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

And on the unknown strangers / his keen eye he bent.

       Well pleased him their equipment / and the rich dress they wore,

       Yet ne'er had he beheld them / in land of Burgundy before.

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      He said that whencesoever / these knights come to the Rhine,

       They bear a royal message, / or are of princely line.

       "Their steeds are so bedizened, / and their apparel rare:

       No matter whence they journey, / high-hearted men in truth they are."

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      Further then spake Hagen: / "As far as goes my ken,

       Though I the noble Siegfried / yet have never seen,

       Yet will I say meseemeth, / howe'er the thing may be,

       This knight who seeks adventure, / and yonder stands so proud, is he.

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      "'Tis some new thing he bringeth / hither to our land.

       The valiant Nibelungen / fell by the hero's hand,

       Schilbung and Nibelung, / from royal sire sprung;

       Deeds he wrought most wondrous / anon when his strong arm he swung.

      88

      "As once alone the hero / rode without company,

       Found he before a mountain /—as hath been told to me—

       With the hoard of Nibelung / full many stalwart men;

       To him had they been strangers / until he chanced to find them then.

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      "The hoard of King Nibelung / entire did they bear

       Forth from a mountain hollow. / And now the wonder hear,

       How that they would share it, / these two Nibelung men.

       This saw the fearless Siegfried, / and filled he was with wonder then.

      90

      "He came so near unto them / that he the knights espied,

       And they in turn him also. / One amongst them said:

       'Here comes the doughty Siegfried, / hero of Netherland.'

       Since 'mongst the Nibelungen / strange wonders wrought his mighty hand.

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      "Right well did they receive him, / Schilbung and Nibelung,

       And straight they both together, / these noble princes young,

       Bade him mete out the treasure, / the full valorous man,

       And so long time besought him / that he at last the task began.

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      "As we have heard in story, / he saw of gems such store

       That they might not be laden / on wagons full five score;

       More still of gold all shining / from Nibelungenland.

       'Twas all to be divided / between them by keen Siegfried's hand.

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      "Then gave they him for hire / King Nibelung's sword.

       And sooth to say, that service / brought them but small reward,

       That for them there performed / Siegfried of dauntless mood.

       His task he could not finish; / thereat they raged as were they wood.

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      "They had there of their followers / twelve warriors keen,

       And strong they were as giants: / what booted giants e'en?

       Them slew straightway in anger / Siegfried's mighty hand,

       And warriors seven hundred / he felled in Nibelungenland

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      "With the sword full trusty, / Balmung that hight.

       Full many a youthful warrior / from terror at the sight

       Of that deadly weapon / swung by his mighty hand

       Did render up his castle / and pledge him fealty in the land.

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      "Thereto the kings so mighty, / them slew he both as well.

       But into gravest danger / through Alberich he fell,

       Who thought for his slain masters / vengeance to wreak straightway,

       Until the mighty Siegfried / his wrath with strong arm did stay.

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      "Nor could prevail against him / the Dwarf, howe'er he tried.

       E'en as two wild lions / they coursed the mountainside,

       Where he the sightless mantle¹² / from Alberich soon won. Then Siegfried, knight undaunted, / held the treasure for his own.

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      "Who then dared join the struggle, / all slain around they lay.

       Then he bade the treasure / to draw and bear away

       Thither whence 'twas taken / by the Nibelungen men.

       Alberich for his valor / was then appointed Chamberlain.

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      "An oath he had to swear him, / he'd serve him as his slave;

       To do all kinds of service / his willing pledge he gave"—

       Thus spake of Tronje Hagen—/ "That has the hero done;

       Might as great before him / was never in a warrior known.

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      "Still know I more about him, / that has to me been told.

       A dragon, wormlike monster, / slew once the hero bold.

       Then in its blood he bathed him, / since when his skin hath been

       So horn-hard, ne'er a weapon / can pierce it, as hath oft been seen.

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      "Let us the brave knight-errant / receive so courteously

       That we in nought shall merit / his hate, for strong is he.

       He is so keen of spirit / he must be treated fair:

       He has by his own valor / done many a deed of prowess rare."

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      The monarch spake in wonder: / "In sooth thou tellest right.

       Now see how proudly yonder / he stands prepared for fight,

       He and his thanes together, / the hero wondrous keen!

       To greet him we'll go thither, / and let our fair intent be seen."

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      "That canst thou," out spake Hagen, / "well in honor do.

       He is of noble kindred, / a high king's son thereto.

       'Tis seen in all his bearing; / meseems in truth, God wot,

       The tale is worth the hearing / that this bold knight has hither brought."

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      Then spake the mighty monarch: / "Be he right welcome here.

       Keen is he and noble, / of fame known far and near.

       So shall he be fair treated / in the land of Burgundy."

       Down then went King Gunther, / and Siegfried with his men found he.

      105

      The king and his knights with him / received so well the guest,

       That the hearty greeting / did their good will attest.

       Thereat in turn the stranger / in reverence bowed low,

       That in their welcome to him / they did such courtesy bestow.

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