Part 6

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 with unhindered eyes: And she, she received Prince Siegfried in courtly-winsome wise. When she saw him stand before her, that hero-hearted lord, Her cheeks were aflame with the love-light, her sweet lips spake the word: "Welcome to thee, Lord Siegfried, to a good and noble knight!" Then the wings of his soul at her greeting soared to the heaven's height Love-lowly he bent before her: she laid her hand in his; And each moved on by other in a yearning trance of bliss. From their eyes the soft love-lightning flashed those twain alway Strong hero and fair maiden--yet stolen glances were they. {P. 40} Ask ye, were those white fingers by him pressed lovingly For speech of the heart?--such knowledge is all too high for me; Yet--yet I may nowise believe it, that he spared to do this thing. Soon came sweet self-betrayal of the heart that had found its king.

It was all in the summer season, in the very glory of May. Never his heart had tasted such bliss as on that glad day, Never such soul-uplifting, as in that hour he knew When walked that maiden beside him, whom the hero fain would woo. Then many a knight was thinking: "Ah me, that my bliss it were Even so to be pacing beside her, as he is pacing there! And O in mine arms to clasp her!--how fain thereof had I been!" Yet who might begrudge?--never hero was so worthy to win a queen. From what far land soever those guests had come, each thane Had eyes, in all that feast-tide, for nothing save these twain. Then suffered was the maiden to kiss that goodly knight: Never in all his life-days had he known such dear delight. But the King of the Danefolk murmured under his breath straightway: "Ah, many for this high greeting lie sorely hurt this day By the hand of Siegfried stricken--for witness stand I here:-- God grant his face in Daneland may never more appear!"

Then the heralds cried that all folk should avoid to left and right From the path of Kriemhild the lovely; and many a gallant knight And warrior gently-nurtured in her train to the minster hied: So for a space was parted the hero from her side. So passed she into the minster with her maiden-company; And the dim aisles shone with beauty so glorious to see, That many a prayer dropped earthward that should to heaven aspire, For of all those chosen champions was she the eyes' desire. Now scarce could Siegfried tarry till the mass was brought to an end, And his heart still sang thanksgiving unto Fortune, unto the friend Which had bowed unto him her favour whom shrined in his heart he bare: Fast bound in loyal service was he to the Fairest Fair.

{P. 41}

When again forth out of the minster after the mass she came, Again to her presence was bidden that hero of far-sung fame. Then the winsome-lovely maiden her thanks unto him outpoured That so bravely beyond all others he helped when her brethren warred: "Lord Siegfried, now God reward thee," that Queen of Beauty said: "The good knights' loyal homage this day hast thou merited; All true hearts' love-avowal right nobly hast thou earned!" Then the love in the eyes of Siegfried on the eyes of Kriemhild burned. "For ever and aye will I serve thee!" Siegfried the hero said: "Never to rest or slumber will I lay down mine head Till thine every wish be accomplished, while life shall endure in me! And this do I, O Kriemhild, Kriemhild, for love of thee!" So it fell that through twelve days, ever as dawned each new day's light, By the witchery-winsome maiden lingereth still the knight Oft as in kingfolk's presence her feet through the fair halls pace, For mighty love hath constrained her to yield unto him this grace.

Glad noise of jubilation and the merry tourney's clang, Still as the days on-fleeted, round Gunther's palace rang, Within, without, as in feast-hall and in lists the valiant vied; And by marvels of prowess were Ortwein and Hagen magnified. In what manly sport soever men strove, these twain evermore, These champions keen in the onset, their part to the uttermost bore. In the eyes of the guests of the kingdom bright made they their renown: Of the whole land of King Gunther the glory were they and the crown. They which had long lain wounded now to the sun forth came: They were fain with Gunther's liegemen to share each knightly game, Would wield the fence of the buckler and hurl the lance afar: No lack had they of companions in the merry mimic war. And ever in the feast-hall that kingly host took heed That his guests should be served of the choicest, that no least word should proceed Of blame from the lips of any, such as smircheth the name of a king; And aye mid his guests was he passing with gracious welcoming. {P. 42} And he spake in the midst: "Ye good knights, or ever ye ride from my land, Accept ye the gifts of my giving, for so doth mine heart's wish stand, And to you will I aye be beholden: then think not scorn thereof, For with that which I share among you is given mine heart's whole love."

