They summoned the Margrave's daughter to appear before them in hall:
Then sware the father to give him the lovely damsel to wife,
And the Prince for his part hath pledged him to cherish her all his
life.
To the maiden the Kings for her portion allotted castles and land;
And with oaths of confirmation by the noble Gunther's hand
Was it sealed unto her, and by Gernot, that all should so be done.
Then spake her father: "Albeit castles have I none,
And I can but loyally prove me your friend for evermore,
Yet shall my daughter's dower be silver and gold good store
So much as a hundred sumpters fully laden may bear,
That his kin may with honour content them with the bride of
Giselher."
Into the midst of a circle led they the plighted twain
After the ancient custom. Full many a strong young thane
Stood there and gazed upon them with laughter-litten eyes,
Thinking such thoughts as ever in young hearts wont to rise.
So then when her kin put question unto the winsome maid--
"Wilt thou take this knight to thine husband?" awhile was she loth
and afraid:
Yet her heart within her was pleading for him, that goodly one;
But for shame she hung on her answer, as many a maiden hath done.
Then Rüdiger her father spake saying, "Answer yea,
And gladly for husband take him." How swiftly did he straightway
With loving white hands clasping to his heart his belovèd press;
Even Giselher the young prince!--how brief was their happiness!
{P. 230}
Then spake once more the Margrave: "O kings of lineage high,
What time to the realm Burgundian returning ye pass hereby,
Then will I give you my daughter, even as is meet and right,
To bear her with you to the home-land." Unto this their troth did
they plight.
The tumult of feasting and joyance at last must have an end;
And then did the new-wed maiden to her bridal-chamber wend,
And the guests through the castle rested and slept till the day shone
clear.
Then brake they the bread of the morning, and the host made abundant
cheer.
And now when the feasting was ended, they addressed them thence to go
Journeying on to the Hunland--"I pray you, do not so,"
Said the Margrave noble-hearted; "awhile yet tarry here.
Long is it since in my castle I have harboured guests so dear."
Answered and spake to him Dankwart: "Now nay, this may not be.
Whence should provision of victual and of wine be gotten of thee
Enough to suffice for the feasting of so great a company?"
But the host made answer: "I pray you, put all such vain words by!
My lords and dearly beloved, ye may not say me nay.
With meat and drink can I feast you till endeth the fourteenth day,
And all that with you came hither, both lords and vassal-train.
Little enow of my substance King Etzel from me hath ta'en."
How sorely soe'er they excused them, yet there perforce they abode
Till dawned the fourth day's morning. Such lavish gifts were bestowed
Of their host's free-handed bounty, that the fame thereof spread
wide,
How he gave to his guests rich raiment and gallant steeds to ride.
No longer now might they tarry: they must needs press on to the
goal.
But of all his mighty possessions would Rüdiger's princely soul
Spare nought in his lavish bounty: whatsoever any might crave,
Unto none he denied or begrudged it; to the heroes gladly he gave.
Before the gate of the castle the squires brought harness-dight
Long lines of goodly horses: then came forth many a knight
Unto where the steeds stood waiting. Their shields on their arms they
bare,
For thence would they now be riding unto Etzel's land to fare.
{P. 231}
But, or ever the high-born strangers forth of the feast-hall strode,
Freely the host on the heroes the gifts of his love had bestowed.
He could live wealth-crowned with honour, how largely he gave soe'er.
His daughter, a gift all-priceless, had he given to Giselher;
But to Gunther the peerless hero Rüdiger gave a thing
That well might add new honour to the majesty of a king.
Right seldom the King took presents, but he bowed him courteously
As he took from the hand all-courteous the hauberk goodly to see.
And a sword, a light of battle, unto Gernot the princely he gave;
Ere long in the wild war-tempest mightily flashed that glaive.
Smiled on him the wife of the Margrave as he took that gift from his
hand.
--Ah me, but her noble husband was to die by that same brand!
Then, as well beseemed such a lady, unto Hagen Gotlind brought
Gifts of her lovingkindness: since the King had refused them not,
She prayed he would fare not forward unto Etzel's festal-tide
Unholpen of her bounty; but the hero refused, and replied:
"Of all things that ever," said Hagen, "I have seen unto this day,
Nought I desire so sorely to bear with me hence away
As the shield that hangeth yonder against your palace-wall:
That same would I bear right gladly unto Etzel's festival."
When heard of the wife of the Margrave was the word that Hagen spake,
It wakened her sleeping sorrow: no marvel her tears outbrake!
With anguish she called to remembrance the death of Nudung, her son,
Whom Wittich had slain; and rekindled was the olden grief and moan.
