Adventure
V
How Siegfried First Saw Kriemhilda
One saw them daily riding
to Worms upon the Rhine,
The guests who to the revels
did joyously incline.
Those whom the love of Gunther
unto his kingdom brought,
Were freely offered horses,
and raiment richly wrought.
Seats, ready for all comers,
were well and duly made,
Fit for the best and highest—
as hath to us been said—
For two and thirty princes
at that festivity;
For which fair dames bedecked them
in merry rivalry.
Then busiest of the busy
was Giselher the lad.
For kinsmen and for strangers
a welcome kind he had,
Receiving them with Gernot;
and every knight and squire
Was greeted by these warriors,
as honour did require.
Full many a gilded saddle
to Worms these riders brought,
With richly chasèd bucklers,
and garments finely wrought;
They brought them to the Rhineland
to grace the festival;
And many of the wounded
were merry enough withal.
For those who on their pallets
lay wounded, in distress,
Must needs, though death were grievous,
forget its bitterness,
And all the sick and ailing,
must drive dull care away,
And join in the rejoicings
for this great holiday.
Was ever such gay living
and hospitality!
Delights, beyond all measure,
and boundless jollity
Were shared by all the people,
and found on every hand.
And there was joy and gladness
throughout King Gunther’s land.
’Twas on a Whitsun morning;
one saw them all go by,
All festively apparelled,
and mounted gallantly:
Five thousand men, and upwards,
to join the revels ride.
And many a pleasant contest
began on ev’ry side.
The host was not unmindful,
and well did understand
How heartily and truly
the prince of Netherland
Love-bound was to his sister,
whom yet he had not seen;—
A match for whom in beauty
no maiden yet had been.
Then to the king did Ortwein
the thane, his thought unfold:
“If you, with fullest honour,
this festival would hold,
You should allow our brave guests
our winsome maids to see
Who are, in truth, the glory
and pride of Burgundy.
“For where would man’s delight be,
and what could charm his life,
If there were no fair maidens,
and ne’er a comely wife?
Now, therefore, let your sister
before your guests appear.”
This was a pleasing counsel
to many a hero’s ear!
“Most gladly will I do this,”
replied the king, straightway,
And all who heard his answer
had merry hearts that day.
He sent to summon Uté,
and eke her daughter fair,
And bade them with their maidens
at once to court repair.
Then in their presses sought they
for all their garments gay,
And all the goodly raiment
that had been stored away;
The gold lace and the bracelets
that there to hand were laid;
And with all care bedecked her
full many a lovely maid.
And many a knight on that day
had younger gladly been,
That he might be of women
more favourably seen;
Instead whereof he’d care not
a kingdom rich to own!
And gladly did they gaze on
these damsels yet unknown!
Then the rich king commanded
that with Kriemhild should go
A hundred of his liegemen—
her service pledged unto.
Of his and her own kinsmen,
who carried sword in hand.
Such were the court-attendants
of the Burgundian land.
The rich Queen-mother Uté
with her fair daughter came,
And in her train brought with her
full many a comely dame—
Five score of them or over—
all royally arrayed.
Her daughter, too, was followed
by many a winsome maid.
From out the women’s quarters
one might have seen them go;
There was a goodly thronging
of heroes eke, I trow,
For this of all things eager,
if it perchance might be
That they should have the fortune
the noble maid to see.
Then came the lovely maiden:
even as morning-red
From sombre clouds outbreaking.
And many a sorrow fled
From him whose heart did hold her,
and eke so long had held:
When thus the winsome fair one
before him he beheld.
Upon her raiment glittered
full many a precious stone:
Her rosy blushing colour
with lovely radiance shone.
Though any would deny it
he could not but confess,
That on this earth he never
had seen more loveliness.
Just as the moon in brightness
excels the brightest stars,
And, suddenly outshining,
athwart the clouds appears;
So seemed she now, comparèd
with dames of fairest guise.
Then did our gallant hero
feel his bold spirits rise.
One saw before her marching
the chamberlains, in state—
But the high-mettled warriors
their order would not wait:
They thronged to where, in passing,
the fair maid they could see.
The while Sir Siegfried suffered
both joy and misery.
Sadly he thought within him:
“How can it ever be?
It is mere foolish dreaming
that I should marry thee!
