The Song of the Nibelungs (Medieval Literature Classic). Anonymous

bestowed such gifts before.

      42

      Thus closed the merry feasting / in this right worthy way,

       And 't was well known thereafter / how those good knights did say

       That they the youthful hero / for king would gladly have;

       But this nowise he wished for, / Siegfried the stately knight and brave.

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      While that they both were living, / Siegmund and Siegelind,

       No crown their son desired, /—thereto he had no mind.

       Yet would he fain be master / o'er all the hostile might

       That in the lands around him / opposed the keen and fiery knight.

      THIRD ADVENTURE.

       Table of Contents

      How Siegfried came to Worms

      44

      Seldom in sooth, if ever, / the hero's heart was sad.

       He heard them tell the story, / how that a winsome maid

       There lived afar in Burgundy, / surpassing fair to see:

       Great joy she brought him later, / but eke she brought him misery.

      45

      Of her exceeding beauty / the fame spread far and near,

       And of the thing, moreover, / were knights oft-times aware

       How the maid's high spirit / no mortal could command:

       The thing lured many a stranger / from far unto King Gunther's land.

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      Although to win her favor / were many wooers bent,

       In her own heart would never / Kriemhild thereto consent

       That any one amongst them / for lover she would have:

       Still to her was he a stranger / to whom anon her troth she gave.

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      To true love turned his fancy / the son of Siegelind.

       'Gainst his, all others' wooing / was like an idle wind:

       Full well did he merit / a lady fair to woo,

       And soon the noble Kriemhild / to Siegfried bold was wedded true.

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      By friends he oft was counselled, / and many a faithful man,

       Since to think of wooing / in earnest he began,

       That he a wife should find him / of fitting high degree.

       Then spoke the noble Siegfried: / "In sooth fair Kriemhild shall it be,

      49

      "The noble royal maiden / in Burgundy that dwells,

       For sake of all her beauty. / Of her the story tells,

       Ne'er monarch was so mighty / that, if for spouse he sighed,

       'Twere not for him befitting / to take the princess for his bride."

      50

      Unto King Siegmund also / the thing was soon made known.

       His people talked about it, / whereby to him was shown

       The Prince's fixéd purpose. / It grieved him sorely, too,

       That his son intent was / the full stately maid to woo.

      51

      Siegelind asked and learned it, / the noble monarch's wife.

       For her loved son she sorrowed / lest he should lose his life,

       For well she knew the humor / of Gunther and his men.

       Then gan they from the wooing / strive to turn the noble thane.

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      Then said the doughty Siegfried: / "O father dear to me,

       Without the love of woman / would I ever be,

       Could I not woo in freedom / where'er my heart is set.

       Whate'er be said by any, / I'll keep the selfsame purpose yet."

      53

      "Since thou wilt not give over," / the king in answer said,

       "Am I of this thy purpose / inwardly full glad,

       And straightway to fulfil it / I'll help as best I can,

       Yet in King Gunther's service / is many a haughty-minded man.

      54

      "And were there yet none other / than Hagen, warrior-knight,

       He with such haughty bearing / is wont to show his might,

       That I do fear right sorely / that sad our end may be,

       If we set out with purpose / to win the stately maid for thee."

      55

      "Shall we by that be hindered?" / outspake Siegfried then;

       "Whate'er in friendly fashion / I cannot obtain

       I'll yet in other manner / take that, with sword in hand.

       I trow from them I'll further / wrest both their vassals and their land."

      56

      "I grieve to hear thy purpose," / said Siegmund the king;

       "If any one this story / unto the Rhine should bring,

       Then durst thou never after / within that land be seen.

       Gunther and Gernot, /—well known to me they long have been.

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      "By force, however mighty, / no man can win the maid,"

       Spake King Siegmund further, / "to me hath oft been said.

       But if with knightly escort / thither thou wilt ride,

       Good friends—an have we any—/ shall soon be summoned to thy side."

      58

      "No wish," then answered Siegfried, / "it ever was of mine,

       That warrior knights should follow / with me unto the Rhine

       As if arrayed for battle: / 'twould make my heart full sad,

       To force in hostile manner / to yield to me the stately maid.

      59

      "By my own hand—thus only—/ trust I to win my bride;

       With none but twelve in company / to Gunther's land I'll ride.

       In this, O royal father, / thy present help I pray."

       Gray and white fur raiment / had his companions for the way.

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      Siegelind his mother / then heard the story too,

       And grieved she was on hearing / what her dear son would do,

       For she did fear to lose him / at hands of Gunther's men.

       Thereat with heart full heavy / began to weep the noble queen.

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      Then came forth Sir Siegfried / where the queen he sought,

       And to his weeping mother / thus gently spake his thought:

       "No tear of grief thou shouldest / ever shed for me,

       For I care not a tittle / for all the warriors that be.

      62

      "So help me on my journey / to the land of Burgundy,

       And furnish such apparel / for all my knights and me,

       As warriors of our station / might well with honor wear.