strife:
But he slowly at last bare backward to the couch that maiden-wife.
How grimly she fought soever, her strength waxed faint at the last:
But aye through the heart of Gunther a tumult of wild thoughts
passed.
{P. 92}
Long, long it seemed unto Gunther ere Siegfried tamed her mood.
Her grip on his hands was so mighty that from 'neath his nails the
blood
At her terrible crushing spirted, that his soul was wrung with pain:
Yet he wore her down by his stubborn endurance, and forced to refrain
From the fury of eager onset, from the erstwhile tiger-leap.
--Ware of all this was Gunther, though he hearkened in silence deep.
He crushed her against the bed-beam, that for pain aloud she cried;
For the strength of Siegfried the mighty tortured at last the bride.
In a desperate hope, at the girdle that around her sides she wore
She snatched, if she haply might bind him; but this from her grasp he
tore.
Her joints are strained unto breaking, on the rack is her fainting
frame--
Lo, now is the strife's decision: wife to the King is the dame.
She moaned, "O king and hero, take not my life from me!
Atoned for in wifely duty shall be all scathe done unto thee!
Against thy noble embraces myself no more do I ward.
At last have I throughly proved it, that thou art master and lord."
Uprose from the grapple Siegfried--while faint lay the panting
bride--
Back drew he as though he were minded to put but his raiment aside:
Yet first did he draw from her finger a little golden ring;
But thereof the Queen outwearied knew not anything.
That silken marvel, her girdle, for a trophy withal took he:
I know not if haply he did it in pride of victory.
To his wife he gave them thereafter--his own bane came thereof!
He is gone; and the King and Brunhild are alone in the bed of love.
All in the old sweet fashion he gathered her unto his breast:
The erstwhile shame and the anger are for ever laid to rest.
As Love the Overcomer prevailed, her cheek waxed wan--
There is no more Brunhild the Maiden, and her might as a dream is
gone!
O yea, she is now no stronger than any woman beside!
He poured out his love upon her, he cherished his winsome bride.
Ay, though she now should withstand him, what were her strength made
frail?
Unto Gunther is victory given by Love who is strong to prevail.
{P. 93}
Ah, in what lovingkindness the knight and the lady lay
Through the glory-litten darkness till the shadows fled away!
But long since had the hero Siegfried from the Bower of Slain Hate
hied
To the welcoming arms of the lovely, to the lips of a waiting bride.
Lightly he put by questions that trembled on her tongue;
And he kept those victory-trophies hidden from sight full long,
Until to his Queen in his kingdom he gave, afar and late,
The Gifts of Doom--how little availeth to strive with fate!
That King on the morrow's dawning far blither was of cheer
Than yestermorn: through the marches of his kingdom far and near
High swelled the tides of joyance in stately homes and fair;
And the guests to the palace bidden rendered him homage there.
Through days twice seven lasted the joy of the bridal-feast,
So that in all that season never the music ceased
Of all manner of mirth and pastime that the wit of man may devise:
And all was at Gunther's charges at his marriage-solemnities.
The noble Gunther's kinsmen, according to his behest,
Gave gifts of gold in his honour, and many a rich-wrought vest.
Silver withal and horses on the wandering bard they bestowed:
All lovers of royal bounty from Worms glad-hearted rode.
Yea, also Siegfried the Hero, the Prince of the Nether Land,
Caused all the goodly raiment that was brought by his Niblung band,
His thousand, to Rhine, to be given to whosoever might crave,
Fair horses withal, and saddles: like kings his vassals gave.
Ere the giving of costly presents to an end had wholly come,
Long seemed the time to the sated guests that yearned for home.
Ne'er with such royal bounty were desires of guests fulfilled.
So ended the marriage high-tide, and all was as Gunther willed.
XI.
How Siegfried and his Wife journeyed Home
{P. 94}
Now so soon as the guests of Gunther had wended all away,
Then spake the Son of Siegmund unto them of his vassal-array:
"Time is it we made us ready to our fatherland to ride."
Right glad to hear that saying was the heart of Kriemhild the bride.
Then spake she unto her husband: "How soon is thy mind to depart?
So hastily hence to be faring is nowise after mine heart,
Ere my brethren divide me my portion of the land of Burgundy."
But vexed was the soul of Siegfried that such her desire should be.
Then came unto him the Princes, and with one voice spake all three:
"We do thee to wit, Lord Siegfried, that for aye are we bound unto
thee
In loyalty of service, so long as life shall remain."
Unto this their gracious tender low bowed that royal thane.
