The Nibelungenlied: The Lay of the Nibelungs (Oxford World's Classics) (20 page)

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‘Lady,’ Hagen replied, ‘if you have any idea about how he might be wounded, you must tell me what cunning I am to employ to prevent it. I will always ride and walk with him to guard him.’

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She said: ‘You are my kin, as I am yours. I commend my dear lover to you loyally, so that you may protect my husband.’ She told him tidings known to her which would have been better left unsaid. She said: ‘My husband is bold, and great in strength, too. When he slew the dragon by the mountain, the gallant warrior bathed in its blood, which is why no weapon has ever wounded him in onslaughts.

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Yet I am anxious when he does battle and many javelins are hurled by heroes’ hands, that I may lose my dear husband. Oh, what great anxiety I often feel for Sivrit! I’ll tell you about it, my dearest friend,

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trusting in the loyalty you bear me. I’ll let you hear where my dear husband can be wounded—I trust to your help in this. When the

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hot blood flowed from the dragon’s wounds and the bold, worthy knight bathed in it, a broad linden leaf fell and landed between his shoulder-blades. At that spot he can be wounded—that is the cause of my great anxiety.’

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Then Hagen of Tronege said: ‘Sew a small sign on his clothing. That way I will know where I can protect him when we stand in battle.’

She then thought she was protecting the hero—it was to be the death of him. She said: ‘With fine silk I shall sew a secret cross on his

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clothing. There, hero, your hands must protect my husband in the thick of it, when he stands before his enemies in the onslaughts.’

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‘I’ll do so, my dearest lady,’ replied Hagen.

The lady did indeed imagine then that it would help Sivrit, but Kriemhilt’s husband was betrayed by that. Hagen took his leave then; he walked away in high spirits. The king’s retinue were all in

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good spirits. I believe no warrior will ever again perpetrate such great treachery as Hagen did there, when Queen Kriemhilt entrusted her-self to his loyalty.

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The following morning, with a thousand of his men, Lord Sivrit rode off in high spirits. He thought to avenge the wrong done to his friends. Hagen rode so close to him that he could examine his garments. When he saw the sign, he secretly sent off two of his men

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who brought fresh tidings: Gunther’s land was to be left in peace, and Liudeger had sent them to tell the king of this.

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How unwillingly Sivrit then rode back, without having avenged any of the wrongs done to his friends! Only with great difficulty could Gunther’s men persuade him to turn back. Then he rode up to the king. The lord began to thank him: ‘Now God reward you

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for your good intent, friend Sivrit. I must ever seek to repay you as I rightly ought, for doing so willingly what I ask of you. I have faith in you above all my friends. Now that we have no cause to campaign,

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I want to ride to the Vosges Forest to hunt bears and boar, as I have often done before.’ That had been the counsel of Hagen, that most disloyal of men. ‘Have all my guests told that we are riding off very

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early. Let those who wish to hunt with me make themselves ready. Those who remain here to court the ladies do so with my blessing.’

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Then Lord Sivrit said proudly: ‘Whenever you ride hunting, I will gladly go with you. You must lend me a tracker and a bercelet
*
or two, and I will ride into the woods.’

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‘Will you only take one tracker?’ replied the king at once. ‘If you like, I’ll lend you four who are very well acquainted with the forest and the paths that the beasts take, and won’t lead you astray when you ride to camp.’

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Then the gallant warrior rode to his wife. Hagen had quickly told the king how he would overcome the mettlesome knight. Never should anyone practise such great disloyalty!

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G
UNTHER
and Hagen, those valiant warriors, proclaimed in their disloyalty a hunting expedition into the forest. With their sharp javelins they were intent upon hunting boars, bears, and bison—what could be bolder? Sivrit rode along with them, proud in demeanour.

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Provisions of various kinds were taken along for them. By a cold spring Sivrit was afterwards to lose his life. That was the counsel of Prünhilt, King Gunther’s wife.

