The Nibelungenlied

The Brunhild Adventures (6-12)

 

This excerpt is taken from the Project Gutenberg e-text of the Nibelungenlied,  

 

published as "The Nibelungenlied", translated by Daniel B. Shumway

 

(Houghton- Mifflin Co., New York, 1909).  This edition is in the PUBLIC

 

DOMAIN in the United States.  The electronic edition was edited, proofed, and

 

prepared by Douglas B. Killings (DeTroyes@EnterAct.COM)

 

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ADVENTURE VI

 

How Gunther Fared To Isenland (1) for Brunhild.

 

 

 

New tidings came across the Rhine.  'Twas said that yonder many a

 

fair maid dwelt.  The good king Gunther thought to win him one of

 

these; high therefore rose the warrior's spirits.  There lived a

 

queen beyond the sea, whose like men knew not anywhere.  Peerless

 

was her beauty and great her strength.  With doughty knights she

 

shot the shaft for love.  The stone she hurled afar and sprang

 

far after it.  He who craved her love must win without fail three

 

games from this high-born dame.  When the noble maid had done

 

this passing oft, a stately knight did hear it by the Rhine.  He

 

turned his thoughts upon this comely dame, and so heroes must

 

needs later lose their lives.

 

 

 

One day when the king and his vassals sate and pondered to and

 

fro in many a wise, whom their lord might take to wife, who would

 

be fit to be their lady and beseem the land, up spake the lord of

 

the Rhinelands: "I will go down to the sea and hence to Brunhlld,

 

however it may go with me.  For her love I'll risk my life.  I

 

will gladly lose it and she become not my wife."

 

 

 

"Against that do I counsel you," spake then Siegfried, "if, as ye

 

say, the queen doth have so fierce a wont, he who wooeth for her

 

love will pay full dear.  Therefore should ye give over the

 

journey."

 

 

 

Then spake King Gunther: "Never was woman born so strong and bold

 

that I might not vanquish her with mine own hand."

 

 

 

"Be still," spake Siegfried, "ye little know her strength."

 

 

 

"So will I advise you," spake Hagen then, "that ye beg Siegfried

 

to share with you this heavy task.  This is my rede, sith he doth

 

know so well how matters stand with Brunhild."

 

 

 

The king spake: "Wilt thou help me, noble Siegfried, to woo this

 

lovely maid?  And thou doest what I pray thee and this comely

 

dame become my love, for thy sake will I risk both life and

 

honor."

 

 

 

To this Siegfried, the son of Siegmund, answered: "I will do it,

 

and thou give me thy sister Kriemhild, the noble queen.  For my

 

pains I ask no other meed."

 

 

 

"I'll pledge that, Siegfried, in thy hand," spake then Gunther,

 

"and if fair Brunhild come hither to this land, I'll give thee my

 

sister unto wife.  Then canst thou live ever merrily with the

 

fair."

 

 

 

This the noble warriors swore oaths to do, and so the greater

 

grew their hardships, till they brought the lady to the Rhine.

 

On this account these brave men must later be in passing danger.

 

Siegfried had to take with him hence the cloak which he, the bold

 

hero, had won 'mid dangers from a dwarf, Alberich he hight.

 

These bold and mighty knights now made them ready for the

 

journey.  When Siegfried wore the Cloak of Darkness he had

 

strength enow: the force of full twelve men beside his own.  With

 

cunning arts he won the royal maid.  This cloak was fashioned so,

 

that whatsoever any wrought within it, none saw him.  Thus he won

 

Brunhild, which brought him dole.

 

 

 

"Now tell me, good Knight Siegfried, before our trip begin, shall

 

we not take warriors with us into Brunhild's land, that we may

 

come with passing honors to the sea?  Thirty thousand men-at-arms

 

can soon be called."

 

 

 

"However many men we take," quoth Siegfried, "the queen doth use

 

so fierce a wont that they must perish through her haughty pride.

 

I'll give thee better counsel, O brave and worthy king.  Let us

 

fare as wandering knights adown the Rhine, and I will tell thee

 

those that shall be of the band.  In all four knights, we'll

 

journey to the sea and thus we'll woo the lady, whatever be our

 

fate thereafter.  I shall be one of the four comrades, the second

 

thou shalt be.  Let Hagen be the third (then have we hope of

 

life), Dankwart then the fourth, the valiant man.  A thousand

 

others durst not match us in the fight."

 

 

 

"Gladly would I know," spake then the king, "ere we go hence ('t

 

would please me much), what garments we should wear before

 

Brunhild, which would beseem us there.  Pray tell this now to

 

Gunther."

 

 

 

"Weeds of the very best which can be found are worn all times in

 

Brunhild's land.  We must wear rich clothes before the lady, that

 

we feel no shame when men shall hear the tidings told."

 

 

 

The good knight spake: "Then will I go myself to my dear mother,

 

if perchance I can bring it to pass that her fair maids purvey us

 

garments which we may wear with honor before the high-born maid."

 

 

 

Hagen of Troneg spake then in lordly wise: "Wherefore will ye

 

pray your mother of such service?  Let your sister hear what ye

 

have in mind, and she'll purvey you well for your journey to

 

Brunhild's court."

 

 

 

Then sent he word to his sister, that he would fain see her, and

 

Knight Siegfried, too, sent word.  Ere this happed the fair had

 

clad her passing well.  That these brave men were coming, gave

 

her little grief.  Now were her attendants, too, arrayed in

 

seemly wise.  The lordings came, and when she heard the tale,

 

from her seat she rose and walked in courtly wise to greet the

 

noble stranger and her brother, too.

 

 

 

"Welcome be my brother and his comrade.  I'd gladly know," so

 

spake the maid, "what ye lords desire, sith ye be thus come to

 

court.  Pray let me hear how it standeth with you noble knights."

 

 

 

Then spake king Gunther: "My lady, I'll tell you now.  Maugre our

 

lofty mood, yet have we mickle care.  We would ride a-wooing far

 

into foreign lands, and for this journey we have need of costly

 

robes."

 

 

 

"Now sit you down, dear brother," spake the royal maid, "and let

 

me hear aright who these ladies be whom ye fain would woo in the

 

lands of other kings."

 

 

 

By the hand the lady took the chosen knights and with the twain

 

she walked to where she sate afore upon a couch, worked, as well

 

I wot, with dainty figures embossed in gold.  There might they

 

have fair pastime with the ladies.  Friendly glances and kindly

 

looks passed now full oft between the twain.  In his heart he

 

bare her, she was dear to him as life.  In after days fair

 

Kriemhild became strong Siegfried's wife.

 

 

 

Then spake the mighty king: "Dear sister mine, without thy help

 

it may not be.  We would go for knightly pastime to Brunhild's

 

land, and have need of princely garb to wear before the dames."

 

 

 

Then the noble maiden answered: "Dear brother mine, I do you now

 

to wit, that whatever need ye have of help of mine, that stand I

 

ready to give.  Should any deny you aught, 't would please

 

Kriemhild but ill.  Most noble knights, beseech me not with such

 

concern, but order me with lordly air to do whatso ye list.  I

 

stand at your bidding and will do it with a will."  So spake

 

the winsome maid.

 

 

 

"We would fain, dear sister, wear good attire, and this your

 

noble hand shall help to choose . Your maidens then must make it

 

fit us, for there be no help against this journey."  Then spake

 

the princess: "Now mark ye what I say.  Silks I have myself; see

 

ye that men do bring us jewels upon the shields and thus we'll

 

work the clothes.  Gunther and Siegfried, too, gave glad assent.

 

 

 

"Who are the comrades," spake the queen, "who shall fare with you

 

thus clad to court?"

 

 

 

He spake: "I shall be one of four.  My liegemen twain, Dankwart

 

and Hagen, shall go with me to court.  Now mark ye well, my lady,

 

what I say.  Each of us four must have to wear for four whole

 

days three changes of apparel and such goodly trappings that

 

without shame we may quit Brunhild's land."

 

 

 

In fitting wise the lords took leave and parted hence.

 

Kriemhild, the queen, bade thirty of her maidens who were

 

skillful in such work, come forth from out their bowers.  Silks

 

of Araby, white as snow, and the fair silk of Zazamanc, (2) green

 

as is the clover, they overlaid with precious stones; that gave

 

garments passing fair.  Kriemhild herself, the high-born maiden,

 

cut them out.  Whatso they had at hand of well-wrought linings

 

from the skin of foreign fish, but rarely seen of folk, they

 

covered now with silk, as was the wont to wear. (3)  Now hear

 

great marvels of these shining weeds.  From the kingdom of

 

Morocco and from Libya, too, they had great store of the fairest

 

silks which the kith of any king did ever win.  Kriemhild made it

 

well appear what love she bore the twain.  Sith upon the proud

 

journey they had set their minds, they deemed ermine to be well

 

fit. (4)  Upon this lay fine silk as black as coal.  This would

 

still beseem all doughty knights at high festal tides.  From out

 

a setting of Arabian gold there shone forth many a stone.  The

 

ladies' zeal, it was not small, forsooth; in seven weeks they

 

wrought the robes.  Ready, too, were the weapons for the right

 

good knights.

 

 

 

When now they all stood dight, (5) there was built for them in

 

haste upon the Rhine a sturdy little skiff, that should bear them

 

downward to the sea.  Weary were the noble maids from all their

 

cares.  Then the warriors were told that the brave vestures they

 

should wear were now prepared; as they had craved it, so it now

 

was done.  Then no longer would they tarry on the Rhine; they

 

sent a message to their war-companions, if perchance they should

 

care to view their new attire, to see if it be too long or short.

