The Nibelungenlied (romantic story to read TXT) 📖

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1598

Their foemen fierce to challenge to ride they then began,
Led by their lords aforesaid. Too readily they ran
To catch the doughty strangers and wipe away their shame.
Of their retainers many by death thereafter came.

1599

Meanwhile, Hagen of Tronjé for that had taken care;
(How could a hero better for all his friends beware?)
Together with his liegemen the watch by night kept he,
As did his brother Dankwart: ’twas done right prudently.

1600

The day its course had ended and light they had no more.
He fear’d for friends and comrades with heavy dread and sore.
Their road throughout Bavaria beneath their shields they track’d,
And ere they long had ridden the heroes were attack’d.

1601

On both sides of the roadway behind them, coming fast,
They heard the tramp of horse-hoofs, too noisy in their haste.
Then spake the gallant Dankwart: “Here will they fall on us!
Now fasten on your helmets⁠— ’twere wise to wait them thus.”

1602

They halted on their journey, naught else was to be done.
They saw how in the darkness the polish’d bucklers shone,
Until at last would Hagen no longer brook delay:
“Who hunts us on the highway?” to him must Gelfrat say.

1603

In this wise then the Margrave⁠— he of Bavaria⁠—spake:
“Our foemen we are seeking, and now are on their track.
I know not who hath slain me my ferryman this day,
He was a skilful hero, and sorrow well I may.”

1604

To him spake he of Tronjé: “And was that boatman thine?
He would not take us over. The guilt thereof is mine,
For then I slew the warrior; in sooth, there was good need,
Since at his hands I elsewise had got my death instead.

1605

“I offer’d him for guerdon good gold and raiment fine
To ferry us, O hero! unto this land of thine,
Which anger’d him so sorely that he at me a blow
Aim’d with a sturdy barge-pole; then I grew fierce enow,

1606

“And clutching at my broadsword, I paid him back again
With blows that deeply wounded; so was the hero slain.
Amends therefore I’ll make thee, howe’er thou thinkest good.”
Then fell the two to wrangle: both were of stubborn mood.

1607

“Full well I knew,” said Gelfrat, “that when this way did ride
Gunther and his retainers, much ill would us betide
Through Hagen, lord of Tronjé. Not hence alive goes he;
For my poor boatman’s murder he must the forfeit be.”

1608

Above their bucklers bent they their lances for the thrust,
Sir Gelfrat and Sir Hagen; each at the other must.
Then Else, too, and Dankwart came riding gallantly,
To try each other’s mettle; the fight raged fiercely.

1609

How otherwise might heroes more featly try their strength?
By a hard lance-thrust smitten Hagen the bold, at length,
From off his horse fell backwards, by Gelfrat’s hand laid low
His saddle-bow was broken and downfall he must know.

1610

Among the yeomen’s lances arose a clashing sound.
Then up again rose Hagen, who, whilom on the ground
From Gelfrat’s blow, had fallen upon the meadow-grass.
His mood, methinks, to Gelfrat of sort ungentle was.

1611

Who held in charge their horses, that is to me unknown;
The twain were now dismounted and on the sand stood down⁠—
Hagen, to wit, and Gelfrat, who at each other flew;
The folk of either aided who of the combat knew.

1612

How mightfully soever Hagen on Gelfrat leapt,
The noble margrave parried; and with one stroke he swept
A great piece off his buckler⁠— that sparks therefrom were shed;
Whereby King Gunther’s vassal was well-nigh stricken dead.

1613

Thereon he unto Dankwart to call aloud began:
“Dear brother, help me quickly! for, lo, a mighty man
Hath got me at his mercy; he’ll make an end of me!”
Then spake the valiant Dankwart: “To that I soon will see.”

1614

Then nearer sprang the hero and struck so fell a blow
With keen edge of his weapon, that dead he laid him low.
Then fain had Else taken some vengeance for the wight;
But he and all his people went off in sorry plight.

1615

His brother had been slaughter’d; himself, too, had a wound;
Full eighty of his warriors lay there upon the ground
In grim Death’s grip forever; needs must the hero then
Turn round and flee for safety before King Gunther’s men.

1616

Now while they of Bavaria along the road did flee,
The horrid sounds of slaughter were heard unceasingly.
So did the men of Tronjé after their foemen chase,
Who of defeat had dreamt not; too soon it came to pass.

1617

And while they still were fleeing, Dankwart the thane call’d out:
“Upon the road right quickly we ought to turn about
And let them run at leisure: all wet they are with blood!
Unto our friends return we; in sooth I deem it good.”

1618

Now when they were returnéd to where the fight had been,
Spake Hagen, lord of Tronjé: “Ye heroes, be it seen
What damage we have suffer’d, and who to us is lost;
By reason of this battle which Gelfrat’s wrath hath cost.”

1619

A loss of four they reckon’d; these must they grieve for well.
But fully they aveng’d were: for against them there fell
Of the Bavarian warriors a hundred men and more;
Whereby the Tronians’ bucklers were dimm’d and wet with gore.

1620

Just then a gleam of moonlight between the clouds did break.
“Now look ye well that no one,” so to them Hagen spake,
“Betray to my dear masters what we have done this day;
Let them until the morning free from all trouble stay.”

1621

When they who had been fighting had now caught up the rest,
With weariness the people were grievously distress’d.
“How long,” were many asking, “must we be riding yet?”
And doughty Dankwart answer’d: “No lodging can we get.

1622

“Until the dawn of morning ye all must onwards ride.”
Volker the quick, who all things did for the folk provide,
Bade some one ask the marshal: “Where shall we go towards,
That we may rest our horses and eke our well-loved lords?”

1623

Then spake the doughty Dankwart: “In sooth I cannot say,
But there must be no resting before the dawn of day;
Then, wheresoe’er we find it, upon the grass we’ll lie.”
Some, when they heard this bidding, were sore aggrieved thereby.

1624

So were they undiscover’d by the warm blood-stains red,
Until the sun uprising with his bright beams had shed
The day-dawn o’er the mountains; then first the king did see
That they had fought. The hero spake to them wrathfully:

1625

“How now? ye have, friend Hagen, methinks but small regard
For this my presence with you, seeing ye thus have dared
To stain with blood your armour! now who hath done this thing?”
“ ’Twas Else, who set on us last night,” he told the king.

1626

“His ferryman the cause was that we were set upon;
My brother came, and Gelfrat was by his hand fordone;
Then Else fled before us, by direst need bested.
Four men we lost; a hundred of them we left for dead.”

1627

The place at which they rested I know not to declare;
But all the country people ere long became aware
That sons of noble