"If I saw to-day my father before me lying dead,
More I could not sorrow e'en for such a life.
Alas! who now can comfort the gentle margrave's wife?"
XXVI
Then spake in storm of passion Wolfhart the moody knight,
"Who now will harnessed warriors lead to so many a fight,
As oft has done the margrave, and to our foemen's cost,
Alas! right noble Rudeger, that thee we thus have lost!"
XXVII
Sir Wolfbrand and Sir Helfrich and eke Sir Helmnot shed
True tears, with all their comrades, for him who there lay dead.
Old Hildebrand through sobbing could not inquire the rest;
Said he, "Go to, ye warriors, perform my lord's request.
XXVIII
"Give us the corpse of Rudeger from out yon reeking hall;
So pale and dead lies with him the comfort of us all;
And let us now requite him for all he e'er has done
To us of his great kindness, and besides to many a one.
XXIX
"We ourselves are exiles like blameless Rudeger.
Wherefore would you delay us? Him hence then let us bear,
And pay him every honor now that he dead is laid.
Such unto the living we gladlier would have paid."
XXX
Thereto replied King Gunther, "Service so good is none,
As after death, Sir Hildebrand, to friend by friend is done.
That, whosoe'er performs it, firm steadfast faith I call.
You pay him as is fitting, for well he serv'd you all."
XXXI
"How long must we be waiting?" cried Wolfhart proud and high;
"Since our choicest comfort you have done to die,
And we no more can have him amongst us safe and sound,
Let us take him forthwith hence to the burial ground."
XXXII
"None here will fetch him to you," the minstrel answer gave;
"Enter the hall and take him, where lifeless lies the brave,
Deep gash'd with gaping death-wounds, as in the blood he fell.
'Tis all you can do for him, and thus you'll serve him well."
XXXIII
"Sir gleeman," said fierce Wolfhart, "you've done us grievous ill.
God knows, that you had better not move us further still.
But for my lord's injunctions, you'd be in evil plight;
Now we must pass it over; forbidd'n are we to fight."
XXXIV
Then spake the fiery minstrel, "His courage is but small,
Who, soon as one forbids him, would fain pass over all.
Such can I never reckon the mood of a true knight."
His comrade's words Sir Hagan approv'd as just and right.
XXXV
"Persist not to provoke me," said Wolfhart, "or full soon
Your strings, without your leave too, I'll put so out of tune,
You'll have enough to talk of on your journey hence.
No longer I with honor will bear your insolence."
XXXVI
Straight replied the minstrel, "Sir knight, howe'er you may
Put my strings out of order and spoil my viol's play,
This hand shall first dim sadly our helmets brilliancy,
However chance may bring me back to fair Burgundy."
XXXVII
With that the furious Wolfhart had leapt upon him fain,
But Hildebrand, his uncle, still held him back amain.
"Thy silly rage would drive thee, I ween, to draw the sword,
And so thou'dst lose forever the favor of my lord."
XXXVIII
"Let loose the lion, master, that storms so fierce and proud.
If I can only reach him," the minstrel shouted loud,
"Though all the world together his prowess may have slain,
I'll strike him such a swordstroke, he'll ne'er reply again."
XXXIX
By this the Berner's fury was kindled to the height.
His shield at once before him held Wolfhart the swift knight.
Forward, like a wild lion, he darted to th' attack.
A crowd of nimble followers cluster'd at his back.
XL
But swift as was the warrior, and swift as was his band,
First at the foot of the staircase was aged Hildebrand.
None would he have before him where'er a field was fought.
Soon among the strangers found they what they sought.
XLI
Straight upon Sir Hagan leapt Master Hildebrand;
The sword you might hear clatter in either champion's hand.
Well might you note their fury by many a sturdy stroke.
From their clashing broadswords a fire-red blast there broke.
XLII
Soon were they swept asunder by th' heady stream of fight;
'Twas done by the fierce Berners hurtling in their might.
So from grim Sir Hagan turn'd off that aged man.
Wolfhart meanwhile in fury at valiant Folker ran.
XLIII
On the good helm the minstrel he smote with fell intent,
So that the edge, descending, e'en to the beaver went.
