"That Sir Bloedel hath done with his liegemen, but he hath paid for
it dearly, as I can tell you, for with mine own hands I struck off his
head."
"It is but little scathe," quoth Hagen, "if one can only say of a knight
that he hath lost his life at a warrior's hands. Stately dames shall
mourn him all the less. Now tell me, brother Dankwart, how comes it that
ye be so red of hue? Ye suffer from wounds great dole, I ween. If there
be any in the land that hath done you this, 'twill cost his life, and
the foul fiend save him not."
"Ye see me safe and sound; my weeds alone are wet with blood. This hath
happed from wounds of other men, of whom I have slain so many a one
to-day that, had I to swear it, I could not tell the tale."
"Brother Dankwart," he spake, "guard us the door and let not a single
Hun go forth. I will hold speech with the warriors, as our need
constraineth us, for our meiny lieth dead before them, undeserved."
"If I must be chamberlain," quoth the valiant man, "I well wet how to
serve such mighty kings and will guard the stairway, as doth become mine
honors." Naught could have been more loth to Kriemhild's knights.
"Much it wondereth me," spake Hagen, "what the Hunnish knights be
whispering in here. I ween, they'd gladly do without the one that
standeth at the door, and who told the courtly tale to us Burgundians.
Long since I have heard it said of Kriemhild, that she would not leave
unavenged her dole of heart. Now let us drink to friendship (1) and pay
for the royal wine. The young lord of the Huns shall be the first."
Then the good knight Hagen smote the child Ortlieb, so that the blood
spurted up the sword towards his hand and the head fell into the lap of
the queen. At this there began a murdering, grim and great, among
the knights. Next he dealt the master who taught the child a fierce
sword-stroke with both his hands, so that his head fell quickly beneath
the table to the ground. A piteous meed it was, which he meted out to
the master. Hagen then spied a gleeman sitting at King Etzel's board.
In his wrath he hied him thither and struck off his right hand upon the
fiddle. "Take this as message to the Burgundian land."
"Woe is me of my hand," spake the minstrel Werbel. "Sir Hagen of Troneg,
what had I done to you? I came in good faith to your masters' land. How
can I now thrum the tunes, sith I have lost my hand?"
Little recked Hagen, played he nevermore. In the hall he dealt out
fierce deadly wounds to Etzel's warriors, passing many of whom he slew.
Enow of folk in the house he did to death. The doughty Folker now sprang
up from the board; loud rang in his hands his fiddle bow. Rudely did
Gunther's minstrel play. Ho, what foes he made him among the valiant
Huns! The three noble kings, too, sprang up from the table. Gladly would
they have parted the fray, or ever greater scathe was done. With all
their wit they could not hinder it, when Folker and Hagen gan rage so
sore. When that the lord of the Rhine beheld the fray unparted, the
prince dealt his foes many gaping wounds himself through the shining
armor rings. That he was a hero of his hands, he gave great proof. Then
the sturdy Gernot joined the strife. Certes, he did many a hero of
the Huns to death with a sharp sword, the which Rudeger had given him.
Mighty wounds he dealt King Etzel's warriors. Now the young son of Lady
Uta rushed to the fray. Gloriously his sword rang on the helmets of
Etzel's warriors from the Hunnish land. Full mickle wonders were wrought
by bold Giselher's hand. But how so doughty they all were, the kings and
their liegemen, yet Folker was seen to stand before them all against
the foe; a good hero he. Many a one he made to fall in his blood through
wounds. Etzel's men did fend them, too, full well, yet one saw the
strangers go hewing with their gleaming swords through the royal hall
and on every side was heard great sound of wail. Those without would now
fain be with their friends within, but at the entrance towers they found
small gain. Those within had gladly been without the hall, but Dankwart
let none go either up or down the steps. Therefore there rose before
the towers a mighty press, and helmets rang loudly from the sword-blows.
Bold Dankwart came into great stress thereby; this his brother feared,
as his loyalty did bid him.
Loudly then Hagen called to Folker: "See ye yonder, comrade, my brother
stand before the Hunnish warriors amid a rain of blows? Friend, save my
brother, or ever we lose the knight."
"That will I surely," quoth the minstrel, and through the palace he went
a-fiddling, his stout sword ringing often in his hand. Great thanks were
tendered by the warriors from the Rhine. Bold Folker spake to Dankwart:
"Great discomfiture have ye suffered to-day, therefore your brother bade
me hasten to your aid. Will ye stand without, so will I stand within."