"We will give thee withal thy portion," the young lord Giselher
cried,
"Of all that we hold in possession, of our castles and manors wide,
And of all this mighty kingdom the rule whereof we claim.
Yea, thou receivest with Kriemhild thine own full share of the same."
Made answer then to the Princes the son of Siegmund the King,
When he heard the speech of their kindness and their royal offering:
"God seal unto you by His blessing your heritage all your life,
And therewithal its people: but this my beloved wife,
No need hath she of the portion that ye so freely would give.
Where she shall reign a crowned queen--if to see that day we live--
There shall she be far richer than any the wide world through.
For all that beside ye have proffered I am ever beholden to you."
Then answered the Lady Kriemhild: "Though lightly thou reck of my
land,
As touching the thanes Burgundian not so doth the matter stand:
For the escort-royal homeward these may no king disdain.
Let my loving brethren give me of these for my princely train."
{P. 95}
Answered and spake Lord Gernot: "Whomsoever thou wilt, take thou.
Thou shalt find here many that gladly will ride with thee, I trow.
There be good knights thirty hundred; take thee a thousand of these
For thy palace-retainers." Kriemhild 'gan send forth messages
Unto Hagen of Troneg and Ortwein, and asked that mighty twain
If they and their kinsmen accepted Kriemhild for suzerain.
But an answer of scornful anger from Hagen her message won:
"Unto no one on earth can Gunther pass us as chattels on!
Let other escort-vassals with you on your journey go.
The Law of the Men of Troneg full well by this should ye know:
We be bound to abide with our liege-lord the King in hall and field,
And to them which have had our homage, our homage ever to yield."
So they spake no more of the matter, but they dight them for the
way;
And Kriemhild took for escort of her noble palace-array
Two-and-thirty maidens, and of knights five hundred men;
And Eckwart Lord of the Marches went forth with Kriemhild then.
All these took leave of their people, from the henchman unto the
knight,
The stately dame and the handmaid, even as was meet and right:
With manifold clasping and kissing was wrought that sundering.
So fared they forth blithe-hearted from the land of Gunther the King.
Far on the way with them kinsfolk for friendship and honour fared.
Unto Burgundy's uttermost marches for their resting was lodging
prepared
Wheresoe'er in the land of Gunther they chose to abide for the night.
Therewithal to the old king Siegmund were messengers sent forthright,
To bear unto him the tidings and to Siegelind the Queen
That his son and the Daughter of Uta full soon at his gates should be
seen,
Kriemhild the Fair, from the City of Worms, from the Rhine-stronghold.
Never could welcomer tidings in the ears of these be told.
"Happy am I," cried Siegmund, "that I live to see the day
When in this land Kriemhild the Lovely shall be crowned for royal
sway!
Henceforth shall my father's kingdom yet higher in honour stand,
For now shall my son, my Siegfried, himself be king of the land."
{P. 96}
Then Siegelind gave to the heralds for vesture the velvet red
And the massy gold and the silver, their guerdon for tidings sped.
She joyed beyond words for the story, she had gotten her heart's
desire.
And all her palace-maidens made ready their fairest attire.
Each told unto other what escort drew with Siegfried near;
And they gave command that the craftsmen should the ranks of the
high-seats rear
Wherefrom all friends should behold him crowned their king ere long.
Then rode forth onward to meet them King Siegmund's vassal-throng.
If ever was royaller welcome, thereof have I heard not yet
Than this wherewith were the heroes in the land of Siegmund met.
Forth to the meeting with Kriemhild did Siegfried's mother ride
With many a lovely lady and valiant knight at her side.
A day's march rode they, or ever those guests they might behold.
Home-dwellers and far-comers alike were restless-souled
Till they met at the last by a fortress with towers encompassed
round,
Xanten its name, where Siegfried and Kriemhild ere long should be
crowned.
With smiling lips King Siegmund and Siegelind greeted there
With kisses on loving kisses Queen Uta's daughter fair
And Siegfried the Knight--for his safety had their hearts been long
in pain;--
And they gave withal glad welcome unto all his escort-train.
Into the hall of Siegmund the long-desired led they;
And unto the winsome handmaids was many a hand straightway
Upreached, from the palfreys to lift them: knights many of high
degree
Waited on those fair ladies with eager courtesy.
How splendid soever the bridal had been where Rhine-river flowed,
This day far goodlier raiment on the hero-guests they bestowed
For the marriage-feast, than ever had arrayed them in all their days.
Of the wealth of their kingdom marvels are sung in the minstrels'
praise.
So sat they high in honour amid all that heart desired.