Yet to be still a stranger!—
then were I better dead!”
And, thinking so, his colour
did change ’twixt white and red.
There stood the son of Siegmund;
as winsome did he look
As if his form were limnèd
upon a parchment-book,
By hand of cunning master;
and all men said of him,
That there was no man like him,
so fine and fair of limb.
They who the maid attended
now strove to clear the track,
And keep the throng from pressing;
and many a knight drew back.
And manly hearts beat quicker
for joy, in many a breast,
As passed each high-born lady
in splendid raiment drest.
Then outspake gallant Gernot,
the prince of Burgundy:
“To him, who such good service
so late hath done to thee,
Thou Gunther, dearest brother,
shouldst haste to do the same
In sight of all thy warriors:
I say it without shame.
“If thou would’st bid Sir Siegfried
unto my sister go,
That the fair maid may greet him,
much good might come, I trow.
She, who ne’er greeted warrior,
may by her greeting cheer;
And thus this goodly hero
be bounden to us here.”
Then some of the host’s kinsmen
went where the knight did stand
And thus spake to the warrior
who came from Netherland:
“The king his leave hath granted
that you to court should go,
His sister there shall greet you:
they would you honour show.”
At this the knight’s mood changèd
again from grave to gay;
And in his heart Love reignèd,
and grief had fled away—
For the fair Uté’s daughter
at last his eyes would see!
Right soon she greeted Siegfried,
with winning modesty.
When the high-couraged warrior
she saw before her there,
Her cheeks were lit with crimson:
then spake the maiden fair:
“Be welcome here, Sir Siegfried,
thou good and noble knight.”
And when he heard her greeting
his heart grew wondrous light.
He bent him low before her;
she took him by the hand.
How lover-like the knight did
by the fair maiden stand!
Each looked upon the other
with many a tender glance,
This hero and his lady—
and yet they looked askance.
Was that white hand, I wonder,
in lover’s fashion press’d?
In sign of tender wooing?
in sooth ’twas ne’er confess’d.
But scarce can I believe that
such chance had been let go;
For she her kindness to him
did very quickly show.
In the full bliss of summer,
and in the fair Maytide,
Within his heart could never,
again such joy abide
As now did fill his bosom;
the while he there did stand,
And her whom he desirèd
was holding hand in hand.
And many a warrior murmured:
“Ah, if it only were
My lot to walk beside her,
as I have seen him here,
Or at her side to lay me,
what bliss would mine have been!”
Never served hero better,
methinks, to win a queen.
Whate’er might be the country
the strangers call’d their own,
None had an eye for any
save for this pair alone.
And when they let her kiss him—
the goodly man and brave!—
In all this world he never
a greater joy could have.
Then rose the King of Denmark,
and suddenly did cry:
“To bring about this greeting
how many wounded lie!
Too well have I observed it—
and all by Siegfried’s hand;
Forefend him, God, from coming
again to Danish land!”
On one side and the other
they bade the folk make way
For beauteous lady Kriemhild.
Then saw one an array
Of valiant knights who churchward
did bear her company.
Then could her goodly gallant
no longer near her be;
For she went to the minster,
with all her dames beside.
So fair a sight and queenly
was she in all her pride,
That the high vows of many
whilom forgot to rise;
And many a hero feasted
his soul upon her eyes.
Hardly did Siegfried’s patience
last till the mass was done.
Yet might he thank his fortune
that he such grace had won,
That she to him inclinèd,
whom in his heart he bore:
Therefore it was but fitting
that he should love her more.
As she came from the minster,
which he had left before,
The gallant thane was bidden
to join the dame once more.
Then, first, began to thank him
the winsome maid, that he
Beyond all other warriors
had fought so gloriously.
“Now God reward you, Siegfried,”
thus spake the child so fair,
“Right well have you deservèd
that all the warriors here
Do love and serve you truly,
as they themselves avow.”
Right tenderly began he
to look on Kriemhild now.
“For ever will I serve you!”
declared the warrior,
“Henceforth my head I’ll never
lay down to rest before
Your least wish be accomplished,
if life be granted me;
All this, my lady Kriemhild,
for your dear sake shall be.”
