Adventure
XXIII
How Kriemhilda Thought to Avenge Her Injury
In great estate of honour,
as truly doth appear,
They dwelt with one another
until the seventh year.
During this time the king’s wife
brought forth a son and heir;
Whereat the royal Etzel
could ne’er be happier.
She would not be persuaded
to be content with aught
But that the child of Etzel
should to the font be brought,
With Christian rites according.
Ortlieb they named the boy:
Which all through Etzel’s country
was cause of mickle joy.
Whatever noble virtues
in Lady Helka lay,
To match them dame Kriemhilda
aye studied, day by day.
The customs soon were taught her,
by Herrat, maid forlorn,
Who with a secret longing
for Helka still did mourn.
To native folk and strangers
she now was widely known:
’Twas said of her, that never
did any king’s land own
A better, milder mistress;
right sure of this they were.
Such fame she bore in Hunsland
until the thirteenth year.
Now since she knew for certain
that none would her gainsay
E’en as kings’ warriors mostly
their princes’ wives obey—
And as twelve kings before her
were ever seen to come,
She thought on all the sorrows
that she had known at home.
She thought, too, of the honours
that once in Niblung-land
Had been in her possession;
and which by Hagen’s hand,
At time of Siegfried’s murder,
were wholly done away:
And whether he might ever
for that be made to pay.
“It might be, could I bring him
by some means to this land.”
She dreamt that she was walking,
and near her, close at hand,
Was Giselher, her brother,
and in her gentle sleep
She kissed him very often.
He soon had cause to weep!
I ween some evil devil
Kriemhilda did provoke
That with her brother Gunther
her friendship now she broke,
Whom she, in full forgiveness,
kiss’d on Burgundian soil.
Then with hot tears began she
once more her robe to spoil.
And ever, late and early,
within her heart it wrought
How, without fault on her part,
she had thereto been brought,
That henceforth with a heathen
she must in wedlock live;
This bitterness did Hagen
and Gunther, too, contrive.
The wish that dwelt within her
ne’er let her heart alone;
Thought she: “I am so mighty,
and such great riches own.
That on my foes in vengeance
some ill I may repay.
Thus would I do right gladly
to Hagen of Tronjé.
“My heart is longing sorely
for my dear faithful one:
Might I but get them near me
who ill to me have done,
So would I take full vengeance
for my beloved’s life;—
Scarce can I bide their coming;”
so murmur’d Etzel’s wife.
The whole of the king’s liegemen
held highly in esteem
The warriors of Kriemhilda:
and well it was, I deem.
Her treasurer was Eckwart—
good friends thereby he made.
Nor could Kriemhilda’s wishes
by any be gainsaid.
Now was she ever thinking:
“I will beseech the king!”
To wit, that of his goodness
he would allow this thing,
That unto the Hun-country
her kinsmen might be brought.
But no one there discover’d
the queen’s unholy thought.
It came to pass one night-time,
as by the king she lay,
(His arms were cast about her,
as was his wont alway,
Loving the noble lady:
for she was as his life)
That of her foes was thinking
the fair and noble wife.
And to the king thus spake she:
“My ever dear good lord,
I fain would ask a favour,
if thou wouldst such accord:
If I am worthy of it,
that thou shouldst let me see
Whether my friends and kinsmen
thou lovest verily.”
Then spake the mighty sovran,
and guileless was his mood:
“I would have thee believe that,
if any grace or good
Be done unto those warriors,
I must thereat be glad,
Since I by love of woman
ne’er better friends have made.”
And yet again the queen spake:
“To thee it hath been said,
That I have high-born kinsmen;
and this my grief hath made
That they have never troubled
to come to see me here.
I hear the people call me
naught else but foreigner.”
Whereunto answer’d Etzel:
“Belovèd lady mine,
If not too far it seemeth,
so will I from the Rhine
Bid all unto my kingdom
whom thou art fain to see.”
When thus she learnt his purpose
right glad at heart was she.
She said: “If thou right truly
wouldst serve me, master mine,
So wilt thou send an envoy
to Worms beyond the Rhine.
That I may tell my kinsfolk
all that I have in mind.
Then many a knight right noble
his way to us shall find.”
“Whenever thou commandest,”
said he, “it shall be done.
Thou canst not be so eager
thy friends to look upon
As I of noble Uté the sons
to see am fain;
That we are still such strangers
hath caused me mickle pain.
“And if it should content thee,
belovèd lady mine,
So will I send right gladly,
unto those friends of thine,
My players on the fiddle
to the Burgundian land.”
To bring the worthy fiddlers
straightway he gave command.
They hasten’d very quickly
to where King Etzel sat.
And eke the queen beside him.
He told them both, how that
As envoys they were chosen
to Burgundy to fare.
For them he bade his people
rich raiment to prepare.
For four-and-twenty warriors
was new apparel made;
And by the king their errand
was also to them said:
How Gunther and his people
to bring there they should seek.
But fain was Lady Kriemhild
apart with them to speak.
Then said the king most mighty:
“Now hark ye what to do!
All that is good and kindly
I bid my friends, by you;
If they vouchsafe to journey
unto my kingdom here.
Ne’er yet have I had knowledge
of guests as these so dear.
“And if they so be minded
my will herein to do,
These kinsmen of Kriemhilda,
then must they not forego
To come to us this summer,
to keep my wedding-feast;
For much on my wife’s kindred
my happiness doth rest.”
Then spake the fiddle-player,
the haughty Schwemmelin:
“When will in this your kingdom
your wedding-feast begin?
That we to your friends yonder
unerringly may say.”
Then answer made King Etzel:
“On next Midsummer-day”
“We’ll do as thou dost bid us,”
made answer Werbelin.
Then gave the queen an order
that they be brought within
Her private room in secret,
to speak with her alone.
Whereof soon many a warrior
but sorry comfort won.
To both the envoys spake she:
“Well shall it be for you
If you my will and purpose
right faithfully shall do,
And say whate’er I bid you
when to my home you go;
In goods I’ll make you wealthy,
and raiment rich bestow.
“What friends of mine soever
ye see and meet with there
At Worms on the Rhine river,
take heed lest ye declare
That ye have ever seen me
in melancholy mood:
And bear my greeting unto
those heroes bold and good.
“To what the king requireth
beg them that they agree,
And thereby let them make me
from all my trouble free.
The Huns may well believe that
I have no friends at all.
Were I a knight, I’d ever
be ready at their call.
“And to my noble brother,
to Gernot eke say ye
That in the world is no one
I hold more lovingly:
Our best of friends and kinsmen
bid him unto this land
To bring, that so the better
we may in honour stand.
“To Giselher say also
that he must not forget
That never have I suffer’d
by fault of his as yet:
Wherefore would I right gladly
set eyes on him again;
And, for the faith he show’d me,
to see him here am fain.
“And also tell my mother
what honours now I bear.
If Hagen, too, of Tronjé
shall still be dwelling there
By whom shall they more fitly
be through the country shown?
To him the roads to Hunsland
from childhood have been known.”
Unknowing were the envoys
what meaning therein lay,
That Hagen, knight of Tronjé,
on no account should stay
Behind the rest in Rhineland.
Soon woe for them it made:
With him was many a warrior
to cruel death betray’d.
With message and with letters
they were provided now:
To live henceforth in plenty
of wealth they had enow.
Their leave they took of Etzel
and of his lady fair.
And clad in rich apparel
a goodly sight they were.