SIEGFRIED'S SOJOURN AT WORMS
At the court of Worms high festival was held to do honour to Siegfried
and his eleven brave warriors. It is true that his boldness when he
entered the city had made the Kings and their liegemen wish to serve
the dauntless hero, yet now it was not of his boldness that they
thought, but of his happy, winsome ways. Indeed it was but a short
time until he was the most favoured Prince in all the gallant throng
of courtiers that gathered round King Gunther in his royal city.
Only one in all the country hated the gallant Prince of the
Netherlands, and that one was the stern and fierce-eyed Hagen; but of
the counsellor's ill-will the light-hearted hero knew nought.
Merry were the frolics, gay the pastimes at the court of Worms, and
in every game and sport Siegfried was the most skilful.
Did the warriors hurl the stone? None could hurl it as far as could
Siegfried. Did they leap? No one ever leaped as far as did the Prince.
Did they go a-hunting? No one brought down the prey as often as did
the hero. Did they tilt in the tournament? Siegfried it was who ever
gained the prize. Yet none was envious of the Prince, so glad he was,
so light of heart.
When games were held in the great castle hall, ladies clad in garments
of richest hue, and sparkling with gems of ruddy gold, would come into
the galleries. And ever as they watched the gallant knights their eyes
would follow the most gallant of them all, the hero Siegfried. But
among these fair counts and ladies the Princess Kriemhild was never to
be seen, and Siegfried had no thought to spare for any other damsel.
In his heart was ever the image of the maiden whom he had come hither
to win.
The Princess might not go down to the great hall to see the
tournament, yet as she sat in her tower she would ofttimes think of
the mighty strength of this hero, of his heart of gold. And almost
before she was aware Kriemhild had found the Prince whom she would
gladly call her lord.
When she heard the knights running and leaping in the courtyard,
Kriemhild would lay her seam aside, and Princess though she was, she
would run to her lattice window, and peeping through, she would watch
her hero with glad eyes, victor in every pastime. Nor would she turn
away until the sports were ended and the courtyard once again grew
silent and deserted.
Siegfried did not know that Kriemhild's glad eyes were peeping through
her lattice window, and had he known he would scarce have dared to
dream that her glance was fixed on no other save on him alone.
Indeed sometimes the hero's heart misgave him. When would he see the
maiden whom he loved? Had she no pleasure in his knightly games, no
smile to give him for his skill? Nay, she was as great a stranger to
him now as when he had ridden into the royal city of Worms in hope to
gain her favour.
Thus for one whole year Siegfried dwelt with the three Kings of
Burgundy, and during all that time he never once saw the wonder-lady
of his dreams, the Princess Kriemhild.
At the end of the year King Gunther's fair realm of Burgundy was
threatened with invasion and with mighty wars. No longer did the
castle hall at Worms ring with the merry pastimes of the courtiers.
All was grave, silent, for King Gunther and his brothers and his
counsellors were in sore distress.
That day heralds had ridden into the land and demanded audience of
King Gunther.
'Now who hath sent you hither?' said the King in angry mood.
'Our masters,' cried the heralds. 'King Ludegast and King Ludeger have
sent us to warn thee that they hate thee and will invade thy land.
With great armies will they come to thy realm of Burgundy. Within
twelve weeks will they be here, unless thou dost offer a ransom for
thy kingdom.'
'Tarry a little,' said Gunther, 'until I have spoken with my
counsellors, then shall ye carry my answer back to thy masters.'
King Gernot had heard the challenge of the heralds, and dauntless he
cried, 'Our good swords shall defend us. What fear we from the foreign
host!'
But Hagen cried, 'Ludegast and Ludeger are fierce, and evil will
overtake us, for scarce have we time in which to gather our liegemen
together ere the foe will be in our land. Speak thou, O King, unto the
hero Siegfried. It may be that his powers can help us now.'
Meanwhile King Gunther commanded that the heralds should be lodged
with all due courtesy, and this he did for the sake of his fair fame.
Now as Gunther sat brooding over the evil which seemed as though it
would overtake his land, Siegfried came to his side. He knew no reason
for the King's distress.
'What hath come to pass,' said the hero, 'that all our merry pastimes
are ended? For since ever I came into the fair land of Burgundy hath
the castle hall of thy royal city echoed with the ring of knightly
deeds, and tilts and jousts have long held sway. Why, therefore, are
the merry pastimes ended, and wherefore dost thou sit here thus sad
and downcast?'
'Not to everyone,' said King Gunther, 'would I tell my sorrow, nay, to
none save a steadfast friend dare I declare it.'
When Siegfried heard the King's words, his fair face flushed, then
paled again.
'Already,' cried the hero, 'have I followed thee in time of need. For
indeed during the year which he had spent at Worms, Siegfried had gone
with Gunther on more than one foray into the neighbouring kingdoms.