 

All was found in fitting measure, and for this they gave the

 

ladies thanks.  All who saw them could not but aver that never in

 

the world had they seen attire more fair.  Therefore they wore it

 

gladly at the court.  None wist how to tell of better knightly

 

weeds.  Nor did they fail to give great thanks.  Then the lusty

 

knights craved leave to go, and this the lordings did in courtly

 

wise.  Bright eyes grew dim and moist thereat from weeping.

 

 

 

Kriemhild spake: "Dear brother, ye might better tarry here a

 

while and pay court to other dames, where ye would not so risk

 

your life; then would I say well done.  Ye might find nearer home

 

a wife of as high a birth."

 

 

 

I ween their hearts did tell them what would hap.  All wept

 

alike, no matter what men said.  The gold upon their breasts was

 

tarnished by their tears, which thick and fast coursed downward

 

from their eyes.

 

 

 

She spake: "Sir Siegfried, let this dear brother of mine be

 

commended to your fealty and troth, that naught may harm him in

 

Brunhild's land."  This the full brave knight vowed in Lady

 

Kriemhild's hand.

 

 

 

The mighty warrior spake: "If I lose not my life, ye may be free

 

from every care, my lady.  I'll bring him to you sound again

 

hither to the Rhine; that know of a surety."  The fair maid

 

bowed her thanks.

 

 

 

Men bare their gold-hued shields out to them upon the sands and

 

brought them all their harness.  One bade lead up the steeds, for

 

they would ride away.  Much weeping then was done by comely

 

dames.  The winsome maids stood at the easements.  A high wind

 

stirred the ship and sails; the proud war fellowship embarked

 

upon the Rhine.

 

 

 

Then spake King Gunther: "Who shall be the captain of the ship?"

 

 

 

"That will I," quoth Siegfried, "I wot well how to steer you on

 

the flood.  That know, good knights, the right water ways be well

 

known to me."

 

 

 

So they parted merrily from out the Burgundian land.  Siegfried

 

quickly grasped an oar and from the shore the stalwart man gan

 

push.  Bold Gunther took the helm himself, and thus the

 

worshipful and speedy knights set forth from land.  With them

 

they took rich food and eke good wine, the best that could be

 

found along the Rhine.  Their steeds stood fair; they had good

 

easement.  Their ship rode well; scant harm did hap them.  Their

 

stout sheet-rope was tightened by the breeze.  Twenty leagues

 

they sailed, or ever came the night, with a good wind, downward

 

toward the sea.  These hard toils later brought the high-mettled

 

warriors pain.

 

 

 

Upon the twelfth-day morning, as we hear say, the winds had borne

 

them far away to Isenstein in Brunhild's land.  To none save

 

Siegfried was this known; but when King Gunther spied so many

 

castles and broad marches, too, how soon he spake: "Pray

 

tell me, friend Siegfried, is it known to you whose are these

 

castles and this lordly land?"

 

 

 

Siegfried answered: "I know it well.  It is the land and folk of

 

Brunhild and the fortress Isenstein, as ye heard me say.  Fair

 

ladies ye may still see there to-day.  Methinketh good to advise

 

you heroes that ye be of one single mind, and that ye tell the

 

selfsame tale.  For if we go to-day before Brunhild, in much

 

jeopardy must we stand before the queen.  When we behold the

 

lovely maiden with her train, then, ye far-famed heroes, must ye

 

tell but this single tale: that Gunther be my master and I his

 

man; then what he craveth will come to pass."  Full ready they

 

were for whatever he bade them vow, nor because of pride did any

 

one abstain.  They promised what he would; wherefrom they all

 

fared well, when King Gunther saw fair Brunhild. (6)

 

 

 

"Forsooth I vow it less for thy sake than for thy sister's, the

 

comely maid, who is to me as mine own soul and body.  Gladly will

 

I bring it to pass, that she become my wife."

 

 

 

 

 

ENDNOTES:

 

(1)  "Isenland" translates here M.H.G. "Islant", which has,

 

     however, no connection with Iceland in spite of the

 

     agreement of the names in German.  "Isen lant", the reading

 

     of the MSS. BJh, has been chosen, partly to avoid confusion,

 

     and partly to indicate its probable derivation from

 

     "Isenstein", the name of Brunhild's castle.  Boer's

 

     interpretation of "Isen" as 'ice' finds corroboration in

 

     Otfrid's form "isine steina" ('ice stones', i.e. crystals)

 

     I, 1. 70.  Isenstein would then mean Ice Castle.  In the

 

     "Thidreksaga" Brunhild's castle is called "Saegarthr" ('Sea

 

     Garden'), and in a fairy tale (No. 93 of Grimm) "Stromberg",

 

     referring to the fact that it was surrounded by the sea.

 

     Here, too, in our poem it stands directly on the shore.

 

(2)  "Zazamanc", a fictitious kingdom mentioned only here and a

 

     few times in Parzival, Wolfram probably having obtained the

 

     name from this passage.  (See Bartsch, "Germanistische

 

     Studien", ii, 129.)

 

(3)  "Wont to wear".  In the Middle Ages costly furs and

 

     fish-skins were used as linings and covered, as here

 

     described, with silk or cloth.  By fish such amphibious

 

     animals as otter and beaver were often meant.

 

(4)  "Well fit".  In this passage "wert", the reading of A and D,

 

     has been followed, instead of unwert of B and C, as it seems

 

     more appropriate to the sense.

 

(5)  "Dight", 'arrayed'; used by Milton.

 

(6)  "Brunhild".  The following words are evidently a late

 

     interpolation, and weaken the ending, but have been

 

     translated for the sake of completeness.  They are spoken by

 

     Siegfried.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADVENTURE VII

 

How Gunther Won Brunhild.

 

 

 

Meanwhile their bark had come so near the castle that the king

 

saw many a comely maiden standing at the casements.  Much it

 

irked King Gunther that he knew them not.  He asked his comrade

 

Siegfried: "Hast thou no knowledge of these maidens, who yonder

 

are gazing downward towards us on the flood?  Whoever be their

 

lord, they are of lofty mood."

 

 

 

At this Sir Siegfried spake: "I pray you, spy secretly among the

 

high-born maids and tell me then whom ye would choose, and ye had

 

the power."

 

 

 

"That will I," spake Gunther, the bold and valiant knight.  "In

 

yonder window do I see one stand in snow-white weeds.  She is

 

fashioned so fair that mine eyes would choose her for her

 

comeliness.  Had I power, she should become my wife."

 

 

 

"Right well thine eyes have chosen for thee.  It is the noble

 

Brunhild, the comely maid, for whom thy heart doth strive and eke

 

thy mind and mood."  All her bearing seemed to Gunther good.

 

 

 

When bade the queen her high-born maids go from the windows, for

 

it behooved them not to be the mark of strangers' eyes.  Each one

 

obeyed.  What next the ladies did, hath been told us since.  They

 

decked their persons out to meet the unknown knights, a way fair

 

maids have ever had.  To the narrow casements they came again,

 

where they had seen the knights.  Through love of gazing this was

 

done.

 

 

 

But four there were that were come to land.  Through the windows

 

the stately women saw how Siegfried led a horse out on the sand,

 

whereby King Gunther felt himself much honored.  By the bridle he

 

held the steed, so stately, good and fair, and large and strong,

 

until King Gunther had sat him in the saddle.  Thus Siegfried

 

served him, the which he later quite forgot.  Such service he had

 

seldom done afore, that he should stand at any here's stirrup.

 

Then he led his own steed from the ship.  All this the comely

 

dames of noble birth saw through the casements.  The steeds and

 

garments, too, of the lusty knights, of snow-white hue, were

 

right well matched and all alike; the bucklers, fashioned well,

 

gleamed in the hands of the stately men.  In lordly wise they

 

rode to Brunhild's hall, their saddles set with precious stones,

 

with narrow martingales, from which hung bells of bright and

 

ruddy gold.  So they came to the land, as well befit their

 

prowess, with newly sharpened spears, with well-wrought swords,

 

the which hung down to the spurs of these stately men.  The

 

swords the bold men bore were sharp and broad.  All this

 

Brunhild, the high-born maid, espied.

 

 

 

With the king came Dankwart and Hagen, too.  We have heard tales

 

told of how the knights wore costly raiment, raven black of hue.

 

Fair were their bucklers, mickle, good and broad.  Jewels they

 

wore from the land of India, the which gleamed gloriously upon

 

their weeds.  By the flood they left their skiff without a guard.

 

Thus the brave knights and good rode to the castle.  Six and

 

eighty towers they saw within, three broad palaces, (1) and one

 

hall well wrought of costly marble, green as grass, wherein

 

Brunhild herself sate with her courtiers.  The castle was

 

unlocked and the gates flung wide.  Then ran Brunhild's men to

 

meet them and welcomed the strangers into their mistress' land.

 

One bade relieve them of their steeds and shields.

 

 

 

Then spake a chamberlain: "Pray give us now your swords and your

 

shining breastplates, too."

 

 

 

"That we may not grant you," said Hagen of Troneg; "we ourselves

 

will bear them."

 

 

 

Then gan Siegfried tell aright the tale.  "The usage of the

 

castle, let me say, is such that no guests may here bear arms.

 

Let them now be taken hence, then will all be well."

 

 

 

Unwillingly Hagen, Gunther's man, obeyed.  For the strangers men

 

bade pour out wine and make their lodgings ready.  Many doughty

 

knights were seen walking everywhere at court in lordly weeds.

 

Mickle and oft were these heroes gazed upon.

 

 

 

Then the tidings were told to Lady Brunhild, that unknown

 

warriors were come in lordly raiment, sailing on the flood.  The

 

fair and worthy maid gan ask concerning this.  "Pray let me

 

hear," spake the queen, "who be these unknown knights, who stand

 

so lordly in my castle, and for whose sake the heroes have

 

journeyed hither?"

