Adventure
XV
How Siegfried Was Betrayed
Upon the fourth day morning
came two and thirty men
Unto the king’s court riding;
and word was carried then
To Gunther, the most mighty,
that he was call’d to war.
The lie cost many a woman
much grief and sorrow sore.
When leave to them was granted,
before the king they went,
And said that they were under
King Lud’ger’s government—
Who vanquish’d was aforetime
by doughty Siegfried’s hand,
And brought by him a captive
unto King Gunther’s land.
Then greeted he the heralds,
and bade them seated be.
But one among them pray’d him:
“Sire, let us stand, till we
Our message have deliver’d
and errand duly done:
Know then that thou art hated
by many a mother’s son!
“King Ludegast and Lud’ger,
do challenge you to war,
Of whom you were aforetime
the bloody conqueror:
They’re coming with their armies,
to ride thy country through.”
At this the king feign’d anger,
as if to him ’twere new.
They took these counterfeiters
to hostel presently.
How then could Siegfried ware be
of any treachery—
Could he or any other
suspect they played a part?
Unto themselves hereafter
befell the pain and smart.
The king with his advisers
were whispering without cease;
Nor would Hagen of Tronjé
e’er let him be at peace.
Though many a lord would gladly
have given up the plot,
Yet Hagen from his counsel
would never swerve a jot.
One day it chanced that Siegfried
came on this scheming band;—
And straight began to ask them
the Lord of Netherland:
“Why goes the king so sadly,
thus brooding with his men?
Hath any done him mischief,
I’ll help avenge it then.”
Then up and spake King Gunther:
“Cause have I sad to be!
For Ludegast and Lud’ger
have straightly challenged me:
The eyes of all shall see them
here riding in my land.”
Then cried the gallant hero:
“Right soon shall Siegfried’s hand,
“As doth beseem your honour,
this business undertake
To break these warriors’ power,
as it erewhile I brake:
Their strongholds shall be ruin’d,
their land be ravagèd,
Ere I with them have ended:
thereon I stake my head!
You may with all your warriors
at home stay quietly,
And let me ride to battle
with those who came with me.
That willingly I serve you,
you very soon shall know:
Your foes by me shall suffer
as ne’er before, I trow.”
“This is to me good hearing,”
the king in answer said—
As if he were in earnest
well-pleased to have his aid.
Before the knight low bow’d he—
the false and faithless knave!
Then said the noble Siegfried:
“No care you need to have!”
With their esquires and liegemen
they plann’d the journey then:
’Twas done for the deceiving
of Siegfried and his men.
He bade them all be ready,
his men of Netherland:
And soon had Siegfried’s warriors
their fighting gear at hand.
Then spake the gallant Siegfried:
“My father Siegmund, pray
Remain thou here behind us;
we shall not long delay;
If so be that God speed us,
we’ll come back to the Rhine.
So with the king abiding
shall happy days be thine!”
The banner they unfurlèd,
as though they fain would start.
Of Gunther’s liegemen present
there were a goodly part
Who naught knew of the message,
nor what it all did mean:
A mighty throng of people
round Siegfried there was seen.
Their helmets and their breastplates
on horses they did stow:
And many a stout knight hastened
to leave the land and go.
Then went Hagen of Tronjé
to where Kriemhild did stand,
And prayed for leave of absence,
since they would quit the land.
“Thrice happy I,” cried Kriemhild,
“that I have got for lord
One who to my dear kinsmen
such succour can accord,
As doth my dear lord Siegfried
unto my kindred here.
Therefore,” the queen said, “will I
be now of right good cheer.
“But you, my good friend Hagen,
one thing remember still;
That I would gladly serve you,
nor e’er have done you ill;
For this you can requite me
to my dear lord one day:
If I’ve done aught to Brunhild
for that he must not pay!
“For since then I have rued it,”
the noble lady said;
“He therefore hath my body
most sorely punishèd.
If I did ever utter
aught to enrage her mood,
Right well hath he avenged her,
the hero bold and good.”
“You yet shall be forgiven,
in days to come,” quoth he;
“Kriemhilda, my dear lady,
now must you tell to me
How through your husband Siegfried
to serve you I may try;
I’ll gladly do it, lady;
to none more willingly.”
