Classic Poem

1733

" After such like greeting, " / the doughty Hagen spake,
" Let all watchful warriors / full precaution take:
Differs wide the greeting / on masters and men bestowed.
Unhappy was the hour / when to this festival we rode. "

1739

She spake: " Now be ye welcome / to whom ye welcome be.
For sake of friendship never / ye greeting have from me.
Tell me now what bring ye / from Worms across the Rhine,
That ye so greatly welcome / should ever be to land of mine? "

1740

" An I had only known it, " / Hagen spake again,
" That thou didst look for present / from hand of every thane,
I were, methinks, so wealthy / — had I me bethought —
That I unto this country / likewise to thee my gift had brought. "

1741

" Now shall ye eke the story / to me more fully say:
The Nibelungen treasure, / where put ye that away?
My own possession was it, / as well ye understand.
That same ye should have brought me / hither unto Etzel's land. "

1742

" In sooth, my Lady Kriemhild, / full many a day hath flown
Since of the Nibelungen / hoard I aught have known.
Into the Rhine to sink it / my lords commanded me:
Verily there must it / until the day of judgment be. "

1743

Thereto the queen gave answer: / " Such was e'en my thought
Thereof right little have ye / unto me hither brought,
Although myself did own it / and once o'er it held sway
'Tis cause that I for ever / have full many a mournful day. "

1744

" The devil have I brought thee, " / Hagen did declare.
" My shield it is so heavy / that I have to bear,
And my plaited armor; / my shining helmet see,
And sword in hand I carry, / — so might I nothing bring for thee. "

1745

Then spake the royal lady / unto the warriors all:
" Weapon shall not any / bear into the hall.
To me now for safe keeping, / ye thanes shall give them o'er. "
" In sooth, " gave answer Hagen, / " such thing shall happen nevermore.

1746

" Such honor ne'er I covet, / royal lady mild,
That to its place of keeping / thou shouldst bear my shield
With all my other armor, / — for thou art a queen.
Such taught me ne'er my sire: / myself will be my chamberlain. "

1747

" Alack of these my sorrows! " / the Lady Kriemhild cried;
" Wherefore will now my brother / and Hagen not confide
To me their shields for keeping? / Some one did warning give.
Knew I by whom 'twas given, / brief were the space that he might live. "

1748

Thereto the mighty Dietrich / in wrath his answer gave:
" 'Tis I who now these noble / lords forewarned have,
And Hagen, knight full valiant / of the land of Burgundy.
Now on! thou devil's mistress, / let not the deed my profit be. "

1749

Great shame thereat did Kriemhild's / bosom quickly fill;
She feared lest Dietrich's anger / should work her grievous ill.
Naught she spake unto them / as thence she swiftly passed,
But fierce the lightning glances / that on her enemies she cast.

1750

By hand then grasped each, other / doughty warriors twain:
Hight the one was Dietrich, / with Hagen, noble thane.
Then spake in courteous manner / that knight of high degree:
" That ye are come to Hunland, / 'tis very sorrow unto me;

1751

" For what hath here been spoken / by the lofty queen. "
Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / " Small cause to grieve, I ween. "
Held converse thus together / those brave warriors twain,
King Etzel which perceiving / thus a questioning began:

1752

" I would learn full gladly, " / — in such wise spake he —
" Who were yonder warrior, / to whom so cordially
Doth greeting give Sir Dietrich. / Meseemeth high his mood.
Whosoe'er his sire, / a thane he is of mettle good. "

1753

Unto the king gave answer / of Kriemhild's train a knight:
" Born he was of Tronje, / Aldrian his sire hight.
How merry here his bearing, / a thane full grim is he.
That I have spoken truly, / shalt thou anon have cause to see. "

1754

" How may I then perceive it / that fierce his wrath doth glow? "
Naught of basest treachery / yet the king did know,
That anon Queen Kriemhild / 'gainst her kinsmen did contrive,
Whereby returned from Hunland / not one of all their train alive.

1755

" Well knew I Aldrian, / he once to me was thane:
Praise and mickle honor / he here by me did gain.
Myself a knight did make him, / and gave him of my gold.
Helke, noble lady, / did him in highest favor hold.

1756

" Thereby know I fully / what Hagen since befell
Two stately youths as hostage / at my court did dwell,
He and Spanish Walter, / from youth to manhood led.
Hagen sent I homeward; / Walter with Hildegunde fled. "

1757

He thought on ancient story / that long ago befell.
His doughty friend of Tronje / knew he then right well,
Whose youthful valor erstwhile / did such assistance lend.
Through him in age he must be / bereft of many a dearest friend.