The Nibelungenlied: The Lay of the Nibelungs (Oxford World's Classics) (29 page)

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into Gunther’s land. Orders were issued that they all be given chargers, and also garments, those who were to depart from Burgundy. The king’s goodwill won the favour of great numbers of men.

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Then Hagen of Tronege told Dancwart, his brother, to lead eighty of their warriors to the Rhine. They arrived with knightly bearing. Those courageous warriors brought armour and garments into Gunther’s land. Then bold Volker joined the company, a noble

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minstrel, with thirty of his men, who had such garments as it might befit a king to wear. He had Gunther be told that he wanted to go to the Huns.

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Who Volker was I will make known to you: he was a noble lord, to whom many worthy warriors were subject in Burgundy. Because he could play the fiddle he was called the minstrel.

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Hagen chose a thousand men. He was well acquainted with them and with what work their hands had wrought in fierce battles, and all that they had ever done—he had seen much of it for himself. No one could deny their valour.

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Kriemhilt’s messengers grew very weary of waiting there, for they were in great awe of their lord. Daily they desired leave to depart. Hagen would not grant it to them—that was a cunning ploy. He said

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to his lord: ‘We must beware of letting them ride off much before we ourselves leave, seven days after them, for Etzel’s land. If anyone bears us ill-will, we will find it out all the more easily. Then Lady

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Kriemhilt will not be able to prepare herself to have anyone harm us by her plotting. If such is her purpose it may turn out ill for her. We are taking so many excellent men there with us.’

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Their shields and saddles, and all the garments that they wanted to take into Etzel’s land had now been prepared for those great numbers of bold men. Kriemhilt’s messengers were summoned to go before Gunther. When the messengers arrived, Gernot said: ‘The king has

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given his assent to Etzel’s invitation. We will gladly go to his festivity and see our sister—have no doubts on that count.’

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Then King Gunther said: ‘Can you tell us when the festivity is to be or on what days we are to arrive?’

Swemmelin replied: ‘The festivity is to be held at the next solstice, for certain.’

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The king permitted them—that had not yet come to pass—to see Lady Prünhilt if they wished, saying that they had his leave to go before her. Volker forestalled that then—that was done to please her:

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‘My lady Prünhilt is not at present so well disposed that you may see her,’ said the worthy knight. ‘Wait until tomorrow, and then they’ll let her see you.’ Yet when they thought to see her it could not then come to be.

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Then the mighty prince—he held the messengers dear—ordered out of courtesy that his gold be carried there on broad shields, for he had much at his disposal. Costly gifts were also given them by his friends. Giselher and Gernot, Gere and Ortwin, made it clear that

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they too were generous. They offered such costly gifts to the messengers that they dared not accept them for fear of their lord.

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Then the messenger Wärbelin said to the king: ‘Sir King, let your gifts remain here in this land. We cannot take them with us. My lord forbade us to accept any gifts, and besides we have very little need of them.’

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Then the overlord of the Rhine grew very angry at them wanting to refuse such wealthy king’s gifts. In the end they had to accept his gold and his garments, taking them with them afterwards into Etzel’s land.

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They wanted to see Uote before they departed. Bold Giselher brought the minstrels before his mother Uote. The lady then sent a message that she rejoiced in all the honour in which Kriemhilt was held. Then the queen ordered that her braids and her gold be given

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to the minstrels for Kriemhilt’s sake, for she was dear to her, and for the sake of King Etzel. They could accept that willingly, for it was given in good faith.

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Now the messengers had taken leave of both women and men there. Merrily they then travelled as far as Swabia. Gernot ordered his heroes to escort them there, so that no one should maltreat them. When those who were to attend them parted from them,

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Etzel’s authority protected them on all the roads, no one taking their horses nor their garments from them. They made great haste into Etzel’s land. Wherever they knew they had friends they made known

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to them that the Burgundians would, in no time at all, be making their way from the Rhine to Hungary. These tidings were also told to Bishop Pilgrim.

