The Nibelungenlied
1462
Added then his counsel / the princely Gernot there:
" Though be it thou hast reason / thine own death to fear
Afar in Hunnish kingdom, / should we for that forego
To visit our high sister, / that were in sooth but ill to do. "
1463
Unto that thane did likewise / Giselher then say:
" Since well thou know'st, friend Hagen, / what guilt on thee doth weigh,
Then tarry here behind us / and of thyself have care,
And let who dares the journey / with us unto my sister fare. "
1464
Thereat did rage full sorely / Tronje's doughty thane:
" So shall ye ne'er find any / that were to go more fain,
Nor who may better guide you / than I upon your way.
And will ye not give over, / know then my humor soon ye may. "
1465
Then spake the Kitchen Master, / Rumold a lofty thane:
" Here might ye guests and kinsmen / in plenty long maintain
After your own pleasure, / for ye have goodly store.
I ween ye ne'er found Hagen / traitor to you heretofore.
1466
" If heed ye will not Hagen, / still Rumold doth advise
— For ye have faithful service / from me in willing wise —
That here at home ye tarry / for the love of me,
And leave the royal Etzel / afar with Kriemhild to be.
1467
" Where in the world might ever / ye more happy be
Than here where from danger / of every foeman free,
Where ye may go as likes you / in goodliest attire,
Drink wine the best, and stately / women meet your heart's desire.
1468
" And daily is your victual / the best that ever knew
A king of any country. / And were the thing not true,
At home ye yet should tarry / for sake of your fair wife
Ere that in childish fashion / ye thus at venture set your life.
1469
" Thus rede I that ye go not. / Mighty are your lands,
And at home more easy may ye / be freed from hostile hands
Than if ye pine in Hunland. / How there it is, who knows?
O Master, go not thither, / — such is the rede that Rumold owes. "
1470
" We'll ne'er give o'er the journey, " / Gernot then did say,
" When thus our sister bids us / in such friendly way
And Etzel, mighty monarch. / Wherefore should we refrain?
Who goes not gladly thither, / here at home may he remain. "
1471
Thereto gave answer Hagen: / " Take not amiss, I pray,
These my words outspoken, / let befall what may.
Yet do I counsel truly, / as ye your safety prize,
That to the Huns ye journey / armed full well in warlike guise.
1472
" Will ye then not give over, / your men together call,
The best that ye may gather / from districts one and all.
From out them all I'll choose you / a thousand knights full good,
Then may ye reck but little / the vengeful Kriemhild's angry mood. "
1473
" I'll gladly heed thy counsel, " / straight the king replied,
And bade the couriers traverse / his kingdom far and wide.
Soon they brought together / three thousand men or more,
Who little weened what mickle / sorrow was for them in store.
1474
Joyful came they riding / to King Gunther's land.
Steeds and equipment for them / all he did command,
Who should make the journey / thence from Burgundy.
Warriors many were there / to serve the king right willingly.
1475
Hagen then of Tronje / to Dankwart did assign
Of their warriors eighty / to lead unto the Rhine.
Equipped in knightly harness / were they soon at hand.
Riding in gallant fashion / unto royal Gunther's land.
1476
Came eke the doughty Volker, / a noble minstrel he,
With thirty goodly warriors / to join the company,
Who wore so rich attire / 'twould fit a monarch well.
That he would fare to Hunland, / bade he unto Gunther tell.
1477
Who was this same Volker / that will I let you know:
He was a knight full noble, / to him did service owe
Many a goodly warrior / in the land of Burgundy.
For that he well could fiddle, / named the Minstrel eke was he.
1478
Thousand men chose Hagen, / who well to him were known.
What things in storm of battle / their doughty arm had done,
Or what they wrought at all times, / that knew he full well.
Nor of them might e'er mortal / aught but deeds of valor tell.
1479
The messengers of Kriemhild, / full loath they were to wait,
For of their master's anger / stood they in terror great.
