Adventure
XXII
How Etzel Espoused Kriemhilda
Until the fourth day dawning
at Traisenmauer she stay’d.
The dust upon the roadways
meanwhile was never laid;
It rose, as from some burning,
on every side, like smoke,
While through the Austrian country
came riding Etzel’s folk.
Meanwhile to the king also
the news was duly brought;
Whereon his former sorrow
soon vanish’d at the thought
How royally Kriemhilda
across the land did ride.
The king then made him ready
to go and meet his bride.
Strange tongues of many races
one heard upon that road,
As many gallant warriors
in front of Etzel rode;
Of Christians and of pagans
a host exceeding great;
And when they met the Lady
they went in noble state.
Of Russ and Greek came riding
a goodly company,
And Poles and Wallachs saw one
go rushing swiftly by
Upon their gallant chargers,
that mightfully they rode;
And nothing was there lacking
of native use and mode.
From out of the Kief country
rode many a warrior bold;
And hordes from wild Petschnegen.
These did the custom hold
Of carrying bow and arrow
to shoot birds as they flew;
With strength they pull’d the bow-string,
and the full shaft’s length drew.
There stood upon the Danube,
in Austrian land, a town
The name whereof was Tulna:
to her was there made known
Full many a foreign custom
she had not seen before.
By many was she welcomed,
who through her suffer’d sore.
As guard before King Etzel
a company there rode
Of mighty men and merry,
courtly and high of mood;
Of princes four-and-twenty,
all great and wealthy men.
They came to see their Lady—
naught more they ask’d for then.
There also was Duke Ramung,
from the Wallachian plain,
Who with seven hundred horsemen
before her sped amain:
Like birds of passage flying,
one saw them whirling by.
Prince Gibeche soon follow’d,
with stately chivalry.
Hornboge, the aye ready,
came with a thousand men,
And from the king’s side
turn’d him towards his Lady then.
As was their country’s custom,
they raised a mighty shout.
And all the Hunnish kinsmen
in swarms came riding out.
Also there came from Denmark
Haward the valiant one,
And ever-ready Iring,
to falseness all unknown;
And Irnfried of Thuringia,
a goodly man was he!
So welcomed they Kriemhilda,
she needs must honour’d be.
With their twelve hundred liegemen
the host they rode before.
Sir Bloedelin came also
with thrice a thousand more—
The brother of King Etzel
from out of Hungary:
Right royally escorted
unto the queen rode he.
And last of all King Etzel;
and with him Dietrich came
With all his chosen comrades
and many a knight of fame,
Right noble and praiseworthy,
and valiant and good.
Whereat was dame Kriemhilda
much lightsomer of mood.
Then, to the princess speaking,
the nobler Rüdeger
Said: “Lady, I will welcome
the mighty sovran here.
And whomsoe’er I bid you
to kiss, so do it then:
You must not give like greeting
to all of Etzel’s men.”
Then down from off her palfrey
the high-born queen they took;
Whereon the mighty Etzel
no more delay could brook.
He from his steed dismounted
with many a bold knight too:
And then one saw him blithely
towards Kriemhilda go.
Two rich and mighty princes,
as has to us been told,
Were standing near the lady
her garment’s train to hold,
What time the royal Etzel
went forward her to meet.
The noble prince with kisses
then did she kindly greet.
She raised the veil that screen’d her;
her dainty colour glow’d
Out of its golden setting;
and many a knight avow’d
That ne’er could Lady Helka
have shown a face more fair.
King Etzel’s brother, Bloedelin,
was standing very near.
Him Rüdeger the margrave
bade her to kiss; and eke
King Gibeche; and Dietrich,
who was not far to seek.
A dozen of the warriors
were kiss’d by Etzel’s bride;
Then gave she other greeting
to many a knight beside.
Now all the while that Etzel
did by Kriemhilda stay
The younger men were busy
(as such would be to-day)
With many mighty tiltings;
one saw then how they rode;
Both Christian knights and heathen,
each following their mode.
How knightly was the bearing of
Dietrich’s gallant men!
Their javelins and lances went
flying forth amain
High over shields and bucklers,
by good knights’ hands address’d,
Then shiver’d were the shield-rims
of many a German guest.
Then was a mighty crashing
of breaking lance and spear.
The warriors of the country
were all assembled there,
As were the king’s guests also—
a throng of noble men:
The mighty king was walking
with dame Kriemhilda then.
They saw hard by them standing
a very noble tent;
The plain around was cover’d
by many a wooden pent,
Where folk might sit and rest them
when work was duly sped;
And many beauteous maidens
by heroes there were led
Unto their royal mistress,
as she was sitting there
Upon the rich chair covers.
The margrave right good care
Had taken, so to fit it, that
everyone should find
Kriemhilda’s bower delightful:
and glad was Etzel’s mind.
What Etzel spake unto her
it is not mine to say.
Meanwhile her small white fingers
within his right hand lay.
In loving fashion sat they,
for knightly Rüdeger
Would have no secret wooing
betwixt the king and her.
Straightway commands were given
that all the games be stay’d;
With honour they were ended
and all the din allay’d.
Into the wooden houses
the men of Etzel hied;
And folk provided lodging
around for far and wide.
The day had reached its ending:
they laid them down to sleep
Until the light of morning
again began to peep.
Then were the steeds bestridden
once more, by many a man:
Ha, and in Etzel’s honour
what pastimes then began!