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When they rode down the road past Pöchlarn, people told Rüedeger of this—that was not omitted—and also Gotelint, the margrave’s wife. She rejoiced that they should see them.

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The minstrels were seen to make good speed on their palfreys. They found Etzel in his town of Gran. They told the king of homage upon homage that had been sent him. He blushed for joy.

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When the queen found out for certain that her brothers were to come into that land, she was delighted. She rewarded the minstrels with great gifts—that did her honour. She said: ‘Now tell me, both

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of you, Wärbel and Swemmel, which of my kinsmen want to be at the festivity? We have invited the best of them here to this land. Tell me now, what did Hagen say when he heard the tidings?’

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Wärbel said: ‘He came to the counsel early one morning. He had little good to say on the matter. When they vowed to go on the
journey here to Hungary, grim Hagen thought they had consigned themselves all to death. Your brothers are coming, all three kings,

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in splendid spirits. Who is to be with them besides I cannot know for certain. Volker, the bold minstrel, vowed to ride with them.’

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‘I’d gladly dispense’, said the king’s wife, ‘with ever seeing Volker here. I hold Hagen dear—he is a worthy hero. My spirits rise at the thought that we may see him!’

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Then the queen went into the king’s presence. How very affectionately Lady Kriemhilt then addressed him: ‘How do these tidings please you, my dear lord? All that I ever desired is now to be fulfilled!’

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‘What you wish for makes me content,’ replied the king. ‘I never rejoiced so greatly at the prospect of my own kinsfolk ever coming here into my lands. For love of your friends, all my troubles have been banished.’

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The king’s officials ordered that the palace and great hall be equipped with seating on all sides for the dear guests who were to come. (In time to come they were to rob the king of much joy.)

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N
OW
let us tell no more of how they fared there. Prouder warriors never rode in such true splendour into any king’s land. They had all that they wanted, both weapons and garments. The overlord of the

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Rhine had clad his men—a thousand and sixty, so I have heard, and nine thousand squires—to go to the festivity. (Those whom they left back home were to weep over it in time to come.) Then they carried

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the harness across the courtyard in Worms. An old bishop from Speier there then said to fair Uote: ‘Our friends want to go to the festivity—may God guard their honour there!’

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Then noble Uote said to her sons: ‘You ought to remain here, worthy heroes. I dreamt last night of fearful peril—of how all the fowls in this land were dead.’

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‘Anyone who puts his faith in dreams,’ said Hagen then, ‘does not know how to tell the truth when all his honour is at stake. I want my lord to go to court to take his leave. We must ride willingly into
Etzel’s land. There worthy heroes’ hands may serve kings well, when we come to see Kriemhilt’s festivity there.’

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Hagen advised in favour of the journey, although he was to rue it afterwards. He would have advised against it, were it not that

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Gernot, with his uncouth words, had so insulted him; he had reminded him of Sivrit, Lady Kriemhilt’s husband. He had said: ‘That is why Hagen is not willing to go on the great journey to Etzel’s court.’

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Hagen of Tronege had replied: ‘I do nothing out of fear. You may set off as soon as you give the order, heroes. I’ll gladly ride with you into Etzel’s land.’ Helmets and rims in great numbers were afterwards hewn to pieces by Hagen.

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The skiffs had been made ready.
*
Men were present in great numbers there. All their garments were carried on board. They were kept very busy until evening. Afterwards they departed from the castle in high spirits. Pavilions and huts were pitched on the meadow on the

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other side of the Rhine. When that had been carried out, the king’s fair wife asked him to stay longer. That night she could yet make love to her gallant husband.

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Trumpets and flutes sounded out early next morning, when they were to depart. Then they set off. Whoever held his loved one in his arms made love to his beloved. (King Etzel’s wife was to part many of those with grief in time to come.)

