The Nibelungenlied: The Lay of the Nibelungs (Oxford World's Classics) (9 page)

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Volker and Hagen, and also Ortwin, dimmed the shine of helmets in great numbers in the battle, as the blood flowed—those battlesome
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warriors! Many a marvel was wrought by Dancwart there.

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The men of Denmark tried their luck well. Many a rim was then heard to resound in the charge, and sharp swords also rang out, striking many blows there. The Saxons, battle-bold,
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did plenty of damage there.

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When the men of Burgundy pressed into the battle, gaping wounds in great numbers were hewn by them. Then blood was seen to flow over saddles. Thus those bold and worthy knights sought honour. The swords in those heroes’ hands, honed sharp, were heard to ring out loudly there, as the men from the Netherlands pressed forwards in their lord’s wake into the fierce ranks of the enemy. They advanced bravely alongside Sivrit. None of the Rhinelanders

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was seen to follow him. A bloody brook could be perceived flowing through the bright helmets, the work of Sivrit’s hands, until he then found Liudeger at the forefront of his companions-in-arms. By now

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Sivrit had made his way backwards and forwards, right through the army three times. Now Hagen had arrived; he helped him carry out his full intent in the battle. That day many a worthy knight had to die before them.

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When mighty Liudeger found Sivrit and saw him wielding the good sword Balmunc so high in his hands, slaying so many of his men, that lord grew angry and fierce enough. Then there was a huge

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onrush and the sound of great swords clashing as the two retinues pressed towards one another. The two warriors vied with each other all the more then. The enemy companies started to retreat. Great hostility arose there.

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The overlord of the Saxons had been told for certain that his brother had been taken captive—he was greatly distressed at that. He didn’t know that it was the work of Siglint’s son. They ascribed it to Gernot. Liudeger found out the truth of the matter afterwards.

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Liudeger’s blows were so mighty that Sivrit’s warhorse stumbled beneath his saddle. When the charger recovered, bold Sivrit took on a fearsome mien in the attack. Hagen came greatly to his aid, as also

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did Gernot, Dancwart, and Volker—many of the enemy lay dead at their hands. Sindolt and Hunolt, and Sir Ortwin, proved capable of felling many dead in that battle.

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The noble princes, Sivrit and Liudeger, were not to be parted in battle. Many javelins were seen flying over helmets, piercing bright shields, thrown by the heroes’ hands. Splendid shield-rims in great numbers bore the mark of blood there. In that fierce onslaught

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many dismounted from their chargers. Valiant Sivrit and Liudeger ran at one another. Shafts were seen to fly there and many a sharp javelin. Shield-bolts flew apart at Sivrit’s hands. The hero of the

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Netherlands thought, then, that he would win victory over the bold Saxons, many of whom were seen to be wounded. Ah, what bright chainmail bold Dancwart broke apart there!

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Then Lord Liudeger recognized a crown painted on the shield in front of Sivrit’s hand. He well knew that it was that mighty man. The hero called out loudly to his allies then: ‘Abandon the attack, all my

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men! I have seen Sigmunt’s son here, I have recognized mighty Sivrit here! The foul fiend himself has sent him here to Saxony!’

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He ordered the banners to be lowered in the battle. He then asked for a truce, which was afterwards granted to him, but he had to go as a hostage into Gunther’s land. Bold Sivrit’s hands had wrung that from him. By common counsel they abandoned the battle. They took

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off many hole-riddled helmets and laid down their broad shields. All the shields and helmets there bore the mark of blood that had flowed at the hands of the Burgundians.

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They took captive all whom they wanted, as it lay in their power. Gernot and Hagen, those valiant warriors, ordered the wounded to be laid on stretchers. They led five hundred fighting men as captives away with them to the Rhine.

