Classic Poem

1203

Together all save Hagen / did the thing advise,
And unto King Gunther / spake he in this wise:
" An hast thou still thy senses, / of that same thing beware,
That, be she ne'er so willing, / thou lend'st thyself her will to share. "

1204

" Wherefore, " spake then Gunther, / " should I allow it not?
Whene'er doth fortune favor / Kriemhild in aught,
That shall I gladly grant her, / for sister dear is she.
Yea, ought ourselves to seek it, / might it but her honor be. "

1205

Thereto gave answer Hagen: / " Now such words give o'er.
Were Etzel known unto thee / as unto me of yore,
And did'st thou grant her to him, / as 'tis thy will I hear,
Then wouldst thou first have reason / for thy later weal to fear. "

1206

" Wherefore? " spake then Gunther. / " Well may I care for that,
E'er to thwart his temper / that so I aught of hate
At his hands should merit, / an if his wife she be. "
Thereto gave answer Hagen: / " Such counsel hast thou ne'er of me. "

1207

Then did they bid for Gernot / and Giselher to go,
For wished they of the royal / twain their mind to know,
If that the mighty monarch / Kriemhild for spouse should take.
Yet Hagen and none other / thereto did opposition make.

1208

Then spake of Burgundy / Giselher the thane:
" Well may'st thou now, friend Hagen, / show upright mind again:
For sorrows wrought upon her / may'st thou her well requite.
Howe'er she findeth fortune, / ne'er should it be in thy despite. "

1209

" Yea, hast thou to my sister / so many sorrows done, "
So spake further Giselher, / the full noble thane,
" That fullest reason hath she / to mete thee naught but hate.
In sooth was never lady / than she bereft of joy more great. "

1210

" What I do know full certain, / that known to all I make:
If e'er shall come the hour / that she do Etzel take,
She'll work us yet sore evil, / howe'er the same she plan.
Then in sooth will serve her / full many a keen and doughty man. "

1211

In answer then to Hagen / the brave Gernot said:
" With us doth lie to leave it / until they both be dead,
Ere that we ride ever / unto Etzel's land.
That we be faithful to her / doth honor meantime sure command. "

1212

Thereto again spake Hagen: / " Gainsay me here may none.
And shall the noble Kriemhild / e'er sit 'neath Helke's crown,
Howe'er she that accomplish, / she'll do us grievous hurt.
Good knights, therefrom to keep you / doth better with your weal consort. "

1213

In anger spake then Giselher / the son of Ute the fair:
" None shall yet among us / himself like traitor bear.
What honor e'er befall her, / rejoice thereat should we.
Whate'er thou sayest, Hagen, / true helper shall she find in me. "

1214

When that heard it Hagen / straightway waxed he wroth.
Gernot and Giselher / the knights high-minded both,
And Gunther, mighty monarch, / did counsel finally,
If that did wish it Kriemhild, / by them 'twould unopposed be.

1215

Then spake the margrave Gere: / " That lady will I tell
How that of royal Etzel / she may think full well.
In fear are subject to him / brave warriors many a one:
Well may he recompense her / for wrong that e'er to her was done. "

1216

Then went the knight full valiant / where he did Kriemhild find,
And straightway spake unto her / upon her greeting kind:
" Me may'st thou gladly welcome / with messengers high meed.
Fortune hath come to part thee / now from all thy bitter need.

1217

" For sake of love he bears thee, / lady, doth seek thy hand
One of all the highest / that e'er o'er monarch's land
Did rule in fullest honor, / or ever crown might wear:
High knights do bring the message, / which same thy brother bids thee hear. "

1218

Then spake she rich in sorrow: / " Now God forbid to thee
And all I have of kinsmen / that aught of mockery
They do on me, poor woman. / What were I unto one,
Who e'er at heart the joyance / of a noble wife hath known? "

1219

Much did she speak against it. / Anon as well came there
Gernot her brother / and the young Giselher.
In loving wise they begged her / her mourning heart to cheer:
An would she take the monarch, / verily her weal it were.

1220

Yet might not then by any / the lady's mind be bent,
That any man soever / to love she would consent.
Thereon the thanes besought her: / " Now grant the thing to be,
An dost thou nothing further, / that the messenger thou deign'st to see. "

1221

" That will I not deny you, " / spake the high lady,
" That the noble Ruediger / I full gladly see,
Such knightly grace adorns him. / Were he not messenger,
And came there other hither / by him I all unspoken were. "

1222

She spake: " Upon the morrow / bid him hither fare
Unto this my chamber. / Then shall he fully hear
How that do stand my wishes, / the which I'll tell him true. "
Of her full grievous sorrow / was she minded thus anew.