Chapter 64

_Enter_ SIEGFRIED _with_ RUMOLT _and huntsmen_.

SIEGFRIED.

I'm here! And now ye hunters, Where are your spoils? Mine were to follow me Upon a wagon, but the wagon broke.

HAGEN.

A lion is the game I chase today, But I have failed to find one.

SIEGFRIED.

That I know, For I myself have killed him!--Food is spread. Sound trumpets in his praise who ordered that, For now we feel the need. Accursed ravens, Here too? Now blow your bugles till they burst! I've thrown near every kind of game I killed At this black flock; at last I threw a fox, But still they would not fly, and yet I hate Nothing so much in all the woodland green As that deep black--'tis like the devil's hue. The doves have never flocked around me so! Shall we stay here to pass the night?

GUNTHER.

We thought--

SIEGFRIED.

'Tis well, the choice is fitting, and there gapes A hollow tree. I'll take it for myself. For all my life have I been used to that, And I know nothing better than at night On soft dry wood to lay my weary head, And so to dream, half waking, half asleep, To count the passing hours by the birds That waken slowly, softly, one by one, Each singing in his turn. Then tick, tick, tick! Now it is two. Tock, tock, and one must stretch! Kiwitt, kiwitt! The sun is blinking now, And now its eyes are open. Chanticleer Bids all arise, lest they should sneeze.

VOLKER.

I know! It is as if Time wakened them himself, As in the dark he feels his way along, To beat the rhythm of his pace for him. In measured intervals, as from the glass Trickles the sand, and as the shadow long Creeps on the dial, so there follow now The mountain cock, the blackbird and the thrush, And none disturbs the other as by day, Nor coaxes him to warble ere his time. I've watched it oft myself.

SIEGFRIED.

I too.--My brother, Thou art not happy.

GUNTHER.

But I am!

SIEGFRIED.

Oh, no! I have seen people at a wedding feast, And following a bier, and so I know How different they look. Now let us do As strangers might, who'd never met before Until by accident within the wood They meet, and one has this, the other that, And so they put together all they have, And thus with joy receive and also give. 'Tis well! For I bring meat of every kind, And I will give to you a mountain bull, Five boars and thirty, even forty stags, And pheasants too, as many as you will, Not mentioning the lion and the bear, All this for one small beaker of cool wine.

DANKWART.

Alas!

SIEGFRIED.

What's Wrong?

HAGEN.

The wine has been forgotten.

SIEGFRIED.

Yes, I'll believe it. That may well befall A hunter who is resting from the chase And has a red hot coal for his own tongue Inside his mouth. Well, I must seek myself, Although I cannot scent it like a, hound-- But let it be--I'll never spoil your sport!

[_He seeks._]

There is none here, nor here! Where is the cask? I pray thee, minstrel, save me, else I'll lose The tongue that has till now been wagging so.

HAGEN.

And that may happen, for--there is no wine.

SIEGFRIED.

The devil and his fiends may take your hunt If I am not to have a hunter's fare! Whose duty was it to provide the drink?

HAGEN.

Mine! Yet I did not know where we should be,

And sent the wine to Spessart, where it seems There are no thirsty men.

SIEGFRIED.

Give thanks who will! But have we then no water? Must a man Be satisfied with evening dew, and lap The drops from off the leaves?

HAGEN.

But hold thy tongue! Thine ear will bring thee comfort!

SIEGFRIED (_listens_).

Hark, a spring! Oh welcome stream! 'Tis true I love thee more When thou, instead of welling from the stone So suddenly and rushing to my mouth, Thy winding way pursuest through the grape; For from thy journey many things thou bring'st, That fill our heads with foolish gaiety. Yet even so be praised.

[_He goes to the spring._]

Ah no! I must Do penance first and ye shall witness bear That I have done it. I'm the thirstiest man Among you all and I will drink the last, Because I was so harsh with poor Kriemhild.

HAGEN.

Then I'll begin.

[_He goes to the spring._]

SIEGFRIED (_to GUNTHER_).

