As the thunder of that conflict through the mountain's heart_The Lay of the Nibelung Men

rolled,

It was heard of the Dwarf, the dauntless Albrich, the

tameless-souled.

In haste he armed him, and thither he ran, and behold, he found

That noble stranger-warrior, and the giant warder bound.

Of fiery mood was Albrich, and mighty strength he had:

In hauberk-rings and in helmet was his body for battle clad;

And a morning-star huge-headed of gold had he gripped in his hand.

With swift feet rushed he onward unto where did Siegfried stand.

Seven balls spike-studded and massy by chains from the mace-head

swung,

Wherewith on the shield that the hero's arm before him flung

He hailed down blows so bitter that in fragments all it flew,

So that somewhat adread that noble guest for his own life grew.

The shield by that flail of battle shattered he flung from his hand,

And he thrust back into the scabbard Balmung, the long keen brand:

He would smite not therewith, lest his faithful seneschal should die;

For aye was he noble-hearted, and the flower of chivalry.

But the hero leapt upon Albrich with his strong bare hands alone,

And fast by the beard he gripped him, that hoary-headed one,

And he mightily plucked, that the Earth-dwarf shrieked for very pain,

As the hero-knight tamed Albrich with his fingers' bitter strain.

Loud cried the erstwhile aweless: "Ah, leave my life unto me!

Had I not to another hero sworn true fealty,

And bowed myself in homage to be vassal to him for aye,

Thee would I serve to my death-day," did the crafty-wise one say.

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Then bound he Albrich, even as he bound that giant before:

Of a truth the prowess of Siegfried galled him exceeding sore!

Then asked the Dwarf of the hero: "I pray thee, how named art thou?"

And he answered: "My name is Siegfried: thou hast heard that name, I

trow."

Spake Albrich: "For these tidings of a truth mine heart is fain!

Of thy strength, the strength of a hero, hast thou given proof again,

Hast shown how well thou art worthy to be lord of the Niblung Land.

So thou spare me for that I withstood thee, will I do all thy

command."

Answered the good knight Siegfried: "Up then, and speedily

Bring thou unto me my bravest which here in the fortress be,

A thousand Niblungs: before me now would I see them brought."

But the cause for the which he desired them thus, he told him not.

Then Albrich and the giant from their bonds the hero unbound;

And the Dwarf to the place ran swiftly where the Niblung knights

slept sound;

And in eager haste he uproused them, the men of the Niblung array,

Crying, "Up, ye heroes! to Siegfried your lord must ye go

straightway."

Upsprang they from their couches, and they clad themselves with

speed;

And a thousand eager warriors stood arrayed in battle-weed;

And he led them to where Prince Siegfried abode them in that great

hall;

And they gave to him loving greeting by word and by deed withal.

They have kindled a hundred torches, they have poured the wine for

their lord;

And for that their speedy coming he thanked them with gracious word;

And he said to them: "Now shall ye follow with me far hence oversea."

And those valiant knights and loyal consented willingly.

Stout vassal-knights three thousand had gathered at his call,

And of these he chose a thousand, the goodliest of them all;

And their helmets were brought to the chosen, and all their harness

of war,

Forasmuch as their lord would lead them unto Brunhild's land afar.

And he spake: "O knights true-hearted, I would say unto you this

thing:

Ye must take rich raiment for wearing in the presence of Queen and

King;

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For there shall ye look upon many a maiden fair to see:

Therefore ye needs must adorn you with seemly bravery."

song!

How might in the castle be gathered so vast a knightly throng?

Wherewithal should all these be nourished, and whence purvey them

attire?

Though realms he had thirty, never had he brought to pass his

desire."

He had that realm in possession, and his was the Niblung Hoard.

So he gave to his war-thanes freely so much as they lacked, nay,

more.

How much he lavished soever, unminished still was his store.

Lo, in the dimness of dawning forth on the sea they fare:

--Ho for the eager warriors that Siegfried had gathered there!--

With goodly battle-horses and lordly attire sailed they:

So unto the land of Brunhild they came, a knightly array.

On her battlements many a fair one stood gazing over the sea.

Then spake that Daughter of Princes: "Knoweth any man who they be

Whom yonder I see far fleeting o'er the waters in gallant show?

How rich be the sails that waft them!--they be whiter than driven

snow!"

Then spake the Lord of Rhineland: "My royal train be these

Whom I left as I journeyed hither not far behind overseas.