'Now,' he continued, 'now if trouble hath come to thee my arm is
strong to bring thee aid. I will be thy friend if thou art willing
while life is mine.'
'God reward thee, Sir Siegfried!' cried King Gunther, and right glad
of heart was he. 'It may be I shall not need thy strength to aid me in
my battles, yet do I rejoice that thou art my friend. Never while my
life lasts shalt thou be sorry for thy words.'
Then King Gunther told to the brave knight the insolent message which
the heralds had brought from their masters, Ludegast and Ludeger.
'Thou needst not be troubled at these tidings,' said the young
knight. 'If thy foes were as many as thirty thousand, yet with one
thousand warriors would I destroy them. Therefore leave the battle in
my hands.'
King Gunther, for he was not very brave, rejoiced at Siegfried's
words, and scattered his fears to the four winds.
Then he sent for the heralds, and bade them return to their masters to
say that King Gunther defied their threats, and in proof thereof would
ere long send an army to punish them for their insolence.
Now when the heralds reached their own country with these tidings,
King Ludegast of Denmark, and King Ludeger the Saxon, who was his
brother, were filled with dread. Moreover the heralds told them that
the famous hero Siegfried would fight for Burgundy, and when they
heard that the hearts of the rude kings failed for fear.
In great haste they gathered together their warriors, and soon
Ludegast had twenty thousand men ready to defend his land. Ludeger the
Saxon, too, had called together even more than forty thousand men, and
the two armies formed a mighty host.
King Gunther meanwhile had assembled his men, and the chief command
was given to Hagen with the grim face and the piercing eyes.
When Siegfried saw that Gunther was buckling on his armour he drew
near to him, and said, 'Sir King, stay thou at home in the royal city
and guard the women. Neither dost thou have any fear, for in good
sooth, I can protect both thine honour and thy men.'
And King Gunther stayed in the royal city while his warriors went
forth to battle.
From the Rhine river Gunther's vast army marched toward the Saxon
country, and all along the borders they smote those who were in favour
of their foes, until fear fell upon those lands.
Then leaving Hagen with the main army, Siegfried rode forward alone to
seek the foe. Nor was it long ere on a plain before him he saw a great
host encamped.
In advance of the great army of more than forty thousand men stood a
single warrior, as though he were a sentinel guarding the plain. A
shining shield of gold was in his hand, and when Siegfried saw that,
he knew that the sentinel was none other than Ludegast himself.
Even as Siegfried knew his enemy and spurred forward his steed,
Ludegast saw the hero. Digging his spurs into the sides of his horse
he also sprang forward, and, with lances poised, the two mighty men
met and charged with all their strength.
On dashed the noble steeds as though driven by a tempest, until the
King and the Prince drew rein, and turning faced each other once
again, their swords now in their hands.
With such great strokes did Siegfried ply his foe, that fiery sparks
flamed all around the helmet of the King, while the noise of his
mighty blows filled the space around as with peals of thunder.
King Ludegast was a worthy foe and many an ugly thrust did Siegfried
parry with his shield. But at length with his good sword Balmung, the
hero pierced through the steel harness of Ludegast the King. Three
times he struck, until his enemy lay helpless at his feet.
With piteous moan then did Ludegast beg the Prince to spare his life,
and this Siegfried did.
Then, as the hero was going to sheathe his sword, up rode thirty of
the King's warriors, who had watched the fray from afar. Fiercely they
beset the hero who had vanquished their King and stealthily did they
seek to rescue his prisoner. But Siegfried brandished his good sword
Balmung, and with his own strong right hand slaughtered the thirty
warriors, all save one. Him the Prince spared that he might carry the
dire tidings of the capture of King Ludegast to the army on the plain.
Then Siegfried, left alone with his royal prisoner, lifted him on to
his own charger, and brought him to Hagen.
But the Prince did not linger with the army. Without delay he set out
for the forefront of the fray, and close behind him rode his own
eleven knights, while Gernot followed with a thousand men. And soon
the great plain was a grim battlefield.
Loud and fierce was the conflict. Many a clanging blow fell upon
uplifted shields, many an eager sword-thrust struck through helmet
and through mail, and ever in the thickest of the fight rode
Siegfried, the valiant Prince of the Netherlands.
The hero was seeking for King Ludeger, the leader of the Saxon host.
Three times did he cleave his way through the mighty host until at
length he stood before the King.
Now Ludeger had seen how Siegfried swung his good sword Balmung, and
how he cleft in twain the helmet of many of the toughest warriors in
the Saxon army, and his heart was filled with rage. He knew also that
his brother Ludegast had been taken captive by this same bold Prince.
