The lineage of our kings had endured for countless generations,
he said, and had always enjoyed the undeviating homage of our people.
In our kings were bound up our life and our strength; they were the
fountain of our light and the guardians of our power. The royal race
was a race apart which had never mingled with the race of the governed,
yet which had never failed or been found wanting. But Adelgar cast his
eyes on Hörele, one of the Norginnen of the common herd, and raised
her to share his throne. The union not only was unblessed--what was
worse, all the rest of the royal stock died out, and all the noble
princes of his first marriage died away one after the other [15];
and when Hörele at last came to die herself, there was only one left.
This was Lareyn, the last of his race. Adelgar looked around him
with tears, for there was none left to whom he could marry his son,
and he had experienced in himself the ill effects of departing from
the ancient tradition which forbade him from mingling his race with
the race of the governed, and he bewailed his folly.
But Lareyn bethought him of a remedy; he determined to go out into
the outer world, and choose him a wife among the daughters of its
inhabitants, and bring her to reign over the mountain people and
continue the royal stock. In a supreme council of the elders of the
kingdom it was decided to approve what he proposed. But Adelgar only
consented with much reluctance, and accompanied his permission with
many conditions and counsels, the chief of which were that Lareyn and
his suite should every one go forth clothed in a Tarnhaut [16], and
that he should exercise his choice in a far distant country where the
ways of the dwarfs were not known, and where, whatever might befall,
no friend of the bride could think of coming to his palace to seek
her, for the old king rightly judged that the Christian folk would
not willingly give a daughter of theirs to the Norgs.
Lareyn promised his father to attend to his injunctions, and
gave orders to prepare a thousand suits of diamond armour for his
body-guard, and five hundred suits of silk attire for his pages, who
were to bear the gifts with which he meant to captivate the maiden
of his choice, and Tarnhauts to cover them all--and, above all,
the presents themselves of jewels and priceless goldsmith's works,
at which the Norgen were very expert.
While all these things were being got ready Adelgar died, and Lareyn
succeeded to the crown. However much he desired to adhere to his
father's injunctions, he was forced to decide that under the altered
circumstances it could not be well for him to journey to a distance
from his kingdom, and to leave it long without a head. He determined,
therefore, to search the neighbourhood for a maiden that should please
him. In the meantime he made use of his newly acquired power to prepare
a dwelling to receive her which should correspond with the magnificence
of his presents, and by its dazzling lustre should make her forget all
that she might be inclined to regret in her earlier home. The highest
title of honour was now promised to whoso of his subjects could point
out to him an unexplored mine of beauty and riches. This was found in
a vault all of crystal, which no foot of dwarf had ever trod. Lareyn
was beside himself with gladness when he saw this; he ordered a
hundred thousand dwarfs immediately to set to work and form of it
a residence for his bride; to divide it into chambers for her use,
with walls and columns encrusted with gold; to engrave the crystal
with pleasing devices; and to furnish it with all that was meet for
her service. Thus arose the great Krystallburg [17] ever famous in the
lays of the Norgs, and which the cleverest and richest of the children
of men might have envied. That so glorious a palace might be provided
with a garden worthy of it, hundreds of thousands of other dwarfs were
employed to lay out the choicest beds and bowers that ever were seen,
all planted with roses of surpassing beauty, whose scent filled the air
for miles round, so that, wherever you might be, you should know by
the fragrant exhalation where to find the Rosengarten of King Lareyn
[18]. Engrossed with these congenial preparations, Lareyn forgot all
his prudence and moderation: that they might be completed with all
possible expedition the whole working community of the dwarfs was
drawn off from their ordinary occupations; the cultivation of the
land was neglected, and a famine threatened. Lareyn then would go
out and make a raid on the crops of the children of earth, and take
possession of whatever was required for the needs of his own people,
without regard for the outcry raised against him, knowing that,
strong in his supernatural strength, he had no retaliation to fear.
While thus he pursued his ravages every where with indiscriminating
fury, he one day came upon the arativo [19] of a poor widow whose
only son was her one support. The golden grain had been gathered into
her modest barn just as Lareyn and his marauders came by; swift,
like a flock of locusts, they had seized the treasure. The widow
sobbed, and her stalwart son fought against them in vain; Lareyn was
inexorable. At another time the good-nature of his Norg blood would
have prompted him at least to repay what he had appropriated in the
gold and precious stones of which he had such abundant store, but now
he thought of nothing but the prompt fulfilment of his darling design;
and he passed on his way unheeding the widow's curse.
At last the Krystallburg was complete, and the Rosengarten budding
ready to burst into a bloom of beauty. To so fair a garden he would
have no other fence but a girdle of silk, only he gave it for further
defence a law whereby any who should violate that bound should forfeit
his left foot and his right hand.
Lareyn looked round, and his heart was content. He felt satisfied now
that he had wherewithal to make any daughter of earth forget her own
home and her father's people, how delightful soever might have been
the place of her previous sojourn.
Donning his Tarnhaut, he went forth with his followers marshalled
behind him, all equally hidden from human sight.
He wandered from castle to castle, from Edelsitz [20] to Edelsitz,
from palace to palace, but nowhere found he the bride of his heart,
till he came to the residence of the Duke of Styria. Here, in a
garden almost as lovely as his own Rose-garden, he found a number of
noble knights assembled, and their ladies, all of surpassing beauty,
taking their pleasure on the greensward amid the flowers.
Lareyn had never seen so much beauty and gallantry, and he lingered
long with his attendant wights running from one to another, and
scanning the attractions of each, as a bee hovers from flower to
flower, gathering the honey from their lips. Each maiden was so
perfect, that he would have been content with any one of them, but
each was so guarded by her cavalier that he saw no way of approaching
her; at last, driven to despair, he wandered away under the shade of
a lonesome grove.
