The Nibelungenlied
How they came to Bechelaren
1650
Then went forth the margrave / where two ladies sate,
His wife beside his daughter, / nor longer did he wait
To tell the joyful tidings / that unto him were brought,
How Kriemhild's royal brothers / his hospitality had sought.
1651
" Dearly loved lady, " / spake then Ruediger,
" Full kind be thy reception / to lordly monarchs here,
That now with train of warriors / to court do pass this way.
Fair be eke thy greeting / to Hagen, Gunther's man, this day.
1652
" One likewise with them cometh, / Dankwart by name,
Volker hight the other, / a knight of gallant fame.
Thyself and eke thy daughter / with kiss these six shall greet;
Full courteous be your manner / as ye the doughty thanes shall meet. "
1653
Gave straight their word the ladies, / and willing were thereto.
From out great chests they gorgeous / attire in plenty drew,
Which they to meet the lofty / strangers thought to wear,
Mickle was the hurry / there of many a lady fair.
1654
On ne'er a cheek might any / but nature's hue be seen.
Upon their head they carried / band of golden sheen,
That was a beauteous chaplet, / that so their glossy hair
By wind might not be ruffled: / that is truth as I declare.
1655
At such employment busy / leave we those ladies now.
Here with mickle hurry / across the plain did see
Friends of noble Ruediger / the royal guests to meet,
And them with warmest welcome / unto the margrave's land did greet.
1656
When coming forth the margrave / saw their forms appear,
How spake with heart full joyous / the valiant Ruediger!
" Welcome be ye, Sires, / and all your gallant band.
Right glad am I to see you / hither come unto my land. "
1657
Then bent the knights before him / each full courteously.
That he good-will did bear them / might they full quickly see.
Hagen had special greeting, / who long to him was known;
To Volker eke of Burgundy / was like highest honor shown.
1658
Thus Dankwart eke he greeted, / when spake the doughty thane:
" While we thus well are harbored, / who then for all the train
Of those that follow with us / shall meet provision make? "
" Yourselves this night right easy / shall rest, " the noble margrave spake.
1659
" And all that follow with you, / with equipment whatsoe'er
Ye bring into my country / of steed or warlike gear,
So sure shall it be guarded / that of all the sum,
E'en to one spur's value, / to you shall never damage come.
1660
" Now stretch aloft, my squires, / the tents upon the plain.
What here ye have of losses / will I make good again.
Unbridle now the horses / and let them wander free. "
Upon their way they seldom / did meet like hospitality.
1661
Thereat rejoiced the strangers. / When thus it ordered was,
Rode the high knights forward. / All round upon the grass
Lay the squires attendant / and found a gentle rest.
I ween, upon their journey / was here provision costliest.
1662
Out before the castle / the noble margravine
Had passed with her fair daughter. / In her train were seen
A band of lovely women / and many a winsome maid,
Whose arms with bracelets glittered, / and all in stately robes arrayed.
1663
The costly jewels sparkled / with far-piercing ray
From out their richest vestments, / and buxom all were they.
Now came the strangers thither / and sprang upon the ground.
How high in noble courtesy / the men of Burgundy were found!
1664
Six and thirty maidens / and many a fair lady,
— Nor might ye ever any / more winsome wish to see —
Went then forth to meet them / with many a knight full keen.
At hands of noble ladies / fairest greeting then was seen.
1665
The margrave's youthful daughter / did kiss the kings all three
As eke had done her mother. / Hagen stood thereby.
Her father bade her kiss him; / she looked the thane upon,
Who filled her so with terror, / she fain had left the thing undone.
1666
When she at last must do it, / as did command her sire,
Mingled was her color, / both pale and hue of fire.
Likewise kissed she Dankwart / and the Fiddler eke anon:
That he was knight of valor / to him was such high favor shown.
1667
The margrave's youthful daughter / took then by the hand
The royal knight Giselher / of Burgundian land.
E'en so led forth her mother / the gallant Gunther high.
With those guests so lofty / walked they there full joyfully.
1668
The host escorted Gernot / to a spacious hall and wide,
Where knights and stately ladies / sate them side by side.
Then bade they for the strangers / pour good wine plenteously:
In sooth might never heroes / find fuller hospitality.
1669
Glances fond and many / saw ye directed there
Upon Ruediger's daughter, / for she was passing fair.
Yea, in his thoughts caressed her / full many a gallant knight;
A lady high in spirit, / well might she every heart delight.
