825

"And to me is ever wonder, / since he thy liegeman is, And thou dost wield such power / over us twain as this, That he so long his tribute / to thee hath failed to pay. 'Twere well thy haughty humor / thou should'st no longer here display."

826

"Too lofty now thou soarest," / the queen did make reply. "Now will I see full gladly / if in such honor high This folk doth hold thy person / as mine own it doth." Of mood full sorely wrathful / were the royal ladies both.

827

Then spake the Lady Kriemhild: / "That straightway shall be seen. Since that thou my husband / dost thy liegeman ween, To-day shall all the followers / of both the monarchs know, If I 'fore wife of monarch / dare unto the minster go.

828

"That I free-born and noble / shalt thou this day behold, And that my royal husband, / as now to thee I've told, 'Fore thine doth stand in honor, / by me shall well be shown. Ere night shalt thou behold it, / how wife of him thou call'st thine own

829

To court shall lead good warriors / in the land of Burgundy. And ne'er a queen so lofty / as I myself shall be Was seen by e'er a mortal, / or yet a crown did wear." Then mickle was the anger / that rose betwixt the ladies there.

830

Then again spake Brunhild: / "Wilt thou not service own, So must thou with thy women / hold thyself alone Apart from all my following, / as we to minster go." Thereto gave answer Kriemhild: / "In truth the same I fain will do."

831

"Now dress ye fair, my maidens," / Kriemhild gave command. "Nor shall shame befall me / here within this land. An have ye fair apparel, / let now be seen by you. What she here hath boasted / may Brunhild have full cause to rue."

832

But little need to urge them: / soon were they richly clad In garments wrought full deftly, / lady and many a maid. Then went with her attendants / the spouse of the monarch high; And eke appeared fair Kriemhild, / her body decked full gorgeously,

833

With three and forty maidens, / whom to the Rhine led she, All clad in shining garments / wrought in Araby. So came unto the minster / the maidens fair and tall. Before the hall did tarry / for them the men of Siegfried all.

834

The people there did wonder / how the thing might be, That no more together / the queens they thus did see, And that beside each other / they went not as before. Thereby came thanes a many / anon to harm and trouble sore.

835

Here before the minster / the wife of Gunther stood. And good knights full many / were there of merry mood With the fair ladies / that their eyes did see. Then came the Lady Kriemhild / with a full stately company.

836

Whate'er of costly raiment / decked lofty maids before, 'Twas like a windy nothing / 'gainst what her ladies wore. The wives of thirty monarchs / —such riches were her own— Might ne'er display together / what there by Lady Kriemhild shown.

837

Should any wish to do so / he could not say, I ween, That so rich apparel / e'er before was seen As there by her maidens / debonair was worn: But that it grieved Brunhild / had Kriemhild that to do forborne.

838

There they met together / before the minster high. Soon the royal matron, / through mickle jealousy, Kriemhild to pass no further, / did bid in rage full sore: "She that doth owe her homage / shall ne'er go monarch's wife before."

839

Then spake the Lady Kriemhild / —angry was her mood: "An could'st thou but be silent / that for thee were good. Thyself hast brought dishonor / upon thy fair body: How might, forsooth, a harlot / ever wife of monarch be?"

840

"Whom mak'st thou now a harlot?" / the king's wife answered her. "That do I thee," spake Kriemhild, / "for that thy body fair First was clasped by Siegfried, / knight full dear to me. In sooth 'twas ne'er my brother / won first thy maidenhead from thee.

841

"How did thy senses leave thee? / Cunning rare was this. How let his love deceive thee, / since he thy liegeman is? And all in vain," quoth Kriemhild, / "the plaint I hear thee bring." "In sooth," then answered Brunhild, / "I'll tell it to my spouse the king."

842

"What reck I of such evil? / Thy pride hath thee betrayed, That thou deem'st my homage / should e'er to thee be paid. Know thou in truth full certain / the thing may never be: Nor shall I e'er be ready / to look for faithful friend in thee."

843

Thereat did weep Queen Brunhild: / Kriemhild waited no more, But passed into the minster / the monarch's wife before, With train of fair attendants. / Arose there mickle hate, Whereby eyes brightly shining / anon did grow all dim and wet.

844

However God they worshipped / or there the mass was sung, Did deem the Lady Brunhild / the waiting all too long, For that her heart was saddened / and angry eke her mood. Therefore anon must suffer / many a hero keen and good.

845

Brunhild with her ladies / 'fore the minster did appear. Thought she: "Now must Kriemhild / further give me to hear Of what so loud upbraideth / me this free-tongued wife. And if he thus hath boasted, / amend shall Siegfried make with life."

846

Now came the noble Kriemhild / followed by warrior band. Then spake the Lady Brunhild: / "Still thou here shalt stand. Thou giv'st me out for harlot: / let now the same be seen. Know thou, what thus thou sayest / to me hath mickle sorrow been."

847

Then spake the Lady Kriemhild: / "So may'st thou let me go. With the ring upon my finger / I the same can show: That brought to me my lover / when first by thee he lay." Ne'er did Lady Brunhild / know grief as on this evil day.

848

Quoth she: "This ring full precious / some hand from me did steal, And from me thus a season / in evil way conceal: Full sure will I discover / who this same thief hath been." Then were the royal ladies / both in mood full angry seen.

849

Then gave answer Kriemhild: / "I deem the thief not I. Well hadst thou been silent, / hold'st thou thine honor high. I'll show it with this girdle / that I around me wear, That in this thing I err not: / Siegfried hath lain by thee full near."

850

Wrought of silk of Nineveh / a girdle there she wore, That of stones full precious / showed a goodly store. When saw it Lady Brunhild / straight to weep gan she: Soon must Gunther know it / and all the men of Burgundy.

851

Then spake the royal matron: / "Bid hither come to me Of Rhine the lofty monarch. / Hear straightway shall he How that his sister / doth my honor stain. Here doth she boast full open / that I in Siegfried's arms have lain."

852

The king came with his warriors, / where he did weeping find His royal spouse Brunhild, / then spake in manner kind: "Now tell me, my dear lady, / who hath done aught to thee?" She spake unto the monarch: / "Thy wife unhappy must thou see.

853

"Me, thy royal consort, / would thy sister fain Rob of all mine honor. / To thee must I complain: She boasts her husband Siegfried / hath known thy royal bed." Then spake the monarch Gunther: / "An evil thing she then hath said."

854

"I did lose a girdle: / here by her 'tis worn, And my ring all golden. / That I e'er was born, Do I rue full sorely / if thou wardest not from me This full great dishonor: / that will I full repay to thee."

855

Then spake the monarch Gunther: / "Now shall he come near, And hath he such thing boasted, / so shall he let us hear: Eke must full deny it / the knight of Netherland." Then straight the spouse of Kriemhild / hither to bring he gave command.

856

When that angry-minded / Siegfried them did see, Nor knew thereof the reason, / straightway then spake he: "Why do weep these ladies? / I'd gladly know that thing, Or wherefore to this presence / I am bidden by the king."

857

Then spake the royal Gunther: / "Sore grieveth me this thing: To me my Lady Brunhild / doth the story bring, How that thereof thou boastest / that her fair body lay First in thy embraces: / this doth thy Lady Kriemhild say."

858

Thereto gave answer Siegfried: / "An if she thus hath said, Full well shall she repent it / ere doth rest my head: Before all thy good warriors / of that I'll make me free, And swear by my high honor / such thing hath ne'er been told by me."

859

Then spake of Rhine the monarch: / "That shalt thou let us see. The oath that thou dost offer, / if such performed be, Of all false accusation / shalt thou delivered stand." In ring to take their station / did he the high-born thanes command.

860

The full valiant Siegfried / in oath the hand did give. Then spake the lordly monarch: / "Well now do I perceive How thou art all blameless, / of all I speak thee free; What here maintains my sister, / the same hath ne'er been done by thee."

861

Thereto gave answer Siegfried: / "If gain should e'er accrue Unto my spouse, that Brunhild / from her had cause to rue, Know that to me full sorely / 'twould endless sorrow be." Then looked upon each other / the monarchs twain right graciously.

862

"So should we govern women," / spake the thane Siegfried, "That to leave wanton babble / they should take good heed. Forbid it to thy wife now, / to mine I'll do the same. Such ill-becoming manner /in sooth doth fill my heart with shame."

863

No more said many a lady / fair, but thus did part. Then did the Lady Brunhild / grieve so sore at heart, That it must move to pity / all King Gunther's men. To go unto his mistress / Hagen of Tronje saw ye then.

864

He asked to know her worry, / as he her weeping saw. Then told she him the story. / To her straight made he vow, That Lady Kriemhild's husband / must for the thing atone, Else henceforth should never / a joyous day by him be known.

865

Then came Ortwein and Gernot / where they together spake, And there the knights did counsel / Siegfried's life to take. Thither came eke Giselher, / son of Ute high. When heard he what they counselled, / spake he free from treachery:

866

"Ye good knights and noble, / wherefore do ye that? Ne'er deserved hath Siegfried / in such way your hate, That he therefor should forfeit / at your hands his life. In sooth small matter is it / that maketh cause for woman's strife."

867

"Shall we rear race of bastards?" / Hagen spake again: "Therefrom but little honor / had many a noble thane. The thing that he hath boasted / upon my mistress high, Therefor my life I forfeit, / or he for that same thing shall die."

868

Then spake himself the monarch: / "To us he ne'er did give Aught but good and honor: / let him therefore live. What boots it if my anger / I vent the knight upon? Good faith he e'er hath shown us, / and that full willingly hath done."

869

Then outspake of Metz / Ortwein the thane: "In sooth his arm full doughty / may bring him little gain. My vengeance full he'll suffer, / if but my lord allow." The knights—nor reason had they— / against him mortal hate did vow.

870

None yet his words did follow, / but to the monarch's ear Ne'er a day failed Hagen / the thought to whisper there: If that lived not Siegfried, / to him would subject be Royal lands full many. / The king did sorrow bitterly.

871

Then did they nothing further: / soon began the play. As from the lofty minster / passed they on their way, What doughty shafts they shattered / Siegfried's spouse before! Gunther's men full many / saw ye there in rage full sore.

872

Spake the king: "Now leave ye / such mortal enmity: The knight is born our honor / and fortune good to be. Keen is he unto wonder, / hath eke so doughty arm That, were the contest open, / none is who dared to work him harm."

873

"Naught shall he know," quoth Hagen. / "At peace ye well may be: I trow the thing to manage / so full secretly That Queen Brunhild's weeping / he shall rue full sore. In sooth shall he from Hagen / have naught but hate for evermore."

