The Nibelungenlied
1758
Then parted from each other / the noble warriors twain,
Hagen of Tronje / and Dietrich, lofty thane.
Then did King Gunther's warrior / cast a glance around,
Seeking a companion / the same he eke full quickly found.
1759
As standing there by Giselher / he did Volker see,
He prayed the nimble Fiddler / to bear him company,
For that full well he knew it / how grim he was of mood,
And that in all things was he / a knight of mettle keen and good.
1760
While yet their lords were standing / there in castle yard
Saw ye the two knights only / walking thitherward
Across the court far distant / before the palace wide
The chosen thanes recked little / what might through any's hate betide.
1761
They sate them down on settle / over against a hall,
Wherein dwelt Lady Kriemhild, / beside the palace wall.
Full stately their attire / on stalwart bodies shone.
All that did look upon them / right gladly had the warriors known.
1762
Like unto beasts full savage / were they gaped upon,
The two haughty heroes, / by full many a Hun.
Eke from a casement Etzel's / wife did them perceive:
Once more to behold them / must fair Lady Kriemhild grieve.
1763
It called to mind her sorrow, / and she to weep began,
Whereat did mickle wonder / many an Etzel's man,
What grief had thus so sudden / made her sad of mood.
Spake she: " That hath Hagen, / ye knights of mettle keen and good. "
1764
They to their mistress answered: / " Such thing, how hath it been?
For that thee right joyous / we but now have seen
Ne'er lived he so daring / that, having wrought thee ill,
His life he must not forfeit, / if but to vengeance point thy will. "
1765
" I live but to requite him / that shall avenge my wrong;
Whate'er be his desire / shall unto him belong.
Prostrate I beseech you, " / — so spake the monarch's wife —
" Avenge me upon Hagen, / and forfeit surely be his life. "
1766
Three score of valiant warriors / made ready then straightway
To work the will of Kriemhild / and her best obey
By slaying of Sir Hagen, / the full valiant thane,
And eke the doughty Fiddler; / by shameful deed thus sought they gain.
1767
When the queen beheld there / so small their company,
In full angry humor / to the warriors spake she:
" What there ye think to compass, / forego such purpose yet:
So small in numbers never / dare ye Hagen to beset.
1768
" How doughty e'er be Hagen, / and known his valor wide,
A man by far more doughty / that sitteth him beside,
Volker the Fiddler: / a warrior grim is he
In sooth may not so lightly / the heroes twain confronted be. "
1769
When that she thus had spoken, / ready soon were seen
Four hundred stalwart warriors; / for was the lofty queen
Full intent upon it / to work them evil sore.
Therefrom for all the strangers / was mickle sorrow yet in store.
1770
When that complete attired / were here retainers seen,
Unto the knights impatient / in such wise spake the queen:
" Now bide ye yet a moment / and stand ye ready so,
While I with crown upon me / unto my enemies shall go.
1771
" And list while I accuse him / how he hath wrought me bane,
Hagen of Tronje, / Gunther's doughty thane.
I know his mood so haughty, / naught he'll deny of all.
Nor reck I what of evil / therefrom may unto him befall. "
1772
Then saw the doughty Fiddler / — he was a minstrel keen —
Adown the steps descending / the high and stately queen
Who issued from the castle. / When he the queen espied,
Spake the valiant Volker / to him was seated by his side:
1773
" Look yonder now, friend Hagen, / how that she hither hies
Who to this land hath called us / in such treacherous wise.
No monarch's wife I ever / saw followed by such band
Of warriors armed for battle, / that carry each a sword in hand.
1774
" Know'st thou, perchance, friend Hagen, / if hate to thee they bear?
Then would I well advise thee / of them full well beware
And guard both life and honor. / That methinks were good,
For if I much mistake not, / full wrathful is the warriors' mood.
1775
" Of many eke among them / so broad the breasts do swell,
That who would guard him 'gainst them / betimes would do it well.
I ween that 'neath their tunics / they shining mail-coats wear:
Yet might I never tell thee, / 'gainst whom such evil mind they bear. "
1776
Then spake all wrathful-minded / Hagen the warrior keen:
" On me to vent their fury / is their sole thought, I ween,
That thus with brandished weapons / their onward press we see
Despite them all yet trow I / to come safe home to Burgundy.
1777
" Now tell me, friend Volker, / wilt thou beside me stand,
If seek to work me evil / here Kriemhild's band?
That let me hear right truly, / as I am dear to thee.
