Classic Poem

1798

" Then was yet the hero / but a child in years;
Now how hoary-headed / who were his youthful feres,
To wisdom now attained, / a warrior grim and strong,
Eke bears he with him Balmung, / the which he gained by mickle wrong. "

1799

Therewith the matter ended, / and none the fight dared start,
Whereat the Lady Kriemhild / full heavy was of heart.
Her warriors thence did vanish, / for feared they death indeed
At hands of the Fiddler, / whereof right surely was there need.

1800

Outspake then the Fiddler: / " Well we now have seen,
That enemies here do greet us, / as we forewarned have been.
Back unto the monarchs / let us straight repair,
That none against our masters / to raise a hostile hand may dare.

1801

" How oft from impious purpose / doth fear hold back the hand,
Where friend by friend doth only / firm in friendship stand,
Until right sense give warning / to leave the thing undone.
Thus wisdom hath prevented / the harm of mortals many a one. "

1802

" Heed I will thy counsel, " / Hagen gave reply.
Then passed they where / the monarchs found they presently
In high state received / within the palace court.
Loud the valiant Volker / straight began after this sort

1803

Unto his royal masters: / " How long will ye stand so,
That foes may press upon you? / To the king ye now shall go,
And from his lips hear spoken / how is his mind to you. "
The valiant lords and noble / consorted then by two and two.

1804

Of Bern the lofty Dietrich / took by the hand
Gunther the lordly monarch / of Burgundian land;
Imfried escorted Gernot, / a knight of valor keen,
And Ruediger with Giselher / going unto the court was seen.

1805

Howe'er with fere consorted / there any thane might be,
Volker and Hagen / ne'er parted company,
Save in storm of battle / when they did reach life's bourne,
'Twas cause that highborn ladies / anon in grievous way must mourn.

1806

Unto the court then passing / with the kings were seen.
Of their lofty retinue / a thousand warriors keen,
And threescore thanes full valiant / that followed in their train;
The same from his own country / had doughty Hagen with him ta'en.

1807

Hawart and eke Iring, / chosen warriors twain,
Saw ye walk together / in the royal train.
By Dankwart and Wolfhart, / a thane of high renown,
Was high courtly bearing / there before the others shown.

1808

When the lord of Rhineland / passed into the hall,
Etzel mighty monarch / waited not at all,
But sprang from off his settle / when he beheld him nigh.
By monarch ne'er was given / greeting so right heartily.

1809

" Welcome be, Lord Gunther, / and eke Sir Gernot too,
And your brother Giselher. / My greetings unto you
I sent with honest purpose / to Worms across the Rhine;
And welcome all your followers / shall be unto this land of mine.

1810

" Right welcome be ye likewise, / doughty warriors twain,
Volker the full valiant, / and Hagen dauntless thane,
To me and to my lady / here in my country.
Unto the Rhine to greet you / many a messenger sent she. "

1811

Then spake of Tronje Hagen: / " Thereof I'm well aware,
And did I with my masters / not thus to Hunland fare,
To do thee honor had I / ridden unto thy land. "
Then took the lofty monarch / the honored strangers by the hand.

1812

He led them to the settle / whereon himself he sat,
Then poured they for the strangers / — with care they tended that —
In goblets wide and golden / mead and mulberry wine,
And bade right hearty welcome / unto the knights afar from Rhine.

1813

Then spake the monarch Etzel: / " This will I freely say:
Naught in this world might happen / to bring my heart more joy,
Than that ye lofty heroes / thus are come to me.
The queen from mickle sadness / thereby make ye likewise free.

1814

" To me 'twas mickle wonder / wherein had I transgressed,
That I for friends had won me / so many a noble guest,
Yet ye had never deigned / to come to my country.
'Tis now turned cause of gladness / that you as guests I here may see. "

1815

Thereto gave answer Ruediger, / a knight of lofty mind:
" Well mayst thou joy to see them; / right honor shalt thou find
And naught but noble bearing / in my high mistress' kin.
With them for guest thou likewise / many a stately thane dost win. "

1816

At turn of sun in summer / were the knights arrived
At mighty Etzel's palace. / Ne'er hath monarch lived
That lordly guests did welcome / with higher compliment.
When come was time of eating, / the king with them to table went.

1817

Amid his guests more stately / a host was seated ne'er.
They had in fullest measure / of drink and goodly fare;
Whate'er they might desire, / they ready found the same.
Tales of mickle wonder / had spread abroad the heroes' fame.