Here, under a leafy lime [21], his eye met a form of loveliness which
surpassed the loveliness of all the dames he had heretofore seen
put together, and he felt thankful now that he had not been able to
possess himself of any of them, for then he had never seen her who
now lay before him in all the bloom of her virgin perfection. Lareyn,
accustomed to associate his conceptions of beauty with a dazzling
blaze of gold and jewels, found an entirely new source of admiration
in the simple attire of the Styrian princess, for it was Simild,
daughter of Biterolf, Duke of Styria, who lay before him, seeking
rest amid the midday heat, draped only in virgin white, with wreathed
lilies for her single ornament.
Lareyn stood absorbed for some time in contemplation of her perfect
image. Then, hearing the voices of her companions drawing near, quickly
he flung a Tarnhaut over her, so that they trooped by, searching
for her, and passed on--seeing her not--to seek her farther. Then
he beckoned to the bearers of a litter he had prepared in readiness
to approach, into which her sylph-like form was soon laid; and over
hill and dale he carried her towards the Rosengarten.
They had got some way before Simild woke. Lareyn rode by her side,
watching for her eyes to open, and the moment she gave signs
of consciousness he made a sign for the cortége to halt. Quick as
thought a refection was laid out on the greensward, while a band of
Norg musicians performed the most delicious melody.
Simild, enraptured with the new sights and sounds, gazed around,
wondering where she was and what all the little creatures could be who
hopped around ministering to her with so much thoughtfulness. Lareyn
hastened to soothe her, but fancying that some of the Norgs were
wanting in some of their due services to her, he rated them in such
a positive tone of command that Simild began to perceive that he was
the master of this regiment of ministrants, and hence she inferred
that by some mysterious means she had fallen into his power; but what
those means could be she was at a loss to conceive.
Lareyn now displayed his presents, and in presenting them poured
forth the most enthusiastic praise of her beauty. Simild's vanity
and curiosity were both won; yet the strangeness of the situation,
the sudden separation from her friends, her ignorance of what might
be going to befall her, roused all her fears, and she continued to
repeat in answer to all his protestations of admiration that she
could listen to nothing from him till he had restored her to her home.
"This is the one thing, sweet princess, that I cannot do at your
bidding," he replied. "Whatever else you desire me to do shall be
instantly executed. And it is hardly possible for you to exhaust my
capacity of serving you."
Then he went on to describe the magnificence and riches of his kingdom,
and all the glories over which, as his bride, she would be called to
reign, till her curiosity was so deeply excited, and her opposition
to his carrying her farther grew so faint, that he lost no time in
taking advantage of her mood to pursue the journey.
In the meantime the greatest consternation had fallen on all the
friends of Simild. The maidens whose duty it was to wait on her sought
her every where, and not finding her they were afraid to appear before
her father. The knights and nobles who had been in her company were
distracted, feeling the duty upon them to restore her, and not knowing
which way to begin. The old Duke Biterolf shut himself up within the
palace and wept, objecting to see any one, for his heart was oppressed
with sorrow; and he refused to be comforted till his child should be
restored to him.
But Dietlieb, Simild's brother, a stout young sword [22], when he
had exhausted every counsel that occurred to him for discovering his
sister's retreat, determined to ride to Gardenna on the Garda-See,
the castle where resided Hildebrand [23] the Sage, renowned for wisdom,
and prudence, and useful counsel.
When Hildebrand the Sage saw him come riding yet a long way off, he
said to those who stood beside him on the battlements, "See Dietlieb
the Styrian, how he rides! His heart is full of indignation. Up,
my men, there is work for us; some one has done him a great wrong,
and us it behoves to stand by him, and see him righted."
Ute, Hildebrand's wife, and her daughters prepared a warm welcome for
the prince, as was due; and the heroes gathered round Hildebrand held
out their hands to him as to one whose integrity and valour claimed
their respect. Hildebrand himself led him to his chamber, and left
to no maiden the task of helping him off with his armour [24], but
with his own hand lifted off his helmet and laid by his good shield.
Then they placed refreshing wine from the cool cellar in the rock
before him, and a banquet of many dishes, as became so worthy a
guest. When the tables had been removed [25], Hildebrand invited his
young guest to detail the cause which had brought him. Dietlieb, who
was burning to tell the story of his mishap, poured out the details
of his sister's misadventure, without omitting the smallest incident
which could serve Hildebrand to form an opinion as to the remedy to
be adopted.
The event was so strange that Hildebrand himself could not venture
all at once to divine the nature of the injury. But he forbore also
to express his perplexity, lest the bold young Styrian should be
discouraged. Without therefore expounding exactly what his views
were, but determining to ponder the matter more deeply by the way,
the advice he propounded in the first instance was, that they should
all repair forthwith to seek the aid of Berndietrich [26].
The counsel was received with joyful acclamation; and loud was the
clanging as every one ran to don his chain-armour, for all were glad
to be called to deeds of high emprise, and such they deemed were in
store for them if Dietrich von Bern was to be their leader.
Ute and her daughters, to whom their courage and mettle was well known,
greeted them as they went forth with no sinking hearts, but gave them
augury of good success.
As they journeyed along, they came to a broad heath, which they were
about to pass over with their train, when up sprang a man of forlorn
aspect, who cried after Hildebrand, and asked his aid.
Hildebrand, seeing him in such sorry plight, turned aside out of
compassion, to ask what had befallen him. It was no other than the
peasant--the widow's son--whom Lareyn had so deeply wronged, and,
seeing the heroes go forth in such brave array, he besought their aid
against the oppressor of his mother. Some of them laughed at his wild
mien and uncouth gestures, but Hildebrand the Sage took him apart,
and lost not a word of his story of how the Norg-king lived in the
heart of the mountains, of how he came out with his mighty little men,
and ravaged all the face of the country, contrary to all the habits of
his former life, and of how it was all because his own labourers were
engaged in preparing the most magnificent palace for the reception
of a daughter of earth, whom he meant to make his bride.
Hildebrand now felt he knew all, and with the help of the poor
countryman, the widow's son, would be able to conduct the heroes
into his retreat, inflict condign punishment, and release the captive
princess.
