The Nibelungenlied
How the Knights all fared to the Huns
1506
Tell we now no further / how they here did fare.
Knights more high in spirit / saw ye journey ne'er
In so stately fashion / to the land of e'er a king.
Of arms and rich attire / lacked they never anything.
1507
At Rhine the lordly monarch / equipped his warriors well,
A thousand knights and sixty, / as I did hear tell,
And eke nine thousand squires / toward the festivity.
Whom they did leave behind them / anon must mourn full grievously.
1508
As at Worms across the courtyard / equipment full they bore
Spake there of Speyer / a bishop old and hoar
Unto Lady Ute: / " Our friends have mind to fare
Unto the festivity; / may God their honor have in care. "
1509
Then spake unto her children / Ute the noble dame:
" At home ye here should tarry, / ye knights full high in fame.
Me dreamt but yester even / a case of direst need,
How that in this country / all the feathered fowl were dead. "
1510
" Who recketh aught of dreamings, " / Hagen then replied,
" Distraught is sure his counsel / when trouble doth betide,
Or he would of his honor / have a perfect care.
I counsel that my master / straight to take his leave prepare.
1511
" Gladly shall we journey / into Etzel's land;
There at their master's service / may good knights ready stand,
For that we there shall witness / Kriemhild's festivity. "
That Hagen gave such counsel, / rue anon full sore did he.
1512
Yet in sooth far other / than this had been his word,
Had not with bitter mocking / Gernot his anger stirred.
He spake to him of Siegfried / whom Kriemhild loved so,
And said: " Therefore the journey / would Hagen willingly forego. "
1513
Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / " Through fear I nothing do.
Whenever will ye, Masters, / set straight your hand thereto,
With you I'll gladly journey / unto Etzel's land. "
Many a shield and helmet / there hewed anon his mighty hand.
1514
The ships stood ready waiting, / whereunto ample store
Of clothing for the journey / men full many bore,
Nor had they time for resting / till shades of even fell.
Anon in mood full joyous / bade they friends at home farewell.
1515
Tents full large and many / arose upon the green,
Yonder side Rhine river. / But yet the winsome queen
Caressed the doughty monarch / that night, and still did pray
That far from Etzel's country / among his kinsmen might he stay.
1516
When sound of flute and trumpet / arose at break of day,
A signal for their parting, / full soon they took their way.
Each lover to his bosom / did friend more fondly press:
King Etzel's wife full many / did part anon in dire distress.
1517
The sons of stately Ute, / a good knight had they,
A brave man and a faithful. / When they would thence away,
Apart unto the monarch / did he his mind reveal,
And spake: " That ye will journey, / may I naught but sorrow feel. "
1518
Hight the same was Rumold, / a man of doughty hand.
He spake: " To whom now leave ye / people here and land?
O that never any / might alter your intent!
Small good, methinks, may follow / message e'er by Kriemhild sent. "
1519
" The land to thee entrusted / and eke my child shall be,
And tender care of ladies, / — so hast command from me.
Whene'er thou seest weeping, / do there thy comfort give.
Yea, trust we free from sorrow / at hand of Etzel's wife to live. "
1520
For knight and royal master / the chargers ready were,
As with fond embracing / parted many there,
Who long in joy together / a merry life had led.
By winsome dame full many / therefor must bitter tear be shed.
1521
As did those doughty warriors / into the saddle spring,
Might full many a lady / be seen there sorrowing;
For told them well their spirit / that thus so long to part
Did bode a dire peril, / the which must ever cloud the heart.
1522
As mounted stood the valiant / thanes of Burgundy,
Might ye a mickle stirring / in that country see,
Both men and women weeping / on either riverside.
Yet pricked they gaily forward, / let what might their folk betide.
1523
The Nibelungen warriors / in hauberks bright arrayed
Went with them, a thousand, / while at home behind them stayed
Full many a winsome lady, / whom saw they nevermore.
The wounds of doughty Siegfried / still grieved the Lady Kriemhild sore.
1524
Their journey they directed / onward to the Main,
Up through East Frankish country, / the men of Gunther's train
Thither led by Hagen, / who well that country knew;
Marshal to them was Dankwart, / a knight of Burgundy full true.
1525
On from East Frankish country / to Schwanefeld they went,
A train of valiant warriors / of high accomplishment,
The monarchs and their kinsmen, / all knights full worthy fame.