Each day for leave to journey / more great their yearning grew,
But daily to withhold it / crafty Hagen pretext knew.
1480
He spake unto his master: / " Well shall we beware
Hence to let them journey / ere we ourselves prepare
In seven days thereafter / to ride to Etzel's land:
If any mean us evil, / so may we better understand.
1481
" Nor may the Lady Kriemhild / ready make thereto,
That any by her counsel / scathe to us may do.
Yet if such wish she cherish, / evil shall be her meed,
For many a chosen warrior / with us shall we thither lead. "
1626
" To avenge his boatman / did they attack our train.
By hand of my brother / hath Gelfrat been slain
Then fled Else before us, / and mickle was his need.
Ours four, and theirs a thousand, / remained behind in battle dead. "
1627
Now can we not inform you / where resting-place they found.
But cause to know their passing / had the country-folk around,
When there the sons of Ute / to court did fare in state.
At Passau fit reception / did presently the knights await.
1628
The noble monarchs' uncle, / Bishop Pilgrim that was,
Full joyous-hearted was he / that through the land did pass
With train of lusty warriors / his royal nephews three.
That willing was his service, / waited they not long to see.
1629
To greet them on their journey / did friends lack no device,
Yet not to lodge them fully / might Passau's bounds suffice.
They must across the water / where spreading sward they found,
And lodge and tent erected / soon were stretching o'er the ground.
1630
Nor from that spot they onward / might journey all that day,
And eke till night was over, / for pleasant was their stay.
Next to the land of Ruediger / must they in sooth ride on,
To whom full soon the story / of their coming eke was known.
1631
When fitting rest had taken / the knights with travel worn,
And of Etzel's country / they had reached the bourn,
A knight they found there sleeping / that ne'er should aught but wake,
From whom of Tronje Hagen / in stealth a mighty sword did take.
1632
Hight in sooth was Eckewart / that same valiant knight.
For what was there befallen / was he in sorry plight,
That by those heroes' passing / he had lost his sword
At Ruediger's marches / found they meagre was the guard.
1633
" O, woe is me dishonored, " / Eckewart then cried;
" Yea, rueth me fully sorely, /this Burgundian ride
What time was taken Siegfried, / did joy depart from me.
Alack, O Master Ruediger, / how ill my service unto thee! "
1634
Hagen, full well perceiving / the noble warrior's plight,
Gave him again his weapon / and armbands six full bright.
" These take, good knight, in token / that thou art still my friend.
A valiant warrior art thou, / though dost thou lone this border tend. "
1635
" May God thy gifts repay thee, " / Eckewart replied,
" Yet rueth me full sorely / that to the Huns ye ride.
Erstwhile slew ye Siegfried / and vengeance have to fear;
My rede to you is truly: / " Beware ye well of danger here. "
1636
" Now must God preserve us, " / answered Hagen there.
" In sooth for nothing further / have these thanes a care
Than for place of shelter, / the kings and all their band,
And where this night a refuge / we may find within this land.
1637
" Done to death our horses / with the long journey are,
And food as well exhausted, " / Hagen did declare.
" Nor find we aught for purchase; / a host we need instead,
Who would in kindness give us, / ere this evening, of his bread. "
1638
Thereto gave answer Eckewart: / " I'll show you such a one,
That so warm a welcome / find ye never none
In country whatsoever / as here your lot may be,
An if ye, thanes full gallant, / the noble Ruediger will see.
1639
He dwelleth by the highway / and is most bounteous host
That house e'er had for master. / His heart may graces boast,
As in the lovely May-time / the flowrets deck the mead.
To do good thanes a service / is for his heart most joyous deed. "
1640
Then spake the royal Gunther: / " Wilt thou my messenger be,
If will my dear friend Ruediger, / as favor done to me,
His hospitable shelter / with all my warriors share,
Therefore full to requite thee / shall e'er hereafter be my care. "
1641
" Thy messenger am I gladly, " / Eckewart replied,
And in right willing manner / straight away did ride,
The message thus received / to Ruediger to bear.