 

 

 

Then spake one of the courtiers: "My lady, I can well say that

 

never have I set eyes on any of them, but one like Siegfried doth

 

stand among them.  Him ye should give fair greetings; that is my

 

rede, in truth.  The second of their fellowship is so worthy of

 

praise that he were easily a mighty king over broad and princely

 

lands, and he had the power and might possess them.  One doth see

 

him stand by the rest in such right lordly wise.  The third of

 

the fellowship is so fierce and yet withal so fair of body, most

 

noble queen.  By the fierce glances he so oft doth east, I ween

 

he be grim of thought and mood.  The youngest among them is

 

worshipful indeed.  I see the noble knight stand so charmingly,

 

with courtly bearing, in almost maiden modesty.  We might all

 

have cause for fear, had any done him aught.  However blithely he

 

doth practice chivalry, and howso fair of body he be, yet might

 

he well make many a comely woman weep, should he e'er grow angry.

 

He is so fashioned that in all knightly virtues he must be a bold

 

knight and a brave."

 

 

 

Then spake the queen: "Now bring me my attire.  If the mighty

 

Siegfried be come unto this land through love of mine, he doth

 

risk his life.  I fear him not so sore, that I should become his

 

wife."

 

 

 

Brunhild, the fair, was soon well clad.  Then went there with her

 

many a comely maid, full hundred or more, decked out in gay

 

attire.  The stately dames would gaze upon the strangers.  With

 

them there walked good knights from Isenland, Brunhild's men-

 

at-arms, five hundred or more, who bore swords in hand.  This the

 

strangers rued.  From their seats then the brave and lusty heroes

 

rose.  When that the queen spied Siegfried, now hear what the

 

maid did speak.

 

 

 

"Be ye welcome, Siegfried, here in this our land!  What doth your

 

journey mean?  That I fain would know."

 

 

 

"Gramercy, my Lady Brunhild, that ye have deigned to greet me,

 

most generous queen, in the presence of this noble knight who

 

standeth here before me, for he is my liege lord.  This honor I

 

must needs forswear.  By birth he's from the Rhine; what more

 

need I to say?  For thy sake are we come hither.  Fain would he

 

woo thee, however he fare.  Methink thee now betimes, my lord

 

will not let thee go.  He is hight Gunther and is a lordly king.

 

An' he win thy love, he doth crave naught more.  Forsooth this

 

knight, so well beseen, did bid me journey hither.  I would fain

 

have given it over, could I have said him nay."

 

 

 

She spake: "Is he thy liege and thou his man, dare he assay the

 

games which I mete out and gain the mastery, then I'll become his

 

wife; but should I win, 't will cost you all your lives."

 

 

 

Then up spake Hagen of Troneg: "My lady, let us see your mighty

 

games.  It must indeed go hard, or ever Gunther, my lord, give

 

you the palm.  He troweth well to win so fair a maid."

 

 

 

"He must hurl the stone and after spring and cast the spear with

 

me.  Be ye not too hasty.  Ye are like to lose here your honor

 

and your life as well.  Bethink you therefore rightly," spake the

 

lovely maid.

 

 

 

Siegfried, the bold, went to the king and bade him tell the queen

 

all that he had in mind, he should have no fear. "I'll guard you

 

well against her with my arts."

 

 

 

Then spake King Gunther: "Most noble queen, now mete out whatso

 

ye list, and were it more, that would I all endure for your sweet

 

sake.  I'll gladly lose my head, and ye become not my wife."

 

 

 

When the queen heard this speech, she begged them hasten to the

 

games, as was but meet.  She bade purvey her with good armor for

 

the strife: a breastplate of ruddy gold and a right good shield.

 

A silken surcoat, (2) too, the maid put on, which sword had never

 

cut in any fray, of silken cloth of Libya.  Well was it wrought.

 

Bright embroidered edging was seen to shine thereon.

 

 

 

Meanwhile the knights were threatened much with battle cries.

 

Dankwart and Hagen stood ill at ease; their minds were troubled

 

at the thought of how the king would speed.  Thought they: "Our

 

journey will not bring us warriors aught of good."

 

 

 

Meanwhile Siegfried, the stately man, or ever any marked it, had

 

hied him to the ship, where he found his magic cloak concealed.

 

Into it he quickly slipped and so was seen of none.  He hurried

 

back and there he found a great press of knights, where the queen

 

dealt out her lofty games.  Thither he went in secret wise (by

 

his arts it happed), nor was he seen of any that were there.  The

 

ring had been marked out, where the games should be, afore many

 

valiant warriors, who were to view them there.  More than seven

 

hundred were seen bearing arms, who were to say who won the game.

 

 

 

Then was come Brunhild, armed as though she would battle for all

 

royal lands.  Above her silken coat she wore many a bar of gold;

 

gloriously her lovely color shone beneath the armor.  Then came

 

her courtiers, who bare along a shield of ruddy gold with large

 

broad strips as hard as steel, beneath the which the lovely maid

 

would fight.  As shield-thong there served a costly band upon

 

which lay jewels green as grass.  It shone and gleamed against

 

the gold.  He must needs be passing bold, to whom the maid would

 

show her love.  The shield the maid should bear was three spans

 

thick beneath the studs, as we are told.  Rich enow it was, of

 

steel and eke of gold, the which four chamberlains could scarcely

 

carry.

 

 

 

When the stalwart Hagen saw the shield borne forth, the knight of

 

Troneg spake full grim of mood: "How now, King Gunther?  How we

 

shall lose our lives!  She you would make your love is the

 

devil's bride, in truth."

 

 

 

Hear now about her weeds; enow of these she had; she wore a

 

surcoat of silk of Azagoue, (3) noble and costly.  Many a lordly

 

stone shone in contrast to its color on the person of the queen.

 

 

 

Then was brought forth for the lady a spear, sharp, heavy, and

 

large, the which she cast all time, stout and unwieldy, mickle

 

and broad, which on its edges cut most fearfully.  Of the spear's

 

great weight hear wonders told.  Three and one half weights (4)

 

of iron were wrought therein, the which scarce three of

 

Brunhild's men could bear.  The noble Gunther gan be sore afraid.

 

Within his heart he thought: "What doth this mean?  How could the

 

devil from hell himself escape alive?  Were I safe and sound in

 

Burgundy, long might she live here free of any love of mine."

 

 

 

Then spake Hagen's brother, the valiant Dankwart: "The journey to

 

this court doth rue me sore.  We who have ever borne the name of

 

knights, how must we lose our lives!  Shall we now perish at the

 

hands of women in these lands?  It doth irk me much, that ever I

 

came unto this country.  Had but my brother Hagen his sword in

 

hand, and I mine, too, then should Brunhild's men go softly in

 

their overweening pride.  This know for sure, they'd guard

 

against it well.  And had I sworn a peace with a thousand oaths,

 

before I'd see my dear lord die, the comely maid herself should

 

lose her life."

 

 

 

"We might leave this land unscathed," spake then his brother

 

Hagen, "had we the harness which we sorely need and our good

 

swords as well; then would the pride of this strong dame become a

 

deal more soft."

 

 

 

What the warrior spake the noble maid heard well.  Over her

 

shoulders she gazed with smiling mouth.  "Now sith he thinketh

 

himself so brave, bring them forth their coats-of-mail; put in

 

the warriors' hands their sharp-edged swords."

 

 

 

When they received their weapons as the maiden bade, bold

 

Dankwart blushed for very joy.  "Now let them play whatso they

 

list," spake the doughty man.  "Gunther is unconquered, since now

 

we have our arms."

 

 

 

Mightily now did Brunhild's strength appear.  Into the ring men

 

bare a heavy stone, huge and great, mickle and round.  Twelve

 

brave and valiant men-at-arms could scarcely bear it.  This she

 

threw at all times, when she had shot the spear.  The

 

Burgundians' fear now grew amain.

 

 

 

"Woe is me," cried Hagen.  "Whom hath King Gunther chosen for a

 

love?  Certes she should be the foul fiend's bride in hell."

 

 

 

Upon her fair white arm the maid turned back her sleeves; with

 

her hands she grasped the shield and poised the spear on high.

 

Thus the strife began.  Gunther and Siegfried feared Brunhild's

 

hate, and had Siegfried not come to Gunther's aid, she would have

 

bereft the king of life.  Secretly Siegfried went and touched his

 

hand; with great fear Gunther marked his wiles.  "Who hath

 

touched me?" thought the valiant man.  Then he gazed around on

 

every side, but saw none standing there.

 

 

 

"'Tis I, Siegfried, the dear friend of thine.  Thou must not fear

 

the queen.  Give me the shield from off thy hand and let me bear

 

it and mark aright what thou dost hear me say.  Make thou the

 

motions, I will do the deeds."

 

 

 

When Gunther knew that it was Siegfried, he was overjoyed.

 

 

 

Quoth Siegfried: "Now hide thou my arts; tell them not to any

 

man; then can the queen win from thee little fame, albeit she

 

doth desire it.  See how fearlessly the lady standeth now before

 

thee."

 

 

 

Then with might and main the noble maiden hurled the spear at a

 

shield, mickle, new, and broad, which the son of Siegelind bore

 

upon his arm.  The sparks sprang from the steel, as if the wind

 

did blow.  The edge of the mighty spear broke fully through the

 

shield, so that men saw the fire flame forth from the armor

 

rings.  The stalwart men both staggered at the blow; but for the

 

Cloak of Darkness they had lain there dead.  From the mouth of

 

Siegfried, the brave, gushed forth the blood.  Quickly the good

 

knight sprang back again and snatched the spear that she had

 

driven through his shield.  Stout Siegfried's hand now sent it

 

back again.  He thought: "I will not pierce the comely maid."  So

 

he reversed the point and cast it at her armor with the butt,

 

that it rang out loudly from his mighty hand.  The sparks flew

 

from the armor rings, as though driven by the wind.  Siegmund's

 

son had made the throw with might.  With all her strength she

 

could not stand before the blow.  In faith King Gunther never

 

could have done the deed.

