The Nibelungenlied
429
A battle-tunic silken / the maid upon her drew,
That in ne'er a contest / weapon pierced through,
Of skins from land of Libya, / and structure rare and fine;
And brilliant bands embroidered / might you see upon it shine.
430
Meanwhile were the strangers / jibed with many a threat;
Dankwart and Hagen, / their hearts began to beat.
How here the king should prosper / were they of doubtful mood,
Thinking, " This our journey / shall bring us wanderers naught of good. "
431
He did also Siegfried / the thane beyond compare,
Before 'twas marked by any, / unto the ship repair,
Where he found his sightless mantle / that did hidden lie,
And slipped into 't full deftly: / so was he veiled from every eye.
432
Thither back he hied him / and found great company
About the queen who ordered / what the high play should be.
There went he all in secret; / so cunningly 'twas done,
Of all around were standing / perceived him never any one.
433
The ring it was appointed / wherein the play should be
'Fore many a keen warrior / who the same should see.
More than seven hundred / were seen their weapons bear,
That whoso were the victor / they might sure the same declare.
434
Thither was come Brunhild; / all armed she did stand
Like as she were to combat / for many a royal land;
Upon her silken tunic / were gold bars many a one,
And glowing 'mid the armor / her flesh of winsome color shone.
435
Then followed her attendants / and with them thither brought
At once a shield full stately, / of pure red gold 'twas wrought,
With steel-hard bands for facings, / full mickle 'twas and broad,
Wherewith in the contest / would guard herself the lovely maid.
436
To hold the shield securely / a well-wrought band there was,
Whereon lay precious jewels / green as blade of grass.
Full many a ray their lustre / shot round against the gold.
He were a man full valiant / whom this high dame should worthy hold.
437
The shield was 'neath the boss-point, / as to us is said,
Good three spans in thickness, / which should bear the maid.
Of steel 'twas wrought so richly / and had of gold such share,
That chamberlain and fellows / three the same scarce could bear.
438
When the doughty Hagen / the shield saw thither brought,
Spake the knight of Tronje, / and savage was his thought:
" Where art thou now, King Gunther? / Shall we thus lose our life!
Whom here thou seekst for lover, / she is the very Devil's wife. "
439
List more of her apparel; / she had a goodly store.
Of silk of Azagang / a tunic made she wore,
All bedight full richly; / amid its color shone
Forth from the queen it covered, / full many a sparkling precious stone.
440
Then brought they for the lady, / large and heavy there,
As she was wont to hurl it, / a sharply-pointed spear;
Strong and massive was it, / huge and broad as well,
And at both its edges / it cut with devastation fell.
441
To know the spear was heavy / list ye wonders more:
Three spears of common measure / 'twould make, and something o'er.
Of Brunhild's attendants / three scarce the same could bear.
The heart of noble Gunther / thereat began to fill with fear.
442
Within his soul he thought him: / " What pickle am I in?
Of hell the very Devil, / how might he save his skin?
Might I at home in Burgundy / safe and living be,
Should she for many a season / from proffered love of mine be free. "
443
Then spake Hagen's brother / the valiant Dankwart:
" In truth this royal journey / doth sorely grieve my heart.
We passed for good knights one time: / what caitiff's death, if we
Here in far-off country / a woman's game are doomed to be!
444
" It rueth me full sorely / that I came to this land.
And had my brother Hagen / his good sword in hand,
And had I mine to help him, / a bit more gently then,
A little tame of spirit, / might show themselves all Brunhild's men.
445
" And know it of a certain / to lord it thus they'd cease;
E'en though oaths a thousand / I'd sworn to keep the peace,
Before that I'd see perish / my dear lord shamefully,
Amid the souls departed / this fair maid herself should be. "
446
" Well should we unhampered / quit at last this land, "
Spake his brother Hagen, / " did we in armor stand,
Such as we need for battle, / and bore we broadswords good:
'Twould be a little softened, / this doughty lady's haughty mood. "
447
Well heard the noble maiden / what the warriors spoke.
Back athwart her shoulder / she sent a smiling look:
" Now thinks he him so valiant, / so let them armed stand;
Their full keen-edged broadswords / give the warriors each in hand. "
448
When they their swords received, / as the maiden said,
The full valiant Dankwart / with joy his face grew red.
