Adventure
XXVII
How They Came to Bechelaren
Away then went the margrave
to where the ladies were,
His wife and eke their daughter;—
to them the tidings fair
That had but now been brought him
he told right speedily:
That soon their lady’s brothers
beneath their roof would be.
“My own and well-lov’d sweetheart,”
so Rüdeger then spake,
“These noble kings and mighty
we must right welcome make,
Since they and all their followers
are on their way to court.
And Hagen, Gunther’s liegeman,
thou must greet in good sort.
“With him there comes another,
by name one Dankwart hight;
And yet a third call’d Volker,
a well-bred, courtly knight.
These six must thou, Gotlinda,
and thou, my daughter, kiss,
And let not any warrior
a fitting welcome miss.
This promised both the ladies
and did themselves prepare,
And sought from out their coffers
for raiment rich to wear,
That they to meet the warriors
in fit attire might go.
Amidst the comely damsels
there was a great to-do.
Of painted women’s faces
one found there few enough.
They wore upon their foreheads
bright bands of golden stuff,
Like costly chaplets fashion’d,
that thus their lovely hair
The wind should not dishevel:
’tis truth that I declare.
Now let us leave the ladies
in all this business.
Across the open country
all eager was the press
Of Rüdeger’s retainers
to where the princes stay’d;
Within the margrave’s county
right welcome were they made.
As soon as towards him coming
the margrave them espied,
How Rüdeger the valiant
in words of gladness cried:
“Be ye, my lords, right welcome,
and likewise all your men;
How glad am I to see you
here in my own domain!”
In trust, with no misliking,
the warriors to him bow’d;
That he all goodwill bore them
to all he plainly show’d.
Apart he greeted Hagen,
a friend of old was he;
And did the like to Volker,
the knight of Burgundy.
Dankwart he also greeted;
whereon that bold thane spake:
“Since thou wilt give us shelter,
pray, who shall undertake
To cater for our people
whom we have brought so far?”
Then answer’d him the margrave:
“This night be free from care.
“And as to all your people,
and aught that in your band,
Horses be it, or raiment,
hath come unto this land,
So safely will I guard them
and all from loss insure,
That ye shall have no damage,
nay, not by a single spur.
“So pitch your tents, ye yeomen,
upon the open ground,
For any loss ye suffer
I’m willing to be bound.
Take off the horses’ bridles
and let them freely run.”
The like to them but seldom
a host ere then had done.
Right glad of heart the guests were.
When all had come to pass,
The lords rode off together.
Then down upon the grass
On all sides lay the yeomen,
and right good rest they had;
I ween in all the journey
they ne’er so softly laid.
The noble margrave’s lady
without the castle gate
Had gone with her fair daughter.
One saw there with her wait
A crowd of lovely women,
and many a maiden fair.
Who wore a store of armlets,
and raiment rich and rare.
The precious gems glowed brightly,
and might be seen afar
Upon their rich apparel;
so finely clad they were.
And now the guests arriving
dismounted speedily.
Ay me! what gallant breeding
showed they of Burgundy!
Of maidens six-and-thirty
and many another dame,
As ever eye could wish for
so fair in form they came,
And went towards the strangers
with many a gallant man.
Ah, then in sooth fair greetings
of noble dames began!
Then kiss’d the margrave’s daughter
the three kings fittingly,
As also did her mother;
Hagen was standing by,
Her father bade her kiss him;
she cast a look at him,
And fain had she not done it—
she thought he look’d so grim.
Yet straightway must she do it,
since so the master said;
Her cheeks were changed in colour
to mingled white and red.
Then Dankwart likewise kiss’d she,
and then the Minstrel too;
By reason of his valour
such greeting was his due.
The margrave’s youthful daughter
took presently the hand
Of Giselher, the warrior
from the Burgundian land:
Her mother, too, did likewise
to Gunther, the brave king.
So went they with the heroes
in gladness revelling.
The host along with Gernot
went into a wide hall,
Where they were quickly seated,
both knights and ladies all:
Good wine was call’d for straightway,
which to the guests they gave.
Ay, surely never heroes
could better treatment have.
With many an eager eye-glance
the men look’d lovingly
On Rüdeger’s young daughter:
she was so fair to see.
Ay, in his thoughts embraced her
full many a warrior good,
And right well she deserved it;
but she was proud of mood:
Think might they as it pleased them,
such thing could not be done.
And to and fro men’s glances
meanwhile oft lit upon
Right many a dame and maiden;
plenty were seated there.
Goodwill the noble minstrel
unto the host did bear.
According to the custom
they sever’d then in two,
The warriors and the ladies
to separate rooms withdrew.
In the wide hall the tables
in order straight were set,
And soon the stranger guest-folk
with royal service met.
