Adventure
XIV
How the Queens Railed at One Another
Before the hour of vespers
one day the tumult loud
Was heard, of many warriors,
who in the court did crowd.
Their knightly feats they practised
to pass the time away:
And many a man and woman
ran up to watch the play.
The noble queens were seated
together, side by side,
They thought of two bold warriors,
renownèd far and wide.
Then said the fair Kriemhilda:
“I have indeed a lord
Who rightly is the ruler
of all this kingdom broad.”
Then cried the Lady Brunhild:
“Howe’er could such thing be,
Unless there were none living
but only thou and he?
Beneath his rule the kingdom
might fall in such a case:
So long as Gunther liveth,
it could not come to pass.”
But then again said Kriemhild:
“There stands he; dost thou see
How he before the warriors
doth walk right royally?
Just as the moon all brightly
above the stars doth shine!
Good cause have I for wearing
this happy mood of mine.”
Then Lady Brunhild answer’d:
“Comely as is thy lord,
And gallant too and handsome,
thou must the meed award
Unto thy brother Gunther,
the noble warrior:
Who, be it known, is truly
all other kings before.”
But yet again said Kriemhild:
“Mine is a man so rare,
That not without good reason
his praises I declare.
By many deeds great honour
he hath won, far and near;
Thou wilt allow, Brunhilda,
he well is Gunther’s peer.”
“I pray thee now, Kriemhilda,
take it not ill of me,
I, too, have grounds for saying
what I have said to thee:
I heard them both allow it,
when them I first look’d on,
And, as he would, against me
the king my wager won—
What time my love he gainèd
in such a knightly siege,
Siegfried himself confess’d it,
that he was Gunther’s liege.
Therefore I hold him vassal,
I heard him that allow.”
Then spake the fair Kriemhilda:
“For me ’twere ill enow!
“How could my noble brother
have hansell’d so for me
That of a mere retainer
the good-wife I should be?
I do beseech thee, Brunhild,
in all true friendliness,
Oblige me of your kindness
and let these cavils cease.”
Thereon the king’s wife answer’d:
“I will not let it be!
Why should I yield my claim to
so many a good knight’s fee,
Who, like the thane, thy husband,
doth suit and service owe?”
At this the beauteous Kriemhild
began with wrath to glow.
“The thought thou must abandon,
that he to thee did e’er
Owe any kind of service;
he is far worthier
Than is my brother Gunther—
right noble though he be.
Withdraw me now this saying
that I have heard from thee!
“I cannot choose but wonder,
since he thy vassal is,
And thou o’er our two persons
hast mastery like this,
That he his dues unto you
hath set so long aside!
With right do I demur to
thine overweening pride.”
“Thou ratest thyself too highly!”
the king’s wife answer’d then,
“Now will I gladly prove me
whether thou hast of men
As much respect and honour
as they accord to me!”
By this time both the ladies
were wrathful as could be.
Then cried the Lady Kriemhild:
“This must at once be seen!
If that my lord’s thy vassal,
as thou hast sworn, O queen,
To-day must I the liegemen
of both the kings let know
Whether before the king’s wife
to church I dare to go.
“This very day I’ll show thee
that I am fealty-free,
And that my man’s more worthy
than ever thine will be!
And I myself, moreover,
will not be slighted so:
Thou shalt to-day be witness
how I, thy vassal, go
To court before the warriors
of royal Burgundy.
I’ll prove myself more worthy
than e’er was known to be
Any princess whatever
who here hath worn the crown!”
Thus hate enough and envy
betwixt the dames was sown.
“Dost thou deny,” cried Brunhild,
“that thou our vassal art?
So must thou with thy women
keep from my train apart,
When I and my attendants
unto the minster go.”
To that Kriemhilda answer’d:
“In truth, it shall be so!”
“Now robe yourselves, my maidens,”
commanded Siegfried’s wife.
“For we no shame must suffer
whilst here we live our life;
That ye have rich apparel
ye must let all folk see.
She shall repent at leisure
what she hath said to me!”
There was small need to urge them:
they sought their richest gear,
And many a dame and maiden
right well-dight did appear.
When came with her attendants
the noble Gunther’s dame,
Then also in fine raiment
the fair Kriemhilda came.
With three and forty maidens,
whom she to Rhine had brought,
Who wore fine-woven silk stuffs
in Araby y-wrought.
So came unto the minster
the comely maidens all:
They found all Siegfried’s liegemen
waiting before the hall.
The people fell to marvel
how it had come about
That these two royal ladies
had plainly fallen out,
And went no more together,
as erewhile they were fain.
Therefrom befell hereafter
sore woe to many a thane.