In what gold-broidered vesture were the palace-pages attired!
{P. 97}
With needlework laid were their garments and the gemstone's starry
sheen
By the heedful care provided of Siegelind the Queen.
Then in his leal friends' presence did Siegmund rise and say:
"Be it known unto all my lovers and all my folk this day
That from this hour forward Siegfried the crown of my lordship shall
wear."
And with joy that proclamation did the men of the Netherland hear.
Unto Siegfried his crown he committed, his land, and the power of the
sword.
Henceforth was he lord and master: as he spake in judgment's award,
As he visited for transgression, his word was the whole land's law,
So that under the lord of Kriemhild all men bowed down in awe.
In the midst of such high honour he lived--this witness is true--
Doing crowned kings' judgment and justice, till onward the tenth year
drew.
And now to the fair Queen Kriemhild was born at the last a son
In whom for the kinsmen of Siegfried all hope and desire were won.
They bare to the font baptismal the babe, and they chose him a name,
The name of his uncle Gunther--thereof could he take no shame.
So he grew unto man like his kinsman, a valiant lord should he be.
And with watchful love, as behoved them, they nurtured him heedfully.
Now it came to pass that in those days did the Lady Siegelind die,
And to Uta's noble daughter passed all her majesty,
As beseemed so royal a lady in the land where her lord bare sway:
Yet sorely for her they lamented whom death had taken away.
Now also beside Rhine-river, as the olden minstrels sing,
In that fair land Burgundian unto Gunther the mighty king
The Queen, even Brunhild the lovely, had also borne a son.
Siegfried, for love of the Hero, they named that little one.
Ah, with what care exceeding they watched his childhood-days!
Wise warders Gunther appointed to rear him in wisdom's ways,
Even all that for noble manhood and knightly should stand him in
stead.
--Ah me, what woes from his kinsfolk lighted on that child's head!
{P. 98}
Through the golden years was the story aye published far and wide
In what fashion those valiant barons in princely pomp and pride
Lived in the land of Siegmund through the happy-fleeting days.
Yea, Gunther withal with his kinsfolk dwelt amid all men's praise.
All the land of the Niblungs was bowed under Siegfried's sway,
--Such wealth had none of his kinsfolk as gathered in that Hoard
lay--
With all the knights of Schilbung and the slain kings'
treasure-store;
And for this cause heart-uplifted was the hero yet the more.
Yea, a Hoard, of treasures the hugest that ever hero won,
Save the lords that of old possessed it, had Siegfried gained for
his own,
The which by the Misty Mountain his right hand took in fight,
When he dealt for its sake the death-stroke unto many a stalwart
knight.
He was crowned with the fulness of honour--yea, had his portion been
less,
Yet of that noble warrior all men must needs confess
That of all knights this was the chiefest that ever backed a steed.
Men dreaded his might--and reason had they in veriest deed!
XII.
How Gunther bade Siegfried to a Festival
Now through all these years ever Brunhild the Queen to her own heart
said:
"How comes it that Lady Kriemhild beareth so proudly her head?
And yet is her husband Siegfried nought but our vassal, I trow;
Yet for long hath he rendered homage or service little enow!"
So bare she in secret a burden of brooding and heart's unrest,
And that these in a far land tarried was ever a thorn in her breast,
Yea also, that none brought tribute to her out of Siegfried's land;
How it befell she knew not, and she wearied to understand.
Then made she trial of Gunther, if haply she might attain
Her purpose, to meet Queen Kriemhild face to face again;
{P. 99}
And she took with him secret counsel for that whereon aye did she
brood.
But the word of the Queen unto Gunther seemed in no wise good.
"How might we bring them hither?" that noble King replied,
"Even to this our kingdom? The thing can never betide.
Too far is their dwelling: I dare not ask that this might be!"
But Brunhild to him made answer with speech of subtlety:
"And be he never so mighty, who is vassal still to a King,
Whatsoever his liege-lord biddeth, of force must he do the thing."
Smiled Gunther for this delusion that in her heart had place--
Little he thought on homage when he looked upon Siegfried's face.
"Nay, dear my lord," she made answer, "I pray thee, help me herein--
By my love I beseech thee--that Siegfried and thy sister Kriemhild
the Queen
May come unto this thy kingdom, that we may behold them here.
In all this world could be given no joy to mine heart more dear.
That gracious mien of thy sister, and her queenly courtesy,
Still as I muse thereover, how sweet is the memory,
How we sat at the feast of my bridal side by side at the board!
In sooth hath she chosen with honour Siegfried the brave for her
lord."