Then answered the lords of Daneland there as they stood in hall: "Or ever aback to the homeland we ride delivered from thrall, Assure to us peace abiding: thereof is our need full sore, Seeing many our friends down-stricken by your friends shall rise no more." Now by this from his hurts recovered was Lüdegast the Dane, And the Lord of the land of the Saxons was whole from the battle again, Albeit some of their warriors must they leave in a strange land dead. Then went King Gunther to Siegfried, and drew him apart, and he said: "Now give me herein thy counsel"--thus spake he unto the knight-- "Our captive guests would ride hence with the first of the morrow's light, And petition for reconciling long-lasting with mine and me. O valiant knight, give counsel how best it seemeth to thee. Now what these two kings proffer, unto thee shall it now be told: Five hundred horses' burden they tender of red gold. This willingly give they for ransom, so I will set them free." Spake Siegfried the strong: "For thine honour this thing shall nowise be. Nay, freely, without all ransom, let them fare forth hence, these twain, If so be that these noble war-lords will swear henceforth to refrain From riding the raid of the foeman hitherward unto your land: And for pledge hereunto be given a king's unsullied hand." "I will do even after thy counsel," he said. So parted they: And unto their adversaries was answer made straightway That the gold was desired of no man that was proffered of them at the first. Ah, sick were their hearts with longing for dear ones, and home-athirst!

Shields many treasure-laden his henchmen thitherward bare, And therefrom to his friends bright silver unweighed did the knight-king share, Five hundred marks unto each one--unto many an one yet more: So was Gunther advised of Gernot, that noble counsellor. {P. 43} Then prayed all, "Let us depart hence"; for now would they fain ride home; And into the presence of Kriemhild did the guests for farewell come, And unto the foot of the high-seat whereon sat Uta the Queen. Ne'er in such gracious fashion were guests sped forth, I ween. Now void were the city's hostels, as forth of the gates they rode; Yet still in the land Burgundian in royal state abode The King with all his kinsfolk in the midst of a knightly train, And each day in the presence of Kriemhild appeared each noble thane.

Then Siegfried the hero petitioned, "I pray you, let me depart"; For his hope waxed faint of winning her who was queen of his heart: And the King heard tell of his purpose, that thence he would fare straightway. But the young lad Giselher pleaded, and wrought on him to delay: "Whither away, O Siegfried, is thine heart on journeying set? Nay, hearken to my petition, abide with the good knights yet; Abide thou with King Gunther and his loyal liegemen still. Lo, here be lovely ladies: thou mayst see them at thy will." Made answer Siegfried the mighty: "Nay then, let the steeds abide. Lo, I have foregone my purpose, and hence not yet will I ride. Bear hence the shields and uphang them--albeit I long for mine home, Lord Giselher's love true-hearted hath turned my mind therefrom." So tarried the valiant warrior there by a friend's love won. In all the rest of the wide world other place was there none Wherein he had rested so gladly; and now none said him nay, But he looked on the beauty of Kriemhild ever day by day; For the sake of her measureless fairness he could not choose but stay. In many a pleasant pastime they wore the hours away. Only he felt love's torment, he knew none other care. --Ah me, but the days were coming when she should be his death-snare!

