The Nibelungenlied
1042
" If that ye grieved for it, / befallen were it not
For say I may full truly, / me had ye all forgot
There where I thus was parted / from my husband dear.
Would it God, " spake Kriemhild, / " that done unto myself it were! "
1043
Fast they yet denied it. / Kriemhild spake again:
" If any speak him guiltless, / let here be seen full plain.
Unto the bier now shall he / before the people go;
Thus the truth full quickly / may we in this manner know. "
1044
It is a passing wonder / that yet full oft is seen,
Where blood-bespotted slayer / beside slain corse hath been,
That from the wounds come blood-drops, / as here it eke befell.
Thereby the guilt of Hagen / might they now full plainly tell.
1045
Now ran the wounds all bloody / like as they did before.
Who erstwhile wept full sorely / now wept they mickle more.
Then spake the monarch Gunther: / " To thee the truth be known:
Slain hath he been by robbers, / nor is this deed by Hagen done. "
1046
" Of these same robbers, " spake she, / " full well I understand.
God give that yet may vengeance / wreak some friendly hand.
Gunther and Hagen, / yourselves have done this deed. "
Then looked for bloody conflict / the valiant thanes that served Siegfried.
1047
Then spake unto them Kriemhild: / " Now bear with me my need. "
Knights twain came likewise hither / and did find him dead, —
Gernot her brother / and the young Giselher.
With upright hearts then joined they / with the others grief to share.
1048
They mourned for Kriemhild's husband / with hearts all full of woe.
A mass should then be chanted: / to the minster forth did go
Man and child and woman / gathered from every side.
E'en they did likewise mourn him / who little lost that Siegfried died.
1049
Gernot and Giselher spake: / " O Sister dear,
Now comfort thee in sorrow, / for death is ever near.
Amends we'll make unto thee / the while that we shall live. "
In the world might never any / unto her a comfort give.
1050
His coffin was made ready / about the middle day.
From off the bier they raised him / whereupon he lay.
But yet would not the lady / let him be laid in grave.
Therefor must all the people / first a mickle trouble have.
1051
In a shroud all silken / they the dead man wound.
I ween that never any / that wept not might be found.
There mourned full of sorrow / Ute the queen full high
And all of her attendants / that such a noble knight did die.
1052
When did hear the people / how they in minster sung,
And that he there lay coffined, / came then a mickle throng:
For his soul's reposing / what offerings they bore!
E'en amid his enemies / found he of good friends a store.
1053
Kriemhild the poor lady / to her attendants spake:
" Let them shun no trouble / to suffer for my sake,
Who to him are friendly-minded / and me in honor hold;
For the soul of Siegfried / meted be to them his gold. "
1054
Child so small there was not, / did it but reason have,
But offering carried thither. / Ere he was laid in grave,
More than a hundred masses / upon the day they sung,
Of all the friends of Siegfried / was gathered there a mickle throng.
1055
When were the masses over, / the folk departed soon.
Then spake the Lady Kriemhild: / " Leave ye me not alone
To pass the night in watching / by this chosen thane now dead,
With whose passing from me / all my joy of life hath fled.
1056
" Three days and three nights further / shall he lie on bier,
Until my heart find quiet / that weeps for spouse so dear.
God perchance commandeth / that death eke me do take:
That were for me poor Kriemhild / fit end of all my woe to make. "
1057
Then of the town the people / went to their homes again.
Priests and monks yet bade she / longer there remain,
And all the hero's followers / who willing served alway.
They watched a night all gruesome, / and full of toil was eke the day.
1058
Meat and drink forgetting / abode there many a one.
If any were would take it / 'twas unto all made known,
That have they might in plenty: / thus did provide Siegmund.
Then for the Nibelungen / did trouble and sore need abound.
1059
The while the three days lasted / — such the tale we hear —
All who could join the chanting, / mickle must they bear
There of toil and trouble. / What gifts to them they bore!
Rich were seen full many / who did suffer need before.
1060
As many poor as found they / who themselves had naught,
By them yet an offering / bade they there be brought,
Of gold of Siegfried's treasure. / Though he no more might live,
Yet for his soul's reposing / marks many thousand did they give.
1061
Land of fruitful income / bestowed Kriemhild around,
Wheresoever cloisters / and worthy folk were found.
Silver and apparel / to the poor she gave in store,
And in good manner showed she / that truest love to him she bore.