That stroke the forceful gleeman repaid with such a blow,
As sent the sturdy Wolfhart tottering to and fro.
XLIV
They clash'd, that from the hauberks sparks were seen to start,
Either bore the other deadly hate at heart.
A Berner then, Sir Wolfwine, parted that stormy fight.
Who on such deed could venture, was sure a prowest knight.
XLV
The noble king, Sir Gunther, with frank and willing hand
Met the renowned champions of th' Amelungers' land.
Then, too, the good Sir Giselher himself so knightly bore,
That he made the polish'd morions red and wet with gore.
XLVI
Dankwart, Hagan's brother, was a champion grim.
Whate'er on Etzel's meiny had late been wrought by him,
A puff was to the tempest that now to rise began;
So furiously did battle the son of Aldrian.
XLVII
Ritschart as well as Gerbart, Helfrich and Wichart, too,
Spared themselves but seldom with bloody work to do;
This in the fierce hurly to Gunther's men they show'd.
Into the strife Sir Wolfbrand like a noble warrior strode.
XLVIII
Then, as though he were frantic, fought aged Hildebrand.
Many a good knight, o'ermaster'd by Wolfhart's stalwart hand
Into the blood, death-stricken, beneath his broadsword fell.
Thus the bold knights of Dietrich reveng'd the margrave well.
XLIX
Then, as his courage mov'd him, the good Sir Siegstab strove;
Ah! how the glittering morions of his stern foes he clove
In that tempestuous conflict, Sir Dietrich's sister's son!
Amidst the storm of battle ne'er had he better done.
L
The valiant minstrel Folker, soon as he espied
A bloody brook forth gushing as Siegstab fiercely plied
His sword upon the hauberks, in a storm of rage was tossed;
Furious he leapt upon him; at once Sir Siegstab lost
LI
His life by that stern minstrel, who, to the warrior's ill,
Proof gave him so resistless of his surpassing skill,
That at a stroke before him down fell dead the knight.
Him straight revenged Sir Hildebrand, as well beseem'd his might.
LII
"Ah, my dear lord!" in anguish cried Master Hildebrand,
"Dost thou then here lie lifeless by Folker's bloody hand?
But hence, be sure, shall never this minstrel scathless go."
However could noble Hildebrand rush fiercer on a foe?
LIII
At once so smote he Folker with weapon sharp and true,
That to the walls on all sides a shower of shivers flew
From helm and eke from buckler like chaff before the blast.
Thereby the sturdy Folker came to his end at last.
LIV
At that, the men of Dietrich rush'd on from every side.
They slash'd, that links of hauberk went whirling far and wide,
And the snapp'd sword-points flicker'd with momentary gleam;
They drew from out the morions the smoking bloody stream.
LV
Soon Hagan spied Sir Folker dead on the reeking floor;
Ne'er had he felt such anguish throughout the feast before
For kinsman lost or liegeman, as then his bosom shook.
Alas! for his slain comrade what dire revenge he took!
LVI
"Ne'er from me shall scathless go aged Hildebrand.
My helpmate lies before me, slain by the hero's hand.
Never had I comrade so valiant and so true."
He rais'd his shield, and forward slashing and hewing flew.
LVII
Just then the stalwart Helfrich slew Dankwart the good knight;
Gunther as well as Giselher, woe were they at the sight,
When down he fell, and, writhing, out panted his last breath.
He with his sword beforehand had well reveng'd his death.
LVIII
What crowds soe'er had thither muster'd from many a land,
Beneath right puissant princes against their little band,
Weren't not that Christian people conspir'd to work their fall,
Their prowess well had kept them against the heathens all.
LIX
Meanwhile redoubted Wolfhart rush'd fiercely to and fro,
King Gunther's men down hewing with oft-repeated blow.
Thrice through that place of slaughter he cut his bloody way.
Before, behind, around him the dead and dying lay.
LX
With that, the young Sir Giselher to the stern warrior cried,
"Woe's me that I should ever so fierce a foe abide!
Noble knight and fearless, turn thee now to me.