King Gunther’s wife stood waiting
before the minster door;
The while much pleasant pastime
had many a warrior
With the fair waiting-women,
whom she with her did bring;
Then came the noble Kriemhild
with her brave following.
Such costume as the daughters
of noble knights might wear,
Compared with what her maids wore
was common as the air;
In gear she was so wealthy,
that thirty queens had shown
No such display of raiment
as this fair queen alone.
Had anyone been wishful
he never could have said
That any richer clothing
had e’er been worn of maid
Than on that day adornèd
her noble company:
Except to vex Brunhilda,
Kriemhild had let it be.
The two queens came together
before the minster wide,
And thereupon the hostess,
by hatred moved and pride,
With evil voice and gesture
Kriemhilda bade to stay:
“Before the queen a vassal
shall ne’er take right of way!”
Then spake the fair Kriemhilda:
(and wrathful was her mood)
“Couldst thou but have been silent,
for thee it had been good!
Thou hast disgraced thy beauty
and stain’d thy purity:
How should a shameless wanton
a king’s wife ever be?”
“Whom art thou calling ‘Wanton’?”
in answer cried the queen.
“That call I thee,” quoth Kriemhild’;
“thy body fair hath been
Woo’d first, not by thy husband,
but by my lord, Siegfried:
I trow ’twas not my brother
who won thy maidenhead!
“Where hadst thou left thy senses?
it was a trick of his.
Why didst thou let him woo thee,
who but thy liegeman is?
I hear thee,” said Kriemhilda,
“without all reason scold.”
“Now this, in truth,” cried Brunhild,
“shall be to Gunther told!”
“And why should that annoy me?
thy pride hath thee betray’d:
To cite me to thy service
by word thou hast essay’d.
This know now, of a surety
I grieve that it be so:
All confidence is over
for aye betwixt us two.”
Brunhilda wept, but Kriemhild
no longer tarried there;
Before the king’s wife passing,
with all her maidens fair,
She went into the minster:
such hate did this beget
That many bright eyes later
were sore bedimm’d and wet.
How much soe’er they worshipp’d,
by service and by song,
Unto the Queen Brunhilda
the time seem’d all too long:
So full she was of trouble,
in body and in mood.
For which hereafter suffer’d
bold warriors and good.
Brunhilda with her women
stay’d by the minster door;
She thought: “Now must Kriemhilda,
let me hear something more
Of what she rail’d so loudly—
the scolding, sharp-tongued wife!
If Siegfried hath been boasting,
’twill stand him in his life.”
Forth came the noble Kriemhild,
with many gallant men.
Dame Brunhild called unto her:
“Now stand you still again—
You said I was a wanton,
that shall you prove to me:
That word of yours, be certain,
hath stung me bitterly!”
Thereto said dame Kriemhilda:
“ ’Twere best to let me fare!
By this gold ring I’ll prove it,
which on my hand I wear;
’Twas brought to me by Siegfried
when by your side he lay.”
Ne’er yet had Queen Brunhilda
outlived a sadder day.
She spake: “This golden jewel
was from me stol’n away,
And hath from me most wrongly
been hidden many a day.
I now at last discover
who stole my ring from me!”
By this time were both ladies
in direst enmity.
Yet spake Kriemhilda further:
“I will not pass for thief!
Thou mightst have kept thy counsel,
to thee were honour lief.
This girdle be my witness,
that round my waist I wear,
That I am not a liar.
Ay! Siegfried was thy dear.”
The girdle she was wearing
was silk from Nineveh,
With precious stones for fastening,
right good it was to see.
When dame Brunhild beheld it
to weeping she did fall:
It must be told to Gunther
and to his lieges all.
Then spake the queen in answer:
“Go hence, and bring to me
The sovran-prince of Rhineland,
and from my lips shall he
Hear how his sister flouts me,
and slandereth my life,
By openly declaring
I have been Siegfried’s wife!”
The king came with his warriors;
and when the weeping eyes
He saw of his belov’d one,
he spake, in kindly wise:
“Now tell me, dearest lady,
who hath done aught to thee?”
Unto the king she answered:
“Aye joyless must I be!
“Kriemhilda of mine honour
would like to cozen me;
And, seeing she’s thy sister,
I make complaint to thee.
She swears I’ve played the wanton
with her own man, Siegfried.”
Then answer’d the King Gunther:
“She doth an evil deed!”
“She weareth here my girdle,
which I so long have lost,
My ring of red gold likewise.
To me ’tis bittermost
That e’er my mother bore me.
An’ thou wilt not disprove,
O king, this grievous scandal,
no longer thee I’ll love.”
Then up and spake King Gunther:
“Siegfried shall now appear;
If he hath play’d the braggart,
he shall the truth declare,
Or else deny the slander—
this knight of Netherland!”