874

Then spake the monarch Gunther: / "How might such thing e'er be?" Thereto gave answer Hagen: / "That shalt thou hear from me. We'll bid that hither heralds / unto our land shall fare, Here unknown to any, / who shall hostile tidings bear.

875

"Then say thou 'fore the strangers / that thou with all thy men Wilt forth to meet the enemy. / He'll offer service then If that thus thou sayest, / and lose thereby his life, Can I but learn the story / from the valiant warrior's wife."

876

The king in evil manner / did follow Hagen's rede, And the two knights, ere any / man thereof had heed, Had treachery together / to devise begun. From quarrel of two women / died heroes soon full many a one.



FIFTEENTH ADVENTURE

How Siegfried was Betrayed

877

Upon the fourth morning / two and thirty men Saw ye to court a-riding. / Unto King Gunther then Were tidings borne that ready / he should make for foe— This lie did bring to women / many, anon full grievous woe.

878

Leave had they 'fore the monarch's / presence to appear, There to give themselves out / for men of Luedeger, Him erstwhile was conquered / by Siegfried's doughty hand And brought a royal hostage / bound unto King Gunther's land.

879

The messengers he greeted / and to seat them gave command. Then spake one amongst them: / "Allow that yet we stand Until we tell the tidings / that to thee are sent. Know thou that warriors many / on thee to wreak their hate are bent.

880

"Defiance bids thee Luedegast / and eke Luedeger Who at thy hands full sorely / erstwhile aggrieved were: In this thy land with hostile / host they'll soon appear." To rage begin the monarch / when such tidings he did hear.

881

Those who did act thus falsely / they bade to lodge the while. How himself might Siegfried / guard against such guile As there they planned against him, / he or ever one? Unto themselves 'twas sorrow / great anon that e'er 'twas done.

882

With his friends the monarch / secret counsel sought. Hagen of Tronje / let him tarry not. Of the king's men yet were many / who fain would peace restore: But nowise would Hagen / his dark purpose e'er give o'er.

883

Upon a day came Siegfried / when they did counsel take, And there the knight of Netherland / thus unto them spake: "How goeth now so sorrowful / amid his men the king? I'll help you to avenge it, / hath he been wronged in anything."

884

Then spake the monarch Gunther: / "Of right do I lament, Luedegast and Luedeger / have hostile message sent: They will in open manner / now invade my land." The knight full keen gave answer: / "That in sooth shall Siegfried's hand,

885

"As doth befit thy honor, / know well to turn aside. As erstwhile to thy enemies, / shall now from me betide: Their lands and eke their castles / laid waste by me shall be Ere that I give over: / thereof my head be surety.

886

"Thou and thy good warriors / shall here at home abide, And let me with my company / alone against them ride. That I do serve thee gladly, / that will I let them see; By me shall thy enemies, / —that know thou— full requited be."

887

"Good tidings, that thou sayest," / then the monarch said, As if he in earnest / did joy to have such aid. Deep did bow before him / the king in treachery. Then spake Sir Siegfried: / "Bring that but little care to thee."

888

Then serving-men full many / bade they ready be: 'Twas done alone that Siegfried / and his men the same might see. Then bade he make them ready / the knights of Netherland, And soon did Siegfried's warriors / for fight apparelled ready stand.

889

"My royal father Siegmund, / here shalt thou remain," Spake then Sir Siegfried. / "We come full soon again If God but give good fortune, / hither the Rhine beside; Here shalt thou with King Gunther / full merrily the while abide."

890

Then bound they on the banners / as they thence would fare. Men of royal Gunther / were full many there, Who naught knew of the matter, / or how that thing might be: There with Siegfried saw ye / of knights a mickle company.

891

Their helms and eke their mail-coats / bound on horse did stand: And doughty knights made ready / to fare from out that land. Then went of Tronje Hagen / where he Kriemhild found And prayed a fair leave-taking, / for that to battle they were bound.

892

"Now well is me, such husband / I have," Kriemhild said, "That to my loving kindred / can bring so potent aid, As my lord Siegfried / doth now to friends of me. Thereby," spake the high lady, / "may I full joyous-minded be.

893

"Now full dear friend Hagen, / call thou this to mind, Good-will I e'er have borne thee, / nor hate in any kind. Let now therefrom have profit / the husband dear to me. If Brunhild aught I've injured / may't not to him requited be.

894

"For that I since have suffered," / spake the high lady. "Sore punishment hath offered / therefor the knight to me. That I have aught e'er spoken / to make her sad of mood, Vengeance well hath taken / on me the valiant knight and good."

895

"In the days hereafter shall ye / be reconciled full well. Kriemhild, beloved lady, / to me shalt thou tell How that in Siegfried's person / I may service do to thee. That do I gladly, lady, / and unto none more willingly."

896

"No longer were I fearful," / spake his noble wife, "That e'er in battle any / should take from him his life, Would he but cease to follow / his high undaunted mood: Secure were then forever / the thane full valiant and good."

897

"Lady," spake then Hagen, / "an hast thou e'er a fear That hostile blade should pierce him, / now shalt thou give to hear With what arts of cunning / I may the same prevent. On horse and foot to guard him / shall ever be my fair intent."

898

She spake: "Of my kin art thou, / as I eke of thine. In truth to thee commended / be then dear spouse of mine, That him well thou guardest / whom full dear I hold." She told to him a story / 'twere better had she left untold.

899

She spake: "A valorous husband / is mine, and doughty too. When he the worm-like dragon / by the mountain slew, In its blood the stately / knight himself then bathed, Since when from cutting weapons / in battle is he all unscathed.

900

"Nathless my heart is troubled / when he in fight doth stand, And full many a spear-shaft / is hurled by hero's hand, Lest that I a husband / full dear should see no more. Alack! How oft for Siegfried / must I sit in sorrow sore!

901

"On thy good-will I rest me, / dear friend, to tell to thee, And that thy faith thou fully / provest now to me, Where that my spouse may smitten / be by hand of foe. This I now shall tell thee, / and on thy honor this I do.

902

"When from the wounded dragon / reeking flowed the blood, And therein did bathe him / the valiant knight and good, Fell down between his shoulders / full broad a linden leaf. There may he be smitten; / 'tis cause to me of mickle grief.'

903

Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / "Upon his tunic sew Thou a little token. / Thereby shall I know Where I may protect him / when in the fight we strain." She weened to save the hero, / yet wrought she nothing save his bane.

904

She spake: "All fine and silken / upon his coat I'll sew A little cross full secret. / There, doughty thane, shalt thou From my knight ward danger / when battle rageth sore, And when amid the turmoil / he stands his enemies before."

905

"That will I do," quoth Hagen, / "lady full dear to me." Then weened eke the lady / it should his vantage be, But there alone did Kriemhild / her own good knight betray. Leave of her took Hagen, / and joyously he went away.

906

The followers of the monarch / were all of merry mood. I ween that knight thereafter / never any could Of treachery be guilty / such as then was he When that Queen Kriemhild / did rest on his fidelity.

907

With his men a thousand / upon the following day Rode thence Sir Siegfried / full joyously away. He weened he should take vengeance / for harm his friends did bear. That he might view the tunic / Hagen rode to him full near.

908

When he had viewed the token / sent Hagen thence away Two of his men in secret / who did other tidings say: How that King Gunther's country / had nothing now to fear And that unto the monarch / had sent them royal Luedeger.

909

'Twas little joy to Siegfried / that he must turn again Ere for the hostile menace / vengeance he had ta'en. In sooth the men of Gunther / could scarce his purpose bend. Then rode he to the monarch, / who thus began his thanks to lend:

910

"Now God reward thee for it, / my good friend Siegfried, That thou with mind so willing / hast holpen me in need. That shall I e'er repay thee, / as I may do of right. To thee before all other / friends do I my service plight.

911

"Now that from battle-journey / free we are once more, So will I ride a-hunting / the wild bear and the boar Away to the Vosges forest, / as I full oft have done." The same had counselled Hagen, / the full dark and faithless man.

912

"To all my guests here with me / shall now be told That we ride forth at daybreak: / themselves shall ready hold, Who will join the hunting; / will any here remain For pastime with fair ladies, / the thing behold I eke full fain."

913

Then outspake Sir Siegfried / as in manner due: "If that thou rid'st a-hunting, / go I gladly too. A huntsman shalt thou grant me / and good hound beside That shall the game discover; / so with thee to the green I'll ride."

914

Straightway spake the monarch: / "Wilt thou but one alone? And wilt thou, four I'll grant thee, / to whom full well is known The forest with the runways / where most the game doth stray, And who unto the camp-fires / will help thee back to find thy way."

915

Unto his spouse then rode he, / the gallant knight and bold. Full soon thereafter Hagen / unto the king had told How he within his power / would have the noble thane: May deed so dark and faithless / ne'er by knight be done again!



SIXTEENTH ADVENTURE

How Siegfried was slain

916

Gunther and Hagen, / the knights full keen, Proposed with evil forethought / a hunting in the green: The boar within the forest / they'd chase with pointed spear, And shaggy bear and bison. / —What sport to valiant men more dear?

917

With them rode also Siegfried / happy and light of heart: Their load of rich refreshments / was made in goodly part. Where a spring ran cooling / they took from him his life, Whereto in chief had urged them / Brunhild, royal Gunther's wife.

918

Then went the valiant Siegfried / where he Kriemhild found; Rich hunting-dress was laden / and now stood ready bound For him and his companions / across the Rhine to go. Than this a sadder hour / nevermore could Kriemhild know.

919

The spouse he loved so dearly / upon the mouth he kissed. "God grant that well I find thee / again, if so He list, And thine own eyes to see me. / 'Mid kin that hold thee dear May now the time go gently, / the while I am no longer near."

920

Then thought she of the story / —but silence must she keep— Whereof once Hagen asked her: / then began to weep The princess high and noble / that ever she was born, And wept with tears unceasing / the valiant Siegfried's wife forlorn.

921

She spake unto her husband: / "Let now this hunting be. I dreamt this night of evil, / how wild boars hunted thee, Two wild boars o'er the meadow, / wherefrom the flowers grew red. That I do weep so sorely / have I poor woman direst need.

922

"Yea, do I fear, Sir Siegfried, / something treacherous, If perchance have any / of those been wronged by us Who might yet be able / to vent their enmity. Tarry thou here, Sir Siegfried: / let that my faithful counsel be."

