The Nibelungenlied
744
In fitting way was harbored / Gere and his men,
And steeds in charge were taken. / The messengers went then
Where beside Sir Siegfried / the Lady Kriemhild sat.
To court the guests were bidden, / where them did greeting fair await.
745
The host with his fair lady, / straightway up stood he,
And greeted fairly Gere / of the land of Burgundy
And with him his companions / King Gunther's men also.
Gere, knight full mighty, / bade they to a settle go.
746
" Allow that first the message / we give ere sit we down;
The while we'll stand, though weary / upon our journey grown.
Tidings bring we to you / what greetings high have sent
Gunther and Brunhild / who live in royal fair content.
747
" Eke what from Lady Ute / thy mother now we've brought.
The youthful Giselher / and also Sir Gernot
And best among thy kinsmen / have sent us here to thee:
A fairest greeting send they / from the land of Burgundy. "
748
" God give them meed, " spake Siegfried; / " Good will and faith withal
I trow full well they harbor, / as with friends we shall;
Likewise doth eke their sister. / Now further shall ye tell
If that our friends beloved / at home in high estate do dwell.
749
" Since that we from them parted / hath any dared to do
Scathe to my lady's kinsmen? / That shall ye let me know.
I'll help them ever truly / all their need to bear
Till that their enemies / have good cause my help to fear. "
750
Then spake the Margrave / Gere, a knight full good:
" In all that maketh knighthood / right proud they stand of mood.
Unto the Rhine they bid you / to high festivity:
They'd see you there full gladly, / thereof may ye not doubtful be.
751
" And bid they eke my Lady / Kriemhild that she too,
When ended is the winter, / thither come with you.
Ere turn of sun in summer / trust they you to see. "
Then spake the doughty Siegfried: / " That same thing might hardly be. "
752
Thereto did answer Gere / of the land of Burgundy:
" Your high mother Ute / hath message sent by me,
Likewise Gernot and Giselher, / that they plead not in vain.
That you they see so seldom / daily hear I them complain.
753
" Brunhild my mistress / and all her company
Of fair maids rejoice them; / if the thing might be
That they again should see you, / of merry mood they were. "
Then joy to hear the tidings / filled the Lady Kriemhild fair.
754
Gere to her was kinsman. / The host did bid him rest,
Nor long were they in pouring / wine for every guest
Thither came eke Siegmund / where the strangers he did see,
And in right friendly manner / spake to the men of Burgundy:
755
" Welcome be, ye warriors, / ye Gunther's men, each one.
Since that fair Kriemhild / Siegfried my son
For spouse did take unto him, / we should you ofter see
Here in this our country, / an ye good friends to us would be. "
756
They spake, whene'er he wished it, / full glad to come were they
All their mickle weariness / with joy was ta'en away.
The messengers were seated / and food to them they bore,
Whereof did Siegfried offer / unto his guests a goodly store.
757
Until nine days were over / must they there abide,
When did at last the valiant / knights begin to chide
That they did not ride thither / again unto their land.
Then did the royal Siegfried / summon his good knights to hand.
758
He asked what they did counsel: / should they unto the Rhine?
" Me unto him hath bidden / Gunther, friend of mine,
He and his good kinsmen, / to high festivity.
Thither went I full gladly, / but that his land so far doth lie.
759
" Kriemhild bid they likewise / that she with me shall fare.
Good friends, now give ye counsel / how we therefor prepare.
And were it armies thirty / to lead in distant land,
Yet must serve them gladly / evermore Siegfried's hand. "
760
Then answer gave his warriors. / " An't pleaseth thee to go
Thither to the festival, / we'll counsel what thou do.
Thou shalt with thousand warriors / unto Rhine river ride.
So may'st thou well with honor / in the land of Burgundy abide. "
761
Then spake of Netherland / Siegmund the king:
" Will ye to the festival, / why hide from me the thing!
I'll journey with you thither, / if it not displeasing be,
And lead good thanes a hundred / wherewith to swell your company. "
762
" And wilt thou with us journey, / father full dear to me, "
Spake the valiant Siegfried, / " full glad thereat I'll be
Before twelve days are over / from these my lands I fare. "
To all who'd join the journey / steeds gave they and apparel rare.
763
When now the lofty monarch / was minded thus to ride
Bade he the noble messengers / longer not to bide,
And to his lady's kinsmen / to the Rhine a message sent,
How that he would full gladly / join to make them merriment.
