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

rich in goodly store.

      256

      Who there again was minded / to take his homeward way

       They bade, as one a friend doth, / yet a while to stay.

       The king did then take counsel / how to reward each one,

       For they his will in battle / like liegemen true had nobly done.

      257

      Then outspake royal Gernot: / "Now let them homeward go;

       After six weeks are over, /—thus our friends shall know—

       To hold high feast they're bidden / hither to come again;

       Many a knight now lying / sore wounded will be healed ere then.

      258

      Of Netherland the hero / would also then take leave.

       When of this King Gunther / did tidings first receive,

       The knight besought he kindly / not yet his leave to take:

       To this he'd ne'er consented / an it were not for Kriemhild's sake.

      259

      A prince he was too noble / to take the common pay;

       He had right well deserved it / that the king alway

       And all his warriors held him / in honor, for they had seen

       What by his arm in battle / bravely had accomplished been.

      260

      He stayed there yet a little / for the maiden's sake alone,

       Whom he would see so gladly. / And all fell out full soon

       As he at heart had wished it: / well known to him was she.

       Home to his father's country / joyously anon rode he.

      261

      The king bade at all seasons / keep up the tournament,

       And many a youthful rider / forth to the lists there went.

       The while were seats made ready / by Worms upon the strand

       For all who soon were coming / unto the Burgundian land.

      262

      In the meantime also, / ere back the knights returned,

       Had Kriemhild, noble lady, / the tidings likewise learned,

       The king would hold high feasting / with all his gallant men.

       There was a mickle hurry, / and busy were fair maidens then

      263

      With dresses and with wimples / that they there should wear.

       Ute, queen so stately, / the story too did hear,

       How to them were coming / proud knights of highest worth.

       Then from enfolding covers / were store of dresses rich brought forth.

      264

      Such love she bore her children / she bade rich dress prepare,

       Wherewith adorned were ladies / and many a maiden fair,

       And not a few young riders / in the land of Burgundy.

       For strangers many bade she / rich garments eke should measured be.

      FIFTH ADVENTURE

       Table of Contents

      How Siegfried first saw Kriemhild

      265

      Unto the Rhine now daily / the knights were seen to ride,

       Who there would be full gladly / to share the festive tide.

       To all that thither journeyed / to the king to show them true,

       In plenty them were given / steeds and rich apparel too.

      266

      And soon were seats made ready / for every noble guest,

       As we have heard the story, / for highest and for best,

       Two and thirty princes / at the festival.

       Then vied with one another / to deck themselves the ladies all.

      267

      Never was seen idle / the young Prince Giselher:

       The guests and all their followers / received full kindly were

       By him and eke by Gernot / and their men every one.

       The noble thanes they greeted / as ever 'tis in honor done.

      268

      With gold bright gleaming saddles / unto the land they brought,

       Good store of rich apparel / and shields all richly wrought

       Unto the Rhine they carried / to that high festival.

       And joyous days were coming / for the woúnded warriors all.

      269

      They who yet on couches / lay wounded grievously

       For joy had soon forgotten / how bitter death would be:

       The sick and all the ailing / no need of pity had.

       Anent the days of feasting / were they o'er the tidings glad,

      270

      How they should make them merry / there where all were so.

       Delight beyond all measure, / of joys an overflow,

       Had in sooth the people / seen on every hand:

       Then rose a mickle joyance / over all King Gunther's land.

      271

      Full many a warrior valiant / one morn at Whitsuntide

       All gorgeously apparelled / was thither seen to ride,

       Five thousand men or over, / where the feast should be;

       And vied in every quarter / knight with knight in revelry.

      272

      Thereof the host was mindful, / for he well did understand

       How at heart right warmly / the hero of Netherland

       Loved alone his sister, / though her he ne'er had seen,

       Who praised for wondrous beauty / before all maidens else had been.

      273

      Then spake the thane so noble / of Metz Sir Ortwein:

       "Wilt thou full be honored / by every guest of thine,

       Then do them all the pleasure / the winsome maids to see,

       That are held so high in honor / here in the land of Burgundy.

      274

      "What were a man's chief pleasure, / his very joy of life,

       An 't were not a lovely maiden / or a stately wife?

       Then let the maid thy sister / before thy guests appear."

      —Brave thanes did there full many / at heart rejoice the rede to hear.

      275

      "Thy words I'll gladly follow," / then the monarch said,

       And all the knights who heard him / ere thereat right glad.

       Then told was Queen Ute / and eke her daughter fair,

       That they with maids in waiting / unto the court should soon repair.

      276

      Then in well-stored wardrobes / rich attire they sought,

       And forth from folding covers / their glittering dresses brought,

       Armbands and silken girdles / of which they many had.