How Siegfried was sent to Worms
529
When that they had journeyed / full nine days on their way,
Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / " Now hear what I shall say.
We tarry with the tidings / for Worms upon the Rhine.
At Burgundy already / should now be messengers of thine. "
530
Then outspake King Gunther: / " There hast thou spoken true.
And this selfsame journey, / none were so fit thereto
As thyself, friend Hagen. / So do thou now ride on.
This our high court journey, / none else can better make it known. "
531
Thereto answered Hagen: / " Poor messenger am I.
Let me be treasure-warden. / Upon the ships I'll stay
Near by the women rather, / their guardian to be,
Till that we bring them safely / into the land of Burgundy.
532
" Now do thou pray Siegfried / that he the message bear,
For he's a knight most fitting / this thing to have in care.
If he decline the journey, / then shalt thou courteously,
For kindness to thy sister, / pray that he not unwilling be. "
533
He sent for the good warrior / who came at his command.
He spake: " Since we are nearing / home in my own land,
So should I send a message / to sister dear of mine
And eke unto my mother, / that we are nigh unto the Rhine.
534
" Thereto I pray thee, Siegfried, / now meet my wish aright, "
Spake the noble monarch: / " I'll ever thee requite. "
But Siegfried still refused it, / the full valiant man,
Till that King Gunther / sorely to beseech began.
535
He spake: " Now bear the message, / in favor unto me
And eke unto Kriemhild / a maiden fair to see,
That the stately maiden / help me thy service pay. "
When had heard it Siegfried, / ready was the knight straightway.
536
" Now what thou wilt, command me: / 'twill not be long delayed.
This thing will I do gladly / for sake of that fair maid.
Why should I aught refuse her, / who all my heart hath won?
What thou for her commandest, / whate'er it be 'twill all be done. "
537
" Then say unto my mother, / Ute the queen,
That we on our journey / in joyous mood have been.
Let know likewise my brothers / what fortune us befell.
Eke unto all our kinsmen / shalt thou then merry tidings tell.
538
" Unto my fair sister / shalt thou all confide.
From me bring her fair compliment / and from Brunhild beside,
And eke unto our household / and all my warriors brave.
What my heart e'er did strive for, / how well accomplished it I have!
539
" And say as well to Ortwein / nephew dear of mine
That he do bid make ready / at Worms beside the Rhine.
And all my other kindred, / to them made known shall be,
With Brunhild I am minded / to keep a great festivity.
540
" And say unto my sister, / when that she hath learned
That I am to my country / with many a guest returned,
She shall have care to welcome / my bride in fitting way.
So all my thoughts of Kriemhild / will be her service to repay. "
541
Then did Sir Siegfried / straightway in parting greet
High the Lady Brunhild, / as 'twas very meet,
And all her company; / then toward the Rhine rode he
Nor in this world a better / messenger might ever be.
542
With four and twenty warriors / to Worms did he ride.
When soon it was reported / the king came not beside,
Then did all the household / of direst news have dread:
They feared their royal master / were left in distant country dead.
543
Then sprang they from the saddle, / full high they were of mood
Full soon before them Giselher / the prince so youthful stood,
And Gernot his brother. / How quickly then spake he,
When he the royal Gunther / saw not in Siegfried's company:
544
" Be thou welcome, Siegfried. / Yet shalt thou tell to me,
Why the king my brother / cometh not with thee.
Brunhild's prowess is it / hath taken him, I ween;
And so this lofty wooing / hath naught but our misfortune been. "
545
" Now cease such ill foreboding. / To you and friends hath sent
My royal companion / his good compliment.
Safe and sound I left him; / myself did he command
That I should be his herald / with tidings hither to your land.
546
" Quickly shall ye see to it, / how that it may be,
That I the queen and likewise / your fair sister see.
From Gunther and Brunhild / the message will I tell
That hath now been sent them: / the twain do find them passing well. "
547
Then spake the youthful Giselher: / " So shalt thou go to her:
Here dost thou on my sister / a favor high confer.
In sooth she's mickle anxious / how't with my brother be.
The maid doth see thee gladly, / — of that will I be surety. "
548
Then outspake Sir Siegfried: / " If serve her aught I can,
That same thing most willing / in truth it shall be done.
Who now will tell the ladies / I would with them confer? "
Then was therein Giselher / the stately knight his messenger.
549
Giselher the valiant / unto his mother kind
And sister spake the tidings / when he the twain did find:
" To us returned is Siegfried, / the hero of Netherlands
Unto the Rhine he cometh / at my brother Gunther's command.
550
" He bringeth us the tidings / how't with the king doth fare.
Now shall ye give permission / that he 'fore you appear.
He'll tell the proper tidings / from Isenland o'er the main. "
Yet mickle sad forebodings / did trouble still the ladies twain.