923

Quoth he: "I come, dear lady, / when some short days are flown. Of foes who bear us hatred / here know I never one. All of thine own kindred / are gracious unto me, Nor know I aught of reason / why they should other-minded be."

924

"But nay, beloved Siegfried, / thy death I fear 'twill prove. This night I dreamt misfortune, / how o'er thee from above Down there fell two mountains: / I never saw thee more. And wilt thou now go from me, / that must grieve my heart full sore."

925

The lady rich in virtue / within his arms he pressed, And with loving kisses / her fair form caressed. From her thence he parted / ere long time was o'er: Alas for her, she saw him / alive thereafter nevermore.

926

Then rode from thence the hunters / deep within a wold In search of pleasant pastime. / Full many a rider bold Followed after Gunther / in his stately train. Gernot and Giselher, / —at home the knights did both remain.

927

Went many a horse well laden / before them o'er the Rhine, That for the huntsmen carried / store of bread and wine, Meat along with fishes / and other victualling, The which upon his table / were fitting for so high a king.

928

Then bade they make encampment / before the forest green Where game was like to issue, / those hunters proud and keen, Who there would join in hunting, / on a meadow wide that spread. Thither also was come Siegfried: / the same unto the king was said.

929

By the merry huntsmen / soon were watched complete At every point the runways. / The company then did greet Siegfried the keen and doughty: / "Who now within the green Unto the game shall guide us, / ye warriors so bold and keen?"

930

"Now part we from each other," / answered Hagen then, "Ere that the hunting / we do here begin! Thereby may be apparent / to my masters and to me Who on this forest journey / of the hunters best may be.

931

"Let then hounds and huntsmen / be ta'en in equal share, That wheresoever any / would go, there let him fare. Who then is first in hunting / shall have our thanks this day." Not longer there together / did the merry hunters stay.

932

Thereto quoth Sir Siegfried: / "Of dogs have I no need, More than one hound only / of trusty hunting breed For scenting well the runway / of wild beast through the brake. And now the chase begin we!" / —so the spouse of Kriemhild spake.

933

Then took a practised hunter / a good tracking-hound, That did bring them where they / game in plenty found, Nor kept them long awaiting. / Whate'er did spring from lair Pursued the merry huntsmen, / as still good hunters everywhere.

934

As many as the hound started / slew with mighty hand Siegfried the full doughty / hero of Netherland. So swiftly went his charger / that none could him outrun; And praise before all others / soon he in the hunting won.

935

He was in every feature / a valiant knight and true. The first within the forest / that with his hand he slew Was a half-grown wild-boar / that he smote to ground; Thereafter he full quickly / a wild and mighty lion found.

936

When it the hound had started, / with bow he shot it dead, Wherewith a pointed arrow / he had so swiftly sped That the lion after / could forward spring but thrice. All they that hunted with him / cried Siegfried's praise with merry voice.

937

Soon fell a prey unto him / an elk and bison more, A giant stag he slew him / and huge ure-oxen four. His steed bore him so swiftly / that none could him outrun; Of stag or hind encountered / scarce could there escape him one.

938

A boar full huge and bristling / soon was likewise found, And when the same bethought him / to flee before the hound, Came quick again the master / and stood athwart his path. The boar upon the hero / full charged straightway in mickle wrath.

939

Then the spouse of Kriemhild, / with sword the boar he slew, A thing that scarce another / hunter had dared to do. When he thus had felled him / they lashed again the hound, And soon his hunting prowess / was known to all the people round.

940

Then spake to him his huntsmen: / "If that the thing may be, So let some part, Sir Siegfried, / of the forest game go free; To-day thou makest empty / hillside and forest wild." Thereat in merry humor / the thane so keen and valiant smiled.

941

Then they heard on all sides / the din, from many a hound And huntsmen eke the clamor / so great was heard around That back did come the answer / from hill and forest tree— Of hounds had four-and-twenty / packs been set by hunter free.

942

Full many a forest denizen / from life was doomed to part. Each of all the hunters / thereon had set his heart, To win the prize in hunting. / But such could never be, When they the doughty Siegfried / at the camping-place did see.

943

Now the chase was ended, / —and yet complete 'twas not. All they to camp who wended / with them thither brought Skin of full many an animal / and of game good store. Heigho! unto the table / how much the king's attendants bore!

944

Then bade the king the noble / hunters all to warn That he would take refreshment, / and loud a hunting-horn In one long blast was winded: / to all was known thereby That the noble monarch / at camp did wait their company.

945

Spake one of Siegfried's huntsmen: / "Master, I do know By blast of horn resounding / that we now shall go Unto the place of meeting; / thereto I'll make reply." Then for the merry hunters / blew the horn right lustily.

946

Then spake Sir Siegfried: / "Now leave we eke the green." His charger bore him smoothly, / and followed huntsmen keen. With their rout they started / a beast of savage kind, That was a bear untamed. / Then spake the knight to those behind

947

"For our merry party / some sport will I devise. Let slip the hound then straightway, / a bear now meets my eyes, And with us shall he thither / unto the camp-fire fare. Full rapid must his flight be / shall he our company forbear."

948

From leash the hound was loosened, / the bear sprang through the brake, When that the spouse of Kriemhild / did wish him to o'ertake. He sought a pathless thicket, / but yet it could not be, As bruin fondly hoped it, / that from the hunter he was free.

949

Then from his horse alighted / the knight of spirit high, And gan a running after. / Bruin all unguardedly Was ta'en, and could escape not. / Him caught straightway the knight, And soon all unwounded / had him bound in fetters tight.

950

Nor claws nor teeth availed him / for aught of injury, But bound he was to saddle. / Then mounted speedily The knight, and to the camp-fire / in right merry way For pastime led he bruin, / the hero valiant and gay.

951

In what manner stately / unto the camp he rode! He bore a spear full mickle, / great of strength and broad. A sword all ornamented / hung down unto his spur, And wrought of gold all ruddy / at side a glittering horn he wore.

952

Of richer hunting-garments / heard I ne'er tell before. Black was the silken tunic / that the rider wore, And cap of costly sable / did crown the gallant knight. Heigho, and how his quiver / with well-wrought hands was rich bedight!

953

A skin of gleaming panther / covered the quiver o'er, Prized for its pleasant odor. / Eke a bow he bore, The which to draw if ever / had wished another man, A lever he had needed: / such power had Siegfried alone.

954

Of fur of costly otter / his mantle was complete, With other skins embroidered / from head unto the feet. And 'mid the fur all shining, / full many a golden seam On both sides of the valiant / huntsman saw ye brightly gleam.

955

Balmung, a goodly weapon / broad, he also wore, That was so sharp at edges / that it ne'er forbore To cleave when swung on helmet: / blade it was full good. Stately was the huntsman / as there with merry heart he rode.

956

If that complete the story / to you I shall unfold, Full many a goodly arrow / did his rich quiver hold Whereof were gold the sockets, / and heads a hand-breadth each. In sooth was doomed to perish / whate'er in flight the same did reach.

957

Pricking like goodly huntsman / the noble knight did ride When him the men of Gunther / coming thither spied. They hasted out to meet him / and took from him his steed, As bruin great and mighty / by the saddle he did lead.

958

When he from horse alighted / he loosed him every band From foot and eke from muzzle. / Straight on every hand Began the dogs a howling / when they beheld the bear. Bruin would to the forest: / among the men was mickle stir.

959

Amid the clamor bruin / through the camp-fires sped: Heigho, how the servants / away before him fled! O'erturned was many a kettle / and flaming brands did fly: Heigho, what goodly victuals / did scattered in the ashes lie!

960

Then sprang from out the saddle / knights and serving-men. The bear was wild careering: / the king bade loosen then All the dogs that fastened / within their leashes lay. If this thing well had ended, / then had there passed a merry day.

961

Not longer then they waited / but with bow and eke with spear Hasted the nimble hunters / to pursue the bear, Yet none might shoot upon him / for all the dogs around. Such clamor was of voices / that all the mountain did resound.

962

When by the dogs pursued / the bear away did run, None there that could o'ertake him / but Siegfried alone. With his sword he came upon him / and killed him at a blow, And back unto the camp-fire / bearing bruin they did go.

963

Then spake who there had seen it, / he was a man of might. Soon to the table bade they / come each noble knight, And on a smiling meadow / the noble company sat. Heigho, with what rare victuals / did they upon the huntsmen wait!

964

Ne'er appeared a butler / wine for them to pour. Than they good knights were never / better served before, And had there not in secret / been lurking treachery, Then were the entertainers / from every cause of cavil free.

965

Then spake Sir Siegfried: / "A wonder 'tis to me, Since that from the kitchen / so full supplied are we, Why to us the butlers / of wine bring not like store: If such the huntsman's service / a huntsman reckon me no more.

966

"Meseems I yet did merit / some share of courtesy." The king who sat at table / spake then in treachery: "Gladly shall be amended / wherein we're guilty so. The fault it is of Hagen, / he'd willing see us thirsting go."

967

Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / "Good master, hear me say, I weened for this our hunting / we did go to-day Unto the Spessart forest: / the wine I thither sent. Go we to-day a-thirsting, / I'll later be more provident."

968

Thereto replied Sir Siegfried: / "Small merit here is thine. Good seven horses laden / with mead and sparkling wine Should hither have been conducted. / If aught the same denied, Then should our place of meeting / have nearer been the Rhine beside."

969

Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / "Ye noble knights and bold, I know here nigh unto us / a spring that's flowing cold. Be then your wrath appeased, / and let us thither go." Through that same wicked counsel / came many a thane to grievous woe.

970

Sore was the noble Siegfried / with the pangs of thirst: To bid them rise from table / was he thus the first. He would along the hillside / unto the fountain go: In sooth they showed them traitors, / those knights who there did counsel so.

971

On wagons hence to carry / the game they gave command Which had that day been slaughtered / by Siegfried's doughty hand. He'd carried off the honors, / all who had seen did say. Hagen his faith with Siegfried / soon did break in grievous way.

972

When now they would go thither / to where the linden spread, Spake of Tronje Hagen: / "To me hath oft been said, That none could follow after / Kriemhild's nimble knight Or vie with him in running: / would that he'd prove it to our sight!"

973

Then spake of Netherland / bold Siegfried speedily: "That may ye well have proof of, / will ye but run with me In contest to the fountain. / When that the same be done, To him be given honor / who the race hath fairly won."

974

"Now surely make we trial," / quoth Hagen the thane. Thereto the doughty Siegfried: / "I too will give you gain, Afore your feet at starting / to lay me in the grass." When that he had heard it, / thereat how joyous Gunther was!