To the thane made answer the mother: "O yea, the shield will I give.
Ah, would to God in Heaven that yet on the earth he might live
Who bare it of old! In battle he slept the iron sleep.
I must needs evermore lament him: sore cause have I to weep."
Then the noble wife of the Margrave rose up from her carven chair,
And she took down the shield of the dear dead with her own white
hands, and bare
And gave it, her gift unto Hagen: he received in his hands the same;
Ay, and he won for the buckler new glory of deathless fame!
{P. 232}
A cover of bright-hued loomwork enfolded its blazonries.
Never hath shone the daylight on better shield than this.
So richly with precious gemstones bordered was its device,
That, if any were fain to buy it, a thousand marks were its price.
His squires bare forth at his bidding that shield for the mighty
thane.
Then came his brother Dankwart before the chatelaine,
And on him rich-broidered vesture did the Margrave's daughter bestow
Which thereafter he wore glad-hearted in the halls of the Hunland
foe.
But of all gifts Rüdiger gave them, how great soever of worth,
Unto none had the haughty princes stretched a finger forth,
Were it not for his courteous kindness, and the love it begat that
day--
Yet ere long were they foes so bitter that they needs must smite him
and slay!
Then Volker the battle-eager, with his viol in his hand,
Stepped forth with courtly bearing before Gotlind to stand;
And the sweet notes rang through the feast-hall as he chanted the
lovely lay.
So took he leave of the Lady ere he passed from Bechlaren away.
Then the wife of the Margrave commanded that her maids unto her
should bring
A casket--of gifts love-sweetened now shall the minstrel sing:--
Twelve armlets she took from the coffer, and she slid them over his
hand:
"These bear thou, Volker, I pray thee, into King Etzel's land;
And there for my sake shalt thou wear them in presence of King and
thane,
That folk may tell me the story, when hither thou comest again,
Of the courtly service rendered unto me of Etzel's guest."
And the bold knight did thereafter according to all her request.
Then spake to his guests the Margrave: "For your safe journeying
hence
Myself will be your escort: so strong shall be your defence,
That none shall set upon you to do you hurt by the way."
Then was his sumpter-palfrey saddled without delay.
Arrayed he stood for the journey, and, furnished with raiment and
steed
Good knights with him five hundred; and all these thence did he lead
{P. 233}
Bound for the Hunfolk's high-tide with merry hearts and light--
There returned again to Bechlaren of them all no single knight!
Then did their host with kisses of love from his dear wife part;
With kisses was Giselher sundered from his bride; with yearning heart
They held in their arms fond-clasping their wives, the passing fair.
Ah, soon bewept full sorely by many a maiden they were!
All through that stately castle they flung the casements wide
To see the Lord of the Marches with all his men forth ride.
Their hearts with mournful boding whispered to them, I trow:
Wept many a winsome lady and maiden to see them go.
For beloved friends and for kinsmen all these were sorrowing sore
Whom the watchers should see returning to Bechlaren never more.
Yet rode that company blithely down to the river-strand,
And far through the Danube-valley away to the Hunfolk's land.
Then to the thanes Burgundian the princely Margrave cried,
Even Rüdiger the noble: "We may now no longer hide
From the lords of the realm the tidings that to Hunland we draw near.
Sooth, never hath King Etzel heard aught to his heart so dear."
Then rode swift heralds many to the land of the Easterling,
And so full soon did the tidings through all the country ring
That from Worms-over-Rhine the heroes were coming thitherward.
Welcomer news heard never the vassals of Hunland's Lord.
(C) And when to the Daughter of Princes the tidings thereof was told,
From her stricken heart in a measure the burden of grief was rolled,
Since now from the land of her fathers came they which had done her a
wrong--
Ay, they through whom King Etzel had sorrow enow ere long!
Fast, fast pressed onward the heralds as the tale to the King they
bare
How that the Niblung chieftains nigh unto Hunland were.
Kriemhild the Queen from a casement watched with eager eye
For her kinsmen, as friends sore-yearning look forth as friends draw
nigh.
At last she beheld those thousands from the ancient home that came;
And ware was the King of their coming, and he laughed with joy for
the same:--
{P. 234}
"See to it, O dear wife, Kriemhild, thou receive them worthily.
To be crowned with exceeding honour thy brethren come unto thee."
"Glad am I for these good tidings," spake Kriemhild her heart within.
"Ha, many a bright new buckler they bring, my faithless kin,
And hauberks gleaming and glancing!--now whoso will take of my gold,
And think on my wrongs, such champion my friend for aye will I hold."
(C) In her soul was she thinking--thinking--"The day of reckoning is
this!