How, with purely natural means, to overcome the resistless strength
of the Norgs did not indeed make itself apparent; this was matter
for further consideration, and sufficed to engross his thoughts for
the rest of the journey. Of one thing he was satisfied--that he was
right in claiming the intervention of Berndietrich, whose traffic
with the supernatural powers [27] made him, of all the wigands [28],
alone capable of conducting such an expedition.
Hildebrand and his companions were received by Theodoric with hearty
welcome and hospitable care and cheer. As they sat at table, all
the heroes together vied with each other in lauding the prowess of
Theodoric, till they had pronounced him the bravest sword of which
the whole world could boast.
This was the time for Hildebrand. "No!" he cried, as he upsprang,
and by his determined manner arrested the attention of all the
wigands. "No, I say! there is one mightier than he; there is one with
whom he has never yet ventured to measure his strength----"
"Who? Name him!" shouted Theodoric, rising to his feet, and glaring
round him with defiant fury, only kept in check by his regard for
Hildebrand.
"I speak of Lareyn, the Dwarf-king, the dweller in the depths of the
mountains of Tirol," replied Hildebrand, in a voice of firm assurance.
"The Dwarf-king!" exclaimed Theodoric, with incredulity and contempt;
and he sat down again.
"As long as the Dwarf-king is suffered to live in his mountain
stronghold, and to ravage the lands of the peaceful peasants, I call
no man who knows of him a hero. But him who overcomes this little
one--him I will call a hero indeed, above all others!"
"If your Dwarf-king were so formidable, Meister Hildebrand," replied
Theodoric, "you would have told me of him before now, I ween. How
has he raised your wonderment just at this time?"
"Because just at this time his insolence has increased. He has built
a palace surpassing all palaces in magnificence, which he calls his
Krystallburg, and has surrounded it with a garden of beauty, which
he calls his Rosengarten, fenced round only with a silken girdle,
but of whomsoever crosses that boundary he forfeits the left foot
and the right hand."
The report of this boast was enough to decide Theodoric, the impetuous
sword. "If it is thus he vaunts him," he cried, "he shall know that
there is one will dare brave his decree, and destroy the garden his
ferocity guards after the manner you describe."
With that up he rose, and called for his Velsungen [29], for his
armour he never put off, and he called for his helmet and his horse;
and before another had time to frame his purpose, he had started,
without parley and without guide.
Only Wittich the Wigand, his boon companion, who loved to share his
rash ventures, and was familiar with his moods, could bestir himself
to follow before he was too far gone to be overtaken.
To Tirol they rode by day and by night, without slacking rein, for
their anger brooked no reprieve. They slacked not their speed for
dell or mountain, and they rode forty miles through the dense forest;
but every where as they went along they tested the air, as it was
wafted past them, to see if they could discern the perfumes of the
Rosengarten. At last, as they toiled up the mountain side, a majestic
sight was suddenly opened to their view. The white shining rock of the
living mountain was cut and fashioned into every pleasing device of
turret and tower, diamonds and rubies were the windows, and the dome
was of pure gold set with precious stones. "We have far to ride yet,"
said Wittich the Wigand, as he scanned the lordly place. "And yet the
perfume of the Rose-garden reaches even hither," said the Bernäre
[30]. "Then we know we are on the right track," answered Wittich;
so they put spurs to their horses, and rode forward with good heart.
They had pushed on thus many a mile when the blooming Rosengarten
itself came in sight, entrancing their senses with its beauty and
its odours.
"What was that?" asked Theodoric, who always rode ahead, as some
light obstruction made his mount swerve for a moment.
"Why, you have burst the silken girdle of King Lareyn's
Rosengarten!" said Wittich the Wigand; "so now we have incurred the
vengeance of the little man."
"Ah!" said Theodoric, as he gazed around, "let us not harm this
pleasant place; sweetly are the flowers disposed, and in the fragrant
hours of evening and of morning it must be well to be here: let us
destroy naught!"
"Nay!" said honest Wittich, "came we not forth to destroy this
devil's-work, and to reduce the pride of the boasting Norg-king who
spares none? Shall we return, and leave our work undone? I have no
such mind; nothing will I leave of what we see before us now."
He dismounted to carry his threat into effect; and Theodoric, not
to be behindhand, or to incur suspicion of fearing the Norg-king,
dismounted too. Then with one consent they hewed down and rooted up
the fair plants, till the whole garden was a wilderness, and they
lay them down upon the grass to rest.
As they lay, there appeared before them, coming at full speed,
as on swift wings, a knightly form clad in shining armour, so that
Wittich cried, "See, Lord Dietrich, who comes to visit us--surely it
is St. Michael, leader of the heavenly hosts!"
"I see no St. Michael," answered Theodoric, sullenly. "It is one of
no heavenly build, albeit he bears him so bravely. We may rue that
we have loosed our helmets and shields, for methinks he regards us
with no loving eye."
While they spoke the rider had advanced over a good space of the
way, and they could discern the manner of his bearing. His horse
was lithe as a roe-buck upon the wild mountain heights, and its
housings of cloth-of-gold gave back the rays of the golden sun; the
bridle was studded with precious stones, and embroidered with cunning
workmanship of gold, moreover it was held in a commanding hand. The
saddle was dazzling with rubies, and so were the stirrups no less;
but the armour was most dazzling of all, and all hardened in dragon's
blood [31]. His sword of adamant could cut through steel and gold;
the handle was one carbuncle, which darted rays of light. Over his
breast-armour he wore a tight tunic of cloth-of-gold, with his arms
embroidered in glowing colours. His helmet was of burnished gold and
topazes mingling their yellow light, and between them many a carbuncle
which by night gave the light of day, and from within it there sang
pleasant voices of birds--nightingales, bulfinches, and larks, with
softened voices, as if they lived, and breathed their song upon the
branches of their native trees.
His shield was likewise of gold, and recorded many a deed of prowess
of him who bore it; on it was painted a leopard, too, with head erect,
as though preparing to spring upon his prey. In his right hand was a
spear, and from its point floated a small red banner [32], on which
appeared two swift greyhounds intent on following the wild game. But
more imposing than all this display of gold and art was the rider's
majestic mien, which was as of one used to know no law but his own
will, and to be obeyed by all who approached him; and yet, with all
this, he was only a span high! For it was King Lareyn, and he wore
tightly buckled his girdle of twelve-men's-strength.