Nor did so joyous tidings / for many a season greet his ear.
1642
Hasting to Bechelaren / was seen a noble thane.
The same perceived Ruediger, / and spake: " O'er yonder plain
Hither hastens Eckewart, / who Kriemhild's might doth own. "
He weened that by some foemen / to him had injury been done.
1643
Then passed he forth the gateway / where the messenger did stand.
His sword he loosed from girdle / and laid from out his hand.
The message that he carried / might he not long withhold
From the master and his kinsmen; / full soon the same to them was told.
1644
He spake unto the margrave: / " I come at high command
Of the lordly Gunther / of Burgundian land,
And Giselher and Gernot, / his royal brothers twain.
In service true commends him / unto thee each lofty thane.
1645
" The like hath Hagen bidden / and Volker as well
With homage oft-times proffered. / And more have I to tell,
The which King Gunther's marshal / to thee doth send by me:
How that the valiant warriors / do crave thy hospitality. "
1646
With smiling visage Ruediger / made thereto reply:
" Now joyeth me the story / that the monarchs high
Do deign to seek my service, / that ne'er refused shall be.
Come they unto my castle, / 'tis joy and gladness unto me. "
1647
" Dankwart the marshal / hath bidden let thee know
Who seek with them thy shelter / as through thy land they go:
Three score of valiant leaders / and thousand knights right good,
With squires eke nine thousand. " / Thereat was he full glad of mood.
1648
" To me 'tis mickle honor, " / Ruediger then spake,
" That through my castle's portals / such guests will entry make,
For ne'er hath been occasion / my service yet to lend.
Now ride ye, men and kinsmen, / and on these lofty knights attend. "
1649
Then to horse did hasten / knight and willing squire,
For glad they were at all times / to do their lord's desire,
And keen that thus their service / should not be rendered late
Unwitting Lady Gotelinde / still within her chamber sate.
Added then his counsel / the princely Gernot there:
" Though be it thou hast reason / thine own death to fear
Afar in Hunnish kingdom, / should we for that forego
To visit our high sister, / that were in sooth but ill to do. "
1463
Unto that thane did likewise / Giselher then say:
" Since well thou know'st, friend Hagen, / what guilt on thee doth weigh,
Then tarry here behind us / and of thyself have care,
And let who dares the journey / with us unto my sister fare. "
1464
Thereat did rage full sorely / Tronje's doughty thane:
" So shall ye ne'er find any / that were to go more fain,
Nor who may better guide you / than I upon your way.
And will ye not give over, / know then my humor soon ye may. "
1465
Then spake the Kitchen Master, / Rumold a lofty thane:
" Here might ye guests and kinsmen / in plenty long maintain
After your own pleasure, / for ye have goodly store.
I ween ye ne'er found Hagen / traitor to you heretofore.
1466
" If heed ye will not Hagen, / still Rumold doth advise
— For ye have faithful service / from me in willing wise —
That here at home ye tarry / for the love of me,
And leave the royal Etzel / afar with Kriemhild to be.
1467
" Where in the world might ever / ye more happy be
Than here where from danger / of every foeman free,
Where ye may go as likes you / in goodliest attire,
Drink wine the best, and stately / women meet your heart's desire.
1468
" And daily is your victual / the best that ever knew
A king of any country. / And were the thing not true,
At home ye yet should tarry / for sake of your fair wife
Ere that in childish fashion / ye thus at venture set your life.
1469
" Thus rede I that ye go not. / Mighty are your lands,
And at home more easy may ye / be freed from hostile hands
Than if ye pine in Hunland. / How there it is, who knows?
O Master, go not thither, / — such is the rede that Rumold owes. "
1470
" We'll ne'er give o'er the journey, " / Gernot then did say,
" When thus our sister bids us / in such friendly way
And Etzel, mighty monarch. / Wherefore should we refrain?