Sturdy Dankwart stood without the door and guarded the staircase against
whoever came, wherefore men heard the swords resound in the heroes'
hands. Folker of Burgundy land performed the same within. Across
the press the bold fiddler cried: "Friend Hagen, the hall is locked;
forsooth King Etzel's door is bolted well. The hands of two heroes guard
it, as with a thousand bars." When Hagen of Troneg beheld the door so
well defended, the famous hero and good slung his shield upon his back
and gan avenge the wrongs that had been done him there. His foes had now
no sort of hope to live.
When now the lord of Berne, the king of the Amelungs, (2) beheld aright
that the mighty Hagen broke so many a helm, upon a bench he sprang and
spake: "Hagen poureth out the very worst of drinks."
The host, too, was sore adread, as behooved him now, for his life was
hardly safe from these his foes. O how many dear friends were snatched
away before his eyes! He sate full anxious; what booted it him that he
was king? Haughty Kriemhild now cried aloud to Dietrich: "Pray help me
hence alive, most noble knight, by the virtues of all the princes of the
Amelung land. If Hagen reach me, I shall grasp death by the hand."
"How shall I help you, noble queen?" spake Sir Dietrich. "I fear for
myself in sooth. These men of Gunther be so passing wroth that at this
hour I cannot guard a soul."
"Nay, not so, Sir Dietrich, noble knight and good. Let thy chivalrous
mood appear to-day and help me hence, or I shall die." Passing great
cause had Kriemhild for this fear.
"I'll try to see if I may help you, for it is long since that I have
soon so many good knights so bitterly enraged. Of a truth I see blood
spurting through the helmets from the swords."
Loudly the chosen knight gan call, so that his voice rang forth as from
a bison's horn, until the broad castle resounded with his force. Sir
Dietrich's strength was passing great in truth.
When Gunther heard this man cry out in the heated strife, he began to
heed. He spake: "Dietrich's voice hath reached mine ears, I ween our
champions have bereft him of some friend to-day. I see him on the table,
he doth beckon with his hand. Ye friends and kinsmen from Burgundian
land, give over the strife. Let's hear and see what here hath fortuned
to the knight from my men-at-arms."
When Gunther thus begged and bade in the stress of the fray, they
sheathed their swords. Passing great was his power, so that none struck
a blow. Soon enow he asked the tidings of the knight of Berne. He spake:
"Most noble Dietrich, what hath happed to you through these my friends?
I am minded to do you remedy and to make amends. If any had done you
aught, 'twould grieve me sore."
Then spake Sir Dietrich: "Naught hath happed to me, but I pray you, let
me leave this hall and this fierce strife under your safe-guard, with my
men. For this favor I will serve you ever."
"How entreat ye now so soon," quoth Wolfhart (3) then. "Forsooth the
fiddler hath not barred the door so strong, but what we may open it enow
to let us pass."
"Hold your tongue," spake Sir Dietrich; "the devil a whit have ye ever
done."
Then: spake King Gunther: "I will grant your boon. Lead from the hall as
few or as many as ye will, save my foes alone; they must remain within.
Right ill have they treated me in the Hunnish land."
When Dietrich heard these words, he placed his arm around the high-born
queen, whose fear was passing great. On his other side he led King Etzel
with him hence; with Dietrich there also went six hundred stately men.
Then spake the noble Margrave Rudeger: "Shall any other who would gladly
serve you come from this hall, let us hear the tale, and lasting peace
shall well befit good friends."
To this Giselher of the Burgundian land replied: "Peace and friendship
be granted you by us, sith ye are constant in your fealty. Ye and all
your men, ye may go hence fearlessly with these your friends."
When Sir Rudeger voided the hall, there followed him, all told, five
hundred men or more, kinsmen and vassals of the lord of Bechelaren, from
whom King Gunther later gained great scathe. Then a Hunnish champion
spied Etzel walking close by Dietrich. He, too, would take this chance,
but the fiddler dealt him such a blow that his head fell soon before
King Etzel's feet. When the lord of the land was come outside the house,
he turned him about and gazed on Folker. "Woe is me of these guests.
This is a direful need, that all my warriors should lie low in death
before them. Alas for the feasting," quoth the noble king. "Like a
savage boar there fighteth one within, hight Folker, who is a gleeman. I
thank my stars that I escaped this fiend. His glees have an evil sound,
the strokes of his how draw blood; forsooth his measures fell many a
hero dead. I wot not, with what this minstrel twitteth us, for I have
never had such baleful guest."