Pray look more cheerfully. I know a way to reconcile thy bride; Brunhilda's kisses shall ere long be thine. My joy I will forego as long as thou.

HAGEN (_comes back and lays aside his weapons_).

The weapons will impede me when I stoop.

[_Retires again._]

SIEGFRIED.

Before the full assemblage of thy folk, Kriemhild will sue for pardon ere we go. This pledge was freely given, but she longs To leave and hide her blushes.

HAGEN (_returns_).

Cold as ice!

SIEGFRIED.

Who next?

VOLKER.

First let us eat.

SIEGFRIED.

'Tis well! [_He goes toward the spring but turns back again._]

Ah yes!

[_He lays aside his weapons. Exit._]

HAGEN (_pointing to the weapons_).

Away with them!

DANKWART (_carries the weapons away_).

HAGEN (_who has taken up his own weapons again and has meanwhile kept his back turned toward_ GUNTHER; _takes a running start and throws his spear_).

SIEGFRIED (_cries out_).

My friends!

HAGEN (_exclaims_).

Not quiet yet?

(_To the others._)

No word with him, whatever he may say!

SIEGFRIED (_crawls forward_).

Murdered--while I was drinking! Gunther, Gunther? Have I deserved this from thee? In thy need I stood by thee.

HAGEN.

Lop branches from the trees, We need a bier. Quick, choose the strongest limbs, For heavy is a dead man.

SIEGFRIED.

I am slain, But yet not wholly!

[_He springs up._]

Where then is my sword? They've taken it! Oh, by thy manhood, Hagen, Give the dead man a sword! I challenge thee E'en now to mortal combat!

HAGEN.

In his mouth He has his enemy, yet seeks him still.

SIEGFRIED.

My life drips from me like a candle spent, And e'en my sword this murderer denies, Though granting it would render him less vile. For shame! Such cowardice! He fears my thumb, For that is all that's left of me.

[_He stumbles over his shield._]

My shield! My faithful shield, I'll throw thee at the hound!

[_He stoops over the shield, but cannot lift it, and rises unsteadily once more._]

As if 'twere nailed there! E'en for this revenge 'Tis now too late!

HAGEN.

Oh, if this chatterer Would maim his foolish tongue between his teeth Where it has sinned so long all unreproved-- His idle tongue that is not silenced yet!-- Then would he have revenge, for that alone Has brought him to this pass.

SIEGFRIED.

Thou liest! 'Twas Thine envy!

HAGEN.

Silence!

SIEGFRIED.

Threats for a dead man? Aimed I so true that thou dost fear me still? Then draw, for now I fall, and thou canst dare To spit upon me like a heap of dust, For here I lie--

[_He falls to the ground._]

And you are free from Siegfried! Yet know, the blow that slew him killed you too, For who will trust you? They will drive you forth As I had driven the Danes.

HAGEN.

This simpleton! He hath not grasped our trick!

SIEGFRIED.

Then 'tis not true? Oh, horrible, that men should lie like this! Ah well! You are alone in this! And folk Will always curse you too, whene'er they curse. They'll say: Toads, vipers and Burgundians! Nay you are first: Burgundians, vipers, toads. For all is lost to you--nobility And honor, fame and all, are lost with me! There is no bound nor limit now for crime, The arm indeed may pierce the heart, but when The heart is dead the arm is useless too. My wife! My poor, foreboding, tender wife-- How wilt thou bear the blow! If Gunther's heart Still means to do one deed of faith and love, May he be kind to thee!--Yet rather go Unto my father!--Hearest thou, Kriemhild?

[_He dies._]

HAGEN.

He's silent now. Small merit is in that!

DANKWART.

What shall we tell?

HAGEN.

Some stupid tale of thieves Who killed him in the forest. It is true None will believe it, yet I think that none Will call us liars. Once again we stand Where none will dare to call us to account; For we're like fire and water. Till the Rhine Seeks out some lie to justify its floods, And fire explains why it has broken forth, We need not fear accusers. Thou, my King, Gav'st no commands--thou should'st remember that! The blame is mine alone. Now bear him forth!

[_Exeunt with the body._]