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

and main had won:
Full many a shield and helmet were shatter’d and fordone.

2075

“Give way!” then shouted Volker, “and let them all come through⁠—
What they would fain accomplish they can in nowise do.
In but a short time after they’re bound to die within,
And what the queen hath promised by dying they can win.”

2076

Now when these haughty chieftains within the chamber went,
Of many a one amongst them the head was lowly bent,
For by their rapid sword-blows to perish he was fain.
Well fought the gallant Gernot, and Giselher the thane.

2077

There got within the palace a thousand men and four;
One saw their flashing falchions as through the air they tore.
Of all who came within it soon every warrior fell.
One might of the Burgundians full many a marvel tell.

2078

Thereafter was a silence, and all the uproar died.
While, out of hole and crevice, blood flow’d on every side
And ran into the gutters from all the corpses there.
Thus had the men of Rhineland wrought by their prowess rare.

2079

Then sat they down to rest them, those men of Burgundy.
Their weapons and their bucklers they presently laid by.
Yet still the gallant fiddler before the palace stay’d,
In case that any other to fight with him essay’d.

2080

The king lamented sorely, as likewise did his wife:
And maids and matrons also aweary were of life.
I ween that Death had taken an oath to do them ill:
Whence, by the guests to perish were many warriors still.

Adventure XXXVI How the Queen Bade That the Hall Be Set on Fire

2081

“Now do ye off your helmets,” quoth Hagen, the bold knight,
“For I and my companion will guard ye all aright.
And should the men of Etzel a fresh attack essay,
So will I warn my masters with all the speed I may.”

2082

The head was then uncover’d of many a warrior good;
They sat upon the fallen, who lay there steep’d in blood,
And had to death been smitten so lately by their hand.
By many evil glances the noble guests were scann’d.

2083

Before the fall of evening the king his measures took⁠—
The queen thereto assenting⁠— that with some better luck
The Hunnish knights might venture. Full twenty thousand men
Were seen before him standing: to battle must they, then.

2084

Thereon with furious onslaught the strangers were attack’d.
And Dankwart, Hagen’s brother, a man right swift to act,
Sprang from his lords, the foemen before the door to rout;⁠—
It seem’d that he must perish, but safely gat he out.

2085

The deadly struggle lasted till stay’d it was by night.
As well became good heroes, the guests maintain’d the fight
Against the men of Etzel one whole long summer day.
And ah, what gallant warriors about them dying lay!

2086

’Twas at the summer solstice this slaughter great befell,
Whereby the Dame Kriemhilda avenged her heartache well
Upon her nearest kinsfolk and many another wight.
From that time royal Etzel knew nevermore delight.

2087

The day for them was ended in great anxiety.
It seem’d to them ’twere better a speedy death to die,
Than linger there, awaiting some dread, unheard-of pain.
Therefore the haughty warriors to beg a truce were fain.

2088

The king, by word, besought they to come unto them there.
These heroes, blood-bespatter’d and soil’d with armour-wear,
From out the palace follow’d the noble kings all three;
They knew not to what hearer to plead their misery.

2089

Both Etzel and Kriemhilda came thither them before.
The land was their possession: their host grew more and more.
The king spake to the strangers: “Say, what will ye of me?
A truce ye would be granted? Such thing can hardly be

2090

“After such insult grievous as ye on me have cast,
(Nor shall ye profit by it if life for me should last)
My child, that ye have slain me, and many of my kin.
Peace and atonement, surely, ye cannot hope to win!”

2091

Whereto made answer Gunther: “By dire need we were led.
My people all were lying before thy heroes dead
Within the hostel yonder: what pretext did I lend?
To thee in good faith came I, I thought thou wert my friend.”

2092

Then Giselher, the youngest of the Burgundian three:
“Ye chiefs,” cried he, “of Etzel, who living yet may be,
How have I wrong’d ye, warriors? In what am I to blame?
Unto this country riding in kindly mood I came.”

2093

They answer’d: “Every city throughout the land with woe
Is fill’d through this thy kindness. Ay, glad were we, I trow,
If thou hadst ne’er come hither from Worms beyond the Rhine.
The country thou hast orphan’d, with brothers twain of thine.”

2094

Thereon, in wrathful humour, Gunther the warrior spake:
“If of this bitter hatred an ending ye would make
With us, unhappy strangers, ’twere better for us both!
’Tis for no fault on our part what Etzel to us doth.”

2095

Then to the guests the host said: “Your troubles and my own
Are nowise to be liken’d. The burden on me thrown
Of shame and loss together which I have had to bear;⁠—
For this not one among you hence with his life shall fare.”

2096

Thereon the stalwart Gernot made answer to the king:
“So then may God incline you to do a friendly thing!
An ye must slay us strangers, then let us come to you
From here unto the open. Thus honour bids you do.

2097

“Whate’er to us may happen, be it done out of hand!
So many whole men have ye who us will dare withstand,
That none of us, strife-weary, alive they’ll let away.
For how long are we warriors in this distress to stay?”

2098

The warriors of Etzel would have agreed thereto
That they outside the palace be granted leave to go.
But when Kriemhilda heard it, sorely aggrieved was she.
Then for the outcast strangers no hope of peace could be.

2099

“Nay, nay, ye Hunnish warriors, the thing ye have in thought⁠—
In good faith I advise ye⁠— see that ye do it not.
These murder-wreaking fellows let not without the hall,
Else shall right deadly sorrows upon your kinsmen fall.

2100

“Though not another living save Uté’s sons there were⁠—
These same, my noble brothers⁠— and they but to the air
Came out to cool their hauberks, your hope were all forlorn;⁠—
More valiant warriors never into this world were born.”

2101

Then Giselher, the youngest, said: “Fairest sister mine,
Right ill I did to trust you, when from beyond the Rhine
Unto this land thou bad’st me into this direful strait.
How have I from the Hunsfolk deserved this cruel fate?

2102

“To thee I e’er was faithful, I never did thee hurt.
And on the understanding I hither rode to court
That thou, most noble sister, wert well-disposed to me.
Be merciful towards us: not elsewise can it be!”

2103

“I cannot show you mercy; unmerciful am I.
For me hath Tronian Hagen wrought so much misery
It may not be atoned for as long as I have life.
Ye all must pay the forfeit;” so answer’d Etzel’s wife.

2104

“Yet will ye Hagen only to me as hostage