The Nibelungenlied
724
Now all time bethought her / royal Gunther's wife:
" How now doth Lady Kriemhild / lead so haughty life?
In sooth her husband Siegfried / doth homage to us owe,
But now full long unto us / little service he doth show. "
725
That in her heart in secret / eke she pondered o'er.
That they were strangers to her / did grieve her heart full sore,
And so seldom sign of service / came from Siegfried's land.
How it thus was fallen, / that she fain would understand.
726
She probed then the monarch, / if the thing might be,
That she the Lady Kriemhild / once again might see.
She spake it all in secret / whereon her heart did dwell;
The thing she then did speak of / pleased the monarch passing well.
727
" How might we bring them hither " / — spake the mighty king —
" Unto this my country? / 'Twere ne'er to do, such thing.
They dwell too distant from us, / the quest I fear to make. "
Thereto gave answer Brunhild, / and in full crafty wise she spake:
728
" How high soe'er and mighty / king's man were ever one,
Whate'er should bid his master, / may he not leave undone. "
Thereat did smile King Gunther, / as such words spake she:
Ne'er bade he aught of service, / oft as Siegfried he did see.
729
She spake: " Full loving master, / as thou hold'st me dear,
Help me now that Siegfried / and thy sister fair
Come to this our country, / that them we here may see;
In sooth no thing could ever / unto me more welcome be.
730
" Thy sister's lofty bearing / and all her courtesy,
Whene'er I think upon it, / full well it pleaseth me,
How we did sit together / when erst I was thy spouse!
Well in sooth with honor / might she the valiant Siegfried choose. "
731
She pleaded with the monarch / so long till answered he:
" Know now that guests none other / so welcome were to me.
To gain thy wish 'tis easy: / straight messengers of mine
To both shall message carry, / that hither come they to the Rhine. "
732
Thereto the queen gave answer: / " Now further shalt thou say,
When thou them wilt summon, / or when shall be the day
That our dear friends come hither / unto our country.
Who'll bear thy message thither, / shalt thou eke make known to me. "
733
" That will I, " spake the monarch. / " Thirty of my men
Shall thither ride unto them. " / The same he summoned then,
And bade them with the message / to Siegfried's land to fare.
They joyed as gave them Brunhild / stately raiment rich to wear.
734
Then further spake the monarch: / " Ye knights from me shall bring
This message, nor withhold ye / of it anything,
Unto the doughty Siegfried / and eke my sister fair:
In the world could never any / to them a better purpose bear.
735
" And pray them both that hither / they come unto the Rhine.
With me will e'er my lady / such grace to pay combine,
Ere turn of sun in summer / he and his men shall know
That liveth here full many / to them would willing honor show.
736
" Unto royal Siegmund / bear greeting fair from me,
That I and my friends ever / to him well-minded be
And tell ye eke my sister / she shall no wise omit
Hither to friends to journey: / ne'er feast could better her befit. "
737
Brunhild and Ute / and ladies all at hand,
They sent a fairest greeting / unto Siegfried's land
To winsome ladies many / and many a warrior brave.
With godspeed from the monarch / and friends the messengers took leave.
738
They fared with full equipment: / their steeds did ready stand
And rich were they attired: / so rode they from that land
They hastened on the journey / whither they would fare;
Escort safe the monarch / had bidden eke for them prepare.
739
Their journey had they ended / e'er three weeks were spent.
At the Nibelungen castle, / whither they were sent,
In the mark of Norway / found they the knight they sought,
And weary were the horses / the messengers so far had brought.
740
Then was told to Siegfried / and to Kriemhild fair
How knights were there arrived / who did raiment wear
Like as in land of Burgundy / of wont the warriors dressed.
Thereat did hasten Kriemhild / from couch where she did lying rest.
741
Then bade eke to a window / one of her maids to go.
She saw the valiant Gere / stand in the court below,
And with him his companions, / who did thither fare.
To hear such joyous tidings, / how soon her heart forgot its care.
742
She spake unto the monarch: / " Look now thitherward
Where with the doughty Gere / stand in the castle yard
Whom to us brother Gunther / adown the Rhine doth send! "
Thereto spake doughty Siegfried: / " With greeting fair we'll them attend. "
743
Then hastened their retainers / all the guests to meet,
And each of them in special / manner then did greet
The messengers full kindly / and warmest welcome bade.
Siegmund did likewise / o'er their coming wax full glad.
