The Nibelungenlied
How Gunther fared to Isenland to Brunhild
325
Tidings unknown to any / from over Rhine now come,
How winsome maids a many / far yonder had their home.
Whereof the royal Gunther / bethought him one to win,
And o'er the thought the monarch / of full joyous mood was seen.
326
There was a queenly maiden / seated over sea,
Like her nowhere another / was ever known to be.
She was in beauty matchless, / full mickle was her might;
Her love the prize of contest, / she hurled the shaft with valiant knight.
327
The stone she threw far distant, / wide sprang thereafter too.
Who turned to her his fancy / with intent to woo,
Three times perforce must vanquish / the lady of high degree;
Failed he in but one trial, / forfeited his head had he.
328
This same the lusty princess / times untold had done.
When to a warrior gallant / beside the Rhine 'twas known,
He thought to take unto him / the noble maid for wife:
Thereby must heroes many / since that moment lose their life.
329
Then spake of Rhine the master: / " I'll down unto the sea
Unto Brunhild journey, / fare as 'twill with me.
For her unmeasured beauty / I'll gladly risk my life,
Ready eke to lose it, / if she may not be my wife. "
330
" I counsel thee against it, " / spake then Siegfried.
" So terrible in contest / the queen is indeed,
Who for her love is suitor / his zeal must dearly pay.
So shalt thou from the journey / truly be content to stay. "
331
" So will I give thee counsel, " / outspake Hagen there,
" That thou beg of Siegfried / with thee to bear
The perils that await thee: / that is now my rede,
To him is known so fully / what with Brunhild will be thy need. "
332
He spake: " And wilt thou help me, / noble Siegfried,
To win the lovely maiden? / Do what now I plead;
And if in all her beauty / she be my wedded wife,
To meet thy fullest wishes / honor will I pledge and life. "
333
Thereto answered Siegfried, / the royal Siegmund's son:
" Giv'st thou me thy sister, / so shall thy will be done,
— Kriemhild the noble princess, / in beauty all before.
For toils that I encounter / none other meed I ask thee more. "
334
" That pledge I, " spake then Gunther, / " Siegfried, in thy hand.
And comes the lovely Brunhild / thither to this land,
Thereunto thee my sister / for wife I'll truly give,
That with the lovely maiden / thou may'st ever joyful live. "
335
Oaths the knight full noble / upon the compact swore,
Whereby to them came troubles / and dangers all the more,
Ere they the royal lady / brought unto the Rhine.
Still should the warriors valiant / in sorest need and sorrow pine.
336
With him carried Siegfried / that same mantle then,
The which with mickle trouble / had won the hero keen
From a dwarf in struggle, / Alberich by name.
They dressed them for the journey, / the valiant thanes of lofty fame.
337
And when the doughty Siegfried / the sightless mantle wore,
Had he within it / of strength as good a store
As other men a dozen / in himself alone.
The full stately princess / anon by cunning art he won.
338
Eke had that same mantle / such wondrous properties
That any man whatever / might work whate'er he please
When once he had it on him, / yet none could see or tell.
'Twas so that he won Brunhild; / whereby him evil since befell.
339
" Ere we begin our journey, / Siegfried, tell to me,
That we with fullest honor / come unto the sea,
Shall we lead warriors with us / down to Brunhild's land?
Thanes a thirty thousand / straightway shall be called to hand. "
340
" Men bring we ne'er so many, " / answered Siegfried then.
" So terrible in custom / ever is the queen,
That all would death encounter / from her angry mood.
I'll give thee better counsel, / thane in valor keen and good.
341
" Like as knights-errant journey / down the Rhine shall we.
Those now will I name thee / who with us shall be;
But four in all the company / seaward shall we fare:
Thus shall we woo the lady, / what fortune later be our share.
342
" Myself one of the company, / a second thou shalt be,
Hagen be the third one / — so fare we happily;
The fourth let it be Dankwart, / warrior full keen.
Never thousand others / dare in fight withstand us then. "
343
" The tale I would know gladly, " / the king then further said,
" Ere we have parted thither / — of that were I full glad —
What should we of apparel, / that would befit us well,
Wear in Brunhild's presence: / that shalt thou now to Gunther tell. "
344
" Weeds the very finest / that ever might be found
They wear in every season / in Brunhild's land:
So shall we rich apparel / before the lady wear,
That we have not dishonor / where men the tale hereafter hear. "
325
Tidings unknown to any / from over Rhine now come,
How winsome maids a many / far yonder had their home.
