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

unto the strangers within Kriemhilda’s hall.
Then loudly from the stairway was Hagen heard to call:

2193

“Now for a while yet tarry, most noble Rüdeger;”
Such were the words of Hagen: “we would again confer⁠—
Myself and eke my masters⁠— forced by necessity:
How will it profit Etzel if we poor exiles die?

2194

“I am in grievous trouble,” yet Hagen said, “the shield
That Lady Gotelinda gave me as mine to wield,
The Huns for me have batter’d and hack’d it out of hand:
In friendliness I brought it unto King Etzel’s land.

2195

“If so be God in heaven would grant me of His grace
To hold as good a buckler once more before my face,
As that which thou dost handle, right noble Rüdeger,
No longer in the combat need I a hauberk wear.”

2196

“Right gladly would I serve thee as touching this my shield,
Durst I make thee the offer in spite of Dame Kriemhild.
But do thou take it, Hagen, and bear it on thine hand;
Ay! what if thou shouldst bring it to thy Burgundian land!”

2197

When he to give the buckler so readily agreed,
Then were there eyes in plenty that with hot tears were red.
Of gifts it was the latest that unto warrior e’er
By Rüdeger was given, the lord of Bechelar.

2198

How fierce soe’er was Hagen, however hard in mood,
Yet stirr’d that gift his pity, with which the warrior good,
So nigh to his last moments, had freely him endow’d;
And with him fell to weeping full many a chieftain proud.

2199

“Now God in Heaven reward thee, most noble Rüdeger;
The like of thee will never be met with anywhere,
Who unto exiled warriors so royally dost give:
God grant that all thy virtue for evermore may live.”

2200

“Woe’s me for this betiding!” said Hagen yet again:
“We’ve had to bear already so great a load of pain,
Must we with friends be striving? Now God our refuge be!”
Then made the margrave answer: “It grieves me bitterly.”

2201

“Your gift I’ll now requite you, most noble Rüdeger⁠—
Howe’er these high-born warriors themselves towards you bear⁠—
To wit that here in battle you ne’er shall feel my hand,
Though all by you should perish of the Burgundian land.”

2202

In courtly wise he bent him, the worthy Rüdeger;
On all sides they were weeping that such heart-sorrows were
By no one to be mended:⁠— a dread necessity!
The father of all virtues in Rüdeger would die.

2203

Then from the house-door speaking the minstrel Volker said:
“Since my companion Hagen a truce with you has made,
To you I also promise safe-conduct from my hand;
For well have you deserved it since came we to the land.

2204

“You must, most noble margrave, be messenger of mine.
These ruddy golden armlets gave me the margravine,
That I should surely wear them here at the revelry:
You must yourself behold them and witness bear for me.”

2205

“Would God in Heaven allow it,” then answer’d Rüdeger,
“The margravine should give you still more of such to wear!
Unto my wife your message right gladly will I give⁠—
Thereof be ye not doubtful⁠— if I to see her live.”

2206

And even whilst he promised, his buckler Rüdeger
Raised: and in mood of madness no longer could forbear,
But rush’d upon the strangers⁠— a very warrior now;
And fast the mighty margrave dealt round him many a blow.

2207

Aloof together standing Volker and Hagen stay’d,
According to the promise the warriors twain had made.
Yet more, as gallant, found he waiting beside the door;
Whence Rüdeger the battle began with trouble sore.

2208

With murderous intention he was allow’d therein
By Gunther and by Gernot, who heroes should have been.
But Giselher aside stood, so great his sorrows were;⁠—
For life he hoped, and therefore avoided Rüdeger.

2209

Anon the margrave’s liegemen rush’d forth upon the foe;
Like warriors true one saw them after their leader go;
They bore their keen-edged weapons ready in hand to wield,
And many a helm they shatter’d and many a noble shield.

2210

Many the swift strokes also the weary warriors spent
On him of Bechelaren, that straight and surely went
Right through the bright mail armour, nigh to the very life;
And glorious deeds of daring achieved they in that strife.

2211

When Rüdeger’s noble comrades within had made their way,
Volker along with Hagen rush’d swiftly to the fray:
They gave to no one quarter, save to that single man.
The blood through helmets, shatter’d by hands of either, ran.

2212

How grimly in that chamber the clang of swords uprose,
And many of the shield-plates sprang off beneath their blows;
The jewels hack’d from off them fell on the bloody floor.
In such grim humour fought they as might be never more.

2213

The lord of Bechelaren went up and down the hall,
As one who might in battle by strength accomplish all.
By Rüdeger’s achievements that day it might be told
He was indeed a warrior, right praiseworthy and bold.

2214

Here also stood those warriors Gunther and Gernot too,
Who in the stress of battle full many a hero slew;
And Giselher and Dankwart⁠— the twain reck’d not for aught⁠—
And so full many a warrior unto his last day brought.

2215

Well Rüdeger bore witness that he was strong enow,
And brave, with proven armour; what heroes laid he low!
’Twas seen by a Burgundian: wrath strove within him deep.
On Rüdeger the noble then death began to creep.

2216

Stout Gernot ’twas, who loudly the hero challenged then.
He cried unto the margrave: “Wilt thou of all my men
Not one unscathéd leave me, most noble Rüdeger?
It moves me beyond measure; the sight I cannot bear.

2217

“Now lo! the gift you gave me to your own ruin tends,
Since you have taken from me so many of my friends.
Now turn towards me hither, thou noble, gallant man,
I’ll make your gift avail me with all the skill I can.”

2218

Or ever that the margrave had won his way to him,
Mail coats that erst were shining must needs be spoilt and dim.
Then either at the other, thirsting for honour, ran;
And each to guard his body from deadly wounds began.

2219

Yet smote their swords so keenly, against them all was vain.
And then was Gernot stricken by Rüdeger the thane
Athwart his flint-like helmet, till downward flow’d the blood;
All in a trice repaid him that gallant knight and good.

2220

Aloft the gift of Rüdeger in hand he swung: and though
His own wound, too, was deadly, he dealt on him a blow
Right through his stalwart buckler unto his helmet’s slot.
The fair Gotlinda’s husband fell dead upon the spot.

2221

In sooth a gift so precious was worse requited ne’er;
The two fell slain together, Gernot and Rüdeger,
Like-fated in the combat, each by the other’s stroke.
When this great loss to Hagen was known, his wrath outbroke.

2222

Thus spake the Tronian hero: “In evil plight are we!
In these two have we suffer’d so great an injury
As ne’er can be o’ertided by peoples or by lands;
Now hold we Rüdeger’s chieftains as bail in luckless hands.”

2223

“Woe on me for my brother, who here in death doth lie!
How cometh, every moment, some tale of