Now all time bethought her / royal Gunther's wife:
" How now doth Lady Kriemhild / lead so haughty life?
In sooth her husband Siegfried / doth homage to us owe,
But now full long unto us / little service he doth show. "
725
That in her heart in secret / eke she pondered o'er.
That they were strangers to her / did grieve her heart full sore,
And so seldom sign of service / came from Siegfried's land.
How it thus was fallen, / that she fain would understand.
726
She probed then the monarch, / if the thing might be,
That she the Lady Kriemhild / once again might see.
She spake it all in secret / whereon her heart did dwell;
The thing she then did speak of / pleased the monarch passing well.
727
" How might we bring them hither " / — spake the mighty king —
" Unto this my country? / 'Twere ne'er to do, such thing.
They dwell too distant from us, / the quest I fear to make. "
Thereto gave answer Brunhild, / and in full crafty wise she spake:
728
" How high soe'er and mighty / king's man were ever one,
Whate'er should bid his master, / may he not leave undone. "
Thereat did smile King Gunther, / as such words spake she:
Ne'er bade he aught of service, / oft as Siegfried he did see.
729
She spake: " Full loving master, / as thou hold'st me dear,
Help me now that Siegfried / and thy sister fair
Come to this our country, / that them we here may see;
In sooth no thing could ever / unto me more welcome be.
730
" Thy sister's lofty bearing / and all her courtesy,
Whene'er I think upon it, / full well it pleaseth me,
How we did sit together / when erst I was thy spouse!
Well in sooth with honor / might she the valiant Siegfried choose. "
731
She pleaded with the monarch / so long till answered he:
" Know now that guests none other / so welcome were to me.
To gain thy wish 'tis easy: / straight messengers of mine
To both shall message carry, / that hither come they to the Rhine. "
732
Thereto the queen gave answer: / " Now further shalt thou say,
When thou them wilt summon, / or when shall be the day
That our dear friends come hither / unto our country.
Who'll bear thy message thither, / shalt thou eke make known to me. "
733
" That will I, " spake the monarch. / " Thirty of my men
Shall thither ride unto them. " / The same he summoned then,
And bade them with the message / to Siegfried's land to fare.
They joyed as gave them Brunhild / stately raiment rich to wear.
734
Then further spake the monarch: / " Ye knights from me shall bring
This message, nor withhold ye / of it anything,
Unto the doughty Siegfried / and eke my sister fair:
In the world could never any / to them a better purpose bear.
735
" And pray them both that hither / they come unto the Rhine.
With me will e'er my lady / such grace to pay combine,
Ere turn of sun in summer / he and his men shall know
That liveth here full many / to them would willing honor show.
736
" Unto royal Siegmund / bear greeting fair from me,
That I and my friends ever / to him well-minded be
And tell ye eke my sister / she shall no wise omit
Hither to friends to journey: / ne'er feast could better her befit. "
737
Brunhild and Ute / and ladies all at hand,
They sent a fairest greeting / unto Siegfried's land
To winsome ladies many / and many a warrior brave.
With godspeed from the monarch / and friends the messengers took leave.
738
They fared with full equipment: / their steeds did ready stand
And rich were they attired: / so rode they from that land
They hastened on the journey / whither they would fare;
Escort safe the monarch / had bidden eke for them prepare.
739
Their journey had they ended / e'er three weeks were spent.
At the Nibelungen castle, / whither they were sent,
In the mark of Norway / found they the knight they sought,
And weary were the horses / the messengers so far had brought.
740
Then was told to Siegfried / and to Kriemhild fair
How knights were there arrived / who did raiment wear
Like as in land of Burgundy / of wont the warriors dressed.
Thereat did hasten Kriemhild / from couch where she did lying rest.
741
Then bade eke to a window / one of her maids to go.
She saw the valiant Gere / stand in the court below,
And with him his companions, / who did thither fare.
To hear such joyous tidings, / how soon her heart forgot its care.
742
She spake unto the monarch: / " Look now thitherward
Where with the doughty Gere / stand in the castle yard
Whom to us brother Gunther / adown the Rhine doth send! "
Thereto spake doughty Siegfried: / " With greeting fair we'll them attend. "
743
Then hastened their retainers / all the guests to meet,
And each of them in special / manner then did greet
The messengers full kindly / and warmest welcome bade.
Siegmund did likewise / o'er their coming wax full glad.
Translation:
Language:
Reviews
No reviews yet.