Books: The Nibelungenlied
T >>
trans. by George Henry Needler >> The Nibelungenlied
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449
The royal Brunhild's prowess / with terror was it shown.
Into the ring they bore her / in sooth a ponderous stone,
Great and all unwieldy, / huge it was and round:
And scarce good knights a dozen / together raised it from the ground.
450
To put this was her custom / after trial with the spear.
Thereat the men of Burgundy / began to quake with fear.
"Alack! Alack!" quoth Hagen, / "what seeks the king for bride?
Beneath in hell 'twere better / the Devil had her by his side!"
451
On her white arms the flowing / sleeves she backward flung,
Then with grasp of power / the shield in hand she swung,
And spear poised high above her. / So did the contest start.
Gunther and Siegfried / saw Brunhild's ire with falling heart.
452
And were it not that Siegfried / a ready help did bring,
Surely then had perished / beneath her hand the king.
There went he unperceived / and the king's hand did touch.
Gunther at his cunning / artifice was troubled much.
453
"What is that hath touched me?" / thought the monarch keen.
Then gazed he all around him: / none was there to be seen.
A voice spake: "Siegfried is it, / a friend that holds thee dear.
Before this royal maiden / shall thy heart be free from fear.
454
"Thy shield in hand now give me / and leave it me to bear,
And do thou rightly mark thee / what thou now shalt hear.
Now make thyself the motions, / --the power leave to me."
When he did know him rightly, / the monarch's heart was filled with glee.
455
"Now secret keep my cunning, / let none e'er know the same:
Then shall the royal maiden / here find but little game
Of glory to win from thee, / as most to her is dear.
Behold now how the lady / stands before thee void of fear."
456
The spear the stately maiden / with might and main did wield,
And huge and broad she hurled it / upon the new-made shield,
That on his arm did carry / the son of Siegelind;
From the steel the sparks flew hissing / as if were blowing fierce the
wind.
457
The mighty spear sharp-pointed / full through the shield did crash,
That ye from off the mail-rings / might see the lightning flash.
Beneath its force they stumbled, / did both those men of might;
But for the sightless mantle / they both were killed there outright.
458
From mouth of the full doughty / Siegfried burst the blood.
Full soon he yet recovered; / then seized the warrior good
The spear that from her strong arm / thus his shield had rent,
And back with force as came it / the hand of doughty Siegfried sent.
459
He thought: "To pierce the maiden / were but small glory earned,"
And so the spear's sharp edges / backward pointing turned;
Against her mail-clad body / he made the shaft to bound,
And with such might he sent it / full loud her armor did resound.
460
The sparks as if in stormwind / from mail-rings flew around.
So mightily did hurl it / the son of Siegmund
That she with all her power / could not the shaft withstand.
In sooth it ne'er was speeded / so swiftly by King Gunther's hand.
461
But to her feet full sudden / had sprung Brunhild fair.
"A shot, O noble Gunther, / befitting hero rare."
She weened himself had done it, / and all unaided he,
Nor wot she one far mightier / was thither come so secretly.
462
Then did she go full sudden, / wrathful was her mood,
A stone full high she heaved / the noble maiden good,
And the same far from her / with might and main she swung:
Her armor's mail-rings jingled / as she herself thereafter sprung.
463
The stone, when it had fallen, / lay fathoms twelve from there,
And yet did spring beyond it / herself the maiden fair.
Then where the stone was lying / thither Siegfried went:
Gunther feigned to move it, / but by another arm 'twas sent.
464
A valiant man was Siegfried / full powerful and tall.
The stone then cast he farther, / and farther sprang withal.
From those his arts so cunning / had he of strength such store
That as he leaped he likewise / the weight of royal Gunther bore.
465
And when the leap was ended / and fallen was the stone,
Then saw they ne'er another / but Gunther alone.
Brunhild the fair maiden, / red grew she in wrath:
Siegfried yet had warded / from royal Gunther surest death.