I have sent to speed them hither: lo, now be they come, O Queen."

With wondering eyes the coming of those knightly guests was seen.

Men saw on a ship's prow Siegfried standing foremost of all

In princely vesture: beside him was many a warrior tall.

Then spake that Daughter of Princes: "Lord King, I pray thee,

declare:

Shall I greet these guests at their coming, or shall I from greeting

forbear?"

He said: "Thou shalt go to meet them with welcome in thy face

Forth of thy palace-portals, that none may doubt of thy grace."

So did that Daughter of Princes according as Gunther bade:

But cold and haughty greeting from Brunhild Siegfried had.

So they gave them lodging, and safely laid by their battle-gear.

And by this were guests so many there gathered from far and near,

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That for these too strait was the city as they thronged on every

hand.

And now would the valiant heroes fare home to Burgundia-land.

Then spake that Daughter of Princes: "Unto him were I

thankful-souled

Who for me would deal out my bounty of my silver and my gold

Unto my guests and King Gunther's; for full is my treasury."

Then Dankwart, Giselher's liegeman, made answer gallantly:

"O noble Daughter of Princes, unto me commit the key,

And I will deal forth thy treasure," said the valiant thane, "for

thee.

If any cry out on the niggard, on me be all blame thrown!"

--That Dankwart was open-handed, full soon was to all men known.

When to Hagen's brother committed was the key of her treasury,

The hand of the hero scattered rich gifts all lavishly.

Who craved but one mark only, on him was so much showered

That the poor of the land through their life-days might aye live

gladness-dowered.

Pounds of silver uncounted by hundreds lavished he;

And forth of her halls passed many in goodly bravery

Who never before in their life-tide clad in such splendour went.

But when Queen Brunhild heard it, was she passing ill-content.

She arose and she spake unto Gunther the King: "I dare well say

That nought is like to be left me of all my fair array

Through your chamberlain's reckless dealing: he squandereth all my

gold!

Whosoever should bridle his folly, to him were I thankful-souled.

Yon thane, he dreameth, quotha!--such rich gifts doth he give--

I have sent unto Death to take me! Nay, still am I minded to live.

And as for the gold of my fathers, myself can waste it, I trow.

Steward so open-handed never had queen ere now!"

Then answered Hagen of Troneg: "Be it known, O Lady, to thee,

Gold hath the King of Rhineland and raiment fair to see

To bestow in such rich abundance, that in sooth he needeth not

Of all the treasure of Brunhild to carry hence one jot."

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"Now nay, by your love I charge you," that Queen to the Rhine-lords

spake,

"With gold and with silken raiment coffers filled would I take

Twice ten with me for my journey: myself with mine own hand

Will bestow my royal bounty, when we come to Burgundia-land,"

For the Queen then stored they the coffers with many a precious gem;

And the chamberlains of Brunhild the while must be watching them:

She would suffer not Gunther's liegeman in the storing thereof to

partake;

And thereover Gunther and Hagen into merry laughter brake.

"Now to whom," said that Daughter of Princes, "shall I commit my

land

Ere we go? Be a warder appointed by mine and by thine hand."

Made answer Gunther the noble: "Summon thou hitherward

Whomsoever thou pleasest: appoint him its governor and lord."

Then the Lady looked on her kinsmen, and beheld one nigh at hand,

And the man was her mother's brother; and to him gave she her

command:

"Now let my land and my castles be given in charge from this day

Unto thee, till it please King Gunther to take them under his sway."

Out of the train of her vassals two thousand men chose she

For them which should fare on the journey with her unto Burgundy

With the thousand knights of the Niblungs that with Siegfried voyaged

o'er.

For the journey they made them ready: men saw them ride to the shore.

Four-score and six fair ladies did she lead with her overseas,

And withal a hundred maidens, and sweet to see were these.

Now forth and away would they hasten; they would linger there no

more;

But of such as they took not with them many an one wept sore.

In fashion as well befitteth a queen, so left she the land:

She kissed her nearest and dearest at the last farewell by the

strand.

And so with fair leave-taking they launched on the northern main;

And the ancient land of her fathers the maid saw never again.

Still as they voyaged, joyance made music through all the way:

With manifold merry pastime they whiled the hours away.

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They were wafted on to the outsea by a breeze that followed fast;

And so with mirth and laughter from land unto land they passed.

Yet not upon that voyage would she be King Gunther's bride;

But his bliss awhile must tarry until the bridal-tide

In the Castle of Worms, at the stately marriage-festival,

When with joy they should come with their heroes unto Gunther's

royal hall.

