Ermenrich had a great and mighty empire. His lands stretched out to the
east and west, and many kings owed him fealty. His counsellors were
wise and clear-headed men, whose advice was of the utmost use to him.
Chief among these was Sibich, the marshal of the realm, who was helped
in his arduous labours by Ribestein, the head of the royal household,
and his constant companion. These men had always used their influence
with the emperor to keep him true to his alliance with his nephew, the
king of Bern, of whom, in his heart of hearts, his imperial highness
was not a little jealous. But a great change was soon to take place in
the policy pursued at Romaburg. Sibich had a young and beautiful wife,
of whom he was very fond. Now Ermenrich once sent him away on a long
journey, and during his absence did him foul wrong. When the marshal
returned, and heard from his weeping wife of the emperor’s treachery,
he was filled with wrath. At first, he snatched up a dagger to kill his
foe, but restrained himself, for he had thought of a subtler mode of
vengeance. He desired to make the emperor the murderer of every member
of his family, to deprive him of all his allies, and finally have him
assassinated. It was a plan worthy of the devil himself, and was
carried out with great craft and intelligence.
Sibich’s first step was to buy over Ribestein to his design, which he
did for a large sum of money, avarice being the man’s weak point. This
done, Ribestein agreed to write letters to the emperor as if from the
duke of Tuscany, the count of Ancona, the prince of Milan, and others,
warning him that his son Friedrich was plotting against him.
The evil deed was easily accomplished, as Ribestein had copies of all
the coats of arms and seals used by the grandees of the empire.
Ermenrich was naturally of a suspicious disposition, so he readily fell
into the snare laid for him. He consulted Sibich as to what were best
to be done, and the false counsellor advised him to send Prince
Friedrich with a letter to Yarl Randolt, ostensibly to demand payment
of the tribute the yarl owed, but really containing an order that the
prince should be slain. The emperor did as he was advised, and Sibich
took care that the deed should become generally known. A cry of horror
went through the land, and Ermenrich was hated by all.
Reginbald, the second son, met his death in a different fashion: he
went down in the rotten ship in which his father had sent him on a
pretended mission to England.
One son alone remained, Randwer, the third and youngest, a
high-spirited, handsome youth, in whom there was no guile. That helped
him nothing, however. One day, in the innocence of his heart, he gave
his young step-mother Swanhild a bunch of flowers, when they were out
hunting with the whole court, and Ermenrich, whose mind had been
poisoned by false Sibich, ordered Swanhild to be trampled under foot by
horses, and Randwer to be hung. His commands were obeyed. He was now
alone in the world, a childless old man.
“Well, Ribestein,” said the marshal to his accomplice, “we are getting
on very well. The emperor’s only remaining heirs are the Harlungs,
Imbreke and Fritele, who live at Breisach, on the Rhine, with their
governor Eckehart; and then Dietrich of Bern. The Harlungs and the hero
are both brother’s children. You were not born and brought up in
Romaburg, so I will tell you the story.
“Ermenrich’s grandfather left two sons besides him—namely, Dietmar,
the father of Dietrich, who received the kingdom of Lombardy, and
Dieter, surnamed Harlung, who during his father’s lifetime received the
Breisgau and an enormous hoard of red gold. Now listen to this. If we
can only get rid of the Harlungs and the hero of Bern—yes, open your
eyes and ears as wide as you can—you and I can divide between us the
inheritance of Ermenrich!”
Ribestein jumped at the proposal as a fish jumps out of the water with
joy on a bright day. He had never thought of such a thing before; but
he quickly understood what was required of him, and set about the evil
work at once.
The Harlungs were first brought under suspicion. Letters were shown to
the emperor purporting to be from Imbreke, Fritele, and even from their
governor Eckehart, addressed to different notables of the empire, and
setting forth Ermenrich’s crimes in the darkest colours. One of the
letters contained the following passage: “Since our liege lord has, in
his desperate wickedness, slain his own children, he must himself
perish, and that on the highest gallows.” The emperor was so angry when
he read these words, that he determined to collect an army, and march
against his rebellious nephews.
The troops were called out without any one knowing against whom the
campaign was to be made. They marched towards the Rhine till they
reached Tralenburg, which belonged to the Harlungs and where the
brothers then lived. Two horsemen kept watch by the river. When they
saw the armed men, they feared something was wrong, and, dismounting,
swam with their horses across the river. They gave the alarm, and all
was prepared for defence. Imbreke and Fritele knew the science of war;
but they were still very young, and Eckehart, their governor, was
detained at Breisach by business of the state. When the Harlungs saw
their uncle’s banner, they thought all danger was over; but soon found
to their cost that it was a warlike and not a peaceful visit. Wittich
and Heime were with the imperial army; but as soon as they learnt
Ermenrich’s plans they rode away to Breisach to warn the faithful
Eckehart of what was going on. As they journeyed together, they became
good friends again.