Theodoric would gladly have laughed his little figure to scorn, but
when he caught the fire of his eye he was fain to acknowledge he was
no puny antagonist in fierce intention, whatever was his height.
Nor did Lareyn spare angry words when he had come up with the knights,
and saw what they had done; there was no epithet of scorn in his
vocabulary that he did not pour out upon them. He told them their
lives were forfeit for the mischief they had wreaked upon his roses,
and they could only redeem them by the surrender of their left foot
and right hand.
Theodoric was not slow to pay back his vituperation in corresponding
measure. He bid him remember what a little, wee mannikin he was; that
his was not the right tone in which he ought to talk to princes. Had
he ventured to ask a money-compensation, it would have been impertinent
enough, but what he had asked was a ludicrous pretention.
"Money!" shouted the Norg, in no way disconcerted; "I have more gold at
command than any three of you together. You call yourselves princes,
do you? You have done no princely deed to-day; you have incurred
the common penalty which I have decreed for all alike who trespass
on my Rose-garden--so no more words: hand over your horses, armour,
and clothing [33], together with the left foot and right hand of each."
"Herr Dietrich!" interposed Wittich, "is it possible you have patience
to listen to the insolent railing which this little mite pours out
in his folly? Say but the word, and I will punish him once and for
all. It needs but to take him and his mount by the leg, with one
grasp of my strong hand, and knock their heads against the stone wall,
that they may lie as dead as the roses we have already strewn around!"
"God is exhaustless in His wonders!" replied the Bernäre; "for aught
we know, He has laid up within this mite's body all the strength of
which he is so forward to boast: or by some magic craft he may have
possessed himself of might commensurate with the riches which we can
see plainly enough he has at command. If it comes to fighting, we
will bear ourselves like men; but take my advice, and be not rash,
for very much I doubt if we shall leave these mountains of Tirol
alive this day."
"Now, prince of lineage high! if I knew not your prowess before this
day," cried Wittich, beside himself with indignation, "I had said you
were afraid of his sword, which a mouse might wield! Shall a Christian
knight shrink before any pagan hound? But a thousand such wights as
this could be overmatched by you; and without arms you could smite
them down, and hang them all on the trees!"
"Your ideas of your powers are not weak," interposed King Lareyn; "you
talk of one of you being a match for a thousand such as I: come on,
and let us see how you will bear you against one 'tiny antagonist'!"
Wittich's impatience knew no bounds at the challenge; without
exchanging another word with Theodoric he sprang into the saddle, and
Lareyn, who had chafed at being spoken of as an unworthy adversary,
now drew himself up, proud to find Wittich did not scorn to meet
him mounted.
They rode out opposite each other on the greensward with their lances
poised, and then dashed the one at the other like two falcons on
the wing. Wittich, not at all wanting in the science of handling his
lance, made sure to have hit Lareyn, but the spell that surrounded
him protected him against the thrust, while his lance struck Wittich's
throat where the helm was braced, and sent him backwards off the saddle
on to the ground with great force. As he fell among the clover he vowed
that no other lance had ever so offended him, for never before had
victory appeared so easy. Hastily he sprang to his feet, to wipe away
the shame by seeming indifference; but Lareyn stood before him in the
long grass with his sword ready to take the forfeit he demanded, the
left foot and the right hand,--and would have taken it, but Theodoric
deemed it time to interfere; he said he should have reckoned it a
shame on him could it have been said of him that he had stood by while
a companion was made to pay so hard a penalty for so small a harm.
"What is a shame to you is no affair of mine," cried Lareyn in return;
"but instead of defending your companion, it behoves you to defend
yourself, for, as you had your part in the destruction of the garden,
I demand my forfeit equally of you, and your left foot and right hand
I must have. Stand on guard then! for I am a match for twelve such
as you."
The words stung Theodoric to the quick. But with what celerity soever
he vaulted into the saddle, the moment had sufficed for Lareyn to
bind fast Wittich to a tree, and gain his stirrups in time to confront
his foe.
"I perceive you are the Bernäre," he said, "by your shield and helm;
and never have I poised lance so gladly against any foe, and never
have had such satisfaction in triumph as I shall when I have you bound
by the side of your companion, and when the great Dietrich von Bern
shall lie in the bonds of the little Norg!"
"Dwarf! waste not words," cried Theodoric, in a terrible voice, his
eyes flashing fire; his spear trembling in his hand with the fury that
burnt within him. Before the foes could meet, however, and not a whit
too soon, Hildebrand appeared upon the scene, having found his way,
with the bold Wolfhart who never shrank from any fight, and Dietlieb
the Steieräre [34], by the guidance of the injured widow's son.
Hastily Hildebrand reached Theodoric's ear: "Fight him not in that
way," he said; "he has ever the advantage with the lance, and if he
hurled you from the saddle, where would be your princely honour? Never
could you again reign in your Hall of Verona. Dismount, and meet him
on foot upon the grass, and watch for what further may be suggested
to us."
Theodoric gladly accepted the counsel of the sage, and, standing
once more on the ground, called to the Norg to meet him there. Lareyn
refused not, but met him with many a valiant thrust, which the wigand
parried, and returned too, as best he might, with Hildebrand's counsel,
till the little man complained of the interference, without which,
he swore, Dietrich had been bound even as Wittich. But Theodoric bid
him not talk, but fight, and with that planted him a blow between
the eyes which shut out the light of the sun. Hildebrand, meantime,
released Wittich, as it behoved while one fought in his defence. But
Lareyn, finding he could gain no signal advantage against the hero,
drew his Tarnhaut from his pocket, and, slipping it over his head,
became invisible to his antagonist. Now it was a weird running
hither and thither, as the deft Norg paid out his cunning blows,
and the bold wigand in vain sought him, that he might return them;
now his blow fell on the stone wall, and now on a tree, while the
Norg's mocking laughter echoed at each mistake.