They had permitted whom they would to leave the hall. Then there arose
within a mighty uproar; sorely the guests avenged what there had happed
them. Ho, what helmets bold Folker broke! The noble King Gunther turned
him toward the sound. "Hear ye the measures, Hagen, which Folker
yonder fiddleth with the Huns, when any draweth near the towers? 'Tis a
blood-red stroke he useth with the bow."
"It rueth me beyond all measure," quoth Hagen, "that in this hall I sate
me down to rest before the hero did. I was his comrade and he was mine;
and come we ever home again, we shall still be so, in loyal wise. Now
behold, most noble king, Folker is thy friend, he earneth gladly thy
silver and thy gold. His fiddle bow doth cut through the hardest steel,
on the helmets he breaketh the bright and shining gauds! (4) Never have
I seen fiddler stand in such lordly wise as the good knight Folker hath
stood to-day. His glees resound through shield and helmet. Certes he
shall ride good steeds and wear lordly raiment."
Of all the kinsmen of the Huns within the hall, not one of these
remained alive. Thus the clash of arms died out, since none strove with
them longer. The lusty knights and bold now laid aside their swords.
ENDNOTES:
(1) "Friendship" translates the M.H.G. "minne trinken" 'to drink
to the memory of a person', an old custom originating with
the idea of pouring out a libation to the gods. Later it
assumed the form of drinking to the honor of God, of a
saint, or of an absent friend. See Grimm, "Mythologie", p.
48.
(2) "Amelungs", see Adventure XXVIII, note 3.
(3) "Wolfhart", see Adventure XXVIII, note 2.
(4) "Gauds", ornaments.
ADVENTURE XXXIV. How They Cast Out The Dead.
The lordings sate them down for weariness. Folker and Hagen came forth
from the hall; upon their shields the haughty warriors leaned. Wise
words were spoken by the twain. Then Knight Giselher of Burgundy spake:
"Forsooth, dear friends, ye may not ease you yet; ye must bear the
dead from out the hall. I'll tell you, of a truth, we shall be attacked
again. They must no longer lie here beneath our feet. Ere the Huns
vanquish us by storm, we'll yet how wounds, which shall ease my heart.
For this," quoth Giselher, "I have a steadfast mind."
"Well is me of such a lord," spake then Hagen. "This rede which my young
master hath given us to-day would befit no one but a knight. At this,
Burgundians, ye may all stand glad."
Then they followed the rede, and to the door they bare seven thousand
dead, the which they cast outside. Down they fell before the stairway
to the hall, and from their kinsmen rose a full piteous wall. Some there
were with such slight wounds that, had they been more gently treated,
they would have waxed well again; but from the lofty fall, they must
needs lie dead. Their friends bewailed this, and forsooth they had good
cause.
Then spake Folker, the fiddler, a lusty knight: "Now I mark the truth of
this, as hath been told me. The Huns be cravens, like women they wail;
they should rather nurse these sorely wounded men."
A margrave weened, he spake through kindness. Seeing one of his kinsmen
lying in the blood, he clasped him in his arms and would have borne
him hence, when the bold minstrel shot him above the dead to death. The
flight began as the others saw this deed, and all fell to cursing this
selfsame minstrel. He snatched javelin, sharp and hard, the which had
been hurled at him by a Hun, and cast it with might across the court,
far over the folk. Thus he forced Etzel's warriors to take lodgement
further from the hall. On every side the people feared his mighty
prowess.
Many thousand men now stood before the hall. Folker and Hagen gan speak
to Etzel all their mind, wherefrom these heroes bold and good came
thereafter into danger. Quoth Hagen: "'Twould well beseem the people's
hope, if the lords would fight in the foremost ranks, as doth each of
my lordings here. They hew through the helmets, so that the blood doth
follow the sword."
Etzel was brave; he seized his shield. "Now fare warily," spake Lady
Kriemhild, "and offer the warriors gold upon your shield. If Hagen doth
but reach you there, ye'll be hand in hand with death."
The king was so bold he would not turn him back, the which doth now
seldom hap from so mighty a lord. By his shield-thong they had to draw
him hence. Once again grim Hagen began to mock him. "It is a distant
kinship," quoth Hagen, the knight, "that bindeth Etzel and Siegfried. He
loved Kriemhild, or ever she laid eyes on thee. Most evil king, why dost
thou plot against me?"
Kriemhild, the wife of the noble king, heard this speech; angry she grew
that he durst thus revile her before King Etzel's liegemen. Therefore
she again began to plot against the strangers. She spake: "For him that
slayeth me Hagen of Troneg and bringeth me his head, I will fill King
Etzel's shield with ruddy gold, thereto will I give him as guerdon many
goodly lands and castles."
