The Nibelungenlied
365
Since they unto the journey / had wished that so it be,
Skins of costly ermine / used they lavishly,
Whereon were silken pieces / black as coal inlaid.
To-day were any nobles / in robes so fashioned well arrayed.
366
From the gold of Araby / many a stone there shone.
The women long were busy / before the work was done;
But all the robes were finished / ere seven weeks did pass,
When also trusty armor / for the warriors ready was.
367
When they at length were ready / adown the Rhine to fare,
A ship lay waiting for them / strong built with mickle care,
Which should bear them safely / far down unto the sea.
The maidens rich in beauty / plied their work laboriously.
368
Then 'twas told the warriors / for them was ready there
The finely wrought apparel / that they were to wear;
Just as they had wished it, / so it had been made;
After that the heroes / there by the Rhine no longer stayed.
369
To the knights departing / went soon a messenger:
Would they come in person / to view their new attire,
If it had been fitted / short and long aright
'Twas found of proper measure, / and thanked those ladies fair each knight.
370
And all who there beheld them / they must needs confess
That in the world they never / had gazed on fairer dress:
At court to wear th' apparel / did therefore please them well.
Of warriors better furnished / never could a mortal tell.
371
Thanks oft-times repeated / were there not forgot.
Leave of parting from them / the noble knights then sought:
Like thanes of noble bearing / they went in courteous wise.
Then dim and wet with weeping / grew thereat two shining eyes.
372
She spake: " O dearest brother, / still here thou mightest stay,
And woo another woman — / that were the better way —
Where so sore endangered / stood not thus thy life
Here nearer canst thou find thee / equally a high-born wife. "
373
I ween their hearts did tell them / what later came to pass.
They wept there all together, / whatever spoken was
The gold upon their bosoms / was sullied 'neath the tears
That from their eyes in plenty / fell adown amid their fears.
374
She spake: " O noble Siegfried, / to thee commended be
Upon thy truth and goodness / the brother dear to me,
That he come unscathed / home from Brunhild's land. "
That plighted the full valiant / knight in Lady Kriemhild's hand.
375
The mighty thane gave answer: / " If I my life retain,
Then shall thy cares, good Lady, / all have been in vain.
All safe I'll bring him hither / again unto the Rhine,
Be that to thee full sicker. " / To him did the fair maid incline.
376
Their shields of golden color / were borne unto the strand,
And all their trusty armor / was ready brought to hand.
They bade their horses bring them: / they would at last depart
— Thereat did fairest women / weep with sad foreboding heart.
377
Down from lofty casement / looked many a winsome maid,
As ship and sail together / by stirring breeze were swayed.
Upon the Rhine they found them, / the warriors full of pride.
Then outspake King Gunther: / " Who now is here the ship to guide? "
378
" That will I, " spake Siegfried; / " I can upon the flood
Lead you on in safety, / that know ye, heroes good;
For all the water highways / are known right well to me. "
With joy they then departed / from the land of Burgundy.
379
A mighty pole then grasped he, / Siegfried the doughty man,
And the ship from shore / forth to shove began.
Gunther the fearless also / himself took oar in hand.
The knights thus brave and worthy / took departure from the land.
380
They carried rich provisions, / thereto the best of wine
That might in any quarter / be found about the Rhine.
Their chargers stood in comfort / and rested by the way:
The ship it moved so lightly / that naught of injury had they.
381
Stretched before the breezes / were the great sail-ropes tight,
And twenty miles they journeyed / ere did come the night,
By fair breezes favored / down toward the sea.
Their toil repaid thereafter / the dauntless knights full grievously.
382
Upon the twelfth morning, / as we in story hear,
Had they by the breezes / thence been carried far,
Unto Castle Isenstein / and Brunhild's country:
That to Siegfried only / was known of all the company.
383
As soon as saw King Gunther / so many towers rise
And eke the boundless marches / stretch before his eyes,
He spake: " Tell me, friend Siegfried, / is it known to thee
Whose they are, the castles / and the majestic broad country? "
384
Thereto gave answer Siegfried: / " That well to me is known:
Brunhild for their mistress / do land and people own
And Isenstein's firm towers, / as ye have heard me say.
Ladies fair a many / shall ye here behold to-day.
385
" And I will give you counsel: / be it well understood
That all your words must tally / — so methinks 'twere good.
If ere to-day is over / our presence she command,
Must we leave pride behind us, / as before Brunhild we stand.
386
" When we the lovely lady / 'mid her retainers see,
Then shall ye, good companions, / in all your speech agree
That Gunther is my master / and I his serving-man:
'Tis thus that all he hopeth / shall we in the end attain. "
387
To do as he had bidden / consented straight each one,
And spite of proudest spirit / they left it not undone.
All that he wished they promised, / and good it proved to be
When anon King Gunther / the fair Brunhild came to see.
388
" Not all to meet thy wishes / do I such service swear,
But most 'tis for thy sister, / Kriemhild the maiden fair;
Just as my soul unto me / she is my very life,
And fain would I deserve it / that she in truth become my wife. "
Since they unto the journey / had wished that so it be,
Skins of costly ermine / used they lavishly,
Whereon were silken pieces / black as coal inlaid.