I'll help to end this matter; it must no longer be."
LXI
Wolfhart turn'd on Giselher soon as thus defied;
Each in that grim battle wounds cut gaping wide.
Upon the king fierce rushing so forcefully he sped,
The blood beneath his trampling flew high above his head.
LXII
The bold son of fair Uta with many a rapid blow
Received the furious onset of his redoubted foe;
Huge as was Wolfhart's puissance, boot it none could bring.
Ne'er was so brave a battle fought by so young a king.
LXIII
At last through the good hauberk he smote Sir Dietrich's man,
That the blood, out-spurting, down in a torrent ran.
So to the death he wounded that high o'erweening one.
'Twas sure a peerless champion who such a deed had done.
LXIV
Soon as fearless Wolfhart felt the deadly pain,
Down he dropp'd his buckler; with fierce hand amain
His huge sharp-cutting broadsword higher he heav'd in air;
Through helm at once and hauberk then smote he Giselher.
LXV
So they one another both of their lives bereft.
Now of all Dietrich's liegemen not a soul was left.
Hildebrand, the aged, dead saw Wolfhart fall;
Among his long life's sorrows that was the worst of all.
LXVI
There in that hall of slaughter dead lay King Gunther's train,
Dead too the men of Dietrich. Sir Hildebrand amain
Ran where redoubted Wolfhart fall'n in the blood he found,
And cast his arms about him to lift him from the ground.
LXVII
He drove his dying nephew forth from the house to bear,
But found his weight too mighty; he needs must leave him there.
Then from the blood the wounded a clouded glance upcast;
He saw that fain his uncle had help'd him at the last.
LXVIII
Then spake the fainting warrior, "Dear uncle, kind and true,
No more can it avail me whatever you can do.
But Oh! beware of Hagan; this seems me good to tell.
Heart had never champion so furious and so fell.
LXIX
"And if my loving kinsmen would sorrow o'er my clay,
This to the best and nearest, dear uncle, of me say,
That I need no lamenting, that tears were better dried,
That 'twas a king that slew me, and gloriously I died.
LXX
"Besides, in this wild slaughter I've sold my life so dear,
That many a knight's pale lady 'twill cost full many a tear.
If any ask the question, straight let the truth be shown.
Here lie at least a hundred slain by this hand alone."
LXXI
Just then redoubted Hagan upon the gleeman thought,
Whom the good knight Sir Hildebrand so late to death had brought.
Thus he bespake the conqueror, "You for my grief shall pay;
Of many a valiant champion you've robb'd us here to-day."
LXXII
So struck he then at Hildebrand, that all at once might hear
'Twas Balmung there was sounding, the sword that he whilere
Had ta'en from noble Siegfried when he the hero slew.
Well was his onset warded by the graybeard stout and true.
LXXIII
Sir Dietrich's aged liegeman the fearful stroke repaid
With one that show'd, that he, too, wielded a griding blade;
Still from the man of Gunther no drop of blood he drew.
Sir Hagan with a second cut his good hauberk through.
LXXIV
Soon as aged Hildebrand felt the sharp gash aright,
He look'd for worse, by waiting, from Hagan's stormy might;
So o'er his back his buckler straight threw Sir Dietrich's man,
And swift, though sorely wounded, away from Hagan ran.
LXXV
Now not a man was living of that Burgundian train
Gunther except, and Hagan, these the sole breathing twain.
Old Hildebrand thence hasted, with blood all dabbled o'er,
And to the noble Dietrich his sorry tidings bore.
LXXVI
Apart he found him sitting, solemn and sad of cheer;
What more might move his sorrow the prince had yet to hear.
Straight Hildebrand beheld he clad in his bloody mail;
He ask'd him of his tidings, yet fear'd to hear his tale.
LXXVII
"Now tell me, Master Hildebrand, what brings you here so wet
With life-blood? Who has done it? What mischief have you met?
I fear, you have been fighting in th' hall with yonder guests;
I earnestly forbade it; you should have kept your lord's behests."
LXXVIII
Straight his lord he answer'd, "'Twas Hagan did it all;
This wound, that so is bleeding, he gave me in the hall,
As from the knight I turn'd me, and would have left the strife.
