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

zealous to adorn her / was then full many a winsome maid.

      277

      Full many a youthful squire / upon that day did try,

       By decking of his person, / to win fair lady's eye;

       For the which great good fortune / he'd take no monarch's crown:

       They longed to see those maidens, / whom they before had never known.

      278

      For her especial service / the king did order then

       To wait upon his sister / a hundred of his men,

       As well upon his mother: / they carried sword in hand.

       That was the court attendance / there in the Burgundian land.

      279

      Ute, queen so stately, / then came forth with her:

       And with the queen in waiting / ladies fair there were,

       A hundred or over, / in festal robes arrayed.

       Eke went there with Kriemhild / full many a fair and winsome maid.

      280

      Forth from their own apartments / they all were seen to go:

       There was a mickle pressing / of good knights to and fro,

       Who hoped to win the pleasure, / if such a thing might be,

       The noble maiden Kriemhild, / delight of every eye, to see.

      281

      Now came she fair and lovely, / as the ruddy sun of morn

       From misty clouds emerging. / Straight he who long had borne

       Her in his heart and loved her, / from all his gloom was freed,

       As so stately there before him / he saw the fair and lovely maid.

      282

      Her rich apparel glittered / with many a precious stone,

       And with a ruddy beauty / her cheeks like roses shone.

       Though you should wish to do so, / you could not say, I ween,

       That e'er a fairer lady / in all the world before was seen.

      283

      As in a sky all starlit / the moon shines out so bright,

       And through the cloudlets peering / pours down her gentle light,

       E'en so was Kriemhild's beauty / among her ladies fair:

       The hearts of gallant heroes / were gladder when they saw her there.

      284

      The richly clad attendants / moved stately on before,

       And the valiant thanes high-hearted / stood patiently no more,

       But pressed right eager forward / to see the lovely maid:

       In noble Siegfried's bosom / alternate joy and anguish swayed.

      285

      He thought with heart despairing, / "How could it ever be,

       That I should win thy favor? / There hoped I foolishly.

       But had I e'er to shun thee, / then were I rather dead."

       And oft, to think upon it, / the color from his visage fled.

      286

      The noble son of Siegmund / did there so stately stand

       As if his form were pictured / by good old master's hand

       Upon a piece of parchment. / All who saw, confessed

       That he of all good heroes / was the stateliest and the best.

      287

      The fair Kriemhild's attendants / gave order to make way

       On all sides for the ladies, / and willing thanes obey.

       To see their noble bearing / did every warrior cheer;

       Full many a stately lady / of gentle manner born was there.

      288

      Then outspake of Burgundy / Gernot the valiant knight:

       "To him who thus has helped thee / so bravely in the fight,

       Gunther, royal brother, / shalt thou like favor show,

       A thane before all others; / he's worthy of it well, I trow.

      289

      "Let then the doughty Siegfried / unto my sister go

       To have the maiden's greetings, /—'twill be our profit so.

       She that ne'er greeted hero / shall greet him courteously,

       That thus the stately warrior / for aye our faithful friend may be."

      290

      The king's knights hastened gladly / upon his high command

       And told these joyous tidings / to the prince of Netherland.

       "It is the king's good pleasure / that thou to court shalt go,

       To have his sister's greetings; / to honor thee 'tis ordered so."

      291

      Then was the thane full valiant / thereat soon filled with joy.

       Yea, bore he in his bosom / delight without alloy

       At thought that he should straightway / Ute's fair daughter see.

       Siegfried anon she greeted / in courteous manner lovingly.

      292

      As she saw the knight high-hearted / there before her stand,

       Blushed red and spake the maiden, / the fairest of the land:

       "A welcome, brave Sir Siegfried, / thou noble knight and good."

       As soon as he had heard it, / the hearty greeting cheered his mood.

      293

      Before her low he bended; / him by the hand took she,

       And by her onward wended / the knight full willingly.

       They cast upon each other / fond glances many a one,

       The knight and eke the maiden; / furtively it all was done.

      294

      Whether he pressed friendly / that hand as white as snow

       From the love he bore her, / that I do not know;

       Yet believe I cannot / that this was left undone,

       For straightway showed the maiden / that he her heart had fully won.

      295

      In the sunny summer season / and in the month of May

       Had his heart seen never / before so glad a day,

       Nor one so fully joyous, / as when he walked beside

       That maiden rich in beauty / whom fain he'd choose to be his bride.

      296

      Then thought many a warrior: / "Were it likewise granted me

       To walk beside the maiden, / just as now I see,

       Or to lie beside her, / how gladly were that done!"

       But ne'er a knight more fully / had gracious lady's favor won.

      297

      From all the lands far distant / were guests distinguished there,

       But fixed each eye was only / upon this single pair.

       By royal leave did Kriemhild / kiss then the stately knight:

       In all the world he never / before had known so rare delight.

      298

      Then full of strange forebodings, / of Denmark spake the king:

       "This full loving greeting / to many woe will bring,

      —My