IX.

How Siegfried bare Tidings to the Royal City

Now when they had so sailed onward for nine days over the sea,

Then out spake Hagen of Troneg: "I pray you, hearken to me:

Lo, here we tarry from sending the tidings to Worms on Rhine;

Yet by this in the land Burgundian should they be, those heralds of

thine."

Made answer to him King Gunther: "Of a truth good counsel is this;

And to send as our tidings-bearer were none so meet, I wis,

As thou thyself, friend Hagen; thou unto my land ride on.

Our royal journey may no man better than thou make known."

"Now nay, Lord King, of heralds nowise the best should I be.

Let me as thy treasure-warder tarry still on the sea:

Here will I bide with the women, and guard their costly array

Till unto the land Burgundian we have brought them on their way.

Not so; pray rather Siegfried to bear this message for thee:

Well can he do thine errand with wisdom and courtesy.

If he haply be loth for the journey, in kingly-courteous wise

Entreat him in kindly fashion by the love in thy sister's eyes."

Then unto the knight sent Gunther, and he came before the King;

And he said to him: "Nigh are we gotten to my land in our journeying;

And now to my dear-loved sister would I send a messenger,

And withal to my mother, to tell them who to the land draw near.

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So then, Lord Siegfried, I pray thee that thou wouldst bear this

word,

And so will I aye be beholden to thee," said the Rhineland's lord.

Yet loth was Siegfried the valiant, and fain would have said him nay,

Until the King besought him, and thus did Gunther pray:

He said unto him: "For my love's sake thitherward shouldst thou ride,

And withal for the sake of Kriemhild, the maiden lovely-eyed,

To the end that the royal maiden with me may requite thy pain."

When heard was her name of Siegfried, the knight was exceeding fain.

"Lay on me what charge thou pleasest," he answered, "all shall be

done:

With joy shall it be accomplished for the sake of that lovely one

Whom I bear in my heart enshrinèd!--who am I, to deny or defer?

Even all that thou requirest will I perform for her."

"So then to my mother Uta the Queen of the land say thou

That with heart uplifted and joyous I am faring homeward now.

And how we have sped in our wooing do thou to my brethren unfold:

And to all our nearest and dearest withal be the story told.

Yea, from my sister, the fair one, nought shalt thou hide thereof:

Commend unto her Queen Brunhild and me in service of love.

And unto all my servants and to all my vassals say,

Whatsoever mine heart hath longed for, all have I gained this day.

And to Ortwein, my nephew belovèd, bear this hest of mine,

That he shall prepare us high-seats in the city beside the Rhine.

Tell also my vassals and kinsfolk this--be it known to them all

That I purpose for Brunhild's bridal a high-tide festival.

And make my request to my sister, that now that she hath learned

How that I to the land Burgundian with these my guests have returned,

She receive with loving welcome this my belovèd bride:

So bound evermore unto Kriemhild shall my love and my service abide."

Then of the Lady Brunhild and of all her following

Fair leave was taken of Siegfried, the child of Siegmund the King,

Even as was meet and seemly: then on to the Rhine rode he.

No better herald than Siegfried in all the world might be!

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With good knights four-and-twenty to the city of Worms he came.

"Without Gunther he cometh!"--the rumour through the city ran like

flame.

Then all the thanes were troubled, and a wailing moaned all round.

They foreboded that in that far land his death the King had found.

But the knights with hearts uplifted sprang each from his gallant

steed.

Then Giselher to meet them, the young Prince, hied him with speed:

Came Gernot beside him, his brother, and in eager haste he cried,

When he marked how no King Gunther was there by Siegfried's side:

"Now welcome to thee, Lord Siegfried! I beseech thee, tell this

thing,

Where left ye in your departing my brother, Gunther the King?

The mighty strength of Brunhild, I fear me, hath reft him from us;

So for us should his princely wooing have issue dolorous."

"Cast to the winds your foreboding: to you and to all true friends

My noble comrade in emprise his loving service sends.

Whole and unharmed I left him: unto you was I sent of your Lord

That I should come with the tidings his messenger hitherward.

Now lend me your aid, to the end that this grace unto me may fall

That I may see Queen Uta, and the Lady your sister withal,

That now I may bear them the story that I was bidden to tell

Of Gunther and Lady Brunhild, that with these twain all is well."