466
Unto her attendants / she spake in loud command,
When she saw 'cross the circle / the king unvanquished stand.
"Come hither quick, my kinsmen, / and ye that wait on me;
Henceforth unto Gunther / shall all be pledged faithfully."
467
Then laid the knights full valiant / their swords from out the hand;
At feet 'fore mighty Gunther / from Burgundian land
Offered himself in service / full many a valiant knight.
They weened that he had conquered / in trial by his proper might.
468
He gave her loving greeting, / right courteous was he.
Then by the hand she took him, / the maiden praiseworthy,
In pledge that all around him / was his to have and hold.
Whereat rejoiced Hagen / the warrior valorous and bold.
469
Into the spacious palace / with her thence to go
Bade she the noble monarch. / When they had done so,
Then still greater honors / unto the knight were shown.
Dankwart and Hagen, / right willingly they saw it done.
470
Siegfried the valiant, / by no means was he slow,
His sightless mantle did he / away in safety stow.
Then went he again thither / where many a lady sat.
He spake unto the monarch-- / full cunningly was done all that:
471
"Why bidest thus, my master? / Wilt not the play begin,
To which so oft hath challenged / thee the noble queen?
Let us soon have example / what may the trial be."
As knew he naught about it, / did the knight thus cunningly.
472
Then spake the queen unto him: / "How hath this ever been,
That of the play, Sir Siegfried, / nothing thou hast seen,
Wherein hath been the victor / Gunther with mighty hand?"
Thereto gave answer Hagen / a grim knight of Burgundian land.
473
Spake he: "There dost thou, Lady, / think ill without a cause:
By the ship down yonder / the noble Siegfried was,
The while the lord of Rhineland / in play did vanquish thee:
Thus knows he nothing of it," / spake Gunther's warrior courteously.
474
"A joy to me these tidings," / the doughty Siegfried spoke,
"That so thy haughty spirit / is brought beneath the yoke,
And that yet one there liveth / master to be of thine.
Now shalt thou, noble maiden, / us follow thither to the Rhine."
475
Then spake the maiden shapely: / "It may not yet be so.
All my men and kindred / first the same must know.
In sooth not all so lightly / can I quit my home.
First must I bid my trusty / warriors that they hither come."
476
Then bade she messengers / quickly forth to ride,
And summoned in her kindred / and men from every side.
Without delay she prayed them / to come to Isenstein,
And bade them all be given / fit apparel rare and fine.
477
Then might ye see daily / 'twixt morn and eventide
Unto Brunhild's castle / many a knight to ride.
"God wot, God wot," quoth Hagen, / "we do an evil thing,
To tarry here while Brunhild / doth thus her men together bring.
478
"If now into this country / their good men they've brought
--What thing the queen intendeth / thereof know we naught:
Belike her wrath ariseth, / and we are men forlorn--
Then to be our ruin / were the noble maiden born."
479
Then spake the doughty Siegfried: / "That matter leave to me.
Whereof thou now art fearful, / I'll never let it be.
Ready help I'll bring thee / hither unto this land,
Knights of whom thou wotst not / till now I'll bring, a chosen band.
480
"Of me shalt thou ask not: / from hence will I fare.
May God of thy good honor / meanwhile have a care.
I come again right quickly / with a thousand men for thee,
The very best of warriors / hitherto are known to me."
481
"Then tarry not unduly," / thus the monarch said.
"Glad we are full fairly / of this thy timely aid."
He spake: "Till I come to thee / full short shall be my stay.
That thou thyself hast sent me / shalt thou unto Brunhild say."
EIGHTH ADVENTURE
How Siegfried fared to his Knights, the Nibelungen
482
Thence went then Siegfried / out through the castle door
In his sightless mantle / to a boat upon the shore.
As Siegmund's son doth board it / him no mortal sees;
And quickly off he steers it / as were it wafted by the breeze.
