Adventure
VI
How Gunther Went to Iceland After Brunhilda
Fresh rumours now were coming
from over Rhine: for there
As all the folk were saying
was many a maiden fair.
Of these was good King Gunther
now thinking one to woo,
And high his knightly ardour
rose, as this purpose grew.
There was a great queen, dwelling,
somewhere beyond the sea,
Whose like none had seen ever,
and ne’er again would see.
She was of matchless beauty,
and strong withal of make;—
She shot with ready warriors,
and made her love the stake.
A stone she hurl’d far from her,
then after it would spring;
He, who her love did covet,
must, without wavering,
Win three games in succession
from her, the high-born maid;—
And if he failed in any,
his head was forfeited.
Thus many a time and often
the maid was wont to do.
’Twas one day heard in Rhineland,
by a good knight and true,
Who turned his thoughts towards her,
and sought to win the dame,
Through whom full many a hero
to death foredoomèd came.
Upspake the Lord of Rhineland:
“I’ll go down to the sea,
And visit this Brunhilda,
howe’er it fare with me!
For love of her I’m ready
to venture limb and life:
I am content to lose them
if she be not my wife.”
“From that would I dissuade you!”
in answer Siegfried said,
“In sooth this queen hath customs
so terrible and dread—
That whosoever woos her
must pay a price too high;
Seek not to take this journey,
I counsel earnestly!”
“Now I would fain advise you,”
thus Hagen to him spake,
“To bid Siegfried go with you,
and half the burden take,
And share your risk and danger;
I counsel this in faith,
Since he such good acquaintance
with Brunhild’s customs hath.”
Quoth Gunther: “Wilt thou help me
in very truth, Siegfried,
To woo and win this fair one?
ah, if thou dost indeed
Get her for my betrothèd,
my own, my noble wife—
Then, for thy sake, I’ll venture
mine honour and my life!”
For answer gave him Siegfried,
the royal Siegmund’s son:
“Giv’st thou to me thy sister,
behold, it shall be done!
Give me the lovely Kriemhild,
the high and noble queen;
No guerdon for my labour,
save this I care to win.”
“That swear I to thee, Siegfried,”
cried Gunther “on thine hand!
And if the fair Brunhilda
doth come here to this land,
I’ll give my sister to thee,
to have and hold for wife:
So mayst thou, with thy fair one,
aye lead a joyous life.”
By solemn oath they swore it,
the noble warriors twain.
But they had toilsome labour,
and grief enough, and pain,
Before the high-born lady
home to the Rhine they brought.
The gallant knights’ achievement
must be with sorrow wrought.
Siegfried his hood of darkness,
Tarnhelm yclept, must take:
The same that the bold hero,
after hard fight, did make
His own, from a dwarf wrested,
whose name was Alberich.
The bold and mighty warriors
sped on their journey quick.
Whene’er the gallant Siegfried
the wondrous Tarnhelm wore,
A hidden strength was in him
he had not known before:
He had the strength of twelve men,
joined to his own, ’twas said;
And cunningly he plotted
to win the noble maid.
Now this same hood was fashion’d
in such a wondrous way
That any man who wore it
could carry out straightway
Whatever thing he wanted,
whilst no man could him see.
Therewith he won Brunhilda;
whence mickle woe had he.
“Now answer me,” thane Siegfried,
“ere yet our way begin,
How shall we, with due honour,
across the water win?
Should we not take our warriors
unto Brunhilda’s land?—
Full thirty thousand have I,
who soon may be to hand.”
“How many folk soever
we take there,” Siegfried said,
“This queen doth cherish customs
so terrible and dread,
That they will all fall victims
to her o’erweening mood.
I’ll give thee better counsel,
thou fearless knight and good.
“Let us, as plain knights-errant,
go sailing down the Rhine.
And I will name unto thee
the knights we’ll take of thine.
Besides us two, two others
shall go, none else at all:
So shall we win the lady,
whatever may befall.
“I one of these four comrades,
another shall be thou;
The third had best be Hagen,
we should do well enow.
And let the fourth be Dankwart,
he hath a dauntless hand;
A thousand others dare not
in fight us four withstand.”
“I would I had some knowledge,”
the king said—“verily,
Ere we from hither journey,
’twould much enhearten me—
In what apparel should we
before Brunhild appear;
What would be right and fitting?
that, Siegfried, would I hear.”
“Whatever be most handsome
is worn, I understand,
By ev’ry man, at all times,
in Queen Brunhilda’s land;
Therefore should we go finely
before this haughty dame—
That when men talk about us
we need not blush for shame.”
Then cried the good king, “Surely,
I will myself go ask
My own dear, gracious mother,
that she do set the task
To her fair maids, to make us
such garb, wherein array’d
We may appear with honour
before the royal maid.”