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The vanquished warriors rode back to Denmark. Nor had the Saxons fought so valiantly there that they could be accorded praise—those heroes were sorry for it. Those doomed to die were then sorely
lamented over by their friends. They ordered that all the weapons

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be loaded onto packhorses and taken back to the Rhine. Sivrit the warrior, along with his heroes, had won the day there—he had excelled, as all Gunther’s men had to concede him.

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Lord Gernot sent tidings to Worms. He told his friends at home in his own land how he and his men had succeeded, and that those valiant men had performed most honourable deeds. The pages

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ran to tell the news. Those who had been sorrowful there before rejoiced at the happy tidings that had come to them. Much questioning was heard on the part of noble ladies there as to the

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success of the powerful king’s men. One of the messengers was told to go before Kriemhilt. That happened in all secrecy—indeed, she didn’t dare be open about it, for she had her dearest heart’s beloved among the men in the army. When she saw the messenger

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coming to her chamber, fair Kriemhilt spoke most graciously: ‘Now tell me happy tidings, for I’ll give you my gold. If you tell no lie, I’ll hold you dear forever. How did my brother Gernot and other

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friends of mine emerge from the battle? Are many of our men dead? Or who did best there? This you must tell me.’

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The messenger was quick to reply: ‘We had no cowards amongst us at all. When it came to battle in earnest, no one rode as well,

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most noble queen, since I’m bound to tell you about it, as the most noble guest from the Netherlands. Bold Sivrit’s hands wrought many marvels there. No matter what all the warriors did in battle,

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Dancwart and Hagen, and other men of the king, honourably as they fought, it was all as nothing compared with what Sivrit, King Sigmunt’s son, achieved single-handed. They caused many heroes

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to be slain in the onslaught, yet no one could give you a full account of the marvels Sivrit wrought there whenever he rode into battle. He caused the ladies great grief over their kinsfolk. Many a lady’s beloved

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inevitably lay dead there. His blows were heard to rain down so loud upon helmets that they caused blood to flow from their wounds. He is a bold and worthy knight, full of prowess. Despite all that

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Ortwin of Metz achieved there—all those he could reach with his sword were bound to be left lying there wounded, most of them dying—it was your brother who there brought about the greatest peril

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ever to happen in battles. The truth must be conceded to those excellent warriors—the proud Burgundians have acted in such a way that they can guard their honour well against all disgrace. Saddles in great

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numbers were seen emptied there at their hands, where the plain resounded so loudly with the clash of bright swords. The warriors from the Rhine have ridden to such effect that their foes would have been better off refraining from it. The bold men of Tronege caused

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great suffering when the army rode into battle in full force. Bold Hagen’s hands caused the death of many there; much might be said of that here in Burgundy. Sindolt and Hunolt, Gernot’s men, and

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bold Rumolt did so much that Liudeger may forever regret declaring hostilities on your kinsmen by the Rhine.

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The greatest battle of all that happened there, first and last, that anyone beheld, was fought most willingly by Sivrit’s hands. He is bringing wealthy hostages into Gunther’s land. That handsome man

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won them by the force of his valour, to the detriment of King Liudegast, and also his brother, Liudeger of Saxony. Listen to my tidings, now, noble, proud queen: Sivrit’s hands took them both captive. Never

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were so many hostages brought into this land as now come to the Rhine by his doing.’ No tidings could ever be dearer to her.

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‘They are bringing here into our land five hundred or more who are healthy, and—lady, let me tell you—some eighty red stretchers for the mortally wounded, most of whom were hewn down by bold Sivrit’s hands. Those who in their arrogance declared hostilities

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against the Rhineland must now be Gunther’s captives. To our joy, they are being brought here into this land.’

Her bright complexion blushed when she heard those tidings told in full. Her beautiful countenance turned rose-red at the news that

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the handsome warrior, young Sivrit, had emerged happily from the great peril. She was pleased for her friends also, as was only right.

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Then the lovely maiden said: ‘You have told me good tidings. As a reward for this you shall have rich clothes and ten marks of gold, which I’ll order to be carried to you.’ For a reward like that such tidings may readily be told to wealthy ladies.