"Now I know not for what they wait," spake the minstrel. "Never have I
seen heroes stand so much like cowards, when one heard proffered such
goodly wage. Forsooth King Etzel should never be their friend again.
Many of those who so basely eat the lording's bread, and now desert him
in the greatest need, do I see stand here as cravens, and yet would pass
for brave. May shame ever be their lot!"
ADVENTURE XXXV. How Iring Was Slain.
Then cried Margrave Iring of Denmark: "I have striven for honor now long
time, and in the storm of battle have been among the best. Now bring me
my harness, for in sooth I will encounter me with Hagen."
"I would not counsel that," spake Hagen, "but bid the Hunnish knights
stand further back. If twain of you or three leap into the hall, I'll
send them back sore wounded down the steps."
"Not for that will I give it over," quoth Iring again. "I've tried
before such daring things; in truth with my good sword I will encounter
thee alone. What availeth all thy boasting, which thou hast done in
words?"
Then were soon arrayed the good Knight Iring and Irnfried of Thuringia,
a daring youth, and the stalwart Hawart and full a thousand men.
Whatever Iring ventured, they would all fain give him aid. Then the
fiddler spied a mighty troop, that strode along well armed with Iring.
Upon their heads they bare good helmets. At this bold Folker waxed a
deal full wroth of mood. "See ye, friend Hagen, Iring striding yonder,
who vowed to match you with his sword alone? How doth lying beseem
a hero? Much that misliketh me. There walk with him full a thousand
knights or more, well armed."
"Say not that I lie," spake Hawart's liegeman. "Gladly will I perform
what I have vowed, nor will I desist therefrom through any fear. However
frightful Hagen be, I will meet him single-handed."
On his knees Iring begged both kinsmen and vassals to let him match the
knight alone. This they did unwillingly, for well they knew the haughty
Hagen from the Burgundian land. But Iring begged so long that at last
it happed. When the fellowship beheld his wish and that he strove for
honor, they let him go. Then a fierce conflict rose between the twain.
Iring of Denmark, the peerless high-born knight, bare high his spear and
covered him with his shield. Swiftly he rushed on Hagen before the hall,
while a great shout arose from all the knights around. With might and
main they cast the spears with their hands through the sturdy shields
upon their shining armor, so that the shafts whirled high in air. Then
the two brave men and fierce reached for their swords. Bold Hagen's
strength was mickle and great, but Iring smote him, that the whole hall
rang. Palace and towers resounded from their blows, but the knight could
not achieve his wish.
Iring now left Hagen stand unharmed, and hied him to the fiddler. He
weened to fell him by his mighty blows, but the stately knight wist how
to guard bin, well. Then the fiddler struck a blow, that the plates of
mail whirled high above the buckler's rim. An evil man he was, for
to encounter, so Iring let him stand and rushed at Gunther of the
Burgundian land. Here, too, either was strong enow in strife. The blows
that Gunther and Iring dealt each other drew no blood from wounds. This
the harness hindered, the which was both strong and good.
He now let Gunther be, and ran at Gernot, and gan hew sparks of fire
from his armor rings. Then had stalwart Gernot of Burgundy nigh done
brave Iring unto death, but that he sprang away from the prince (nimble
enow he was), and slew eftsoon four noble henchmen of the Burgundians
from Worms across the Rhine. At this Giselher might never have waxed
more wroth. "God wot, Sir Iring," spake Giselher, the youth, "ye must
pay me weregild (1) for those who have fallen dead this hour before
you."
Then at him he rushed and smote the Dane, so that he could not stir a
step, but sank before his hands down in the blood, so that all did ween
the good knight would never deal a blow again in strife. But Iring lay
unwounded here before Sir Giselher. From the crashing of the helmet
and the ringing of the sword, his wits had grown so weak that the brave
knight no longer thought of life. Stalwart Giselher had done this with
his might. When now the ringing gan leave his head, the which he had
suffered from the mighty stroke, he thought: "I am still alive and
nowhere wounded. Now first wot I of Giselher's mighty strength." On
either side he heard his foes. Wist they the tale, still more had happed
him. Giselher, too, he marked hard by; he bethought him, how he might
escape his foes. How madly he sprang up from the blood! Well might he
thank his nimbleness for this. Out of the house he ran to where he again
found Hagen, whom he dealt a furious blow with his powerful hand.
Hagen thought him: "Thou art doomed. Unless be that the foul fiend
protect thee, thou canst not escape alive."