Then Hagen, knight of Tronjé,
in courtly fashion spake:
“Why trouble you your mother
with things to undertake?
Let your fair sister hear now
all that you have in mind.
Her aid, in this state journey,
you will of service find.”
So sent he to his sister;
saying, he fain would see
Her face, as would Sir Siegfried.
But, long ere this, had she
Put on her goodliest raiment;
and stood, so fair a maid,
I trow that at their coming
she was not much dismay’d!
Also her court-attendants
array’d were as was meet
When princes twain were coming;
and as she heard their feet,
Straight from her chair upstanding
right modestly she went
To greet the noble comers
with fitting compliment.
“Right welcome is my brother,
and his companion eke;
But fain would I have knowledge,”
thus did the maiden speak,
“What is your lordships’ pleasure
that ye at court appear?
With you two noble warriors
how stands it? let me hear.”
Then spake King Gunther: “Lady,
to you the truth I’ll tell:
Although we have high courage,
yet have we cares as well.
For we would go a-courting,
far in a foreign land,
And now, unto this journey,
fine raiment would command.”
“So sit you down, dear brother,”
bade the king’s daughter fair.
“And who may be the ladies,
for I would rightly hear,
Whom you would go a-wooing
in other ruler’s land?”
These favour’d knights the lady
did take now by the hand.
And with them straight returnèd
to where she sat afore.
Rich mattresses, I doubt not
were spread upon the floor,
With pictures fair embroidered,
set off with golden thread.
Then must they with the ladies
a pleasant time have had.
And friendly mutual glances,
and looks that were not loth,
Caused many a thought to waken
within the hearts of both.
He in his heart aye bore her,
dear as his very life;
And soon, by steadfast service,
he won her for his wife.
The rich king spake unto her:
“O dearest sister mine,
This thing that we have purposed
fails without help of thine.
In Queen Brunhilda’s country
some pleasure we desire;
And need, in ladies’ presence,
the goodliest attire.”
Then did the maiden answer:
“Belovèd brother mine,
Ready am I, at all times,
to serve, in need of thine;—
Of that thou mayst be certain:
it is Kriemhilda’s part.
Should any one deny thee
’twould vex her to the heart.
“Nor shouldst thou, noble hero,
beg of me anxiously—
Thou shouldst command my service,
in lordly style and free.
For whatsoever please thee,
for that I’m ready aye,
And gladly will I do it;”
the maiden sweet did say.
“ ’Tis our desire, dear sister,
in goodly garb to stand,
Which you may help provide us,
with your own noble hand:
So set your women working,
that all may be well done—
For we about this journey
will be gainsaid by none.”
Then spake again the maiden:
“Now mark what I shall say!
I have the silk already:
see that we get, straightway,
Some gems from off your bucklers:
we’ll work them on the cloth.”
Then Gunther and Sir Siegfried
obeyed her, nothing loth.
“And who may be the comrades,”
inquired the royal maid,
“Who shall to court go with you,
thus gorgeously arrayed?”
“I and three more,” he answered,
“and two my men will be,
Sir Dankwart and Sir Hagen;—
these go to court with me.
“And mark you well, dear lady,
and list to what I say!—
We four companions must have
enough for four days’ stay.
Three shifts of clothing daily,
of good stuff all of it,
That we Brunhilda’s country
without disgrace may quit.”
With kind farewells the heroes
soon after did depart.
Then, of her maidens, thirty,
well skilled in needle-art,
Did the young queen Kriemhilda
call from their room, in haste;
These all for suchlike labours
had wit beyond the rest!
Arabian samite was there,
white as new-fallen snow,
And Zazemang silks also—
so green doth clover grow—
Whereon they wrought the jewels;
fine clothes, in sooth, they were;
The peerless maid, Kriemhilda,
herself the cloth did shear.
Of foreign fish-skin made they
the linings, good and rare,
For stranger-folk to stare at—
as many as there were;
And these with silk were covered,
as then the mode did hold.
There might be many a marvel
of this bright raiment told.
From far Morocco’s borders,
and from the Libyan shore,
The very choicest samite,
that e’er enriched the store
Of any king soever—
this had they, and to spare.
Right plainly showed Kriemhilda
to whom she kindness bare!
Since they on this state journey
determined to set forth,
Plain ermine furs they reckoned
of insufficient worth.
So over them fur trimmings
of coal-black hue they set:
On high-days such like garments
brave knights right well befit.
Amidst Arabian gold-work
there glittered many a gem.
So careful were the women,
naught was too small for them.
In seven weeks the raiment
was all prepared aright,
And eke the weapons thereto
for every gallant knight.
When this was all made ready,
upon the banks of Rhine
Was diligently fashion’d
a little vessel, fine
And strong, which down the river
should bear them to the sea.