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The bold warrior then walked over to Kriemhilt. By now his fine hunting-clothes were packed on mules, both his and those of his companions. They wanted to cross the Rhine. Kriemhilt could never have been more unhappy than at that moment. Sivrit

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kissed his beloved on the mouth. ‘May God let me see you hale and hearty again, lady, and let your eyes see me again! You must pass the time pleasantly with your dear kinsmen—I cannot remain at home here.’

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Then she reflected upon what she had told Hagen. She dared not tell Sivrit of it. The noble queen then lamented that she had ever been born. Lord Sivrit’s wife wept beyond measure. She said to the

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warrior: ‘Let your hunting be. I dreamt last night, to my grief, how two wild boars chased you over the heath, and flowers grew red there. In all truth, I have good reason to weep so sorely! I am sorely afraid of

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some conspiracy or other, if we have served any of them ill and they are capable of inflicting hostile intent upon us. Stay here, dear lord—that is my loyal counsel.’

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Sivrit replied: ‘My beloved, I’ll be back in a few days. I know of no people here who bear me any enmity. All your kinsmen, with no exception, are well disposed towards me. Nor have I deserved anything less from the warriors here.’

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‘No, Lord Sivrit! Indeed I fear your fall! I dreamt last night, to my grief, how two mountains fell upon you—I never saw you again. If you want to part from me, it hurts me to the heart.’

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He took his virtuous wife into his arms. Kissing her tenderly, he made love to her beautiful person. Taking his leave, he soon departed. (Sadly, she never saw him alive again.)

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Then they rode off, deep into a forest, intent on amusement. Bold knights in great numbers followed Gunther and his men. Gernot and Giselher had stayed back home. Many horses crossed the Rhine

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ahead of them, carrying bread and wine for the hunting party, meat and fish, and lots of other supplies such as so wealthy a king can readily command.

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The proud, bold huntsmen ordered that camp be set up on the edge of the greenwood, close to where the game would emerge, there where they were to hunt on a broad island. Sivrit had also arrived by now—the king was told of this. The huntsmen then posted their relays
*
in all

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directions. Then that bold man, mighty Sivrit, said: ‘Who is to direct us in pursuit of the game in the forest, you bold and brave heroes?’

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‘Shall we separate before we start hunting here?’ said Hagen then. ‘That way we will be able to tell, I and my lords, who are the best hunters on this expedition through the forest. We’ll share out all the

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people and hounds. Then let everyone take whatever direction he wants. Whoever then hunts best shall have his thanks.’ The hunters did not stay together too long after those words.

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Lord Sivrit then said: ‘I have no need of hounds except for one bercelet, which has tasted its reward
*
so that it can follow the beasts’ track through the wood. We’ll have fine hunting!’ said Kriemhilt’s husband.

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Then an old huntsman brought over a good tracking-hound. It led its master in a short while to a place where they found lots of game. The party hunted down all the beasts that fled from their lairs, as good hunters still do today. Valiant Sivrit, the hero of the

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Netherlands, slew with his hands all the beasts that the bercelet started up. His horse galloped so fast that none of them could escape him. He won the prize above all others in the hunt.

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He was well skilled in all these matters. The first beast that he killed with his hands was a sturdy, half-grown wild boar. Soon afterwards he found a huge lion. When the bercelet started up the lion, Sivrit shot it

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with his bow, to which he had fitted a sharp arrow. After being hit the lion ran no more than three leaps. Sivrit’s fellow-huntsmen thanked him for his efforts. Soon thereafter he killed a bison and an elk, four

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mighty aurochses, and a fierce buck. His horse bore him so swiftly that nothing escaped him. Whether harts or hinds, little could evade him.

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The tracking-hound found a huge boar. When it started to flee, the master of that hunt at once arrived and stood in its path. Wild with
anger, the boar charged at the bold hero. Kriemhilt’s husband then

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slew it with his sword. No other hunter could have done it so easily. When he had felled it, they tied up the tracking hound. It was then that the hunter’s rich bounty was revealed to the Burgundians. His

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huntsmen then said: ‘If it’s convenient, Sir Sivrit, spare us some share of the game. Otherwise you’ll clear out the whole mountain and the forest, too, today!’ That caused the valiant, bold warrior to smile.