Thus it was that when Siegfried stood before his royal foe, the
onslaught of the King was more violent than the hero had expected. So
violent was it that the Prince's war-horse staggered and well-nigh
fell. With a mighty effort, the steed recovered from the shock, but
the rage of the hero was terrible. In his eagerness to reach the
fierce King Ludeger he dismounted, as also did his foe, and thus they
fought, while all around them flew the splinters of broken swords and
spears.
At length with a great blow Siegfried struck the shield from Ludeger's
hold; a moment more and he had him at his mercy. For the second time
that day the Prince was victor over a King.
As Siegfried stooped to bind his prisoner, Ludeger's eyes fell upon
the crown which was emblazoned on his victor's shield. Then he knew
that the rumour which had reached him was true. This mighty hero was
none other than Siegfried, the son of Siegmund, King of the
Netherlands.
Vain was it to fight longer with such a hero among their foes, and
Ludeger raised his voice loud above the tumult, and cried to his brave
Saxon warriors, 'My warriors, my lieges, cease to give battle. Lay
down your arms, lower your standards, for none may conquer where
Prince Siegfried wars.'
At Ludeger's words all that was left of the great armies of Danes and
Saxons laid down their arms, lowered their standards, while their King
humbly sued for peace.
By Hagen's command peace was granted, but Ludeger, along with Ludegast
and five hundred warriors who had been taken prisoner, were forced to
go with the Burgundians to the royal city of Worms.
The victorious army was soon upon its homeward way, the wounded being
carried in litters by the command of King Gernot.
Tidings were sent to King Gunther, telling him to rejoice, for his
warriors had won the day. Yet to all it was well known that the
victory was due to the prowess of the mighty Prince Siegfried.
Nor did the heralds who were sent to the city with the glad news of
victory forget to tell of the marvellous deeds of the hero.
In Worms there had been grief lest their warriors should be
vanquished, but now the city was full of triumph, and noble dames and
happy maidens gathered round the squires who had brought the good
news.
Then Kriemhild sent secretly for one of the squires, for she wished to
hear without delay all that had befallen her gallant knight. Had she
not mourned his absence and scarce slept the long nights through lest
danger should come nigh so fearless a warrior? Had she not vowed to
herself that she would own no other knight as lord, save only this
great hero? For unawares love had stolen into the tender heart of the
Lady Kriemhild.
When the squire was led to the bower of the Princess, he stood quiet,
modest before the beauteous lady.
'Tell me the dear tidings,' she said, 'stint not thy words, and gold
will I give to thee in plenty.'
Yet at first the Princess had no courage to ask of Siegfried's
prowess.
'How fared my brother Gernot, and how have my other kinsmen fought?
Are many wounded left upon the field?'
Then to her lips sprang the words she would fain have the squire
answer before all others.
'And who did best of any?' said the Princess, and her voice broke, and
her tears fell as she spoke.
But the young squire knew what the maiden wished to hear, and he told
her of the mighty deeds done on the battlefield, and how ever in the
forefront, where the danger was the greatest, was to be seen the
gallant Prince of the Netherlands, his good sword Balmung in his hand.
Of his two royal captives, too, the young squire told, and as
Kriemhild listened to the exploits of her knight, her lovely face
became rosy red with delight.
Well rewarded indeed was the squire for his joyous tidings, for the
Princess gave him costly raiment and ten gold coins as well.
Ere many more days had passed away there came the tramp of armed men
along the banks of the great Rhine river. The troops were coming home.
Then to the windows of the castle rushed the maidens, and among them
was the beautiful Princess, and together they watched as the warriors
rode through the streets of the royal city.
King Gunther himself went forth to welcome his troops, and to thank
the young hero who had so gallantly saved the realm of Burgundy from
invasion.
Of all those who had gone forth to battle but sixty men were left
behind, stricken by the foe.
The royal prisoners Ludegast and Ludeger the King treated with honour.
He indeed promised to set them free if their liegemen, who had been
taken prisoners, would stay as hostages in his land. And this the
prisoners were well pleased to do, that their Kings might return
without ransom to their own lands.
Siegfried the hero now began to think that it was fitting that he
should go back to his old father Siegmund, and his dear mother
Sieglinde.
But King Gunther, to whom he told his wish, entreated him to stay yet
a little longer in the royal city.
'For now,' said the King, 'will we hold a merry festival and kings and
princes will we summon to our court. Stay, then, Sir Siegfried, that
thou mayest show thy skill in the great tournament.'
Yet it was neither the wishes of the King nor the thought of the
tournament which made Siegfried willing to linger on still in the fair
Burgundian town. It was the image of a gentle maiden, whom yet he had
never seen, which kept him from speeding home to his own country.
Perchance if he waited he would see her soon, the wonder-maiden, whose
image even on the battlefield was safe hidden in his heart.