He who hath utterly emptied my life of all its bliss
Shall drink, if I may but contrive it, to the dregs the cup of pain
At this guest-greeting! Ready am I and exceeding fain.
(C) O yea, I will so devise it, that on this festal day
My vengeance shall stand triumphant, betide thereof what may,
Over his hateful body who bereaved me utterly
Of love, of the joy of living--but the hour of requital is nigh!"
XXVIII.
How the Burgundians came to Etzel's strong City
Now when the Burgundian Heroes came to the Hunfolk's land,
Told was the thing to the warrior of Bern, old Hildebrand,
And he unto Dietrich told it; and his lord with grief and dismay
Heard; yet he bade him welcome that valiant knightly array.
Then were the horses saddled at the bidding of Wolfhart the strong.
With the Hero of Bern went riding knights in a lordly throng
To greet the friends far-travelled. On the river-plain they met
Where many a goodly pavilion the squires by this had set.
So soon as Hagen of Troneg beheld them from far away,
In knightly-courteous fashion unto his lords did he say:
"Now, warriors battle-eager, leap each man down from the selle,
And go ye forward to meet them which be come to greet you well.
A warrior company cometh; full well be they known unto me;
Thanes battle-eager and stalwart from the Amals' land they be;
{P. 235}
And the Hero of Bern is their leader, and their courage is high in
the fray.
Ye shall nowise scorn the service they proffer to you this day."
Then sprang to the earth from the saddle, even as was meet and right,
Dietrich, and there with their captain were many a squire and knight.
Forward to that guest-greeting they strode to the hero-band,
And in kindliest wise they welcomed the men of Burgundia-land.
So now when the noble Dietrich beheld them drawing nigh,
Gladness and sorrow within him strove for the mastery[11].
Well knew he the deadly secret: a grief was their journey to him;
But he weened that Rüdiger knew it, and had told of the peril grim.
"Welcome, my lords! O Gunther and Giselher, welcome be ye!
Gernot and Hagen, welcome! Lord Volker, welcome to thee
And to Dankwart the battle-eager!--but hath no man told you the tale
How still for the Niblung Hero doth Kriemhild weep and wail?"
"Let her weep so long as she listeth!" scornfully Hagen replied.
"Many a year hath fleeted since her lord was smitten and died.
Ay, let her joy and her solace be the love of the Lord of the Hun!
Siegfried returneth never; he was buried long agone."
"Enough of the slaying of Siegfried! His memory is not dead.
So long as Kriemhild liveth may the vengeance-snare be spread."
--So spake the noble Dietrich, the Hero of Bern, his rede.--
"O hope of the Niblung Nation, of her vengeance take good heed!"
"Beware of my sister!--and wherefore?" proudly the King replied.
"Etzel hath sent to us heralds--what should I ask beside?--
Bidding us ride to meet him here in this land as a friend.
Yea, many a loving greeting did my sister Kriemhild send."
"Hearken," again spake Hagen, "and so will I counsel you.
Hear ye this story of Kriemhild, and let it be told all through
By Dietrich the Lord of the Amals, and his heroes valorous:
So shall the mind of Kriemhild be wholly revealed unto us."
{P. 236}
Then drew them apart the Princes, and spake together the three,
Even Gunther the King and Gernot and Dietrich secretly:
"O Knight of Bern most noble and valiant, tell us now--
Of the inmost mind of Kriemhild the Queen what knowest thou?"
And the Prince of Bern made answer: "What other can be my tale
Save this, that morning by morning I hear her weep and wail--
This Etzel's wife, Queen Kriemhild--with bitter and passionate breath
Appealing to God in Heaven to avenge strong Siegfried's death?"
"O'erlate is it now for repenting as touching this thou hast told,"
Spake Volker the viol-minstrel, the warrior ever bold.
"Let us on to the court of the Hun-king, and let it there be seen
What deeds shall be done of the Hunfolk to the warriors battle-keen."
So on to the court went riding that bold Burgundian band,
Bearing themselves right proudly after the wont of their land.
Then many a valiant warrior of the Huns watched eagerly
For the coming of Hagen of Troneg, what manner of man should he be.
Known long since was the story to all folk, how that his hand
Had dealt unto Siegfried the death-stab, to the King of the Nether
Land,
Of all stark knights the strongest, the lord of Kriemhild the Queen:
Therefore the expectation of men to behold him was keen.
Mighty of mould was the hero, as the soothfast songs declare,
Exceeding broad in the shoulders and deep of chest, and his hair
By this was a sable silvered; sinewy, long of limb,
As a king was he stately in going, and his face as death was grim.