483
No one saw the boatman, / yet rapid was the flight
Of the boat forth speeding / driven by Siegfried's might.
They weened that did speed it / a swiftly blowing wind:
No, 'twas Siegfried sped it, / the son of fairest Siegelind.
484
In that one day-time / and the following night
Came he to a country / by dint of mickle might,
Long miles a hundred distant, / and something more than this:
The Nibelungen were its people / where the mighty hoard was his.
485
Alone did fare the hero / unto an island vast
Whereon the boat full quickly / the gallant knight made fast.
Of a castle then bethought him / high upon a hill,
And there a lodging sought him, / as wayworn men are wont to still.
486
Then came he to the portals / that locked before him stood.
They guarded well their honor / as people ever should.
At the door he gan a-knocking, / for all unknown was he.
But full well 'twas guarded, / and within it he did see
487
A giant who the castle / did guard with watchful eye,
And near him did at all times / his good weapons lie.
Quoth he: "Who now that knocketh / at the door in such strange wise?"
Without the valiant Siegfried / did cunningly his voice disguise.
488
He spake: "A bold knight-errant / am I; unlock the gate.
Else will I from without here / disturbance rare create
For all who'd fain lie quiet / and their rest would take."
Wrathful grew the Porter / as in this wise Siegfried spake.
489
Now did the giant valorous / his good armor don,
And placed on head his helmet; / then the full doughty man
His shield up-snatched quickly / and gate wide open swung.
How sore was he enraged / as himself upon Siegfried he flung!
490
'How dared he thus awaken / brave knights within the hall?'
The blows in rapid showers / from his hand did fall.
Thereat the noble stranger / began himself to shield.
For so a club of iron / the Porter's mighty arm did wield,
491
That splinters flew from buckler, / and Siegfried stood aghast
From fear that this same hour / was doomed to be his last,
So mightily the Porter's / blows about him fell.
To find such faithful warder / did please his master Siegfried well.
492
So fiercely did they struggle / that castle far within
And hall where slept the Nibelungen / echoed back the din.
But Siegfried pressed the Porter / and soon he had him bound.
In all the land of Nibelungen / the story soon was bruited round.
493
When the grim sound of fighting / afar the place had filled,
Alberich did hear it, / a Dwarf full brave and wild.
He donned his armor deftly, / and running thither found
This so noble stranger / where he the doughty Porter bound.
494
Alberich was full wrathy, / thereto a man of power.
Coat of mail and helmet / he on his body wore,
And in his hand a heavy / scourge of gold he swung.
Where was fighting Siegfried, / thither in mickle haste he sprung.
495
Seven knobs thick and heavy / on the club's end were seen,
Wherewith the shield that guarded / the knight that was so keen
He battered with such vigor / that pieces from it brake.
Lest he his life should forfeit / the noble stranger gan to quake.
496
The shield that all was battered / from his hand he flung;
And into sheath, too, thrust he / his sword so good and long.
For his trusty chamberlain / he did not wish to slay,
And in such case he could not / grant his anger fullest sway.
497
With but his hands so mighty / at Alberich he ran.
By the beard then seized he / the gray and aged man,
And in such manner pulled it / that he full loud did roar.
The youthful hero's conduct / Alberich did trouble sore.
498
Loud cried the valiant steward: / "Have mercy now on me.
And might I other's vassal / than one good hero's be,
To whom to be good subject / I an oath did take,
Until my death I'd serve thee." / Thus the man of cunning spake.
499
Alberich then bound he / as the giant before.
The mighty arm of Siegfried / did trouble him full sore.
The Dwarf began to question: / "Thy name, what may it be?"
Quoth he: "My name is Siegfried; / I weened I well were known to thee."
500
"I joy to hear such tidings," / Dwarf Alberich replied.
"Well now have I found thee / in knightly prowess tried,
And with goodly reason / lord o'er lands to be.