“I should have no misgivings,”
replied the noble wife,
“Lest any one in battle
should jeopardize his life;
If he were not so reckless
and over-rash of mood
He aye might be in safety,
my gallant thane and good.”
Thereon said Hagen, “Lady,
if you have any fear
Lest any one should wound him,
’twere best to let me hear
The arts that I must practise
if any ill betide;
For I will ever guard him,
whether I walk or ride.”
She spake: “Thou art my kinsman,
as I, in sooth, am thine;
Therefore to thee I’ll trust him,
this darling love of mine,
That thou mayst guard him for me—
this husband of my own.”
Then told she him the story
’twere well he had not known.
She spake: “Bold is my husband
and strong enough thereto.
When he upon the mountain
erstwhile the dragon slew,
In the brute’s blood he bathed him,
the goodly warrior,
And since that day, in battle,
no steel can cut him more.
“Yet, no less am I anxious
when he in fight doth stand
And javelins fly around him
from many a hero’s hand,
Lest by mischance I lose him,
and mourn my husband dear.
Alas, what sorrow have I
for Siegfried’s sake to bear!
“I’ll tell it as a favour,
my dearest friend, to thee—
In faith that thou maintainest
the pledge thou gav’st to me—
Where, only, may be wounded
this husband dear of mine,
I’ll let thee hear, confiding
unto no ear but thine.
“When from the dragon’s death-wounds
came pouring the hot blood
And therein he was bathing
himself, the warrior good—
There fell between his shoulders
a large-sized linden-leaf:
On that spot one may wound him;
’tis this doth cause my grief.”
Then spake Hagen of Tronjé:
“Upon his garment sew
A little token for me,
that I the spot may know
Where I have got to shield him,
when we stand in the strife.”
She thought to save the hero:
by this he lost his life.
She spake: “With fine silk will I
upon his garment sew
A little cross unnoticed,
that so thy hand may know,
O hero, where to guard him,
when into fight he goes,
And in the stress of battle
he stands before his foes.”
“That will I do,” quoth Hagen,
“my lady dear.” Whereon
The lady thought some vantage
she for her lord had won:
And yet Kriemhilda’s husband
was by this means betray’d.
His leave then took Sir Hagen,
and went away right glad.
The king’s men and retainers
were all of cheerful mood.
And yet, I ween, no warrior
within his breast e’er could
Hide heart so false and perjured,
as he in his did hide
Upon whose faith and promise
Kriemhild the queen relied.
Upon the next day morning
with his own thousand men
Rode forth the gallant Siegfried:
and joyful was he then.
He thought he would take vengeance
for his friend’s injury.
To him rode Hagen closely
that he his coat might eye.
When he espied the token,
two of his following
He sent away in secret
another tale to bring:
How peace should not be broken
towards King Gunther’s land—
They had but come as envoys
by Ludeger’s command.
How loth turn’d Siegfried homewards;
he rode unwillingly,
Sad that his friend’s annoyance
thus unavenged should be!
Hardly could Gunther’s warriors
bring him to turn his ranks.
Unto the king straight rode he:
his host began his thanks.
“Now God reward thy goodwill,
my noble friend Siegfried!
That thou didst go so gladly
to help me in my need,
I aye shall be thy debtor,
as I of right should be.
Beyond all friends and kinsmen
I build my faith on thee.
“Now that this expedition
will trouble us no more,
I fain would go a-hunting
the wild bear and the boar
At Waskenwalde, yonder,
as I so oft have done.”
This was the plan of Hagen,
the false and faithless one.
“To all guests in my palace
due notice shall there be
That I will ride forth early:
those who would hunt with me
Must hold themselves all ready;
those who would rather stay
To loiter with the ladies
have my good leave alway.”
Then spake the stalwart Siegfried,
with noble courtliness:
“If you will ride a-hunting,
I’ll gladly do no less.
A huntsman you must lend me,
and sundry hounds also,
Then gladly to the forest
along with you I’ll go.”
“And dost thou want one only?”
the king said thereupon,
“I’ll lend thee, if it please thee,
four men to whom are known
The forest and the coverts
the quarry most frequent;
So that the tryst in seeking
thy time be not misspent.”
Home to his wife then rode he,
the goodly warrior bold,
And quickly faithless Hagen
unto the king had told
How he could get the vantage
of the brave thane: ’twere shame
Such treason foul should ever
disgrace a noble name.