1650
Then went forth the margrave / where two ladies sate,
His wife beside his daughter, / nor longer did he wait
To tell the joyful tidings / that unto him were brought,
How Kriemhild's royal brothers / his hospitality had sought.
1651
" Dearly loved lady, " / spake then Ruediger,
" Full kind be thy reception / to lordly monarchs here,
That now with train of warriors / to court do pass this way.
Fair be eke thy greeting / to Hagen, Gunther's man, this day.
1652
" One likewise with them cometh, / Dankwart by name,
Volker hight the other, / a knight of gallant fame.
Thyself and eke thy daughter / with kiss these six shall greet;
Full courteous be your manner / as ye the doughty thanes shall meet. "
1653
Gave straight their word the ladies, / and willing were thereto.
From out great chests they gorgeous / attire in plenty drew,
Which they to meet the lofty / strangers thought to wear,
Mickle was the hurry / there of many a lady fair.
1654
On ne'er a cheek might any / but nature's hue be seen.
Upon their head they carried / band of golden sheen,
That was a beauteous chaplet, / that so their glossy hair
By wind might not be ruffled: / that is truth as I declare.
1655
At such employment busy / leave we those ladies now.
Here with mickle hurry / across the plain did see
Friends of noble Ruediger / the royal guests to meet,
And them with warmest welcome / unto the margrave's land did greet.
1656
When coming forth the margrave / saw their forms appear,
How spake with heart full joyous / the valiant Ruediger!
" Welcome be ye, Sires, / and all your gallant band.
Right glad am I to see you / hither come unto my land. "
1657
Then bent the knights before him / each full courteously.
That he good-will did bear them / might they full quickly see.
Hagen had special greeting, / who long to him was known;
To Volker eke of Burgundy / was like highest honor shown.
1658
Thus Dankwart eke he greeted, / when spake the doughty thane:
" While we thus well are harbored, / who then for all the train
Of those that follow with us / shall meet provision make? "
" Yourselves this night right easy / shall rest, " the noble margrave spake.
1659
" And all that follow with you, / with equipment whatsoe'er
Ye bring into my country / of steed or warlike gear,
So sure shall it be guarded / that of all the sum,
E'en to one spur's value, / to you shall never damage come.
1660
" Now stretch aloft, my squires, / the tents upon the plain.
What here ye have of losses / will I make good again.
Unbridle now the horses / and let them wander free. "
Upon their way they seldom / did meet like hospitality.
1661
Thereat rejoiced the strangers. / When thus it ordered was,
Rode the high knights forward. / All round upon the grass
Lay the squires attendant / and found a gentle rest.
I ween, upon their journey / was here provision costliest.
1662
Out before the castle / the noble margravine
Had passed with her fair daughter. / In her train were seen
A band of lovely women / and many a winsome maid,
Whose arms with bracelets glittered, / and all in stately robes arrayed.
1663
The costly jewels sparkled / with far-piercing ray
From out their richest vestments, / and buxom all were they.
Now came the strangers thither / and sprang upon the ground.
How high in noble courtesy / the men of Burgundy were found!
1664
Six and thirty maidens / and many a fair lady,
— Nor might ye ever any / more winsome wish to see —
Went then forth to meet them / with many a knight full keen.
At hands of noble ladies / fairest greeting then was seen.
1665
The margrave's youthful daughter / did kiss the kings all three
As eke had done her mother. / Hagen stood thereby.
Her father bade her kiss him; / she looked the thane upon,
Who filled her so with terror, / she fain had left the thing undone.
1666
When she at last must do it, / as did command her sire,
Mingled was her color, / both pale and hue of fire.
Likewise kissed she Dankwart / and the Fiddler eke anon:
That he was knight of valor / to him was such high favor shown.
1667
The margrave's youthful daughter / took then by the hand
The royal knight Giselher / of Burgundian land.
E'en so led forth her mother / the gallant Gunther high.
With those guests so lofty / walked they there full joyfully.
1668
The host escorted Gernot / to a spacious hall and wide,
Where knights and stately ladies / sate them side by side.
Then bade they for the strangers / pour good wine plenteously:
In sooth might never heroes / find fuller hospitality.
1669
Glances fond and many / saw ye directed there
Upon Ruediger's daughter, / for she was passing fair.
Yea, in his thoughts caressed her / full many a gallant knight;
A lady high in spirit, / well might she every heart delight.
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