The king enjoin’d his Hunsmen
to do all honour bade.
Unto Vienna city
their way from Tuln they made;
There, deck’d in fine apparel,
full many a dame they found;
King Etzel’s wife these welcomed,
as in all honour bound.
In all-sufficing plenty
whatever they would have
Was there, already for them.
Right many a warrior brave
With joy the sport awaited.
All went to hostelry.
And soon the royal wedding
began right merrily.
But not for all could lodgings
be found within the town.
To such as were not strangers,
did Rüdeger make known
That they must seek out quarters
in country places round.
I ween there were at all times
near dame Kriemhilda found
Dietrich, the noble warrior,
and many another thane.
These, in their work unresting,
but little peace mote gain
Till nothing should be lacking
to cheer the strangers’ mood.
So Rüdeger and his comrades
had rest and pastime good.
The marriage was accomplish’d
one day in Whitsuntide,
When first the royal Etzel
lay by Kriemhilda’s side,
Within Vienna’s city.
So many men, thought she,
At her first husband’s bidding,
she surely ne’er did see.
To those who had not seen her
she made herself well known
By gifts; yea many among them
unto the guests did own:
“We deemed that dame Kriemhilda
had little goods or gold—
But here hath she, by giving,
wrought marvels manifold.”
The merry-making lasted
for days full seventeen.
And never was there told of
another king, I ween,
Whose wedding was more noble:
such is to us unknown.
All folk who there were present
did new apparel own.
In Netherland, aforetime,
thought she, she ne’er had sat
With such a throng of warriors.
I say, moreover, that,
If great was Siegfried’s substance,
he ne’er had, as his men,
So many noble warriors
as stood round Etzel then.
Nor was there ever any
who at his wedding-tide
Of mantles gave so many,
so rich and deep and wide;
Nor any such good raiment
as here there was to don.
In honour of Kriemhilda
was all in this wise done.
Their friends and eke the strangers
were all alike of mind,
That there had been no sparing
in gear of any kind.
Whatever any wanted,
that presently he had.
Yea many a knight through kindness
was well-nigh naked made.
Yet days of old in Rhineland
she could not quite forget,
Beside her noble husband;
and then her eyes grew wet.
She did her best to hide it,
lest anyone should see.
After so many a sorrow
much honour now had she.
What others gave in bounty
no better was than air
Compared with Dietrich’s giving.
Whatever Botlung’s heir
Had given him for largesse,
that quickly lavish’d he.
Eke Rüdeger with bounty
was marvellously free.
And Bloedelin came also,
the prince from Hungary,
And bade men take whatever
in many chests might be
Of gold and silver pieces:
’twas all to give away.
Then saw one the king’s heroes
keeping high holiday.
The players of King Etzel,
Wärbel and Swemmelin,
I ween that either of them
did at the wedding win
A thousand marks for certain,
or maybe even more,
What time the fair Kriemhilda
her crown by Etzel wore.
Upon the eighteenth morning
they from Vienna went.
Then was in knightly pastime
full many a buckler bent,
By lances that were carried
in every warrior’s hand.
Soon came the royal Etzel
unto the Hunnish land.
In the old town of Heimburg
they rested overnight.
By then the throng of people
could no one tell aright,
Nor with what strength of numbers
they overspread the ground.
Ay me, and what fair women
they in his country found!
At Miesenburg the wealthy
unto the boats they took.
The stream with men and horses
was hidden, as to look
Not otherwise than dry land;
yet ever seem’d to flow.
The women, travel-weary,
had ease and comfort now.
Together had been fasten’d
ships many and right good,
That they might get no damage
from either waves or flood;
And many a well-made awning
thereover did they strain,
As if they still beneath them
had land and open plain.
At Etzelburg, before them,
arrived these tidings then.
Whereat was great rejoicing
of women and of men.
The ladies of Queen Helka,
who erewhile were her care,
Soon many days and happy
did with Kriemhilda share.
There stood and waited for her
full many a noble maid,
On whom abundant sorrow
since Helka’s death had weigh’d.
The daughters of kings seven
still there Kriemhilda found,
Who were the pride and glory
of Etzel’s land around.
The maiden lady Herrat,
still of them all had care,
Queen Helka’s sister’s daughter,
of many virtues rare,
The bride betroth’d of Dietrich,
child of a king of fame,
The daughter, too, of Nentwein:
to honour great she came.
Unto the guests’ arrival
she look’d with mood right glad,
Whereto great stores and treasure
were also ready made.
How later the king feasted—
who could it all declare?
And with a queen at no time
did Hunsmen better fare.
As with his wife beside him
the king rode from the strand,
The noble dame Kriemhilda
was given to understand
The name of every lady,
the better them to greet.
Ay, mightily she bore her
sitting in Helka’s seat.
To her was faithful service
render’d right readily.
Wherefore the queen divided
her gold and jewelry,
Her silver and apparel:
whatever she did convey
From over Rhine to Hunsland
must all be given away.
Also with suit and service
subject to her, from then,
Were all of the king’s kinsmen,
and likewise all his men.
Never had Lady Helka
enjoy’d such potent sway;
So must they serve Kriemhilda
until her dying day.
Then stood so high in honour
the court and realm around,
That men came there at all times,
and chosen pastime found—
To whatsoe’er it might be
that each one’s heart did lean—
Be it the king’s good favour
or bounty of the queen.