VI. How they Voyaged on Love-quest to Isen-land

{P. 44}

Now over the Rhine came a story of none heard theretofore, A tale of the marvellous beauty of maids on a far-away shore. Then stirred was the spirit of Gunther to win such an one for his bride: In the hope thereof uplifted was his heart in kingly pride. There was a Queen of Beauty enthroned beyond the sea; Through all the world's wide compass was none so fair as she. In loveliness was she peerless, and of measureless bodily might; For she matched her with champions that wooed her in speeding the lance's flight, And in hurling the stone, and in leaping far as it flew through the air. Whosoever to wife would win her, that terrible test must dare, And in contests three overcome her, that champion-maid high-born. Let him fail in but one of the trials, and his head from his shoulders was shorn. Full oft that Daughter of Princes had done this ruthless thing: But now by the Rhine her rumour came to a knightly king, And he turned his whole heart's longing to win that fair one to wife. --Ah, many a knight thereafter for her sake lost his life!

(C) As once in the midst of his people the noble Gunther sat, Much question arose, as the speech-tide flowed swiftly this way and that, What queen among women was worthy that the King should choose her for bride, Who should be Queen of Burgundia, and sit enthroned at his side. Then spake the Lord of Rhineland: "I will take ship down to the sea, And will sail to the Lady Brunhild, howsoever it fare with me. For the love of that Queen of Women will I venture limb and life: Yea, ready I stand to lose them, an I win her not to my wife." {P. 45} "I give my counsel against it," cried Siegfried with earnest mien; "Such deadly-ruthless customs be practised of that dread queen, That whoever is her love's suitor, his head he imperilleth. Well mayst thou advise thee rather to turn from this path of death." (C) Answered and spake King Gunther: "Never was woman born So strong and so fierce of spirit, but her might were by mine outworn Lightly, in any contest, by my single hand alone!" "Ah hush!" made answer Siegfried, "unto thee is this woman unknown. (C) Though four such as thou withstood her, the strength of them all were as nought Against her terrible fury: thou therefore renounce that thought; In loyal faith I advise thee. If with death thou be not in love, Travail not thou to win her, for nought can come thereof." (C) "Be she as strong as she may be, on that journey I needs must fare Hence unto Brunhild, befall me what may befall me there! For the sake of her peerless beauty no peril will I decline. Peradventure may God yet move her to follow us to the Rhine."

"Then will I counsel," made answer Hagen, "if this must be, That thou make thy request unto Siegfried, that he will bear with thee The burden of this sore travail: this rede remaineth the best, Seeing he hath alone clear knowledge of Brunhild's perilous test." Said the King, "O Siegfried belovèd, mine helper wilt thou fare In my wooing of Brunhild the lovely? Do according to this my prayer, And if for my bride I win her, and crown her my queenly wife, For thee at all times will I venture honour and limb and life." Answered him Siegfried, the scion of Siegmund the Lowland's lord: "This will I do, if thou promise to give me for reward The Lovely, the Queen of Women, Kriemhild thy sister, for bride: For my toil for thee nor guerdon nor thank I desire beside." "Even this do I promise," said Gunther, "O Siegfried, on thine hand; And if Brunhild the lovely cometh hither to this my land, Then will I give thee my sister to wife in requital for this; So mayest thou with thy fair one for ever live in bliss." {P. 46} Then by an oath did they pledge them, those noble warriors twain; But thereof unto both was begotten exceeding toil and strain. Or ever they brought into Rhineland that lady of princely blood, In peril exceeding grievous those valiant heroes stood.

(C) Now concerning the tameless Earth-dwarfs this thing have I heard folk say, That they dwell in the mountain-caverns, and about their heads they lay For helmets the Hoods of Darkness, and a strange power floweth thence; For who weareth such on his body, therein hath perfect defence (C) From stroke of sword and from spear-thrust; while resteth on him this pall, No man may in any wise see him, but he heareth and seeth all So much as his soul desireth, yet himself may none behold; And his strength to a giant's waxeth, as the tale in our ears hath been told. Now the Hood of Darkness Siegfried for their help at need hath ta'en, Even that which the valiant warrior had wrested with toil and strain From Alberich, Dwarf of the Mountain, in the stormy days gone by. So these to their journey addressed them in their fearless chivalry. Now whene'er the stalwart Siegfried had donned that Hood of Night, He gat from its overscreening exceeding fulness of might; In twelve men's strength he clad him, as the runes of the old songs run. So it fell, by the Dwarf-lords' cunning that glorious bride was won. Yea, and so wondrous-shapen was that strange cloudy Hood, That a man overpalled by its shrouding might do even that which he would, Yea, after his heart's good pleasure, for of none was he espied: Therewith did he win Queen Brunhild--and through her at the last he died.