Then the young Prince Giselher answered: "Speak thou unto them

thereof,

So shalt thou unto my sister render a service of love.

For the sake of my brother Gunther in exceeding sorrow she is.

Full gladly the maiden will see thee: lo, I will be surety for this."

Spake Siegfried: "What service soever unto her may be rendered of me,

Faithfully will I perform it ever and willingly.

Now who beareth word of my coming to the noble Ladies twain?"

So Giselher was herald, that young and comely thane.

Blithely Giselher hasted, and the lad to his mother cried

And his sister, where in their bower these twain sat side by side:

"Siegfried the Netherland hero hither to us is come!

Gunther my brother hath sent him to us in our Rhineland home!

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Tidings to us he bringeth of the King your brother's plight.

Now send him word of your pleasure that he come into your sight.

The story of all that in Iceland was done unto us he brings."

--But he left to another to comfort those sorrowing Daughters of

Kings.

They ran to their tiring-bower, they donned their richest array,

And they sent word praying Siegfried to come unto them straightway.

Full fain did he come at their summons, and he met them with joyful

eyes.

Then spake Kriemhild the queenly to the hero in gracious wise:

"Now welcome, Lord Knight Siegfried, peer unto whom is none!

Where bideth my brother Gunther, that noble kingly one?

Through the might of Brunhild, I fear me, are we left of his love

forlorn!

Woe for me, hapless maiden, that ever I was born!"

But the bold knight smiled in answer--"My good-news' guerdon pay!

Ye be weeping, O lovely Ladies, without a cause this day.

Whole and unharmed I left him: this know ye in very deed.

Unto you twain by their bidding with tidings hither I speed.

With all heart's love and kindness, O Lady of queenly pride,

In service to you he commends him, he and his new-won bride.

Now let your weeping have ending; soon will themselves be here."

Long, long had it been ere she hearkened a tale to her heart so dear!

Then dried she the tears of her weeping with her vesture's

snow-white fold

From her lovely eyes, and she poured forth the thanks of the

happy-souled

To the bearer of these glad tidings that made music in her ears.

Past was all her affliction, and banished were all her tears.

She prayed her herald to seat him; that did he willingly;

Then spake that winsome lady: "Exceeding glad were I

If I dared but give unto Siegfried my gold for his herald's fee;

But for this art thou too exalted--I have left but love for thee."

But he said, "Though thirty kingdoms were each and all named mine,

Gifts would I take glad-hearted from this fair hand of thine."

Answered the high-born Lady, "My desire shall become my deed."

And her chamberlain she commanded to bring her the herald's meed.

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Four-and-twenty armlets that flashed with many a gem

Gave she to him for guerdon: for himself he kept not them;

Of his knightly and courteous spirit he dealt them in that same hour

To her comely maidens which waited on their Lady in her bower.

Then her most loving service graciously tendered the Queen.

"Lo, this of my message remaineth," spake on that warrior keen,

"Touching that which the King desireth when he meets you by

Rhine-flood's side:

If herein ye will do his pleasure, in his love shall ye ever abide.

His noble guests receive ye--for this his petition is--

With loving and courteous welcome; and he earnestly asketh this,

That ye ride forth all to meet him from Worms by the Rhine-stream

shore.

This is the kindness that Gunther by your love and your faith doth

implore."

"Even that will I do right gladly," the Fair One made reply:

"Of all wherein I can serve him nothing will I deny.

In loyallest love and kindness shall his every wish be fulfilled."

And the blood in her fair cheeks mantled from the heart with rapture

thrilled.

Never had herald of princes more gracious welcome than he:

An she dared but have kissed him, kissed him with all her heart had

she.

And so with sweet leave-taking from those ladies forth he went.

Now Burgundy's thanes were fulfilling the commands by Siegfried

sent.

There Sindold and Hunold bestirred them, and Rumold the noble thane;

With all their hearts they laboured, and in love they toiled amain

Making ready the festal high-seats in Worms beside the river:

Early and late those craftsmen of the King were toiling ever.

Ortwein withal and Gere were nowise slack of hand,

For they sent forth word unto kinsmen through the length and the

breadth of the land

To bid those guests to the feast-tide that soon should be holden

there;

And ready was made her adorning by many a maiden fair.

Splendour-arrayed was the palace, and with tapestries each wall

Was hung in the great guests' honour: King Gunther's royal hall

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Was adorned in princely fashion to greet the strangers' eyes:

And thus did the stately feast-tide begin in gladsome wise.

