The Nibelungenlied
1869
Kriemhild with her ladies / within the casement sat
By Etzel, mighty monarch, / — full pleased he was thereat.
They wished to view the tourney / of knights beyond compare.
What host of strangers riding / thronged the court before them there!
1870
The marshal with the squires / not in vain ye sought,
Dankwart the full valiant: / with him had he brought
His royal master's followers / of the land of Burgundy
For the valiant Nibelungen / the steeds well saddled might ye see.
1871
When their steeds they mounted, / the kings and all their men,
Volker thane full doughty, / gave his counsel then,
That after their country's fashion / they ride a mass mellay.
His rede the heroes followed / and tourneyed in full stately way.
1872
The knight had counsel given / in sooth that pleased them well;
The clash of arms in mellay / soon full loud did swell.
Many a valiant warrior / did thereto resort,
As Etzel and Kriemhild / looked down upon the spacious court.
1873
Came there unto the mellay / six hundred knights of those
That followed Dietrich's bidding, / the strangers to oppose.
Pastime would they make them / with the men of Burgundy,
And if he leave had granted / had done the same right willingly.
1874
In their company rode there / how many a warrior bold!
When unto Sir Dietrich / then the thing was told,
Forbade he that 'gainst Gunther's / men they join the play.
He feared lest harm befall them, / and well his counsel did he weigh.
1875
When of Bern the warriors / thence departed were,
Came they of Bechelaren, / the men of Ruediger,
Bearing shield five hundred, / and rode before the hall;
Rather had the margrave / that they came there not at all.
1876
Prudently then rode he / amid their company
And told unto his warriors / how they might plainly see,
That the men of Gunther / were in evil mood:
Did they forego the mellay, / please him better far it would.
1877
When they were thence departed, / the stately knights and bold,
Came they of Thuringia, / as hath to us been told,
And of them of Denmark / a thousand warriors keen
From crash of spear up-flying / full frequent were the splinters seen.
1878
Irnfried and Hawart / rode into the mellay,
Whom the gallant men of Rhineland / received in knightly play:
Full oft the men of Thuringia / they met in tournament,
Whereby the piercing lance-point / through many a stately shield was sent.
1879
Eke with three thousand warriors / came Sir Bloedel there.
Etzel and Kriemhild / were of his coming ware,
As this play of chivalry / before them they did see.
Now hoped the queen that evil / befall the men of Burgundy.
1880
Schrutan and Gibecke / rode into the mellay,
Eke Ramung and Hornbog / after the Hunnish way;
Yet must they come to standstill / 'fore the thanes of Burgundy.
High against the palace / wall the splintered shafts did fly.
1881
How keen soe'er the contest, / 'twas naught but knightly sport.
With shock of shields and lances / heard ye the palace court
Loud give back the echo / where Gunther's men rode on.
His followers in the jousting / on every side high honor won.
1882
So long they held such pastime / and with so mickle heat
That through the broidered trappings / oozed clear drops of sweat
From the prancing chargers / whereon the knights did ride.
In full gallant manner / their skill against the Huns they tried.
1883
Then outspake the Fiddler, / Volker deft of hand:
" These knights, I ween, too timid / are 'gainst us to stand.
Oft did I hear the story / what hate to us they bore;
Than this a fairer season / to vent it, find they nevermore. "
1884
" Lead back unto the stables, " / once more spake Volker then,
" Now our weary chargers; / we'll ride perchance again
When comes the cool of evening, / if fitting time there be.
Mayhap the queen will honor / award to men of Burgundy. "
1885
Beheld they then prick hither / one dressed in state so rare
That of the Huns none other / might with him compare.
Belike from castle tower / did watch his fair lady;
So gay was his apparel / as it some knight's bride might be.
1886
Then again quoth Volker: / " How may I stay my hand?
Yonder ladies' darling / a knock shall understand.
Let no man here deter me, / I'll give him sudden check.
How spouse of royal Etzel / thereat may rage, I little reck. "
1887
" Nay, as thou dost love me, " / straight King Gunther spake;
" All men will but reproach us / if such affront we make.
The Huns be first offenders, / for such would more befit. "
Still did the royal Etzel / in casement by Queen Kriemhild sit.
1888
" I'll add unto the mellay, " / Hagen did declare;
" Let now all these ladies / and knights be made aware
How we can ride a charger; / 'twere well we make it known,
For, come what may, small honor / shall here to Gunther's men be shown. "
Kriemhild with her ladies / within the casement sat
By Etzel, mighty monarch, / — full pleased he was thereat.
