The Nibelungenlied
How Gunther won Brunhild
389
The while they thus did parley / their ship did forward glide
So near unto the castle / that soon the king espied
Aloft within the casements / many a maiden fair to see.
That all to him were strangers / thought King Gunther mournfully.
390
He asked then of Siegfried, / who bare him company:
" Know'st thou aught of the maidens, / who the same may be,
Gazing yonder downward / upon us on the tide?
Howe'er is named their master, / minded are they high in pride. "
391
Then spake the valiant Siegfried: / " Now thither shalt thou spy
Unseen among the ladies, / then not to me deny
Which, wert thou free in choosing, / thou'dst take to be thy queen. "
" That will I do, " then answered / Gunther the valiant knight and keen.
392
" I see there one among them / by yonder casement stand,
Clad in snow-white raiment: / 'tis she my eyes demand,
So buxom she in stature, / so fair she is to see.
An I were free in choosing, / she it is my wife must be. "
393
" Full well now in choosing / thine eyes have guided thee:
It is the stately Brunhild / the maiden fair to see,
That doth now unto her / thy heart and soul compel. "
All the maiden's bearing / pleased the royal Gunther well.
394
But soon the queen commanded / from casement all to go
Of those her beauteous maidens: / they should not stand there so
To be gazed at by the strangers. / They must obey her word.
What were the ladies doing, / of that moreover have we heard.
395
Unto the noble strangers / their beauty they would show,
A thing which lovely women / are ever wont to do.
Unto the narrow casements / came they crowding on,
When they spied the strangers: / that they might also see, 'twas done.
396
But four the strangers numbered, / who came unto that land.
Siegfried the doughty / the king's steed led in hand:
They saw it from the casements, / many a lovely maid,
And saw the willing service / unto royal Gunther paid.
397
Then held he by the bridle / for him his gallant steed,
A good and fair-formed charger, / strong and of noble breed,
Until the royal Gunther / into the saddle sprung.
Thus did serve him Siegfried: / a service all forgot ere long.
398
Then his own steed he also / led forth upon the shore.
Such menial service had he / full seldom done before,
That he should hold the stirrup / for monarch whomsoe'er
Down gazing from the casements / beheld it ladies high and fair.
399
At every point according, / the heroes well bedight
— Their dress and eke their chargers / of color snowy white —
Were like unto each other, / and well-wrought shield each one
Of the good knights bore with him, / that brightly glimmered in the sun.
400
Jewelled well was saddle / and narrow martingale
As they rode so stately / in front of Brunhild's Hall,
And thereon bells were hanging / of red gold shining bright.
So came they to that country, / as fitting was for men of might,
401
With spears all newly polished, / with swords, well-made that were
And by the stately heroes / hung down unto the spur:
Such bore the valiant riders / of broad and cutting blade.
The noble show did witness / Brunhild the full stately maid.
402
With him came then Dankwart / and Hagen, doughty thane.
The story further telleth / how that the heroes twain
Of color black as raven / rich attire wore,
And each a broad and mighty / shield of rich adornment bore.
403
Rich stones from India's country / every eye could see,
Impending on their tunics, / sparkle full brilliantly.
Their vessel by the river / they left without a guard,
As thus the valiant heroes / rode undaunted castleward.
404
Six and fourscore towers / without they saw rise tall,
Three spacious palaces / and moulded well a hall
All wrought of precious marble / green as blade of grass,
Wherein the royal Brunhild / with company of fair ladies was.
405
The castle doors unbolted / were flung open wide
As out toward them / the men of Brunhild hied
And received the strangers / into their Lady's land.
Their steeds they bade take over, / and also shield from out the hand.
406
Then spake a man-in-waiting: / " Give o'er the sword each thane,
And eke the shining armor. " — / " Good friend, thou ask'st in vain, "
Spake of Tronje Hagen; / " the same we'd rather wear. "
Then gan straightway Siegfried / the country's custom to declare.
407
" 'Tis wont within this castle, / — of that be now aware —
That never any stranger / weapons here shall bear.
Now let them hence be carried: / well dost thou as I say. "
In this did full unwilling / Hagen, Gunther's man, obey.
408
They bade the strangers welcome / with drink and fitting rest.
Soon might you see on all sides / full many knights the best
In princely weeds apparelled / to their reception go:
Yet did they mickle gazing / who would the keen new-comers know.
