The Lay of the Nibelung Men

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...

Then commanded the King, of his favour to the envoys of Hunland's king, And of his royal bounty, that on broad shields men should bring Gold from his treasure-chamber--sooth, gr...

As telleth the olden story, through three days weary-long Never an hour of respite from holy chant and song {P. 144} Had any singer of masses. What wealth of offerings Poured in...

Spread was the feast in the castle and all the city through. Never were guests from a far land so ministered unto! Whatsoever one haply craved for, with joy unto him was it brou...

So the knights at the prayer of Gunther, at the warrior king's behest, Let sink their swords, and the fury of fight for a space had rest. By that sudden peace did Gunther his po...

But again made answer Kriemhild: "O Rüdiger, noble chief, Think also on us; have pity on all our wrongs and our grief, Upon mine and my Lord King Etzel's; yea, ponder well there...

And the King bade dight the high-seats for the guests, for the thanes of pride, At the feast of the knighting of Siegfried in the heart of the summer-tide. Then fared they on to...

Unto him the Queen made answer: "Well known is this unto thee, That indeed I have high-born kinsmen; but sorely it troubleth me That, since I wedded thee, never their faces have...

Now no more singeth the minstrel of his joy in that lady bright; But thereafter the story telleth how Gunther fared that night In the bride-bower of Queen Brunhild--O me, that g...

Kriemhild the while, the high-born, in sorrow-stricken mood For Rüdiger sat waiting, that noble knight and good, Not decked as a queen, but in raiment that served her day by day...

"Give back from the door," cried Volker, "and let these enter in! Ha, but the prize that they look for not a man of them all shall win! One and all shall they perish--ay, and th...

In burning indignation there stood they, the friends of the King; And the Lord of Metz, Knight Ortwein, stepped forth from the warrior-ring, Crying, "Out upon these soft answers...

Then looked the Lady Kriemhild, and beheld the Margravine Stand in the midst of her ladies. No further rode the Queen; But she checked with bit and bridle the onward-pacing stee...

Now all were at point of departing: banners to staves they bound. Many of Gunther's liegemen the while were standing round: But that all was hollow semblance no man of these was...

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 lord...

(C) A wealthy and princely abbey had Uta builded high After the death of Dankart with the wealth of her treasury, And with revenues richly endowed it, which it draweth unto this...

Then brought they the guests Burgundian to a hall both great and wide; For all that throng of warriors was it dight for the slumber-tide With couches exceeding splendid: long an...

Then of the Lady Brunhild and of all her following Fair leave was taken of Siegfried, the child of Siegmund the King, Even as was meet and seemly: then on to the Rhine rode he....

Even as he spake his warning, thither came Hildebrand; And there, with his great shield planted on the earth at his feet, did he stand; And cried to the men of Gunther that sorr...

So then to these noble maidens all-courteous thanks they gave. And now must the bold knights-errant for leave of parting crave. With courtesy right gentle they spake their last...

IF we accept as our definition of an Epic:--(a) A long poem, (b) of an interest not less than national[1], describing (c) in noble language (d) a series of naturally and organic...

Then, then that royal maiden hurled across the field With her uttermost strength the javelin at the mighty and broad new shield Which braced on his left arm firmly the son of Si...

Now the Danes are essaying how mighty are the broadswords that they wield: Loud rang the clashing and clanging of shield that shocked on shield; And the griding glaives keen-whe...

Then seemed unto Blödel the castles and the gold a guerdon fair, And the witchery of beauty to his heart became a snare. Fain was he by battle-prowess to win that fair-one to wi...

When all these over the river Hagen had safely brought, Thereafter the fierce-heart hero on that weird prophecy thought, The boding the wild mermaiden so lately spake unto him....

How thrilled the soul of Siegfried to hear that gracious word! Passed as a dream his heart-ache, his spirit with rapture was stirred That on Uta's lovely daughter he should look...

Then these twain stripped all raiment from their limbs, and on earth they laid, And in nought save thin white tunics men saw their bodies arrayed. Bounding as two wild panthers...

So when to the castle the Margrave beheld that company ride, How blithely hailing their presence the eager Rüdiger cried, "Welcome to me, ye princes, and all in your vassal-trai...

1. Attila, called Etzel in the _Lied_. The Atli of the Volsunga-saga much more nearly resembles the Attila of the historians of Rome and Constantinople than does Etzel. He here...

"Peace!" cried the noble Dietrich, "such knights doth it misbeseem With words to rail on each other, as when old shrews scold and scream Hildebrand, I forbid it: speak thou here...