975

And spake again the warrior: / "And ye shall further hear: All my clothing likewise / will I upon me wear, The spear and shield full heavy / and hunting-dress I'll don." His sword as well as quiver / had he full quickly girded on.

976

Doffed they their apparel / and aside they laid it then: Clothed in white shirts only / saw you there the twain. Like unto two wild panthers / they coursed across the green: Yet first beside the fountain / was the valiant Siegfried seen.

977

No man in feats of valor / who with him had vied. The sword he soon ungirded / and quiver laid aside, The mighty spear he leaned / against the linden-tree: Beside the running fountain / stood the knight stately to see.

978

To Siegfried naught was lacking / that doth good knight adorn. Down the shield then laid he / where did flow the burn, Yet howsoe'er he thirsted / no whit the hero drank Before had drunk the monarch: / therefor he earned but evil thank.

979

There where ran clear the water / and cool from out the spring, Down to it did bend him / Gunther the king. And when his thirst was quenched / rose he from thence again: Eke the valiant Siegfried, / how glad had he done likewise then.

980

For his courtesy he suffered. / Where bow and sword there lay, Both did carry Hagen / from him thence away, And again sprang quickly thither / where the spear did stand: And for a cross the tunic / of the valiant knight he scanned.

981

As there the noble Siegfried / to drink o'er fountain bent, Through the cross he pierced him, / that from the wound was sent The blood nigh to bespatter / the tunic Hagen wore. By hand of knight such evil / deed shall wrought be nevermore.

982

The spear he left projecting / where it had pierced the heart. In terror as that moment / did Hagen never start In flight from any warrior / he ever yet had found. Soon as the noble Siegfried / within him felt the mighty wound,

983

Raging the knight full doughty / up from the fountain sprang, The while from 'twixt his shoulders / stood out a spearshaft long. The prince weened to find there / his bow or his sword: Then in sooth had Hagen / found the traitor's meet reward.

984

When from the sorely wounded / knight his sword was gone, Then had he naught to 'venge him / but his shield alone. This snatched he from the fountain / and Hagen rushed upon, And not at all escape him / could the royal Gunther's man.

985

Though he nigh to death was wounded / he yet such might did wield That out in all directions / flew from off the shield Precious stones a many: / the shield he clave in twain. Thus vengeance fain had taken / upon his foe the stately thane.

986

Beneath his hand must Hagen / stagger and fall to ground. So swift the blow he dealt him, / the meadow did resound. Had sword in hand been swinging, / Hagen had had his meed, So sorely raged he stricken: / to rage in sooth was mickle need.

987

Faded from cheek was color, / no longer could he stand, And all his might of body / soon complete had waned, As did a deathly pallor / over his visage creep. Full many a fairest lady / for the knight anon must weep.

988

So sank amid the flowers / Kriemhild's noble knight, While from his wound flowed thickly / the blood before the sight. Then gan he reviling / —for dire was his need— Who had thus encompassed / his death by this same faithless deed.

989

Then spake the sorely wounded: / "O ye base cowards twain, Doth then my service merit / that me ye thus have slain? To you I e'er was faithful / and so am I repaid. Alas, upon your kindred / now have ye shame eternal laid.

990

"By this deed dishonored / hereafter evermore Are their generations. / Your anger all too sore Have ye now thus vented / and vengeance ta'en on me. With shame henceforth be parted / from all good knights' company."

991

All the hunters hastened / where he stricken lay, It was in sooth for many / of them a joyless day. Had any aught of honor, / he mourned that day, I ween, And well the same did merit / the knight high-spirited and keen.

992

As there the king of Burgundy / mourned that he should die, Spake the knight sore wounded: / "To weep o'er injury, Who hath wrought the evil / hath smallest need, I trow. Reviling doth he merit, / and weeping may he well forego."

993

Thereto quoth grim Hagen: / "Ye mourn, I know not why: This same day hath ended / all our anxiety. Few shall we find henceforward / for fear will give us need, And well is me that from his / mastery we thus are freed."

994

"Light thing is now thy vaunting," / did Siegfried then reply. "Had I e'er bethought me / of this thy infamy Well had I preserved / 'gainst all thy hate my life. Me rueth naught so sorely / as Lady Kriemhild my wife.

995

"Now may God have mercy / that to me a son was born, That him alack!, the people / in times to come shall spurn, That those he nameth kinsmen / have done the murderer's deed. An had I breath," spake Siegfried, / "to mourn o'er this I well had need."

996

Then spake, in anguish praying, / the hero doomed to die: "An wilt thou, king, to any / yet not good faith deny, In all the world to any, / to thee commended be And to thy loving mercy / the spouse erstwhile was wed to me.

997

"Let it be her good fortune / that she thy sister is: By all the princely virtues, / I beg thee pledge me this. For me long time my father / and men henceforth must wait: Upon a spouse was never / wrought, as mine, a wrong so great."

998

All around the flowers / were wetted with the blood As there with death he struggled. / Yet not for long he could, Because the deadly weapon / had cut him all too sore: And soon the keen and noble / knight was doomed to speak no more.

999

When the lords perceived / how that the knight was dead, Upon a shield they laid him / that was of gold full red, And counsel took together / how of the thing should naught Be known, but held in secret / that Hagen the deed had wrought.

1000

Then spake of them a many: / "This is an evil day. Now shall ye all conceal it / and all alike shall say, When as Kriemhild's husband / the dark forest through Rode alone a-hunting, / him the hand of robber slew."

1001

Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / "Myself will bring him home. In sooth I reck but little / if to her ears it come, Who my Lady Brunhild / herself hath grieved so sore. It maketh me small worry, / an if she weep for evermore."



SEVENTEENTH ADVENTURE

How Kriemhild mourned for Siegfried, and How he was Buried

1002

There till the night they tarried / and o'er the Rhine they went. By knights in chase might never / more evil day be spent; For the game that there they hunted / wept many a noble maid. In sooth by many a valiant / warrior must it since be paid.

1003

Of humor fierce and wanton / list now and ye shall hear, And eke of direst vengeance. / Hagen bade to bear Siegfried thus lifeless, / of the Nibelung country, Unto a castle dwelling / where Lady Kriemhild found might be.

1004

He bade in secret manner / to lay him there before Where she should surely find him / when she from out the door Should pass to matins early, / ere that had come the day. In sooth did Lady Kriemhild / full seldom fail the hour to pray.

1005

When, as was wont, in minster / the bell to worship bade, Kriemhild, fair lady, wakened / from slumber many a maid: A light she bade them bring her / and eke her dress to wear. Then hither came a chamberlain / who Siegfried's corse found waiting there.

1006

He saw him red and bloody, / all wet his clothing too. That it was his master, / in sooth no whit he knew. On unto the chamber / the light in hand he bore, Whereby the Lady Kriemhild / did learn what brought her grief full sore.

1007

When she with train of ladies / would to the minster go, Then spake the chamberlain: / "Pause, I pray thee now: Here before thy dwelling / a noble knight lies slain." Thereat gan Lady Kriemhild / in grief unmeasured sore to plain.

1008

Ere yet that 'twas her husband / she did rightly find, Had she Hagen's question / begun to call to mind, How might he protect him: / then first did break her heart, For all her joy in living / did with his death from her depart.

1009

Unto the earth then sank she / ere she a word did say, And reft of all her pleasure / there the fair lady lay. Soon had Kriemhild's sorrow / all measure passed beyond: She shrieked, when past the swooning, / that did the chamber all resound.

1010

Then spake her attendants: / "What if't a stranger were?" From out her mouth the heart-blood / did spring from anguish sore. Then spake she: "It is Siegfried / my husband, other none: This thing hath counselled Brunhild, / and Hagen's hand the deed hath done."

1011

The lady bade them lead her / where did lie the knight, And his fair head she raised / with her hand full white. Red though it was and bloody / she knew him yet straightway, As all forlorn the hero / of Nibelungenland there lay.

1012

Then cried the queen in anguish, / whose hand such wealth might wield: "O woe is me for sorrow! / Yet is not thy shield With blow of sword now battered, / but murdered dost thou lie. And knew I who hath done it, / by my counsel should he die."

1013

All of her attendants / did weep and wail enow With their beloved mistress, / for filled they were with woe For their noble master / whom they should see no more. For anger of Queen Brunhild / had Hagen wrought revenge full sore.

1014

Then spake Kriemhild sorrowing: / "Hence now the message take, And all the men of Siegfried / shall ye straightway awake. Unto Siegmund likewise / tell ye my sorrow deep, If that he will help me / for the doughty Siegfried weep."

1015

Then ran straightway a messenger / and soon he found at hand, Siegfried's valiant warriors / of Nibelungenland. Of joy he all bereft him / with tale that he did bear, Nor would they aught believe it / till sound of weeping met their ear.

1016

The messenger came eke quickly / where the king did lie, Yet closed was not in sleeping / the monarch Siegmund's eye: I ween his heart did tell him / the thing that there had been, And that his dear son living / might nevermore by him be seen.

1017

"Awake, awake, Lord Siegmund. / Hither hath sent for thee Kriemhild my mistress. / A wrong now beareth she, A grief that 'fore all others / unto her heart doth go: To mourn it shalt thou help her, / for sorely hast thou need thereto."

1018

Up raised himself then Siegmund. / He spake: "What may it be Of wrong that grieveth Kriemhild, / as thou hast told to me?" The messenger spake weeping: / "Now may I naught withhold: Know thou that of Netherland / Siegfried brave lies slain and cold."

1019

Thereto gave answer Siegmund: / "Let now such mocking be And tale of such ill tidings / —an thou regardest me— As that thou say'st to any / now he lieth slain: An were it so, I never / unto my end might cease to plain."

1020

"Wilt thou now believe not / the tidings that I bear, So may'st thyself the Lady / Kriemhild weeping hear, And all of her attendants, / that Siegfried lieth dead." With terror filled was Siegmund: / whereof in very sooth was need.

1021

He and his men a hundred / from their beds they sprang, Then snatched in hand full quickly / swords both sharp and long, And toward the sound of weeping / in sorrow sore did speed. There came a thousand warriors / eke of the valiant knight Siegfried.

1022

When they heard the women weeping / in such sore distress Thought some, strict custom keeping, / we first must don our dress. In sooth for very sorrow / their wits no more had they, For on their hearts a burden / of grief full deep and heavy lay.

1023

Then came the monarch Siegmund / where he Kriemhild espied. He spake: "Alack that ever / to this country I did ride! Who in such wondrous manner, / and while good friends are near, Hath of my child bereft me / and thee of spouse thou hold'st so dear?"

