Part 5

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-whetted made the hot blood spurt through the mail; Nor for nought did the battle-fearless Saxons their foes assail. Onward the fierce Burgundians through that war-thicket clave, And many a wound wide-gaping they dealt with the deadly glaive. All over the saddle-housings the blood ran streaming down: So strove those dauntless champions for the winning of renown. Far afront rang out the clashing of the helmet-sundering brand In the grasp of the mightiest champions, where the knights of Netherland Pressed after their lord on-charging through the heart of the battle-din: Those Twelve in knightly fashion, where Siegfried led, burst in. No man of the warriors of Rhineland could follow where these rode: From far they beheld the blood-streams as in sudden crimson they flowed Through the bright helms riven asunder by Siegfried's smiting hand, Till he found where Lüdiger battled afront of his own war-band. Three times through their reeling squadrons did the Son of Siegmund ride From end to end of their war-host--now Hagen fights at his side; Yea, mightily now doth he help him to accomplish his will in the fight. Borne down by their onset perished full many a valiant knight.

But face to face with Siegfried at last strong Lüdiger came, And saw in his hand upleaping the great sword's battle-flame, Saw the edges of Balmung cleaving through his knights a death-strewn path. Then the heart of the dauntless Saxon was swept by a storm of wrath. Then hurled were the surges of battle together with clash of swords, As the war-bands closed in the grapple of fight around their lords, And the two kings sought each other with uttermost desire. Reeled squadrons sundered before them till they met, for their hate was as fire. To the Lord of the land of the Saxons long since the tidings came How his brother was taken captive, and for this was his wrath aflame; But he wotted not who had achieved it: nought knew he of Siegelind's son, For the deed had been told for Gernot's--but of him was the truth soon known! {P. 29} Then rained from Lüdiger's war-glaive such storm of blow on blow That Siegfried's steed 'neath the saddle sank on his haunches low; But he sprang to his full height straightway, and the dauntless Siegfried's might Flashed forth in terrible lightnings through the tempest of that fight. There beside him was Hagen smiting, and Gernot bare him well, And Dankwart and Volker; before them the swaths of battle fell: Hewed Sindold and Hunold and Ortwein, the war-triumphant lords: Before them many a champion slept the sleep of swords. In the battle's heart close-grappling were Saxon and Lowland king, And over their helm-crests ever did many a javelin sing; Through glittering bucklers pierced they from the hands of heroes sped, Till many a goodly shield-rim dripped with the life-stream red. Mid the surges of battle-tempest sank many a good knight slain From his steed to the earth: yet ever they clashed, those terrible twain Hurling together, Siegfried and Lüdiger the king, 'Neath the splintered staves upsoaring and the javelins' eager wing. Lo, the sweep of the sword of Siegfried hath severed the King's shield-band! Now seeth the Netherland hero the victory hard at hand Over the valiant Saxons--nigh these was the bitter end. --Ha, how did the dauntless Dankwart the glittering mail-rings rend!-- Even then the King of the Saxons with sudden-cold despair Beheld a crown emblazoned on the shield that Siegfried bare. He saw it, he knew it--"None other than the Hero resistless is here!" And he lifted his voice, through the clangour of battle his shout rang clear: "Refrain you from fight, refrain you, all ye of my battle-aid! Lo, here is the Son of Siegmund in the strife against us arrayed! I have seen, I have known him, Siegfried, the all-resistless lord: Of a truth hath the Foul Fiend sent him against us hitherward! Let sink my battle-banners," he cried, "the fight is done!" For peace he made entreaty; peace was vouchsafed anon. Yet himself must fare as hostage afar to Gunther's land Beneath the hard constraining of dauntless Siegfried's hand.