I'll do whate'er thou biddest, / wilt thou only give me free."
501
Then spake his master Siegfried: / "Quickly shalt thou go,
And bring me knights hither, / the best we have to show,
A thousand Nibelungen, / to stand before their lord."
Wherefore thus he wished it, / spake he never yet a word.
502
The giant and Alberich / straightway he unbound.
Then ran Alberich quickly / where the knights he found.
The warriors of Nibelung / he wakened full of fear.
Quoth he: "Be up, ye heroes, / before Siegfried shall ye appear."
503
From their couches sprang they / and ready were full soon,
Clothed well in armor / a thousand warriors boon,
And went where they found standing / Siegfried their lord.
Then was a mickle greeting / courteously in act and word.
504
Candles many were lighted, / and sparkling wine he drank.
That they came so quickly, / therefor he all did thank.
Quoth he: "Now shall ye with me / from hence across the flood."
Thereto he found full ready / the heroes valiant and good.
505
Good thirty hundred warriors / soon had hither pressed,
From whom were then a thousand / taken of the best.
For them were brought their helmets / and what they else did need.
For unto Brunhild's country / would he straightway the warriors lead.
506
He spake: "Ye goodly nobles, / that would I have you hear,
In full costly raiment / shall ye at court appear,
For yonder must there see us / full many a fair lady.
Therefore shall your bodies / dight in good apparel be."
507
Upon a morning early / went they on their way.
What host of brave companions / bore Siegfried company!
Good steeds took they with them / and garments rich to wear,
And did in courtly fashion / unto Brunhild's country fare.
508
As gazed from lofty parapet / women fair to see,
Spake the queen unto them: / "Knows any who they be,
Whom I see yonder sailing / upon the sea afar?
Rich sails their ships do carry, / whiter than snow they are."
509
Then spake the king of Rhineland: / "My good men they are,
That on my journey hither / left I lying near.
I've sent to call them to me: / now are they come, O Queen."
With full great amazing / were the stately strangers seen.
510
There saw they Siegfried / out on the ship's prow stand
Clad in costly raiment, / and with him his good band.
Then spake Queen Brunhild: / "Good monarch, let me know,
Shall I go forth to greet them, / or shall I greetings high forego?"
511
He spake: "Thou shalt to meet them / before the palace go,
So that we see them gladly / they may surely know."
Then did the royal lady / fulfil the king's behest.
Yet Siegfried in the greeting / was not honored with the rest.
512
Lodgings were made ready / and their armor ta'en in hand.
Then was such host of strangers / come into that land,
On all sides they jostled / from the great company.
Then would the knights full valiant / homeward fare to Burgundy.
513
Then spake Queen Brunhild: / "In favor would I hold
Who might now apportion / my silver and my gold
To my guests and the monarch's, / for goodly store I have."
Thereto an answer Dankwart, / Giselher's good warrior, gave:
514
"Full noble royal Lady, / give me the keys to hold.
I trow I'll so divide it," / spake the warrior bold,
"If blame there be about it, / that shall be mine alone."
That he was not a niggard, / beyond a doubt he soon had shown.
515
When now Hagen's brother / the treasure did command,
So many a lavish bounty / dealt out the hero's hand,
Whoso mark did covet, / to him was given such store
That all who once were poor men / might joyous live for evermore.
516
In sooth good pounds a hundred / gave he to each and all.
A host in costly raiment / were seen before the hall,
Who in equal splendor / ne'er before were clad.
When the queen did hear it, / verily her heart was sad.
517
Then spake the royal lady: / "Good King, it little needs,
That now thy chamberlain / of all my stately weeds
Leave no whit remaining, / and squander clean my gold.
Would any yet prevent it, / him would I aye in favor hold.
518
"He deals with hand so lavish, / in sooth doth ween the thane
That death I've hither summoned; / but longer I'll remain.
Eke trow I well to spend all / my sire hath left to me."