Then did Kriemhilda’s husband
right soon before them stand.
As soon as he had look’d on
these dames discomfited,
(Naught knowing of the matter)
the noble Siegfried said:
“Why are these ladies weeping?
that am I fain to hear,
And wherefore I am bidden
before the King to appear?”
Then spake to him King Gunther:
“Right sorrowful am I;
To me my wife Brunhilda
hath told a history
That thou thyself hast boasted
her first love to have won:
Thy wife, Kriemhild, declareth
that thou, thane, this hast done.”
Then spake the noble Siegfried:
“And if she so hath said,
Before I rest I’ll see that
for this she be repaid!
In face of all your lieges
I’m ready to aver
By oath of mine most solemn,
I never told it her!”
Then spake the King of Rhineland:
“Give proof of that must thou!
The oath which thou dost offer,
if thou canst take it now,
From ev’ry untrue dealing
I’ll hold thee clear and free.”
Then in a ring around him
stood they of Burgundy.
His hand the gallant Siegfried
outstretched the oath to take.
Then spake the mighty sovran:
“So certain do I make
Of thy great innocency,
that I will thee acquit:
Sure what my sister charges
thou never didst commit.”
Yet once again spake Siegfried:
“And if she joy doth find
In that she hath so troubled
Brunhilda’s peace of mind,
My sorrow, of a surety,
too deep were to be told.”
Then look’d at one another
these ready knights and bold.
“So should one train one’s women,”
the hero Siegfried said,
“That suchlike haughty speeches
should aye be left unsaid:
Unto thy wife forbid them,
to mine I’ll do the same;
Such ill-advised behaviour
doth fill my heart with shame.”
By this dispute were many
fair women kept apart.
Brunhilda still the matter
so sorely took to heart
That needs must Gunther’s warriors
feel pity for the dame.
Then Hagen, knight of Tronjé,
unto his lady came.
He bade her say what ail’d her,
finding her weeping sore.
Then told she him the story,
and unto her he swore
That either Kriemhild’s husband
must for the lie repent
Or he himself thereafter
would never live content.
Ortwein and also Gernot,
in council join’d the twain;
And there the heroes plotted
how Siegfried should be slain.
And Giselher came likewise,
the noble Uté’s son;
When he had heard their saying,
he spake—the faithful one:
“Alack! ye gallant warriors,
now wherefore do ye that?
I trow that never Siegfried
deservèd such like hate,
That he, by reason of it,
should need to lose his life:
Ay, very trifles are they
that make an angry wife!”
“Are we to harbour cuckoos?”
cried Hagen, answering:
“To gallant knights as we are
scant honour that would bring!
That he of my dear lady
hath bragg’d so scurvily
His life shall make atonement;
or I myself will die.”
The king himself spake, saying:
“Naught hath he to us done
Save what is good and worthy;
so let his life alone.
What matter though the warrior
were hateful now to me?
He hath been ever faithful
and that right willingly.”
Then spake the warrior Ortwein,
who came from Metz, and said:
“His great strength, of a surety,
shall give him little aid.
If now my lord allow me,
short shrift of him I’ll make.”
Thus, without cause, the heroes
the part of foes did take.
But none went any further,
save Hagen, who for aye,
Was pressing upon Gunther
this counsel day by day:
That, if King Siegfried lived not,
to him would subject be
The broad lands that he governed;—
the king heard ruefully.
They let the matter rest; then
to jousting did they take.
Ha! many a sturdy lance-shaft
for Siegfried’s wife they brake
In shadow of the minster,
up to the royal hall!
Yet were some men of Gunther’s
but ill-content withal.
The king spake: “Lay aside now
this murd’rous hate and scorn;
Unto our weal and honour
he verily was born.
So fierce his strength is also,
this marvellous-bold knight,
Had he of this an inkling,
none durst withstand his might.”
“He’ll never know,” quoth Hagen,
“save thou should let it out!
I trow that I in secret
can bring it so about
That for Brunhilda’s weeping
sore reckoning he shall pay.
Yea, verily is Hagen
his enemy for aye.”
Then spake the royal Gunther:
“And how may that be done?”
And Hagen said in answer:
“That will I now make known.
We’ll bid two unknown envoys
to ride as from afar
Unto our land, ’fore all men
to challenge us to war.
“Then thou, before the guests, wilt
declare that thou must go
To battle, with thy liegemen;
and when he that doth know
He’ll offer you his service:
so shall he lose his life.
I’ll seek to learn his secret
from the bold warrior’s wife.”
Unto his vassal Gunther
in evil hour gave ear.
With treason foul to tamper,
ere any grew aware,
Began those chosen warriors
of chivalry the boast.
By wrangling of two women
was many a hero lost.