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

our fortune / we'll share in ill and good."

       Thereat the noble Siegfried / a little milder was of mood.

      128

      Then carefully was tended / all their knightly gear,

       And housed in goodly manner / in sooth the strangers were,

       All that followed Siegfried; / they found a welcome rest.

       In Burgundy full gladly / anon was seen the noble guest.

      129

      They showed him mickle honor / thereafter many a day,

       And more by times a thousand / than I to you could say.

       His might respect did merit, / ye may full well know that.

       Scarce a man e'er saw him / who bore him longer any hate.

      130

      And when they held their pastime, / the kings with many a man,

       Then was he ever foremost; / whatever they began,

       None there that was his equal, /—so mickle was his might—

       If they the stone were putting, / or hurling shaft with rival knight.

      131

      As is the knightly custom, / before the ladies fair

       To games they turned for pastime, / these knights of mettle rare;

       Then ever saw they gladly / the hero of Netherland.

       But he had fixed his fancy / to win one fairest maiden's hand.

      132

      In all that they were doing / he'd take a ready part.

       A winsome loving maiden / he bore within his heart;

       Him only loved that lady, / whose face he ne'er had seen,

       But she full oft in secret / of him spake fairest words, I ween.

      133

      And when before the castle / they sped in tournament,

       The good knights and squires, / oft-times the maiden went

       And gazed adown from casement, / Kriemhild the princess rare.

       Pastime there was none other / for her that could with this compare.

      134

      And knew he she was gazing / whom in his heart he bore,

       He joy enough had found him / in jousting evermore.

       And might he only see her, /—that can I well believe—

       On earth through sight none other / his eyes could such delight receive.

      135

      Whene'er with his companions / to castle court he went,

       E'en as do now the people / whene'er on pleasure bent,

       There stood 'fore all so graceful / Siegelind's noble son,

       For whom in love did languish / the hearts of ladies many a one.

      136

      Eke thought he full often: / "How shall it ever be,

       That I the noble maiden / with my own eyes may see,

       Whom I do love so dearly / and have for many a day?

       To me is she a stranger, / which sorely grieves my heart to say."

      137

      Whene'er the kings so mighty / rode o'er their broad domain,

       Then of valiant warriors / they took a stately train.

       With them abroad rode Siegfried, / which grieved those ladies sore:

      —He too for one fair maiden / at heart a mickle burden bore.

      138

      Thus with his hosts he lingered /—'tis every tittle true—

       In King Gunther's country / a year completely through,

       And never once the meanwhile / the lovely maid did see,

       Through whom such joy thereafter / for him, and eke such grief should be.

      FOURTH ADVENTURE

       Table of Contents

      How Siegfried fought with the Saxons

      139

      Now come wondrous tidings / to King Gunther's land,

       By messengers brought hither / from far upon command

       Of knights unknown who harbored / against him secret hate.

       When there was heard the story, / at heart in sooth the grief was great.

      140

      Of these I now will tell you: / There was King Luedeger

       From out the land of Saxons, / a mighty warrior,

       And eke from land of Denmark / Luedegast the king:

       Whene'er they rode to battle / went they with mighty following.

      141

      Come were now their messengers / to the land of Burgundy,

       Sent forth by these foemen / in proud hostility.

       Then asked they of the strangers / what tidings they did bring:

       And when they heard it, straightway / led them to court before the king.

      142

      Then spake to them King Gunther: / "A welcome, on my word.

       Who 'tis that send you hither, / that have I not yet heard:

       Now shall ye let me know it," / spake the monarch keen.

       Then dreaded they full sorely / to see King Gunther's angry mien.

      143

      "Wilt them, O king, permit us / the tidings straight to tell

       That we now have brought thee, / no whit will we conceal,

       But name thee both our masters / who us have hither sent:

       Luedegast and Luedeger, /—to waste thy land is their intent.

      144

      "Their hate hast thou incurréd, / and thou shalt know in sooth

       That high enraged against thee / are the monarchs both.

       Their hosts they will lead hither / to Worms upon the Rhine;

       They're helped by thanes full many—/ of this put off all doubts of thine.

      145

      "Within weeks a dozen / their march will they begin;

       And if thy friends be valiant, / let that full quick be seen,

       To help thee keep in safety / thy castles and thy land:

       Full many a shield and helmet / shall here be cleft by warrior's hand.

      146

      "Or wilt thou with them parley, / so let it quick be known,

       Before their hosts so mighty / of warlike men come down

       To Worms upon Rhine river / sad havoc here to make,

       Whereby must death most certain / many a gallant knight o'ertake."

      147

      "Bide ye now the meanwhile," / the king did answer kind,

       "Till I take better counsel; / then shall ye know my mind.

       Have I yet warriors faithful, / from these I'll naught conceal,

       But to my friends I'll straightway / these warlike tidings strange reveal."

       148

      The lordly Gunther wondered / thereat