The Nibelungenlied
1263
Then spake again her brother: / " Sister, thy favor lend,
That now all thy sorrow / thereby may have an end. "
And so long they besought her / that full of sadness she
Her word at length had plighted / the monarch Etzel's wife to be.
1264
She spake: " You will I follow, / I most lorn lady,
That I fare to Hunland, / as soon as it may be
That I friends have ready / to lead me to his land. "
Before the knights assembled / fair Kriemhild pledged thereto her hand.
1265
Then spake again the margrave: / " Two knights do serve thee true,
And I thereof have many: / 'tis easy thing to do,
That thee with fitting honor / across the Rhine we guide.
Nor shalt thou, lady, longer / here in Burgundy abide.
1266
" Good men have I five hundred, / and eke my kinsmen stand
Ready here to serve thee / and far in Etzel's land,
Lady, at thy bidding. / And I do pledge the same,
Whene'er thou dost admonish, / to serve thee without cause for shame.
1267
" Now bid with full equipment / thy horses to prepare:
Ruediger's true counsel / will bring thee sorrow ne'er;
And tell it to thy maidens / whom thou wilt take with thee.
Full many a chosen warrior / on the way shall join our company. "
1268
They had full rich equipment / that once their train arrayed
The while that yet lived Siegfried, / so might she many a maid
In honor high lead with her, / as she thence would fare.
What steeds all rich caparisoned / awaited the high ladies there!
1269
If till that time they ever / in richest dress were clad,
Thereof now for their journey / full store was ready made,
For that they of the monarch / had such tidings caught.
From chests longtime well bolted / forth the treasures rich were brought.
1270
Little were they idle / until the fifth day,
But sought rich dress that folded / secure in covers lay.
Kriemhild wide did open / all her treasure there,
And largess great would give she / unto the men of Ruediger.
1271
Still had she of the treasure / of Nibelungenland,
(She weened the same in Hunland / to deal with bounteous hand)
So great that hundred horses / ne'er the whole might bear.
How stood the mind of Kriemhild, / came the tidings unto Hagen's ear.
1272
He spake: " Since Kriemhild never / may me in favor hold,
E'en so here must tarry / Siegfried's store of gold.
Wherefore unto mine enemies / such mickle treasure go?
What with the treasure Kriemhild / intendeth, that full well I know.
1273
" Might she but take it thither, / in sooth believe I that,
'Twould be dealt out in largess / to stir against me hate.
Nor own they steeds sufficient / the same to bear away.
'Twill safe be kept by Hagen / — so shall they unto Kriemhild say. "
1274
When she did hear the story, / with grief her heart was torn.
Eke unto the monarchs / all three the tale was borne.
Fain would they prevent it: / yet when that might not be,
Spake the noble Ruediger / in this wise full joyfully:
1275
" Wherefore, queen full stately, / weep'st thou o'er this gold?
For thee will King Etzel / in such high favor hold
When but his eyes behold thee, / to thee such store he'll give
That ne'er thou may'st exhaust it: / that, lady, by my word believe. "
1276
Thereto the queen gave answer: / " Full noble Ruediger,
Greater treasure never / king's daughter had for share
Than this that Hagen from me / now hath ta'en away. "
Then went her brother Gernot / to the chamber where the treasure lay.
1277
With force he stuck the monarch's / key into the door,
And soon of Kriemhild's treasure / they from the chamber bore
Marks full thirty thousand / or e'en more plenteously.
He bade the guests to take it, / which pleased King Gunther well to see.
1278
Then Gotelinde's husband / of Bechelaren spake:
" An if my Lady Kriemhild / with her complete might take
What treasure e'er came hither / from Nibelungenland,
Ne'er a whit would touch it / mine or my royal lady's hand.
1279
" Now bid them here to keep it, / for ne'er the same I'll touch.
Yea brought I from my country / of mine own wealth so much,
That we upon our journey / may be full well supplied,
And ne'er have lack in outlay / as in state we homeward ride. "
1280
Chests well filled a dozen / from the time of old
Had for their own her maidens, / of the best of gold
That e'er ye might discover: / now thence away 'twas borne,
And jewels for the ladies / upon the journey to be worn.