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They gave him his reward, the gold and also the garments. Then fair maidens in great numbers walked over to the windows. They looked out onto the road—many men in high spirits were then seen riding into Burgundy. The healthy arrived, as did the wounded.

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They could hear their friends’ greetings without any shame. The lord of the land rode towards his guests, full of joy—his great sorrows had ended in happiness. He then gave a good welcome to his men, as he

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did to the foreigners, for it was only fitting that the powerful king
should thank warmly those who had returned to him, for having won victory honourably in the onslaught.

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Gunther asked for tidings about his friends and who of his men had been slain in the campaign. He had lost only sixty men. They had to resign themselves to that, as has been done for heroes since.

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Those who were in good health brought many lacerated shieldrims and many helmets, hewn to pieces, into Gunther’s land. The army dismounted outside the king’s great hall. To give them a friendly welcome, a merry clamour was heard. Then they ordered

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that lodgings be found for the warriors in the town. The king asked that his guests be given the best of care. He ordered that the wounded be tended and given good quarters. His merits could readily be observed by the way he dealt with his foes. He said to Liudegast:

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‘Now, I bid you welcome here. I have suffered great harm at your hands, for which I will now be compensated, if fortune favours me. May God reward my allies—they have brought me joy!’

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‘You have good cause to thank them,’ replied Liudeger. ‘No king ever won such high-born hostages. We will give possessions in plenty in return for being guarded kindly, if you will act graciously towards your foes.’

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‘I will let you both walk free,’ he said, ‘provided my foes remain here with me. I want pledges that they will not leave my lands without permission.’

Liudeger offered his hand, swearing that on oath. They took them

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to their rest and prepared chambers for them. Their wounded were seen to be given the best of beds. For the healthy, mead and good wine were poured. The retinue could never have been in better spirits then. Their hewn shields were then taken into safe-keeping. The

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order was given that many bloody saddles—there were plenty of those there—were to be hidden so that the women would not weep. Many worthy knights returned battle-spent. The king entertained his guests

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magnificently. The lands around were full of both strangers and acquaintances. He asked that the sorely wounded be cared for with all kindness. The enemies’ pride had suffered a great fall there. Those

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who were skilled in medicine were offered rich rewards, silver beyond weighing and bright gold also, to heal the heroes after the perils of battle. Moreover, the king offered liberal gifts to the guests.

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Those who had it in mind to make the journey back home were asked to stay there for the time being, as friends are still asked to do
today. The king then took counsel as to how he should reward his men. They had carried out his wishes most honourably.

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Then Lord Gernot said: ‘We should let them ride. In six weeks’ time, let it be announced to them, they shall come back for a festivity—by then many will be healed, who lie sorely wounded now.’

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Then Sivrit of the Netherlands also asked for leave. When King Gunther found that was his intent he asked him amicably to remain with him as yet. If it were not for his sister, that would never have happened. Moreover, he was too wealthy to accept any reward.

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He had well earned the king’s favour, as also that of Gunther’s kinsmen, who had seen what had happened in the battle because of his mighty strength. On account of the beautiful maiden he intended

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to remain there for the time being, thinking that he might perhaps behold her. Afterwards it did come to pass—the maiden became acquainted with him, all as he had wished. In time to come he was to ride merrily to Sigmunt’s land.

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The lord of the land commanded that chivalry be practised at all times. Young knights in great numbers did so willingly then. Meanwhile he ordered that seating be set up on the shore outside Worms for those who were to come to him in Burgundy. At the time when they

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were due to arrive, fair Kriemhilt had heard the tidings that Gunther wanted to hold a festivity for the sake of his dear friends. Beautiful ladies were very hard at work then at the garments and head-dresses

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they were to wear there. Wealthy Uote heard the tidings of the proud warriors who were due to arrive. Then many sumptuous clothes were taken out of their folds. For her daughter’s sake she ordered clothes

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