Scarce from that very devil have I escaped with life."
LXXIX
Him thus the Berner answer'd, "This mishap's your due;
You heard me promise friendship to yonder knightly crew,
And yet the peace I gave them you have presum'd to break,
Were it not beneath me, your life for it I'd take."
LXXX
"Nay, my good Lord Dietrich, be not so wroth of mood;
To me and mine already has too much loss accrued.
We wish'd the noble Rudeger to take from where he died;
We ask'd the men of Gunther, and proudly were denied."
LXXXI
"Woe's me for this misfortune! Is Rudeger then dead?
Him must I wail forever; now I indeed am sped.
Woe for the Lady Gotelind! My cousin's child is she.
Woe, too, for the poor orphans that at Bechlaren be!"
LXXXII
The margrave's death impress'd him with pity and ruth so deep,
He could refrain no longer, but straight began to weep.
"Alas! My faithful comrade! Such loss I needs must rue.
Ne'er can I cease bewailing King Etzel's liegeman true.
LXXXIII
"Come now, Master Hildebrand, the truth discover plain,
Tell me, who's the champion, who has the margrave slain."
Said he, "'Twas noble Gernot whose strength the margrave sped;
He by the hand of Rudeger in turn was stricken dead."
LXXXIV
Then thus replied Sir Dietrich, "Thither will I anon;
So go and tell my warriors their armor straight to don,
And bid my glittering hauberk be brought me instantly;
I myself will question yon knights of Burgundy."
LXXXV
Then spake Master Hildebrand, "Whom would you have me call?
Of those who yet are living you see before you all;
I'm now your only soldier, the others they are dead."
Sore shudder'd then Sir Dietrich for dole and drearihead.
LXXXVI
In all the world such ruin did ne'er the knight befall.
Said he, "If they have slaughtered my liegemen one and all,
Then I'm of God forgotten. Poor Dietrich! Lost am I,
Who was a king but lately so haughty and so high."
LXXXVII
Then further spake the champion, "But how could this have passed?
How could such puissant warriors have perish'd to the last
By battle-wearied foemen, fainting and need-beset?
Sure, but through my ill-fortune they had been living yet.
LXXXVIII
"Since my hard fate condemns me to suffer every ill,
Tell me, of those grim strangers if one be living still."
Then answer'd Master Hildebrand, "God knows, their lives not one,
Save Hagan and King Gunther; the rest their course have run."
LXXXIX
"Ah! woe is me, dear Wolfhart; since thou from me art torn,
Well may it repent me that ever I was born.
Siegstab, Wolfwine, and Wolfbrand, my true and trusty band!
Who back can ever help me to th' Amelungers' land?
XC
"The danger-daring Helfrich, his doom has he too met?
Gerbart and valiant Wichart, how can I these forget?
My friends are dead together; who so bereft as I?
Ah! woe is me, that wretches of grief can never die."
THIRTY-NINTH ADVENTURE
HOW GUNTHER AND HAGAN AND KRIEMHILD WERE SLAIN
I
Then took the good Sir Dietrich himself his mail in hand;
His ready aid to arm him gave aged Hildebrand.
Such piteous moan then made he the while, that mighty man,
That with his voice of thunder the house to ring began.
II
Yet soon did he recover his high heroic mood.
In wrath he donn'd his harness, and ready now he stood.
A shield of prov'd allowance he grasp'd in his strong hand,
And thence in haste forth sallied with Master Hildebrand.
III
Then spake the Knight of Trony, "I yonder see come on
With sturdy strides Sir Dietrich; he'll fight with us anon
To venge his slaughter'd kinsmen whom we have done to die.
To-day shall all bear witness, who best his sword can ply.
IV
"Howe'er himself may value the haughty Lord of Bern,
Though ne'er so stout of body, of mood though ne'er so stern,
If us for our late doings he now attempt to quit,
He'll find in me," said Hagan, "an equal opposite."
V
Dietrich as well as Hildebrand the words of Hagan caught;
He came, and close together the twain, whom here he sought,
Outside the house and leaning against the wall he found.
