The Nibelungenlied (romantic story to read TXT) 📖

they engaged to do.

1687

Noisy as were the revels, at last they had an end.
The damsels to their chambers were bidden then to wend;
In sleep the guests, too, rested till daybreak did appear;
Then victuals were made ready; for all the host took care.

1688

When they their fast had broken fain would they forward go
Towards the Hunnish country. “I pray you, do not so,”
Besought their host right noble; “awhile ye yet must stay;
Since I no guests so welcome have seen for many a day.”

1689

To this made Dankwart answer: “That surely will not do.
Whence will you get the victuals, the bread and wine thereto,
Which for so many warriors you needs must have this day?”
The host, on hearing, answer’d: “It boots no more to say;

1690

“My well-Iov’d lords, so please ye, I will not be denied;
Ay, for a fortnight will I the meat and drink provide
For you and all the people that hither you have brought;
For never hath King Etzel from me yet taken aught.”

1691

Howe’er they sought to help it, needs must they there abide
Until the fourth day’s dawning: then did a thing betide,
Done of the master’s bounty, and noiséd far and near:
On every guest bestow’d he a horse and wearing gear.

1692

This could not last much longer: thence must they forward fare.
But Rüdeger the valiant could naught withhold or spare
To testify his bounty: what any fain would take,
That was denied to no one; all happy would he make.

1693

Then forth before the gateway their noble equerries
Led out the saddled horses. In readiness for these
The throng of foreign warriors came out; their shields in hand
They bore, for they were eager to ride to Etzel’s land.

1694

Thereon the master offer’d his gifts to one and all,
Ere yet the royal strangers were come without the hall.
With bounty and great honour he knew the way to live;
And even his fair daughter to Giselher would give.

1695

Anon he gave to Gunther, that hero of great fame,
What he, the mighty monarch, might well wear without shame⁠—
Though gifts he took but seldom⁠— a coat of mail, to wit.
O’er Rüdeger’s hand did Gunther bow low in thanks for it.

1696

Then gave he unto Gernot a sword, a good one too,
Which afterwards in battle right gallantly he drew:
That such a gift he gave him well pleased the margrave’s wife.
’Twas doom’d to cost, soon after, good Rüdeger his life.

1697

Gotlinda offer’d Hagen, as courteous custom bade,
Some tokens of her kindness, since such the king had had,
Lest he without her aidance should on his road be sped
Unto the royal revels; but this he soon gainsaid.

1698

“Of all the things that ever I saw,” so Hagen spake,
“Not one have I more envy hence as my own to take,
Than yonder shield that hanging upon the wall I see:
That would I gladly carry to Etzel’s land with me.”

1699

The margravine no sooner had heard what Hagen said,
Than bygone woes were waken’d, and tears she needs must shed.
Upon the death of Nudung she sorrowfully thought,
How Witege had slain him: thus grief upon her wrought.

1700

She spake unto the warrior: “I’ll give the shield to thee,
But would to God in Heaven that still ahve were he
Who on his arm once bare it! In fight he was laid low,
And I must aye bewail him: hence comes, poor me, my woe!”

1701

Then from her seat uprose she, the noble margravine;
And so, the buckler grasping her snow-white hands between,
The dame to Hagen bore it, and he thereof took hold:
It was a gift of honour unto that warrior bold.

1702

A case of polish’d leather upon its surface lay,
A better shield and brighter ne’er shone in light of day,
With noble gems bestudded; had any wanted it
To buy, perchance its value a thousand marks had quit.

1703

Then, by command of Hagen, they bore the shield away.
And now to court did Dankwart begin to wend his way.
On him the margrave’s daughter apparel rich bestow’d,
In which ere long in Hunsland right gloriously he rode.

1704

Now all these friendly tokens they were endow’d withal,
Into the hands of any had never come at all,
Save by the master’s bounty, offer’d with such good will.
Such foes ere long became they that him they needs must kill!

1705

Then did the ready Volker, his fiddle in his hand,
With courtly mien approaching before Gotlinda stand.
Sweet tunes for her he fiddled, and sang his roundelay,
Thus would he from Bechlaren take leave to ride away.

1706

The margravine then bade men to her a chest to bear;
Of kindly gifts and bounty ye now again must hear.
Therefrom she took twelve armlets and put them o’er his hand:
“These must you carry with you away to Etzel’s land.

1707

“And for my sake must wear them whene’er you go to court;
That when you come back hither I may have good report
How you have done me service at that great festival.”
E’en as the lady bade him he well accomplish’d all.

1708

The host said to the strangers: “Ye will the better fare
If I myself shall lead you, and bid you how beware
Lest anyone should do you a hurt upon the road.”
Then of his sumpter-horses each quickly had its load.

1709

There stood the host all ready, and eke five hundred men
With horses and apparel. These led he with him then
Unto the royal wedding⁠— a joyous merry train;
Alive to Bechelaren not one came back again!

1710

With many loving kisses the host his farewells said,
As Giselher did also, by honour ever led.
The women fair they fondled with arms around them thrown;
For which would many a damsel be weeping soon, alone.

1711

On all sides were the windows thrown open to the air.
The host with his retainers to mount all eager were.
I ween their hearts foreboded the mighty ills to be;
For many dames were weeping and maidens fair to see.

1712

For dear friends left behind them, plenty at heart were sore,
Whom they at Bechelaren would look on nevermore;
Yet gaily rode they onwards, and down across the sand
Along the Danube river, unto the Hunnish land.

1713

Then Rüdeger the noble, well versed in chivalry,
Spake unto the Burgundians: “We ought not, verily,
To hide that we are coming unto the Hunfolk near;
Such good news hath King Etzel ne’er had the chance to hear.”

1714

Down through the Austrian kingdom the messenger rode fast;
Soon to the folk on all sides from mouth to mouth it pass’d,
That coming were the heroes from Worms beyond the Rhine.
No tidings the king’s lieges could more to joy incline.

1715

The messengers sped forwards and now the tidings bare
Of how the Niblung warriors within the Huns’ land were.
“Thou shouldst right well receive them, Kriemhilda, lady mine;
To thee come in great honour these brothers dear of thine.”

1716

Meanwhile, as dame Kriemhilda beside a window-sill
Stood watching for her kinsmen⁠— as friends for others will,
Lo, from her father’s country there saw she many a man.
The king, who heard the