The Nibelungenlied
599
Then spake Sir Gernot: / " Now let the chargers stand,
Until the air is cooler, / for we must be at hand
As escort for fair ladies / unto the stately hall;
And will the king take saddle, / so let him find you ready all. "
600
When now the sound of tourney / o'er all the field was spent,
Then went for pleasant pastime / 'neath many a lofty tent
The knights unto the ladies, / and willing thither hied.
And there they passed the hours / till such time as they thence should ride.
601
Just before the evening / when the sun was in the west,
And the air grew cooler, / no longer did they rest,
But both knights and ladies / unto the castle passed
And eyes in loving glances / on many a beauteous maid were cast.
602
By hand of goodly warrior / many a coat was rent,
For in the country's custom / they tourneyed as they went,
Until before the palace / the monarch did dismount.
They tended fairest ladies / as knights high-spirited are wont.
603
After fairest greeting / the queens did part again.
Dame Ute and her daughter, / thither passed the twain
With train of fair attendants / unto a hall full wide.
Din of merrymaking / heard ye there on every side.
604
Arranged were sitting-places / where the king would be
With his guests at table. / By him might ye see
Standing the fair Brunhild. / She wore a royal crown
In the monarch's country, / the which might well such mistress own.
605
Seats for all the people / at many a spacious board
There were, as saith the story, / where victuals rich were stored.
How little there was lacking / of all that makes a feast!
And by the monarch saw ye / sitting many a stately guest.
606
The royal host's attendants / in basins golden red
Carried water forward. / And should it e'er be said
By any that a better / service did receive
Ever guests of monarch, / I never could such thing believe.
607
Before the lord of Rhineland / with water was waited on,
Unto him Sir Siegfried, / as fitting was, had gone;
He called to mind a promise / that made by him had been
Ere that the Lady Brunhild / afar in Isenland he'd seen.
608
He spake: " Thou shalt bethink thee / what once did plight thy hand,
If that the Lady Brunhild / should come unto this land,
Thou'dst give to me thy sister. / Where now what thou hast sworn?
In this thy wooing journey / not small the labor I have borne. "
609
Then to his guest the monarch: / " Well hast thou minded me,
And by this hand shall never / false word plighted be.
To gain thy wish I'd help thee / in the way as best I know. "
Bidden then was Kriemhild / forth unto the king to go.
610
With her full beauteous maidens / unto the Hall she passed.
Then sprang the youthful Giselher / adown the steps in haste
" Bid now these many maidens / wend their way again;
None but my sister only / unto the king shall enter in. "
611
Then led they Kriemhild thither / where the king was found,
With him were knights full noble / from many a land around.
Within that Hall so spacious / she waited the king's behest,
What time the Lady Brunhild / betook her likewise to the feast.
612
Then spake the royal Gunther: / " Sister mine full fair,
Redeem the word I've given, / an hold'st thou virtue dear.
Thee to a knight I plighted: / An tak'st thou him to man,
Thereby my wish full truly / unto the warrior hast thou done. "
613
Then spake the noble maiden: / " Brother full dear to me,
Not long shalt thou entreat me. / In truth I'll ever be
Obedient to thy bidding; / that shall now be done,
And him I'll take full gladly, / my Lord, whom thou giv'st me for man. "
614
Before those fair eyes' glances / grew Siegfried's color red.
The knight to Lady Kriemhild / his service offered.
Within a ring together / then were led the twain,
And they asked the maiden, / if she to take the knight were fain.
615
Upon her face not little / was the modest glow;
Nathless to joy of Siegfried / did fortune will it so,
That the maiden would not / refuse the knight her hand.
Eke swore his wife to make her / the noble king of Netherland.
616
When he to her had plighted, / and eke to him the maid,
Siegfried to embrace her / nothing more delayed,
But clasped in arms full fondly / and oft the lady fair,
And stately knights were witness / how that he kissed the princess there.
617
When that the maids attendant / from thence had ta'en their leave,
In place of honor seated / Siegfried might ye perceive
And by him fairest Kriemhild; / and many a knight at hand
Was seen of the Nibelungen / at Siegfried's service ready stand.
618
There too was Gunther seated / and with him Queen Brunhild.
At sight of Kriemhild sitting / by Siegfried was she filled
With anger such as never / before her heart did swell:
She wept, and tears in plenty / adown her shining face there fell.