In fitting way was harbored / Gere and his men,
And steeds in charge were taken. / The messengers went then
Where beside Sir Siegfried / the Lady Kriemhild sat.
To court the guests were bidden, / where them did greeting fair await.
745
The host with his fair lady, / straightway up stood he,
And greeted fairly Gere / of the land of Burgundy
And with him his companions / King Gunther's men also.
Gere, knight full mighty, / bade they to a settle go.
746
" Allow that first the message / we give ere sit we down;
The while we'll stand, though weary / upon our journey grown.
Tidings bring we to you / what greetings high have sent
Gunther and Brunhild / who live in royal fair content.
747
" Eke what from Lady Ute / thy mother now we've brought.
The youthful Giselher / and also Sir Gernot
And best among thy kinsmen / have sent us here to thee:
A fairest greeting send they / from the land of Burgundy. "
748
" God give them meed, " spake Siegfried; / " Good will and faith withal
I trow full well they harbor, / as with friends we shall;
Likewise doth eke their sister. / Now further shall ye tell
If that our friends beloved / at home in high estate do dwell.
749
" Since that we from them parted / hath any dared to do
Scathe to my lady's kinsmen? / That shall ye let me know.
I'll help them ever truly / all their need to bear
Till that their enemies / have good cause my help to fear. "
750
Then spake the Margrave / Gere, a knight full good:
" In all that maketh knighthood / right proud they stand of mood.
Unto the Rhine they bid you / to high festivity:
They'd see you there full gladly, / thereof may ye not doubtful be.
751
" And bid they eke my Lady / Kriemhild that she too,
When ended is the winter, / thither come with you.
Ere turn of sun in summer / trust they you to see. "
Then spake the doughty Siegfried: / " That same thing might hardly be. "
752
Thereto did answer Gere / of the land of Burgundy:
" Your high mother Ute / hath message sent by me,
Likewise Gernot and Giselher, / that they plead not in vain.
That you they see so seldom / daily hear I them complain.
753
" Brunhild my mistress / and all her company
Of fair maids rejoice them; / if the thing might be
That they again should see you, / of merry mood they were. "
Then joy to hear the tidings / filled the Lady Kriemhild fair.
754
Gere to her was kinsman. / The host did bid him rest,
Nor long were they in pouring / wine for every guest
Thither came eke Siegmund / where the strangers he did see,
And in right friendly manner / spake to the men of Burgundy:
755
" Welcome be, ye warriors, / ye Gunther's men, each one.
Since that fair Kriemhild / Siegfried my son
For spouse did take unto him, / we should you ofter see
Here in this our country, / an ye good friends to us would be. "
756
They spake, whene'er he wished it, / full glad to come were they
All their mickle weariness / with joy was ta'en away.
The messengers were seated / and food to them they bore,
Whereof did Siegfried offer / unto his guests a goodly store.
757
Until nine days were over / must they there abide,
When did at last the valiant / knights begin to chide
That they did not ride thither / again unto their land.
Then did the royal Siegfried / summon his good knights to hand.
758
He asked what they did counsel: / should they unto the Rhine?
" Me unto him hath bidden / Gunther, friend of mine,
He and his good kinsmen, / to high festivity.
Thither went I full gladly, / but that his land so far doth lie.
759
" Kriemhild bid they likewise / that she with me shall fare.
Good friends, now give ye counsel / how we therefor prepare.
And were it armies thirty / to lead in distant land,
Yet must serve them gladly / evermore Siegfried's hand. "
760
Then answer gave his warriors. / " An't pleaseth thee to go
Thither to the festival, / we'll counsel what thou do.
Thou shalt with thousand warriors / unto Rhine river ride.
So may'st thou well with honor / in the land of Burgundy abide. "
761
Then spake of Netherland / Siegmund the king:
" Will ye to the festival, / why hide from me the thing!
I'll journey with you thither, / if it not displeasing be,
And lead good thanes a hundred / wherewith to swell your company. "
762
" And wilt thou with us journey, / father full dear to me, "
Spake the valiant Siegfried, / " full glad thereat I'll be
Before twelve days are over / from these my lands I fare. "
To all who'd join the journey / steeds gave they and apparel rare.
763
When now the lofty monarch / was minded thus to ride
Bade he the noble messengers / longer not to bide,
And to his lady's kinsmen / to the Rhine a message sent,
How that he would full gladly / join to make them merriment.
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