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So ceased the weary warriors with one consent from the fight; And many a shattered helmet and shield to left and to right Did they cast from their hands; nor any of all on the field that lay, But blood-besprent from the hewing of Burgundia's swords were they. From the field, by the right of the victor, what captives they would did they lead: And the swift war-helpers, Gernot and Hagen, took order with heed That the wounded men upon litters be borne: so led they away, Captives unto the Rhine-flood, five hundred men from the fray. All empty-handed of triumph home rode each Danish knight, Nor yet had the Saxons borne them so stoutly in that fight That their people should sing their praises: in sorrow and shame went they Mid wailing for dear ones fallen in the slaughter of that day. Now their needless armour Rhineward the sumpter-beasts might bear, For Siegfried the strong and his helpers had rid the land of the fear Of foes from border to border: so had he accomplished this That all King Gunther's war-host must acclaim the deed for his.

Straightway to Worms Prince Gernot hasted the messengers' feet To bear unto friends in the homeland the tidings passing sweet, That tale of the might triumphant of the Kings and their war-array, The tale of the deeds of the valiant, of the dawn of glory's day. Fast, fast those victory-heralds sped, and the tale was told. How leap their hearts for gladness that of late were sorrowful-souled, For all those joyful tidings through the jubilant land that ring! How instant are high-born ladies with eager questioning How had it fared with their dear lords in the King's war-host who fought! Yea, into the presence of Kriemhild was a messenger straightway brought: Yet the thing was done as in secret, and she would not that folk should know, For the Hero's sake in whose keeping was her heart from long ago.

When stood that victory-bringer in her bower before her eyes, Kriemhild the lovely bespake him in exceeding gracious wise: {P. 31} "Now tell me thy joyful tidings, and my gold shall thy guerdon be; And, so nought of the truth be hidden, thou hast ever a friend in me. Tell how hath my brother Gernot come forth of the battle-strife, And other my friends and kinsmen. Be there many that lost their life? Who in that day triumphant was in prowess chief?--say on!"

Spake the messenger true-hearted: "Sooth, battle-blencher was none; But in that stern warrior-onset no champion rode so well, O noble Daughter of Princes, if the truth my tongue must tell, As the princely stranger-hero, which came from the Netherland;-- O the marvels of battle-prowess that were wrought by Siegfried's hand! What deeds soever the champions achieved in the battle-play, Even Dankwart and Hagen, and other of Gunther's war-array-- Their glory, their prowess, were even as an idle wind should sing, Set by the deeds of Siegfried, the son of Siegmund the King. O yea, in the storm of battle full many a hero they slew: But whoso essayed could never tell all the marvels through That were wrought by the arm of Siegfried as he rode the surges of fight-- Ah, many a lady for dear ones slain shall bewail his might! Went down before his onset the beloved of many a bride; His giant strokes on the helmets o'er the field rang far and wide, And forth of the gaping gashes the blood flowed fast and free:-- O yea, in all achievement the glory of knighthood is he! Sooth, many a deed of valour wrought Ortwein, Metz's Lord; Whosoever was touched in the war-storm by the lightning of his sword Fell back from his face sore wounded--yea, for the more part slain: And thy brother withal to the foemen dealt the deadliest bane That ever in battle-tempest hath any champion wrought. True witness were this of the chosen warriors there that fought, That so mighty in war-achievement were our proud Burgundians found, That shame shall touch them never: for aye are they glory-crowned. For they smote, and they saw before them many a riderless selle: O'er the echoing field their war-glaives rang many a foeman's knell. {P. 32} O yea, the knights of Rhineland rode through that stormy day In such wise that their foes repent them that ever they dared the fray. And the valiant brethren of Troneg withal dealt deadly bane When the war-hosts clashed, when the nations wrestled with desperate strain: So many were then hurled earthward by dauntless Hagen's hand, That thereof might a goodly story be told in Burgundia-land. Sindold withal and Hunold, 'neath Gernot's banner who warred, These wrought such deeds of prowess, with Rumold the dauntless lord, That Lüdiger, king of the Saxons, to his latest hour shall repent The folly of that war-challenge to the Lords of Rhineland sent. Yet of all the mightiest war-deeds that ever on earth have been, From the least even unto the greatest that ever eye hath seen, Never were such as Siegfried hath wrought with resistless hand. And he bringeth royal captives hither to Gunther's land; Even these with his might overmastering the warrior-prince subdued. Of a truth his self-sought evils hath Lüdegast bitterly rued, And Lüdiger his brother, the lord of the Saxons, withal! O noble Daughter of Princes, not yet have I told thee all; For behold, these twain were captive taken by Siegfried's hand. Never so many war-thralls have come into this our land As now his valour haleth hitherward unto the Rhine." --More welcome words had she hearkened never, ye well may divine-- "Five hundred barons unwounded, nay more, be hitherward led, O Queen, and of men sore stricken in fight, yea, well-nigh dead, Full fourscore blood-stained litters come softly through the land; And of these were the more part smitten by dauntless Siegfried's hand. They whose pride overweening challenged the Lords of Rhine to the war Now captives of King Gunther by sore constraint they are. With joy to thy land that goodly prey do our warriors hale."

