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

Gernot presently,
“To conquer new possessions, and to cause death thereby
At hands of heroes; truly, we have a rich estate:
Which pays us due allegiance, nor seeks a better fate.”

116

Round and about were standing his friends, in sullen mood;
The lord of Metz, Sir Ortwein, among the others stood;
He spake: “This friendly parley doth vex me sore, as knight⁠—
Stout Siegfried unprovoked hath here challenged you to fight.

117

“If you and your two brethren were here, without defence,
And if he brought against you the army of a prince,
Methinks I could o’ermaster yea, e’en such doughty one!
And force this haughty warrior to change his braggart tone.”

118

This saying stirred fierce anger in him of Netherland.
He spake: “Ne’er shalt thou measure against my like thine hand!
I am a mighty king’s son, and thou but a king’s knight:
Twelve such as thou art could not withstand me in the fight!”

119

Ortwein, the lord of Metz, then for swords called, lustily;
Of Hagen, lord of Tronjé, the sister’s son was he;
That he had held his peace still seemed not to Gunther right.
But Gernot put his word in, the bold and ready knight.

120

He thus spake unto Ortwein: “Now let thine anger be!
Siegfried hath not yet done us aught evil that I see,
Our difference in goodwill we yet may end, I deem,
And thus may gain his friendship; ’twill better us beseem.”

121

Then spake the doughty Hagen: “Well do we to be wrath,
Both we, and all thy warriors, for hath he not come forth,
Here to the Rhine, to flout us? he might have let that be!
My own good lords had never done him such injury.”

122

To this made answer Siegfried, that mightiest of men,
“If what I now have spoken offend you, Sir Hagen,
You shall have eye-proof, shortly, how this my strong right hand
Shall do great deeds of prowess in this Burgundian land.”

123

“That I, for one, will hinder!” Gernot in answer said⁠—
And unto all his warriors insulting speech forbade,
Because such speech did grieve him. Then into Siegfried’s head
Came thoughts of Lady Kriemhild, the lovely, peerless maid.

124

“Is not all strife unseemly between us?” Gernot said;
“However many heroes fell by our prowess dead,
Small honour would by us be, by you small vantage won.”
Then answered him Prince Siegfried, the royal Siegmund’s son:

125

“Wherefore delayeth Hagen? and Ortwein, what doth he,
That he and his companions haste not to strive with me?
(Whereof he hath a’ many e’en here in Burgundy).”
But it was Gernot’s counsel that none should risk reply.

126

“You shall be welcome to us,” continued Uté’s son;
“You and the knightly comrades who come with you, each one;
Right gladly will we serve you, I and these kinsmen mine.”
Then for the guests were ordered goblets of Gunther’s wine.

127

Loud spake the country’s ruler: “All that we have is yours,
What ye desire, in honour, we’ll call no longer ours,
But gladly share it with you, be it or wealth, or blood.”
This wrought in good Sir Siegfried a somewhat softer mood.

128

The knights were soon relievéd of all the gear they brought;
And lodgment was found for them⁠— the very best was sought
For Siegfried’s knightly followers; well were they lodged that day.
And now, in all Burgundia, right welcome guests were they.

129

All honour too was shown them, on that and many a day,
A thousand times more honour than I can ever say!
This had his boldness gained him; and this is true I state:
That seldom any saw him who long could bear him hate.

130

On pastimes now and pleasure the kings and court were set.
But, whatsoe’er they started, he outstript all men yet:
For none could equal Siegfried, nor come his strength anear⁠—
Whether it were stone-putting, or shooting with the spear.

131

And when by courtly custom they will’d their games to play
In presence of the ladies⁠— these knights of humour gay⁠—
Approving glances followed the prince of Netherland.
Yet his heart brooded ever on loftier love, at hand.

132

Though to whate’er was passing he lent a ready mind,
One gracious maiden ever he in his heart did find;⁠—
So, likewise, did the damsel, whom yet he had not seen,
Incline to him in secret, and talk of him, I ween.

133

When in the court the young folk their warlike games began,
The knights and their attendants, Kriemhilda straightway ran
And watched them from the window, king’s daughter tho’ she were,
Nor while it lasted did she for other pastime care.

134

And had he known she watched him, whom in his heart he bore,
It had been ample pleasure⁠— he would have asked no more.
And could his eyes have seen her, ye need not to be told
No better bliss and greater for him this world could hold.

135

When he, among the heroes, down in the courtyard stood,
Between the games, at leisure, as other warriors would;
So winsomely he stood there, Queen Siegelinda’s son,
That the heart’s love of many a noble dame he won.

136

And many a time he pondered: “How shall I e’er attain
To see the noble damsel, whose love I seek to gain,
Her whom I love so dearly, and have for many a day?
To me she’s still a stranger, with sorrow I must say.”

137

Whene’er the kings were minded to ride throughout their land,
Their vassal knights had ever to follow, close at hand;
And Siegfried must be with them, which did the maid distress,
And he too suffered often, for her dear sake, no less.

138

So dwelt he with the three kings (and ’tis all true you hear,)
In Gunther’s court and country, the space of one whole year;
And all that time his Lady he never saw at all,
Through whom much love unto him and sorrow did befall.

Adventure IV How Siegfried Fought the Saxons

139

And now, behold, strange tidings have come to Gunther’s land,
And heralds from a distance arrive at the command
Of warriors unheard of and yet who hatred bore.
And when the three kings heard it their grief, in sooth, was sore.

140

These warriors’ names I’ll tell you: the first was Lud’ger hight,
Out of the Saxon country, a rich king of great might;
And Ludegast came with him, who was of Denmark king;⁠—
These twain brought many with them, a princely following.

141

To Gunther’s land the heralds their ready steps had bent,
Whom those kings, his opponents, had with their message sent.
The unknown men were questioned as to the news they brought,
And, summoned by King Gunther, the royal presence sought.

142

The king did greet them fairly; “Be welcome here,” quoth he,
“Though who hath sent you hither is yet unknown to me:
That must I hear now of you,” declared the monarch good.
Exceedingly they fearéd King Gunther’s angry mood.

143

“If thou, O king, allowest, the message we’ll reveal
Which we are sent to bring thee, and nothing will conceal.
We’ll name to you the masters who’ve sent us to this strand:
Lud’gast and Lud’ger, namely, who would invade your land.

144

“Ye