Then all the thanes Burgundian into hostels did they bring;
But the train of the squires of Gunther were sundered far from the
King.
It was done by the Queen's devising, for the hate that to him she
bare.
Slain ere long in their hostels all those henchmen were.
Dankwart the brother of Hagen was marshal of all that train,
And to him did the King commit them, charging him once and again
To do his utmost endeavour for supplying of all their need;
And he laboured with willing spirit, and served with diligent heed.
{P. 237}
Forth came the fair Queen Kriemhild with a goodly company.
With falsely-feignèd kindness those Niblungs greeted she.
Then Giselher her brother did she kiss, and she clasped his hand:
When Hagen of Troneg saw it, he tightened his helmet-band.
"Good sooth, after such a welcome," Hagen cried, "there is need
That the battle-eager warriors should take to themselves good heed!
The greeting of prince and of liegeman is here no whit the same.
I wot, on an evil journey to this high-tide we came!"
She answered, "To him be welcome who joyeth to see thy face!
For thy friendship's sake is accorded here no greeting's grace.
This tell to me, what dost thou bring me from Worms beyond the Rhine,
That unto me so welcome should be this presence of thine?"
"What new thing shall this be, quotha!" spake Hagen scornfully,
"That these good knights Burgundian should be bringers of gifts unto
thee?
Had I known that thou wert so grasping--I am rich enow, I wot,--
A gift unto thee of my bounty to the Hunland had I brought."
"Thy gifts!--thou answer the question I ask of thee this day:
The Hoard, the Niblung Treasure--where have ye thrust it away?
That at least was mine own possession, well dost thou understand!
That should ye have brought to its owner unto King Etzel's land."
"Of a truth, my lady Kriemhild, full many a day hath passed
Since the gold of the Niblung Treasure of me was beholden last.
Under the Rhine-river waters by command of my lords was it drowned:
There must it stay of a surety till the Trumpet of Doom shall sound."
And the Queen made bitter answer: "I trowed that so it would be!
Of his spoil has the thief brought hither little enow unto me,
Though the gold was mine own possession, erewhile of me controlled!
For the gold and its lord have I suffered anguish manifold."
"The Fiend a gift do I bring thee!" cried Hagen in savage scorn.
"'Tis enough for me that I carry the shield on mine arm that is
borne,
And the harness about my body, and mine helm bright-glittering,
And the sword at my side--they suffice me: nothing to thee do I
bring."
{P. 238}
(C) "Nay, never think thou," she answered, "that it is for the gold I
care.
I need not to stint my bounty, enough have I and to spare.
But the murderer, twice a robber, who hath stol'n from my life its
light,
The spoiler of helpless women, him would I fain requite!"
Then spake that Daughter of Princes to Burgundy's warriors all:
"It fits not that ye bear weapons here in the royal hall.
Commit them to me, ye heroes, and well will I ward them for you."
"Of a truth," made answer Hagen, "that will we never do!
I crave not the honour, O gracious child of a princely line,
That thou to thy place of safety bear any weapon of mine,
Nor shield, nor battle-harness--queen, well I wot, thou art here.
Wisely my father taught me to ward mine own war-gear."
"Ah, woe is me for the sorrows heaped on me!" Kriemhild cried.
"For what cause now of my brother and of Hagen is this denied
That I have their shields in my keeping? Of a surety, warned are
they!
If I knew what man hath betrayed me, his head for his treason should
pay!"
Then Dietrich flamed into anger, and swiftly answered he:
"Lo, I am he that hath warned them, these Princes of Burgundy,
And the King of the Rhineland's liegemen, and Hagen the unafraid!
Make trial, thou child of the Devil, if the debt shall by me be
paid!"
Then quailed before him Kriemhild, and darkly she flushed with shame:
For before the mighty Dietrich great fear on her spirit came.
Straightway she went from their presence: no word to her lips arose,
But one swift glance of hatred she flashed upon her foes.
Stood face to face these heroes with hand in right hand clasped:
Dietrich of Bern in friendship the hand of Hagen grasped.
Then spake to the knight of Troneg that battle-mighty chief:
"Of a truth your journey to Hunland is pain unto me and grief,
Forasmuch as yon Daughter of Princes hath so revealed her hate."
Answered him Hagen of Troneg: "We will put to the test our fate."
So did the dauntless heroes each unto other say.
King Etzel beheld them communing, and he questioned of them
straightway:
{P. 239}
"Fain would I one should tell me," so asked of his men the King,
"What knightly warrior yonder with such friendly welcoming
Is greeted by our lord Dietrich. A lofty spirit he bears:
What thane soe'er was his father, a goodly knight he appears."