"Now, ere we set forth on our journey, unto me, O Siegfried, declare How best for our honour and glory over the sea we may fare. Shall we lead 'neath our banners a war-host of knights unto Brunhild's land? Swiftly may thrice ten thousand be arrayed in our warrior-band." "How great soever the war-host that we take," spake Siegfried to him, "The might of that queen and her fury be so exceeding grim, That all our array should be blasted 'neath the storm of her battle-mood. I will give to you better counsel, O valiant thanes and good: {P. 47} In guise as of lone knights-errant let us sail adown the Rhine. Touching who in our band shall be numbered, hear this counsel of mine: With thee and with me two only let there go, none other beside, That with these we may woo this lady, whatsoever thereafter betide. Even I am one in the venture, the second must needs be thou, And let the third be Hagen--fear not, we shall prosper now;-- For the fourth be chosen Dankwart, that lord of battle-might; Then not a thousand aliens shall ever withstand us in fight."

"Of this too," spake King Gunther, "would I fain be certified-- For thereof should mine heart be gladdened--or ever forth we ride, What manner of raiment in presence of Brunhild befits that we wear Such as shall meetly beseem us: this, O Siegfried, declare." "In the richest of all rich vesture that is found in any land Be arrayed evermore the people that in Brunhild's presence stand. Let us therefore appear before her in silk and in ermine and gold, That none think scorn of our splendour when the tale thereafter is told." Answered the good thane Gunther: "Myself will go forthright To my well-belovèd mother, if haply good in her sight It shall be that her comely maidens may fashion attire so fair As before that queenly lady with honour we may wear." Then out spake Hagen of Troneg, that lord of stately port: "What boots it to trouble thy mother for service in such a sort? Breathe but a word to thy sister of thy thought and thy desire, And cunning fingers shall frame you exceeding rich attire."

Then the King sent word to his sister that fain would he confer With her, even he and Siegfried. But, or ever they came unto her, That lovely one had adorned her in such royal-rich array That with right scant heart-misgivings their coming did she stay. Stood the ladies that waited upon her clad richly in their degree: Then came to her bower the Princes: at their entering-in rose she To meet them, from her high seat: ah, with what queenly grace She greeted the noble stranger and her brother with radiant face! {P. 48} "Blithe welcome unto my brother, and welcome to his friend! I am fain," spake on that sweet one, "I am fain to know the end Of your coming to this bower royal, what thing your hearts would crave. I beseech you, let me hearken what the noble knights would have."

Then spake King Gunther: "Lady, this will I tell:--we bear, For all our knightly courage, the burden of a care. We be minded to ride a-wooing to a strange land far away, And fain would we have for our journey exceeding goodly array." "Now seat thee, belovèd brother," that child of kings 'gan say, "And of this thing first instruct me, what fairest of fair ones be they Whom ye are so fain to be wooing in a strange king's far-off land." And therewith those chosen chieftains did the maiden take by the hand, And with these twain onward paced she, and seated them royally On splendour-gleaming couches--nought passing the truth tell I-- With imagery fair-fashioned with the red gold threads entwined: Of a truth, in that bower of ladies fair pleasure might they find! Flashes of swift love-lightning and of yearning of the heart, From the eyes of each unto other, well might they ofttimes dart! For shrined in his soul he bare her; she was more unto him than life, And ere long by noble service he won her to be his wife.

