The Nibelungenlied, - [best color ebook reader .txt] 📗

from her presses took she rich clothes and raiment gay.

264

For love of her dear children she had these garments made,
Wherewith were soon adornéd full many a dame and maid,
And many a bold young hero of the Burgundian land.
For many strangers, likewise, rich clothes she did command.

Adventure V How Siegfried First Saw Kriemhilda

265

One saw them daily riding to Worms upon the Rhine,
The guests who to the revels did joyously incline.
Those whom the love of Gunther unto his kingdom brought,
Were freely offered horses, and raiment richly wrought.

266

Seats, ready for all comers, were well and duly made,
Fit for the best and highest⁠— as hath to us been said⁠—
For two and thirty princes at that festivity;
For which fair dames bedecked them in merry rivalry.

267

Then busiest of the busy was Giselher the lad.
For kinsmen and for strangers a welcome kind he had,
Receiving them with Gernot; and every knight and squire
Was greeted by these warriors, as honour did require.

268

Full many a gilded saddle to Worms these riders brought,
With richly chaséd bucklers, and garments finely wrought;
They brought them to the Rhineland to grace the festival;
And many of the wounded were merry enough withal.

269

For those who on their pallets lay wounded, in distress,
Must needs, though death were grievous, forget its bitterness,
And all the sick and ailing, must drive dull care away,
And join in the rejoicings for this great holiday.

270

Was ever such gay living and hospitality!
Delights, beyond all measure, and boundless jollity
Were shared by all the people, and found on every hand.
And there was joy and gladness throughout King Gunther’s land.

271

’Twas on a Whitsun morning; one saw them all go by,
All festively apparelled, and mounted gallantly:
Five thousand men, and upwards, to join the revels ride.
And many a pleasant contest began on ev’ry side.

272

The host was not unmindful, and well did understand
How heartily and truly the prince of Netherland
Love-bound was to his sister, whom yet he had not seen;⁠—
A match for whom in beauty no maiden yet had been.

273

Then to the king did Ortwein the thane, his thought unfold:
“If you, with fullest honour, this festival would hold,
You should allow our brave guests our winsome maids to see
Who are, in truth, the glory and pride of Burgundy.

274

“For where would man’s delight be, and what could charm his life,
If there were no fair maidens, and ne’er a comely wife?
Now, therefore, let your sister before your guests appear.”
This was a pleasing counsel to many a hero’s ear!

275

“Most gladly will I do this,” replied the king, straightway,
And all who heard his answer had merry hearts that day.
He sent to summon Uté, and eke her daughter fair,
And bade them with their maidens at once to court repair.

276

Then in their presses sought they for all their garments gay,
And all the goodly raiment that had been stored away;
The gold lace and the bracelets that there to hand were laid;
And with all care bedecked her full many a lovely maid.

277

And many a knight on that day had younger gladly been,
That he might be of women more favourably seen;
Instead whereof he’d care not a kingdom rich to own!
And gladly did they gaze on these damsels yet unknown!

278

Then the rich king commanded that with Kriemhild should go
A hundred of his liegemen⁠— her service pledged unto.
Of his and her own kinsmen, who carried sword in hand.
Such were the court-attendants of the Burgundian land.

279

The rich Queen-mother Uté with her fair daughter came,
And in her train brought with her full many a comely dame⁠—
Five score of them or over⁠— all royally arrayed.
Her daughter, too, was followed by many a winsome maid.

280

From out the women’s quarters one might have seen them go;
There was a goodly thronging of heroes eke, I trow,
For this of all things eager, if it perchance might be
That they should have the fortune the noble maid to see.

281

Then came the lovely maiden: even as morning-red
From sombre clouds outbreaking. And many a sorrow fled
From him whose heart did hold her, and eke so long had held:
When thus the winsome fair one before him he beheld.

282

Upon her raiment glittered full many a precious stone:
Her rosy blushing colour with lovely radiance shone.
Though any would deny it he could not but confess,
That on this earth he never had seen more loveliness.

283

Just as the moon in brightness excels the brightest stars,
And, suddenly outshining, athwart the clouds appears;
So seemed she now, comparéd with dames of fairest guise.
Then did our gallant hero feel his bold spirits rise.

284

One saw before her marching the chamberlains, in state⁠—
But the high-mettled warriors their order would not wait:
They thronged to where, in passing, the fair maid they could see.
The while Sir Siegfried suffered both joy and misery.

285

Sadly he thought within him: “How can it ever be?
It is mere foolish dreaming that I should marry thee!
Yet to be still a stranger!⁠— then were I better dead!”
And, thinking so, his colour did change ’twixt white and red.

286

There stood the son of Siegmund; as winsome did he look
As if his form were limnéd upon a parchment-book,
By hand of cunning master; and all men said of him,
That there was no man like him, so fine and fair of limb.

287

They who the maid attended now strove to clear the track,
And keep the throng from pressing; and many a knight drew back.
And manly hearts beat quicker for joy, in many a breast,
As passed each high-born lady in splendid raiment drest.

288

Then outspake gallant Gernot, the prince of Burgundy:
“To him, who such good service so late hath done to thee,
Thou Gunther, dearest brother, shouldst haste to do the same
In sight of all thy warriors: I say it without shame.

289

“If thou would’st bid Sir Siegfried unto my sister go,
That the fair maid may greet him, much good might come, I trow.
She, who ne’er greeted warrior, may by her greeting cheer;
And thus this goodly hero be bounden to us here.”

290

Then some of the host’s kinsmen went where the knight did stand
And thus spake to the warrior who came from Netherland:
“The king his leave hath granted that you to court should go,
His sister there shall greet you: they would you honour show.”

291

At this the knight’s mood changéd again from grave to gay;
And in his heart Love reignéd, and grief had fled away⁠—
For the fair Uté’s daughter at last his eyes would see!
Right soon she greeted Siegfried, with winning modesty.

292

When the high-couraged warrior she saw before her there,
Her cheeks were lit with crimson: then spake the maiden fair:
“Be welcome here, Sir Siegfried, thou good and noble knight.”
And when he heard her greeting his heart grew wondrous light.

293

He bent him low before her; she took him by the hand.
How lover-like the knight did by the fair maiden stand!
Each