To do her guests more honour
the noble margravine
Sat down with them at table;
her daughter was unseen,
Left with the younger children,
where fittingly she sat;
The guests, who miss’d her presence,
were sorely vext thereat.
When meat and drink abundant
had been enjoy’d by all
The ladies fair were usher’d
again into the hall.
There lack’d not mirthful story,
nor jesting manifold:
Busy of tongue was Volker,
a knight of mood right bold.
Thus spake the noble minstrel,
aloud that all might heed:
“Most rich and noble margrave,
God hath with you indeed
Dealt graciously, in granting
so fair a dame for wife,
And likewise in bestowing
on you a joyous life.
“If haply,” said the minstrel,
“I were a prince of blood,
And wore the crown of kingship,
surely for wife I would
Make choice of your fair daughter,
for her my heart doth woo:
Lovesome she is to look on
and good and noble too.”
Then said to him the margrave:
“How could it ever be,
That any king should ask for
my daughter dear of me?
We are but stranger-people,
my wife as well as I:
What boots it that the damsel
so fair is bodily?”
To him made answer Gernot,
that man of breeding high:
“If I would have a sweetheart,
my heart to satisfy,
So would I such a woman
be ever glad to wed.”
Then Hagen put his word in,
with kindly speech, and said:
“ ’Tis still to be remember’d
Lord Giselher should wed:
Of ancestry so noble
the margravine is bred,
That I and all his liegemen
would serve her willingly,
If with a crown upon her
she came to Burgundy.”
To Rüdeger this counsel
in every way seem’d good,
As likewise to Gotlinda:
ay, both were glad of mood.
And soon the chiefs so order’d
that she was bride beloved
Of Giselher the noble,
as well a king behoved.
When aught is bound to happen
who may the same gainsay?
Forthwith they bade the damsel
to court to take her way.
They took an oath to give him
the winsome maid to wife,
And he, on his side, promised
to love her as his life.
They gave the maiden warrant
for castles and for land,
The noble king confirm’d it
by oath and his right hand,
As likewise did Lord Gernot,
that thus it should be done.
Then spake to them the margrave:
“Though castles I have none,
“Yet you will I at all times
in faithful friendship hold:
I give unto my daughter
of silver and of gold
As much as five score horses
may carry at their best,
That so well-pleased, in honour,
the hero’s kin may rest.”
The pair were thereon bidden
within a ring to stand,
According to the custom.
Of many youths a band,
In mood for merry-making,
stood opposite the twain,
And thought what they were minded,
as youngsters still are fain.
When they began to question,
and ask’d the winsome maid
If she would have the warrior,
she was a whit dismay’d:
And yet she still was minded
to take the goodly wight;
She blush’d but at the question,
as any maiden might.
Then Rüdeger her father
bade her to answer “Yea!”
That she would gladly take him.
Whereon, without delay,
His white hands stretch’d towards her
to fold her lovingly,
Young Giselher came forward—
short though their joy must be!
“Ye noble kings and mighty,”
thereon the margrave spake;
“When home again your journey
to Burgundy ye take,
Then I (as is the custom)
will give my child to you,
That ye may take her with you.”
That they engaged to do.
Noisy as were the revels,
at last they had an end.
The damsels to their chambers
were bidden then to wend;
In sleep the guests, too, rested
till daybreak did appear;
Then victuals were made ready;
for all the host took care.
When they their fast had broken
fain would they forward go
Towards the Hunnish country.
“I pray you, do not so,”
Besought their host right noble;
“awhile ye yet must stay;
Since I no guests so welcome
have seen for many a day.”
To this made Dankwart answer:
“That surely will not do.
Whence will you get the victuals,
the bread and wine thereto,
Which for so many warriors
you needs must have this day?”
The host, on hearing, answer’d:
“It boots no more to say;
“My well-Iov’d lords, so please ye,
I will not be denied;
Ay, for a fortnight will I
the meat and drink provide
For you and all the people
that hither you have brought;
For never hath King Etzel
from me yet taken aught.”
Howe’er they sought to help it,
needs must they there abide
Until the fourth day’s dawning:
then did a thing betide,
Done of the master’s bounty,
and noisèd far and near:
On every guest bestow’d he
a horse and wearing gear.
This could not last much longer:
thence must they forward fare.
But Rüdeger the valiant
could naught withhold or spare
To testify his bounty:
what any fain would take,
That was denied to no one;
all happy would he make.
Then forth before the gateway
their noble equerries
Led out the saddled horses.
In readiness for these
The throng of foreign warriors
came out; their shields in hand
They bore, for they were eager
to ride to Etzel’s land.
Thereon the master offer’d
his gifts to one and all,
Ere yet the royal strangers
were come without the hall.
With bounty and great honour
he knew the way to live;
And even his fair daughter
to Giselher would give.
Anon he gave to Gunther,
that hero of great fame,
What he, the mighty monarch,
might well wear without shame—
Though gifts he took but seldom—
a coat of mail, to wit.
