Adventure
XXVIII
How the Burgundians Came to Etzel’s Stronghold
As soon as the Burgundians
were come to Hunnish land,
Of Bern a chieftain heard it—
the aged Hildebrand.
Unto his lord he told it;
to him ’twas all unmeet;
Yet bade he them with kindness
the valiant knights to greet.
The ready Wolfhart bade them
to bring the horses out.
Then rode along with Dietrich
full many a warrior stout,
As towards the open country
to welcome them he went.
There had they pitch’d already
full many a noble tent.
When Hagen, lord of Tronjé,
them from afar espied,
Unto his masters turning,
in courteous words he cried:
“Now, please ye, gallant warriors,
dismount on to your feet,
And them whom you would welcome
go forth yourselves to meet.
“The company that cometh
is right well known to me:
They are the doughty warriors
from Amelung country,
And he of Bern doth lead them;
they are of courage high.
’Twere better not to flout them
when folk to serve ye try.”
Then down from horse alighted
(as was indeed but right)
All they who came with Dietrich,
full many a squire and knight.
They walk’d towards the strangers,
where they the chiefs could see,
And courteously greeted
the men of Burgundy.
When noble Dietrich saw them
their way towards him make,
Perchance ye fain would hearken
to what the warrior spake
Unto the sons of Uté.
Their journey grieved him sore:
The truth, he thought, Sir Rüdeger
had known and told before.
“Be welcome, sirs, right welcome,
Gunther and Giselher,
And Gernot, too, and Hagen;
and, not the less, Volker
And swift and ready Dankwart!
Have ye not understood
That o’er her Niblung hero
Kriemhilda yet doth brood?”
“Then let her brood for ever!”
Hagen in answer said,
“For many a long year is it
since he was stricken dead.
To love the King of Hunsland
is now her duty plain:
Siegfried hath long been buried;
he comes not back again.”
“Now let us, an’ it please you,
leave Siegfried’s wounds alone;
Whilst Dame Kriemhilda liveth
evil may still be done.”
So did the noble Dietrich,
the knight of Bern, declare.
“Thou Mainstay of the Niblungs,
to guard thyself beware!”
“And wherefore should I guard me?”
the high-born king replied;
“Tidings we had from Etzel
(what should I ask beside?)
That, came we hither riding,
’twould give him much content
My sister Kriemhild, likewise,
hath many a message sent.”
“If I may give you counsel,”
so Hagen to them spake,
“Beg that the noble Dietrich
and his good warriors make
Some better declaration
of what they have in mind,
And tell us to what humour
Dame Kriemhild is inclined.”
Then the three mighty chieftains
to speak apart withdrew,
Gunther to wit, and Gernot,
and the lord Dietrich, too:
“Now, knight of Bern, pray tell us,
thou noble warrior good,
What of the queen thou knowest,
and what may be her mood.
The knight of Bern made answer:
“What can I tell you more?
I hear her ev’ry morning
weeping and wailing sore—
This wedded wife of Etzel—
in manner piteous,
To the great God of Heaven,
for stalwart Siegfried’s loss.”
“It may not be averted,”—
that boldest man declared,
Volker, the fiddle-player—
“the doom whereof we’ve heard;
To court we’re bound to journey,
there for ourselves to see
What fate for us good warriors
among the Huns shall be.”
So hence the bold Burgundians
to court rode on their way
After their country’s fashion,
in glorious array.
And many a bold man marvell’d
among the Hunfolk there
At Hagen, lord of Tronjé,
what kind of man he were.
For since was told the story,
(that was enough alone,)
How he the Netherlander
Siegfried to death had done—
The stoutest of all warriors,
the husband of Kriemhild—
With questions about Hagen
the court was well-nigh fill’d.
Of goodly growth and presence
the hero was, no doubt;
Broad-shouldered and deep-chested;
his hair was fleck’d about
With streaks of grisly colour;
long in the shank was he,
And stony was his visage;
he walk’d right royally.
Then quarters were appointed
for the Burgundian men.
The whole of Gunther’s followers
were sunder’d from him then.
This by the queen was compass’d,
with hatred for him fill’d;
Hence all the yeomen, later,
were in their hostel kill’d.
Since Dankwart, Hagen’s brother,
the marshal had been made,
The king with zeal commended
the men to him; and bade
That he would seek their comfort
and let them have their fill.
This chief of the Burgundians
bore all of them goodwill.
And now came Queen Kriemhilda
with all her company
That she might greet the Niblungs
with feignèd courtesy.
But Giselher, her brother,
she kiss’d and took his hand.
This Hagen saw, and tighter
he laced his helmet’s band.