1024

"Ah, might I him discover," / spake the lady high, "Evermore would mercy / I to him deny. Such meed of vengeance should he / at my hands receive That all who call him kinsman / reason good should have to grieve."

1025

Siegmund the monarch / in arms the knight did press, And of his friends there gathered / so great was the distress, That from the mighty wailing / palace and wide hall And Worms the city likewise / with sound of woe re-echoed all.

1026

None was who aught might comfort / the wife of Siegfried there. They drew the knight's attire / from off his body fair, From wounds the blood, too, washed they / and laid him on the bier. Then from all his people / a mighty wailing might ye hear.

1027

Then outspake his warriors / of Nibelungenland: "Until he be avenged / rest shall not our hand. He is within this castle / who the deed hath done." Then rushed to find their weapons / Siegfried's warriors every one.

1028

The knights of chosen valor / with shields did thither throng, Eleven hundred warriors, / that did to train belong Of Siegmund the monarch. / That his son lay dead, Would he wreak dire vengeance, / whereof in very sooth was need.

1029

Yet knew they not whom should they / beset in battle then, If it were not Gunther / and with him his men With whom their lord Siegfried / unto the hunting rode. Yet filled with fear was Kriemhild / when she beheld how armed they stood.

1030

How great soe'er her sorrow / and stern the grief she bore, Yet for the Nibelungen / feared she death full sore From her brother's warriors, / and bade them hold their wrath. She gave them kindly warning / as friend to friend beloved doth.

1031

Then spake she rich in sorrow: / "What thing beginnest thou, Good my lord Siegmund? / This case thou dost not know. In sooth hath here King Gunther / so many a valiant knight, Lost are ye all together, / will ye the thanes withstand in fight."

1032

With shields upraised they ready / for the fight did stand. But the queen full noble / did straightway give command To those high knights, and prayed them, / their purpose to give o'er. That she might not dissuade them, / in sooth to her was sorrow sore.

1033

Spake she thus: "Lord Siegmund, / thou shalt this thing let be Until more fitting season. / Seek will I e'er with thee Full to avenge my husband. / Who him from me hath ta'en, An I shall know him guilty, / in me shall surely find his bane.

1034

"Of warriors proud and mighty / are many here by Rhine, Therefore will I advise not / the struggle to begin. For one that we can muster / good thirty men have they; As unto us their dealing, / God them requite in equal way.

1035

"Here shall ye bide with me / and help my grief to bear; Soon as dawns the morning, / ye noble knights and rare, Help me my loved husband / prepare for burial." "That shall be done full willing," / spake the doughty warriors all.

1036

To you could never any / full the wonder say, Of knights and noble ladies, / so full of grief were they, That the sound of wailing / through the town was heard afar, Whereat the noble burghers / hastily did gather there.

1037

With the guests they mourned together, / for sore they grieved as well. What was the guilt of Siegfried / none to them might tell, Wherefore the knight so noble / thus his life should lose. Then wept with the high ladies / many a worthy burgher's spouse.

1038

Smiths they bade a casket / work full hastily All of gold and silver / that great and strong should be. They bade them fast to weld it / with bands of steel full good. Then saw ye all the people / stand right sorrowful of mood.

1039

Now the night was over, / for day, they said, drew near. Then bade the noble lady / unto the minster bear Siegfried her lord full loved / for whom she mourned so. Whoe'er was friend unto him, / him saw ye weeping thither go.

1040

As they brought him to the minster / bells full many rung. On every hand then heard ye / how priests did chant their song. Thither with his followers / came Gunther the king And eke the grim knight Hagen / where was sound of sorrowing.

1041

He spake: "Full loving sister, / alack for grief to thee, And that from such great evil / spared we might not be! Henceforth must we ever / mourn for Siegfried's sake." "That do ye without reason," / full of woe the lady spake.

1042

"If that ye grieved for it, / befallen were it not. For say I may full truly, / me had ye all forgot There where I thus was parted / from my husband dear. Would it God," spake Kriemhild, / "that done unto myself it were!"

1043

Fast they yet denied it. / Kriemhild spake again: "If any speak him guiltless, / let here be seen full plain. Unto the bier now shall he / before the people go; Thus the truth full quickly / may we in this manner know."

1044

It is a passing wonder / that yet full oft is seen, Where blood-bespotted slayer / beside slain corse hath been, That from the wounds come blood-drops, / as here it eke befell. Thereby the guilt of Hagen / might they now full plainly tell.

1045

Now ran the wounds all bloody /like as they did before. Who erstwhile wept full sorely / now wept they mickle more. Then spake the monarch Gunther: / "To thee the truth be known: Slain hath he been by robbers, / nor is this deed by Hagen done."

1046

"Of these same robbers," spake she, / "full well I understand. God give that yet may vengeance / wreak some friendly hand. Gunther and Hagen, / yourselves have done this deed." Then looked for bloody conflict / the valiant thanes that served Siegfried.

1047

Then spake unto them Kriemhild: / "Now bear with me my need." Knights twain came likewise hither / and did find him dead,— Gernot her brother / and the young Giselher. With upright hearts then joined they / with the others grief to share.

1048

They mourned for Kriemhild's husband / with hearts all full of woe. A mass should then be chanted: / to the minster forth did go Man and child and woman / gathered from every side. E'en they did likewise mourn him / who little lost that Siegfried died.

1049

Gernot and Giselher spake: / "O Sister dear, Now comfort thee in sorrow, / for death is ever near. Amends we'll make unto thee / the while that we shall live." In the world might never any / unto her a comfort give.

1050

His coffin was made ready / about the middle day. From off the bier they raised him / whereupon he lay. But yet would not the lady / let him be laid in grave. Therefor must all the people / first a mickle trouble have.

1051

In a shroud all silken / they the dead man wound. I ween that never any / that wept not might be found. There mourned full of sorrow / Ute the queen full high And all of her attendants / that such a noble knight did die.

1052

When did hear the people / how they in minster sung, And that he there lay coffined, / came then a mickle throng: For his soul's reposing / what offerings they bore! E'en amid his enemies / found he of good friends a store.

1053

Kriemhild the poor lady / to her attendants spake: "Let them shun no trouble / to suffer for my sake, Who to him are friendly-minded / and me in honor hold; For the soul of Siegfried / meted be to them his gold."

1054

Child so small there was not, / did it but reason have, But offering carried thither. / Ere he was laid in grave, More than a hundred masses / upon the day they sung, Of all the friends of Siegfried / was gathered there a mickle throng.

1055

When were the masses over, / the folk departed soon. Then spake the Lady Kriemhild: / "Leave ye me not alone To pass the night in watching / by this chosen thane now dead, With whose passing from me / all my joy of life hath fled.

1056

"Three days and three nights further / shall he lie on bier, Until my heart find quiet / that weeps for spouse so dear. God perchance commandeth / that death eke me do take: That were for me poor Kriemhild / fit end of all my woe to make."

1057

Then of the town the people / went to their homes again. Priests and monks yet bade she / longer there remain, And all the hero's followers / who willing served alway. They watched a night all gruesome, / and full of toil was eke the day.

1058

Meat and drink forgetting / abode there many a one. If any were would take it / 'twas unto all made known, That have they might in plenty: / thus did provide Siegmund. Then for the Nibelungen / did trouble and sore need abound.

1059

The while the three days lasted / —such the tale we hear— All who could join the chanting, / mickle must they bear There of toil and trouble. / What gifts to them they bore! Rich were seen full many / who did suffer need before.

1060

As many poor as found they / who themselves had naught, By them yet an offering / bade they there be brought, Of gold of Siegfried's treasure. / Though he no more might live, Yet for his soul's reposing / marks many thousand did they give.

1061

Land of fruitful income / bestowed Kriemhild around, Wheresoever cloisters / and worthy folk were found. Silver and apparel / to the poor she gave in store, And in good manner showed she / that truest love to him she bore.

1062

Upon the third morning / at the mass' tide Was there beside the minster / filled the church-yard wide With country-folk a-weeping / that came from far and near: In death they yet did serve him / as is meet for friend full dear.

1063

And so it hath been told us, / ere these four days were o'er, Marks full thirty thousand, / yea, in sooth, and more, For his soul's reposing / to the poor were given there: The while that lay all broken / his life and eke his body fair.

1064

When ended was the service / and full the masses sung, In unrestrained sorrow / there the flock did throng. They bade that from the minster / he to the grave be borne. Them that fain had kept him / there beheld ye weep and mourn.

1065

Thence full loud lamenting / did the people with him pass. Unmoved there never any / nor man nor woman was. Ere that in grave they laid him / chanted they and read. What host of priests full worthy / at his burial were gathered!

1066

Ere that the wife of Siegfried / was come unto the grave, With water from the fountain / full oft her face they lave, So struggled with her sorrow / the faithful lady fair. Great beyond all measure / was the grief that she did bear.

1067

It was a mickle wonder / that e'er her life she kept. Many a lady was there / that helped her as she wept. Then spake the queen full noble: / "Ye men that service owe To Siegfried, as ye love me, / now to me a mercy show.

1068

"Upon this sorrow grant ye / the little grace to me That I his shining visage / yet once more may see." So filled she was with anguish / and so long time she sought, Perforce they must break open / the casket all so fairly wrought.

1069

Where she did see him lying / they then the lady led. With hand full white and spotless / raised she his fair head; Then kissed she there all lifeless / the good and noble knight,— And wept so that for sorrow / ran blood from out her eyes so bright.

1070

Mournful was the parting / that then did rend the twain. Thence away they bore her, / nor might she walk again, But in a swoon did senseless / the stately lady lie. In sooth her winsome body / for sorrow sore was like to die.

1071

When they the knight full noble / now in the grave had laid, Beheld ye every warrior / beyond all measure sad That with him was come hither / from Nibelung country. Full seldom joyous-hearted / might ye royal Siegmund see.

1072

And many were among them / that for sorrow great Till three days were over / did nor drink nor eat. Yet might they not their bodies / long leave uncared-for so: For food they turned from mourning / as people still are wont to do.



EIGHTEENTH ADVENTURE

How Siegmund fared Home Again

1073

Then went royal Siegmund / where he Kriemhild found. Unto the queen spake he: / "Home must we now be bound. We ween that guests unwelcome / here are we by the Rhine. Kriemhild, beloved lady, / come now to country that is mine.

1074

"Though from us hath been taken / by foul traitor's hand Thy good spouse and noble / here in stranger land, Thine be it not to suffer: / good friend thou hast in me For sake of son beloved: / thereof shalt thou undoubting be.