Tralenburg was at length reduced by fire and taken by storm. Without
seeing his nephews, Ermenrich ordered a gallows to be erected, and the
two brothers to be at once hung thereon. In those days the word of a
mighty potentate was law, and the emperor was obeyed without
remonstrance. Ermenrich now took possession of the Harlungs’ land, and
sent out men to search for the rich hoard the murdered princes had
inherited from their father. It was at length found hidden in a cave.
The emperor rewarded his army richly, and kept the rest of the
treasure-trove for himself.
Meanwhile Heime had returned. He had come back intending to reproach
his liege lord with his evil deed, and to throw up his fief. But on
receiving a large share of the booty, he forgot his better purpose. He
was entrusted with the care of taking the treasure to Romaburg. When he
saw the heap of red gold and precious stones, he took care that a
considerable portion of it should find its way to Studa’s grange, and
not to Romaburg. Meanwhile curses both loud and deep were uttered in
every land against the emperor. Eckehart brought the news of the
Harlungs’ fate to Bern, and Dietrich’s wrath burned when he heard it.
He said the time would surely come when he could demand expiation from
Ermenrich, and punish his evil counsellors Sibich and Ribestein. The
fiery young heroes Alphar and his brother Sigestab wished to start at
once alone with Eckehart to avenge the murder. But their father Amelolt
and Hildebrand persuaded them to wait.
“What is only put off may yet be done,” said Alphar to his brother,
laying his hand upon his sword.
Somewhere about this time Sibich and Ribestein met to hold counsel as
to what they should do next.
“Another stone is out of the way,” said Sibich; “now we must try to
find levers strong enough to move the great rock that stands in our
way.”
The accomplices felt that they must be careful and not push matters too
fast, for, in the first place, the emperor’s own soul was darkened by
the crimes he had committed, and whenever he was alone he was haunted
by the unsubstantial ghosts of those whose death he had
compassed,—and, in the second place, before declaring war upon the
hero of Bern, they felt it would be safer to gain over as many as
possible of his comrades to their side. But they were hurried on faster
than they wished, for Ermenrich’s uneasy conscience would not let him
rest—he must have excitement.
The first step taken was to demand tribute of Dietrich of Bern. So
Reinhold of Milan was sent into the land of the Amelungs to levy the
tribute. The messenger returned in a few weeks’ time with empty hands.
He said that the notables had flatly refused to pay what he demanded,
for they had already paid it to the lord of Bern. And Dietrich had
desired him to tell the murderer of the Harlungs to come himself and
take the tribute, which would be paid him to the last mark at the
spear’s point and the sword’s edge.
The emperor sent Heime to Bern to tell Dietrich that if he did not pay
the tax, he would come in person and hang him on the highest gallows.
Heime was well received in Bern. Dietrich thought that he had come in
memory of old times, but when he delivered the emperor’s message, the
hero asked him if he remembered his old oath of fidelity; to which
Heime replied that he had served out his bond, that he was now a vassal
of the emperor, who had given him land and gold, and to whom he
therefore owed service. Therewith he took his leave.
Heime was not long gone, when Wittich appeared. He galloped up to the
castle gate.
“Arm, comrades, arm!” he cried, “there is not a moment to lose.
Ermenrich approaches with an innumerable army. I rode on before to warn
you of his coming. Faithless Sibich intended to have taken you by
surprise, and whoever falls into his hands is not far from death.”
Dietrich reminded him of his oath, but like Heime he excused himself,
and rode away.
The Norns appeared at this time to have thrown their darkest web over
the head of the hero of Bern. One blow struck him after another. From
Wittich he hastened to the sick queen Virginal. All night long he held
her in his arms. In the morning she died, and grief for her loss
prevented his acting with the quick determination usual to him. Master
Hildebrand, however, was not idle. He had summoned all the vassals with
their following from far and wide in the land of the Amelungs. And the
night before the queen’s death, many allied princes joined them;
amongst the number, Berchtung of Pola (in Istria), and the king’s
faithful comrade, Dietleib of Styria, with all their men.
In the morning the old master called the king, and told him that the
time was come to fight for his land and people. The hero of Bern made a
mighty effort to master his grief. He pressed a last kiss on the pale
lips of his dead wife, and passed away on his march to the great battle.
The emperor had already subdued the duke of Spoleto, and had advanced
as far north as Milan. There he encamped, and not suspecting any
surprise, he and his men all went to sleep. Meanwhile Dietrich had
arrived within a short distance of his camp. While the others rested,
Hildebrand rode forward to see what watch the enemy kept, and finding
them unprepared, he advised an immediate onslaught.
The imperial forces were suddenly aroused by the battle cry, “Hey for
Bern! Hey for the red lion!” They hastily got ready for the fray. The
battle raged furiously. Dietrich and his followers were far outnumbered
by the foe, but that only made them fight with the more desperation.
And which of them could have failed to do his duty under such a leader?
Wolfhart cried, “If we _must_ die, let each man throw his shield behind
him, and take his sword in both hands.”
