Lassberg manuscript, _struchen_ for _stieben_. The latter is explained
by Braunfels and von der Hagen with reference to the flying out of
sparks from armor, but this effect follows in the next line. To an
Englishman the reading _stieben_ appears to bear a comical resemblance
to our vulgar phrase, "dusting a man's jacket."
(St. LXXXIX.) The Amelungers' land was Bern, that is Verona, the
hereditary possession of Dietrich: who was driven from it by his uncle
Ermanrich, Emperor of Rome. He took refuge with Etzel, and remained in
exile 30 or 32 years. For what further relates to him and the Amelungers
see the notes to Sts. IV and V, Twenty-eighth Adventure.
THIRTY-NINTH ADVENTURE
(St. V.) The phrase, outside the house, _ûzen an dem hûse_, appears to
mean merely outside the hall. They seem to have stood in a sort of
vestibule at the top of the stairs that led down into the courtyard.
Compare St. IX, Thirty-sixth Adventure, and the note.
(St. IX.) I have ventured, in conformity with the original, to talk of
"joys lying slain," though certainly the phrase seems harsh in English.
One manuscript reads _freunde_ friends, instead of _freuden_ joys.
(St. XXI.) Walter of Spain ran away with Hildegund from the court of
Etzel, as that monarch himself informs us in an earlier part of this
poem. As the young hero was passing with her through the Vosges or Wask
mountains, he was attacked by Gunther with twelve knights, among whom
was Hagan. The latter however, "for old acquaintance' sake," refused to
fight against Walter, and persevered in his refusal, till the Spaniard
had killed eleven knights, and Gunther himself was in danger. At last,
after all three were wounded, they made up matters. According to the
Vilkina Saga, Walter, after slaying the eleven knights, put Hagan to
flight, and then, having lighted a fire, sat down with Hildegund to dine
on the chine of a wild boar. As he was thus agreeably employed, Hagan
fell upon him by surprise but was pelted so severely by Walter with the
bones of the wild boar, that he escaped with difficulty, and, even as it
was, lost an eye.--See W. Grimm's "Deutsche Heldensage," p. 91.
The Latin poem "Waltharius," which is translated from a lost German one,
gives a more dignified account of the matter. There also Hagano refuses
to fight at first, and says
"Eventum videam, nec consors sim spoliorum,"
Dixerat, et collem petiit mox ipse propinquum,
Descendensque ab equo consedit, et aspicit illo.
Eleven knights are killed, but next day, after Walter has left a
stronghold, where he could be attacked by only one at a time, he is
assailed on his march by Gunther and Hagan, and the fight continues till
Gunther has lost a foot, Walter his right hand, and Hagan his right eye
and twice three grinders. The combatants are then reconciled. For the
situation of this field of battle, see "_Lateinische Gedichte des 10.
und 11. Jahrhunderts_" by J. Grimm and Schmeller, p. 123.
(St. XLVI.) This stanza, which is in the Lassberg manuscript only, has
been added apparently, like others, to soften the character of
Kriemhild.
(St. LII.) Harrow and welaway. Old exclamations of distress or anger.
Harrow and welaway!
After so wicked deed, why liv'st thou lenger day?
"Faerie Queene," II, viii. 46.
(St. LVII.) The _edeln knehte_ here, and the _vil manic rîche kneht_ of
St. XXXIV, in both passages associated with knights, were no doubt of a
far superior station to that of the mere _knehte_, 9,000 of whom
followed Gunther into Hungary. These last we may call yeomen, the other,
squires. The _edeln burgære_ (St. XXXV, Seventeenth Adventure), seem to
have been not the mere townsfolk, but the chiefs of the corporation the
lord mayor, aldermen, and common council of Worms.
* * * * *
Transcriber's note:
Some initial characters and final punctuation were replaced.
Quotation marks have been changed to allow the modern reader
to follow a quotation from one stanza to the next.
Inconsistent hyphenation and spellings were retained.
Pg 295: (stout and ruet) changed to (stout and true)
Pg 395: Greek: proselthon, internal terminal sigma retained.