Who goes not gladly thither, / here at home may he remain. "
1471
Thereto gave answer Hagen: / " Take not amiss, I pray,
These my words outspoken, / let befall what may.
Yet do I counsel truly, / as ye your safety prize,
That to the Huns ye journey / armed full well in warlike guise.
1472
" Will ye then not give over, / your men together call,
The best that ye may gather / from districts one and all.
From out them all I'll choose you / a thousand knights full good,
Then may ye reck but little / the vengeful Kriemhild's angry mood. "
1473
" I'll gladly heed thy counsel, " / straight the king replied,
And bade the couriers traverse / his kingdom far and wide.
Soon they brought together / three thousand men or more,
Who little weened what mickle / sorrow was for them in store.
1474
Joyful came they riding / to King Gunther's land.
Steeds and equipment for them / all he did command,
Who should make the journey / thence from Burgundy.
Warriors many were there / to serve the king right willingly.
1475
Hagen then of Tronje / to Dankwart did assign
Of their warriors eighty / to lead unto the Rhine.
Equipped in knightly harness / were they soon at hand.
Riding in gallant fashion / unto royal Gunther's land.
1476
Came eke the doughty Volker, / a noble minstrel he,
With thirty goodly warriors / to join the company,
Who wore so rich attire / 'twould fit a monarch well.
That he would fare to Hunland, / bade he unto Gunther tell.
1477
Who was this same Volker / that will I let you know:
He was a knight full noble, / to him did service owe
Many a goodly warrior / in the land of Burgundy.
For that he well could fiddle, / named the Minstrel eke was he.
1478
Thousand men chose Hagen, / who well to him were known.
What things in storm of battle / their doughty arm had done,
Or what they wrought at all times, / that knew he full well.
Nor of them might e'er mortal / aught but deeds of valor tell.
1479
The messengers of Kriemhild, / full loath they were to wait,
For of their master's anger / stood they in terror great.
Each day for leave to journey / more great their yearning grew,
But daily to withhold it / crafty Hagen pretext knew.
1480
He spake unto his master: / " Well shall we beware
Hence to let them journey / ere we ourselves prepare
In seven days thereafter / to ride to Etzel's land:
If any mean us evil, / so may we better understand.
1481
" Nor may the Lady Kriemhild / ready make thereto,
That any by her counsel / scathe to us may do.
Yet if such wish she cherish, / evil shall be her meed,
For many a chosen warrior / with us shall we thither lead. "
1626
" To avenge his boatman / did they attack our train.
By hand of my brother / hath Gelfrat been slain
Then fled Else before us, / and mickle was his need.
Ours four, and theirs a thousand, / remained behind in battle dead. "
1627
Now can we not inform you / where resting-place they found.
But cause to know their passing / had the country-folk around,
When there the sons of Ute / to court did fare in state.
At Passau fit reception / did presently the knights await.
1628
The noble monarchs' uncle, / Bishop Pilgrim that was,
Full joyous-hearted was he / that through the land did pass
With train of lusty warriors / his royal nephews three.
That willing was his service, / waited they not long to see.
1629
To greet them on their journey / did friends lack no device,
Yet not to lodge them fully / might Passau's bounds suffice.
They must across the water / where spreading sward they found,
And lodge and tent erected / soon were stretching o'er the ground.
1630
Nor from that spot they onward / might journey all that day,
And eke till night was over, / for pleasant was their stay.
Next to the land of Ruediger / must they in sooth ride on,
To whom full soon the story / of their coming eke was known.
1631
When fitting rest had taken / the knights with travel worn,
And of Etzel's country / they had reached the bourn,
A knight they found there sleeping / that ne'er should aught but wake,
From whom of Tronje Hagen / in stealth a mighty sword did take.
1632
Hight in sooth was Eckewart / that same valiant knight.
For what was there befallen / was he in sorry plight,
That by those heroes' passing / he had lost his sword
At Ruediger's marches / found they meagre was the guard.