 

 

 

Brunhild, the fair, how quickly up she sprang!  "Gunther, noble

 

knight, I cry you mercy for the shot."  She weened that he had

 

done it with his strength.  To her had crept a far more powerful

 

man.  Then went she quickly, angry was her mood.  The noble maid

 

and good raised high the stone and hurled it mightily far from

 

her hand.  After the cast she sprang, that all her armor rang, in

 

truth.  The stone had fallen twelve fathoms hence, but with her

 

leap the comely maid out-sprang the throw.  Then went Sir

 

Siegfried to where lay the stone.  Gunther poised it, while the

 

hero made the throw.  Siegfried was bold, strong, and tall; he

 

threw the stone still further and made a broader jump.  Through

 

his fair arts he had strength enow to bear King Gunther with him

 

as he sprang.  The leap was made, the stone lay on the ground;

 

men saw none other save Gunther, the knight, alone.  Siegfried

 

had banished the fear of King Gunther's death.  Brunhild, the

 

fair, waxed red with wrath.  To her courtiers she spake a deal

 

too loud, when she spied the hero safe and sound at the border of

 

the ring: "Come nearer quickly, ye kinsmen and liegemen of mine,

 

ye must now be subject to Gunther, the king."

 

 

 

Then the brave knights laid aside their arms and paid their

 

homage at the feet of mighty Gunther from the Burgundian land.

 

They weened that he had won the games by his own strength alone.

 

He greeted them in loving wise; in sooth he was most rich in

 

virtues.

 

 

 

Then the lovely maiden took him by the hand; full power she

 

granted him within the land.  At this Hagen, the bold and doughty

 

knight, rejoiced him.  She bade the noble knight go with her

 

hence to the spacious palace.  When this was done, they gave the

 

warriors with their service better cheer.  With good grace Hagen

 

and Dankwart now must needs submit.  The doughty Siegfried was

 

wise enow and bare away his magic cloak.  Then he repaired to

 

where the ladies sate.  To the king he spake and shrewdly did he

 

this: "Why wait ye, good my lord?  Why begin ye not the games, of

 

which the queen doth deal so great a store?  Let us soon see how

 

they be played."  The crafty man did not as though he wist

 

not a whit thereof.

 

 

 

Then spake the Queen: "How hath it chanced that ye, Sir

 

Siegfried, have seen naught of the games which the hand of

 

Gunther here hath won?"

 

 

 

To this Hagen of the Burgundian land made answer.  He spake:  "Ye

 

have made us sad of mind, my lady.  Siegfried, the good knight,

 

was by the ship when the lord of the Rhineland won from you the

 

games.  He knoweth naught thereof."

 

 

 

"Well is me of this tale," spake Siegfried, the knight, "that

 

your pride hath been brought thus low, and that there doth live a

 

wight who hath the power to be your master.  Now, O noble maiden,

 

must ye follow us hence to the Rhine."

 

 

 

Then spake the fair-fashioned maid: "That may not be.  First must

 

my kith and liegemen learn of this.  Certes, I may not so lightly

 

void my lands; my dearest friends must first be fetched."

 

 

 

Then bade she messengers ride on every side.  She called her

 

friends, her kinsmen, and her men-at-arms and begged them come

 

without delay to Isenstein, and bade them all be given lordly and

 

rich apparel.  Daily, early and late, they rode in troops to

 

Brunhild's castle.

 

 

 

"Welaway," cried Hagen, "what have we done!  We may ill abide the

 

coming of fair Brunhild's men.  If now they come into this land

 

in force, then hath the noble maid been born to our great rue.

 

The will of the queen is unknown to us; what if she be so wroth

 

that we be lost?"

 

 

 

Then the stalwart Siegfried spake: "Of that I'll have care.  I'll

 

not let hap that which ye fear.  I'll bring you help hither to

 

this land, from chosen knights the which till now ye have not

 

known.  Ye must not ask about me; I will fare hence.  Meanwhile

 

may God preserve your honor.  I'll return eftsoon and bring you a

 

thousand men, the very best of knights that I have ever known."

 

 

 

"Pray tarry not too long," spake then the king; "of your help we

 

be justly glad."

 

 

 

He answered: "In a few short days I'll come again.  Tell ye to

 

Brunhild, that ye've sent me hence."

 

 

 

 

 

ENDNOTES:

 

(1)  "Palaces".  See Adventure III, note 7.

 

(2)  "Surcoat", which here translates the M.H.G. "wafenhemde", is

 

     a light garment of cloth or silk worn above the armor.

 

(3)  "Azagouc".  See Zazamanc, Adventure VI, note 2.  This

 

     strophe is evidently a late interpolation, as it contradicts

 

     the description given above.

 

(4)  Weights.  The M.H.G. "messe" (Lat. "masse") is just as

 

     indefinite as the English expression.  It was a mass or lump

 

     of any metal, probably determined by the size of the

 

     melting-pot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADVENTURE VIII (1)

 

How Siegfried Fared To His Men-At-Arms, the Nibelungs.

 

 

 

Through the gate Siegfried hied him in his Cloak of Darkness down

 

to the sand, where he found a skiff.  Secretly the son of

 

Siegmund embarked and drove it quickly hence, as though the wind

 

did blow it on.  None saw the steersman; the bark fared fast,

 

impelled by Siegfried's mighty strength.  They weened a seldom

 

strong wind did drive it on.  Nay, it was rowed by Siegfried, the

 

son of Siegelind, the fair.  In the time of a day and night with

 

might and main he reached a land full hundred rests (2) away, or

 

more.  The people hight Nibelungs, where he owned the mighty

 

hoard.  The hero rowed alone to a broad isle, where the lusty

 

knight now beached the boat and made it fast full soon.  To a

 

hill he hied him, upon which stood a castle, and sought here

 

lodgment, as way-worn travelers do.  He came first to a gateway

 

that stood fast locked.  In sooth they guarded well their honor,

 

as men still do.  The stranger now gan knock upon the door, the

 

which was closely guarded.  There within he saw a giant standing,

 

who kept the castle and at whose side lay at all times his arms.

 

He spake: "Who is it who doth knock so rudely on the gate?"

 

 

 

Then bold Siegfried changed his voice and spake: "I am a knight;

 

do up the door, else will I enrage many a one outside to-day, who

 

would liefer lie soft and take his ease."

 

 

 

When Siegfried thus spake, it irked the warder.  Meanwhile the

 

giant had donned his armor and placed his helm upon his head.

 

Quickly the mighty man snatched up his shield and opened wide the

 

gate.  How fiercely he ran at Siegfried and asked, how he durst

 

wake so many valiant men?  Huge blows were dealt out by his hand.

 

Then the lordly stranger gan defend him, but with an iron bar the

 

warder shattered his shield-plates.  Then was the hero in dire

 

need.  Siegfried gan fear a deal his death, when the warder

 

struck such mighty blows.  Enow his master Siegfried loved him

 

for this cause.  They strove so sore that all the castle rang and

 

the sound was heard in Nibelung's hall.  He overcame the warder

 

and bound him, too.

 

 

 

The tale was noised abroad in all the Nibelungs' land.  Alberich,

 

the bold, a savage dwarf, heard the fierce struggle through the

 

mountain.  He armed him quick and ran to where he found the noble

 

stranger, as he bound the mighty giant.  Full wroth was Alberich

 

and strong enow.  On his body he bare helmet and rings of mail

 

and in his hand a heavy scourge of gold.  Swift and hard he ran

 

to where Siegfried stood.  Seven heavy knobs (3) hung down in

 

front, with which he smote so fiercely the shield upon the bold

 

man's arm, that it brake in parts.  The stately stranger came in

 

danger of his life.  From his hand he flung the broken shield and

 

thrust into the sheath a sword, the which was long.  He would not

 

strike his servant dead, but showed his courtly breeding as his

 

knightly virtue bade him.  He rushed at Alberich and with his

 

powerful hands he seized the gray-haired man by the beard.  So

 

roughly he pulled his beard, that he screamed aloud.  The tugging

 

of the youthful knight hurt Alberich sore.

 

 

 

Loud cried the valiant dwarf: "Now spare my life.  And might I be

 

the vassal of any save one knight, to whom I swore an oath that I

 

would own him as my lord, I'd serve you till my death."  So spake

 

the cunning (4) man.

 

 

 

He then bound Alberich as he had the giant afore.  Full sore the

 

strength of Siegfried hurt him.  The dwarf gan ask: "How are ye

 

named?"

 

 

 

"My name is Siegfried," he replied; "I deemed ye knew me well."

 

 

 

"Well is me of these tidings," spake Alberich, the dwarf.  "Now

 

have I noted well the knightly deeds, through which ye be by

 

right the sovran of the land.  I'll do whatso ye bid, and ye let

 

me live."

 

 

 

Then spake Sir Siegfried: "Go quickly now and bring me the best

 

of knights we have, a thousand Nibelungs, that they may see me

 

here."

 

 

 

Why he wanted this, none heard him say.  He loosed the bonds of

 

Alberich and the giant.  Then ran Alberich swift to where he

 

found the knights.  In fear he waked the Nibelung men.  He spake:

 

"Up now, ye heroes, ye must go to Siegfried."

 

 

 

From their beds they sprang and were ready in a trice.  A

 

thousand doughty knights soon stood well clad.  They hied them to

 

where they saw Sir Siegfried stand.  Then was done a fair

 

greeting, in part by deeds.  Great store of tapers were now lit

 

up; they proffered him mulled wine. (5)  He gave them thanks that

 

they were come so soon.  He spake: "Ye must away with me across

 

the flood."

