Classic Poem

1833

Volker the valiant, / as he sat before the hall,
Leaned his trusty buckler / meanwhile against the wall,
Then took in hand his fiddle / as he was wont to do:
All times the thane would render / unto his friends a service true.

1834

Beneath the hall's wide portal / he sat on bench of stone;
Than he a bolder fiddler / was there never none.
As from his chords sweet echoes / resounded through the hall,
Thanks for glad refreshment / had Volker from the warriors all.

1835

Then from the strings an echo / the wide hall did fill,
For in his fiddle-playing / the knight had strength and skill.
Softer then and sweeter / to fiddle he began
And wiled to peaceful slumber / many an anxious brooding man.

1836

When they were wrapped in slumber / and he did understand,
Then took again the warrior / his trusty shield in hand
And passed without the portal / to guard the entrance tower,
And safe to keep his fellows / where Kriemhild's crafty men did lower.

1837

About the hour of midnight, / or earlier perchance,
The eye of valiant Volker / did catch a helmet's glance
Afar from out the darkness: / the men of Kriemhild sought
How that upon the strangers / might grievous scathe in stealth be wrought.

1838

Quoth thereat the Fiddler: / " Friend Hagen, 'tis full clear
That we do well together / here this watch to share.
I see before us yonder / men armed for the fight;
I ween they will attack us, / if I their purpose judge aright. "

1839

" Be silent, then, " spake Hagen, / " and let them come more nigh.
Ere that they perceive us / shall helmets sit awry,
By good swords disjointed / that in our hands do swing.
Tale of vigorous greeting / shall they back to Kriemhild bring. "

1840

Amid the Hunnish warriors / one full soon did see,
That well the door was guarded; / straightway then cried he:
" The thing we here did purpose / 'tis need we now give o'er,
For I behold the Fiddler / standing guard before the door.

1841

" Upon his head a helmet / of glancing light is seen,
Welded strong and skilful, / dintless, of clearest sheen.
The mail-rings of his armor / do sparkle like the fire,
Beside him stands eke Hagen; / safe are the strangers from our ire. "

1842

Straightway they back returned. / When Volker that did see,
Unto his companion / wrathfully spake he:
" Now let me to those caitiffs / across the court-yard go;
What mean they by such business, / from Kriemhild's men I fain would know. "

1843

" No, as thou dost love me, " / Hagen straight replied;
" If from this hall thou partest, / such ill may thee betide
At hands of these bold warriors / and from the swords they bear,
That I must haste to help thee, / though here our kinsmen's bane it were.

1844

" Soon as we two together / have joined with them in fight,
A pair or two among them / will surely hasten straight
Hither to this hall here, / and work such havoc sore
Upon our sleeping brethren, / as must be mourned evermore. "

1845

Thereto gave answer Volker: / " So much natheless must be,
That they do learn full certain / how I the knaves did see,
That the men of Kriemhild / hereafter not deny
What they had wrought full gladly / here with foulest treachery. "

1846

Straightway then unto them / aloud did Volker call:
" How go ye thus in armor, / ye valiant warriors all?
Or forth, perchance, a-robbing, / Kriemhild's men, go ye?
Myself and my companion / shall ye then have for company. "

1847

Thereto no man gave answer. / Wrathful grew his mood:
" Fie, ye caitiff villains, " / spake the hero good,
" Would ye us so foully / have murdered while we slept?
With knights so high in honor / full seldom thus hath faith been kept. "

1848

Then unto Queen Kriemhild / were the tidings borne,
How her men did fail their purpose: / 'twas cause for her to mourn.
Yet otherwise she wrought it, / for grim she was of mood:
Anon through her must perish / full many a valorous knight and good.