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

Walther slew?
About thyself in plenty are things that one might shew.”

2345

Then spake the noble Dietrich: “It fits not heroes good
To rail at one another as any old wives would.
You, Hildebrand, forbid I to wrangle any more:
On me, a homeless warrior, are weighing troubles sore.

2346

“Come let us hear, Sir Hagen,” to him spake Dietrich then,
“What was it ye were saying, ye ready warriors twain,
When first ye saw me coming to you in armour dight?
Ye vow’d that ye against me would singly stand in fight.”

2347

“That no man will deny you,” thane Hagen made reply,
“And with some sturdy sword-strokes here fain am I to try⁠—
Unless the blade of Niblung within my hand should break:
Wroth am I that you purpose us two in pledge to take.”

2348

When Dietrich thus had hearken’d to savage Hagen’s mood,
Quickly his shield uplifted that gallant thane and good.
How swiftly Hagen toward him down from the stairway sprang!
The goodly sword of Niblung loudly on Dietrich rang.

2349

Then well the noble Dietrich knew that the valiant man
Right ruthless was in humour. The lord of Bern began
Against this deadly onset to guard himself aright;
To him well known was Hagen, that all-accomplish’d knight.

2350

Dread, too, had he of Balmung, a potent sword enow.
From time to time yet Dietrich gave back a wily blow,
Until at last, in fighting, Hagen o’ermaster’d he:
A single wound he dealt him; ’twas deep and long to see.

2351

Bethought him then Lord Dietrich: “Thou’rt weaken’d by the strife,
I should have little honour were I to take thy life.
Sooner will I make trial, if I may thee compel
To be to me a hostage.” With trouble this befell.

2352

He let his shield fall downwards⁠— great was his strength of limb,
And Tronian Hagen clasp’d he close in his arms to him.
And thus was captive taken by him that gallant man;
Whereat the noble Gunther sorely to grieve began.

2353

Then Dietrich led forth Hagen, fast bound, to where her stand
The noble queen had taken; and gave into her hand
The boldest of all warriors that ever weapon bare;⁠—
Then had she joy in plenty for all her bitter care.

2354

For thanks the wife of Etzel unto the thane bent low:
“In heart and eke in body for ever blest be thou!
Now hast thou well repaid me for my unhappy lot;
For this I’ll ever serve thee if death prevent me not.”

2355

Then answer’d the Lord Dietrich: “His life thou e’en must spare,
O noble queen! Then haply thou mayst become aware
How well he will atone for all he hath done to thee!
He must no whit be worsen’d, that him in bonds ye see.”

2356

She bade them carry Hagen to durance vile away,
And there imprison’d straitly unseen of men he lay.
Gunther the noble sovran aloud began to cry:
“Where went that chief of Bern? He hath done me injury.”

2357

Then presently to meet him the noble Dietrich came.
Great was the might of Gunther, and well ’twas known to fame.
Nor did he tarry longer;⁠— before the hall he ran.
From their two weapons’ meeting a dreadful din began.

2358

Albeit that Lord Dietrich great fame long time had had,
So sore was Gunther’s anger he raved like one gone mad;
For deadly foe he held him, so bitter was his pain:
’Tis reckon’d still a marvel that Dietrich was not slain.

2359

So strong and full of valour was either of the twain,
The palace walls and turrets rang with their blows again.
While on the goodly helmets with swords they hack’d and hew’d.
Then, verily, King Gunther, a royal courage shew’d.

2360

Yet he of Bern o’ercame him, as likewise he had done
To Hagen; through the hauberk the hero’s blood to run
Was seen, from that sharp weapon wherewith Sir Dietrich clove.
Yet, weary as was Gunther, he valiantly strove.

2361

Bound was the noble chieftain by Dietrich’s hand alone,
Although a king should never such bonds have undergone.
He thought if he should leave them, the king and vassal, free,
That all on whom they lighted by them fordone must be.

2362

Dietrich of Bern then took him a captive, closely-bound,
And by the hand he led him where he Kriemhilda found.
At sight of his affliction her sorrows greatly waned;
She spake: “Be welcome, Gunther, of the Burgundian land!”

2363

He spake: “I needs must thank thee, most noble sister mine,
Though I would fain a greeting more gracious have than thine!
O queen, well do I know thee, how wrathful is thy mood,
And that for me and Hagen thou hast no greeting good.”

2364

Of Bern then spake the hero: “Never, most noble queen,
Knights of such fair demeanour, your hostages have been
As these, most gracious lady, whom now to you I give:
See that ye let the strangers for my sake safely live.”

2365

She vow’d to do it gladly: so the Lord Dietrich came⁠—
His eyes with tears o’erflowing⁠— from those two chiefs of fame.
Soon vengeance sore upon them was wreak’d by Etzel’s wife:
Of both these chosen warriors she took away the life.

2366

Her evil mood obeying, apart she made them lie,
That neither on the other from that time forth set eye,
Until in front of Hagen her brother’s head she laid.
On both of them Kriemhilda her vengeance well repaid.

2367

For first the queen betook her where she might Hagen see:
And spake unto the warrior⁠— how full of enmity!
“What thou from me hast taken if thou again wilt give,
Then home thou yet mayst journey to Burgundy alive.”

2368

But Hagen grim made answer: “You throw your words away,
Most noble queen, for truly I’ve sworn, and now I say
The treasure I will show not, so long as either one
Be living of my masters;⁠— I’ll yield it up to none.”

2369

“Then will I end the matter!” so spake the noble wife,
And forthwith bade her liegemen to take her brother’s life.
They struck his head from off him, which by the hair she bore
Before the Tronian hero; then was his grief full sore.

2370

For when, with sorrow stricken, he saw his master’s head,
Thereon unto Kriemhilda the warrior spake and said:
“E’en as thou saidst, the matter thou hast to ending brought,
And likewise all hath happen’d as I beforehand thought.

2371

“And now the noble sovran of Burgundy is not,
Nor Giselher the stripling, and eke the Lord Gernot,
None knoweth of the treasure save God and me alone:
And unto thee, she-devil, it never shall be known!”

2372

Said she: “An evil guerdon dost thou to me award;
Yet in mine own possession I will have Siegfried’s sword,
Which my belovéd husband, when last I saw him, bare
That day when, by your doing, began my heartfelt care.”

2373

She drew it from the scabbard⁠— he could not hinder her⁠—
And of his life bethought her to rid that warrior.
With both her hands she swung it, and smote his head right off:
King Etzel saw her do it, his grief was sore enough.

2374

The prince cried: “Woe betide me, lo! now, how here is slain,
And by a woman’s