 

 

 

Full ready for this he found the heroes brave and good.  Well

 

thirty hundred men were come eftsoon, from whom he chose a

 

thousand of the best.  Men brought them their helmets and other

 

arms, for he would lead them to Brunhild's land.  He spake: "Ye

 

good knights, this will I tell you, ye must wear full costly

 

garments there at court, for many lovely dames shall gaze upon

 

us.  Therefore must ye deck yourselves with goodly weeds."

 

 

 

Early on a morn they started on their way.  What a speedy journey

 

Siegfried won!  They took with them good steeds and lordly

 

harness, and thus they came in knightly wise to Brunhild's land.

 

The fair maids stood upon the battlements.  Then spake the queen:

 

"Knoweth any, who they be whom I see sailing yonder far out upon

 

the sea?  They have rich sails e'en whiter than the snow."

 

 

 

Quoth the king of the Rhineland: "They're men of mine, the which

 

I left hard by here on the way.  I had them sent for, and now

 

they be come, my lady."  All eyes were fixed upon the lordly

 

strangers.

 

 

 

Then one spied Siegfried standing at his vessel's prow in lordly

 

weeds and many other men.  The queen spake: "Sir King, pray tell

 

me, shall I receive the strangers or shall I deny them

 

greetings?"

 

 

 

He spake: "Ye must go to meet them out before the palace, that

 

they may well perceive how fain we be to see them here."

 

 

 

Then the queen did as the king advised her.  She marked out

 

Siegfried with her greetings from the rest.  Men purveyed them

 

lodgings and took in charge their trappings.  So many strangers

 

were now come to the land, that everywhere they jostled

 

Brunhild's bands.  Now would the valiant men fare home to

 

Burgundy.

 

 

 

Then spake the queen: "My favor would I bestow on him who could

 

deal out to the king's guests and mine my silver and gold, of

 

which I have such store."

 

 

 

To this Dankwart, King Giselher's liegeman, answered: "Most noble

 

queen," spake the brave knight, "let me but wield the keys.  I

 

trow to deal it out in fitting wise; whatso of blame I gain, let

 

be mine own."  That he was bountiful, he made appear full well.

 

 

 

When now Sir Hagen's brother took the keys in charge, the hero's

 

hand did proffer many a costly gift.  He who craved a mark (6)

 

received such store that all the poor might lead a merry life.

 

Full hundred pounds he gave, nor did he stop to count.  Enow

 

walked before the hall in rich attire, who never had worn afore

 

such lordly dress.  Full sore it rued the queen when this she

 

heard.  She spake: "Sir King, I fain would have your aid, lest

 

your chamberlain leave naught of all my store of dress; he

 

squandereth eke my gold.  If any would forfend this, I'd be his

 

friend for aye.  He giveth such royal gifts, the knight must

 

ween, forsooth, that I have sent for death.  I would fain use it

 

longer and trow well myself to waste that which my father left

 

me."  No queen as yet hath ever had so bounteous a chamberlain.

 

 

 

Then spake Hagen of Troneg: "My lady, be it told you that the

 

king of the Rhineland hath such great store of gold and robes to

 

give, that we have no need to carry hence aught of Brunhild's

 

weeds."

 

 

 

"Nay, and ye love me," spake the queen, "let me fill twenty

 

traveling chests with gold and silk as well, the which my hand

 

shall give, when we are come across to Gunther's land."

 

 

 

Men filled her chests with precious stones, the while her

 

chamberlains stood by.  She would not trust the duty to

 

Giselher's men.  Gunther and Hagen began to laugh thereat.

 

 

 

Then spake the queen: "With whom shall I leave my lands?  This my

 

hand and yours must first decree."

 

 

 

Quoth the noble king: "Now bid draw near whom ye deem fit and we

 

will make him steward."

 

 

 

The lady spied near by one of her highest kin (it was her

 

mother's brother); to him the maiden spake: "Now let be

 

commended to your care my castles and my lands, till that King

 

Gunther's hand rule here."

 

 

 

Then twenty hundred of her men she chose, who should fare with

 

her hence to Burgundy, together with those thousand warriors from

 

the Nibelung land.  They dressed their journey; one saw them

 

riding forth upon the sand.  Six and eighty dames they took along

 

and thereto a hundred maids, their bodies passing fair.  No

 

longer now they tarried, for they were fain to get them hence.

 

Ho, what great wail was made by those they left at home!  In

 

courtly wise she voided thus her land.  She kissed her nearest

 

kinsmen who were found at court.  After a fair leave-taking they

 

journeyed to the sea.  To her fatherland the lady nevermore

 

returned.  Many kinds of games were seen upon the way; pastimes

 

they had galore.  A real sea breeze did help them on their

 

voyage.  Thus they fared forth from the land fully merrily.  She

 

would not let her husband court her on the way; this pleasure was

 

deferred until their wedding-tide in the castle, their home, at

 

Worms, to which in good time she came right joyfully with all her

 

knights.

 

 

 

 

 

ENDNOTES:

 

(1)  Adventure VIII.  This whole episode, in which Siegfried

 

     fetches men to aid Gunther in case of attempted treachery on

 

     Brunhild's part, is of late origin and has no counterpart in

 

     the older versions.  It is a further development of

 

     Siegfried's fight in which he slew Schilbung and Nibelung

 

     and became the ruler of the Nibelung land.  The fight with

 

     Alberich is simply a repetition of the one in the former

 

     episode.

 

(2)  "Rest" (M.H.G. "rast"), originally 'repose', then used as a

 

     measure of distance, as here.

 

(3)  "Knobs", round pieces of metal fastened to the scourge.

 

(4)  "Cunning" is to be taken here in the Biblical sense of

 

     'knowing'.  The M.H.G. "listig" which it here translates,

 

     denotes 'skilled' or 'learned' in various arts and is a

 

     standing epithet of dwarfs.

 

(5)  "Mulled wine" translates M.H.G. "lutertranc", a claret

 

     mulled with herbs and spice and left to stand until clear.

 

(6)  "Mark".  See Adventure V, note 5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADVENTURE IX

 

How Siegfried Was Sent To Worms.

 

 

 

When they had thus fared on their way full nine days, Hagen of

 

Troneg spake: "Now mark ye what I say.  We wait too long with

 

the tidings for Worms upon the Rhine.  Our messengers should be

 

e'en now in Burgundy."

 

 

 

Then spake King Gunther: "Ye have told me true, and none be more

 

fitting for this trip than ye, friend Hagen; now ride ye to my

 

land.  None can acquaint them better with our journey home to

 

court."

 

 

 

To this Hagen made answer: "I am no fit envoy.  Let me play

 

chamberlan, I'll stay with the ladies upon the flood and guard

 

their robes, until we bring them to the Burgundian land.  Bid

 

Siegfried bear the message, he knoweth how to do it well with his

 

mighty strength.  If he refuse you the journey, then must ye in

 

courtly and gentle wise pray him of the boon for your sister's

 

sake."

 

 

 

Gunther sent now for the warrior, who came to where he stood.  He

 

spake: "Sith we be now nearing my lands at home, it behooveth me

 

to send a messenger to the dear sister of mine and to my mother,

 

too, that we draw near the Rhine.  This I pray you, Siegfried;

 

now do my will, that I may requite it to you ever," spake the

 

good knight.

 

 

 

Siegfried, the passing bold man, however said him nay, till

 

Gunther gan beseech him sore.  He spake: "Ye must ride for my

 

sake and for Kriemhild's too, the comely maiden, so that the

 

royal maid requite it, as well as I."

 

 

 

When Siegfried heard these words, full ready was the knight.

 

"Now bid me what ye will; naught shall be withheld.  I will do it

 

gladly for the fair maid's sake.  Why should I refuse her whom I

 

bear in heart?  Whatso ye command for love of her, shall all be

 

done."

 

 

 

"Then tell my mother Uta, the queen, that we be of lofty mood

 

upon this voyage.  Let my brothers know how we have fared.  These

 

tidings must ye let our friends hear, too.  Hide naught from my

 

fair sister, give her mine and Brunhild's greetings.  Greet the

 

retainers, too, and all my men.  How well I have ended that for

 

which my heart hath ever striven!  And tell Ortwin, the dear

 

nephew of mine, that he bid seats be built at Worms along the

 

Rhine.  Let my other kinsmen know that I am willed to hold with

 

Brunhild a mighty wedding feast.  And tell my sister, when she

 

hath heard that I be come with my guests to the land, that she

 

give fair greeting to my bride.  For that I will ever render

 

Kriemhild service."

 

 

 

The good Lord Siegfried soon took leave of Lady Brunhild, as

 

beseemed him well, and of all her train; then rode he to the

 

Rhine.  Never might there be a better envoy in this world.  He

 

rode with four and twenty men-at-arms to Worms; he came without

 

the king.  When that was noised about, the courtiers all were

 

grieved; they feared their master had been slain.

 

 

 

Then they dismounted from their steeds, high stood their mood.

 

Giselher, the good young king, came soon to meet them, and Gernot

 

his brother, too.  How quickly then he spake, when he saw not

 

Gunther at Siegfried's side: "Be welcome, Siegfried; pray let me

 

know where ye have left the king my brother?  The prowess of

 

Brunhild, I ween, hath ta'en him from us.  Great scathe had her

 

haughty love then brought us."

 

 

 

"Let be this fear.  My battle-comrade sendeth greetings to you

 

and to his kin.  I left him safe and sound.  He sent me on ahead,

 

that I might be his messenger with tidings hither to this land.

