelungen Lied, + note. + + In Scandinavian legends, the story of Mimer and Amilias is + given, differing but slightly from the rendering in this + chapter.--See Weber and Jamieson's Illustrations of Northern + Antiquities. + + In the older versions of the myth, the sword is called Gram, + or the Wrath. It was wrought from the shards, or broken + pieces, of Sigmund's sword, the gift of Odin. It was made by + Regin for Sigurd's (Siegfried's) use, and its temper was + tested as here described. + + + + [EN#4]--Sigmund The Volsung. + + Sigmund the Volsung, in the Volsunga Saga, is represented as + the father of Sigurd (Siegfried); but there is such a marked + contrast between him, and the wise, home-abiding King + Siegmund of the later stories, that I have thought proper to + speak of them here as two different individuals. The word + "Sigmund," or "Siegmund," means literally the mouth of + victory. The story of the Volsungs, as here supposed to be + related by Mimer, is derived mainly from the Volsunga Saga. + + + + [EN#5]--Siegfried's Journey Into The Forest. + + + + "In the shop of Mimer, Siegfried was nowise in his proper + element, ever quarrelling with his fellow-apprentices, nay, + as some say, breaking the hardest anvils into shivers by his + too stout hammering; so that Mimer, otherwise a first-rate + smith, could by no means do with him there. He sends him, + accordingly, to the neighboring forest to fetch charcoal, + well aware that a monstrous dragon, one Regin, the smith's + own brother, would meet him, and devour him. But far + otherwise it proved."--Carlyle, on The Nibelungen Lied. + + + + [EN#6]--The Norns. + + The Norns are the Fates, which watch over man through life. + They are Urd the Past, Verdande the Present, and Skuld the + Future. They approach every new-born child, and utter his + doom. They are represented as spinning the thread of fate, + one end of which is hidden by Urd in the far east, the other + by Verdande in the far west. Skuld stands ready to rend it + in pieces. --See Grimm's Teutonic Mythology, p. 405, also + Anderson's Norse Mythology, p. 209. + + The three weird women in Shakespeare's Tragedy of Macbeth + represent a later conception of the three Norns, now + degraded to mere witches. + + Compare the Norns with the Fates of the Greek Mythology. + These, also, are three in number. They sit clothed in white, + and garlanded, singing of destiny. Clotho, the Past, spins; + Lachesis, the Present, divides; and Atropos, the Future, + stands ready with her shears to cut the thread. + + + + [EN#7]--The Idea of Fatality. + + Throughout the story of the Nibelungs and Volsungs, of + Sigurd and of Siegfried,--whether we follow the older + versions or the mote recent renderings,--there is, as it + were, an ever-present but indefinable shadow of coming fate, + "a low, inarticulate voice of Doom," foretelling the + inevitable. This is but in consonance with the general ideas + of our Northern ancestors regarding the fatality which + shapes and controls every man's life. These ideas are + embodied in more than one ancient legend. We find them in + the old Anglo-Saxon poem of Beowulf. "To us," cries Beowulf + in his last fight, "to us it shall be as our Weird + betides,--that Weird that is every man's lord!" "Each man of + us shall abide the end of his life-work; let him that may + work, work his doomed deeds ere death comes!" Similar ideas + prevailed among the Greeks. Read, for example, that passage + in the Iliad describing the parting of Hector and + Andromache, and notice the deeper meaning of Hector's words. + + + + [EN#8]--Regin. + + + + As we have already observed (EN#1), the older versions of + this myth called Siegfried's master and teacher Regin, while + the more recent versions call him Mimer. We have here + endeavored to harmonize the two versions by representing + Mimer as being merely Regin in disguise. + + + + [EN#9]--Gripir. + + "A man of few words was Gripir; but he knew of all deeds + that had been; And times there came upon him, when the deeds + to be were seen: No sword had he held in his hand since his + father fell to field, And against the life of the slayer he + bore undinted shield: Yet no fear in his heart abided, nor + desired he aught at all: But he noted the deeds that had + been, and looked for what should befall." Morris's Sigurd + the Volsung, Bk. II. + + + + [EN#10]--The Hoard. + + This story is found in both the Elder and the Younger Eddas, + and is really the basis upon which the entire plot of the + legend of Sigurd, or Siegfried, is constructed. See also + EN#18. + + + + [EN#11]--The Dragon. + + The oldest form of this story is the Song of Sigurd + Fafnisbane, in the Elder Edda. The English legend of St. + George and the Dragon was probably derived from the same + original sources. A similar myth may be found among all + Aryan peoples. Sometimes it is a treasure, sometimes a + beautiful maiden, that the monster guards, or attempts to + destroy. Its first meaning was probably this: The maiden, or + the treasure, is the earth in its beauty and fertility. "The + monster is the storm-cloud. The hero who fights it is the + sun, with his glorious sword, the lightning-flash. By his + victory the earth is relieved from her peril. The fable has + been varied to suit the atmospheric peculiarities of + different climes in which the Aryans found themselves. . . . + In Northern mythology the serpent is probably the winter + cloud, which broods over and keeps from mortals the gold of + the sun's light and heat, till in the spring the bright orb + overcomes the powers of darkness and tempest, and scatters + his gold over the face of the earth." This myth appears in a + great variety of forms among the Scandinavian and German + nations. In the Eddas, Sigurd (Siegfried) is represented as + roasting the heart of Fafnir, and touching it to his lips. + We have ventured to present a less revolting version.--See + Baring-Gould's Curious Myths of the Middle Ages. + + "The slaying of the dragon Fafnir reminds us of Python, whom + Apollo overcame; and, as Python guarded the Delphic Oracle, + the dying Fafnir prophesies."--Jacob Grimm. + + + + + [EN#12.] + + In order to harmonize subsequent passages in the story as + related in different versions, we here represent Siegfried + as turning his back upon the Glittering Heath, and leaving + the Hoard to some other hero or discoverer. In the Younger + Edda, Siegfried (Sigurd) rides onward until he comes to + Fafnir's bed, from which "he took out all the gold, packed + it in two bags, and laid it on Grane's (Greyfell's) back, + then got on himself and rode away." + + + + [EN#13]--BRAGI. + + This episode of Bragi and his vessel is no part of the + original story of Siegfried, but is here introduced in order + to acquaint you with some of the older myths of our + ancestors. Bragi was the impersonation of music and + eloquence, and here represents the music of Nature,--the + glad songs and sounds of the spring-time. "Above any other + god," says Grimm, "one would like to see a more general + veneration of Bragi revived, in whom was vested the gift of + poetry and eloquence. . . . He appears to have stood in + pretty close relation to AEgir." + + + + [EN#14]--AEgir. + + "AEgir was the god presiding over the stormy sea. He + entertains the gods every harvest, and brews ale for them. + The name still survives in provincial English for the + sea-wave on rivers."--Anderson's Norse Mythology. See + Carlyle's Heroes and Hero-Worship. + + + + [EN#15]--The Valkyries. + + See Grimm's Teutonic Mythology, p. 417, and Anderson's Norse + Mythology, p. 265. + + + + [EN#16]--Brunhild. + + In the Elder Edda, Brunhild's inaccessible hall stands on a + mountain, where she was doomed to sleep under her shield + until Sigurd should release her. In the Nibelungen Lied, she + is represented as ruling in Isenland, an island far over the + sea. The well-known story of the Sleeping Beauty is derived + from this myth. + + + + [EN#17]--Nibelungen Land. + + "Vain were it to inquire where that Nibelungen Land + specially is. Its very name is Nebel-land, or Nifl-land, the + land of Darkness, of Invisibility. . . . Far beyond the firm + horizon, that wonder-bearing region swims on the infinite + waters, unseen by bodily eye, or, at most, discerned as a + faint streak hanging in the blue depths, uncertain whether + island or cloud."--Carlyle, on The Nibelungen Lied. + + + + [EN#18]--Schilbung and Nibelung. + + "Old King Nibelung, the former lord of the land, had left, + when he died, a mighty hoard concealed within a + mountain-cavern. As Siegfried rode past the mountain-side + alone, he found Schilbung and Nibelung, the king's sons, + seated at the mouth of the cavern surrounded by more gold + and precious stones than a hundred wagons could bear away. + Espying Siegfried, they called upon him to settle their + dispute, offering him as reward their father's mighty sword + Balmung."