To-day were any nobles / in robes so fashioned well arrayed.
366
From the gold of Araby / many a stone there shone.
The women long were busy / before the work was done;
But all the robes were finished / ere seven weeks did pass,
When also trusty armor / for the warriors ready was.
367
When they at length were ready / adown the Rhine to fare,
A ship lay waiting for them / strong built with mickle care,
Which should bear them safely / far down unto the sea.
The maidens rich in beauty / plied their work laboriously.
368
Then 'twas told the warriors / for them was ready there
The finely wrought apparel / that they were to wear;
Just as they had wished it, / so it had been made;
After that the heroes / there by the Rhine no longer stayed.
369
To the knights departing / went soon a messenger:
Would they come in person / to view their new attire,
If it had been fitted / short and long aright
'Twas found of proper measure, / and thanked those ladies fair each knight.
370
And all who there beheld them / they must needs confess
That in the world they never / had gazed on fairer dress:
At court to wear th' apparel / did therefore please them well.
Of warriors better furnished / never could a mortal tell.
371
Thanks oft-times repeated / were there not forgot.
Leave of parting from them / the noble knights then sought:
Like thanes of noble bearing / they went in courteous wise.
Then dim and wet with weeping / grew thereat two shining eyes.
372
She spake: " O dearest brother, / still here thou mightest stay,
And woo another woman — / that were the better way —
Where so sore endangered / stood not thus thy life
Here nearer canst thou find thee / equally a high-born wife. "
373
I ween their hearts did tell them / what later came to pass.
They wept there all together, / whatever spoken was
The gold upon their bosoms / was sullied 'neath the tears
That from their eyes in plenty / fell adown amid their fears.
374
She spake: " O noble Siegfried, / to thee commended be
Upon thy truth and goodness / the brother dear to me,
That he come unscathed / home from Brunhild's land. "
That plighted the full valiant / knight in Lady Kriemhild's hand.
375
The mighty thane gave answer: / " If I my life retain,
Then shall thy cares, good Lady, / all have been in vain.
All safe I'll bring him hither / again unto the Rhine,
Be that to thee full sicker. " / To him did the fair maid incline.
376
Their shields of golden color / were borne unto the strand,
And all their trusty armor / was ready brought to hand.
They bade their horses bring them: / they would at last depart
— Thereat did fairest women / weep with sad foreboding heart.
377
Down from lofty casement / looked many a winsome maid,
As ship and sail together / by stirring breeze were swayed.
Upon the Rhine they found them, / the warriors full of pride.
Then outspake King Gunther: / " Who now is here the ship to guide? "
378
" That will I, " spake Siegfried; / " I can upon the flood
Lead you on in safety, / that know ye, heroes good;
For all the water highways / are known right well to me. "
With joy they then departed / from the land of Burgundy.
379
A mighty pole then grasped he, / Siegfried the doughty man,
And the ship from shore / forth to shove began.
Gunther the fearless also / himself took oar in hand.
The knights thus brave and worthy / took departure from the land.
380
They carried rich provisions, / thereto the best of wine
That might in any quarter / be found about the Rhine.
Their chargers stood in comfort / and rested by the way:
The ship it moved so lightly / that naught of injury had they.
381
Stretched before the breezes / were the great sail-ropes tight,
And twenty miles they journeyed / ere did come the night,
By fair breezes favored / down toward the sea.
Their toil repaid thereafter / the dauntless knights full grievously.
382
Upon the twelfth morning, / as we in story hear,
Had they by the breezes / thence been carried far,
Unto Castle Isenstein / and Brunhild's country:
That to Siegfried only / was known of all the company.
383
As soon as saw King Gunther / so many towers rise
And eke the boundless marches / stretch before his eyes,
He spake: " Tell me, friend Siegfried, / is it known to thee
Whose they are, the castles / and the majestic broad country? "
384
Thereto gave answer Siegfried: / " That well to me is known:
Brunhild for their mistress / do land and people own
And Isenstein's firm towers, / as ye have heard me say.
Ladies fair a many / shall ye here behold to-day.
385
" And I will give you counsel: / be it well understood
That all your words must tally / — so methinks 'twere good.
If ere to-day is over / our presence she command,
Must we leave pride behind us, / as before Brunhild we stand.
386
" When we the lovely lady / 'mid her retainers see,
Then shall ye, good companions, / in all your speech agree
That Gunther is my master / and I his serving-man:
'Tis thus that all he hopeth / shall we in the end attain. "
387
To do as he had bidden / consented straight each one,
And spite of proudest spirit / they left it not undone.
All that he wished they promised, / and good it proved to be
When anon King Gunther / the fair Brunhild came to see.
388
" Not all to meet thy wishes / do I such service swear,
But most 'tis for thy sister, / Kriemhild the maiden fair;
Just as my soul unto me / she is my very life,
And fain would I deserve it / that she in truth become my wife. "
Translation:
Language:
Reviews
No reviews yet.