Whereof the royal Gunther / bethought him one to win,
And o'er the thought the monarch / of full joyous mood was seen.
326
There was a queenly maiden / seated over sea,
Like her nowhere another / was ever known to be.
She was in beauty matchless, / full mickle was her might;
Her love the prize of contest, / she hurled the shaft with valiant knight.
327
The stone she threw far distant, / wide sprang thereafter too.
Who turned to her his fancy / with intent to woo,
Three times perforce must vanquish / the lady of high degree;
Failed he in but one trial, / forfeited his head had he.
328
This same the lusty princess / times untold had done.
When to a warrior gallant / beside the Rhine 'twas known,
He thought to take unto him / the noble maid for wife:
Thereby must heroes many / since that moment lose their life.
329
Then spake of Rhine the master: / " I'll down unto the sea
Unto Brunhild journey, / fare as 'twill with me.
For her unmeasured beauty / I'll gladly risk my life,
Ready eke to lose it, / if she may not be my wife. "
330
" I counsel thee against it, " / spake then Siegfried.
" So terrible in contest / the queen is indeed,
Who for her love is suitor / his zeal must dearly pay.
So shalt thou from the journey / truly be content to stay. "
331
" So will I give thee counsel, " / outspake Hagen there,
" That thou beg of Siegfried / with thee to bear
The perils that await thee: / that is now my rede,
To him is known so fully / what with Brunhild will be thy need. "
332
He spake: " And wilt thou help me, / noble Siegfried,
To win the lovely maiden? / Do what now I plead;
And if in all her beauty / she be my wedded wife,
To meet thy fullest wishes / honor will I pledge and life. "
333
Thereto answered Siegfried, / the royal Siegmund's son:
" Giv'st thou me thy sister, / so shall thy will be done,
— Kriemhild the noble princess, / in beauty all before.
For toils that I encounter / none other meed I ask thee more. "
334
" That pledge I, " spake then Gunther, / " Siegfried, in thy hand.
And comes the lovely Brunhild / thither to this land,
Thereunto thee my sister / for wife I'll truly give,
That with the lovely maiden / thou may'st ever joyful live. "
335
Oaths the knight full noble / upon the compact swore,
Whereby to them came troubles / and dangers all the more,
Ere they the royal lady / brought unto the Rhine.
Still should the warriors valiant / in sorest need and sorrow pine.
336
With him carried Siegfried / that same mantle then,
The which with mickle trouble / had won the hero keen
From a dwarf in struggle, / Alberich by name.
They dressed them for the journey, / the valiant thanes of lofty fame.
337
And when the doughty Siegfried / the sightless mantle wore,
Had he within it / of strength as good a store
As other men a dozen / in himself alone.
The full stately princess / anon by cunning art he won.
338
Eke had that same mantle / such wondrous properties
That any man whatever / might work whate'er he please
When once he had it on him, / yet none could see or tell.
'Twas so that he won Brunhild; / whereby him evil since befell.
339
" Ere we begin our journey, / Siegfried, tell to me,
That we with fullest honor / come unto the sea,
Shall we lead warriors with us / down to Brunhild's land?
Thanes a thirty thousand / straightway shall be called to hand. "
340
" Men bring we ne'er so many, " / answered Siegfried then.
" So terrible in custom / ever is the queen,
That all would death encounter / from her angry mood.
I'll give thee better counsel, / thane in valor keen and good.
341
" Like as knights-errant journey / down the Rhine shall we.
Those now will I name thee / who with us shall be;
But four in all the company / seaward shall we fare:
Thus shall we woo the lady, / what fortune later be our share.
342
" Myself one of the company, / a second thou shalt be,
Hagen be the third one / — so fare we happily;
The fourth let it be Dankwart, / warrior full keen.
Never thousand others / dare in fight withstand us then. "
343
" The tale I would know gladly, " / the king then further said,
" Ere we have parted thither / — of that were I full glad —
What should we of apparel, / that would befit us well,
Wear in Brunhild's presence: / that shalt thou now to Gunther tell. "
344
" Weeds the very finest / that ever might be found
They wear in every season / in Brunhild's land:
So shall we rich apparel / before the lady wear,
That we have not dishonor / where men the tale hereafter hear. "
Translation:
Language:
Reviews
No reviews yet.