Then flushed into rose the lily at the telling of that tale. Yea, over her lovely visage for rapture the roses burned That out of the imminent peril alive and whole had returned {P. 33} Her knight, her winsome Siegfried, of the young, heart-conquering eyes-- Yea, she rejoiced for her kinsfolk withal in sisterly wise. Then spake that Queen of Beauty: "Glad tidings to me hast thou brought. I will give thee for thy guerdon bright raiment richly wrought; And my treasurer shall count thee withal ten marks of gold." He is happy of whom such tidings unto noble dames be told!

They gave him for his guerdon the gold and the costly array. Many a lovely maiden from her casement leaned that day, And gazed o'er the city highway, and saw go riding by Many a thane high-hearted of the land of Burgundy. First rode the knights unwounded, then the train of the stricken came,-- Well might these hearken the greeting of friends with nought of shame! And the King rode forth glad-hearted to meet them, kinsman and guest: From all his care in rejoicing his soul had gotten rest. Then greeted he well his kinsfolk, and hailed each stranger knight, As for kings of men so mighty is ever meet and right With thanks and with lovingkindness to meet men faring back From plucking the flower of glory from the field of the battle-wrack. Now touching his friends and his kinsmen King Gunther questioneth, Even who in the highways of battle had been stricken unto death: And behold, in heroes fourscore the tale of their slain is told!-- But the brave dead none bewaileth, and so hath it been from of old. Yea, even the knights unwounded brought many a sword-hacked shield, And many a rifted helmet, home from that stricken field. And the riders sprang from their horses at the gates of the hall of the King; And with shouts of salutation did the very heavens ring.

Fair harbourage unto the good knights they gave that city through; And the King commanded to honour his guests with tendance due; And they bound up the hurts of the wounded, and with diligent heed did they tend: Yea, that knightly King was gracious unto foe no less than friend. {P. 34} Then unto Lüdegast spake he: "Welcome to me be thou! Through thy misdeed to my kingdom hath mischief been wrought enow, For the which thou must make atonement, if this may be compassed of me. God look on my friends and reward them: right well have they holpen me!" "Well mayst thou thank thine helpers," spake Lüdiger answering: "In sooth such high-born captives had never earthly king! And now for knightly warding we tender thee goodly fee, And pray thee for gracious dealing with them that were foes unto thee." "Unto both of you freedom from fetters," he answered, "will I accord, So all which have fought against me abide here still in ward: And for this shall ye give me pledges that none shall leave my land, Except as I give them licence." To the covenant gave they the hand.

Then they led to their rest the weary, where all things ready were made. Full soon upon easeful couches were the wounded warriors laid. And they poured for the knights unwounded bright wine and mead good store: Never in mirth and joyance were hearts uplifted more. The bucklers battle-riven took they, and they laid them by, And saddles blood-empurpled might one see plenteously; But these caused they to be hidden, lest women should weep at the sight:-- Ah, the sun went down that even upon many a wayworn knight! "Give kindliest entertainment to my guests," did the King command:-- With the native-born and with strangers now thronged was all the land:-- He took thought for the heedful tendance of each sore-wounded foe: Ha, how was their haughty defiance in humility brought low! Whosoever were cunning in leechcraft, rich guerdon their skill repaid, Bright gold unstinted and silver outlavished, yea, unweighed, So they would but heal those heroes who had gotten hurt in the war. And with gifts the King still loaded his guests that came from far. And whoso of these was minded homeward to turn again, As one should entreat a dear friend, so prayed they him to remain. Nor forgat the King his liegemen, but devised for them rich reward, Even all whose labour of glory had accomplished the will of their lord.

