The Nibelungenlied
1482
Shields well-wrought and saddles, / with all the mickle gear
That into Etzel's country / the warriors should wear,
The same was now made ready / for many a knight full keen.
The messengers of Kriemhild / before King Gunther soon were seen.
1483
When were come the messengers, / Gernot them addressed:
" King Gunther now is minded / to answer Etzel's quest.
Full gladly go we thither / with him to make high-tide
And see our lofty sister, / — of that set ye all doubt aside. "
1484
Thereto spake King Gunther: / " Can ye surely say
When shall be the high-tide, / or upon what day
We shall there assemble? " / Spake Schwemmel instantly:
" At turn of sun in summer / shall in sooth the meeting be. "
1485
The monarch leave did grant them, / ere they should take their way,
If that to Lady Brunhild / they would their homage pay,
His high pleasure was it / they unto her should go.
Such thing prevented Volker, / and did his mistress' pleasure so.
1486
" In sooth, my Lady Brunhild / hath scarce such health to-day
As that she might receive you, " / the gallant knight did say.
" Bide ye till the morrow, / may ye the lady see. "
When thus they sought her presence, / might their wish not granted be.
1487
To the messengers right gracious / was the mighty king,
And bade he from his treasure / on shields expansive bring
Shining gold in plenty / whereof he had great store.
Eke richest gifts received they / from his lofty kinsmen more.
1488
Giselher and Gernot, / Gere and Ortwein,
That they were free in giving / soon full well was seen.
So costly gifts were offered / unto each messenger
That they dared not receive them, / for Etzel's anger did they fear.
1489
Then unto King Gunther / Werbel spake again:
Sire, let now thy presents / in thine own land remain.
The same we may not carry, / my master hath decreed
That we accept no bounty. / Of that in sooth we've little need. "
1490
Thereat the lord of Rhineland / was seen in high displeasure,
That they should thus accept not / so mighty monarch's treasure?
In their despite yet took they / rich dress and gold in store,
The which moreover with them / home to Etzel's land they bore.
1491
Ere that they thence departed / they Lady Ute sought,
Whereat the gallant Giselher / straight the minstrels brought
Unto his mother's presence. / Kind greetings sent the dame,
And wish that high in honor / still might stand her daughter's name.
1492
Then bade the lofty lady / embroidered silks and gold
For the sake of Kriemhild, / whom loved she as of old,
And eke for sake of Etzel, / unto the minstrels give.
What thus so free was offered / might they in sooth right fain receive.
1493
Soon now had ta'en departure / the messengers from thence,
From knight and fairest lady, / and joyous fared they hence
Unto Suabian country; / Gernot had given behest
Thus far for armed escort, / that none their journey might molest.
1494
When these had parted from them, / safe still from harm were they,
For Etzel's might did guard them / wherever led their way.
Nor ever came there any / that aught to take would dare,
As into Etzel's country / they in mickle haste did fare.
1495
Where'er they friends encountered, / to all they straight made known
How that they of Burgundy / should follow after soon
From Rhine upon their journey / unto the Huns' country.
The message brought they likewise / unto Bishop Pilgrim's see.
1496
As down 'fore Bechelaren / they passed upon their way,
The tidings eke to Ruediger / failed they not to say,
And unto Gotelinde, / the margrave's wife the same.
At thought so soon to see them / was filled with joy the lofty dame.
1497
Hasting with the tidings / each minstrel's courser ran,
Till found they royal Etzel / within his burgh at Gran.
Greeting upon greeting, / which they must all bestow,
They to the king delivered; / with joy his visage was aglow.
1498
When that the lofty Kriemhild / did eke the tidings hear,
How that her royal brothers / unto the land would fare,
In sooth her heart was gladdened; / on the minstrels she bestowed
Richest gifts in plenty, / as she to her high station owed.
1499
She spake: " Now shall ye, Werbel / and Schwemmel, tell to me
Who cometh of my kinsmen / to our festivity,
Who of all were bidden / this our land to seek?
Now tell me, when the message / heard he, what did Hagen speak? "
1500
Answered: " He came to council / early upon a day,
But little was of pleasant / in what he there did say.
When learned he their intention, / in wrath did Hagen swear,
To death 'twere making journey, / to country of the Huns to fare.
1501
" Hither all are coming, / thy royal brothers three,
And they right high in spirit. / Who more shall with them be,
The tale to tell entire / were more than I might do.
To journey with them plighted / Volker the valiant fiddler too. "
1502
" 'Twere little lost, full truly, " / answered then the queen,
" If by my eyes never / Volker here were seen.
'Tis Hagen hath my favor, / a noble knight is he,
And mickle is my pleasure / that him full soon we here may see. "
1503
Her way the Lady Kriemhild / then to the king did take,
And in right joyous manner / unto her consort spake:
" How liketh thee the tidings, / lord full dear to me?
What aye my heart hath yearned for, / that shall now accomplished be. "
1504
" Thy will my joy was ever, " / the lofty monarch said.
" In sooth for my own kinsmen / I ne'er have been so glad,
To hear that they come hither / unto my country.
To know thy friends are coming, / hath parted sadness far from me. "
1505
Straight did the royal provosts / give everywhere decree
That hall and stately palace / well prepared should be
With seats, that unprovided / no worthy guest be left.
Anon by them the monarch / should be of mickle joy bereft.
