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

Then I in turn right truly / to thee my gratitude will swear."

      63

      "Since thou wilt not give over," / Siegelind then replied,

       "My only son, I'll help thee / as fits thee forth to ride,

       With the best apparel / that riders ever wore,

       Thee and thy companions: / ye shall of all have goodly store."

      64

      Then bowed the youthful Siegfried / the royal dame before,

       And said: "Upon the journey / will I take no more,

       But twelve good knights only: / for these rich dress provide,

       For I would know full gladly / how 't doth with Kriemhild betide."

      65

      Then sat at work fair women / by night and eke by day,

       And rest indeed but little / from busy toil had they,

       Until they had made ready / the dress Siegfried should wear.

       Firm bent upon the journey, / no other counsel would he hear.

      66

      His father bade a costly / garb for him prepare,

       That leaving Siegmund's country / he the same might wear.

       For all their glittering breastplates / were soon prepared beside,

       And helmets firmly welded, / and shining shields long and wide.

      67

      Then fast the day grew nearer / when they should thence depart.

       Men and likewise women / went sorrowing in heart,

       If that they should ever / see more their native land.

       With full equipment laden / the sumpter horses there did stand.

      68

      Their steeds were stately, furnished / with trappings rich with gold;

       It were a task all bootless / to seek for knights more bold

       Than were the gallant Siegfried / and his chosen band.

       He longed to take departure / straightway for Burgundian land.

      69

      Leave granted they with sadness, / both the king and queen,

       The which to turn to gladness / sought the warrior keen,

       And spake then: "Weep ye shall not / at all for sake of me,

       Forever free from doubtings / about my safety may ye be."

      70

      Stern warriors stood there sorrowing, /—in tears was many a maid.

       I ween their hearts erred nothing, / as sad forebodings said

       That 'mongst their friends so many / thereby were doomed to die.

       Good cause had they to sorrow / at last o'er all their misery.

      71

      Upon the seventh morning / to Worms upon the strand

       Did come the keen knights riding. / Bright shone many a band

       Of gold from their apparel / and rich equipment then;

       And gently went their chargers / with Siegfried and his chosen men.

      72

      New-made shields they carried / that were both strong and wide

       And brightly shone their helmets / as thus to court did ride

       Siegfried the keen warrior / into King Gunther's land.

       Of knights before was never / beheld so richly clad a band.

      73

      The points of their long scabbards / reached down unto the spur,

       And spear full sharply pointed / bore each chosen warrior.

       The one that Siegfried carried / in breadth was two good span,

       And grimly cut its edges / when driven by the fearless man.

      74

      Reins with gold all gleaming / held they in the hand,

       The saddle-bands were silken. / So came they to the land.

       On every side the people / to gape at them began,

       And also out to meet them / the men that served King Gunther ran.

      75

      Gallant men high-hearted, / knight and squire too,

       Hastened to receive them, / for such respect was due,

       And bade the guests be welcome / unto their master's land.

       They took from them their chargers, / and shields as well from out the hand.

      76

      Then would they eke the chargers / lead forth unto their rest;

       But straight the doughty Siegfried / to them these words addressed:

       "Yet shall ye let our chargers / stand the while near by;

       Soon take we hence our journey; / thereon resolved full well am I.

      77

      "If that be known to any, / let him not delay,

       Where I your royal master / now shall find, to say—

       Gunther, king so mighty / o'er the land of Burgundy."

       Then told him one amongst them / to whom was known where that might be:

      78

      "If that the king thou seekest, / right soon may he be found.

       Within that wide hall yonder / with his good knights around

       But now I saw him sitting. / Thither do thou repair,

       And thou may'st find around him / many a stately warrior there."

      79

      Now also to the monarch / were the tidings told,

       That within his castle / were knights arrived full bold,

       All clad in shining armor / and apparelled gorgeously;

       But not a man did know them / within the land of Burgundy.

      80

      Thereat the king did wonder / whence were come to him

       These knights adventure seeking / in dress so bright and trim,

       And shields adorned so richly / that new and mighty were.

       That none the thing could tell him / did grieve him sorely to hear.

      81

      Outspake a knight then straightway, / Ortwein by name was he,

       Strong and keen as any / well was he known to be:

       "Since we of them know nothing, / bid some one quickly go

       And fetch my uncle Hagen: / to him thou shalt the strangers show.

      82

      "To him are known far kingdoms / and every foreign land,

       And if he know these strangers / we soon shall understand."

       The king then sent to fetch him: / with his train of men

       Unto the king's high presence / in stately gear went he then.

      83

      What were the king's good pleasure, / asked Hagen grim in war.

       "In the court within my castle / are warriors from afar,

       And no one here doth know them: / if them thou e'er didst see

       In any land far distant, / now shalt thou, Hagen, tell to me."

      84

      "That will I do, 'tis certain."—/ To a window then he went,