--Auber Forestier's Translation of the Nibelungen + Lied. + + We have here made some slight variations from the original + versions. (See also EN#12.) + + An ancient legend relates how King Schilbung had obtained + the Hoard in the upper Rhine valley, and how he was + afterwards slain by his brother Niblung. This Niblung + possessed a magic ring in the shape of a coiled serpent with + ruby eyes. It had been presented to him by a prince named + Gunthwurm, who had come to him in the guise of a serpent, + desiring the hand of his daughter in marriage. This ring, + according to the Eddas, was the one taken by Loki from the + dwarf Andvari, and was given by Sigurd (Siegfried) to + Brunhild in token of betrothal. It was the cause of all the + disasters that afterwards occurred.--See W. Jordan's + Sigfridssaga. See also EN#10. + + + + [EN#19] + + ". . . Siegfried the hero good + Failed the long task to finish: this stirred their + angry mood. + The treasure undivided he needs must let remain, + When the two kings indignant set on him with their + train; + But Siegfried gripped sharp Balmung (so hight their + father's sword), + And took from them their country, and the beaming, + precious hoard." + The Nibelungenlied, Lettsom, 96, 97 + + + + [EN#20]--Siegfried's Welcome Home. + + In the Nibelungen Lied this is our first introduction to the + hero. The "High-tide" held in honor of Siegfried's coming to + manhood, and which we suppose to have occurred at this time, + forms the subject of the Second Adventure in that poem. + + + + [EN#21]--Kriemhild's Dream. + + This forms the subject of the first chapter of the + Nibelungen Lied. "The eagles of Kriemhild's dream," says + Auber Forestier, "are winter-giants, whose wont it was to + transform themselves into eagles; while the pure gods were + in the habit of assuming the falcon's form." + + + + [EN#22]--Idun. + + The story of Idun and her Apples is related in the Younger + Edda. It is there represented as having been told by Bragi + himself to his friend AEgir. This myth means, that the + ever-renovating spring (Idun) being taken captive by the + desolating winter (Thjasse), all Nature (all the Asa-folk) + languishes until she regains her freedom through the + intervention of the summer's heat (Loki). --See Anderson's + Norse Mythology. + + + + [EN#23]--Balder. + + The story of Balder is, in reality, the most ancient form of + the Siegfried myth. Both Balder and Siegfried are + impersonations of the beneficent light of the summer's sun, + and both are represented as being treacherously slain by the + powers of winter. The errand of Hermod to the Halls of Death + (Hela) reminds us of the errand of Hermes to Hades to bring + back Persephone to her mother Demetre. We perceive also a + resemblance in this story to the myth of Orpheus, in which + that hero is described as descending into the lower regions + to bring away his wife Eurydice. + + + + [EN#24] + + The making of rich clothing for the heroes is frequently + referred to in the Nibelungen Lied. Carlyle says, "This is a + never-failing preparative for all expeditions, and is always + specified and insisted on with a simple, loving, almost + female impressiveness." + + + + [EN#25]--The Winning of Brunhild. + + The story of the outwitting of Brunhild, as related in the + pages which follow, is essentially the same as that given in + the Nibelungen Lied. It is quite different from the older + versions. + + + + [EN#26]--Sif. + + Sif corresponds to the Ceres of the Southern mythology. (See + Grimm, p. 309.) The story of Loki and the Dwarfs is derived + from the Younger Edda. It has been beautifully rendered by + the German poet Oelenschlager, a translation of whose poem + on this subject may be found in Longfellow's Poets and + Poetry of Europe. + + + + [EN#27]--Eigill. + + Eigill is the original William Tell. The story is related in + the Saga of Thidrik. For a full history of the Tell myth, + see Grimm's Teutonic Mythology, p. 380, and Baring-Gould's + Curious Myths of the Middle Ages, p. 110. + + + + [EN#28]--Welland the Smith. + + The name of this smith is variously given as Weland, + Wieland, Welland, Volundr, Velint etc. The story is found in + the Vilkina Saga, and was one of the most popular of middle + age myths. (See Grimm's Mythology.) Sir Walter Scott, in his + novel of Kenilworth, has made use of this legend in + introducing the episode of Wayland Smith. + + + + [EN#29]--Vidar[FN#1] the Silent. + + "Vidar is the name of the silent Asa. He has a very thick + shoe, and he is the strongest next to Thor. From him the + gods have much help in all hard tasks."