 

Pray have a care, however that may hap, that I may see the queen

 

and your sister, too, for I must let them hear what message

 

Gunther and Brunhild have sent them.  Both are in high estate."

 

 

 

Then spake Giselher, the youth: "Now must ye go to her, for ye

 

have brought my much of joy.  She is mickle fearful for my

 

brother.  I'll answer that the maid will see you gladly."

 

 

 

Then spake Sir Siegfried: "Howsoever I may serve her, that shall

 

be gladly done, in faith.  Who now will tell the ladies that I

 

would hie me thither?"

 

 

 

Giselher then became the messenger, the stately man.  The doughty

 

knight spake to his mother and his sister too, when that he saw

 

them both: "To us is come Siegfried, the hero from Netherland;

 

him my brother Gunther hath sent hither to the Rhine.  He

 

bringeth the news of how it standeth with the king.  Pray let him

 

therefore come to court.  He'll tell you the right tidings

 

straight from Isenland."

 

 

 

As yet the noble ladies were acquaint with fear, but now for

 

their weeds they sprang and dressed them and bade Sir Siegfried

 

come to court.  This he did full gladly, for he was fain to see

 

them.  Kriemhild, the noble maid, addressed him fair: "Be

 

welcome, Sir Siegfried, most worshipful knight.  Where is my

 

brother Gunther, the noble and mighty king?  We ween that we have

 

lost him through Brunhild's strength.  Woe is me, poor maid, that

 

ever I was born."

 

 

 

Then spake the daring knight: "Now give me an envoy's guerdon, ye

 

passing fair ladies, ye do weep without a cause.  I do you to

 

wit, I left him safe and sound.  They have sent me with the

 

tidings to you both.  He and his bride do send you kindly

 

greetings and a kinsman's love, O noble queen.  Now leave off

 

your weeping, they'll come full soon."

 

 

 

In many a day she had not heard a tale so glad.  With her snow-

 

white hem she wiped the tears from her pretty eyes and began to

 

thank the messenger for the tidings, which now were come.  Thus

 

her great sorrow and her weeping were taken away.  She bade the

 

messenger be seated; full ready he was for this.  Then spake the

 

winsome maid: "I should not rue it, should I give you as an

 

envoy's meed my gold.  For that ye are too rich, but I will be

 

your friend in other ways."

 

 

 

"And had I alone," spake he, "thirty lands, yet would I gladly

 

receive gifts from your fair hand."

 

 

 

Then spake the courtly maid: "It shall be done."  She bade her

 

chamberlain go fetch the meed for tidings.  Four and twenty arm-

 

rings, set with goodly gold, she gave him as his meed.  So stood

 

the hero's mood that he would not retain them, but gave them

 

straightway to her nearest maidens, he found within the bower.

 

Full kindly her mother offered him her service.  "I am to tell

 

you the tale," then spake the valiant man, "of what the king doth

 

pray you, when he cometh to the Rhine.  If ye perform that, my

 

lady, he'll ever hold you in his love.  I heard him crave that ye

 

should give fair greetings to his noble guests and grant him the

 

boon, that ye ride to meet him out in front of Worms upon the

 

strand.  This ye are right truly admonished by the king to do."

 

 

 

Then spake the winsome maid: "For this am I full ready. In

 

whatsoever wise I can serve the king, that will I not refuse;

 

with a kinsman's love it shall be done."  Her color heightened

 

for very joy.  Never was the messenger of any prince received

 

more fair.  The lady would have kissed him, had she but dared.

 

How lovingly he parted from the dames!

 

 

 

The men of Burgundy then did as Siegfried counseled.  Sindolt and

 

Hunolt and Rumolt, the knight, must needs be busy with the work

 

of putting up the seats outside of Worms upon the strand.  The

 

royal stewards, too, were found at work.  Ortwin and Gere would

 

not desist, but sent to fetch their friends on every side, and

 

made known to them the feasting that was to be.  The many comely

 

maids arrayed themselves against the feast.  Everywhere the

 

palace and the walls were decked out for the guests.  Gunther's

 

hall was passing well purveyed for the many strangers.  Thus

 

began full merrily this splendid feast.

 

 

 

From every side along the highways of the land pricked now the

 

kinsmen of these three kings, who had been called that they might

 

wait upon those who were coming home.  Then from the presses

 

great store of costly weeds was taken.  Soon tidings were brought

 

that men saw Brunhild's kinsmen ride along.  Great jostling then

 

arose from the press of folk in the Burgundian land.  Ho, what

 

bold knights were found on either side!

 

 

 

Then spake fair Kriemhild: "Ye maids of mine, who would be with

 

me at the greeting, seek out from the guests the very best of

 

robes; then will praise and honor be given us by the guests."

 

Then came the warriors, too, and bade the lordly saddles of pure

 

red gold be carried forth, on which the ladies should ride from

 

Worms down to the Rhine.  Better trappings might there never be.

 

Ho, what bright gold did sparkle on the jet-black palfreys!  From

 

their bridles there gleamed forth many a precious stone.  The

 

golden stepping-blocks were brought and placed on shining carpets

 

for the ladies, who were gay of mood.  As I have said, the

 

palfreys now stood ready in the courtyard for the noble maids.

 

One saw the steeds wear narrow martingales of the best of silk,

 

of which tale might be told.  Six and eighty ladies who wore

 

fillets (1) in their hair were seen come forth.  The fair ones

 

came to Kriemhild wearing glittering robes.  Then followed many a

 

comely maid in brave attire, fifty and four from the Burgundian

 

land.  They were eke the best that might anywhere be found.  Men

 

saw them walking with their flaxen hair and shining ribbons.

 

That which the king desired was done with zeal.  They wore before

 

the stranger knights rich cloth of silk, the best that could be

 

found, and so many a goodly robe, which well befit their ample

 

beauty.  One found there many clothes of sable and ermine fur.

 

Many an arm and hand was well adorned with bracelets over the

 

silken sleeves, which they should wear.  None might tell the

 

story of this tiring to the end.  Many a hand played with

 

well-wrought girdles, rich and long, above gay colored robes,

 

over costly ferran (2) skirts of silken cloth of Araby.  In high

 

spirits were these maids of noble birth.  Clasps (3) were sewed

 

in lovely wise upon the dress of many a comely maid.  She had

 

good cause to rue it, whose bright color did not shine in

 

contrast to her weeds.  No kingly race hath now such fair

 

retainers.  When now the lovely maids had donned the garments

 

they should wear, there then drew near a mickle band of

 

high-mettled champions.  Together with their shields they carried

 

many an ashen spear.

 

 

 

 

 

ENDNOTES:

 

(1)  "Fillets" were worn only by married women.

 

(2)  "Ferran", a gray colored cloth of silk and wool; from O.F.

 

     "ferrandine".

 

(3)  "Clasps" or "brooches" were used to fasten the dresses in

 

     front.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADVENTURE X

 

How Brunhild Was Received At Worms.

 

 

 

Across the Rhine men saw the king with his guests in many bands

 

pricking to the shore.  One saw the horse of many a maiden, too,

 

led by the bridle.  All those who should give them welcome were

 

ready now.  When those of Isenland and Siegfried's Nibelung men

 

were come across in boats, they hasted to the shore (not idle

 

were their hands), where the kindred of the king were seen upon

 

the other bank.  Now hear this tale, too, of the queen, the noble

 

Uta, how she herself rode hither with the maidens from the

 

castle.  Then many a knight and maid became acquaint.  Duke Gere

 

led Kriemhild's palfroy by the bridle till just outside the

 

castle gate.  Siegfried, the valiant knight, must needs attend

 

her further.  A fair maid was she!  Later the noble dame requited

 

well this deed.  Ortwin, the bold, rode by Lady Uta's side, and

 

many knights and maidens rode in pairs.  Well may we aver that so

 

many dames were never seen together at such stately greeting.

 

Many a splendid joust was ridden by worshipful knights (not well

 

might it be left undone) afore Kriemhild, the fair, down to the

 

ships.  Then the fair-fashioned ladies were lifted from the

 

palfreys.  The king was come across and many a worthy guest.  Ho,

 

what stout lances brake before the ladies' eyes!  One heard the

 

clash of many hurtling shields.  Ho, what costly bucklers rang

 

loudly as they closed!  The lovely fair stood by the shore as

 

Gunther and his guests alighted from the boats; he himself led

 

Brunhild by the hand.  Bright gems and gleaming armor shone forth

 

in rivalry.  Lady Kriemhild walked with courtly breeding to meet

 

Dame Brunhild and her train.  White hands removed the chaplets,

 

(1) as these twain kissed each other; through deference this was

 

done.

 

 

 

Then in courteous wise the maiden Kriemhild spake: "Be ye welcome

 

in these lands of ours, to me and to my mother and to all the

 

loyal kin we have."

 

 

 

Low bows were made and the ladies now embraced full oft.  Such

 

loving greeting hath one never heard, as the two ladies, Dame

 

Uta and her daughter, gave the bride; upon her sweet mouth they

 

kissed her oft.  When now Brunhild's ladies all were come to

 

land, stately knights took many a comely woman by the hand in

 

loving wise.  The fair-fashioned maids were seen to stand before

 

the lady Brunhild.  Long time elasped or ever the greetings all

 

were done; many a rose-red mouth was kissed, in sooth.  Still

 

side by side the noble princesses stood, which liked full well

 

the doughty warriors for to see.  They who had heard men boast

 

afore that such beauty had ne'er been seen as these two dames

 

possessed, spied now with all their eyes and must confess the

 

truth.  Nor did one see upon their persons cheats of any kind.

 

Those who wot how to judge of women and lovely charms, praised

 

Gunther's bride for beauty; but the wise had seen more clear and

 

spake, that one must give Kriemhild the palm before Brunhild.