389
The while they thus did parley / their ship did forward glide
So near unto the castle / that soon the king espied
Aloft within the casements / many a maiden fair to see.
That all to him were strangers / thought King Gunther mournfully.
390
He asked then of Siegfried, / who bare him company:
" Know'st thou aught of the maidens, / who the same may be,
Gazing yonder downward / upon us on the tide?
Howe'er is named their master, / minded are they high in pride. "
391
Then spake the valiant Siegfried: / " Now thither shalt thou spy
Unseen among the ladies, / then not to me deny
Which, wert thou free in choosing, / thou'dst take to be thy queen. "
" That will I do, " then answered / Gunther the valiant knight and keen.
392
" I see there one among them / by yonder casement stand,
Clad in snow-white raiment: / 'tis she my eyes demand,
So buxom she in stature, / so fair she is to see.
An I were free in choosing, / she it is my wife must be. "
393
" Full well now in choosing / thine eyes have guided thee:
It is the stately Brunhild / the maiden fair to see,
That doth now unto her / thy heart and soul compel. "
All the maiden's bearing / pleased the royal Gunther well.
394
But soon the queen commanded / from casement all to go
Of those her beauteous maidens: / they should not stand there so
To be gazed at by the strangers. / They must obey her word.
What were the ladies doing, / of that moreover have we heard.
395
Unto the noble strangers / their beauty they would show,
A thing which lovely women / are ever wont to do.
Unto the narrow casements / came they crowding on,
When they spied the strangers: / that they might also see, 'twas done.
396
But four the strangers numbered, / who came unto that land.
Siegfried the doughty / the king's steed led in hand:
They saw it from the casements, / many a lovely maid,
And saw the willing service / unto royal Gunther paid.
397
Then held he by the bridle / for him his gallant steed,
A good and fair-formed charger, / strong and of noble breed,
Until the royal Gunther / into the saddle sprung.
Thus did serve him Siegfried: / a service all forgot ere long.
398
Then his own steed he also / led forth upon the shore.
Such menial service had he / full seldom done before,
That he should hold the stirrup / for monarch whomsoe'er
Down gazing from the casements / beheld it ladies high and fair.
399
At every point according, / the heroes well bedight
— Their dress and eke their chargers / of color snowy white —
Were like unto each other, / and well-wrought shield each one
Of the good knights bore with him, / that brightly glimmered in the sun.
400
Jewelled well was saddle / and narrow martingale
As they rode so stately / in front of Brunhild's Hall,
And thereon bells were hanging / of red gold shining bright.
So came they to that country, / as fitting was for men of might,
401
With spears all newly polished, / with swords, well-made that were
And by the stately heroes / hung down unto the spur:
Such bore the valiant riders / of broad and cutting blade.
The noble show did witness / Brunhild the full stately maid.
402
With him came then Dankwart / and Hagen, doughty thane.
The story further telleth / how that the heroes twain
Of color black as raven / rich attire wore,
And each a broad and mighty / shield of rich adornment bore.
403
Rich stones from India's country / every eye could see,
Impending on their tunics, / sparkle full brilliantly.
Their vessel by the river / they left without a guard,
As thus the valiant heroes / rode undaunted castleward.
404
Six and fourscore towers / without they saw rise tall,
Three spacious palaces / and moulded well a hall
All wrought of precious marble / green as blade of grass,
Wherein the royal Brunhild / with company of fair ladies was.
405
The castle doors unbolted / were flung open wide
As out toward them / the men of Brunhild hied
And received the strangers / into their Lady's land.
Their steeds they bade take over, / and also shield from out the hand.
406
Then spake a man-in-waiting: / " Give o'er the sword each thane,
And eke the shining armor. " — / " Good friend, thou ask'st in vain, "
Spake of Tronje Hagen; / " the same we'd rather wear. "
Then gan straightway Siegfried / the country's custom to declare.
407
" 'Tis wont within this castle, / — of that be now aware —
That never any stranger / weapons here shall bear.
Now let them hence be carried: / well dost thou as I say. "
In this did full unwilling / Hagen, Gunther's man, obey.
408
They bade the strangers welcome / with drink and fitting rest.
Soon might you see on all sides / full many knights the best
In princely weeds apparelled / to their reception go:
Yet did they mickle gazing / who would the keen new-comers know.
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