The Nibelungenlied
1062
Upon the third morning / at the mass' tide
Was there beside the minster / filled the church-yard wide
With country-folk a-weeping / that came from far and near:
In death they yet did serve him / as is meet for friend full dear.
1063
And so it hath been told us, / ere these four days were o'er,
Marks full thirty thousand, / yea, in sooth, and more,
For his soul's reposing / to the poor were given there:
The while that lay all broken / his life and eke his body fair.
1064
When ended was the service / and full the masses sung,
In unrestrained sorrow / there the flock did throng.
They bade that from the minster / he to the grave be borne.
Them that fain had kept him / there beheld ye weep and mourn.
1065
Thence full loud lamenting / did the people with him pass.
Unmoved there never any / nor man nor woman was.
Ere that in grave they laid him / chanted they and read.
What host of priests full worthy / at his burial were gathered!
1066
Ere that the wife of Siegfried / was come unto the grave,
With water from the fountain / full oft her face they lave,
So struggled with her sorrow / the faithful lady fair.
Great beyond all measure / was the grief that she did bear.
1067
It was a mickle wonder / that e'er her life she kept
Many a lady was there / that helped her as she wept.
Then spake the queen full noble: / " Ye men that service owe
To Siegfried, as ye love me, / now to me a mercy show.
1068
" Upon this sorrow grant ye / the little grace to me
That I his shining visage / yet once more may see. "
So filled she was with anguish / and so long time she sought,
Perforce they must break open / the casket all so fairly wrought.
1069
Where she did see him lying / they then the lady led.
With hand full white and spotless / raised she his fair head;
Then kissed she there all lifeless / the good and noble knight, —
And wept so that for sorrow / ran blood from out her eyes so bright.
1070
Mournful was the parting / that then did rend the twain.
Thence away they bore her, / nor might she walk again,
But in a swoon did senseless / the stately lady lie.
In sooth her winsome body / for sorrow sore was like to die.
1071
When they the knight full noble / now in the grave had laid,
Beheld ye every warrior / beyond all measure sad
That with him was come hither / from Nibelung country.
Full seldom joyous-hearted / might ye royal Siegmund see.
1072
And many were among them / that for sorrow great
Till three days were over / did nor drink nor eat.
Yet might they not their bodies / long leave uncared-for so:
For food they turned from mourning / as people still are wont to do.
Upon the third morning / at the mass' tide
Was there beside the minster / filled the church-yard wide
With country-folk a-weeping / that came from far and near:
In death they yet did serve him / as is meet for friend full dear.
1063
And so it hath been told us, / ere these four days were o'er,
Marks full thirty thousand, / yea, in sooth, and more,
For his soul's reposing / to the poor were given there:
The while that lay all broken / his life and eke his body fair.
1064
When ended was the service / and full the masses sung,
In unrestrained sorrow / there the flock did throng.
They bade that from the minster / he to the grave be borne.
Them that fain had kept him / there beheld ye weep and mourn.
1065
Thence full loud lamenting / did the people with him pass.
Unmoved there never any / nor man nor woman was.
Ere that in grave they laid him / chanted they and read.
What host of priests full worthy / at his burial were gathered!
1066
Ere that the wife of Siegfried / was come unto the grave,
With water from the fountain / full oft her face they lave,
So struggled with her sorrow / the faithful lady fair.
Great beyond all measure / was the grief that she did bear.
1067
It was a mickle wonder / that e'er her life she kept
Many a lady was there / that helped her as she wept.
Then spake the queen full noble: / " Ye men that service owe
To Siegfried, as ye love me, / now to me a mercy show.
1068
" Upon this sorrow grant ye / the little grace to me
That I his shining visage / yet once more may see. "
So filled she was with anguish / and so long time she sought,
Perforce they must break open / the casket all so fairly wrought.
1069
Where she did see him lying / they then the lady led.
With hand full white and spotless / raised she his fair head;
Then kissed she there all lifeless / the good and noble knight, —
And wept so that for sorrow / ran blood from out her eyes so bright.
1070
Mournful was the parting / that then did rend the twain.
Thence away they bore her, / nor might she walk again,
But in a swoon did senseless / the stately lady lie.
In sooth her winsome body / for sorrow sore was like to die.
1071
When they the knight full noble / now in the grave had laid,
Beheld ye every warrior / beyond all measure sad
That with him was come hither / from Nibelung country.
Full seldom joyous-hearted / might ye royal Siegmund see.
1072
And many were among them / that for sorrow great
Till three days were over / did nor drink nor eat.
Yet might they not their bodies / long leave uncared-for so:
For food they turned from mourning / as people still are wont to do.
Translation:
Language:
Reviews
No reviews yet.