 

 

 

Maids and ladies now drew near each other.  Many a comely dame

 

was seen arrayed full well.  Silken tents and many rich pavilions

 

stood hard by, the which quite filled the plain of Worms.  The

 

kinsmen of the king came crowding around, when Brunhild and

 

Kriemhild and with them all the dames were bidden go to where

 

shade was found.  Thither the knights from the Burgundian land

 

escorted them.

 

 

 

Now were the strangers come to horse, and shields were pierced in

 

many royal jousts.  From the plain the dust gan rise, as though

 

the whole land had burst forth into flames.  There many a knight

 

became well known as champion.  Many a maiden saw what there the

 

warriors plied.  Methinks, Sir Siegfried and his knights rode

 

many a turn afore the tents.  He led a thousand stately

 

Nibelungs.

 

 

 

Then Hagen of Troneg came, as the king had counseled, and parted

 

in gentle wise the jousting, that the fair maids be not covered

 

with the dust, the which the strangers willingly obeyed.  Then

 

spake Sir Gernot: "Let stand the steeds till the air grow cooler,

 

for ye must be full ready when that the king will ride.

 

Meanwhile let us serve the comely dames before the spacious

 

hall."

 

 

 

When now over all the plain the jousts had ceased, the knights,

 

on pastime bent, hied them to the ladies under many a high

 

pavilion in the hope of lofty joys.  There they passed the hours

 

until they were minded to ride away.

 

 

 

Just at eventide, when the sun was setting and the air grew

 

chill, no longer they delayed, but man and woman hasted toward

 

the castle.  Many a comely maiden was caressed with loving

 

glances.  In jousting great store of clothes were torn by good

 

knights, by the high-mettled warriors, after the custom of the

 

land, until the king dismounted by the hall.  Valiant heroes

 

helped the ladies, as is their wont.  The noble queens then

 

parted; Lady Uta and her daughter went with their train to a

 

spacious hall, where great noise of merriment was heard on every

 

side.

 

 

 

The seats were now made ready, for the king would go to table

 

with his guests.  At his side men saw fair Brunhild stand,

 

wearing the crown in the king's domain.  Royal enow she was in

 

sooth.  Good broad tables, with full many benches for the men,

 

were set with vitaille, as we are told.  Little they lacked that

 

they should have!  At the king's table many a lordly guest was

 

seen.  The chamberlains of the host bare water forth in basins of

 

ruddy gold.  It were but in vain, if any told you that men were

 

ever better served at princes' feasts: I would not believe you

 

that.

 

 

 

Before the lord of the Rhineland took the water to wash his

 

hands, Siegfried did as was but meet, he minded him by his troth

 

of what he had promised, or ever he had seen Brunhild at home in

 

Isenland.  He spake: "Ye must remember how ye swore me by your

 

hand, that when Lady Brunhild came to this land, ye would give me

 

your sister to wife.  Where be now these oaths?  I have suffered

 

mickle hardship on our trip."

 

 

 

Then spake the king to his guest: "Rightly have ye minded me.

 

Certes my hand shall not be perjured.  I'll bring it to pass as

 

best I can."

 

 

 

Then they bade Kriemhild go to court before the king. She came

 

with her fair maidens to the entrance of the hall. At this Sir

 

Giselher sprang down the

 

 

 

steps. "Now bid these maidens turn again. None save my sister

 

alone shall be here by the king."

 

 

 

Then they brought Kriemhild to where the king was found.  There

 

stood noble knights from many princes' lands; throughout the

 

broad hall one bade them stand quite still.  By this time Lady

 

Brunhild had stepped to the table, too.  Then spake King Gunther:

 

"Sweet sister mine, by thy courtesie redeem my oath.  I swore to

 

give thee to a knight, and if he become thy husband, then hast

 

thou done my will most loyally."

 

 

 

Quoth the noble maid: "Dear brother mine, ye must not thus

 

entreat me.  Certes I'll be ever so, that whatever ye command,

 

that shall be done.  I'll gladly pledge my troth to him whom ye,

 

my lord, do give me to husband."

 

 

 

Siegfried here grew red at the glance of friendly eyes.  The

 

knight then proffered his service to Lady Kriemhild.  Men bade

 

them take their stand at each other's side within the ring and

 

asked if she would take the stately man.  In maidenly modesty she

 

was a deal abashed, yet such was Siegfried's luck and fortune,

 

that she would not refuse him out of hand.  The noble king of

 

Netherland vowed to take her, too, to wife.  When he and the maid

 

had pledged their troths, Siegfried's arm embraced eftsoon the

 

winsome maid.  Then the fair queen was kissed before the knights.

 

The courtiers parted, when that had happed; on the bench over

 

against the king Siegfried was seen to take his scat with

 

Kriemhild.  Thither many a man accompanied him as servitor; men

 

saw the Nibelungs walk at Siegfried's side.

 

 

 

The king had seated him with Brunhild, the maid, when she espied

 

Kriemhild (naught had ever irked her so) sitting at Siegfried's

 

side.  She began to weep and hot tears coursed down fair cheeks.

 

Quoth the lord of the land: "What aileth you, my lady, that ye

 

let bright eyes grow dim?  Ye may well rejoice; my castles and my

 

land and many a stately vassal own your sway."

 

 

 

"I have good cause to weep," spake the comely maid; "my heart is

 

sore because of thy sister, whom I see sitting so near thy

 

vassal's side.  I must ever weep that she be so demeaned."

 

 

 

Then spake the King Gunther: "Ye would do well to hold your

 

peace.  At another time I will tell you the tale of why I gave

 

Siegfried my sister unto wife.  Certes she may well live ever

 

happily with the knight."

 

 

 

She spake: "I sorrow ever for her beauty and her courtesie.  I

 

fain would flee, and I wist whither I might; go, for never will I

 

lie close by your side, unless ye tell me through what cause

 

Kriemhild be Siegfried's bride."

 

 

 

Then spake the noble king: "I'll do it you to wit; he hath

 

castles and broad domains, as well as I.  Know of a truth, he is

 

a mighty king, therefore did I give him the peerless maid to

 

love."

 

 

 

But whatsoever the king might say, she remained full sad of mood.

 

 

 

Now many a good knight hastened from the board.  Their hurtling

 

waxed so passing hard, that the whole castle rang.  But the host

 

was weary of his guests.  Him-thought that he might lie more soft

 

at his fair lady's side.  As yet he had not lost at all the hope

 

that much of joy might hap to him through her.  Lovingly he began

 

to gaze on Lady Brunhild.  Men bade the guests leave off their

 

knightly games, for the king and his wife would go to bed.

 

Brunhild and Kriemhild then met before the stairway of the hall,

 

as yet without the hate of either.  Then came their retinue.

 

Noble chamberlains delayed not, but brought them lights.  The

 

warriors, the liegemen of the two kings, then parted on either

 

side and many of the knights were seen to walk with Siegfried.

 

 

 

The lords were now come to the rooms where they should lie.  Each

 

of the twain thought to conquer by love his winsome dame.  This

 

made them blithe of mood.  Siegfried's pleasure on that night was

 

passing great.  When Lord Siegfried lay at Kriemhild's side and

 

with his noble love caressed the high-born maid so tenderly, she

 

grew as dear to him as life, so that not for a thousand other

 

women would he have given her alone.  No more I'll tell how

 

Siegfried wooed his wife; hear now the tale of how King Gunther

 

lay by Lady Brunhild's side.  The stately knight had often lain

 

more soft by other dames.  The courtiers now had left, both maid

 

and man.  The chamber soon was locked; he thought to caress the

 

lovely maid.  Forsooth the time was still far off, ere she became

 

his wife.  In a smock of snowy linen she went to bed.  Then

 

thought the noble knight: "Now have I here all that I have ever

 

craved in all my days."  By rights she must needs please him

 

through her comeliness.  The noble king gan shroud the lights and

 

then the bold knight hied him to where the lady lay.  He laid him

 

at her side, and great was his joy when in his arms he clasped

 

the lovely fair.  Many loving caresses he might have given, had

 

but the noble dame allowed it.  She waxed so wroth that he was

 

sore a-troubled; he weened that they were lovers, but he found

 

here hostile hate.  She spake: "Sir Knight, pray give this over,

 

which now ye hope.  Forsooth this may not hap, for I will still

 

remain a maid, until I hear the tale; now mark ye that."

 

 

 

Then Gunther grew wroth; he struggled for her love and rumpled

 

all her clothes.  The high-born maid then seized her girdle, the

 

which was a stout band she wore around her waist, and with it she

 

wrought the king great wrong enow.  She bound him hand and foot

 

and bare him to a nail and hung him on the wall.  She forbade him

 

love, sith he disturbed her sleep.  Of a truth he came full nigh

 

to death through her great strength.

 

 

 

Then he who had weened to be the master, began to plead.  "Now

 

loose my bands, most noble queen.  I no longer trow to conquer

 

you, fair lady, and full seldom will I lie so near your side."

 

 

 

She reeked not how he felt, for she lay full soft.  There he had

 

to hang all night till break of day, until the bright morn shone

 

through the casements.  Had he ever had great strength, it was

 

little seen upon him now.

 

 

 

"Now tell me, Sir Gunther, would that irk you aught," the fair

 

maid spake, "and your servants found you bound by a woman's

 

hand?"

 

 

 

Then spake the noble knight: "That would serve you ill; nor would

 

it gain me honor," spake the doughty man.  "By your courtesie,

 

pray let me lie now by your side.  Sith that my love mislike you

 

so, I will not touch your garment with my hands."

 

 

 

Then she loosed him soon and let him rise.  To the bed again, to

 

the lady he went and laid him down so far away, that thereafter

 

he full seldom touched her comely weeds.  Nor would she have

 

allowed it.