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Then they heard a great noise and din everywhere. The clamour roused by the people and the hounds grew so great that the mountain and also the forest echoed with it. The huntsmen had released twenty-four packs of running-hounds. Many of the beasts had to forfeit their

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lives there and then. Those hunters thought they might contrive to have the hunting prize given to them. That could not come to pass, not when mighty Sivrit was seen by the campfire.

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The hunt was over, but not yet entirely. Those who headed for the campfire brought along with them the skins of animals in great numbers, and game in plenty. Ah, how much was carried to the kitchen by the king’s household!

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Then the king had it proclaimed to those renowned huntsmen that he wanted to dine. Loudly one note on a horn was blown, announcing to them that the noble prince was to be found in the encampment there.

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One of Sivrit’s hunters then said: ‘Lord, I have heard by the blow of a horn that we must now go to the encampment. I’ll give them an answer.’ Then many horns were heard blowing to summon their companions.

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Lord Sivrit then said: ‘Let us leave the woods now, too!’

His horse carried him at an even pace. They hurried off alongside him. By their clamour they started up a ferocious beast, a wild bear. The warrior then said to those behind him: ‘I’ll give our companions

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good pastime! Let the bercelet loose! I can see a bear, which will make its way with us to the camp. Unless it flees with great haste, it can’t possibly save itself !’

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The bercelet was released—the bear leapt away. Kriemhilt’s husband was intent on riding it down; it came into a fell, and so it could not be. The mighty beast then thought itself safe from the huntsman. Then that proud, worthy knight leapt down from his horse.

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He chased it on foot. The bear was off its guard—it could not escape him. He captured it on the spot. Without sustaining any wounds at all, the hero swiftly tied it up. It could not scratch or bite the man.

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He tied it to his saddle. The bold warrior mounted at once. He took
the bear to the fireside. The bold and doughty warrior thought in his high spirits that this was a joke!

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With what great splendour he rode to the camp! His javelin was sturdy, strong, and broad. An elegant sword reached down to his spurs. The lord carried a splendid horn of rich red gold. Never did

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I hear tell of better hunting-garb. He was seen to wear a tunic of black phellel-silk and a hat of sable, which was of ample cost. Ah, what rich braids he bore on his quiver! A panther’s skin was stretched over it

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for the sake of its sweet scent.
*
He also carried a bow with him, which would have had to be drawn by an engine,
*
if he’d not spanned it himself. All his clothing was of otter skin,
*
varied by furs of other

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kinds from top to tail. Bars of gold in great numbers shone forth from both sides of the bright furs that the bold master-huntsman wore. At that time he also carried Balmunc, an elegant broadsword,

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which was so sharp that it never missed its mark when it struck upon a helmet—its edges were of fine quality. That splendid hunter was in high spirits. Since I must tell you the whole tale: his noble quiver was

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full of excellent arrows with gold mounts and heads of a good hand’s breadth. All that he pierced with those would die a quick death.

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The noble knight rode along in fine huntsmanlike fashion. Gunther’s men saw him approaching them; they ran towards him to take his horse for him. By its saddle he then led a huge and mighty bear. When he had dismounted, he untied the bonds around the

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bear’s paws and mouth. At once the pack barked loudly, all the hounds that saw the bear. The beast wanted to head off into the forest—the people were in turmoil! Startled by the clamour, the bear headed

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through the kitchen. Oh, how many kitchen-drudges it parted from their fire! Many cauldrons were upset, many brands scattered. Oh, what fine food was found lying in the ashes!

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At that the lords and their vassals leapt up from their seats. The bear was getting angry. The king then gave order that all the hounds that lay leashed up there be released. If things turned out well, they would have had a happy day’s hunting! With their bows and

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hunting-spears, delaying no longer, the bold huntsmen ran after the bear. There were so many hounds about them that no one shot there. All the mountain resounded with the people’s clamour.