529
When that they had journeyed / full nine days on their way,
Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / " Now hear what I shall say.
We tarry with the tidings / for Worms upon the Rhine.
At Burgundy already / should now be messengers of thine. "
530
Then outspake King Gunther: / " There hast thou spoken true.
And this selfsame journey, / none were so fit thereto
As thyself, friend Hagen. / So do thou now ride on.
This our high court journey, / none else can better make it known. "
531
Thereto answered Hagen: / " Poor messenger am I.
Let me be treasure-warden. / Upon the ships I'll stay
Near by the women rather, / their guardian to be,
Till that we bring them safely / into the land of Burgundy.
532
" Now do thou pray Siegfried / that he the message bear,
For he's a knight most fitting / this thing to have in care.
If he decline the journey, / then shalt thou courteously,
For kindness to thy sister, / pray that he not unwilling be. "
533
He sent for the good warrior / who came at his command.
He spake: " Since we are nearing / home in my own land,
So should I send a message / to sister dear of mine
And eke unto my mother, / that we are nigh unto the Rhine.
534
" Thereto I pray thee, Siegfried, / now meet my wish aright, "
Spake the noble monarch: / " I'll ever thee requite. "
But Siegfried still refused it, / the full valiant man,
Till that King Gunther / sorely to beseech began.
535
He spake: " Now bear the message, / in favor unto me
And eke unto Kriemhild / a maiden fair to see,
That the stately maiden / help me thy service pay. "
When had heard it Siegfried, / ready was the knight straightway.
536
" Now what thou wilt, command me: / 'twill not be long delayed.
This thing will I do gladly / for sake of that fair maid.
Why should I aught refuse her, / who all my heart hath won?
What thou for her commandest, / whate'er it be 'twill all be done. "
537
" Then say unto my mother, / Ute the queen,
That we on our journey / in joyous mood have been.
Let know likewise my brothers / what fortune us befell.
Eke unto all our kinsmen / shalt thou then merry tidings tell.
538
" Unto my fair sister / shalt thou all confide.
From me bring her fair compliment / and from Brunhild beside,
And eke unto our household / and all my warriors brave.
What my heart e'er did strive for, / how well accomplished it I have!
539
" And say as well to Ortwein / nephew dear of mine
That he do bid make ready / at Worms beside the Rhine.
And all my other kindred, / to them made known shall be,
With Brunhild I am minded / to keep a great festivity.
540
" And say unto my sister, / when that she hath learned
That I am to my country / with many a guest returned,
She shall have care to welcome / my bride in fitting way.
So all my thoughts of Kriemhild / will be her service to repay. "
541
Then did Sir Siegfried / straightway in parting greet
High the Lady Brunhild, / as 'twas very meet,
And all her company; / then toward the Rhine rode he
Nor in this world a better / messenger might ever be.
542
With four and twenty warriors / to Worms did he ride.
When soon it was reported / the king came not beside,
Then did all the household / of direst news have dread:
They feared their royal master / were left in distant country dead.
543
Then sprang they from the saddle, / full high they were of mood
Full soon before them Giselher / the prince so youthful stood,
And Gernot his brother. / How quickly then spake he,
When he the royal Gunther / saw not in Siegfried's company:
544
" Be thou welcome, Siegfried. / Yet shalt thou tell to me,
Why the king my brother / cometh not with thee.
Brunhild's prowess is it / hath taken him, I ween;
And so this lofty wooing / hath naught but our misfortune been. "
545
" Now cease such ill foreboding. / To you and friends hath sent
My royal companion / his good compliment.
Safe and sound I left him; / myself did he command
That I should be his herald / with tidings hither to your land.
546
" Quickly shall ye see to it, / how that it may be,
That I the queen and likewise / your fair sister see.
From Gunther and Brunhild / the message will I tell
That hath now been sent them: / the twain do find them passing well. "
547
Then spake the youthful Giselher: / " So shalt thou go to her:
Here dost thou on my sister / a favor high confer.
In sooth she's mickle anxious / how't with my brother be.
The maid doth see thee gladly, / — of that will I be surety. "
548
Then outspake Sir Siegfried: / " If serve her aught I can,
That same thing most willing / in truth it shall be done.
Who now will tell the ladies / I would with them confer? "
Then was therein Giselher / the stately knight his messenger.
549
Giselher the valiant / unto his mother kind
And sister spake the tidings / when he the twain did find:
" To us returned is Siegfried, / the hero of Netherlands
Unto the Rhine he cometh / at my brother Gunther's command.
550
" He bringeth us the tidings / how't with the king doth fare.
Now shall ye give permission / that he 'fore you appear.
He'll tell the proper tidings / from Isenland o'er the main. "
Yet mickle sad forebodings / did trouble still the ladies twain.