The Nibelungenlied
551
They sprang for their attire / and donned it nothing slow.
Then bade they that Siegfried / to court should thither go.
That did he right willing / for he gladly them did see.
Kriemhild the noble maiden / spake to him thus graciously.
552
" Welcome be, Sir Siegfried, / thou knight right praiseworthy
Yet where may King Gunther / my noble brother be?
It is through Brunhild's prowess, / I ween, he is forlorn.
Alack of me, poor maiden, / that I into this world was born! "
553
The valiant knight then answered: / " Give me news-bringer's meed
Know ye, fairest ladies, / ye weep without a need
I left him well and happy, / that would I have you know;
They two have sent me hither / to bear the tidings unto you.
554
" And offer thee good service / both his bride and he,
My full noble lady, / in love and loyalty.
Now give over weeping, / for straight will they be here. "
They had for many a season / heard not a tale to them so dear.
555
With fold of snow-white garment / then her eyes so bright
Dried she after weeping / She gan thank the knight
Who of these glad tidings / had been the messenger.
Then was a mickle sorrow / and cause of weeping ta'en from her.
556
She bade the knight be seated, / which he did willingly.
Then spake the lovely maiden: / " It were a joy to me,
Could I the message-bringer / with gold of mine repay.
Thereto art thou too high-born; / I'll serve thee then in other way. "
557
" If I alone were ruler, " / spake he, " o'er thirty lands,
Yet gifts I'd take right gladly, / came they from thy fair hands. "
Then spake the virtuous maiden: / " In truth it shall be so. "
Then bade she her chamberlain / forth for message-money go.
558
Four and twenty armlets / with stones of precious kind,
These gave she him for guerdon / 'Twas not the hero's mind,
That he himself should keep them: / he dealt them all around
Unto her fair attendants / whom he within the chamber found.
559
Of service, too, her mother / did kindly offer make.
" Then have I more to tell you, " / the keen warrior spake:
" Of what the king doth beg you, / when comes he to the Rhine.
Wilt thou perform it, lady, / then will he e'er to thee incline.
560
" The noble guests he bringeth, / — this heard I him request,
That ye shall well receive them; / and furthermore his hest,
That ye ride forth to meet him / 'fore Worms upon the strand.
So have ye from the monarch / faithfully his high command. "
561
Then spake the lovely maiden: / " Full ready there am I.
If I in aught can serve him, / I'll never that deny.
In all good faith and kindness / shall it e'er be done. "
Then deeper grew her color / that from increase of joy she won.
562
Never was royal message / better received before.
The lady sheer had kissed him, / if 'twere a thing to dare.
From those high ladies took he / his leave in courteous wise
Then did they there in Burgundy / in way as Siegfried did advise.
563
Sindold and Hunold / and Rumold the thane
In truth were nothing idle, / but wrought with might and main
To raise the sitting-places / 'fore Worms upon the strand.
There did the royal Steward / busy 'mid the workers stand.
564
Ortwein and Gere / thought longer not to bide,
But sent unto their kinsmen / forth on every side.
They told of festive meeting / there that was to be;
And deck themselves to meet them / did the maidens fair to see.
565
The walls throughout the palace / were dight full richly all,
Looking unto the strangers; / and King Gunther's hall
Full well with seats and tables / for many a noble guest.
And great was the rejoicing / in prospect of the mighty feast.
566
Then rode from every quarter / hither through the land
The three monarchs' kinsmen, / who there were called to hand,
That they might be in waiting / for those expected there
Then from enfolding covers / took they store of raiments rare.
567
Some watchers brought the tidings / that Brunhild's followers were
Seen coming riding hither. / Then rose a mickle stir
Among the folk so many / in the land of Burgundy.
Heigh-ho! What valiant warriors / alike on both parts might you see!
568
Then spake the fair Kriemhild: / " Of my good maidens, ye
Who at this reception / shall bear me company,
From out the chests now seek ye / attire the very best
So shall praise and honor / be ours from many a noble guest. "
569
Then came the knights also / and bade bring forth to view
The saddles richly furnished / of ruddy golden hue,
That ladies fair should ride on / at Worms unto the Rhine
Better horse-equipment / could never artisan design.