Then spake that goodly war-king: "Belovèd sister mine, Our desire may be nowise accomplished saving with help of thine. We would fare forth pleasure-questing to the Lady Brunhild's land, And knights need fair arrayal that in presence of ladies stand." Then spake that Daughter of Princes: "Belovèd brother mine, If aught mine help may avail you to compass your design, Hereof have utter assurance, I am ready to bear my part. Yea, if another denied thee, it were pain unto Kriemhild's heart. O noble knight, it needs not that ye ask as in fear and doubt: What best ye bring soever in lordly wise tell out. Whatsoever may do you a pleasure, ready awaiteth mine aid, And with all mine heart I do it." So spake that winsome maid. {P. 49} "Our will is, sister belovèd, to array us in vesture fair, And we pray that thine own white fingers may this our apparel prepare. And let these thy maidens be heedful that each man be arrayed like a king; For no gainsaying shall turn us from this our journeying."

Answered and spake that Fair One: "To this my request give heed: Silks have we beside us in plenty; command that one bring for our need The gemstones that gleam on your bucklers; these on the silk will we lay." Thereunto Gunther and Siegfried glad-hearted answered yea. "Now who be the journeying-fellows," the Princess asked again, "Who shall wend so goodly-apparelled unto where this queen doth reign?" "Myself am the fourth: first Siegfried; two of my liegemen withal, Dankwart and Hagen, shall journey with us to her palace-hall. Heed well, O sister belovèd, what now unto thee we say:-- See to it, that we four comrades three several times a day May through four days change our raiment, and still go gorgeously, So that none, when we pass from her country, may scoff at our bravery." With outpouring of thanks, from her chamber then passed they in knightly wise. Then to seek help of her women did Kriemhild the princess arise, And of all her bower-maidens thirty summoned she Which above all others were cunning in needle-mastery. On white Arabian samite--as the snow was its pearly sheen-- And on far-fetched velvet of Orient, as the springtide clover green, Laid they the flashing gemstones,--O rich was the vesture and rare, For by hands of Kriemhild the lovely were the garments shapen fair. Sea-otter furs and sealskins for lining thereof chose they, A marvel to all beholders--was never such rich array!-- And with silk did they overlay them, and drew the seams with gold. Sooth, many a marvellous story of the splendour thereof hath been told. Out of the land of the Morians came the goodliest silk on earth, And from sun-smitten plains of Libya: on children of royal birth Was ne'er seen costlier vesture; and of these was enough and to spare. And through all the threadwork woven was the love that Kriemhild bare. {P. 50} For the costly raiment craved for by those far-voyagers She lavished with love ungrudging the ermine's argent furs-- Soft whiteness gleaming whiter for its flecks of coal-black hue-- Such as valorous knights wear proudly in a great king's retinue. Out of bezels of gold of Arabia the glorious gemstones gleamed: For those watchful eyes no smallest pearl too tiny seemed. So fashioned they all that raiment ere seven weeks fleeted away: And withal for the good knights ready by this was their war-array.

Now when all at the last lay ready, men saw by the Rhine-river strand A galley of stout oak builded by the cunning craftsman's hand, Wherein down Rhine-flood the heroes on to the sea should be borne. And by this were the noble maidens by their labour of love outworn. Then they sent to the knights the message that ready all things were In the which they would fain go bravely, that raiment passing-fair; Accomplished was all they had prayed for, and the labour of love was done. Now therefore beside Rhine-river no more would they linger on. So then to those gallant comrades was a message from Kriemhild brought To come and behold the apparel that her hands had newly wrought, If perchance for the heroes' wearing it were over short or long: And behold, it was all just measure, and they thanked that maiden-throng. Into whosesoever presence they came, all men must say That never on earth had they looked on more passing-fair array. Blithe-hearted might they wear it in the palace of proudest queen, For of goodlier knights' apparel had none or heard or seen.