SIEGFRIED JOURNEYS TO WORMS
To the Netherlands, as to many another land, came rumours of the
beauty and the gentleness of the Princess Kriemhild. Siegfried at
first paid little heed to what he heard of a wonder-maid who dwelt in
the famous court of Worms. Yet by and by he began to think she was
strangely like the unknown maid whose image he carried in his heart.
When he heard that many knights had ridden far that they might see
this fair Princess, he made up his mind that he also would go thither
to the court at Worms.
Siegmund and Sieglinde had often begged the Prince to wed some great
princess. He thought, therefore, that they would be well pleased that
he was going into Burgundy to see the beautiful maiden Kriemhild.
But the King and Queen were grieved when they knew that Siegfried must
leave them. Kriemhild, it was true, was as good as she was beautiful,
but two of her brothers were proud and haughty men of Burgundy,
moreover their uncle Hagen had a grim and cruel temper, and it was he
who really ruled the land. It might be that their son would not be
welcomed to the court at Worms, and ill might betide him in a strange
country.
Yet Siegfried would have his way. He must certainly go to Burgundy to
woo the gentle maiden who had already sent many knights away, unmoved
by all their vows of courtesy and love. For, indeed, no knight yet had
the lady seen whom she would call her lord.
Then Siegmund, seeing that Siegfried had determined to go to Worms,
warned him that King Gunther was too weak to be trusted, while Hagen
his chief counsellor was so powerful at court that he might work ill
on whom he would.
As of old, the hero laughed aloud.
'Should Hagen deny what I shall ask in courtesy, he shall learn that
strong is my right hand!' cried the Prince. 'His country and his
kings I will surely wrest from him if he treat me with disdain.'
'Speak not thus foolishly,' said King Siegmund. 'Should thy wild words
be carried to Hagen's ears, thou wouldst never be allowed to cross the
borders of his country. If go thou must to Burgundy, take with thee an
armed force. See, I will summon my warriors to follow thee lest danger
befall.'
'Nay, but an army will I not take with me, lest Gunther dream I have
come to invade his land. I, with eleven brave knights to follow me,
will ride to Burgundy. Your help do I crave, good father. Give me, I
pray thee, eleven stalwart warriors.'
Then Siegmund called for eleven of his bravest knights, and bade them
prepare to follow their Prince.
Meanwhile Queen Sieglinde had been weeping bitterly for fear lest her
dear son should fall into danger in King Gunther's country.
But Siegfried stole to her side, and taking her frail, white hands in
his strong ones, he said tenderly, 'Lady mother, I pray thee weep
not, neither fear for me.' Then, knowing well what would please the
Queen best, he pleaded with her to aid him in his adventure.
'Provide me and my eleven knights with beautiful garments,' thus he
coaxed his lady mother, 'that we may go to Burgundy clad as proud
heroes should.'
Swiftly the Queen dried her tears. 'If go thou must, dear son,' she
said, 'thou shalt go clothed in the best apparel ever warrior wore,
thou and also thy brave comrades.'
Thus day by day, while the eleven warriors polished their armour until
it shone as the noontide sun, Sieglinde and her maidens sat stitching,
stitching. Gladly they stitched, nor ever did their fingers loiter at
their seams until Prince Siegfried's garments were complete.
At length all was ready and Siegfried and his eleven brave warriors
took farewell of their native land. Gently the bold hero kissed his
lady mother as once again her sad tears fell. 'Fear not, dear mother,'
he said, 'fear not; ere long I will return and bring with me the
beauteous maiden Kriemhild.' Yet the Queen and her maidens wept, and
over the little band of knights a sudden gloom fell, they knew not
why.
But ere long as they journeyed along, gay thoughts cheered the
warriors, laughter and merry jests filled the air, for were they not
going forward to fame and fair adventure.
For six days Siegfried and his knights journeyed, and on the seventh
they reached the sandbank by the Rhine which led them into Worms.
Boldly, and clad in their most costly garments, the Prince and his
companions entered the royal city.