Ne'er found queen a chamberlain / of such passing generosity.
519
Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / "Lady, be thou told,
That the king of Rhineland / raiment hath and gold
So plenteous to lavish / that we may well forego
To carry with us homeward / aught that Brunhild can bestow."
520
"No; as high ye hold me," / spake the queen again,
"Let me now have filled / coffers twice times ten
Of gold and silken raiment, / that may deal out my hand,
When that we come over / into royal Gunther's land."
521
Then with precious jewels / the coffers they filled for her.
The while her own chamberlain / must be standing near:
For no whit would she trust it / unto Giselher's man.
Whereat Gunther and Hagen / heartily to laugh began.
522
Then spake the royal lady: / "To whom leave I my lands?
First must they now be given / in charge from out our hands."
Then spake the noble monarch: / "Whomsoe'er it pleaseth thee,
Bid him now come hither, / the same we'll let our Warden be."
523
One of her highest kindred / near by the lady spied,
--He was her mother's brother-- / to him thus spake the maid:
"Now be to thee entrusted / the castles and eke the land,
Until that here shall govern / Gunther the king by his own hand."
524
Trusty knights two thousand / from her company
Chose she to journey with her / unto Burgundy,
Beyond those thousand warriors / from Nibelungenland.
They made ready for the journey, / and downward rode unto the strand.
525
Six and eighty ladies / led they thence with her,
Thereto good hundred maidens / that full beauteous were.
They tarried no whit longer, / for they to part were fain.
Of those they left behind them, / O how they all to weep began!
526
In high befitting fashion / quitted she her land:
She kissed of nearest kindred / all who round did stand.
After fair leave-taking / they went upon the sea.
Back to her father's country / came never more that fair lady.
527
Then heard you on the journey / many a kind of play:
Every pleasant pastime / in plenty had they.
Soon had they for their journey / a wind from proper art:
So with full great rejoicing / did they from that land depart.
528
Yet would she on the journey / not be the monarch's spouse:
But was their pleasant pastime / reserved for his own house
At Worms within his castle / at a high festival,
Whither anon full joyous / came they with their warriors all.
NINTH ADVENTURE
How Siegfried was sent to Worms
529
When that they had journeyed / full nine days on their way,
Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / "Now hear what I shall say.
We tarry with the tidings / for Worms upon the Rhine.
At Burgundy already / should now be messengers of thine."
530
Then outspake King Gunther: / "There hast thou spoken true.
And this selfsame journey, / none were so fit thereto
As thyself, friend Hagen. / So do thou now ride on.
This our high court journey, / none else can better make it known."
531
Thereto answered Hagen: / "Poor messenger am I.
Let me be treasure-warden. / Upon the ships I'll stay
Near by the women rather, / their guardian to be,
Till that we bring them safely / into the land of Burgundy.
532
"Now do thou pray Siegfried / that he the message bear,
For he's a knight most fitting / this thing to have in care.
If he decline the journey, / then shalt thou courteously,
For kindness to thy sister, / pray that he not unwilling be."
533
He sent for the good warrior / who came at his command.
He spake: "Since we are nearing / home in my own land,
So should I send a message / to sister dear of mine
And eke unto my mother, / that we are nigh unto the Rhine.
534
"Thereto I pray thee, Siegfried, / now meet my wish aright,"
Spake the noble monarch: / "I'll ever thee requite."
But Siegfried still refused it, / the full valiant man,
Till that King Gunther / sorely to beseech began.
535
He spake: "Now bear the message, / in favor unto me
And eke unto Kriemhild / a maiden fair to see,
That the stately maiden / help me thy service pay."
When had heard it Siegfried, / ready was the knight straightway.
536
"Now what thou wilt, command me: / 'twill not be long delayed.
This thing will I do gladly / for sake of that fair maid.
Why should I aught refuse her, / who all my heart hath won?
What thou for her commandest, / whate'er it be 'twill all be done."