“In view of such a greeting,”
thus Hagen blurted out,
“A prompt and ready warrior
may well have some misdoubt!
To kings and to their vassals
greetings unlike befall:
We’ve made no lucky journey
to this high festival.”
“To those who fain would see thee,”
said she, “now welcome be:
Thou shalt not have a greeting
for friendship’s sake from me.
Say what it is thou bringest
from Worms beyond the Rhine,
That thou so great a welcome
shouldst have from me and mine.”
“If I had heard the tidings,”
so Hagen spake again,
“That you for gifts were looking
at hands of every thane,
Had I myself been wealthy
I would have twice bethought
Or ever to this country
my gifts for you I brought.”
“ ’Tis rather you, who tidings
to me should give: to wit,
The Nibelungen treasure,
what have ye done with it?
It was mine own possession,
and that right well you knew:
’Twas this ye should have brought me
to Etzel’s land with you.”
“I’ faith, my Lady Kriemhild,
’tis now full many a day
Since when at my disposal
the Niblung treasure lay;
At bidding of my masters
’twas sunk in the Rhine-tide:
There till the Day of Judgment,
in sooth, it may abide.”
Then spake the queen in answer:
“ ’Tis even as I thought!
Right little of it have you
for me to this land brought,
Although ’twas mine, and whilom
within my power it lay;
Since when I’ve spent thereover
full many a dreary day.”
“The devil a bit I bring you!”
Sir Hagen fell to swear:
“I have my shield to carry,
and that’s enough to bear,
Together with my mail-coat;
my helm’s a trifling thing,
My sword I have in hand though,
so naught for you I bring.”
Thereon the queen spake loudly
unto those warriors all:
“Let no man any weapon
carry into the hall;
Give them to me, ye heroes,
I’ll keep them safe for you!”
“Nay, by my troth,” cried Hagen,
“that will we never do!
“I covet not the honour,
gentle princess and fair,
That thou unto the hostel
my shield thyself shouldst bear.
Nor other of my weapons:
thou hast a queen become;
So taught me not my father;
I will be chambergroom.”
“O woe on all my sorrow!”
Kriemhilda loudly said,
“How is it that my brother
and Hagen are afraid
To leave their shields in keeping?
They have been warn’d, I see;
And knew I who had done it,
I’d give him death for fee.”
Thereon Lord Dietrich answer’d,
and said to her in scorn:
“ ’Twas I that took upon me
these noble kings to warn;
And Hagen warn’d I likewise,
the brave Burgundian.
Come on, thou devil’s daughter,
do me the worst you can!”
Ashamed and sore confounded
at this was Etzel’s wife:
For bitterly with Dietrich
she feared to be at strife.
She found no word to answer,
but went away in haste,
Whilst but a few sharp glances
upon her foes she cast.
Then hand by hand two warriors
took each of other hold:
The one was noble Dietrich,
the other Hagen bold.
Then spake in courtly manner
that knight of spirit high:
“Your coming to the Hunfolk
doth grieve me, verily,
“Seeing the queen hath spoken
such words to you but now.”
Then Hagen spake, of Tronjé:
“ ’Twill matter not, I trow.”
In such wise with each other,
parley’d the two brave men.
Meanwhile King Etzel saw them,
and fell to questioning then.
“I would that some one told me,”
the mighty sovereign said,
“Who is that warrior yonder,
to whom Sir Dietrich bade
So heartily a welcome?
Of courage high is he;
Whoever were his father,
a hero must he be!”
Then one of Kriemhild’s liegemen
to answer him began:
“He is by birth of Tronjé,
his sire was Aldrian.
How blithe so e’er he bears him,
he hath a spirit grim.
You shall yourself discover
I tell no lies of him.”
“How shall I have occasion
to know he is so stern?”
(The many sly devices
as yet he had to learn,
Wherewith, to catch her kinsmen,
the queen sought to contrive
That none of them from Hunsland
again might come alive.)
“Well knew I that same Aldrian,
a liegeman of mine own,
And here with me he won him
much honour and renown.
’Twas I a knight who dubb’d him,
and gave him of my gold;
My faithful Helka bore him
much kindness, too, of old.
“And all, by that same token,
of Hagen know I well.
Into my hands for hostage
two goodly children fell,
He and the Spanish Walther;
who being to manhood bred,
I sent back Hagen; Walther
with Hildegunda fled.”
He thought of the old stories
and all that happ’d of yore,
His olden friend of Tronjé
he gladly saw once more,
Who in his youth good service
to him ne’er fail’d to lend.
Soon he in age repaid him
by death of many a friend.