Then spake Sir Gernot: / " Now let the chargers stand,
Until the air is cooler, / for we must be at hand
As escort for fair ladies / unto the stately hall;
And will the king take saddle, / so let him find you ready all. "
600
When now the sound of tourney / o'er all the field was spent,
Then went for pleasant pastime / 'neath many a lofty tent
The knights unto the ladies, / and willing thither hied.
And there they passed the hours / till such time as they thence should ride.
601
Just before the evening / when the sun was in the west,
And the air grew cooler, / no longer did they rest,
But both knights and ladies / unto the castle passed
And eyes in loving glances / on many a beauteous maid were cast.
602
By hand of goodly warrior / many a coat was rent,
For in the country's custom / they tourneyed as they went,
Until before the palace / the monarch did dismount.
They tended fairest ladies / as knights high-spirited are wont.
603
After fairest greeting / the queens did part again.
Dame Ute and her daughter, / thither passed the twain
With train of fair attendants / unto a hall full wide.
Din of merrymaking / heard ye there on every side.
604
Arranged were sitting-places / where the king would be
With his guests at table. / By him might ye see
Standing the fair Brunhild. / She wore a royal crown
In the monarch's country, / the which might well such mistress own.
605
Seats for all the people / at many a spacious board
There were, as saith the story, / where victuals rich were stored.
How little there was lacking / of all that makes a feast!
And by the monarch saw ye / sitting many a stately guest.
606
The royal host's attendants / in basins golden red
Carried water forward. / And should it e'er be said
By any that a better / service did receive
Ever guests of monarch, / I never could such thing believe.
607
Before the lord of Rhineland / with water was waited on,
Unto him Sir Siegfried, / as fitting was, had gone;
He called to mind a promise / that made by him had been
Ere that the Lady Brunhild / afar in Isenland he'd seen.
608
He spake: " Thou shalt bethink thee / what once did plight thy hand,
If that the Lady Brunhild / should come unto this land,
Thou'dst give to me thy sister. / Where now what thou hast sworn?
In this thy wooing journey / not small the labor I have borne. "
609
Then to his guest the monarch: / " Well hast thou minded me,
And by this hand shall never / false word plighted be.
To gain thy wish I'd help thee / in the way as best I know. "
Bidden then was Kriemhild / forth unto the king to go.
610
With her full beauteous maidens / unto the Hall she passed.
Then sprang the youthful Giselher / adown the steps in haste
" Bid now these many maidens / wend their way again;
None but my sister only / unto the king shall enter in. "
611
Then led they Kriemhild thither / where the king was found,
With him were knights full noble / from many a land around.
Within that Hall so spacious / she waited the king's behest,
What time the Lady Brunhild / betook her likewise to the feast.
612
Then spake the royal Gunther: / " Sister mine full fair,
Redeem the word I've given, / an hold'st thou virtue dear.
Thee to a knight I plighted: / An tak'st thou him to man,
Thereby my wish full truly / unto the warrior hast thou done. "
613
Then spake the noble maiden: / " Brother full dear to me,
Not long shalt thou entreat me. / In truth I'll ever be
Obedient to thy bidding; / that shall now be done,
And him I'll take full gladly, / my Lord, whom thou giv'st me for man. "
614
Before those fair eyes' glances / grew Siegfried's color red.
The knight to Lady Kriemhild / his service offered.
Within a ring together / then were led the twain,
And they asked the maiden, / if she to take the knight were fain.
615
Upon her face not little / was the modest glow;
Nathless to joy of Siegfried / did fortune will it so,
That the maiden would not / refuse the knight her hand.
Eke swore his wife to make her / the noble king of Netherland.
616
When he to her had plighted, / and eke to him the maid,
Siegfried to embrace her / nothing more delayed,
But clasped in arms full fondly / and oft the lady fair,
And stately knights were witness / how that he kissed the princess there.
617
When that the maids attendant / from thence had ta'en their leave,
In place of honor seated / Siegfried might ye perceive
And by him fairest Kriemhild; / and many a knight at hand
Was seen of the Nibelungen / at Siegfried's service ready stand.
618
There too was Gunther seated / and with him Queen Brunhild.
At sight of Kriemhild sitting / by Siegfried was she filled
With anger such as never / before her heart did swell:
She wept, and tears in plenty / adown her shining face there fell.
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