"One counsel only I see," cried good Hildebrand, distressed to see
his prince so hard thrust; "call to him to drop his sword, and wrestle
with you; so shall you reach him, and at least know where he stands."
The hero followed the counsel of his master, nor did the Norg
refuse. True, Theodoric now could at least feel his unseen foe, but
he felt him to his cost, for it was impossible to stand against his
strength, nor was it long before the dwarf forced the hero down upon
his knees on the grass. Great was the wigand's distress, for never
had antagonist so dealt with him before.
"Dietrich! beloved lord," cried Hildebrand, "list to my word. One
way of safety there is: wrench from him his girdle--his girdle which
gives him twelve men's strength!"
Gladly Theodoric heard the counsel, nor was he long in finding with
his hand the girdle; by it he raised King Lareyn from the ground,
and dashed him down again, till the girdle burst and fell beneath
their feet. Hildebrand quickly caught it up, lest the dwarf should
again possess himself of it; but Lareyn gave a cry of despair which
might have been heard o'er mountain and forest three days' journey
off! Then, with doleful voice, he said,--
"Dietrich von Bern! if you are the noble sword for which men hold you,
you will be now content, and will give me my life; while I will be
your tributary, and mighty are the gifts I have to offer you."
"No!" replied Theodoric; "your haughtiness and pretensions have been
too gross. I pardon not such as you so easily; we must have another
trial, in which you must yield up your worthless life."
"I have no power in fighting against such as he now, without my
girdle," mused the Norg; "my only chance of safety lies in getting
one of the heroes who is equal to him to fight for my cause in my
place. So he made up to Dietlieb the Steieräre, and conjured him,
as he was his brother-in-law, to help him in his need--even as he
loved his sister's honour."
"True!" replied Dietlieb; "since you confess honestly that you have my
sister, it is meet that I should be your champion; and I will deliver
you or die." With that he went to Theodoric, and prayed him earnestly
four times, by his regard for knightly honour, for woman's worth, for
friendship, and for virtue--four things which, at receiving his sword,
every knight bound himself to honour, that he would spare Lareyn. But
Theodoric was not to be moved, and each time only swore the harder
that he would fight it out to the last; that Lareyn had offended him
too deeply, and that he could not be suffered to live. When Dietlieb
found the ambassage he had undertaken unsuccessful, and that he would
have to own his failure, he grew impatient and wroth, and riding his
horse up to Theodoric, he proclaimed in a loud voice,--
"Be it known, Prince Dietrich, highly praised, that I declare King
Lareyn, great in power and riches, shall not be bound your prisoner,
nor his life taken; that I appear here to answer for him with brotherly
service, and that either he shall be let go scot free, or in my person
only shall the death-blow be dealt out for him."
Theodoric, unwilling to enter a feud of life and death with one of
his own allies, and yet too proud to refuse the challenge, answered
him nothing. But Dietlieb took the Norg and hid him away in safety
in the long grass out of Theodoric's sight, and then returned ready
to confront him. Theodoric, finding he was determined in his attack,
called for his horse, and bound on his helmet, his shield he took in
his hand, and hung his sword to his girdle.
"Think not I spare you more than another, Lord Theodoric, when I have
found the cause I ought to defend," cried Dietlieb, and his flashing
eye told that he would fight his fight to the end.
Theodoric still said no word, but his anger was the more desperate.
Thus minded, they rode at each other, and the lance of each hurled the
other from his horse upon the grass. Up each sprang again, and drew
his trenchant sword; the one struck, and the other pierced, till the
grass all around, as high as their spurs, was dyed as red as the roses
they had destroyed anon. Then Theodoric dealt such a mighty stroke
on Dietlieb's helmet that the fire flashed again, and he thought,
"Now have I conquered him and Lareyn at one blow." But Dietlieb,
recovering from the momentary shock, struck Theodoric's shield with
such force that he dashed it from his grasp; you might have heard
the clash a mile off!
When the bold Theodoric found he had his shield no longer, he took his
sword in both his hands, and gave the wigand such a mighty Schirmschlag
[35] that he felled him to the ground.
"Now then, foolish man!" he cried, in scorn, "do you still hold out
for Lareyn?"
Dietlieb sprang to his feet once more with a start which made his
armour ring again, and, for an answer, ran at Theodoric, and tried to
repeat his stroke; but Theodoric was more difficult to bring down,
and answered his attack by striking him on the rim of his shield so
forcibly that he loosed the band by which he held it.
Meantime, Hildebrand had been occupied stirring up the other wigands
to part the combatants, and at this moment Wittich and Wolfhart came
up to Dietlieb and seized him, and with main force dragged him off
the field; while Hildebrand reasoned with Theodoric about the merit
and friendship of Dietlieb, and the advantage of compromise now that
he had done enough to prove his superiority in the fight. Theodoric,
who ever gave weight to Hildebrand's reasoning, agreed to be friends
again with Dietlieb, and to leave Lareyn his life and liberty, only
exacting homage and tribute of him. To these terms Dietlieb also
agreed, and all entered the bonds of good friendship.
Lareyn, who had watched the combat and listened to the treaty of
peace from his hiding-place in the long grass, gave in his adhesion,
promising to pay tribute of all his wealth.
"And now, good brother-in-law," he said, addressing Dietlieb, "or
brother-in-law that-is-to-be,--for Simild has not yet given her consent
to be my wife--let us talk a little about your lovely sister. You
are doubtless burning to know how I became possessed of her, and I
no less to tell." Then he told him how he had found her under the
linden-tree, and had enveloped her in the Tarnhaut and carried her
away unseen by mortal eye; and of how all Norgdom was subject to her,
of how he had laid an empire of boundless wealth at her feet, and how,
if she preferred reigning on earth, he was able to buy a vast kingdom
to endow her with. Then he noticed that the day was declining, and they
far from shelter, and bade them all welcome to his underground home,
promising them good cheer and merry pastime. Dietlieb, anxious to
see his dear sister again, accepted the offer, and the other wigands
agreed to follow him. Stern Hildebrand the Sage would have preferred
camping in the open air, but Theodoric told him it would be a shame on
his name before all heroes if, having been so near the Norg kingdom,
of which all had heard, he should have feared to make acquaintance
with its economy and government. All the others were of his mind, but
Hildebrand reminded Theodoric, that as he whom all were ready to obey
had counselled incurring the danger, he made himself responsible for
all their lives. "He who gave us prudence will guard our lives and
honour," said the prince; and without further parley they rode on,
after Lareyn's guidance.