1281
Of the might she yet was fearful / of Hagen grim and bold.
Still had she of mass-money / a thousand marks in gold,
That gave she for the soul's rest / of her husband dear.
Such loving deed and faithful / did touch the heart of Ruediger.
1282
Then spake the lady mournful: / " Who now that loveth me,
And for the love they bear me / may willing exiles be,
Who with me to Hunland / now away shall ride?
Take they of my treasure / and steeds and meet attire provide. "
1283
Then did the margrave Eckewart / answer thus the queen:
" Since I from the beginning / of thy train have been,
Have I e'er right faithful / served thee, " spake the thane,
" And to the end I'll ever / thus faithful unto thee remain.
1284
" Eke will I lead with me / five hundred of my men,
Whom I grant to serve thee / in faithful way again.
Nor e'er shall we be parted / till that we be dead. "
Low bowing thanked him Kriemhild, / as verily might be his meed.
1285
Forth were brought the horses, / for that they thence would fare.
Then was a mickle weeping / of friends that parted there.
Ute, queen full stately, / and many a lady more
Showed that from Lady Kriemhild / to part did grieve their hearts full sore.
1286
A hundred stately maidens / with her she led away,
And as for them was fitting, / full rich was their array.
Many a bitter tear-drop / from shining eye fell down:
Yet joys knew they full many / eke in Etzel's land anon.
1287
Thither came Sir Giselher / and Gernot as well,
And with them train of followers, / as duty did compel.
Safe escort would they furnish / for their dear sister then,
And with them led of warriors / a thousand brave and stately men.
1288
Then came the valiant Gere, / and Ortwein eke came he:
Rumold the High Steward / might not absent be.
Unto the Danube did they / night-quarters meet provide.
Short way beyond the city / did the royal Gunther ride.
1289
Ere from the Rhine they started / had they forward sent
Messengers that full quickly / unto Hunland went,
And told unto the monarch / how that Ruediger
For spouse at length had won him / the high-born queen beyond compare.
Then spake again her brother: / " Sister, thy favor lend,
That now all thy sorrow / thereby may have an end. "
And so long they besought her / that full of sadness she
Her word at length had plighted / the monarch Etzel's wife to be.
1264
She spake: " You will I follow, / I most lorn lady,
That I fare to Hunland, / as soon as it may be
That I friends have ready / to lead me to his land. "
Before the knights assembled / fair Kriemhild pledged thereto her hand.
1265
Then spake again the margrave: / " Two knights do serve thee true,
And I thereof have many: / 'tis easy thing to do,
That thee with fitting honor / across the Rhine we guide.
Nor shalt thou, lady, longer / here in Burgundy abide.
1266
" Good men have I five hundred, / and eke my kinsmen stand
Ready here to serve thee / and far in Etzel's land,
Lady, at thy bidding. / And I do pledge the same,
Whene'er thou dost admonish, / to serve thee without cause for shame.
1267
" Now bid with full equipment / thy horses to prepare:
Ruediger's true counsel / will bring thee sorrow ne'er;
And tell it to thy maidens / whom thou wilt take with thee.
Full many a chosen warrior / on the way shall join our company. "
1268
They had full rich equipment / that once their train arrayed
The while that yet lived Siegfried, / so might she many a maid
In honor high lead with her, / as she thence would fare.
What steeds all rich caparisoned / awaited the high ladies there!
1269
If till that time they ever / in richest dress were clad,
Thereof now for their journey / full store was ready made,
For that they of the monarch / had such tidings caught.
From chests longtime well bolted / forth the treasures rich were brought.
1270
Little were they idle / until the fifth day,
But sought rich dress that folded / secure in covers lay.
Kriemhild wide did open / all her treasure there,
And largess great would give she / unto the men of Ruediger.
1271
Still had she of the treasure / of Nibelungenland,
(She weened the same in Hunland / to deal with bounteous hand)
So great that hundred horses / ne'er the whole might bear.
How stood the mind of Kriemhild, / came the tidings unto Hagen's ear.