Upon the twelfth morning / the king unto the Danube came.
1506
Tell we now no further / how they here did fare.
Knights more high in spirit / saw ye journey ne'er
In so stately fashion / to the land of e'er a king.
Of arms and rich attire / lacked they never anything.
1507
At Rhine the lordly monarch / equipped his warriors well,
A thousand knights and sixty, / as I did hear tell,
And eke nine thousand squires / toward the festivity.
Whom they did leave behind them / anon must mourn full grievously.
1508
As at Worms across the courtyard / equipment full they bore
Spake there of Speyer / a bishop old and hoar
Unto Lady Ute: / " Our friends have mind to fare
Unto the festivity; / may God their honor have in care. "
1509
Then spake unto her children / Ute the noble dame:
" At home ye here should tarry, / ye knights full high in fame.
Me dreamt but yester even / a case of direst need,
How that in this country / all the feathered fowl were dead. "
1510
" Who recketh aught of dreamings, " / Hagen then replied,
" Distraught is sure his counsel / when trouble doth betide,
Or he would of his honor / have a perfect care.
I counsel that my master / straight to take his leave prepare.
1511
" Gladly shall we journey / into Etzel's land;
There at their master's service / may good knights ready stand,
For that we there shall witness / Kriemhild's festivity. "
That Hagen gave such counsel, / rue anon full sore did he.
1512
Yet in sooth far other / than this had been his word,
Had not with bitter mocking / Gernot his anger stirred.
He spake to him of Siegfried / whom Kriemhild loved so,
And said: " Therefore the journey / would Hagen willingly forego. "
1513
Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / " Through fear I nothing do.
Whenever will ye, Masters, / set straight your hand thereto,
With you I'll gladly journey / unto Etzel's land. "
Many a shield and helmet / there hewed anon his mighty hand.
1514
The ships stood ready waiting, / whereunto ample store
Of clothing for the journey / men full many bore,
Nor had they time for resting / till shades of even fell.
Anon in mood full joyous / bade they friends at home farewell.
1515
Tents full large and many / arose upon the green,
Yonder side Rhine river. / But yet the winsome queen
Caressed the doughty monarch / that night, and still did pray
That far from Etzel's country / among his kinsmen might he stay.
1516
When sound of flute and trumpet / arose at break of day,
A signal for their parting, / full soon they took their way.
Each lover to his bosom / did friend more fondly press:
King Etzel's wife full many / did part anon in dire distress.
1517
The sons of stately Ute, / a good knight had they,
A brave man and a faithful. / When they would thence away,
Apart unto the monarch / did he his mind reveal,
And spake: " That ye will journey, / may I naught but sorrow feel. "
1518
Hight the same was Rumold, / a man of doughty hand.
He spake: " To whom now leave ye / people here and land?
O that never any / might alter your intent!
Small good, methinks, may follow / message e'er by Kriemhild sent. "
1519
" The land to thee entrusted / and eke my child shall be,
And tender care of ladies, / — so hast command from me.
Whene'er thou seest weeping, / do there thy comfort give.
Yea, trust we free from sorrow / at hand of Etzel's wife to live. "
1520
For knight and royal master / the chargers ready were,
As with fond embracing / parted many there,
Who long in joy together / a merry life had led.
By winsome dame full many / therefor must bitter tear be shed.
1521
As did those doughty warriors / into the saddle spring,
Might full many a lady / be seen there sorrowing;
For told them well their spirit / that thus so long to part
Did bode a dire peril, / the which must ever cloud the heart.
1522
As mounted stood the valiant / thanes of Burgundy,
Might ye a mickle stirring / in that country see,
Both men and women weeping / on either riverside.
Yet pricked they gaily forward, / let what might their folk betide.
1523
The Nibelungen warriors / in hauberks bright arrayed
Went with them, a thousand, / while at home behind them stayed
Full many a winsome lady, / whom saw they nevermore.
The wounds of doughty Siegfried / still grieved the Lady Kriemhild sore.
1524
Their journey they directed / onward to the Main,
Up through East Frankish country, / the men of Gunther's train
Thither led by Hagen, / who well that country knew;
Marshal to them was Dankwart, / a knight of Burgundy full true.
1525
On from East Frankish country / to Schwanefeld they went,
A train of valiant warriors / of high accomplishment,
The monarchs and their kinsmen, / all knights full worthy fame.
Upon the twelfth morning / the king unto the Danube came.
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