Sir Dietrich straight his buckler set down upon the ground.
VI
With anguish deep impassion'd the warrior thus began,
"Why have you thus entreated a wandering banish'd man?
What have I done, King Gunther, that you should serve me so?
I'm reft of all my comfort, all at a single blow.
VII
"It seem'd you all too little, that to our loss and pain
By your hands our comrade, good Rudeger, was slain;
And now you have bereft me my warriors every one.
I, sure, to you, ye heroes, such wrong would ne'er have don.
VIII
"Think of yourselves, your sorrow, your long disastrous toil,
The death of your brave comrades in this abhorréd broil,
If to the dust with anguish it bows your lofty cheer.
Ah! how my heart is bleeding for the death of Rudeger!
IX
"In all the world before us such horror ne'er befell.
On me you've brought destruction and on yourselves as well.
All joys I had whatever, by you they all lie slain;
Ne'er for his slaughtered kinsmen can Dietrich cease to plain."
X
"Nay," replied Sir Hagan, "we're not so much to blame;
To this house in harness your eager warriors came,
In one broad band advancing, embattled fierce and bold.
The truth, methinks, Sir Dietrich, you've not been fairly told."
XI
"How can I doubt the story? I heard from Hildebrand,
That, when my trusty comrades of th' Amelungers' land
Begg'd that the corpse of Rudeger you'd give them from the hall,
They met with proud denial and mannerless scoffs withal."
XII
The Lord of Rhine then answer'd, "They sought to carry out
The corpse of noble Rudeger; I, not from wish to flout
Them, but in scorn of Etzel, what they desired, denied;
Then in a moment Wolfhart began to chafe and chide."
XIII
Thereto replied the Berner, "Well then! so must it be.
Now by thy gentle breeding, King Gunther, list to me;
For all the harm thou'st done me such satisfaction make
As thou may'st give with honor, and I with honor take.
XIV
"Yield thee to me a captive, thou and thy valiant man,
And surely I'll defend thee with all the strength I can
From whatso'er against thee the vengeful Huns may do,
And never shalt thou find me but faithful, kind, and true."
XV
"Now God in Heaven forbid it!" redoubted Hagan cried;
"Never to thee shall yield them two knights of mettle tried,
Who yet in their good harness unfettered stand and free,
Ready to bid defiance to their foes, whoe'er they be."
XVI
"You ought not to deny me," Sir Dietrich answer made,
"King Gunther and Sir Hagan; on my heart and soul you've laid
Such overwhelming sorrow as you can ne'er requite,
And, if amends you make me, you yield me but my right.
XVII
"My faith, besides, I'll give you, and my assuring hand,
That back I will ride with you to your Burgundian land,
And bring you thither safely, or die with you along,
And for your sakes forever forget my grievous wrong."
XVIII
"Demand of us no further," return'd Sir Hagan bold;
"Ill would it become us, if it ever should be told,
That two knights of such worship yielded at once to thee;
For at thy side, save Hildebrand, there's not a soul to see."
XIX
Then spake Master Hildebrand, "God, Sir Hagan, knows,
My lord's your true well-wisher; he treats you not as foes.
E'en now the hour is coming, his terms you'll gladly take.
Th' amends, that he proposes, you'd better frankly make.
XX
"So would I do far sooner," Sir Hagan made reply,
"Than ever from a palace so like a coward fly,
As you did, Master Hildebrand, but lately here in place.
I thought, i' faith, you better an opposite could face."
XXI
To him made answer Hildebrand, "Why twit you me with that?
Who was 't that by the Waskstone upon a buckler sat,
While of his kin so many the Spaniard Walter slew?
Look to your own shortcomings; you'll have enough to do."
XXII
Then spake the good Sir Dietrich, "Ill fits it warriors bold
Like two testy beldams to squabble and to scold.
I charge you, Master Hildebrand, urge this discourse no more.
I'm now a lonely wanderer; my sorrow whelms me o'er.
XXIII
"Now let me know, Sir Hagan," he thus pursued his speech,
"What your two active champions were saying each to each,
When thus equipp'd for battle you mark'd me drawing nigh.