1075

"Eke shalt thou have, good lady, / all the power to hold, The which erstwhile hath shown thee / Siegfried the thane full bold. The land and the crown likewise, / be they thine own to call, And gladly eke shall serve thee / Siegfried's doughty warriors all."

1076

Then did they tell the servants / that they thence would ride, And straight to fetch the horses / these obedient hied. 'Mid such as so did hate them / it grieved them more to stay: Ladies high and maidens / were bidden dress them for the way.

1077

When that for royal Siegmund / stood ready horse and man, Her kinsmen Lady Kriemhild / to beseech began That she from her mother / would still forbear to go. Then spake the lofty lady: / "That might hardly yet be so.

1078

"How might I for ever / look with eyes upon Him that to me, poor woman, / such evil thing hath done?" Then spake the youthful Giselher: / "Sister to me full dear, By thy goodness shalt thou / tarry with thy mother here."

1079

"Who in this wise have harmed thee / and so grieved thy heart, Thyself may'st spurn their service: / of what is mine take part." Unto the knight she answered: / "Such thing may never be. For die I must for sorrow / when that Hagen I should see."

1080

"From need thereof I'll save thee, / sister full dear to me, For with thy brother Giselher / shalt thou ever be. I'll help to still thy sorrow / that thy husband lieth dead." Then spake she sorrow-stricken: / "Thereof in sooth had Kriemhild need."

1081

When that the youthful Giselher / such kindly offer made, Then her mother Ute / and Gernot likewise prayed, And all her faithful kinsmen, / that she would tarry there: For that in Siegfried's country / but few of her own blood there were.

1082

"To thee they all are strangers," / did Gernot further say. Nor lived yet man so mighty / but dead at last he lay. Bethink thee that, dear sister, / in comfort of thy mood. Stay thou amid thy kinsmen, / I counsel truly for thy good."

1083

To Giselher she promised / that she would tarry there. For the men of Siegmund / the horses ready were, When they thence would journey / to the Nibelungen land: On carrying-horses laden / the knights' attire did ready stand.

1084

Went the royal Siegmund / unto Kriemhild then; He spake unto the lady: / "Now do Siegfried's men Await thee by the horses. / Straight shall we hence away, For 'mid the men of Burgundy / unwilling would I longer stay."

1085

Then spake the Lady Kriemhild: / "My friends have counselled me, That by the love I bear them, / here my home shall be, For that no kinsmen have I / in the Nibelungen land." Grieved full sore was Siegmund / when he did Kriemhild understand.

1086

Then spake the royal Siegmund: / "To such give not thine ear, A queen 'mid all my kinsmen, / thou a crown shalt wear And wield as lordly power / as e'er till now thou hast. Nor thou a whit shalt forfeit, / that we the hero thus have lost.

1087

"And journey with us thither, / for child's sake eke of thine: Him shalt thou never, lady, / an orphan leave to pine. When hath grown thy son to manhood, / he'll comfort thee thy mood. Meanwhile shall ready serve thee / many a warrior keen and good."

1088

She spake: "O royal Siegmund, / I may not thither ride, For I here must tarry, / whate'er shall me betide, 'Mid them that are my kinsmen, / who'll help my grief to share." The knights had sore disquiet / that such tidings they must hear.

1089

"So might we say full truly," / spake they every one, "That unto us still greater / evil now were done, Would'st thou longer tarry / here amid our foes: In sooth were never journey / of knights to court more full of woes."

1090

"Now may ye free from trouble / in God's protection fare: I'll bid that trusty escort / shall you have in care Unto Siegmund's country. / My child full dear to me, Unto your knights' good mercy / let it well commended be."

1091

When that they well perceived / how she would not depart, Wept all the men of Siegmund / and sad they were at heart. In what right heavy sorrow / Siegmund then took leave Of the Lady Kriemhild! / Full sore thereover must he grieve.

1092

"Woe worth this journey hither," / the lofty monarch spake. "Henceforth from merry meeting / shall nevermore o'ertake King or his faithful kinsmen / what here our meed hath been. Here 'mid the men of Burgundy / may we never be more seen."

1093

Then spake the men of Siegfried / in open words and plain: "An might we right discover / who our lord hath slain, Warriors bent on vengeance / shall yet lay waste this ground. Among his kin in plenty / may doughty foemen be found."

1094

Anon he kissed Kriemhild / and spake sorrowfully, When she there would tarry, / and he the same did see: "Now ride we joy-forsaken / home unto our land. First now what 'tis to sorrow / do I rightly understand."

1095

From Worms away sans escort / unto the Rhine they rode: I ween that they full surely / did go in such grim mood, That had against them any / aught of evil dared, Hand of keen Nibelungen / had known full well their life to guard.

1096

Nor parting hand they offered / to any that were there. Then might ye see how Gernot / and likewise Giselher Did give him loving greeting. / That as their very own They felt the wrong he suffered, / by the courteous knights and brave was shown.

1097

Then spake in words full kindly / the royal knight Gernot: "God in heaven knoweth / that of guilt I've naught In the death of Siegfried, / that e'er I e'en did hear Who here to him were hostile. / Well may I of thy sorrow share."

1098

An escort safe did furnish / the young knight Giselher: Forth from out that country / he led them full of care, The monarch with his warriors, / to Netherland their home. How joyless is the greeting / as thither to their kin they come!

1099

How fared that folk thereafter, / that can I nowise say. Here heard ye Kriemhild plaining / as day did follow day, That none there was to comfort / her heart and sorry mood, Did Giselher not do it; / he faithful was to her and good.

1100

The while the fair Queen Brunhild / in mood full haughty sat, And weep howe'er did Kriemhild, / but little recked she that, Nor whit to her of pity / displayed she evermore. Anon was Lady Kriemhild / eke cause to her of sorrow sore.



NINETEENTH ADVENTURE

How the Nibelungen Hoard was Brought to Worms

1101

When that the noble Kriemhild / thus did widowed stand, Remained there with his warriors / by her in that land Eckewart the margrave, / and served her ever true. And he did help his mistress / oft to mourn his master too.

1102

At Worms a house they built her / the minster high beside, That was both rich and spacious, / full long and eke full wide, Wherein with her attendants / joyless did she dwell. She sought the minster gladly, / —that to do she loved full well.

1103

Seldom undone she left it, / but thither went alway In sorry mood where buried / her loved husband lay. God begged she in his mercy / his soul in charge to keep, And, to the thane right faithful, / for him full often did she weep.

1104

Ute and her attendants / all times a comfort bore, But yet her heart was stricken / and wounded all so sore That no whit might avail it / what solace e'er they brought. For lover taken from her / with such grief her heart was fraught,

1105

As ne'er for spouse beloved / a wife did ever show. Thereby how high in virtue / she stood ye well might know. She mourned until her ending / and while did last her life. Anon a mighty vengeance / wreaked the valiant Siegfried's wife.

1106

And so such load of sorrow / for her dead spouse she bore, The story sayeth truly, / for years full three or more, Nor ever unto Gunther / any word spake she, And meantime eke her enemy / Hagen never might she see.

1107

Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / "Now seek'st thou such an end, That unto thee thy sister / be well-disposed friend? Then Nibelungen treasure / let come to this country: Thereof thou much might'st win thee, / might Kriemhild friendly-minded be."

1108

He spake: "Be that our effort. / My brothers' love hath she: Them shall we beg to win her / that she our friend may be, And that she gladly see it / that we do share her store." "I trow it well," spake Hagen, / "may such thing be nevermore."

1109

Then did he Ortwein / unto the court command And the margrave Gere. / When both were found at hand, Thither brought they Gernot / and eke young Giselher. In friendly manner sought they / to win the Lady Kriemhild there.

1110

Then spake of Burgundy / Gernot the warrior strong: "Lady, the death of Siegfried / thou mournest all too long. Well will the monarch prove thee / that him he ne'er hath slain. 'Tis heard how that right sorely / thou dost for him unending plain."

1111

She spake: "The king none chargeth: / t'was Hagen's hand that slew. When Hagen me did question / where might one pierce him through, How might e'er thought come to me / that hate his heart did bear? Then 'gainst such thing to guard me," / spake she, "had I ta'en good care.

1112

"And kept me from betraying / to evil hands his life, Nor cause of this my weeping / had I his poor lorn wife. My heart shall hate forever / who this foul deed have done." And further to entreat her / young Giselher had soon begun.

1113

When that to greet the monarch / a willing mind spake she, Him soon with noble kinsmen / before her might ye see. Yet dare might never Hagen / unto her to go: On her he'd wrought sore evil, / as well his guilty mind did know.

1114

When she no hatred meted / unto Gunther as before, By Hagen to be greeted / were fitting all the more. Had but by his counsel / no ill to her been done, So might he all undaunted / unto Kriemhild have gone.

1115

Nor e'er was peace new offered / kindred friends among Sealed with tears so many. / She brooded o'er her wrong. To all she gave her friendship / save to one man alone. Nor slain her spouse were ever, / were not the deed by Hagen done.

1116

Small time it was thereafter / ere they did bring to pass That with the Lady Kriemhild / the mighty treasure was, That from Nibelungen country / she brought the Rhine unto. It was her bridal portion / and 'twas fairly now her due.

1117

For it did journey thither / Gernot and Giselher. Warriors eighty hundred / Kriemhild commanded there That they should go and fetch it / where hidden it did lie, And where the good thane Alberich / with friends did guard it faithfully.

1118

When saw they coming warriors / from Rhine the hoard to take, Alberich the full valiant / to his friends in this wise spake: "We dare not of the treasure / aught from them withhold: It is her bridal portion, / —thus the noble queen hath told.

1119

"Yet had we never granted," / spake Alberich, "this to do, But that in evil manner / the sightless mantle too With the doughty Siegfried / we alike did lose, The which did wear at all times / the fair Kriemhild's noble spouse.

1120

"Now alas hath Siegfried / had but evil gain That from us the sightless mantle / the hero thus hath ta'en, And so hath forced to serve him / all these lands around." Then went forth the porter / where full soon the keys he found.

1121

There stood before the mountain / ready Kriemhild's men, And her kinsmen with them. / The treasure bore they then Down unto the water / where the ships they sought: To where the Rhine flowed downward / across the waves the hoard they brought.

1122

Now of the treasure further / may ye a wonder hear: Heavy wains a dozen / scarce the same might bear In four days and nights together / from the mountain all away, E'en did each one of them / thrice the journey make each day.