537
"Then say unto my mother, / Ute the queen,
That we on our journey / in joyous mood have been.
Let know likewise my brothers / what fortune us befell.
Eke unto all our kinsmen / shalt thou then merry tidings tell.
538
"Unto my fair sister / shalt thou all confide.
From me bring her fair compliment / and from Brunhild beside,
And eke unto our household / and all my warriors brave.
What my heart e'er did strive for, / how well accomplished it I have!
539
"And say as well to Ortwein / nephew dear of mine
That he do bid make ready / at Worms beside the Rhine.
And all my other kindred, / to them made known shall be,
With Brunhild I am minded / to keep a great festivity.
540
"And say unto my sister, / when that she hath learned
That I am to my country / with many a guest returned,
She shall have care to welcome / my bride in fitting way.
So all my thoughts of Kriemhild / will be her service to repay."
541
Then did Sir Siegfried / straightway in parting greet
High the Lady Brunhild, / as 'twas very meet,
And all her company; / then toward the Rhine rode he.
Nor in this world a better / messenger might ever be.
542
With four and twenty warriors / to Worms did he ride.
When soon it was reported / the king came not beside,
Then did all the household / of direst news have dread:
They feared their royal master / were left in distant country dead.
543
Then sprang they from the saddle, / full high they were of mood.
Full soon before them Giselher / the prince so youthful stood,
And Gernot his brother. / How quickly then spake he,
When he the royal Gunther / saw not in Siegfried's company:
544
"Be thou welcome, Siegfried. / Yet shalt thou tell to me,
Why the king my brother / cometh not with thee.
Brunhild's prowess is it / hath taken him, I ween;
And so this lofty wooing / hath naught but our misfortune been."
545
"Now cease such ill foreboding. / To you and friends hath sent
My royal companion / his good compliment.
Safe and sound I left him; / myself did he command
That I should be his herald / with tidings hither to your land.
546
"Quickly shall ye see to it, / how that it may be,
That I the queen and likewise / your fair sister see.
From Gunther and Brunhild / the message will I tell
That hath now been sent them: / the twain do find them passing well."
547
Then spake the youthful Giselher: / "So shalt thou go to her:
Here dost thou on my sister / a favor high confer.
In sooth she's mickle anxious / how't with my brother be.
The maid doth see thee gladly, / --of that will I be surety."
548
Then outspake Sir Siegfried: / "If serve her aught I can,
That same thing most willing / in truth it shall be done.
Who now will tell the ladies / I would with them confer?"
Then was therein Giselher / the stately knight his messenger.
549
Giselher the valiant / unto his mother kind
And sister spake the tidings / when he the twain did find:
"To us returned is Siegfried, / the hero of Netherlands
Unto the Rhine he cometh / at my brother Gunther's command.
550
"He bringeth us the tidings / how't with the king doth fare.
Now shall ye give permission / that he 'fore you appear.
He'll tell the proper tidings / from Isenland o'er the main."
Yet mickle sad forebodings / did trouble still the ladies twain.
551
They sprang for their attire / and donned it nothing slow.
Then bade they that Siegfried / to court should thither go.
That did he right willing / for he gladly them did see.
Kriemhild the noble maiden / spake to him thus graciously.
552
"Welcome be, Sir Siegfried, / thou knight right praiseworthy.
Yet where may King Gunther / my noble brother be?
It is through Brunhild's prowess, / I ween, he is forlorn.
Alack of me, poor maiden, / that I into this world was born!"
553
The valiant knight then answered: / "Give me news-bringer's meed
Know ye, fairest ladies, / ye weep without a need.
I left him well and happy, / that would I have you know;
They two have sent me hither / to bear the tidings unto you.
554
"And offer thee good service / both his bride and he,
My full noble lady, / in love and loyalty.
Now give over weeping, / for straight will they be here."
They had for many a season / heard not a tale to them so dear.
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