The Nibelungenlied
956
If that complete the story / to you I shall unfold,
Full many a goodly arrow / did his rich quiver hold
Whereof were gold the sockets, / and heads a hand-breadth each.
In sooth was doomed to perish / whate'er in flight the same did reach.
957
Pricking like goodly huntsman / the noble knight did ride
When him the men of Gunther / coming thither spied.
They hasted out to meet him / and took from him his steed,
As bruin great and mighty / by the saddle he did lead.
958
When he from horse alighted / he loosed him every band
From foot and eke from muzzle. / Straight on every hand
Began the dogs a howling / when they beheld the bear.
Bruin would to the forest: / among the men was mickle stir.
959
Amid the clamor bruin / through the camp-fires sped:
Heigho, how the servants / away before him fled!
O'erturned was many a kettle / and flaming brands did fly:
Heigho, what goodly victuals / did scattered in the ashes lie!
960
Then sprang from out the saddle / knights and serving-men.
The bear was wild careering: / the king bade loosen then
All the dogs that fastened / within their leashes lay.
If this thing well had ended, / then had there passed a merry day.
961
Not longer then they waited / but with bow and eke with spear
Hasted the nimble hunters / to pursue the bear,
Yet none might shoot upon him / for all the dogs around.
Such clamor was of voices / that all the mountain did resound.
962
When by the dogs pursued / the bear away did run,
None there that could o'ertake him / but Siegfried alone.
With his sword he came upon him / and killed him at a blow,
And back unto the camp-fire / bearing bruin they did go.
963
Then spake who there had seen it, / he was a man of might.
Soon to the table bade they / come each noble knight,
And on a smiling meadow / the noble company sat.
Heigho, with what rare victuals / did they upon the huntsmen wait!
964
Ne'er appeared a butler / wine for them to pour.
Than they good knights were never / better served before,
And had there not in secret / been lurking treachery,
Then were the entertainers / from every cause of cavil free.
965
Then spake Sir Siegfried: / " A wonder 'tis to me,
Since that from the kitchen / so full supplied are we,
Why to us the butlers / of wine bring not like store:
If such the huntsman's service / a huntsman reckon me no more.
966
" Meseems I yet did merit / some share of courtesy. "
The king who sat at table / spake then in treachery:
" Gladly shall be amended / wherein we're guilty so.
The fault it is of Hagen, / he'd willing see us thirsting go. "
967
Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / " Good master, hear me say,
I weened for this our hunting / we did go to-day
Unto the Spessart forest: / the wine I thither sent.
Go we to-day a-thirsting, / I'll later be more provident. "
968
Thereto replied Sir Siegfried: / " Small merit here is thine.
Good seven horses laden / with mead and sparkling wine
Should hither have been conducted. / If aught the same denied,
Then should our place of meeting / have nearer been the Rhine beside. "
969
Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / " Ye noble knights and bold,
I know here nigh unto us / a spring that's flowing cold.
Be then your wrath appeased, / and let us thither go. "
Through that same wicked counsel / came many a thane to grievous woe.
970
Sore was the noble Siegfried / with the pangs of thirst:
To bid them rise from table / was he thus the first.
He would along the hillside / unto the fountain go:
In sooth they showed them traitors, / those knights who there did counsel so.
971
On wagons hence to carry / the game they gave command
Which had that day been slaughtered / by Siegfried's doughty hand.
He'd carried off the honors, / all who had seen did say.
Hagen his faith with Siegfried / soon did break in grievous way.
972
When now they would go thither / to where the linden spread,
Spake of Tronje Hagen: / " To me hath oft been said,
That none could follow after / Kriemhild's nimble knight
Or vie with him in running: / would that he'd prove it to our sight! "
973
Then spake of Netherland / bold Siegfried speedily:
" That may ye well have proof of, / will ye but run with me
In contest to the fountain. / When that the same be done,
To him be given honor / who the race hath fairly won. "
974
" Now surely make we trial, " / quoth Hagen the thane.
Thereto the doughty Siegfried: / " I too will give you gain,
Afore your feet at starting / to lay me in the grass. "
When that he had heard it, / thereat how joyous Gunther was!
975
And spake again the warrior: / " And ye shall further hear:
All my clothing likewise / will I upon me wear,
The spear and shield full heavy / and hunting-dress I'll don. "
His sword as well as quiver / had he full quickly girded on.