Yet Iring wounded Hagen through his crest. This the hero wrought with
Waska, (2) a passing goodly sword. When Sir Hagen felt the wound, wildly
he brandished his weapon in his hand. Soon Hawart's liegeman was forced
to yield his ground, and Hagen gan pursue him down the stairs. Brave
Iring swung his shield above his head, but had the staircase been the
length of three, Hagen would not have let him strike a blow the while.
Ho, what red sparks did play above his helmet!
Iring returned scatheless to his liegemen. Then the tidings were brought
to Kriemhild, of that which he had wrought in strife with Hagen of
Troneg. For this the queen gan thank him highly. "Now God requite thee,
Iring, thou peerless hero and good. Thou hast comforted well my heart
and mind. I see that Hagen's weeds be wet with blood." For very joy
Kriemhild herself relieved him of his shield.
"Be not too lavish of your thanks," spake Hagen. "'Twould well befit a
knight to try again. A valiant man were he, if he then came back alive.
Little shall the wound profit you, which I have at his bands; for that
ye have seen the rings wet with blood from my wound doth urge me to the
death of many a man. Now first am I enraged at Hawart's liegeman. Small
scathe hath Knight Iring done me yet."
Meanwhile Iring of Denmark stood in the breeze; he cooled his harness
and doffed his casque. All the folk then praised his prowess, at which
the margrave was in passing lofty mood. Again Sir Iring spake: "My
friends, this know; arm me now quickly, for I would fain try again, if
perchance I may not conquer this overweening man."
His shield was hewn to pieces, a better one he gained; full soon the
champion was armed again. Through hate he seized a passing heavy spear
with which he would encounter Hagen yonder. Meantime the death-grim
man awaited him in hostile wise. But Knight Hagen would not abide his
coming. Hurling the javelin and brandishing his sword, he ran to meet
him to the very bottom of the stairs. Forsooth his rage was great.
Little booted Iring then his strength; through the shields they smote,
so that the flames rose high in fiery blasts. Hagen sorely wounded
Hawart's liegeman with his sword through shield and breastplate. Never
waxed he well again. When now Knight Iring felt the wound, higher above
his helmet bands he raised his shield. Great enow he thought the scathe
he here received, but thereafter King Gunther's liegeman did him more of
harm. Hagen found a spear lying now before his feet. With this he shot
Iring, the Danish hero, so that the shaft stood forth from his head.
Champion Hagen had given him a bitter end. Iring must needs retreat
to those of Denmark. Or ever they unbound his helmet and drew the
spear-shaft from his head, death had already drawn nigh him. At this his
kinsmen wept, as forsooth they had great need.
Then the queen came and bent above him. She gan bewail the stalwart
Iring and bewept his wounds, indeed her grief was passing sharp. At this
the bold and lusty warrior spake before his kinsmen: "Let be this wail,
most royal queen. What availeth your weeping now? Certes, I must lose
my life from these wounds I have received. Death will no longer let me
serve you and Etzel." To the men of Thuringia and to those of Denmark he
spake: "None of you must take from the queen her shining ruddy gold as
meed, for if ye encounter Hagen, ye must gaze on death."
Pale grew his hue; brave Iring bare the mark of death. Dole enow it
gave them, for no longer might Hawart's liegeman live. Then the men
of Denmark must needs renew the fray. Irnfried and Hawart with well a
thousand champions leaped toward the hall. On every side one heard a
monstrous uproar, mighty and strong. Ho, what sturdy javelins were cast
at the Burgundian men! Bold Irnfried rushed at the minstrel, but gained
great damage at his hands. Through his sturdy helmet the noble fiddler
smote the landgrave. Certes, he was grim enow! Then Sir Irnfried dealt
the valiant gleeman such a blow that his coat of mail burst open and
his breastplate was enveloped with a bright red flame. Yet the landgrave
fell dead at the minstrel's hands. Hawart and Hagen, too, had come
together. Wonders would he have seen, who beheld the fight. The swords
fell thick and fast in the heroes' hands. Through the knight from the
Burgundian land Hawart needs must die. When the Thuringians and the
Danes espied their lordings dead, there rose before the hall a fearful
strife, before they gained the door with mighty hand. Many a helm and
shield was hacked and cut thereby.
"Give way," spake Folker, "and let them in, for else what they have in
mind will not be ended. They must die in here in full short time. With
death they'll gain what the queen would give them."
When these overweening men were come into the hall, the head of many a
one sank down so low that he needs must die from their furious strokes.
Well fought the valiant Gernot, and the same did Giselher, the knight. A
thousand and four were come into the hall and many a whizzing stroke
of the swords was seen flash forth, but soon all the warriors lay slain
therein. Mickle wonders might one tell of the Burgundian men. The hall
grew still, as the uproar died away. On every side the dead men's blood
poured through the openings down to the drain-pipes. This the men from
the Rhine had wrought with their passing strength.