Now did the three Kings' kinsmen down many a highway ride

Through all the land to the city, which were summoned from every side

To the end that these with honour might welcome the bidden guests.

Then drawn from their cedar coffers were many costly vests.

Now heard are the tidings that watchers have spied the far-off gleam

Of the knights of the train of Brunhild. Lo, how the great throngs

stream

As all the multitudes gather and flock through Burgundia-land!

What gallant knights went riding in either princely band!

Then spake she, Kriemhild the Lovely: "O my bower-maidens, ye

Which forth unto this guest-welcome this day will ride with me,

Out of the coffers take ye attire most glorious,

And so shall praise and honour by the guests be rendered to us."

Then also hasted the good knights, and bade their squires bring out

Goodly saddles with red gold all richly set about.

Mounting-blocks gold-gleaming upon foot-cloths spread on the earth

They set for the feet of the ladies on that day of gladness and

mirth.

There in the court stood waiting the palfreys richly dight,

Prepared, as the old song telleth, for many a lady bright.

On the breast of each horse gleaming was the dainty martingale

Of the richest silk threads woven ever sung in minstrel's tale.

Fourscore-and-six fair ladies came pacing forth in state

With their bright hair wimple-hooded: gather now to the palace-gate

Kriemhild's own bower-maidens in lovely vesture arrayed;

Decked with their jewels came they, many a winsome maid.

Fifty-and-four were her fair ones, the maids of Burgundia-land;

There were none of such high-born lineage as they of her queenly

band:

The silken snoods fair-jewelled mid their golden tresses shone.

Sooth, all that the King had prayed for, with right good will was it

done.

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All of the costliest loom-work and the best that earth bestowed

Was the vesture of their arrayal as to meet those guests they rode;

With the lily and rose of their faces it blended in harmony.

Whosoe'er had been ill-contented, a witless wight were he!

Mantles of ermine and sable over the housings flowed;

On lovely arm and white wrist many a bracelet glowed.

Clasps gathered the silk in many a softly-floating fold:--

But of all their splendour-devising the end can ne'er be told.

Full many a rich-wrought girdle with tassels swinging low

Over their shining raiment did hands of ladies throw,

Coiled round the silken loom-work far-fetched from Araby.

--O, the hearts of the noble maidens with joy and hope beat high!

There too did many a fair one over her bosom lace

The bodice clasped with jewels:--yet she whose lovely face

Outshone not all the splendour of her raiment might well be sad!

So fair a train of ladies never queen in the whole world had.

So when all those winsome ladies were arrayed in their bravery,

Then did the knights of their escort in eager haste draw nigh;

Yea, thither the thanes high-hearted came in a mighty throng

All bearing their shining bucklers and their ashen lances long.

Of the strange Bridal of Gunther and Brunhild

Then gazed they across the Rhine-stream, and beheld on the farther

shore

The King with his guests around him, which had drawn nigh

theretofore;

And they saw the good knights standing by the bridle of many a maid,

Even them that they looked to welcome, who now for their coming

stayed.

So passed they down to the galleys, that host from the Northern Land,

They and the Niblung thousand, even Siegfried's own war-band,

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And adown the bank they hasted: their toil the rowers plied,

Till all these friends of Gunther had won to the farther side.

Now list ye withal, how the story of the Queen of Burgundy

Telleth, how Uta the stately with her maiden-company

Went forth of the castle riding with that bright cavalcade:

Then were made known to each other many a knight and maid.

The Lord of the Marches, Gere, led Kriemhild's steed by the rein

To the fortress-gate, no farther: Siegfried the noble thane

Should render her service thereafter--how queenly and lovely she

shone!

Well was his service requited by the maiden's love anon.

Ortwein the noble, the dauntless, led onward Uta the Queen,

And, each by a lady riding, was many a knight there seen.

Unto festal welcoming rode they, plain for all folk to see.

Never was seen of ladies so goodly a company!

In front of Kriemhild the lovely, through all the merry way

Those far-famed heroes jousted in gentle and joyous play:

'Twas the ancient and honoured custom. So when to the ships they

came,

Then lifted they from their palfreys full many a noble dame.

Now the King had by this crossed over with many a stranger knight;

But in jousting still they shivered strong spears in ladies' sight.

Ever the shields were ringing with echoing clash and clang;

In the press of the warriors charging rich bosses mightily rang.

As the thunder of that conflict through the mountain's heart far