She lay on him sore in entreaty, that at last King Gunther said:
"Now know, that no guests more welcome my feast-hall floor could
tread.
Lightly is gained thy petition: swift messengers of mine
Shall be sent unto them, to bid them come unto us by Rhine."
Then spake that Daughter of Princes: "Now shalt thou tell unto me
When thou wilt send to bid them, and how many days shall it be
Ere come into this our kingdom the friends we love so well.
And whom thou wilt send to bid them unto me beforehand tell."
"Yea," answered the King, "that will I: There shall go of my
knightly array
Thirty thitherward riding." For these did he send straightway;
And with that message he charged them, to bear it to Siegfried's
land.
Rich raiment to gladden their spirits received they of Brunhild's
hand.
"My knights, ye shall take this message from me"; thus spake the
King;
"And of all wherewith I have charged you withhold not anything.
{P. 100}
Say unto Siegfried the mighty, and unto my sister say,
That in all this world may no one be dearer to me than they.
And pray them to come to their kinsfolk here beside Rhine-river:
And for this unto them shall Brunhild and I be beholden ever.
Ere summer to autumn waneth full many shall he see here,
Even he and his men, that in honour hold him passing dear.
And bear ye to King Siegmund my service in courtesy,
And say that to him aye bounden my friends and I shall be:
And pray ye also my sister that she tarry not to ride
To her friends--she hath lighted never on so worthy a festal-tide."
Brunhild withal, and Uta, yea, every high-born dame
Unto the land of Siegfried fair greeting sent by name
To their kinsfolk and their acquaintance, fair lady and valiant
knight.
So, sped by King and Council, they hasted thence forthright;
For they stood all girt for the journey, seeing all things ready to
hand
Had they, their horses, their raiment: so rode they forth of the
land.
On to the goal they hasted whereunto their hearts were bent.
Strong escort on that wayfaring to guard them the King had sent.
So it was, on the twelfth day's dawning they came to the Niblung
land,
To the fencèd city, whither they were sent by the King's command.
Afar on the marches of Norway that hero-thane found they:
And by this were steed and rider forwearied with all the way.
Unto Siegfried and unto Kriemhild were tidings borne with speed
That knights were come to their castle arrayed in suchlike weed
As folk in the land Burgundian were wont to wear alway.
Then leapt from the couch that lady, where resting yet she lay;
And a certain one of her handmaids she bade to the casement go,
Who beheld the valiant Gere in the court stand therebelow,
Even him and his fellow-farers which thither from far had sped.
All heart-ache of the exile like a dream at the tidings fled.
And she cried aloud unto Siegfried: "Behold how there they wait,
These that with Gere the stalwart have ridden through our gate,
{P. 101}
These whom my brother Gunther unto us down Rhine-flood sends!"
Made answer Siegfried the mighty, "Welcome to us be our friends!"
Straightway beholding them hasted to greet them squire and knight,
And this one and that with welcome hailed them, and, each as he
might,
They paid to the heralds royal all loving courtesies.
Yea, also the old King Siegmund rejoiced for the coming of these.
So when they had given fair lodging to Gere and all his men,
And had stabled in stall their horses, they led those messengers then
To the place where sat King Siegfried with Kriemhild at his side,
Even the Hall of the Presence, when his pleasure was signified.
Then the King and the Queen from their high-seats rose up at their
entering-in,
And they graciously greeted the envoys of their far Burgundian kin,
Even these and their fellow-farers, King Gunther's liegemen all,
And entreated Gere the noble, "Sit thou with us in the hall."
"Let us first of our message acquit us, ere we sit down to rest:
So long let him stand in thy presence, thy travel-weary guest;
And so shall the word be spoken which is sent unto you of the King,
Of Gunther, and of Queen Brunhild. In bliss be they prospering.
From the Lady Uta thy mother, O Queen, have we also a word,
And from Giselher the stripling, and from Gernot the royal lord,
And from all your nearest kinsfolk: hither have these sent us
From Burgundia-land with greetings exceeding courteous."
"God guerdon them!" said Siegfried; "I put my trust alway
In their love and their faith true-hearted, as friend with friend
doth aye:
This doth withal their sister. Now shall ye further tell
If our friends in their far-off homeland be merry, and all go well.
Since the day that we parted from them, hath any evil been done
By a foe to my Lady's brethren? Concerning this say on.
In loyal faith will I help them aye to the uttermost.
Of my service to these shall foemen learn to their bitter cost."