Spake of the train of Kriemhild to the King a certain knight:
"Troneg is the warrior's birthplace, his father Aldrian hight.
How blithely soever he bear him, a grim stark foeman he is.
I trow, ere long shall I prove it, that utter truth is this."
"Nay, how should I learn that the hero is in battle so grim?" he
replied;
For as yet had the King no knowledge of the snares of death spread
wide
Around the feet of her kinsmen by the Queen for revenge who yearned--
So wide, that back from the Hunland no man of them all returned.
"Well knew I Aldrian," spake he: "my liegeman he was of old.
Praise at my court he won him and honour manifold:
Yea, and of me was he knighted, and I gave him gold and gear;
And my true and faithful Lady, Helka, held him dear.
Well known thereafter was Hagen unto me: in years long fled
As hostages high-born children twain to my land I led,
Even him and Walter the Spaniard. Here unto men grew they,
Till I sent home Hagen; but Walter with Hildegund fled away."
So mused he on days passed over and deeds done long agone,
And his warrior-friend of Troneg whom there of old he had known,
Who in youth had rendered him service in many a strenuous day,
But now in his age was destined a host of his friends to slay.
XXIX.
How Hagen refused to rise up in Presence of the Queen
{P. 240}
Now did those thanes far-famous each from other turn,
Hagen the Lord of Troneg, and Dietrich the Hero of Bern.
Then over his shoulder glancing did Gunther's liegeman gaze
Keenly around for a comrade, and he marked him in little space.
For anigh Prince Giselher standing Volker he straightway espied,
Volker the viol-minstrel; and he prayed him, "Stand by my side!"
For well had he proved his spirit, how grim he was in fight,
And in all that a knight beseemeth a fearless warrior wight.
The lords Burgundian left they standing amidst of the court;
But the twain in the sight of all men strode with lion-port
Alone across the bailey, and in front of a palace wide.
They cared not who should withstand them, they faced all
dauntless-eyed.
They sat them down on a settle before the palace-wall
Over against the windows and the doors of the Queen's own hall.
On their mighty limbs was gleaming their royal-rich array;
And many an one who beheld them much marvelled who were they.
Many an one of the Hunfolk, as on wild beasts of the wold,
Gazed open-mouthed upon them, on the heroes haughty-souled.
And Etzel's Queen through a casement beheld that terrible twain,
And the heart of Kriemhild the comely was darkened afresh with pain.
She thought upon all her sorrows, and she wept for grief and shame.
Then on the thanes, the liegemen of Etzel, amazement came,
As they marvelled what should have troubled the royal heart of the
Queen;
And she answered, "The deed was Hagen's, O good knights battle-keen."
Hotly they answered their Lady: "What deed hath of him been done?
Lo, of good cheer we beheld thee and blithe but a little agone.
{P. 241}
Whosoever hath done thee a mischief, be he never so valorous,
So thou but bid us avenge thee, with his life shall he answer to us."
"Unto him for aye were I bounden who avenged me on my foe.
What boon he may ask soever ready am I to bestow.
I bow at your feet in suppliance!" cried King Etzel's wife.
"Avenge me upon this Hagen! Let him forfeit limb and life!"
Then armed them the valiant champions; sixty by tale they were:
For love of their Lady Kriemhild forth of the hall would they fare
And fall upon Hagen and smite him, the battle-dauntless lord,
And with him the viol-minstrel: all they were of one accord.
But the Queen looked on her champions, and marked their slender
array,
And in wrathful indignation to the heroes did she say:
"From such manner of desperate emprise, I counsel you, refrain!
Ye be all too few to grapple with Hagen in battle-strain.
How valiant and mighty soever the Hero of Troneg be,
The man that sitteth beside him is mightier far than he,
Volker the viol-minstrel: a very fiend he is.
Ye may nowise meet yon heroes with so scanty a band as this."
So when they had heard that warning, four hundred warriors more
Clad them in battle-harness. With longing exceeding sore
Was the heart of the Queen a-hungered for vengeance for her wrong.
Therefrom were the valiant champions into grim straits brought ere
long.
And so soon as armed for the onset she saw her vassal-train,
To the warriors battle-eager the Queen spake yet again:
"Now tarry ye here for a season; stand ye still for a space.
With my crown on mine head yon foemen will I first meet face to face.
Hearken as I reproach him for the wrongs he hath done unto me,
This Hagen of Troneg, vassal of Gunther of Burgundy.
I know him so high-hearted, that his crime he will scorn to deny.
What shall befall him thereafter from avengers nought care I."