By thy side forever / shall my service faithful be. "
Then parted from each other / the noble warriors twain,
Hagen of Tronje / and Dietrich, lofty thane.
Then did King Gunther's warrior / cast a glance around,
Seeking a companion / the same he eke full quickly found.
1759
As standing there by Giselher / he did Volker see,
He prayed the nimble Fiddler / to bear him company,
For that full well he knew it / how grim he was of mood,
And that in all things was he / a knight of mettle keen and good.
1760
While yet their lords were standing / there in castle yard
Saw ye the two knights only / walking thitherward
Across the court far distant / before the palace wide
The chosen thanes recked little / what might through any's hate betide.
1761
They sate them down on settle / over against a hall,
Wherein dwelt Lady Kriemhild, / beside the palace wall.
Full stately their attire / on stalwart bodies shone.
All that did look upon them / right gladly had the warriors known.
1762
Like unto beasts full savage / were they gaped upon,
The two haughty heroes, / by full many a Hun.
Eke from a casement Etzel's / wife did them perceive:
Once more to behold them / must fair Lady Kriemhild grieve.
1763
It called to mind her sorrow, / and she to weep began,
Whereat did mickle wonder / many an Etzel's man,
What grief had thus so sudden / made her sad of mood.
Spake she: " That hath Hagen, / ye knights of mettle keen and good. "
1764
They to their mistress answered: / " Such thing, how hath it been?
For that thee right joyous / we but now have seen
Ne'er lived he so daring / that, having wrought thee ill,
His life he must not forfeit, / if but to vengeance point thy will. "
1765
" I live but to requite him / that shall avenge my wrong;
Whate'er be his desire / shall unto him belong.
Prostrate I beseech you, " / — so spake the monarch's wife —
" Avenge me upon Hagen, / and forfeit surely be his life. "
1766
Three score of valiant warriors / made ready then straightway
To work the will of Kriemhild / and her best obey
By slaying of Sir Hagen, / the full valiant thane,
And eke the doughty Fiddler; / by shameful deed thus sought they gain.
1767
When the queen beheld there / so small their company,
In full angry humor / to the warriors spake she:
" What there ye think to compass, / forego such purpose yet:
So small in numbers never / dare ye Hagen to beset.
1768
" How doughty e'er be Hagen, / and known his valor wide,
A man by far more doughty / that sitteth him beside,
Volker the Fiddler: / a warrior grim is he
In sooth may not so lightly / the heroes twain confronted be. "
1769
When that she thus had spoken, / ready soon were seen
Four hundred stalwart warriors; / for was the lofty queen
Full intent upon it / to work them evil sore.
Therefrom for all the strangers / was mickle sorrow yet in store.
1770
When that complete attired / were here retainers seen,
Unto the knights impatient / in such wise spake the queen:
" Now bide ye yet a moment / and stand ye ready so,
While I with crown upon me / unto my enemies shall go.
1771
" And list while I accuse him / how he hath wrought me bane,
Hagen of Tronje, / Gunther's doughty thane.
I know his mood so haughty, / naught he'll deny of all.
Nor reck I what of evil / therefrom may unto him befall. "
1772
Then saw the doughty Fiddler / — he was a minstrel keen —
Adown the steps descending / the high and stately queen
Who issued from the castle. / When he the queen espied,
Spake the valiant Volker / to him was seated by his side:
1773
" Look yonder now, friend Hagen, / how that she hither hies
Who to this land hath called us / in such treacherous wise.
No monarch's wife I ever / saw followed by such band
Of warriors armed for battle, / that carry each a sword in hand.
1774
" Know'st thou, perchance, friend Hagen, / if hate to thee they bear?
Then would I well advise thee / of them full well beware
And guard both life and honor. / That methinks were good,
For if I much mistake not, / full wrathful is the warriors' mood.
1775
" Of many eke among them / so broad the breasts do swell,
That who would guard him 'gainst them / betimes would do it well.
I ween that 'neath their tunics / they shining mail-coats wear:
Yet might I never tell thee, / 'gainst whom such evil mind they bear. "
1776
Then spake all wrathful-minded / Hagen the warrior keen:
" On me to vent their fury / is their sole thought, I ween,
That thus with brandished weapons / their onward press we see
Despite them all yet trow I / to come safe home to Burgundy.
1777
" Now tell me, friend Volker, / wilt thou beside me stand,
If seek to work me evil / here Kriemhild's band?
That let me hear right truly, / as I am dear to thee.
By thy side forever / shall my service faithful be. "
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