570
Heigh-ho! What gold all glancing / from the steeds there shone!
Sparkled from their bridles / full many a precious stone.
Gold-wrought stools for mounting / and shining carpets good
Brought they for the ladies: / joyous were they all of mood.
571
Within the court the heroes / bedight with trappings due
Awaited noble maidens, / as I have told to you.
A narrow band from saddle / went round each horse's breast,
Its beauty none could tell you: / of silk it was the very best.
572
Six and eighty ladies / came in manner meet
Wearing each a wimple / Kriemhild there to greet
They went, all fair to look on, / in shining garments clad.
Then came eke well apparelled / full many a fair and stately maid.
573
Four and fifty were they / of the land of Burgundy,
And they were eke the noblest / that ever you might see.
Adorned with shining hair-bands / the fair-haired maids came on.
What now the king desired, / that most carefully was done.
574
Made of stuffs all costly, / the best you might desire,
Before the gallant strangers / wore they such rich attire
As well did fit the beauty / of many amid the throng.
He sure had lost his senses, / who could have wished them any wrong.
575
Of sable and of ermine / many a dress was worn.
Arms and hands a many / did they full well adorn
With rings o'er silken dresses / that there did clothe them well.
Of all the ready-making / none might ever fully tell.
576
Full many a well-wrought girdle / in long and costly braid
About the shining garments / by many a hand was laid
On dress of precious ferrandine / of silk from Araby.
And full of high rejoicing / were those maids of high degree.
577
With clasps before her bosom / was many a fair maid
Laced full beauteously. / She might well be sad,
Whose full beaming color / vied not with weeds she wore.
Such a stately company / ne'er possessed a queen before.
578
When now the lovely maidens / attired you might see,
Soon were those beside them / should bear them company,
Of warriors high-hearted / a full mickle band.
And with their shields they carried / full many an ashen shaft in hand.
They sprang for their attire / and donned it nothing slow.
Then bade they that Siegfried / to court should thither go.
That did he right willing / for he gladly them did see.
Kriemhild the noble maiden / spake to him thus graciously.
552
" Welcome be, Sir Siegfried, / thou knight right praiseworthy
Yet where may King Gunther / my noble brother be?
It is through Brunhild's prowess, / I ween, he is forlorn.
Alack of me, poor maiden, / that I into this world was born! "
553
The valiant knight then answered: / " Give me news-bringer's meed
Know ye, fairest ladies, / ye weep without a need
I left him well and happy, / that would I have you know;
They two have sent me hither / to bear the tidings unto you.
554
" And offer thee good service / both his bride and he,
My full noble lady, / in love and loyalty.
Now give over weeping, / for straight will they be here. "
They had for many a season / heard not a tale to them so dear.
555
With fold of snow-white garment / then her eyes so bright
Dried she after weeping / She gan thank the knight
Who of these glad tidings / had been the messenger.
Then was a mickle sorrow / and cause of weeping ta'en from her.
556
She bade the knight be seated, / which he did willingly.
Then spake the lovely maiden: / " It were a joy to me,
Could I the message-bringer / with gold of mine repay.
Thereto art thou too high-born; / I'll serve thee then in other way. "
557
" If I alone were ruler, " / spake he, " o'er thirty lands,
Yet gifts I'd take right gladly, / came they from thy fair hands. "
Then spake the virtuous maiden: / " In truth it shall be so. "
Then bade she her chamberlain / forth for message-money go.
558
Four and twenty armlets / with stones of precious kind,
These gave she him for guerdon / 'Twas not the hero's mind,
That he himself should keep them: / he dealt them all around
Unto her fair attendants / whom he within the chamber found.
559
Of service, too, her mother / did kindly offer make.
" Then have I more to tell you, " / the keen warrior spake:
" Of what the king doth beg you, / when comes he to the Rhine.
Wilt thou perform it, lady, / then will he e'er to thee incline.