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Then spake Prince Gernot his counsel: "Let our guests depart as now: And in forty days--proclaim it, and to all men publish it thou-- Unto a festal high-tide shall all return once more; For healed by then shall be many that now lie wounded sore." Then made his request Prince Siegfried: "I pray you, let me depart." But when to the Rhine-lord Gernot was known the desire of his heart, He besought him in loving fashion for a season to tarry still:-- Sooth, but for the love of his sister, he had swayed him not to his will! To a prince so royal might no man for his measureless desert Proffer reward; but his guerdon was the love of Gunther's heart, And of all his friends and kinsfolk; for alway in their sight Fair shone the mighty achievements that his hand had wrought in fight. He said to his heart: "I will linger for the sake of Beauty's Queen, If at last I may haply behold her." And so was his heart's dream seen At the last: after long, long waiting he beheld her, his love and his star; Then with heart all love-overflowing he rode to his home afar. Now the King had given commandment for tourneys day by day, And strong young knights rode gladly in the gentle and joyous fray. And he bade make ready the high-seats in the city beside Rhine-strand For the noble guests who were bidden to the feast in Burgundia-land.

Now as near drew the day and nearer when the guests from afar should be there, Told was the tale of their coming unto Kriemhild the passing-fair, And of that great festal high-tide with dear-loved friends she heard-- Lo, the heart of each winsome lady to beauty's arraying is stirred; And they seek out wimples to deck them, and the lovely robes unfold. And now to the lady Uta the tidings moreover are told Of the coming of those proud warriors which unto the feast are bidden. Forth drawn is the costly raiment in the cedar caskets hidden; And she bade for her sons' sake fashion bright mantle and vest straightway For the clothing of maid and matron in royal-rich array; Yea, doublet and cloak for vesture of the knights of Burgundy, And withal for many a stranger much goodly bravery.

V. How Siegfried first saw Kriemhild

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Now day by day the watchers saw heroes Rhineward ride, Warriors fain of the joyance of that great festal-tide, Knights that for love of the Rhine-lords into the Rhineland pressed; And ever with gifts were they greeted, swift steed and goodly vest. Fair-dight by this were the high-seats with purple and gleam of gold For the noblest and the bravest, as the ancient tale hath told, For the princes two-and-thirty that thronged to the festival. And in rivalry of beauty fair women arrayed them withal. There Giselher the stripling all-eager might ye see, As he welcomed the homeland-dweller and the stranger courteously; And with him stood Gernot his brother and all their knightly train: With the honour of ancient custom they greeted each noble thane.

Through the Rhineland highways rode they on saddles with gold red-glowing; Great shields all splendour-blazoned, rich mantles lordly-flowing Went flashing up the city to that glorious festal-tide:-- Yea, men unhealed blithe-hearted looked forth on their knightly pride; Ay, the battle-stricken tossing on beds of pain all day Forgat how near to the shadow of bitter death they lay: For the sick and the fever-blasted love's lips forgot to sigh, So glad were they all for the dawning of the festal days so nigh; For they thought, "In such royal bounty shall we live and see good days!" There were murmurs of mirth unmeasured through all the city's ways; There were overflowings of gladness--more bliss no man hath beheld: High through the land of Gunther the tides of joyance swelled. All on a merry morning of Whitsuntide rode they, Those splendour-vestured chosen brave knights in long array, {P. 37} Five thousand men--nay, haply yet more, to the King's feast bound: To and fro were flashing the light jests, and the laughter echoed round.

