Adventure
XVIII
How Siegmund Went Back to His Own Land
Kriemhilda’s husband’s father
had to her presence come.
And to the queen thus spake he:
“We now would fain go home,
I trow that we in Rhineland,
unwelcome guests must be.
Kriemhilda, dearest lady,
come to my land with me.
“Since that your noble husband,
by treason underhand,
Hath from us all been taken
here in this very land,
You must not overlook it:
I will be kind to you
For love of my son Siegfried;
doubt not that this is true.
Henceforward also, Lady,
to you the power I’ll yield
That the bold warrior Siegfried
did teach you how to wield.
The land and the crown likewise
shall subject be to you;
And all of Siegfried’s vassals
will gladly service do.”
Then were the servants bidden
that thence they were to ride;—
It was a mighty business
the horses to provide!
Amidst their bitter foemen
to dwell were sorry cheer.
They bade the dames and maidens
to seek their travelling gear.
And when King Siegmund also
was ready forth to ride,
The kinsmen of Kriemhilda
besought her to abide:
Her place was with her mother,
and there to stay ought she.
Then spake the noble lady:
“Nay, that can hardly be!
“How could I bear for ever
him with these eyes to see,
Through whom to me, poor woman,
hath come such misery?”
Then Giselher, the youthful,
made answer: “Sister dear,
For duty’s sake now shouldst thou
bide with thy mother here.
“Of them who have distress’d
thee, and brought thee to despair,
Thou dost require no service;
my fortune thou shalt share.”
But to the knight she answer’d:
“Nay, this can never be;
I needs must die of sorrow
if I should Hagen see.”
“I’ll see that doth not happen,
my sister dear,” quoth he,
“With Giselher thy brother
in safety shouldst thou be;
Amends will I make to thee,
for thy dear husband’s death.”
Then spake the poor forlorn one:
“True need Kriemhilda hath!”
When this so kindly offer
to her the young man made,
Uté and also Gernot
fell likewise to persuade,
With all her faithful kinsfolk:
they begged her not to go:
For amongst Siegfried’s kindred
not many did she know.
“They are all strangers to thee,”
Gernot began to say;
“So strong is no man living
but he must die one day.
Bethink thee then, dear sister,
and comfort thy sad mood;
Stay with thy friends and kinsmen:
it will be for thy good.”
So Giselher she promised
that there she would abide.
The horses all were ready
for Siegmund’s men to ride—
Who would be homeward riding
unto the Niblung-land;
The pack-horses all laden
with knightly gear did stand.
Lord Siegmund came, and standing
before Kriemhilda, then
Said he unto the lady:
“The whole of Siegfried’s men
Await you by the horses;
’tis time we rode away—
For willingly I would not
with the Burgundians stay.”
But lady Kriemhild’ answer’d:
“My friends their counsel give—
So many as are faithful—
that I with them should live:
For I have ne’er a kinsman
within the Niblung-land.”
Sad was the heart of Siegmund
when he did understand.
Then answer’d her King Siegmund:
“Let that be said by none!
Rather than to my kinsmen
I’ll give to you my crown.
With power and might you’ll wear it,
as you have done before;
You shall be none the worse that
our hero is no more.
“Come back with us, if only
it were for your child’s sake:
You surely will not, lady,
the babe an orphan make.
When once your son a man is
he’ll comfort your sad mood;
Meanwhile you’ll have the service
of many heroes good.”
She spake: “Sir Siegmund, truly
I cannot with you ride.
Whate’er may happen to me
here must I still abide
Among my friends and kinsfolk,
and mourn with me they will.”
The good knights at this answer
began to take it ill.
With one accord they answer’d:
“Then must we fain confess
That for the first time, truly,
our hearts knew bitterness,
Since you indeed are willing
here with our foes to bide:
On such a grievous journey
did heroes never ride.”
Said she: “Ye may, God-speeding,
without foreboding fare:
Safe-conduct shall be given—
of that I’ll have a care—
From here to Siegmund’s country.
As for my darling child,
Unto ye knights I trust him,
and to your mercies mild!”
When they were well persuaded
that thence she would not go,
The lieges all of Siegmund
did weep for very woe.
How full of bitter sorrow
was Siegmund when his leave
He took of dame Kriemhilda!
Then knew he how to grieve.
“Woe be on these great doings,”
the noble king quoth he:
“An ending worse of pleasure
there ne’er again can be
To king or to his kinsfolk,
than this to us has been.
No more shall we henceforward
in Burgundy be seen.”
Then loud, that all might hear them,
the men of Siegfried spake:
“Yet once again the journey
may we to this land make,
When we shall have discover’d
who laid our master low.
They’ll have among his kinsfolk
stout enemies enow!”
And so he kiss’d Kriemhilda;
and mournfully did say,
Whenas he saw for certain
she had a mind to stay:
“Now will we unrejoicing
go home unto our land.
My sorrow for the first time
now do I understand.”
From Worms without an escort
unto the Rhine they rode;
Well might they, notwithstanding,
be confident of mood,
That if they should of foemen
an onset have to ward,
The hands of stalwart Niblungs
would serve them for a guard.
Leave did they take of no man
ere they set forth to ride.
But Giselher and Gernot
were presently espied
All kindly coming t’wards him:
his sorrow made them grieve,
As soon these gallant heroes
did bring him to believe.
For then the princely Gernot
right courteously said:
“Be God in Heaven my witness!
that Siegfried now is dead
Is through no fault on my part,
nor have I heard men tell
Who wish’d him any evil:
so can I mourn him well.”
Then had they a safe-conduct
at Giselher’s own hand:
And carefully he led them
in time, from out the land.
The king and all his warriors
to Netherland got home.
How little could their kindred
rejoice to see them come!
And what befell them after
I cannot rightly say.
And still one heard Kriemhilda
bewailing day by day
That none could give her comfort,
in either heart or mood,
But Giselher, who only
was true to her and good.
The beauteous Brunhilda
still arrogantly sat:
Howe’er Kriemhilda fretted
she took no thought for that,
And never more in goodwill
did turn to her again.
Erelong the dame Kriemhilda
did wring her heart with pain.