Was it not, that you against me alone your strength would try?"
XXIV
"Neither of us denies it," thus Hagan sternly spoke,
"I'd fain straight make the trial with many a sturdy stroke,
Unless this my good weapon, the sword of Nibelung, break.
I'm wroth that you of both of us expect a prize to make."
XXV
Soon as heard Sir Dietrich what grim Hagan thought,
Up to him his buckler quick the warrior caught.
How swift against him Hagan down the staircase dash'd!
Loud on the mail of Dietrich the sword of Nibelung clash'd.
XXVI
Well knew the noble Dietrich how fierce and fell a knight
Was standing now against him; so warily the fight
'Gainst those tempestuous sword-strokes wag'd the good lord of Bern,
The strength and skill of Hagan he had not now to learn.
XXVII
He fear'd, too, mighty Balmung as down it swept amain;
Yet at times Sir Dietrich with craft would strike again,
Till that to sink before him he brought his foeman strong;
A fearful wound he gave him that was both deep and long.
XXVIII
Sir Dietrich then bethought him, "Thou'rt faint and ill bestead;
I should win little worship, were I to strike thee dead.
I'll make a different trial, if thou can'st now be won
By main force for a pris'ner." With wary heed 'twas done.
XXIX
Down he threw his buckler; wondrous was his might;
He his arms resistless threw round Trony's knight.
So was by his stronger the man of strength subdued.
Thereat the noble Gunther remain'd in mournful mood.
XXX
His vanquish'd foe Sir Dietrich bound in a mighty band,
And led him thence to Kriemhild, and gave into her hand
The best and boldest champion that broadsword ever bore.
She after all her anguish felt comfort all the more.
XXXI
For joy the queen inclin'd her before the welcome guest;
"Sir Knight! in mind and body heaven keep thee ever blessed!
By thee all my long sorrows are shut up in delight.
Ever, if death prevent not, thy service I'll requite."
XXXII
"Fair and noble Kriemhild," thus Sir Dietrich spake,
"Spare this captive warrior, who full amends will make
For all his past transgressions; him here in bonds you see;
Revenge not on the fetter'd th' offences of the free."
XXXIII
With that she had Sir Hagan to durance led away,
Where no one could behold him, where under lock he lay.
Meanwhile the fierce King Gunther shouted loud and strong,
"Whither is gone the Berner? he hath done me grievous wrong."
XXXIV
Straight, at the call, to meet him Sir Dietrich swiftly went.
Huge was the strength of Gunther, and deadly his intent.
There he no longer dallied; from th' hall he forward ran;
Sword clash'd with sword together, as man confronted man.
XXXV
Howe'er renown'd was Dietrich, and train'd in combat well,
Yet Gunther fought against him so furious and so fell,
And bore him hate so deadly, now friendless left and lone,
It seem'd past all conceiving, how Dietrich held his own.
XXXVI
Both were of mighty puissance, and neither yielded ground;
Palace and airy turret rung with their strokes around,
As their swift swords descending their temper'd helmets hew'd
Well there the proud King Gunther display'd his manly mood.
XXXVII
"Yet him subdued the Berner," as Hagan erst befell;
Seen was the blood of the warrior forth through his mail to well
Beneath the fatal weapon that Dietrich bore in fight.
Tir'd as he was, still Gunther had kept him like a knight.
XXXVIII
So now at length the champion was bound by Dietrich there,
How ill soe'er it fitteth a king such bonds to bear.
Gunther and his fierce liegeman if he had left unbound,
He ween'd they'd deal destruction on all, whome'er they found.
XXXIX
Then by the hand Sir Dietrich took the champion good,
And in his bonds thence led him to where fair Kriemhild stood.
She cried, "Thou'rt welcome, Gunther, hero of Burgundy."
"Now God requite you, Kriemhild, if you speak lovingly."
XL
Said he, "I much should thank you, and justly, sister dear,
If true affection prompted the greeting which I hear;
But, knowing your fierce temper, proud queen, too well I see,
Such greeting is a mocking of Hagan and of me."
XLI