" Now play they what them pleaseth, " / cried the warrior brave;
" Gunther is yet a freeman, / since now in hand good swords we have. "
A battle-tunic silken / the maid upon her drew,
That in ne'er a contest / weapon pierced through,
Of skins from land of Libya, / and structure rare and fine;
And brilliant bands embroidered / might you see upon it shine.
430
Meanwhile were the strangers / jibed with many a threat;
Dankwart and Hagen, / their hearts began to beat.
How here the king should prosper / were they of doubtful mood,
Thinking, " This our journey / shall bring us wanderers naught of good. "
431
He did also Siegfried / the thane beyond compare,
Before 'twas marked by any, / unto the ship repair,
Where he found his sightless mantle / that did hidden lie,
And slipped into 't full deftly: / so was he veiled from every eye.
432
Thither back he hied him / and found great company
About the queen who ordered / what the high play should be.
There went he all in secret; / so cunningly 'twas done,
Of all around were standing / perceived him never any one.
433
The ring it was appointed / wherein the play should be
'Fore many a keen warrior / who the same should see.
More than seven hundred / were seen their weapons bear,
That whoso were the victor / they might sure the same declare.
434
Thither was come Brunhild; / all armed she did stand
Like as she were to combat / for many a royal land;
Upon her silken tunic / were gold bars many a one,
And glowing 'mid the armor / her flesh of winsome color shone.
435
Then followed her attendants / and with them thither brought
At once a shield full stately, / of pure red gold 'twas wrought,
With steel-hard bands for facings, / full mickle 'twas and broad,
Wherewith in the contest / would guard herself the lovely maid.
436
To hold the shield securely / a well-wrought band there was,
Whereon lay precious jewels / green as blade of grass.
Full many a ray their lustre / shot round against the gold.
He were a man full valiant / whom this high dame should worthy hold.
437
The shield was 'neath the boss-point, / as to us is said,
Good three spans in thickness, / which should bear the maid.
Of steel 'twas wrought so richly / and had of gold such share,
That chamberlain and fellows / three the same scarce could bear.
438
When the doughty Hagen / the shield saw thither brought,
Spake the knight of Tronje, / and savage was his thought:
" Where art thou now, King Gunther? / Shall we thus lose our life!
Whom here thou seekst for lover, / she is the very Devil's wife. "
439
List more of her apparel; / she had a goodly store.
Of silk of Azagang / a tunic made she wore,
All bedight full richly; / amid its color shone
Forth from the queen it covered, / full many a sparkling precious stone.
440
Then brought they for the lady, / large and heavy there,
As she was wont to hurl it, / a sharply-pointed spear;
Strong and massive was it, / huge and broad as well,
And at both its edges / it cut with devastation fell.
441
To know the spear was heavy / list ye wonders more:
Three spears of common measure / 'twould make, and something o'er.
Of Brunhild's attendants / three scarce the same could bear.
The heart of noble Gunther / thereat began to fill with fear.
442
Within his soul he thought him: / " What pickle am I in?
Of hell the very Devil, / how might he save his skin?
Might I at home in Burgundy / safe and living be,
Should she for many a season / from proffered love of mine be free. "
443
Then spake Hagen's brother / the valiant Dankwart:
" In truth this royal journey / doth sorely grieve my heart.
We passed for good knights one time: / what caitiff's death, if we
Here in far-off country / a woman's game are doomed to be!
444
" It rueth me full sorely / that I came to this land.
And had my brother Hagen / his good sword in hand,
And had I mine to help him, / a bit more gently then,
A little tame of spirit, / might show themselves all Brunhild's men.
445
" And know it of a certain / to lord it thus they'd cease;
E'en though oaths a thousand / I'd sworn to keep the peace,
Before that I'd see perish / my dear lord shamefully,
Amid the souls departed / this fair maid herself should be. "
446
" Well should we unhampered / quit at last this land, "
Spake his brother Hagen, / " did we in armor stand,
Such as we need for battle, / and bore we broadswords good:
'Twould be a little softened, / this doughty lady's haughty mood. "
447
Well heard the noble maiden / what the warriors spoke.
Back athwart her shoulder / she sent a smiling look:
" Now thinks he him so valiant, / so let them armed stand;
Their full keen-edged broadswords / give the warriors each in hand. "
448
When they their swords received, / as the maiden said,
The full valiant Dankwart / with joy his face grew red.
" Now play they what them pleaseth, " / cried the warrior brave;
" Gunther is yet a freeman, / since now in hand good swords we have. "
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