1272
He spake: " Since Kriemhild never / may me in favor hold,
E'en so here must tarry / Siegfried's store of gold.
Wherefore unto mine enemies / such mickle treasure go?
What with the treasure Kriemhild / intendeth, that full well I know.
1273
" Might she but take it thither, / in sooth believe I that,
'Twould be dealt out in largess / to stir against me hate.
Nor own they steeds sufficient / the same to bear away.
'Twill safe be kept by Hagen / — so shall they unto Kriemhild say. "
1274
When she did hear the story, / with grief her heart was torn.
Eke unto the monarchs / all three the tale was borne.
Fain would they prevent it: / yet when that might not be,
Spake the noble Ruediger / in this wise full joyfully:
1275
" Wherefore, queen full stately, / weep'st thou o'er this gold?
For thee will King Etzel / in such high favor hold
When but his eyes behold thee, / to thee such store he'll give
That ne'er thou may'st exhaust it: / that, lady, by my word believe. "
1276
Thereto the queen gave answer: / " Full noble Ruediger,
Greater treasure never / king's daughter had for share
Than this that Hagen from me / now hath ta'en away. "
Then went her brother Gernot / to the chamber where the treasure lay.
1277
With force he stuck the monarch's / key into the door,
And soon of Kriemhild's treasure / they from the chamber bore
Marks full thirty thousand / or e'en more plenteously.
He bade the guests to take it, / which pleased King Gunther well to see.
1278
Then Gotelinde's husband / of Bechelaren spake:
" An if my Lady Kriemhild / with her complete might take
What treasure e'er came hither / from Nibelungenland,
Ne'er a whit would touch it / mine or my royal lady's hand.
1279
" Now bid them here to keep it, / for ne'er the same I'll touch.
Yea brought I from my country / of mine own wealth so much,
That we upon our journey / may be full well supplied,
And ne'er have lack in outlay / as in state we homeward ride. "
1280
Chests well filled a dozen / from the time of old
Had for their own her maidens, / of the best of gold
That e'er ye might discover: / now thence away 'twas borne,
And jewels for the ladies / upon the journey to be worn.
1281
Of the might she yet was fearful / of Hagen grim and bold.
Still had she of mass-money / a thousand marks in gold,
That gave she for the soul's rest / of her husband dear.
Such loving deed and faithful / did touch the heart of Ruediger.
1282
Then spake the lady mournful: / " Who now that loveth me,
And for the love they bear me / may willing exiles be,
Who with me to Hunland / now away shall ride?
Take they of my treasure / and steeds and meet attire provide. "
1283
Then did the margrave Eckewart / answer thus the queen:
" Since I from the beginning / of thy train have been,
Have I e'er right faithful / served thee, " spake the thane,
" And to the end I'll ever / thus faithful unto thee remain.
1284
" Eke will I lead with me / five hundred of my men,
Whom I grant to serve thee / in faithful way again.
Nor e'er shall we be parted / till that we be dead. "
Low bowing thanked him Kriemhild, / as verily might be his meed.
1285
Forth were brought the horses, / for that they thence would fare.
Then was a mickle weeping / of friends that parted there.
Ute, queen full stately, / and many a lady more
Showed that from Lady Kriemhild / to part did grieve their hearts full sore.
1286
A hundred stately maidens / with her she led away,
And as for them was fitting, / full rich was their array.
Many a bitter tear-drop / from shining eye fell down:
Yet joys knew they full many / eke in Etzel's land anon.
1287
Thither came Sir Giselher / and Gernot as well,
And with them train of followers, / as duty did compel.
Safe escort would they furnish / for their dear sister then,
And with them led of warriors / a thousand brave and stately men.
1288
Then came the valiant Gere, / and Ortwein eke came he:
Rumold the High Steward / might not absent be.
Unto the Danube did they / night-quarters meet provide.
Short way beyond the city / did the royal Gunther ride.
1289
Ere from the Rhine they started / had they forward sent
Messengers that full quickly / unto Hunland went,
And told unto the monarch / how that Ruediger
For spouse at length had won him / the high-born queen beyond compare.
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