The noble maids by this time
were of their tasks weary.
’Twas told unto the warriors
that all things were to hand
That they were to take with them;—
all their apparel grand,
Such as they had desirèd;
it all was now complete:
So would they on the Rhine-bank
no longer stay their feet.
Therefore, to fetch their comrades,
a messenger was bade,
That they should come and look on
this raiment newly made;—
It might be, for the heroes,
too long, or else too small.
But ’twas of the right measure:
they thanked the ladies all.
For all who came and saw it
were bounden to confess,
In all the world they never
had seen more noble dress.
They might be proud such clothing
in any court to wear;—
Of finer knights’ apparel,
in sooth, knew no one there.
Thanks manifold and hearty
their judgment did receive.
And then these joyous warriors
desired to take their leave;—
This did the noble comrades
with knightly courtesy.
Bright eyes were then, with weeping,
all sad and watery.
She said: “My dearest brother,
you still have time to stay,
And woo some other woman,
’twould be the better way.
You would not then endanger
your body and your life:
Here might you find, much nearer,
as highly-born a wife!”
Her heart, I ween, foreboded
what, later, did befall:
As ev’ry word was spoken
they fell to weeping all.
The gold upon their bosoms
was tarnished with the tears
Which rainèd from their eyelids,
by reason of their fears.
Again she spake: “Sir Siegfried,
let me commend, I pray,
Unto your truth and kindness,
my brother dear alway;—
That no mischance befall him
in Queen Brunhilda’s land.”
The gallant hero swore it,
upon Kriemhilda’s hand.
The mighty thane thus answered:
“So long as I shall live,
You, to his safety, lady,
no anxious thought need give;
I safe and sound will bring him
home to the Rhine;” he said,
“That know now of a surety.”
The fair maid bow’d her head.
Their gilded shields were carried
straight down unto the shore,
And to the ship was taken
of clothing their whole store;
They bade men bring their horses,
they hasted to be gone.
Then was by beauteous women
much bitter weeping done.
There, standing, at the windows,
was many a lovely child;
A high wind fair was blowing—
the ship’s sail soon was fill’d.
The gallant band of heroes
on Rhine were floating free;
Then spake the royal Gunther:
“Who now shall skipper be?”
“That will I be!” cried Siegfried,
“for I can down the flood
Right well and safely steer you,
doubt not, ye heroes good;
The proper water-channels,
I well do understand.”
Then joyously they parted
from the Burgundian land.
Sir Siegfried took a boathook,
and stoutly did it grip,
And, leaning on it strongly,
from strand he shoved the ship;
The mighty man, King Gunther,
did likewise seize an oar,
And soon these worthy heroes
had cleared them from the shore.
They carried costly viands,
and plenty of good wine—
The best that had been vintaged
upon the banks of Rhine.
Their horses stood right firmly—
they had a well-found stall;—
Their vessel voyaged smoothly;
small ill did them befall.
Then they unfurl’d the sailcloths—
the stout sails, strained and tight—
And twenty miles they sailèd,
or ever it was night,
With a good wind to help them
down stream, toward the sea.
Their steadfast toil was later
those brave ones’ woe to be.
Upon the twelfth day morning,
as we have heard men say,
The wind had borne the vessel
far distant, and away
Toward Isenstein the fortress,
in Queen Brunhilda’s land:
To all of them, save Siegfried,
it was an unknown strand.
Now, when the royal Gunther
so many towers did see,
And eke so wide a marchland,
he spake, all suddenly:
“Tell me, my good friend Siegfried,
if it be known to thee,
Whose are these many castles,
and this fair land we see?”
Then answered Siegfried: “Truly
it is to me well known:
This people and this country
doth Queen Brunhilda own,
And Isenstein’s her fortress,
as you have heard me say;—
And many comely women
you well might see this day.
“I’ll give ye heroes counsel
all of one mind to be—
Agree in all your discourse—
so seemeth best to me.
If we to-day, as may be,
before Brunhilda go,
We shall need all our prudence
to deal with her, I trow.
“When we behold that fair one,
attended by her train,
One speech, and but one only,
ye heroes must maintain:
King Gunther is my chieftain,
and of his men I’m one;
Thereby what he hath purposed
shall all be duly done.”
They ready were to promise
whate’er he asked of them;
With all their pride o’erweening
none did his word contemn.
They vowed whate’er he wanted:
so better did they fare,
What time the royal Gunther
beheld Brunhilda fair.
“This not so much for thy sake,
I do,” Sir Siegfried said,
“As for love of thy sister—
the ever-beauteous maid!
She’s as my soul unto me,
and as my very life;
I’ll gladly do this service,
so her I win to wife!”