Now there came strange tales to Gunther's land, though messengers sent
them from afar--tales of unknown warriors, who bare them hate. When they
heard this word, in sooth it pleased them not. These warriors will
I name to you: there was Liudeger of Saxon land, a great and lordly
prince, and then from Denmark Liudegast, the king. For their journey
they had gathered many a lordly stranger.
To Gunther's land were come the messengers his foes had sent. Men asked
the strangers for their tidings and bade them hie them soon to court
unto King Gunther. The king gave them greeting fair; he spake: "Be
ye welcome. I have not heard who sent you hither, but let that now be
told." So spake the right good king. But they feared full sore King
Gunther's warlike mood.
"Will ye, O King, permit that we tell the tales we bring, then we shall
not hold our tongue, but name to you the lordings who have sent us
hither: Liudegast and Liudeger; they would march upon this land. Ye
have earned their wrath, indeed we heard that both lords bear you mortal
hate. They would harry at Worms upon the Rhine and have the aid of
many a knight; that may ye know upon our faith. Within twelve weeks the
journey must befall. And ye have aught of good friends, who will help
guard your castles and your lands, let this soon be seen. Here shall be
carved by them many a helm and shield. Or would ye parley with them, let
messengers be sent. Then the numerous bands of your mighty foes will
not ride so near you, to give you pain of heart, from which full many a
lusty knight and a good must die."
"Now bide a time," spake the good king, "till I bethink me better; then
ye shall know my mind. Have I aught of trusty men, I will not withhold
from them these startling tales, but will make complaint thereof unto my
friends."
To Gunther, the mighty king, it was loth enow, but in his heart he bare
the speech in secret wise. He bade Hagen be fetched and others of his
men, and sent eftsoon to court for Gernot. Then came the very best of
men that could be found. The king spake: "Men would seek us here in this
our land with mighty armies, now make ye wail for that."
To this Gernot, a brave and lusty knight, made answer: "That will we
fend indeed with swords. Only the fey (2) will fall. So let them die;
for their sake I will not forget my honor. Let these foes of ours be
welcome to us."
Then spake Hagen of Troneg: "This thinketh me not good. Liudegast and
Liudeger bear great arrogance; nor can we summon all our men in such
short time. Why tell ye not Siegfried of the thing?" So spake the
valiant knight.
To the messengers they bade give lodging in the town. Whatever hate they
bore them, yet Gunther, the mighty, bade purvey them well, as was but
right, till he discovered of his friends who there was who would lend
him aid. Yet in his fears the king was ill at ease. Just then full
blithe a knight, who wot not what had happed, saw him thus sad and
prayed King Gunther to tell him of the matter. "Much it wondereth me,"
spake Siegfried, for he it was, "that ye thus have changed your merry
wont, which ye have used thus far with us."
To this Gunther, the stately knight, replied: "It liketh me not to tell
all folk the grievance which I must bear within my heart in secret wise.
Only to trusty friends should one confide his woe of heart."
At this Siegfried's color waxed both pale and red. To the king he spake:
"I have denied you naught and will gladly help you turn aside your
woes. And ye seek friends, I will be one of them and trow well to deport
myself with honor until mine end."
"Now God reward you, Sir Siegfried, your speech thinketh me good, and
though your prowess help me not, yet do I rejoice to hear that ye are
friend to me, and live I yet a while, I shall repay you well. I will
let you hear why I stand thus sad; from the messengers of my foes I
have heard that they would visit me with war, a thing which knights have
never done to us in all these lands."
"Regard this lightly," spake then Siegfried, "and calm your mood. Do
as I pray you. Let me gain for you both worship and advantage and do ye
command your knights, that they gather to your aid. Should your mighty
foes be helped by thirty thousand (3) men, yet could I withstand them,
had I but a thousand; for that rely on me."