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The sons of fair Uote had one vassal, bold and loyal. As they were about to depart he told the king his thoughts in secret. He said: ‘I cannot help being sad that you are making this journey to Etzel’s court.’ He was called Rumolt and was a man of mettle. He said:

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‘To whom are you abandoning your people and your lands? Alas that no one can change your minds, you warriors! Kriemhilt’s tidings never seemed good to me.’

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‘Let the land and my baby be commended to you, and serve the ladies well—that is what I wish. If you see anyone weeping, give her comfort. King Etzel’s wife will never do us harm.’

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The horses for the kings and their men had been made ready. Great numbers of men, all in high spirits then, departed with loving kisses. (Comely women in great numbers were to weep over this in time to come.) When they saw the bold warriors walk over to the

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horses, many ladies were seen to stand there in sadness. Their minds spoke to them of a very long parting and of great harm to come, such as always brings sorrow to the heart.

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The bold Burgundians set off. The land was full of bustle then. On both sides of the hills women and men wept. Despite the tears of their people, they departed merrily. The heroes of Nibelunc
*

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departed with them, in a thousand hauberks. They had left behind them at home great numbers of fair ladies, whom they never beheld again. (Sivrit’s wounds hurt Kriemhilt hard.)

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Then Gunther’s men directed their journey towards the Main, up through East Franconia. Hagen led them there—he knew the country well. Their marshal was Dancwart, that hero of Burgundy. As they rode from East Franconia towards Swalefeld,

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their proud demeanour was clearly to be observed, that of the princes and their kinsmen, those renowned heroes. On the twelfth morning the king came to the Danube. Hagen of Tronege then rode ahead

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of them all. He was a helpful comfort to the Nibelungs. Then the bold warrior alighted upon the shore; he quickly tied his horse to a tree.

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The river was in flood, the skiffs hidden from their sight. The Nibelungs were greatly troubled as to how they were to cross—the flood-tide was too broad for them. Gallant knights in great numbers alighted upon the ground then.

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‘Harm may well befall you here, overlord of the Rhine,’ said Hagen then. ‘You can see for yourself now that the river is in flood; its current is very strong. I believe we will lose many worthy heroes here before the day is out.’

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‘Why do you reproach me, Hagen?’ said the proud king. ‘For your own repute’s sake do not discourage us further. You must seek a ford for us to cross over to the land there, so that we can take both our horses and garments across.’

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‘I’m not so weary of life,’ said Hagen, ‘that I want to drown in these wide waves. Before that many a man will die at my hands in Etzel’s lands—that is my firm intent. Stay by the river, you proud and worthy knights. I myself will seek the ferrymen by the tide, who will take us across into Gelpfrat’s land.’

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Then strong Hagen took hold of his good shield’s rim. He was most

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well armed. He took his shield with him. His helmet was buckled on; it shone brightly. Over his chainmail he then bore a broad sword, both of whose edges cut fiercely. He went up and down in search of the

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ferrymen. He heard water plashing in a fair spring. He listened—it was wise women, who wanted to cool themselves there and were
bathing. Hagen caught sight of them; he sneaked after them secretly.

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When they grew aware of him they hurried away. They were happy to escape him. He took their clothing from them—the hero did them no other harm.

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Then one of the water-sprites—she was called Hadeburc—said: ‘Hagen, noble knight, if you, bold warrior, give us back our clothes, we will tell you here how this journey of yours to the court of the Huns will turn out.’

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They were floating in front of him like birds on the waves.
*
He thought therefore that they must be wise and cunning. He was all the more ready to believe all that they would tell him. They gave him a full answer to what he then asked of them.

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She said: ‘You may ride with confidence into Etzel’s land. I place my good faith as a pledge to you here and now that no heroes ever made better progress into any realm in such high honour. Rest assured of that.’

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Hagen was happy at heart then to hear those words. He gave them their clothes then and tarried no longer. When they had put on their wondrous garments they told him the truth about the journey into Etzel’s land. The other water-sprite, whose name was