{P. 102}
Answered the Lord of the Marches, Gere, a right good knight:
"In chivalry and in joyance be all things going aright;
And they bid you now unto Rhineland to a glorious festal-tide.
Glad shall they be to behold you, hereof be ye certified.
They beseech my Lady Kriemhild withal that she come with thee
So soon as the feet of the winter from the face of the spring shall
flee.
Or ever the summer waneth full fain would they look upon you."
Answered Siegfried the mighty, "Not lightly this may I do!"
But Gere the earl Burgundian spake on furthermore:
"Nay also Uta your mother beseecheth you very sore,
And Giselher and Gernot: ye may not say them nay.
That ye dwell so far from their faces is their sorrow day by day.
Brunhild withal my Lady and her maidens in bower and hall
Rejoice over this my message; and if haply it might befall
That they look once more on your faces, heart-uplifted they were."
Then exceeding glad for the tidings was Kriemhild the loving and
fair.
Now the Queen's near kinsman was Gere, and the King bade seat him
on high,
And pour them the wine of welcome; no more might they put it by.
Thither withal came Siegmund, and rejoiced their faces to see;
And the old king lovingly greeted the heralds of Burgundy:
"Welcome to us, ye liegemen of Gunther, knight and thane!
Behold, forasmuch as Siegfried my son to wife hath ta'en
Kriemhild, the great King's sister, more oft should we see you thus
Guests in our land, if closer ye would knit up friendship with us."
And they cried, whensoe'er it should please him, with joyful hearts
would they come.
From their limbs was weariness banished, by gladness stolen
therefrom.
Then the horns blew up to the banquet, and they feasted with all good
cheer,
For Siegfried had bidden lavish the best upon friends so dear.
{P. 103}
Till nine full days were accomplished, they constrained them there
to abide,
Till the eager knights uplifted a voice of complaining, and cried:
"Will ye aye withhold us from riding back to our land at all?"
Then to a council did Siegfried his friends and his kinsmen call.
He prayed them to give their counsel, should he go to the Rhine or
forbear:
"Gunther, my fair Queen's brother, entreateth me to fare
To the land where he and his brethren a mighty feast will array;
And fain would I go, but his kingdom is exceeding far away.
And they make request that Kriemhild shall thitherward fare with me.
Give counsel, friends and kinsmen, shall this her journey be?
Were it but to lead through kingdoms thrice ten a warrior-band,
Glad help and willing service should they have of Siegfried's hand."
Unto him did the knights make answer: "If thy will and thy pleasure
it is
To journey to this high feast-tide, our rede unto thee is this:
With good knights twice five hundred hence shalt thou ride to the
Rhine,
So through all thy stay in Burgundia shall royal honour be thine."
Then spake the old king Siegmund, erewhile the Netherland's Lord:
"Wouldst thou to a feast-tide, and tellest to me thereof no word!
Even I will be your companion, if this content you well,
And thanes of my train a hundred your guard-array shall swell."
"If thou, O father beloved, wilt ride in our company,"
Made answer Siegfried the dauntless, "a joy shall it be unto me.
Ere twelve days have passed over, I ride forth out of our land."
Then gave they horses and raiment unto all that should be of their
band.
When therefore set on the journey was the heart of that king of men,
They suffered the eager envoys to ride thence homeward again;
And he charged them to say to the brethren of Kriemhild, by
Rhine-river side,
That Siegfried joyful-hearted would come to their festival-tide.
Siegfried the hero and Kriemhild, as telleth the minstrel's tale,
So laded with presents the heralds, that their own steeds could not
avail
To bear all the guerdon homeward, so wealthy a lord was he:
So they drove it on sumpter-horses, journeying joyfully.
{P. 104}
To their people was raiment given by Siegfried and Siegmund his
sire;
And Eckwart, Lord of the Marches, bade seek out splendid attire
For the ladies of Kriemhild, the richest vesture that might be found
Or be won by diligent searching in all the land around.
Goodly saddles and bucklers they bade the craftsmen prepare
For the noble knights and ladies that with him were bidden to fare.
Nought lacked they; all that they asked for was given with open hand.
So brought he guests most princely to his friends in the far-off
land.
Meanwhile are the envoys returning, and ever they speed on fast.
So cometh the proud thane Gere to Burgundia-land at last,
And with honour there is he welcomed. Down to the earth they spring
From saddle of steed and palfrey in front of the hall of the King.
Forth poured the youths and the elders, as folk be wont to do,
And asked of him touching his tidings. Made answer the knight
thereto:
"When I speak to the King my message, unto you shall the same be
known."
So entered he in with his comrades where Gunther sat on his throne.