Then, for the space of twelve days,
on each new dawning day,
One saw the lovely maiden
beside the knight alway,
As often as to court she
before her friends must go.
Unto the knight this service
did her great love allow.
All kinds of mirth and pleasure,
and mighty noise withal,
Were seen and heard forthcoming
daily from Gunther’s hall—
Without, and inside also—
from many a gallant man.
Sir Ortwein and Sir Hagen
right wondrous feats began.
Whatever games were started
these jocund heroes were
Always among the foremost,
a skilled and ready pair.
Whereby these warriors soon were
well known to every guest;
Of such kind were the jewels
that Gunther’s land possessed.
Those who had long lain wounded
one saw, at last, appear:
They too would share the pastimes,
would fence and throw the spear
Among the king’s retainers;
well-pleased to find at length
That they could do as others;
they had renewed their strength.
The host would have them treated
well, at his festal board,
Theirs was to be the best food.
Thus managed he to ward
The slightest breath of scandal,
which oft a king doth reach.
From guest to guest on went he,
with kindly words for each.
He said: “All ye, good warriors,
before ye ride away,
I pray ye take my presents:
’twas in my mind alway
To recompense your service;
my goods despise not ye:
I fain would share them with you;
this do I willingly.”
Then did the lords of Denmark
thus answer, out of hand:
“Before we ride hence, homewards
unto our fatherland,
We fain would have a treaty:
of peace we knights have need,
We’ve lost dear friends in plenty
who, through your knights, lie dead.”
King Ludegast of Denmark
was healed now of his wound,
And eke the Saxon leader
was once more whole and sound.
Albeit many dead men
they left in alien land.
Then went the royal Gunther
to where Siegfried did stand.
And to the warrior spake he:
“Advise what I shall do;
For early on the morrow
our foes intend to go,
And crave abiding pledges
of peace, from mine and me:
Now counsel me, thane Siegfried,
what seemeth good to thee?
“What ransom they have offered
thou shalt be truly told:
So much as mares five hundred
can carry of pure gold,
This will they give me gladly,
if I will set them free.”
Then Siegfried answered stoutly
“That would unworthy be!
“Free, and without a ransom
hence shouldst thou let them fare:
And that these noble warriors
henceforward may beware
How they come hither, riding
as foemen to our land,
Of this in full assurance
let both kings give their hand.”
“This counsel will I follow!”
So saying, forth they went.
A message to the foemen
was soon thereafter sent:
“The gold, that ye have offered,
doth no man care to keep,
While for the strife-worn warriors
at home their dear ones weep.”
Then many a shield with treasure
piled high they carried there:
Enough, although he weighed not,
for every friend to share;
Five hundred marks well-counted,
yea more, he gave to some.
This counsel to King Gunther
had from bold Gernot come.
Then took they leave, for all were
impatient to be gone;
But first, before Kriemhilda
the guests filed, one by one;
There sat dame Uté also,
the Queen, who bade “God speed”!
Never before were warriors
sped half so well, indeed.
The hostels were left empty
when they had ridden away.
Only at home remainèd
the king, in state array
With all his friends and kinsmen—
full many a noble knight.
These, day by day, were gladden’d,
by dame Kriemhilda’s sight.
Now Siegfried, the good hero,
did also sue for leave:
Not hoping more to win her,
to whom his heart did cleave.
The king o’erheard the saying
that he would fain away:
’Twas Giselher who urged him
his journey to delay.
“Now whither, noble Siegfried,
is it thy will to ride?
Stay rather, I beseech thee,
and with our warriors bide.
Remain with our King Gunther,
and with his men and me;—
Are there not here fair women,
whom thou hast leave to see?”
Then spake the stalwart Siegfried:
“So bide the steeds in stall!
For I have changed my purpose,
I will not ride at all.
And bear the bucklers hence too;—
I hoped to see my land,
But Giselher’s true friendship
I know not to withstand.”
Thus did the gallant hero
remain for friendship’s sake.
And in no other country
could he a sojourn make
That to his soul were sweeter;—
and so it hap’d that he
On every day thenceforward
did fair Kriemhilda see.
For her surpassing beauty
he was content to stay
And spend the days in pastimes,
which whiled the hours away.
Although her love constrained him,
it gave him grievous pain.
Through it the brave knight, later,
was miserably slain.