Those from the Burgundian land now sate them down to rest and laid aside
their swords and shields. But still the valiant minstrel stood guard
before the hall. He waited, if any would perchance draw near again in
strife. Sorely the king made wail, as did the queen. Maids and ladies
were distraught with grief. Death, I ween, had conspired against them,
wherefore many of the warriors perished through the guests.
ENDNOTES:
(1) "Weregild" (O.E. "wer", 'a man', "gild", 'payment of
money'), legal term for compensation paid for a man killed.
(2) "Waska". In "Biterolf" it is the name of the sword of
Walther of Wasgenstein and is connected with the old German
name, "Wasgenwald", for the Vosges.
ADVENTURE XXXVI. How The Queen Gave Orders To Burn the Hall.
"Now unbind your helmets," spake the good Knight Hagen. "I and my
comrade will guard you well, and should Etzel's men be minded to try
again, I'll warn my lords as soon as I ever can."
Then many a good knight bared his head. They sate them down upon the
wounded, who had fallen in the blood, done to death at their hands. Evil
looks were cast upon the noble strangers. Before the eventide the king
and the queen brought it to pass that the Hunnish champions tried
again. Men saw full twenty thousand warriors stand before them, who must
perforce march to the fray. Straightway there rose a mighty storming
towards the strangers. Dankwart, Hagen's brother, the doughty knight,
sprang from his lordings' side to meet the foes without the door.
All weened that he were dead, yet forth he stood again unscathed.
The furious strife did last till nightfall brought it to a close. As
befitted good knights, the strangers warded off King Etzel's liegemen
the livelong summer day. Ho, how many a bold knight fell doomed before
them! This great slaughter happed upon midsummer's day, when Lady
Kriemhild avenged her sorrow of heart upon her nearest kin and upon many
another man, so that King Etzel never again gained joy.
The day had passed away, but still they had good cause for fear. They
thought, a short and speedy death were better for them, than to be
longer racked with monstrous pain. A truce these proud and lusty knights
now craved; they begged that men would bring the king to see them. Forth
from the hall stepped the heroes, bloody of hue, and the three noble
kings, stained from their armor. They wist not to whom they should make
plaint of their mighty wounds. Thither both Etzel and Kriemhild went;
the land was theirs and so their band waxed large. He spake to the
strangers: "Pray tell me, what ye will of me? Ye ween to gain here
peace, but that may hardly be. For damage as great as ye have done me,
in my son and in my many kinsmen, whom ye have slain, peace and pardon
shall be denied you quite; it shall not boot you aught, an' I remain
alive."
To this King Gunther answered: "Dire need constrained us; all my
men-at-arms lay dead before thy heroes in the hostel. How did I deserve
such pay? I came to thee in trust, I weened thou wast my friend."
Young Giselher of Burgundy likewise spake: "Ye men of Etzel, who still
do live, what do ye blame me with? What have I done to you, for I rode
in friendly wise into this land of yours."
Quoth they: "From thy friendliness this castle is filled with grief and
the land as well. We should not have taken it ill, in sooth, if thou
hadst never come from Worms beyond the Rhine. Thou and thy brothers have
filled this land with orphans."
Then spake Knight Giselher in angry mood: "And ye will lay aside this
bitter hate and make your peace with us stranger knights, 'twere best
for either side. We have not merited at all what Etzel here doth do us."
Then spake the host to his guests: "Unlike are my wrongs and yours. The
mickle grievance from the loss and then the shame, which I have taken
here, are such that none of you shall e'er go hence alive."
At this mighty Gernot spake to the king: "May God then bid you act in
merciful wise. Slay, if ye will, us homeless knights, but let us first
descend to you into the open court. That will make to you for honor.
Let be done quickly whatever shall hap to us. Ye have still many men
unscathed, who dare well encounter us and bereave us storm-weary men of
life. How long must we warriors undergo these toils?"
King Etzel's champions had nigh granted this boon and let them leave the
hall, but Kriemhild heard it and sorely it misliked her. Therefore the
wanderers were speedily denied the truce. "Not so, ye Hunnish men. I
counsel you in true fealty, that ye do not what ye have in mind, and let
these murderers leave the hall, else must your kinsmen suffer a deadly
fall. Did none of them still live, save Uta's sons, my noble brothers,
and they came forth into the breeze and cooled their armor rings, ye
would all be lost. Bolder heroes were never born into the world."