1633
" O, woe is me dishonored, " / Eckewart then cried;
" Yea, rueth me fully sorely, /this Burgundian ride
What time was taken Siegfried, / did joy depart from me.
Alack, O Master Ruediger, / how ill my service unto thee! "
1634
Hagen, full well perceiving / the noble warrior's plight,
Gave him again his weapon / and armbands six full bright.
" These take, good knight, in token / that thou art still my friend.
A valiant warrior art thou, / though dost thou lone this border tend. "
1635
" May God thy gifts repay thee, " / Eckewart replied,
" Yet rueth me full sorely / that to the Huns ye ride.
Erstwhile slew ye Siegfried / and vengeance have to fear;
My rede to you is truly: / " Beware ye well of danger here. "
1636
" Now must God preserve us, " / answered Hagen there.
" In sooth for nothing further / have these thanes a care
Than for place of shelter, / the kings and all their band,
And where this night a refuge / we may find within this land.
1637
" Done to death our horses / with the long journey are,
And food as well exhausted, " / Hagen did declare.
" Nor find we aught for purchase; / a host we need instead,
Who would in kindness give us, / ere this evening, of his bread. "
1638
Thereto gave answer Eckewart: / " I'll show you such a one,
That so warm a welcome / find ye never none
In country whatsoever / as here your lot may be,
An if ye, thanes full gallant, / the noble Ruediger will see.
1639
He dwelleth by the highway / and is most bounteous host
That house e'er had for master. / His heart may graces boast,
As in the lovely May-time / the flowrets deck the mead.
To do good thanes a service / is for his heart most joyous deed. "
1640
Then spake the royal Gunther: / " Wilt thou my messenger be,
If will my dear friend Ruediger, / as favor done to me,
His hospitable shelter / with all my warriors share,
Therefore full to requite thee / shall e'er hereafter be my care. "
1641
" Thy messenger am I gladly, " / Eckewart replied,
And in right willing manner / straight away did ride,
The message thus received / to Ruediger to bear.
Nor did so joyous tidings / for many a season greet his ear.
1642
Hasting to Bechelaren / was seen a noble thane.
The same perceived Ruediger, / and spake: " O'er yonder plain
Hither hastens Eckewart, / who Kriemhild's might doth own. "
He weened that by some foemen / to him had injury been done.
1643
Then passed he forth the gateway / where the messenger did stand.
His sword he loosed from girdle / and laid from out his hand.
The message that he carried / might he not long withhold
From the master and his kinsmen; / full soon the same to them was told.
1644
He spake unto the margrave: / " I come at high command
Of the lordly Gunther / of Burgundian land,
And Giselher and Gernot, / his royal brothers twain.
In service true commends him / unto thee each lofty thane.
1645
" The like hath Hagen bidden / and Volker as well
With homage oft-times proffered. / And more have I to tell,
The which King Gunther's marshal / to thee doth send by me:
How that the valiant warriors / do crave thy hospitality. "
1646
With smiling visage Ruediger / made thereto reply:
" Now joyeth me the story / that the monarchs high
Do deign to seek my service, / that ne'er refused shall be.
Come they unto my castle, / 'tis joy and gladness unto me. "
1647
" Dankwart the marshal / hath bidden let thee know
Who seek with them thy shelter / as through thy land they go:
Three score of valiant leaders / and thousand knights right good,
With squires eke nine thousand. " / Thereat was he full glad of mood.
1648
" To me 'tis mickle honor, " / Ruediger then spake,
" That through my castle's portals / such guests will entry make,
For ne'er hath been occasion / my service yet to lend.
Now ride ye, men and kinsmen, / and on these lofty knights attend. "
1649
Then to horse did hasten / knight and willing squire,
For glad they were at all times / to do their lord's desire,
And keen that thus their service / should not be rendered late
Unwitting Lady Gotelinde / still within her chamber sate.
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