Now on this was the King still musing--thereof had he long been ware-- How the heart of the Netherland hero lay tangled in love's snare Spell-drawn unto his sister, whom yet he had ne'er looked on, The lady by whom all maidens were in loveliness outshone. (C) And he spake: "Now all give counsel, both kinsman and vassal true, What thing to make all-perfect this feast-tide shall we do, That no man may chide us for failing in aught in the coming days; For in sooth by our deeds men judge us at the last, to blame us or praise." Then the Lord of Metz, knight Ortwein, spake to that kingly host: "If thy festival with honour shall be crowned to the uttermost, Thou suffer thy guests to look on the maidens peerless-fair Whose praise through the land Burgundian is rumoured everywhere. Wherein is a man's heart-pleasure, and his eyes' most dear delight, Save in loveliness of a maiden, in the beauty of lady bright? Thou suffer then that thy sister before thy guests appear." Leapt the heart of many a hero that welcome word to hear.

"Full fain will I heed thy counsel," was Gunther's answering word, And thereat were the hearts of all men exultation-stirred; And he spake to the Lady Uta, and to Kriemhild the lovely-eyed, To come with all their maidens to the King's high festal-tide. Then in the cedar-caskets for fair attire sought they, And unfolded the flashing splendour of royal-rich array, And the cloudy lace and the bracelets, whereof good store they had. So with loveliest adorning were the winsome maidens clad. There was many a young knight yearning that day in eager wise That he might be found well-pleasing in the high-born ladies' eyes. That hope would he not have bartered, no, not for a kingdom's fee. The fair forms unbeholden ere this it was joy to see.

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Then the great King gave commandment that a guard of honour should go With his sister and his mother, in their farings to and fro, Of a hundred of his good knights, each man with sword in hand, As was ever the royal custom in fair Burgundia-land. Beside her princess-daughter Uta the queenly came, And a bright train followed after of many a lovely dame, Five score, yea more peradventure, in costly raiment arrayed; And paced behind fair Kriemhild many a winsome maid. From a stately tiring-bower those daintiest feet forth paced: Then surged the great press forward of heroes eager-faced Which had stood there long-expectant, if haply their lot might be To look glad-eyed on the Fairest, on the Star of Burgundy.

Now forth of the doors the Loveliest came, as the morning-red From lowering clouds forth breaketh;--lo, how his heart-ache fled, His, who in his soul had shrined her through all that weary tide! For he saw that glory of women stand there in her beauty's pride. Flashed many a priceless gemstone from the folds of her attire, And the roses flushed through the lilies, a snare of hearts' desire. Howsoe'er 'gainst the spell of her beauty one strove, he needs must own That nothing so passing lovely in the wide world yet had he known. As the full moon in her glory swims on before the stars, And the brightness of her splendour floats forth of the cloudy bars, So before all other women shone out that Queen of Love. Well might the hearts of the heroes be uplifted for joy thereof!

Paced onward before the maidens the stately chamberlains. Now could they forbear no longer, those noble-hearted thanes, But to gaze on her winsome sweetness forward still did they press. Then was Siegfried's heart joy-ravished, and anon in heaviness. In his inmost soul was he musing: "How dared I dream such bliss That I, I ever should woo thee?--an idle dream was this! Yet must I for aye be a stranger? Better that I lay dead!" And oft in his thoughts' wild tumult he paled, and anon flushed red. {P. 39} There Siegelind's son stood moveless, and so winsome did he seem As though by the hand of a master were the angel of his dream Limned on the missal-parchment: none looked on him, and forbore To own that so comely a hero had none seen theretofore. Then the knights that attended Kriemhild bade all to left and to right Avoid from the path, and obedient to the word was many a knight. What joy it was to behold them, that heart-uplifted throng, As the gentle-nurtured ladies all queenlike swept along!

Then spake the Prince Burgundian, and Gernot uttered his rede: "The hero who did thee service ungrudging in thy need, Gunther, belovèd brother, thou guerdon him for the same Before all these: of my counsel shall no man dare think shame. Bid Siegfried unto my sister, that he meet her face to face, That the maiden may greet him: of the honour shall we win us enduring grace. If to him be accorded her greeting, who on knight smiled never before, We have gotten this goodly war-thane to our friend for evermore." Hasted the kinsmen of Gunther unto where did Siegfried stand, And they bare that courteous bidding to the knight of Netherland: "This is the King's good pleasure, that thou come where the seed-royal be, To the end that his sister may greet thee for especial honour to thee."