He did as he said, and Sigestab and Eckehart followed his example.
Wittich and Heime fought bravely as of old, but they avoided their
former chief, and were at length carried away in the general flight.
For the imperial troops were routed by a flank movement made by
Hildebrand.
Ermenrich went back to Romaburg in a very bad humour. He felt inclined
to hang Sibich and Ribestein for leading him into a scrape, yet he
refrained, as he hardly knew what he could have done without them.
Dietrich sent the treasure gained in Milan home to Bern under the
charge of some of his comrades, and Berchtung of Pola undertook to
provide pack-horses on which to convey it. The convoy travelled by
forced marches, but when they reached the lake of Garden, and saw the
stars mirrored in its bosom, and heard the plashing of the waterfall,
Amelolt thought, that being in the land of the Wolfings, they need no
longer fear robbers, and might enjoy a little needful rest. The wearied
men hailed his proposition with joy, and, after supping on the
provisions in their wallets, soon fell asleep on the soft turf.
Hildebrand with ten of his followers tried to keep awake, but they were
so tired that the sound of the murmuring water acted on them like a
lullaby, and soon they were sleeping as soundly as the rest.
At daybreak they were roughly wakened. Wild faces glared upon them,
strong hands bound them, and scornful laughter echoed in their ears.
Four of the warriors, who had sought to defend themselves sword in
hand, were cut down. The others were all bound and carried away with
the treasure.
They had not been prisoners long before the comrades saw that they had
fallen into the hands of their deadly enemy—faithless Sibich. He had
heard of their journey in charge of the treasure, and had brought his
troops by sea to Garden, had lain in wait near the lake, and had then
fallen upon the sleeping men. Thus it was that the brave heroes were
conquered by cunning.
One warrior had escaped the common misfortune, and this was Dietleib,
the hero of Styria. He was sleeping in a thicket a little apart from
the rest, when Sibich’s men fell on the camp. Hearing the noise, he
sprang to his feet, slew several of the men-at-arms, mounted his horse
and fled to Bern, a bearer of sad tidings. He found every one there in
great anxiety. Ermenrich had again invaded the country, had taken
Milan, Raben (Ravenna), and Mantua, and, worse than that, many of
Dietrich’s men had deserted him, and joined the enemy.
The warriors who preserved their faith, and were determined to die with
their lord if needful, were few in number. A message was sent to
Ermenrich that the hero of Bern was willing to exchange his prisoners
of war for his brave comrades. The answer he received was, that he
might do with his prisoners as he liked—the warriors the emperor had
taken were all condemned to be hanged. This was the worst news Dietrich
had ever heard.
Then the lady Ute, Hildebrand’s high-hearted wife, arose, and,
accompanied by other noble ladies, went to the enemy’s camp and entered
the presence of Ermenrich. She offered him in exchange for the
prisoners Sibich had just made, all her jewels, and those of all the
other women and maidens of Bern. Ermenrich told her harshly that what
she offered him was his already, and that if the king wished his
comrades to be set free, he and they must leave the country as beggars,
on foot, and leading their horses.
Hildebrand's wife could not bear to hear that. She had fallen on her
knees before the emperor; but now she rose, and told him proudly that
the heroes of Bern and their wives knew how to die, but not how to
leave their country in dishonour. The women left the camp in deep
sorrow.
When Dietrich heard the bad news, he had a long struggle with himself.
He had been victorious before with smaller numbers to support him, but
victory was always uncertain, and how could he allow his dear old
master, and noble Berchtung, brave Wolfhart, Amelolt, Sigeband,
Helmschrot, and Lindolt, to die a shameful death? It was a hard
struggle. At length he bowed his head to necessity. He consented to
Ermenrich’s terms.
On being set free from prison, his comrades received their horses and
arms again, and then they, and other faithful souls, three and forty
men in all, accompanied their lord on his sad journey. There was not a
dry eye in Bern when the king went away, and even in foreign lands the
fate of Dietrich and his comrades was spoken of with bated breath.
The heroes would not mount their horses when they had crossed the
borders of the imperial domains, for the king walked on unheeding over
the wild mountain roads. So the small band of brave men wandered
through the beautiful Danubian land, and approached Bechelaren, where
Margrave Rüdiger held court. There they received a brotherly welcome.
One day, when they had been some time at Bechelaren, Dietrich, who had
been thinking of the contrast between his desolated home and the
smiling land he saw before him, said, with a deep sigh, that everywhere
around him was peace and unity, and he would like to remain there for
ever and forget his woes.
Wolfhart reproached him vehemently for wishing to forget his home,
adding, “If that is the case, I shall go back and fight till my last
drop of blood is shed.”
“Not so fast, young hero,” answered the Margrave, “King Etzel owes
thanks for the help once granted him. I will go with you to the court
at Susat, and am certain that he will help you to regain the land of
the Amelungs.”
[Illustration: WALTER AND HILDEGUNDE TAKEN AS HOSTAGES BY THE HUNS.]