Then spake young Giselher: "Fair sister mine, full evil was my trust,
when thou didst invite me from across the Rhine hither to this land, to
this dire need. How have I merited death here from the Huns? I was aye
true to thee; never did I do thee wrong, and in the hope that thou wast
still my friend, dear sister mine, rode I hither to thy court. It cannot
be but that thou grant us mercy."
"I will not grant you mercy, merciless is my mood. Hagen of Troneg hath
done me such great wrongs that it may never be amended, the while I
live. Ye must all suffer for this deed," so spake King Etzel's wife.
"And ye will give me Hagen alone as hostage, I will not deny that I will
let you live, for ye be my brothers and children of one mother, and will
counsel peace with these heroes that be here."
"Now God in heaven forbid," spake Gernot; "were there here a thousand of
us, the clansmen of thy kin, we'd rather all lie dead, than give thee a
single man as hostage. Never shall this be done."
"We all must die," spake then Giselher, "but none shall hinder that we
guard us in knightly wise. We be still here, if any list to fight us;
for never have I failed a friend in fealty."
Then spake bold Dankwart (it had not beseemed him to have held his
peace): "Forsooth my brother Hagen standeth not alone. It may yet rue
those who here refuse the truce. I'll tell you of a truth, we'll make
you ware of this."
Then spake the queen: "Ye full lusty heroes, now go nigher to the stairs
and avenge my wrongs. For this I will ever serve you, as I should by
right. I'll pay Hagen well for his overweening pride. Let none at all
escape from the house, and I will bid the hall be set on fire at all
four ends. Thus all my wrongs shall be well avenged."
Soon were King Etzel's champions ready still stood without into the hall
with blows and shots. Mickle waxed the din, yet the lordings and their
liegemen would not part. For very fealty they could not leave each
other. Etzel's queen then bade the hall be set on fire, and thus they
racked the bodies of the knights with fire and flame. Fanned by the
breeze, the whole house burst into flames full soon. I ween, no folk
did ever gain such great distress. Enow within cried out: "Alack this
plight! We would much rather die in stress of battle. It might move God
to pity, how we all are lost! The queen now wreaketh monstrously on us
her wrath."
Quoth one of them within: "We must all lie dead. What avail us now the
greetings which the king did send us? Thirst from this great heat giveth
me such dole, that soon, I ween, my life must ebb away in anguish."
Then spake Hagen of Troneg: "Ye noble knights and good, let him whom
pangs of thirst constrain, drink here this blood. In such great heat,
'tis better still than wine. We can purvey us at this time none better."
One of the warriors hied him then to where he found a corpse, and knelt
him down beside the wound; then he unbound his helmet and began to drink
the flowing blood. However little wont to such a drink, him thought it
passing good: "Sir Hagen, now God requite you," spake the weary man,
"that I have drunk so well at your advice; seldom hath better wine been
proffered me. And I live yet a while, I shall ever be your friend."
When now the others heard this, it thought them good, and soon there
were many more that drank the blood. From this the body of each gained
much of strength; but many a stately dame paid dear for this through
the loss of loving kin. Into the hall the fire fell thick and fast upon
them, but with their shields they turned it from them to the ground.
Both the heat and the smoke did hurt them sore; in sooth, I ween, that
nevermore will such anguish hap to heroes.
Again Hagen of Troneg spake: "Stand by the sides of the hall. Let not
the firebrands fall upon your helmet bands, but stamp them with your
feet down deeper in the blood. Forsooth it is an evil feast which the
queen doth give us here."
In such dire woes the night did wear away at last, and still the brave
minstrel and his comrade Hagen stood before the hall, a-leaning on their
shields. More scathe they awaited from those of Etzel's band. Then spake
the fiddler: "Now go we into the hall. Then the Huns will ween, that we
all be dead from the torture that hath been done us here. They'll yet
see us go to meet them in the strife."
Now spake Giselher of Burgundy, the youth: "I trow the day dawneth, a
cooling wind doth blow. May God in heaven let us live to see a liefer
time, for my sister Kriemhild hath given us here an evil feast."
Again one spake: "I see the day. Sith we cannot hope for better things,
so arm you, heroes, think on your life. Certes, King Etzel's wife will
come to meet us soon again."
The host weened well, that his guests were dead from their toil and the
pangs of fire; but yet within the hall six hundred brave men, as good as
any knight that king ever gained, were still alive. Those set to guard
the strangers had well seen that the guests still lived, despite the
damage and the dole that had been done both to the lordings and their
men. In the hall one saw them stand full safe and sound. They then told
Kriemhild that many were still alive, but the queen replied: "It could
never be, that any should have lived through such stress of fire. Rather
will I believe that all lie dead."
