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

When with their stalwart followers / against their foes they rode;

       Slain by the hand of Hagen / must knights so many be,

       'Twill long be in the telling / here in the land of Burgundy.

      235

      "Sindold and Hunold, / Gernot's men each one,

       And the valiant Rumold / have all so nobly done,

       King Luedeger will ever / have right good cause to rue

       That he against thy kindred / at Rhine dared aught of harm to do.

      236

      "And deeds of all most wondrous / e'er done by warrior keen

       In earliest time or latest, / by mortal ever seen,

       Wrought there in lusty manner / Siegfried with doughty hand.

       Rich hostages he bringeth / with him unto Gunther's land.

      237

      "By his own strength subdued them / the hero unsurpassed

       And brought down dire ruin / upon King Luedegast,

       Eke on the King of Saxons / his brother Luedeger.

       Now hearken to the story / I tell thee, noble Princess fair.

      238

      "Them both hath taken captive / Siegfried's doughty hand.

       Hostages were so many / ne'er brought into this land

       As to the Rhine come hither / through his great bravery."

       Than these could never tidings / unto her heart more welcome be.

       239

      "With captives home they're hieing, / five hundred men or mo',

       And of the wounded dying / Lady shalt thou know,

       Full eighty blood-stained barrows / unto Burgundian land,

       Most part hewn down in battle / beneath keen Siegfried's doughty hand.

      240

      "Who message sent defiant / unto the Rhine so late

       Must now as Gunther's prisoners / here abide their fate.

       Bringing such noble captives / the victors glad return."

       Then glowed with joy the princess / when she the tidings glad did learn.

      241

      Her cheeks so full of beauty / with joy were rosy-red,

       That passed he had uninjured / through all the dangers dread,

       The knight she loved so dearly, / Siegfried with doughty arm.

       Good cause she had for joying / o'er all her friends escaped from harm.

      242

      Then spake the beauteous maiden: / "Glad news thou hast told me,

       Wherefor now rich apparel / thy goodly meed shall be,

       And to thee shall be given / ten marks of gold as well."

       'Tis thus a thing right pleasant / to ladies high such news to tell.

      243

      The presents rich they gave him, / gold and apparel rare.

       Then hastened to the casement / full many a maiden fair,

       And on the street looked downward: / hither riding did they see

       Many a knight high-hearted / into the land of Burgundy.

      244

      There came who 'scaped uninjured, / and wounded borne along,

       All glad to hear the greetings / of friends, a joyful throng.

       To meet his friends the monarch / rode out in mickle glee:

       In joying now was ended / all his full great anxiety.

      245

      Then did he well his warriors / and eke the strangers greet;

       And for a king so mighty / 'twere nothing else but meet

       That he should thank right kindly / the gallant men each one,

       Who had in storm of battle / the victory so bravely won.

      246

      Then of his friends King Gunther / bade tidings tell straightway,

       Of all his men how many / were fallen in the fray.

       Lost had he none other / than warriors three score:

       Then wept they for the heroes, / as since they did for many more.

      247

      Shields full many brought they / all hewn by valiant hand,

       And many a shattered helmet / into King Gunther's hand.

       The riders then dismounted / from their steeds before the hall,

       And a right hearty welcome / from friends rejoicing had they all.

      248

      Then did they for the warriors / lodging meet prepare,

       And for his guests the monarch / bade full well have care.

       He bade them take the wounded / and tend them carefully,

       And toward his enemies also / his gentle bearing might ye see.

      249

      To Luedeger then spake he: / "Right welcome art thou here.

       Through fault of thine now have I / lost many friends full dear,

       For which, have I good fortune, / thou shall right well atone.

       God rich reward my liegemen, / such faithfulness to me they've shown."

      250

      "Well may'st thou thank them, truly," / spake then Luedeger;

       "Hostages so noble / won a monarch ne'er.

       For chivalrous protection / rich goods we offer thee,

       That thou now right gracious / to us thy enemies shalt be."

      251

      "I'll grant you both your freedom," / spake the king again;

       "But that my enemies surely / here by me remain,

       Therefor I'll have good pledges / they ne'er shall quit my land,

       Save at my royal pleasure." / Thereto gave Luedeger the hand.

      252

      Sweet rest then found the weary / their tired limbs to aid,

       And gently soon on couches / the wounded knights were laid;

       Mead and wine right ruddy / they poured out plenteously:

       Than they and all their followers / merrier men there none might be.

      253

      Their shields all hacked in battle / secure were laid away;

       And not a few of saddles / stained with blood that day,

       Lest women weep to see them, / hid they too from sight.

       Full many a keen rider / home came aweary from the fight.

      254

      The host in gentlest manner / did his guests attend:

       The land around with stranger / was crowded, and with friend.

       They bade the sorely wounded / nurse with especial care:

       Whereby the knights high-hearted / 'neath all their wounds knew not despair.

      255

      Who there had skill in healing / received reward untold,

       Silver all unweighéd / and thereto ruddy gold

       For making whole the heroes / after the battle sore.

       To all his friends the monarch /