--The Younger Edda + (Anderson's translation). + + [FN#1] The word Vidar means forest. + + + + [EN#30]--Loki. + + "Loki, in nature, is the corrupting element in air, fire, + and water. In the bowels of the earth he is the volcanic + flame, in the sea he appears as a fierce serpent, and in the + lower world we recognize him as pale death. Like Odin, he + pervades all nature. He symbolizes sin, shrewdness, + deceitfulness, treachery, malice etc."--Anderson's + Mythology, p. 372. + + He corresponds to the Ahriman of the Persians, to the Satan + of the Christians, and remotely to the Prometheus of the + Greeks. + + + + [EN#31]--The Quarrel of the Queens. + + In the ancient versions, the culmination of this quarrel + occurred while the queens were bathing in the river: in the + Nibelungen Lied it happened on the steps leading up to the + door of the church. + + + + [EN#32]--Hagen. + + Hagen corresponds to the Hoder of the more ancient myth of + Balder. In the Sigurd Sagas he is called Hogni, and is a + brother instead of an uncle, of Gunther (Gunnar). + + + + [EN#33]--The Death of Siegfried. + + This story is related here essentially as found in the + Nibelungen Lied. It is quite differently told in the older + versions. Siegfried's invulnerability save in one spot + reminds us of Achilles, who also was made invulnerable by a + bath, and who could be wounded only in the heel. + + + + [EN#34]--The Burial of Siegfried. + + The story of the burning of Siegfried's body upon a + funeral-pile, as related of Sigurd in the older myths, + reminds us of the burning of Balder upon the ship + "Ringhorn." (See p. 162.) The Nibelungen Lied represents him + as being buried in accordance with the rites of the + Roman-Catholic Church. This version of the story must, of + course, have been made after the conversion of the Germans + to Christianity. "When the Emperor Frederick III. (1440-93) + visited Worms after his Netherlands campaign," says + Forestier, "he undertook to have the mighty hero's bones + disinterred, probably in view of proving the truth of the + marvellous story then sung throughout Germany; but, although + he had the ground dug into until water streamed forth, no + traces of these became manifest." + + + + [EN#35]--Morris: Sigurd the Volsung, Bk. III. + + + + [EN#36]--The Hoard. + + The story of bringing the Hoard from Nibelungen Land belongs + to the later versions of the myth, and fitly closes the + First Part of the Nibelungen Lied. Lochheim, the place where + the Hoard was sunk, was not far from Bingen on the Rhine. + + + + [EN#37]--a Short Vocabulary of the Principal Proper Names + Mentioned in this Story. + + AEGIR. The god of the sea. + ALBERICH and ANDVARI. Dwarfs who guard the great Hoard. + ASA. A name applied to the gods of the Norse mythology. + ASGARD. The home of the gods. + BALDER. The god of the summer sunlight. + BRAGI. The god of eloquence and of poetry. + DRAUPNER. Odin's ring, which gives fertility to the earth. + FAFNIR. The dragon whom Siegfried slays. + FENRIS-WOLF. The monster who in the last twilight slays + Odin. + FREYJA. The goddess of love. + REY. The god of peace and plenty. + GRIPIR. The giant who gives wise counsel to Siegfried + (Sigurd). + GUNTHER. In the older myths called Gunnar. + HEIMDAL. The heavenly watchman. + HELA. The goddess of death. + HERMOD. The quick messenger who is sent to Hela for Balder. + HODER. The winter-god. He slays Balder. + HOENIR. One of the three most ancient gods. + HUGIN. Odin's raven, Thought. + IDUN. The goddess of spring. + IVALD. A skilful dwarf. + JOTUNHEIM. The home of the giants. + KRIEMHILD. In the older myths called Gudrun. + LOKI. The mischief-maker. The god of evil. + MIMER. In the later German mythology a skilful smith. In the + older mythology a wise giant. + NORNS. The three Fates,--Urd, Verdande, and Skuld. + ODIN. The chief of the gods. + REGIN. The teacher of Sigurd, by whom he is slain. + SIEGFRIED. In the older myths called Sigurd. + SIF. Thor's wife. + SLEIPNER. Odin's eight-footed horse. + TYR. The god of war. + THOR. The god of thunder. The foe of the giants. + VALHAL. The hall of the slain. + VALKYRIES. The choosers of the slain. Odin's handmaidens. + VIDAR. The silent god. + YMIR. The huge giant out of whose body the world was made. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of Siegfried, by James Baldwin + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF SIEGFRIED *** + +This file should be named stsgf10.txt or stsgf10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, stsgf11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, stsgf10a.txt + +Produced by J. C. Byers + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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