1123

In it was nothing other / than gold and jewels rare. And if to every mortal / on earth were dealt a share, Ne'er 'twould make the treasure / by one mark the less. Not without good reason / forsooth would Hagen it possess.

1124

The wish-rod lay among them, / of gold a little wand. Whosoe'er its powers / full might understand, The same might make him master / o'er all the race of men. Of Alberich's kin full many / with Gernot returned again.

1125

When they did store the treasure / in King Gunther's land, And to royal Kriemhild / 'twas given 'neath her hand, Storing-rooms and towers / could scarce the measure hold. Nevermore such wonder / might of wealth again be told.

1126

And had it e'en been greater, / yea a thousandfold, If but again might Kriemhild / safe her Siegfried hold, Fain were she empty-handed / of all the boundless store. Spouse than she more faithful / won a hero nevermore.

1127

When now she had the treasure, / she brought into that land Knights many from far distance. / Yea, dealt the lady's hand So freely that such bounty / ne'er before was seen. High in honor held they / for her goodly heart the queen.

1128

Unto both rich and needy / began she so to give That fearful soon grew Hagen, / if that she would live Long time in such high power, / lest she of warriors true Such host might win to serve her, / that cause would be her strength to rue.

1129

Spake Gunther then: / "The treasure is hers and freedom too. Wherefore shall I prevent her, / whate'er therewith she do? Yea, nigh she did her friendship / from me evermore withhold. Now reck we not who shareth / or her silver or her gold."

1130

Unto the king spake Hagen: / "No man that boasteth wit Should to any woman / such hoard to hold permit. By gifts she yet will bring it / that will come the day When valiant men of Burgundy / rue it with good reason may."

1131

Then spake the monarch Gunther: / "To her an oath I swore, That I would cause of evil / to her be nevermore, Whereof henceforth I'll mind me: / sister she is to me." Then spake further Hagen: / "Let me bear the guilt for thee."

1132

Many they were that kept not / there their plighted word: From the widow took they / all that mighty hoard: Every key had Hagen / known to get in hand. Rage filled her brother Gernot / when he the thing did understand.

1133

Then spake the knight Giselher: / "Hagen here hath wrought Sore evil to my sister: / permit this thing I'll not. And were he not my kinsman, / he'd pay it with his life." Anew did fall aweeping / then the doughty Siegfried's wife.

1134

Then spake the knight Gernot: / "Ere that forever we Be troubled with this treasure, / let first commanded be Deep in the Rhine to sink it, / that no man have it more." In sad manner plaining / Kriemhild stood Giselher before.

1135

She spake: "Beloved brother, / be mindful thou of me: What life and treasure toucheth / shalt thou my protector be." Then spake he to the lady: / "That shall sure betide, When we again come hither: / now called we are away to ride."

1136

The monarch and his kinsmen / rode from out the land, And in his train the bravest / ye saw on any hand: Went all save Hagen only, / and there he stayed for hate, That he did bear to Kriemhild, / and full gladly did he that.

1137

Ere that the mighty monarch / was thither come again, In that while had Hagen / all that treasure ta'en. Where Loch is by the river / all in the Rhine sank he. He weened thereof to profit, / yet such thing might never be.

1138

The royal knights came thither / again with many a man. Kriemhild with her maidens / and ladies then began To mourn the wrong they suffered, / that pity was to hear. Fain had the faithful Giselher / been unto her a comforter.

1139

Then spake they all together: / "Done hath he grievous wrong." But he the princes' anger / avoided yet so long At last to win their favor. / They let him live sans scathe. Then filled thereat was Kriemhild / as ne'er before with mickle wrath.

1140

Ere that of Tronje Hagen / had hidden thus the hoard, Had they unto each other / given firm plighted word, That it should lie concealed / while one of them might live. Thereof anon nor could they / to themselves nor unto other give.

1141

With renewed sorrows / heavy she was of heart That so her dear-loved husband / perforce from life must part, And that of wealth they reft her. / Therefor she mourned alway, Nor ever ceased her plaining / until was come her latest day.

1142

After the death of Siegfried / dwelt she in sorrow then, —Saith the tale all truly— / full three years and ten, Nor in that time did ever / for the knight mourn aught the less. To him she was right faithful, / must all the folk of her confess.



TWENTIETH ADVENTURE

How King Etzel sent to Burgundy for Kriemhild

1143

In that same time when ended / was Lady Helke's life, And that the monarch Etzel / did seek another wife, To take a highborn widow / of the land of Burgundy Hun his friends did counsel: / Lady Kriemhild hight was she.

1144

Since that was ended / the fair Helke's life, Spake they: "Wilt thou ever / win for thee noble wife, The highest and the fairest / that ever king did win, Take to thee this same lady / that doughty Siegfried's spouse hath been."

1145

Then spake the mighty monarch: / "How might that come to pass Since that I am a heathen, / nor named with sign of cross? The lady is a Christian, / thereto she'll ne'er agree. Wrought must be a wonder, / if the thing may ever be."

1146

Then spake again his warriors: / "She yet may do the same. For sake of thy great power / and thy full lofty name Shalt thou yet endeavor / such noble wife to gain. To woo the stately lady / might each monarch high be fain."

1147

Then spake the noble monarch: / "Who is 'mong men of mine, That knoweth land and people / dwelling far by Rhine?" Spake then of Bechelaren / the trusty Ruediger: "I have known from childhood / the noble queen that dwelleth there.

1148

"And Gunther and Gernot, / the noble knights and good, And hight the third is Giselher: / whatever any should That standeth high in honor / and virtue, doth each one: Eke from eld their fathers / have in like noble manner done."

1149

Then spake again Etzel: / "Friend, now shalt thou tell, If she within my country / crown might wear full well— For be she fair of body / as hath been told to me, My friends for this their counsel / shall ever full requited be."

1150

"She likeneth in beauty / well my high lady, Helke that was so stately. / Nor forsooth might be In all this world a fairer / spouse of king soe'er. Whom taketh she for wooer, / glad of heart and mind he were."

1151

He spake: "Make trial, Ruediger, / as thou hold'st me dear. And if by Lady Kriemhild / e'er I lie full near, Therefor will I requite thee / as in best mode I may: So hast thou then fulfilled / all my wish in fullest way.

1152

"Stores from out my treasure / I'll bid to thee to give, That thou with thy companions / merry long shalt live, Of steeds and rich apparel / what thou wilt have to share. Thereof unto thy journey / I'll bid in measure full prepare."

1153

Thereto did give him answer / the margrave Ruediger: "Did I thy treasure covet / unworthy thing it were. Gladly will I thy messenger / be unto the Rhine, From my own store provided: / all have I e'en from hand of thine."

1154

Then spake the mighty monarch: / "When now wilt thou fare To seek the lovely lady? / God of thee have care To keep thee on thy journey / and eke a wife to me. Therein good fortune help me, / that she to us shall gracious be."

1155

Then again spake Ruediger: / "Ere that this land we quit, Must we first prepare us / arms and apparel fit, That we may thus in honor / in royal presence stand. To the Rhine I'll lead five hundred / warriors, a doughty band.

1156

"Wherever they in Burgundy / me and my men may see, Shall they all and single / then confess of thee That ne'er from any monarch / so many warriors went As now to bear thy message / thou far unto the Rhine hast sent.

1157

"May it not, O mighty monarch, / thee from thy purpose move: Erstwhile unto Siegfried / she gave her noble love, Who scion is of Siegmund: / him thou here hast seen. Worthy highest honor / verily the knight had been."

1158

Then answered him King Etzel: / "Was she the warrior's wife, So worthy was of honor / the noble prince in life, That I the royal lady / therefor no whit despise. 'Tis her surpassing beauty / that shall be joy unto mine eyes."

1159

Then further spake the margrave: / "Hear then what I do say: After days four-and-twenty / shall we from hence away. Tidings to Gotelinde / I'll send, my spouse full dear, That I to Lady Kriemhild / myself will be thy messenger."

1160

Away to Bechelaren / sent then Ruediger. Both sad his spouse and joyous / was the news to hear. He told how for the monarch / a wife he was to woo: With love she well remembered / the fair Lady Helke too.

1161

When that the margravine / did the message hear, In part 'twas sorrow to her, / and weep she must in fear At having other mistress / than hers had been before. To think on Lady Helke / did grieve her inmost heart full sore.

1162

Ruediger from Hunland / in seven days did part, Whereat the monarch Etzel / merry was of heart. When at Vienna city / all was ready for the way, To begin the journey / might he longer not delay.

1163

At Bechelaren waited / Gotelinde there, And eke the young margravine, / daughter of Ruediger, Was glad at thought her father / and all his men to see. And many a lovely maiden / looked to the coming joyfully.

1164

Ere that to Bechelaren / rode noble Ruediger From out Vienna city, / was rich equipment there For them in fullest measure / on carrying-horses brought, That went in such wise guarded / that robber hand disturbed them not.

1165

When they at Bechelaren / within the town did stand, His fellows on the journey / did the host command To lead to fitting quarters / and tend carefully. The stately Gotelinde, / glad she was her spouse to see.

1166

Eke his lovely daughter / the youthful margravine,— To her had nothing dearer / than his coming been. The warriors too from Hunland, / what joy for her they make! With a laughing spirit / to all the noble maiden spake:

1167

"Be now to us right welcome, / my father and all his men." Fairest thanks on all sides / saw ye offered then Unto the youthful margravine / by many a valiant knight. How Ruediger was minded / knew Gotelinde aright.

1168

When then that night she / by Ruediger lay, Questioned him the margravine / in full loving way, Wherefore had sent him thither / the king of Hunland. He spake: "My Lady Gotelinde, / that shalt thou gladly understand.

1169

"My master now hath sent me / to woo him other wife, Since that by death was ended / the fair Helke's life. Now will I to Kriemhild / ride unto the Rhine: She shall here in Hunland / be spouse to him and stately queen."

1170

"God will it," spake Gotelinde, / "and well the same might be, Since that so high in honor / ever standeth she. The death of my good mistress / we then may better bear; Eke might we grant her gladly / among the Huns a crown to wear."

1171

Then spake to her the margrave: / "Thou shalt, dear lady mine, To them that shall ride with me / thither unto the Rhine, In right bounteous manner / deal out a goodly share. Good knights go lighter-hearted / when they well provided fare."

1172

She spake: "None is among them, / an he would take from me, But I will give whatever / to him may pleasing be, Ere that ye part thither, / thou and thy good men." Thereto spake the margrave: / "So dost thou all my wishes then."