" If that ye grieved for it, / befallen were it not
For say I may full truly, / me had ye all forgot
There where I thus was parted / from my husband dear.
Would it God, " spake Kriemhild, / " that done unto myself it were! "
1043
Fast they yet denied it. / Kriemhild spake again:
" If any speak him guiltless, / let here be seen full plain.
Unto the bier now shall he / before the people go;
Thus the truth full quickly / may we in this manner know. "
1044
It is a passing wonder / that yet full oft is seen,
Where blood-bespotted slayer / beside slain corse hath been,
That from the wounds come blood-drops, / as here it eke befell.
Thereby the guilt of Hagen / might they now full plainly tell.
1045
Now ran the wounds all bloody / like as they did before.
Who erstwhile wept full sorely / now wept they mickle more.
Then spake the monarch Gunther: / " To thee the truth be known:
Slain hath he been by robbers, / nor is this deed by Hagen done. "
1046
" Of these same robbers, " spake she, / " full well I understand.
God give that yet may vengeance / wreak some friendly hand.
Gunther and Hagen, / yourselves have done this deed. "
Then looked for bloody conflict / the valiant thanes that served Siegfried.
1047
Then spake unto them Kriemhild: / " Now bear with me my need. "
Knights twain came likewise hither / and did find him dead, —
Gernot her brother / and the young Giselher.
With upright hearts then joined they / with the others grief to share.
1048
They mourned for Kriemhild's husband / with hearts all full of woe.
A mass should then be chanted: / to the minster forth did go
Man and child and woman / gathered from every side.
E'en they did likewise mourn him / who little lost that Siegfried died.
1049
Gernot and Giselher spake: / " O Sister dear,
Now comfort thee in sorrow, / for death is ever near.
Amends we'll make unto thee / the while that we shall live. "
In the world might never any / unto her a comfort give.
1050
His coffin was made ready / about the middle day.
From off the bier they raised him / whereupon he lay.
But yet would not the lady / let him be laid in grave.
Therefor must all the people / first a mickle trouble have.
1051
In a shroud all silken / they the dead man wound.
I ween that never any / that wept not might be found.
There mourned full of sorrow / Ute the queen full high
And all of her attendants / that such a noble knight did die.
1052
When did hear the people / how they in minster sung,
And that he there lay coffined, / came then a mickle throng:
For his soul's reposing / what offerings they bore!
E'en amid his enemies / found he of good friends a store.
1053
Kriemhild the poor lady / to her attendants spake:
" Let them shun no trouble / to suffer for my sake,
Who to him are friendly-minded / and me in honor hold;
For the soul of Siegfried / meted be to them his gold. "
1054
Child so small there was not, / did it but reason have,
But offering carried thither. / Ere he was laid in grave,
More than a hundred masses / upon the day they sung,
Of all the friends of Siegfried / was gathered there a mickle throng.
1055
When were the masses over, / the folk departed soon.
Then spake the Lady Kriemhild: / " Leave ye me not alone
To pass the night in watching / by this chosen thane now dead,
With whose passing from me / all my joy of life hath fled.
1056
" Three days and three nights further / shall he lie on bier,
Until my heart find quiet / that weeps for spouse so dear.
God perchance commandeth / that death eke me do take:
That were for me poor Kriemhild / fit end of all my woe to make. "
1057
Then of the town the people / went to their homes again.
Priests and monks yet bade she / longer there remain,
And all the hero's followers / who willing served alway.
They watched a night all gruesome, / and full of toil was eke the day.
1058
Meat and drink forgetting / abode there many a one.
If any were would take it / 'twas unto all made known,
That have they might in plenty: / thus did provide Siegmund.
Then for the Nibelungen / did trouble and sore need abound.
1059
The while the three days lasted / — such the tale we hear —
All who could join the chanting, / mickle must they bear
There of toil and trouble. / What gifts to them they bore!
Rich were seen full many / who did suffer need before.
1060
As many poor as found they / who themselves had naught,
By them yet an offering / bade they there be brought,
Of gold of Siegfried's treasure. / Though he no more might live,
Yet for his soul's reposing / marks many thousand did they give.
1061
Land of fruitful income / bestowed Kriemhild around,
Wheresoever cloisters / and worthy folk were found.
Silver and apparel / to the poor she gave in store,
And in good manner showed she / that truest love to him she bore.
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