If that complete the story / to you I shall unfold,
Full many a goodly arrow / did his rich quiver hold
Whereof were gold the sockets, / and heads a hand-breadth each.
In sooth was doomed to perish / whate'er in flight the same did reach.
957
Pricking like goodly huntsman / the noble knight did ride
When him the men of Gunther / coming thither spied.
They hasted out to meet him / and took from him his steed,
As bruin great and mighty / by the saddle he did lead.
958
When he from horse alighted / he loosed him every band
From foot and eke from muzzle. / Straight on every hand
Began the dogs a howling / when they beheld the bear.
Bruin would to the forest: / among the men was mickle stir.
959
Amid the clamor bruin / through the camp-fires sped:
Heigho, how the servants / away before him fled!
O'erturned was many a kettle / and flaming brands did fly:
Heigho, what goodly victuals / did scattered in the ashes lie!
960
Then sprang from out the saddle / knights and serving-men.
The bear was wild careering: / the king bade loosen then
All the dogs that fastened / within their leashes lay.
If this thing well had ended, / then had there passed a merry day.
961
Not longer then they waited / but with bow and eke with spear
Hasted the nimble hunters / to pursue the bear,
Yet none might shoot upon him / for all the dogs around.
Such clamor was of voices / that all the mountain did resound.
962
When by the dogs pursued / the bear away did run,
None there that could o'ertake him / but Siegfried alone.
With his sword he came upon him / and killed him at a blow,
And back unto the camp-fire / bearing bruin they did go.
963
Then spake who there had seen it, / he was a man of might.
Soon to the table bade they / come each noble knight,
And on a smiling meadow / the noble company sat.
Heigho, with what rare victuals / did they upon the huntsmen wait!
964
Ne'er appeared a butler / wine for them to pour.
Than they good knights were never / better served before,
And had there not in secret / been lurking treachery,
Then were the entertainers / from every cause of cavil free.
965
Then spake Sir Siegfried: / " A wonder 'tis to me,
Since that from the kitchen / so full supplied are we,
Why to us the butlers / of wine bring not like store:
If such the huntsman's service / a huntsman reckon me no more.
966
" Meseems I yet did merit / some share of courtesy. "
The king who sat at table / spake then in treachery:
" Gladly shall be amended / wherein we're guilty so.
The fault it is of Hagen, / he'd willing see us thirsting go. "
967
Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / " Good master, hear me say,
I weened for this our hunting / we did go to-day
Unto the Spessart forest: / the wine I thither sent.
Go we to-day a-thirsting, / I'll later be more provident. "
968
Thereto replied Sir Siegfried: / " Small merit here is thine.
Good seven horses laden / with mead and sparkling wine
Should hither have been conducted. / If aught the same denied,
Then should our place of meeting / have nearer been the Rhine beside. "
969
Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / " Ye noble knights and bold,
I know here nigh unto us / a spring that's flowing cold.
Be then your wrath appeased, / and let us thither go. "
Through that same wicked counsel / came many a thane to grievous woe.
970
Sore was the noble Siegfried / with the pangs of thirst:
To bid them rise from table / was he thus the first.
He would along the hillside / unto the fountain go:
In sooth they showed them traitors, / those knights who there did counsel so.
971
On wagons hence to carry / the game they gave command
Which had that day been slaughtered / by Siegfried's doughty hand.
He'd carried off the honors, / all who had seen did say.
Hagen his faith with Siegfried / soon did break in grievous way.
972
When now they would go thither / to where the linden spread,
Spake of Tronje Hagen: / " To me hath oft been said,
That none could follow after / Kriemhild's nimble knight
Or vie with him in running: / would that he'd prove it to our sight! "
973
Then spake of Netherland / bold Siegfried speedily:
" That may ye well have proof of, / will ye but run with me
In contest to the fountain. / When that the same be done,
To him be given honor / who the race hath fairly won. "
974
" Now surely make we trial, " / quoth Hagen the thane.
Thereto the doughty Siegfried: / " I too will give you gain,
Afore your feet at starting / to lay me in the grass. "
When that he had heard it, / thereat how joyous Gunther was!
975
And spake again the warrior: / " And ye shall further hear:
All my clothing likewise / will I upon me wear,
The spear and shield full heavy / and hunting-dress I'll don. "
His sword as well as quiver / had he full quickly girded on.
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