On they rode, through thick forest and narrow mountain-path, till,
as it grew dark, they came to a golden door in the rock. It opened at
Lareyn's approach, and the moment they had passed within they found
themselves surrounded by a light above the light of day from the
shining stones that glittered around. Trumpets sounded to herald their
entrance. As they advanced through the sparkling trees friendly birds
warbled a sweet welcome; and as they neared the hall soft melodies
of lutes and harps enchanted their ear. All around them the Norgs
disported themselves, ready to render any service the wayfarers might
require. Refreshment was all ready, as if they had been expected;
and when the wigands had done justice to the spread, they were led
each to his apartment to take their rest, which they well needed.
In the morning Lareyn prayed them to stay and enjoy the wonders
of his kingdom and taste his hospitality, whereupon new debate
arose. Theodoric was disposed to trust him; and Dietlieb desirous
to keep friends with him for the sake of his sister; while Wolfhart
was ready for any sort of adventure; but Wittich, who had tasted the
effects of Lareyn's guile and strength, used all his persuasion to
induce the others to return, and prudent Hildebrand deemed it the
wiser part. At last, however, Wolfhart said, scornfully to Wittich,
that if he was afraid to stay he could go back; he had no need to
spoil their pleasure. After that Wittich said no more, but by his
sullen looks he showed he disapproved the venture.
Lareyn, seeing them doubtful, came up, and with much concern bid them
have no hesitation or fear, for all they saw was at their service--they
had but to command. To which Theodoric made answer that such words
were princely indeed, and if his deeds accorded therewith he never
would have reason to rue the league he had made with them.
Then with delight Lareyn led them through the riches of his
possessions. So much heaped-up gold, so many precious stones, such
elaborate handiwork none of Theodoric's band had ever seen before;
and the place rang with their exclamations of wonder.
But all this was nothing to the cunning feats of the Norgs, who,
at a sign from Lareyn, displayed their various talents before the
astonished eyes of the heroes. Some there were who lifted great stones
bigger than themselves, and threw them as far as the eye could reach,
then by swiftness attained the goal before the stone they threw! Others
rooted up great pine-trees, and broke them across as sticks. Others
did feats of tilting and horsemanship, and others danced and leapt
till the knights were lost in wonder at their agility and strength.
Lareyn now called his guests in to dine; and all manner of costly
dishes were set before them, arranged with greater care and taste
than Theodoric was used to in his own palace, while sweet-voiced
minstrels sang, and nimble Norgs danced. In the midst of the repast,
Simild, summoned by Lareyn, entered the hall, attended by a train of
five hundred choicely-robed Norginnen; her own attire a very wonder
of art. It was all of silk and down, and set off with ornaments of
jewellery beyond compare with any on earth; stones there were of value
enough to ransom three kingdoms; and in her coronet one which lighted
up the hall with its radiance--meet crown of her own loveliness! At
Lareyn's courteously worded request she gave all the guests a joyful
welcome, with a word of praise from her rosy lips for each, for their
fame of knightly deeds. But when she saw Dietlieb her joy knew no
bounds; they embraced each other with the heartfelt joy of those who
have been long and cruelly separated.
"Tell me, sister mine," said Dietlieb, anxiously turning to account
the brief opportunity her embrace gave him of whispering into her ear,
"is it of your own will that you are here, in this strange mountain
dwelling? is this Lareyn dear to you? and do you desire to dwell with
him? Or has his artifice been hateful to you? Say, shall I rid you
of his presence?"
"Brother, it is your help I need to decide this thing," replied the
maid. "Against Lareyn's mildness I have no word to say: gift upon gift
has been heaped upon me; with honour after honour have I been endowed;
and every wish of mine is fulfilled ere it is born. But when I think
of Him of whom all our pleasures are the bounty, I feel no pleasure in
pleasures so bestowed. This pagan folk holds Christ, our dear Lord, in
hate--and when I think of Him, I long to be again in Christendom [36]."
"Yes, Simild, sister dear, in Christendom is your place, not here; and
since such is your mind, cost what it will, I will set you free from
the Norg-king's power," was Dietlieb's answer; and there was no time
for more, for Lareyn called them back to the fresh-dressed banquet.
"Come, new allies but trusted friends!" cried the dwarf, "come, and
let us be merry, and pledge our troth in the ruby bowl! Lay aside
your heavy arms and armour, your sword and shield. Let us be light
and free as brothers together."
As he spoke a whole host of waiting-men appeared, who helped the
knights off with their armour, and brought them robes of rich stuffs
and costly work. The guests suffered them to do their will, for
they were lost in admiration at the choice banquet; at the table,
all of ivory inlaid with devices of birds and game so lifelike they
seemed to skim across the board; at the vessels of silver and gold
and crystal of untiring variety of design; and, above all, at the
order and harmony with which all was directed.
Cool wine from cellars under earth was now served round [37]; then
various dishes in constant succession, each rarer than the last;
and then again sounded soft, clear voices to the accompaniment of the
harmonious strings. And again and again the tankards were filled up
with Lautertrank, Moras [38], and wine.
At last the tables were drawn away, and at the same time Simild and
her maids withdrew; but many an hour more the guests sat while the
music and the singing continued to charm them. But lest even this
should weary, King Lareyn, as if determined there should be no end
to the change of pastimes with which he had undertaken to amuse his
guests, sent to fetch a certain conjuror who dwelt in the heart of a
high mountain, and whose arts surpassed any thing that had been done
before. The magician came at his bidding, and exhibited surprising
evidences of his craft, till at last the king said,--
"You are a cunning man, no doubt, but there is one exhibition of
your power you have never been able to give me, and I shall think
nothing of your art till you can satisfy me. In this country within
the mountains, these jewels fixed in vault, wall, and sky, weary one
with their perpetual glare. Make them to move as the luminaries of
earth, so that we may have calm, peaceful night for repose."