The lordings and their men would still fain have lived, had any listed
to do them mercy, but they could find none among those of the Hunnish
land. So with full willing hand they avenged their dying. On this same
day, towards morning, men proffered them a fierce attack as greeting,
which brought the champions in stress again. Many a stout spear was
hurled upon them, but the bold and lordly warriors warded them in
knightly wise. High rose the mood of Etzel's men at the thought that
they should earn Queen Kriemhild's gold. Thereto they were minded to
perform whatso the King did bid them. Many of them because of this
must soon needs gaze on death. Of pledges and of gifts one might tell
wonders. She bade the ruddy gold be carried forth on shields and gave
it to whomsoever craved it and would take it. Certes, greater wage was
nevermore given against foes. To the hall a mickle force of well-armed
warriors marched.
Then cried bold Folker: "We're here again, ye see. Never saw I heroes
more gladly come to fight than these that have taken the king's gold to
do us scathe."
Then enow did call: "Nearer, heroes, nearer, that we may do betimes what
we must bring to an end. Here dieth none that is not doomed to die."
Soon their shields were seen sticking full of darts that had been
thrown. What more can I say? Full twelve hundred men tried hard to match
them, surging back and forth. The strangers cooled well their mood with
wounds. None might part the strife, and so blood was seen to flow from
mortal wounds, many of which were dealt. Each one was heard to wail for
friends. All the great king's doughty warriors died, and loving kinsmen
mourned them passing sore.
ADVENTURE XXXVII. How Margrave Rudeger Was Slain.
The strangers had done full well at dawn. Meanwhile Gotelind's husband
came to court. Bitterly faithful Rudeger wept when he saw the grievous
wounds on either side. "Woe is me," quoth the champion, "that I was ever
born, sith none may stay this mickle grief! However fain I would make
for peace, the king will not consent, for he seeth ever more and more
the sufferings of his men."
Then the good Knight Rudeger sent to Dietrich, if perchance they might
turn the fate of the high-born kings. The king of Berne sent answer:
"Who might now forfend? King Etzel will let none part the strife."
Then a Hunnish warrior, that saw Rudeger stand with weeping eyes, and
many tears had he shed, spake to the queen: "Now behold how he doth
stand, that hath the greatest power at Etzel's court and whom both lands
and people serve. Why have so many castles been given to Rudeger, of
which he doth hold such store from the king in fief? Not one sturdy
stroke hath he dealt in all this strife. Methinks, he recketh not how it
fare here at court, sith he hath his will in full. Men say of him, he be
bolder than any other wight. Little hath that been seen in these parlous
(1) days."
Sad in heart the faithful vassal gazed at him whom he heard thus speak.
Him-thought: "Thou shalt pay for this. Thou sayest, I be a craven, and
hast told thy tale too loud at court."
His fist he clenched, then ran he at him and smote the Hunnish man
so mightily that he lay dead at his feet full soon. Through this King
Etzel's woe grew greater.
"Away, thou arrant coward," cried Rudeger, "forsooth I have enow of
grief and pain. How dost thou taunt me, that I fight not here? Certes,
I have good cause to hate the strangers, and would have done all in my
power against them, had I not led the warriors hither. Of a truth I was
their safeguard to my master's land. Therefore the hand of me, wretched
man, may not strive against them."
Then spake Etzel, the noble king, to the margrave: "How have ye helped
us, most noble Rudeger! We have so many fey (2) in the land, that we
have no need of more. Full evil have ye done."
At this the noble knight made answer: "Forsooth he grieved my mood and
twitted me with the honors and the goods, such store of which I have
received from thy hand. This hath cost the liar dear."
The queen, too, was come and had seen what fortuned to the Huns through
the hero's wrath. Passing sore she bewailed it; her eyes grew moist as
she spake to Rudeger: "How have we deserved that ye should increase the
sorrows of the king and me? Hitherto ye have told us, that for our sake
ye would risk both life and honor. I heard full many warriors accord
to you the palm. Let me mind you of your fealty and that ye swore, when
that ye counseled me to Etzel, good knight and true, that ye would serve
me till one of us should die. Never have I, poor woman, had such great
need of this."
"There's no denying that I swore to you, my lady, for your sake I'd
risk both life and honor, but I did not swear that I would lose my soul.
'Twas I that bade the high-born lordings to this feast."
Quoth she: "Bethink thee, Rudeger, of thy great fealty, of thy
constancy, and of thine oaths, that thou wouldst ever avenge mine
injuries and all my woes."