Adventure
XI
How Siegfried Went Home with His Wife
Now that the guests departing
all on their way were sped,
Siegfried the son of Siegmund
unto his people said:
“We likewise must make ready
home to our land to go.”
Well liked his wife these tidings,
when she the news did know.
She spake unto her husband:
“When must we needs set out?
That I should go thus quickly
I very much misdoubt;
For firstly must my brothers
with me the kingdom share.”
’Twas irksome unto Siegfried
from Kriemhild this to hear.
The princes went unto him
and spake to him, all three:
“Now be assured, Sir Siegfried,
that yours shall ever be
Our true and faithful service,
ay, even unto death!”
He bowed unto the princes
who pledged him thus their faith.
“We would with you share also,”
said Giselher the young,
“The lands and eke the castles
which unto us belong.
Whate’er of this wide kingdom
be subject to our rule,
Together with Kriemhilda,
that shall you share in full.”
Thereon the son of Siegmund
said to the princes three,
As soon as of these nobles
the goodwill he did see:
“Your heritage, God grant it
for ever blessèd be,
And eke the folk within it!
But, for my dear wife, she
“Gladly foregoes the portion
that ye to her would give.
A crown she’ll soon be wearing,
and, if we both should live,
She’ll be, in sooth, far richer
than any living bride.
In aught else at your service
I’ll loyally abide.”
Then spake the lady Kriemhild:
“Though naught my land you deem,
Burgundian thanes should never
stand in such small esteem!
To lead them to his country
right glad a king might be.
Ay! let my own dear brothers
e’en share in all with me.”
Then spake the noble Gernot:
“Take whom thou hast a mind;
Of those who would ride with thee,
thou here wilt plenty find!
Of thirty hundred warriors
a thousand we’ll give thee
To be thine own attendants.”
Then Kriemhild speedily
For Hagen sent, of Tronjé,
and likewise for Ortwein:
“Will ye and eke your kinsmen,”
she asked, “be men of mine?”
But Hagen, when he heard it,
cried in a mood of wrath:
“Nay, Gunther may not give us
to anyone on earth!
“Let others of your household
attend you on your way,
Well might you know by this time
the customs of Tronjé
Upon the king attending
at court we choose to stay—
Whom we thus far have follow’d,
we still would serve alway,”
’Twas therefore so decided:
to start they did prepare.
As noble court-attendants
Dame Kriemhild took with her
Of maidens two-and-thirty,
besides five hundred men.
Sir Eckewart, the Margrave,
went with Kriemhilda then.
Then was a great leave-taking,
of squire as well as knight,
Of maiden and of matron:
as was indeed but right.
Friend kissing friend at parting
was seen on every hand:
Right gaily they departed
from out King Gunther’s land.
Their kinsmen did escort them
far out upon the way.
And camping-grounds were fix’d on,
where they the night should stay—
Wherever seem’d good to them
throughout the kings’ domain.
Swift messengers to Siegmund
the tidings bear amain
That he and Dame Sieglinda,
might straight be made aware
How that their son was coming,
with Uté’s daughter fair—
The beauteous Kriemhilda,
of Worms on the Rhine-strand.
No dearer news and better
could e’er have come to hand.
“Ah, well for me,” quoth Siegmund,
“that I this day have known
When beauteous Kriemhilda
comes hither for a crown!
Mine heritage I reckon
thereby a worthier thing:
My son, the noble Siegfried,
shall here himself be king.”
Then gave the Lady Sieglind
much velvet of red hue,
And weighty gold and silver,
that was their herald’s due;
So much the news rejoiced her
which she had heard that day.
With zeal her waiting-maidens
now donn’d their best array.
Folks talk’d of who was coming
with Siegfried to their land.
They bade men raise a platform,
with benches close at hand,
Wherefrom his friends might see him
as with his crown he rode.
King Siegmund’s men went forward
to meet him on the road.
If any better welcome
to heroes aye befell
Than in this land of Siegmund,
it is not mine to tell.
To meet the fair Kriemhilda
Sieglind herself did ride,
With many a lovely lady
and gallant knights beside.
After a whole day’s journey
at length the guests they spied.
Both native-born and strangers
did weary of the ride,
Before they reached a fortress—
a castle large and strong—
’Twas Santen hight; and therein
they wore their crowns erelong.
With smiling lips and loving,
Sieglind and Siegmund too
Greeted the fair Kriemhilda,
with kisses not a few;
They did the like to Siegfried;
now gone was all their pain.
Their followers did likewise
a hearty welcome gain.
They bade the guests be taken
in front of Siegmund’s hall.
And there the beauteous maidens
were holpen, one and all,
To dismount from their palfreys;
and there was many a man
Who on these lovely women
to wait with zeal began.
How grand soe’er the wedding
had been upon the Rhine,
Here did they give the heroes
apparel far more fine
Than they, in all their lifetime,
had ever worn before.
One might tell mickle marvels
of all their wealth in store.
They sate in state and splendour,
and had of all enough.
What raiment wore their servants
of golden-colour’d stuff!
With broider’d lace adornèd,
and precious stones inwrought!
The noble Queen Sieglinda
of this had taken thought.
Before his friends and kinsmen
then noble Siegmund spake:
“I charge all Siegfried’s kinsfolk
notice hereby to take,
That he, before these warriors,
my crown henceforth shall wear.”
This news the Netherlanders
were glad in sooth to hear.
To him he gave his kingdom,
his crown, and government.
Henceforth he was their master.
And his arbitrament
And rendering of justice
became abiding law;—
So that fair Kriemhild’s husband
was greatly held in awe.
In this estate of honour,
he lived, as all declare,
And wore the crown and govern’d—
until, in the tenth year,
His comely wife in safety
brought forth her firstborn son;
Whereat the royal kinsfolk
were gladden’d ev’ryone.
They hasten’d to baptize him,
and gave him for a name,
After his uncle, Gunther,
which could not bring him shame.
Were he but as his forbears,
a brave man he would grow.
They gave him careful training,
as bounden so to do.
About the self-same season
Dame Sieglind pass’d away.
Then noble Uté’s daughter
did over all hold sway—
As doth beseem such ladies
who wealth and lands possess.
That Death the queen had taken
they mournèd none the less.
Now yonder too, in Rhineland—
so doth the story run—
Unto the wealthy Gunther
there had been born a son
Of beauteous Brunhilda,
in realm of Burgundy;
And, for the love of Siegfried,
that hero’s name had he.
With what great care unceasing
that child was watch’d and taught!
For him the noble Gunther
caused teachers to be sought,
To rear him in all virtues
befitting man’s estate.
Alas! how in his kinsfolk
he found an evil fate!
In legends old, the story
hath many a time been told,
Of how those gallant warriors
lived in the days of old;
Worthy of praise, at all times,
in good King Siegmund’s land.
The like did also Gunther
and all his knightly band.
The kingdom of the Niblungs
was under Siegfried’s sway—
Among his wealthy kinsfolk
there was no wealthier aye—
And Schilbung’s warriors also,
and all their goods and gold.
Well might the gallant warrior
his head more highly hold.
The greatest of all treasures
that ever hero won,
Save they that erst-time held it,
the gallant knight did own;—
Which once upon a mountain
he wrested by his might;
He did to death to gain it
full many a doughty knight.
He had his fill of honour;
and had it not been so,
In justice to the hero
one needs must own, I trow,
That he among the best was
that e’er on horseback sat;
Men fear’d his strength of body;
with reason did they that.