They wished to view the tourney / of knights beyond compare.
What host of strangers riding / thronged the court before them there!
1870
The marshal with the squires / not in vain ye sought,
Dankwart the full valiant: / with him had he brought
His royal master's followers / of the land of Burgundy
For the valiant Nibelungen / the steeds well saddled might ye see.
1871
When their steeds they mounted, / the kings and all their men,
Volker thane full doughty, / gave his counsel then,
That after their country's fashion / they ride a mass mellay.
His rede the heroes followed / and tourneyed in full stately way.
1872
The knight had counsel given / in sooth that pleased them well;
The clash of arms in mellay / soon full loud did swell.
Many a valiant warrior / did thereto resort,
As Etzel and Kriemhild / looked down upon the spacious court.
1873
Came there unto the mellay / six hundred knights of those
That followed Dietrich's bidding, / the strangers to oppose.
Pastime would they make them / with the men of Burgundy,
And if he leave had granted / had done the same right willingly.
1874
In their company rode there / how many a warrior bold!
When unto Sir Dietrich / then the thing was told,
Forbade he that 'gainst Gunther's / men they join the play.
He feared lest harm befall them, / and well his counsel did he weigh.
1875
When of Bern the warriors / thence departed were,
Came they of Bechelaren, / the men of Ruediger,
Bearing shield five hundred, / and rode before the hall;
Rather had the margrave / that they came there not at all.
1876
Prudently then rode he / amid their company
And told unto his warriors / how they might plainly see,
That the men of Gunther / were in evil mood:
Did they forego the mellay, / please him better far it would.
1877
When they were thence departed, / the stately knights and bold,
Came they of Thuringia, / as hath to us been told,
And of them of Denmark / a thousand warriors keen
From crash of spear up-flying / full frequent were the splinters seen.
1878
Irnfried and Hawart / rode into the mellay,
Whom the gallant men of Rhineland / received in knightly play:
Full oft the men of Thuringia / they met in tournament,
Whereby the piercing lance-point / through many a stately shield was sent.
1879
Eke with three thousand warriors / came Sir Bloedel there.
Etzel and Kriemhild / were of his coming ware,
As this play of chivalry / before them they did see.
Now hoped the queen that evil / befall the men of Burgundy.
1880
Schrutan and Gibecke / rode into the mellay,
Eke Ramung and Hornbog / after the Hunnish way;
Yet must they come to standstill / 'fore the thanes of Burgundy.
High against the palace / wall the splintered shafts did fly.
1881
How keen soe'er the contest, / 'twas naught but knightly sport.
With shock of shields and lances / heard ye the palace court
Loud give back the echo / where Gunther's men rode on.
His followers in the jousting / on every side high honor won.
1882
So long they held such pastime / and with so mickle heat
That through the broidered trappings / oozed clear drops of sweat
From the prancing chargers / whereon the knights did ride.
In full gallant manner / their skill against the Huns they tried.
1883
Then outspake the Fiddler, / Volker deft of hand:
" These knights, I ween, too timid / are 'gainst us to stand.
Oft did I hear the story / what hate to us they bore;
Than this a fairer season / to vent it, find they nevermore. "
1884
" Lead back unto the stables, " / once more spake Volker then,
" Now our weary chargers; / we'll ride perchance again
When comes the cool of evening, / if fitting time there be.
Mayhap the queen will honor / award to men of Burgundy. "
1885
Beheld they then prick hither / one dressed in state so rare
That of the Huns none other / might with him compare.
Belike from castle tower / did watch his fair lady;
So gay was his apparel / as it some knight's bride might be.
1886
Then again quoth Volker: / " How may I stay my hand?
Yonder ladies' darling / a knock shall understand.
Let no man here deter me, / I'll give him sudden check.
How spouse of royal Etzel / thereat may rage, I little reck. "
1887
" Nay, as thou dost love me, " / straight King Gunther spake;
" All men will but reproach us / if such affront we make.
The Huns be first offenders, / for such would more befit. "
Still did the royal Etzel / in casement by Queen Kriemhild sit.
1888
" I'll add unto the mellay, " / Hagen did declare;
" Let now all these ladies / and knights be made aware
How we can ride a charger; / 'twere well we make it known,
For, come what may, small honor / shall here to Gunther's men be shown. "
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