Shields well-wrought and saddles, / with all the mickle gear
That into Etzel's country / the warriors should wear,
The same was now made ready / for many a knight full keen.
The messengers of Kriemhild / before King Gunther soon were seen.
1483
When were come the messengers, / Gernot them addressed:
" King Gunther now is minded / to answer Etzel's quest.
Full gladly go we thither / with him to make high-tide
And see our lofty sister, / — of that set ye all doubt aside. "
1484
Thereto spake King Gunther: / " Can ye surely say
When shall be the high-tide, / or upon what day
We shall there assemble? " / Spake Schwemmel instantly:
" At turn of sun in summer / shall in sooth the meeting be. "
1485
The monarch leave did grant them, / ere they should take their way,
If that to Lady Brunhild / they would their homage pay,
His high pleasure was it / they unto her should go.
Such thing prevented Volker, / and did his mistress' pleasure so.
1486
" In sooth, my Lady Brunhild / hath scarce such health to-day
As that she might receive you, " / the gallant knight did say.
" Bide ye till the morrow, / may ye the lady see. "
When thus they sought her presence, / might their wish not granted be.
1487
To the messengers right gracious / was the mighty king,
And bade he from his treasure / on shields expansive bring
Shining gold in plenty / whereof he had great store.
Eke richest gifts received they / from his lofty kinsmen more.
1488
Giselher and Gernot, / Gere and Ortwein,
That they were free in giving / soon full well was seen.
So costly gifts were offered / unto each messenger
That they dared not receive them, / for Etzel's anger did they fear.
1489
Then unto King Gunther / Werbel spake again:
Sire, let now thy presents / in thine own land remain.
The same we may not carry, / my master hath decreed
That we accept no bounty. / Of that in sooth we've little need. "
1490
Thereat the lord of Rhineland / was seen in high displeasure,
That they should thus accept not / so mighty monarch's treasure?
In their despite yet took they / rich dress and gold in store,
The which moreover with them / home to Etzel's land they bore.
1491
Ere that they thence departed / they Lady Ute sought,
Whereat the gallant Giselher / straight the minstrels brought
Unto his mother's presence. / Kind greetings sent the dame,
And wish that high in honor / still might stand her daughter's name.
1492
Then bade the lofty lady / embroidered silks and gold
For the sake of Kriemhild, / whom loved she as of old,
And eke for sake of Etzel, / unto the minstrels give.
What thus so free was offered / might they in sooth right fain receive.
1493
Soon now had ta'en departure / the messengers from thence,
From knight and fairest lady, / and joyous fared they hence
Unto Suabian country; / Gernot had given behest
Thus far for armed escort, / that none their journey might molest.
1494
When these had parted from them, / safe still from harm were they,
For Etzel's might did guard them / wherever led their way.
Nor ever came there any / that aught to take would dare,
As into Etzel's country / they in mickle haste did fare.
1495
Where'er they friends encountered, / to all they straight made known
How that they of Burgundy / should follow after soon
From Rhine upon their journey / unto the Huns' country.
The message brought they likewise / unto Bishop Pilgrim's see.
1496
As down 'fore Bechelaren / they passed upon their way,
The tidings eke to Ruediger / failed they not to say,
And unto Gotelinde, / the margrave's wife the same.
At thought so soon to see them / was filled with joy the lofty dame.
1497
Hasting with the tidings / each minstrel's courser ran,
Till found they royal Etzel / within his burgh at Gran.
Greeting upon greeting, / which they must all bestow,
They to the king delivered; / with joy his visage was aglow.
1498
When that the lofty Kriemhild / did eke the tidings hear,
How that her royal brothers / unto the land would fare,
In sooth her heart was gladdened; / on the minstrels she bestowed
Richest gifts in plenty, / as she to her high station owed.
1499
She spake: " Now shall ye, Werbel / and Schwemmel, tell to me
Who cometh of my kinsmen / to our festivity,
Who of all were bidden / this our land to seek?
Now tell me, when the message / heard he, what did Hagen speak? "
1500
Answered: " He came to council / early upon a day,
But little was of pleasant / in what he there did say.
When learned he their intention, / in wrath did Hagen swear,
To death 'twere making journey, / to country of the Huns to fare.
1501
" Hither all are coming, / thy royal brothers three,
And they right high in spirit. / Who more shall with them be,
The tale to tell entire / were more than I might do.
To journey with them plighted / Volker the valiant fiddler too. "
1502
" 'Twere little lost, full truly, " / answered then the queen,
" If by my eyes never / Volker here were seen.
'Tis Hagen hath my favor, / a noble knight is he,
And mickle is my pleasure / that him full soon we here may see. "
1503
Her way the Lady Kriemhild / then to the king did take,
And in right joyous manner / unto her consort spake:
" How liketh thee the tidings, / lord full dear to me?
What aye my heart hath yearned for, / that shall now accomplished be. "
1504
" Thy will my joy was ever, " / the lofty monarch said.
" In sooth for my own kinsmen / I ne'er have been so glad,
To hear that they come hither / unto my country.
To know thy friends are coming, / hath parted sadness far from me. "
1505
Straight did the royal provosts / give everywhere decree
That hall and stately palace / well prepared should be
With seats, that unprovided / no worthy guest be left.
Anon by them the monarch / should be of mickle joy bereft.
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