"True, O king! I have never before been able to accomplish this
desire," replied the magician; "but now I have acquired this art
also, and waited for a fitting occasion to make the first display of
the same."
"No occasion can be more fitting than the present," answered Lareyn,
"when by its inauguration you shall celebrate the visit of my honoured
guests, and also by its achievement afford them that rest from the
glare of day to which they are accustomed in their own nights."
"I desire but to obey," replied the magician; and forthwith he threw on
to the fire that burnt on a black stone before him, a powder which no
sooner touched the flame than a pale blue smoke arose with pleasing
scent, and, curling through the hall, presently extinguished the
brilliant shining of every countless jewel with which the walls and
roof were set.
"Now, if you are master of your art," continued the king, "let us
have light once more."
The magician, wrapt in his incantation, spoke not, but dropped another
powder on the flame, which at once sent up a wreathing fume of rainbow
hues, carrying back to every precious stone its lustre.
"Wondrous!" "Brave artist!" "Wondrous show indeed!" were the
exclamations which broke spontaneously from every lip.
"Now let it be dark again," said the king; and the magician quenched
the sparkling light as before.
"Now light," he cried; and so alternated until the sight was no longer
new. Now, it was dark, and this time Lareyn called no more for light,
nor spoke, and the silence was long; till the heroes grew anxious, and
Wittich turned to where Wolfhart had sat, and said, "I like not this:
who knows but that while we can see naught the Norgs may fall upon us
and destroy us?" But Wolfhart answered not, for a stupor had fallen
upon him that the fumes had been gifted to convey; and Wittich, too,
felt their influence before he could utter another word; so it was
with Hildebrand the Sage no less. Theodoric only had time to answer,
"Such treachery were not princely; and if Lareyn means harm to us,
he may be sure he will rue this day," and then sleep fell upon him
as on the others.
Dietlieb had already left the hall, thinking under cover of the
darkness to find his sister, but being met by a page had been conducted
to his apartment, and knew nothing of what had befallen the others.
Lareyn, meanwhile, sought out Simild in anxious mood. "Ever lovely
virgin!" he exclaimed, "support me with your prudent counsel in this
strait. I have already told you how your people have avenged on me
that I have loved you; how they have laid low my silken fence and
golden gates, and wasted my choice garden of roses. Good reprisals
I had thought to have taken, and had I been left man to man against
them I had overcome them all; but Hildebrand the Sage interposed
his advice: it was thus the Bernäre had the advantage over me, and
had it not been for your brother Dietlieb's stout defence, he had
even taken my life. But in all the other four beside him there is no
good, and in one way or another I had found means to rid me of them,
but for Dietlieb's sake, who would be as ready to oppose me in their
defence as he opposed Dietrich in mine. So, fair lady mine, say how
shall I end this affair?"
"If you would follow my advice," replied Simild, "be not rash;
and, above all, use no treachery; keep to the pact of peace that
you have sworn; and be sure the Christian knights will not go back
from their plighted word. But in place of the little girdle of
twelve-men's-strength that they took from you, here is a ring of
equal power which your seven magicians welded for me: with that you
will feel all your old consciousness of strength and dignity. But,
by all you hold dear, let the wigands go forth with honour!"
Lareyn was not slow to own that the counsel was good, and spoke as
if he would have followed it. But when he put on the ring, and found
himself endowed once more with twelve men's strength, he could not
forbear taking his sweet revenge for his yesterday's defeat and danger.
First, he had sevenfold bolts put on Dietlieb's door, that he might
not be able to come forth and aid his brethren; and then he sent
and called for one of the giants, who were always true allies to the
dwarfs, and entreated him to carry the heroes to a deep dungeon below
the roots of the mountains, where they should be bound, and shut out
from the light of day, and never again be able to do him harm.
The feat pleased the giant well; and, having bound a cord round the
waist of each of the sleeping heroes, slung the four over his shoulder
as if they had been no heavier than sparrows, and carried them to the
dungeon below the roots of the mountains, whither Lareyn led the way,
now skipping, now dancing, now singing, now laughing in high glee,
to think how well he had succeeded in ridding him of his foes--but
forgetting all about Simild's advice, and his promise to her.
It was not till next morning that the heroes woke; and then all was
cold and dark around them, and they knew they were no longer in the
hall of the banquet, for the iron chains and stanchions, the chill,
and must, and damp, and slime, told them they were in a dungeon
under earth.
Loudly they all exclaimed against the deceit with which they had
been caught, and loudly they all swore to find means to punish the
treacherous captor. But Theodoric's anger was greater than the anger
of them all; and the fiery breath [39] glowed so hot within him that
it scorched away the bonds with which he was bound!
Once more, then, his hands at least were free, and his companions
gave him joy; but his feet were still held to the rock by chains
of hard steel, the links as thick as a man's arm. Nevertheless, his
indignation was so great that when he beat them with his fists they
were obliged to yield, as they had been made of egg-shell; and when he
had broken his own chains he set to work and released the others also.
Great was their joy and thankfulness; but heaviness came down on them
again when they saw themselves closed in by the cruel rock, and all
their armour and weapons of defence locked up far away from them in
the Norg's castle. Another day they lay there in despair, and another,
for wise Hildebrand saw no way of passing through the rock [40].
Meantime Simild had grown uneasy at the silence that reigned in
the palace; there was no more sound of revel and festivity, and of
entertaining guests. She was no more sent for to entertain them, and
Lareyn hid himself from her, and avoided her. In dire fear she hunted
out the right key of her brother's apartment, and having covered
the glowing carbuncle in her coronet, which lighted up every place,
crept along silently till she had reached him.