 

 

 

Then their servants came and brought them new attire, of which

 

great store was ready for them against the morn.  However merry

 

men made, the lord of the land was sad enow, albeit he wore a

 

crown that day.  As was the usage which they had and which they

 

kept by right, Gunther and Brunhild no longer tarried, but hied

 

them to the minster, where mass was sung.  Thither, too, Sir

 

Siegfried came and a great press arose among the crowd.  In

 

keeping with their royal rank, there was ready for them all that

 

they did need, their crowns and robes as well.  Then they were

 

consecrated.  When this was done, all four were seen to stand

 

joyful 'neath their crowns.  Many young squires, six hundred or

 

better, were now girt with sword in honor of the kings, as ye

 

must know.  Great joy rose then in the Burgundian land; one heard

 

spear-shafts clashing in the hands of the sworded knights.  There

 

at the windows the fair maids sat; they saw shining afore them

 

the gleam of many a shield.  But the king had sundered him from

 

his liegemen; whatso others plied, men saw him stand full sad.

 

Unlike stood his and Siegfried's mood.  The noble knight and good

 

would fain have known what ailed the king.  He hasted to him and

 

gan ask: "Pray let me know how ye have fared this night, Sir

 

King."

 

 

 

Then spake the king to his guest: "Shame and disgrace have I won;

 

I have brought a fell devil to my house and home.  When I weened

 

to love her, she bound me sore; she bare me to a nail and hung me

 

high upon a wall.  There I hung affrighted all night until the

 

day, or ever she unbound me.  How softly she lay bedded there! 

 

In hope of thy pity do I make plaint to thee as friend to

 

friend."

 

 

 

Then spake stout Siegfried: "That rueth me in truth.  I'll do you

 

this to wit; and ye allow me without distrust, I'll contrive that

 

she lie by you so near this night, that she'll nevermore withhold

 

from you her love."

 

 

 

After all his hardships Gunther liked well this speech.  Sir

 

Siegfried spake again: "Thou mayst well be of good cheer.  I ween

 

we fared unlike last night.  Thy sister Kriemhild is dearer to me

 

than life; the Lady Brunhild must become thy wife to-night.  I'll

 

come to thy chamber this night, so secretly in my Cloud Cloak,

 

that none may note at all my arts.  Then let the chamberlains

 

betake them to their lodgings and I'll put out the lights in the

 

pages' hands, whereby thou mayst know that I be within and that

 

I'll gladly serve thee.  I'll tame for time thy wife, that thou

 

mayst have her love to-night, or else I'll lose my life."

 

 

 

"Unless be thou embrace my dear lady," spake then the king, "I

 

shall be glad, if thou do to her as thou dost list.  I could

 

endure it well, an' thou didst take her life.  In sooth she is a

 

fearful wife."

 

 

 

"I pledge upon my troth," quoth Siegfried, "that I will not

 

embrace her.  The fair sister of thine, she is to me above all

 

maids that I have ever seen."

 

 

 

Gunther believed full well what Siegfried spake.

 

 

 

From the knightly sports there came both joy and woe; but men

 

forbade the hurtling and the shouting, since now the ladies were

 

to hie them to the hall.  The grooms-in-waiting bade the people

 

stand aside; the court was cleared of steeds and folk.  A bishop

 

led each of the ladies, as they should go to table in the

 

presence of the kings.  Many a stately warrior followed to the

 

seats.  In fair hope the king sate now full merrily; well he

 

thought on that which Siegfried had vowed to do.  This one day

 

thought him as long as thirty days, for all his thoughts were

 

bent upon his lady's love.  He could scarce abide the time to

 

leave the board.  Now men let fair Brunhild and Kriemhild, too,

 

both go to their rest.  Ho, what doughty knights were seen to

 

walk before the queens!

 

 

 

The Lord Siegfried sate in loving wise by his fair wife, in bliss

 

without alloy.  With her snow-white hands she fondled his, till

 

that he vanished from before her eyes, she wist not when.  When

 

now she no longer spied him, as she toyed, the queen spake to his

 

followers: "Much this wondereth me, whither the king be gone.

 

Who hath taken his hands from mine?"

 

 

 

She spake no other word, but he was gone to where he found many

 

grooms of the chamber stand with lights.  These he gan snuff out

 

in the pages' hands. Thus Gunther knew that it was Siegfried.

 

Well wist he what he would; he bade the maids and ladies now

 

withdraw.  When that was done, the mighty king himself made fast

 

the door and nimbly shoved in place two sturdy bolts.  Quickly

 

then he hid the lights behind the hangings of the bed.  Stout

 

Siegfried and the maiden now began a play (for this there was no

 

help) which was both lief and loth to Gunther.  Siegfried laid

 

him close by the high-born maid.  She spake: "Now, Gunther, let

 

that be, and it be lief to you, that ye suffer not hardship as

 

afore."

 

 

 

Then the lady hurt bold Siegfried sore.  He held his peace and

 

answered not a whit.  Gunther heard well, though he could not see

 

his friend a bit, that they plied not secret things, for little

 

ease they had upon the bed.  Siegfried bare him as though he were

 

Gunther, the mighty king.  In his arms he clasped the lovely

 

maid.  She cast him from the bed upon a bench near by, so that

 

his head struck loudly against the stool.  Up sprang the valiant

 

man with all his might; fain would he try again.  When he thought

 

now to subdue her, she hurt him sore.  Such defense, I ween,

 

might nevermore be made by any wife.

 

 

 

When he would not desist, up sprang the maid.  "Ye shall not

 

rumple thus my shift so white.  Ye are a clumsy churl and it

 

shall rue you sore, I'll have you to know fall well," spake the

 

comely maid.  In her arms she grasped the peerless knight; she

 

weened to bind him, as she had done the king, that she might have

 

her case upon the bed.  The lady avenged full sore, that he had

 

rumpled thus her clothes.  What availed his mickle force and his

 

giant strength?  She showed the knight her masterly strength of

 

limb; she carried him by force (and that must needs be) and

 

pressed him rudely 'twixt a clothes-press and the wall.

 

 

 

"Alas," so thought the knight, "if now I lose my life at a

 

maiden's hands, then may all wives hereafter bear towards their

 

husbands haughty mien, who would never do it else."

 

 

 

The king heard it well and feared him for his liegeman's life.

 

Siegfried was sore ashamed; wrathful he waxed and with surpassing

 

strength he set himself against her and tried it again with Lady

 

Brunhild in fearful wise.  It thought the king full long, before

 

he conquered her.  She pressed his hands, till from her strength

 

the blood gushed forth from out the nails: this irked the hero.

 

Therefore he brought the highborn maiden to the pass that she

 

gave over her unruly will, which she asserted there afore.  The

 

king heard all, albeit not a word he spake.  Siegfried pressed

 

her against the bed, so that she shrieked aloud.  Passing sore

 

his strength did hurt her.  She grasped the girdle around her

 

waist and would fain have bound him, but his hand prevented it in

 

such a wise that her limbs and all her body cracked.  Thus the

 

strife was parted and she became King Gunther's wife.

 

 

 

She spake: "Most noble king, pray spare my life.  I'll do thee

 

remedy for whatso I have done thee.  I'll no longer struggle

 

against thy noble love, for I have learned full well that thou

 

canst make thee master over women."

 

 

 

Siegfried let the maiden be and stepped away, as though he would

 

do off his clothes.  From her hand he drew a golden finger ring,

 

without that she wist it, the noble queen.  Thereto he took her

 

girdle, a good stout band.  I know not if he did that for very

 

haughtiness.  He gave it to his wife and rued it sore in after

 

time.

 

 

 

Then lay Gunther and the fair maid side by side.  He played the

 

lover, as beseemed him, and thus she must needs give over wrath

 

and shame.  From his embrace a little pale she grew.  Ho, how her

 

great strength failed through love!  Now was she no stronger than

 

any other wife.  He caressed her lovely form in lover's wise.

 

Had she tried her strength again, what had that availed?  All

 

this had Gunther wrought in her by his love.  How right lovingly

 

she lay beside him in bridal joy until the dawn of day!

 

 

 

Now was Sir Siegfried gone again to where he was given fair

 

greetings by a woman fashioned fair.  He turned aside the

 

question she had thought to put and hid long time from her what

 

he had brought, until she ruled as queen within his land.  How

 

little he refused to give her what he should!

 

 

 

On the morn the host was far cheerier of mood than he had been

 

afore.  Through this the joy of many a noble man was great in all

 

his lands, whom he had bidden to his court, and to whom he

 

proffered much of service.  The wedding feast now lasted till the

 

fourteenth day, so that in all this while the sound never died

 

away of the many joys which there they plied.  The cost to the

 

king was rated high.  The kinsmen of the noble host gave gifts in

 

his honor to the strolling folk, as the king commanded: vesture

 

and ruddy gold, steeds and silver, too.  Those who there craved

 

gifts departed hence full merrily.  Siegfried, the lord from

 

Netherland, with a thousand of his men, gave quite away the

 

garments they had brought with them to the Rhine and steeds and

 

saddles, too.  Full well they wot how to live in lordly wise.

 

Those who would home again thought the time too long till the

 

rich gifts had all been made.  Nevermore have guests been better

 

eased.  Thus ended the wedding feast; Gunther, the knight, would

 

have it so.

 

 

 

 

 

ENDNOTES:

 

(1)  "Chaplet" (O.F. "chaplet", dim. of "chapel", M.H.G.

 

     "schapel" or "schapelin") or wreath was the headdress

 

     especially of unmarried girls, the hair being worn flowing.

 

     It was often of flowers or leaves, but not infrequently of

 

     gold and silver.  (See Weinhold, "Deutsche Frauen im

 

     Mittelalter", i, 387.)