560
" The noble guests he bringeth, / — this heard I him request,
That ye shall well receive them; / and furthermore his hest,
That ye ride forth to meet him / 'fore Worms upon the strand.
So have ye from the monarch / faithfully his high command. "
561
Then spake the lovely maiden: / " Full ready there am I.
If I in aught can serve him, / I'll never that deny.
In all good faith and kindness / shall it e'er be done. "
Then deeper grew her color / that from increase of joy she won.
562
Never was royal message / better received before.
The lady sheer had kissed him, / if 'twere a thing to dare.
From those high ladies took he / his leave in courteous wise
Then did they there in Burgundy / in way as Siegfried did advise.
563
Sindold and Hunold / and Rumold the thane
In truth were nothing idle, / but wrought with might and main
To raise the sitting-places / 'fore Worms upon the strand.
There did the royal Steward / busy 'mid the workers stand.
564
Ortwein and Gere / thought longer not to bide,
But sent unto their kinsmen / forth on every side.
They told of festive meeting / there that was to be;
And deck themselves to meet them / did the maidens fair to see.
565
The walls throughout the palace / were dight full richly all,
Looking unto the strangers; / and King Gunther's hall
Full well with seats and tables / for many a noble guest.
And great was the rejoicing / in prospect of the mighty feast.
566
Then rode from every quarter / hither through the land
The three monarchs' kinsmen, / who there were called to hand,
That they might be in waiting / for those expected there
Then from enfolding covers / took they store of raiments rare.
567
Some watchers brought the tidings / that Brunhild's followers were
Seen coming riding hither. / Then rose a mickle stir
Among the folk so many / in the land of Burgundy.
Heigh-ho! What valiant warriors / alike on both parts might you see!
568
Then spake the fair Kriemhild: / " Of my good maidens, ye
Who at this reception / shall bear me company,
From out the chests now seek ye / attire the very best
So shall praise and honor / be ours from many a noble guest. "
569
Then came the knights also / and bade bring forth to view
The saddles richly furnished / of ruddy golden hue,
That ladies fair should ride on / at Worms unto the Rhine
Better horse-equipment / could never artisan design.
570
Heigh-ho! What gold all glancing / from the steeds there shone!
Sparkled from their bridles / full many a precious stone.
Gold-wrought stools for mounting / and shining carpets good
Brought they for the ladies: / joyous were they all of mood.
571
Within the court the heroes / bedight with trappings due
Awaited noble maidens, / as I have told to you.
A narrow band from saddle / went round each horse's breast,
Its beauty none could tell you: / of silk it was the very best.
572
Six and eighty ladies / came in manner meet
Wearing each a wimple / Kriemhild there to greet
They went, all fair to look on, / in shining garments clad.
Then came eke well apparelled / full many a fair and stately maid.
573
Four and fifty were they / of the land of Burgundy,
And they were eke the noblest / that ever you might see.
Adorned with shining hair-bands / the fair-haired maids came on.
What now the king desired, / that most carefully was done.
574
Made of stuffs all costly, / the best you might desire,
Before the gallant strangers / wore they such rich attire
As well did fit the beauty / of many amid the throng.
He sure had lost his senses, / who could have wished them any wrong.
575
Of sable and of ermine / many a dress was worn.
Arms and hands a many / did they full well adorn
With rings o'er silken dresses / that there did clothe them well.
Of all the ready-making / none might ever fully tell.
576
Full many a well-wrought girdle / in long and costly braid
About the shining garments / by many a hand was laid
On dress of precious ferrandine / of silk from Araby.
And full of high rejoicing / were those maids of high degree.
577
With clasps before her bosom / was many a fair maid
Laced full beauteously. / She might well be sad,
Whose full beaming color / vied not with weeds she wore.
Such a stately company / ne'er possessed a queen before.
578
When now the lovely maidens / attired you might see,
Soon were those beside them / should bear them company,
Of warriors high-hearted / a full mickle band.
And with their shields they carried / full many an ashen shaft in hand.
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