"Sister mine!" exclaimed Dietlieb, "what does this mean? why am I
held fast by seven locks? and why do no tidings of my companions
reach me? Oh! had I but my sword and shield, I would release them
from the hands of Lareyn, and of how many Norgs soever he may have
at his command! or at least I would not survive to bear the shame of
living while they are in I know not what plight."
"Dietlieb, be guided by me," replied the maiden: "we must deliver them
out of the dire dungeon in which Lareyn has treacherously confined
them, but also we must have your life and honour safe. Take this ring
upon your hand, for against him who wears it none can prevail; and
then go and deliver your companions." With that she took him along
to where his armour lay concealed; and having girt him with it, she
said many a fervent blessing [41] over him, to preserve him from harm.
Endowed with the strength the ring gave him, Dietlieb was able to
load himself with the arms and armour of all the four heroes; and at
its command a way was made in the rock, through which he passed it in
to them. As each piece fell upon the hard floor, the clang re-echoed
through the far-off mountains.
Lareyn heard the noise, and knew what had befallen, so he sounded on
his horn the note that was known far and wide through all the lands
of the Norgs; and at the call three hundred thousand dwarfs appeared
swarming over the whole face of the country.
"To me, my men! to me!" cried Lareyn, as they drew near. "Before you
stands he who has essayed to release our enemies whom I and the giant
had bound under the roots of the mountains. He has given them back
their strong armour and their weapons of war, and if they get loose
and come among us, great havoc will they make of us, therefore smite
him down and destroy him!"
The dwarfs rushed on Dietlieb at the bidding of the king; but
Lareyn would not engage him himself, because he had fought for his
release. Dietlieb, young and strong, stood planted against a vault
of the rock, and as the mannikins approached him, he showered his
blows upon them, and sent them sprawling, till the dead and mangled
were piled up knee-deep around him.
The heroes heard the sound of the battle in their prison, and they
longed to take their part in the fray; but they saw no means of
breaking through the rock to reach him, till Hildebrand bethought him
that he had yet with him the girdle he had picked up when Theodoric
tore it from the Norg-king's body. This he now handed to the hero.
Theodoric took it, and spoke not for joy, but with its strength tore
down the living rock round the opening Dietlieb's ring had made,
and burst his way to stand beside the brave young Steieräre. This
done, scorning the girdle's strength, he cast it back to Hildebrand,
trusting in his good sword alone.
"Now, treacherous dwarf, come on!" he cried. "No knightly troth has
bound you, but against us, your guests and allies, you have acted
as one who has no right to live! Come here, and let me give you the
guerdon you have earned!"
Lareyn refused not; and the two fought with fury terrible to
behold. And yet Theodoric prevailed not. Then Hildebrand discerned
the ring of twelve-men's-strength on Lareyn's hand, where it was
not before, and knew it was a talisman, so he called to Theodoric,
and said,--
"Dietrich, my prince, seize yonder ring upon the Norg-king's hand! so
shall his strength be no more increased by the powers of his magic."
Theodoric, ever prone to be guided by the advice of the Sage, directed
a mighty blow upon the ring, so that the hoop must fain give way;
and the dwarf's power went from him.
"Now all your hosts, and all your arts, and all your gold shall profit
you nothing more!" So cried the Bernäre; "but condign penalties you
must suffer for your crime. My prisoner you are, nor is there any
can deliver you more."
The Norgs, grieving for their king's loss, trooped round Theodoric
and attacked him on every side; but he swang his good sword Velsungen
around, and at every sweep a hundred Norg's heads fell pattering at
his feet. Suddenly a little dwarf came running out from the mountain
rock, and seizing Lareyn's horn, blew on it notes which wandered wild
through all the forest-trees.
Five giants lived in the forest, and when they heard those notes they
knew the Norgs were in dire distress. With swift strides they came;
their helmets flashed like lightning over the tops of the pines;
and each brought his sword and pike of trenchant steel. The little
dwarf saw his brethren mown down like grass before the scythe,
and again sent forth his far-sounding notes of distress. The giants
heard it, and marched over hill and dale, till they came before the
mountain-side. Again the little dwarf sent out his appeal, and the
giants burst their way through the mountain; but albeit they came
with such speed, twelve thousand Norgs were meantime lost to King
Lareyn by Velsungen's strokes.
Dietlieb and Hildebrand, Wittich and Wolfhart mowed down their
harvest too.
Now they had to prepare for another kind of attack, for in fearful
array the five giants came down upon them, brandishing their clubs of
steel. But neither could these stand before the swords of the heroes,
and each several one laid low his adversary.
When the Norgs saw that their king was bound, and their best
fighting-men destroyed, and the giants themselves without breath,
they knew they could stand no longer before the wigands, but each
turned him and fled for refuge to the mountains.
The heroes then, seeing no more left to slay, went into the
banquet-hall, where only Simild stood, for all the Norgs had hidden
themselves in fear.
"Welcome, noble brother! and welcome, bold swords all!" cried the maid;
"you have delivered us from this treacherous king. Now you will go
home to your own land with glory and honour, and take me with you."
The heroes returned her greeting, and rejoiced in her praise; then
they piled up the treasure on to waggons, all they could carry, and
in triumph they made their way to earth, and Lareyn with them, bound.
First they directed their steps to Styria, till they came to the
spreading linden-tree whence Simild had first been taken; for there
sat Duke Biterolf, her father, bewailing his bereavement, and around
him trooped her maidens lamenting their companion.
All was restored to joy and gladness now that Simild was at home
again. They passed seven days in high festival, the heroes all
together; and many a time they had to tell the tale of their bold
deeds, and the wonders of the mountain-world. And the minstrels sang
to the merits of the conquerors, while the merry bowl passed round
and round.
At last Theodoric rose and thanked Biterolf for his hospitality,
who thanked him in return right heartily for the help he had lent
his son. With that Theodoric took his leave, and along with him went
Hildebrand the Sage, and Wittich the Wigand, and the strong Wolfhart,
and King Lareyn too, of whom Theodoric made his court-fool in his
palace at Verona.