O’er Rüdeger’s hand did Gunther
bow low in thanks for it.
Then gave he unto Gernot
a sword, a good one too,
Which afterwards in battle
right gallantly he drew:
That such a gift he gave him
well pleased the margrave’s wife.
’Twas doom’d to cost, soon after,
good Rüdeger his life.
Gotlinda offer’d Hagen,
as courteous custom bade,
Some tokens of her kindness,
since such the king had had,
Lest he without her aidance
should on his road be sped
Unto the royal revels;
but this he soon gainsaid.
“Of all the things that ever
I saw,” so Hagen spake,
“Not one have I more envy
hence as my own to take,
Than yonder shield that hanging
upon the wall I see:
That would I gladly carry
to Etzel’s land with me.”
The margravine no sooner
had heard what Hagen said,
Than bygone woes were waken’d,
and tears she needs must shed.
Upon the death of Nudung
she sorrowfully thought,
How Witege had slain him:
thus grief upon her wrought.
She spake unto the warrior:
“I’ll give the shield to thee,
But would to God in Heaven
that still ahve were he
Who on his arm once bare it!
In fight he was laid low,
And I must aye bewail him:
hence comes, poor me, my woe!”
Then from her seat uprose she,
the noble margravine;
And so, the buckler grasping
her snow-white hands between,
The dame to Hagen bore it,
and he thereof took hold:
It was a gift of honour
unto that warrior bold.
A case of polish’d leather
upon its surface lay,
A better shield and brighter
ne’er shone in light of day,
With noble gems bestudded;
had any wanted it
To buy, perchance its value
a thousand marks had quit.
Then, by command of Hagen,
they bore the shield away.
And now to court did Dankwart
begin to wend his way.
On him the margrave’s daughter
apparel rich bestow’d,
In which ere long in Hunsland
right gloriously he rode.
Now all these friendly tokens
they were endow’d withal,
Into the hands of any
had never come at all,
Save by the master’s bounty,
offer’d with such good will.
Such foes ere long became they
that him they needs must kill!
Then did the ready Volker,
his fiddle in his hand,
With courtly mien approaching
before Gotlinda stand.
Sweet tunes for her he fiddled,
and sang his roundelay,
Thus would he from Bechlaren
take leave to ride away.
The margravine then bade men
to her a chest to bear;
Of kindly gifts and bounty
ye now again must hear.
Therefrom she took twelve armlets
and put them o’er his hand:
“These must you carry with you
away to Etzel’s land.
“And for my sake must wear them
whene’er you go to court;
That when you come back hither
I may have good report
How you have done me service
at that great festival.”
E’en as the lady bade him
he well accomplish’d all.
The host said to the strangers:
“Ye will the better fare
If I myself shall lead you,
and bid you how beware
Lest anyone should do you
a hurt upon the road.”
Then of his sumpter-horses
each quickly had its load.
There stood the host all ready,
and eke five hundred men
With horses and apparel.
These led he with him then
Unto the royal wedding—
a joyous merry train;
Alive to Bechelaren
not one came back again!
With many loving kisses
the host his farewells said,
As Giselher did also,
by honour ever led.
The women fair they fondled
with arms around them thrown;
For which would many a damsel
be weeping soon, alone.
On all sides were the windows
thrown open to the air.
The host with his retainers
to mount all eager were.
I ween their hearts foreboded
the mighty ills to be;
For many dames were weeping
and maidens fair to see.
For dear friends left behind them,
plenty at heart were sore,
Whom they at Bechelaren
would look on nevermore;
Yet gaily rode they onwards,
and down across the sand
Along the Danube river,
unto the Hunnish land.
Then Rüdeger the noble,
well versed in chivalry,
Spake unto the Burgundians:
“We ought not, verily,
To hide that we are coming
unto the Hunfolk near;
Such good news hath King Etzel
ne’er had the chance to hear.”
Down through the Austrian kingdom
the messenger rode fast;
Soon to the folk on all sides
from mouth to mouth it pass’d,
That coming were the heroes
from Worms beyond the Rhine.
No tidings the king’s lieges
could more to joy incline.
The messengers sped forwards
and now the tidings bare
Of how the Niblung warriors
within the Huns’ land were.
“Thou shouldst right well receive them,
Kriemhilda, lady mine;
To thee come in great honour
these brothers dear of thine.”
Meanwhile, as dame Kriemhilda
beside a window-sill
Stood watching for her kinsmen—
as friends for others will,
Lo, from her father’s country
there saw she many a man.
The king, who heard the tidings,
to laugh for glee began.
“Now joy of all who love me
be mine!” Kriemhilda said,
“For hither come my kinsmen
with many a shield new-made,
And many a bright steel hauberk.
Who would have gold of me,
Let him my wrongs remember,
my friend he e’er shall be!”