1173

Silken stuffs in plenty / they from her chamber bore, And to the knights full noble / dealt out in goodly store, Mantles lined all richly / from collar down to spur. What for the journey pleased him / did choose therefrom Sir Ruediger.

1174

Upon the seventh morning / from Bechelaren went The knight with train of warriors. / Attire and armament Bore they in fullest measure / through the Bavarian land, And ne'er upon the journey / dared assail them robber band.

1175

Unto the Rhine then came they / ere twelve days were flown, And there were soon the tidings / of their coming known. 'Twas told unto the monarch / and with him many a man, How strangers came unto him. / To question then the king began,

1176

If any was did know them, / for he would gladly hear. They saw their carrying-horses / right heavy burdens bear: That they were knights of power / knew they well thereby. Lodgings they made them ready / in the wide city speedily.

1177

When that the strangers / had passed within the gate Every eye did gaze on / the knights that came in state, And mickle was the wonder / whence to the Rhine they came. Then sent the king for Hagen, / if he perchance might know the same.

1178

Then spake he of Tronje: / "These knights I ne'er have seen, Yet when we now behold them / I'll tell thee well, I ween, From whence they now ride hither / unto this country. An I not straightway know them, / from distant land in sooth they be."

1179

For the guests fit lodgings / now provided were. Clad in rich apparel / came the messenger, And to the court his fellows / did bear him company. Sumptuous attire / wore they, wrought full cunningly.

1180

Then spake the doughty Hagen: / "As far as goes my ken, For that long time the noble / knight I not have seen, Come they in such manner / as were it Ruediger, The valiant thane from Hunland, / that leads the stately riders here."

1181

Then straightway spake the monarch: / "How shall I understand That he of Bechelaren / should come unto this land?" Scarce had King Gunther / his mind full spoken there, When saw full surely Hagen / that 'twas the noble Ruediger.

1182

He and his friends then hastened / with warmest welcoming. Then saw ye knights five hundred / adown from saddle spring, And were those knights of Hunland / received in fitting way. Messengers ne'er beheld ye / attired in so fine array.

1183

Hagen of Tronje, / with voice full loud spake he: "Unto these thanes full noble / a hearty welcome be, To the lord of Bechelaren / and his men every one." Thereat was fitting honor / done to every valiant Hun.

1184

The monarch's nearest kinsmen / went forth the guests to meet. Of Metz the knight Sir Ortwein / Ruediger thus did greet: "The while our life hath lasted, / never yet hath guest Here been seen so gladly: / be that in very truth confessed."

1185

For that greeting thanked they / the brave knights one and all. With train of high attendants / they passed unto the hall, Where valiant men a many / stood round the monarch's seat. The king arose from settle / in courteous way the guests to greet.

1186

Right courteously he greeted / then the messenger. Gunther and Gernot, / full busy both they were For stranger and companions / a welcome fit to make. The noble knight Sir Ruediger / by the hand the king did take.

1187

He led him to the settle / where himself he sat: He bade pour for the strangers / (a welcome work was that) Mead the very choicest / and the best of wine, That e'er ye might discover / in all the lands about the Rhine.

1188

Giselher and Gere / joined the company too, Eke Dankwart and Volker, / when that they knew The coming of the strangers: / glad they were of mood, And greeted 'fore the monarch / fair the noble knights and good.

1189

Then spake unto his master / of Tronje the knight: "Let our thanes seek ever / fully to requite What erstwhile the margrave / in love to us hath done: Fair Gotelinde's husband / our gratitude full well hath won."

1190

Thereto spake King Gunther: / "Withhold it not I may. How they both do bear them, / tell me now, I pray, Etzel and Helke / afar in Hunland." Then answered him the margrave: / "Fain would I have thee understand."

1191

Then rose he from the settle / and his men every one. He spake unto the monarch: / "An may the thing be done, And is't thy royal pleasure, / so will I naught withhold, But the message that I bring thee / shall full willingly be told."

1192

He spake: "What tale soever, / doth this thy message make, I grant thee leave to tell it, / nor further counsel take. Now shalt thou let us hear it, / me and my warriors too, For fullest leave I grant thee / thy high purpose to pursue."

1193

Then spake the upright messenger: / "Hither to thee at Rhine Doth faithful service tender / master high of mine; To all thy kinsmen likewise, / as many as may be: Eke is this my message / borne in all good will to thee.

1194

"To thee the noble monarch / bids tell his tale of need. His folk 's forlorn and joyless; / my mistress high is dead, Helke the full stately / my good master's wife, Whereby now is orphaned / full many a fair maiden's life,

1195

"Children of royal parents / for whom hath cared her hand: Thereby doth the country / in plight full sorry stand. Alack, nor is there other / that them with love may tend. I ween the time long distant / eke when the monarch's grief shall end."

1196

"God give him meed," spake Gunther, / "that he so willingly Doth offer thus good service / to my kinsmen and to me— I joy that I his greeting / here have heard this day— The which with glad endeavor / my kinsmen and my men shall pay."

1197

Thereto the knight of Burgundy, / the valiant Gernot, said: "The world may ever rue it / that Helke fair lies dead, So manifold the virtues / that did her life adorn." A willing testimony / by Hagen to the words was borne.

1198

Thereto again spake Ruediger / the noble messenger: "Since thou, O king, dost grant it, / shalt thou now further hear What message 'tis my master / beloved hath hither sent, For that since death of Helke / his days he hath in sorrow spent.

1199

"'Tis told my lord that Kriemhild / doth widowed live alone, And dead is doughty Siegfried. / May now such thing be done, And wilt thou grant that favor, / a crown she then shall wear Before the knights of Etzel: / this message from my lord I bear."

1200

Then spake the mighty monarch / —a king he was of grace— "My will in this same matter / she'll hear, an so she please. Thereof will I instruct thee / ere three days are passed by— Ere I her mind have sounded, / wherefore to Etzel this deny?"

1201

Meanwhile for the strangers / bade they make cheer the best In sooth so were they tended / that Ruediger confessed He had 'mong men of Gunther / of friends a goodly store. Hagen full glad did serve him, / as he had Hagen served of yore.

1202

Thus there did tarry Ruediger / until the third day. The king did counsel summon / —he moved in wisest way— If that unto his kinsmen / seemed it fitting thing, That Kriemhild take unto her / for spouse Etzel the king.

1203

Together all save Hagen / did the thing advise, And unto King Gunther / spake he in this wise: "An hast thou still thy senses, / of that same thing beware, That, be she ne'er so willing, / thou lend'st thyself her will to share."

1204

"Wherefore," spake then Gunther, / "should I allow it not? Whene'er doth fortune favor / Kriemhild in aught, That shall I gladly grant her, / for sister dear is she. Yea, ought ourselves to seek it, / might it but her honor be."

1205

Thereto gave answer Hagen: / "Now such words give o'er. Were Etzel known unto thee / as unto me of yore, And did'st thou grant her to him, / as 'tis thy will I hear, Then wouldst thou first have reason / for thy later weal to fear."

1206

"Wherefore?" spake then Gunther. / "Well may I care for that, E'er to thwart his temper / that so I aught of hate At his hands should merit, / an if his wife she be." Thereto gave answer Hagen: / "Such counsel hast thou ne'er of me."

1207

Then did they bid for Gernot / and Giselher to go, For wished they of the royal / twain their mind to know, If that the mighty monarch / Kriemhild for spouse should take. Yet Hagen and none other / thereto did opposition make.

1208

Then spake of Burgundy / Giselher the thane: "Well may'st thou now, friend Hagen, / show upright mind again: For sorrows wrought upon her / may'st thou her well requite. Howe'er she findeth fortune, / ne'er should it be in thy despite."

1209

"Yea, hast thou to my sister / so many sorrows done," So spake further Giselher, / the full noble thane, "That fullest reason hath she / to mete thee naught but hate. In sooth was never lady / than she bereft of joy more great."

1210

"What I do know full certain, / that known to all I make: If e'er shall come the hour / that she do Etzel take, She'll work us yet sore evil, / howe'er the same she plan. Then in sooth will serve her / full many a keen and doughty man."

1211

In answer then to Hagen / the brave Gernot said: "With us doth lie to leave it / until they both be dead, Ere that we ride ever / unto Etzel's land. That we be faithful to her / doth honor meantime sure command."

1212

Thereto again spake Hagen: / "Gainsay me here may none. And shall the noble Kriemhild / e'er sit 'neath Helke's crown, Howe'er she that accomplish, / she'll do us grievous hurt. Good knights, therefrom to keep you / doth better with your weal consort."

1213

In anger spake then Giselher / the son of Ute the fair: "None shall yet among us / himself like traitor bear. What honor e'er befall her, / rejoice thereat should we. Whate'er thou sayest, Hagen, / true helper shall she find in me."

1214

When that heard it Hagen / straightway waxed he wroth. Gernot and Giselher / the knights high-minded both, And Gunther, mighty monarch, / did counsel finally, If that did wish it Kriemhild, / by them 'twould unopposed be.

1215

Then spake the margrave Gere: / "That lady will I tell How that of royal Etzel / she may think full well. In fear are subject to him / brave warriors many a one: Well may he recompense her / for wrong that e'er to her was done."

1216

Then went the knight full valiant / where he did Kriemhild find, And straightway spake unto her / upon her greeting kind: "Me may'st thou gladly welcome / with messengers high meed. Fortune hath come to part thee / now from all thy bitter need.

1217

"For sake of love he bears thee, / lady, doth seek thy hand One of all the highest / that e'er o'er monarch's land Did rule in fullest honor, / or ever crown might wear: High knights do bring the message, / which same thy brother bids thee hear."

1218

Then spake she rich in sorrow: / "Now God forbid to thee And all I have of kinsmen / that aught of mockery They do on me, poor woman. / What were I unto one, Who e'er at heart the joyance / of a noble wife hath known?"

1219

Much did she speak against it. / Anon as well came there Gernot her brother / and the young Giselher. In loving wise they begged her / her mourning heart to cheer: An would she take the monarch, / verily her weal it were.

1220

Yet might not then by any / the lady's mind be bent, That any man soever / to love she would consent. Thereon the thanes besought her: / "Now grant the thing to be, An dost thou nothing further, / that the messenger thou deign'st to see."

1221

"That will I not deny you," / spake the high lady, "That the noble Ruediger / I full gladly see, Such knightly grace adorns him. / Were he not messenger, And came there other hither / by him I all unspoken were."

1222

She spake: "Upon the morrow / bid him hither fare Unto this my chamber. / Then shall he fully hear How that do stand my wishes, / the which I'll tell him true." Of her full grievous sorrow / was she minded thus anew.