Part 13

Now Kriemhild with bold knights many came forth of the holy place; And sharply spake Queen Brunhild: "Abide thou there for a space! Thou hast chosen to call me leman: the proof thereof will I see. Thy word, know thou, is an evil and a loathly word to me." Spake Kriemhild the Fair: "It were better for thee hadst thou let me go! With the golden ring I prove it on mine hand that glittereth--lo! Unto me did Siegfried bring this what time by thy side he lay." Never had dawned on Brunhild such an utter-wretched day. She cried: "This gold ring royal--even this was stolen from me! It hath been for long years hidden by caitiff treachery! I am now on the track of the felon, the thief that my jewel hath ta'en!" Raging in reinless fury were now these ladies twain.

Spake Kriemhild again: "Of thy jewel the thief was nowise I. Far better hadst thou kept silence, hadst thou held thine honour high! Lo, I prove it again by the girdle which compasseth my waist. Not I am the liar!--by Siegfried first was thy body embraced." Fair-plaited of silk of the Orient was the girdle that she ware, With precious stones thick-studded, a marvel passing fair. That Brunhild beheld, and she brake forth into stormy weeping then, Crying, "This shall be known of Gunther and of all his mighty men!"

{P. 116}

Then spake the Queen of Rhineland: "Send unto me straightway Gunther the Lord of the Kingdom, for he shall hear this day How foully his sister hath slandered and spoken shame of the Queen. She saith before all people that Siegfried's wife have I been." The King came girt with his barons: he saw the grief-bowed head And the tears of his dear wife Brunhild, and lovingly he said: "Of whom, my wife, my belovèd, hath a hurt been done unto thee?" And she spake to the King, and she answered: "Joyless for aye must I be! Of all my wifely honour this thy sister is fain To strip me by shameful accusing: unto thee I must needs complain. She saith that with Siegfried her husband I have wantoned in shame and sin." Answered and spake King Gunther: "She hath wickedly done herein!" "She weareth here my girdle, which long time since I lost, And withal my ring of the red gold--O me, to my bitter cost Was I born, and I rue it ever! If thou clear not my name From the stain of such utter abasement, my love never more shalt thou claim."

Then spake to a lord King Gunther: "Summon him hither thou. If he of such deed have boasted, he must make confession now, Or must give to the lie denial, this hero of Netherland." So unto that presence Siegfried was called by the King's command. So then when the good knight Siegfried saw faces disquieted, And the cause thereof divined not, straightway he spake and said: "Now wherefore weep these ladies? This unto me make known; And wherefore the King hath called me hither, be this too shown." Then spake King Gunther: "Sorrow I find here bitter as death. The Lady Brunhild hath told me a tale of venomous breath, Even this, that thou hast vaunted that thou in bridal bed First didst embrace her. Of Kriemhild thy wife is this thing said."

Made answer the hero Siegfried: "If Kriemhild hath said this thing, I will take no rest or ever she rue her slandering! Yea, and thereof will I clear me in presence of all thy lords By the faith of my solemn oath-plight, that never I spake such words." {P. 117} Answered the Lord of Rhineland: "Give that assurance thou. Let the oath that thou hast tendered be spoken before these now. So shalt thou of treacherous dealing be acquitted, and stand without stain." Then made they the proud Burgundians in a ring draw round these twain. His hand stretched Siegfried the dauntless to the hand of the King to swear; But Gunther spake: "Thine utter guiltlessness here I declare Out of mine heart's assurance. Thou goest of this charge free. That whereof Kriemhild accused thee never was done of thee."

Then yet again spake Siegfried: "And if ever my wife reap joy Of her sowing for Lady Brunhild this seed of heart-annoy, This unto me of a surety shall be nought but measureless grief." Then looked on each other the good knights with faces of glad relief. "So must men's wives be governed," again spake Siegfried the thane, "That from all such arrogant speeches they may for ever refrain. Thou then to thy wife forbid them; this likewise to mine will I. For such overweening railing I take shame verily."

But by reason of words once spoken fair ladies held them apart. And the Lady Brunhild sorrowed with such sore anguish of heart That in all her affliction afflicted were Gunther's vassal-train. Then went in Hagen of Troneg to commune with the Queen of her pain. And he asked of her what ailed her, that weeping he found her there; And she told him the shameful story. A grim oath straightway he sware: "For this shall the lord of Kriemhild to the uttermost atone, Or never hereafter joyance by Hagen shall be known!"

Joined in their plotting were Gernot and Ortwein, Metz's lord. "Death unto Siegfried!" the heroes counselled with one accord. Then Giselher, child of Uta, did these into council take; But swiftly against their sentence the lad true-hearted spake: "Alas, good knights, now wherefore would ye do so black a deed? Never such ruthless hatred hath Siegfried earned for meed {P. 118} That e'er he should pay you forfeit of the precious life for this! By very nothings enkindled is the wrath of a woman, I wis." "Shall men say that we rear his bastards?" cried Hagen savagely: "It should bring right little honour unto good knights such as we! The name of our Lady belovèd hath he blasted with arrogant breath! If his life for the slander atone not, myself will die the death!"

Then the King's self spake: "Nay, nothing hath he done to us unto this day Save lovingkindness and honour: let him therefore live, I say. What boots it that I should harbour hatred of this good knight? Loyally aye hath he helped us, and hath had therein his delight." Then the Knight of Metz, Lord Ortwein, made answer passion-hot: "Though passing-great be his prowess, it shall verily help him not: I will wreak on him deadliest vengeance, so my Lord will but suffer me." So the heroes imagined mischief against him causelessly.

Yet further went none with the matter, save that Hagen ever and aye In season and out of season, still unto Gunther would say: "If but Siegfried live no longer, lordships many shall come Under thine hand." The spirit of the King was wrapped in gloom. But awhile the matter rested. Men jousted even as before: Strong spear-shafts many they shivered from afront of the minster-door Up the broad green space to the palace, escorting Siegfried's wife. But of Gunther's liegemen were many that lowered on the joyous strife.

Spake the King: "Put away for ever the murderous hate ye nurse. He was born to be honour and profit to us, and nowise a curse; Yea also, so battle-resistless is the marvellous hero's hand, That, if aught he divined of your purpose, before him should no man stand." "That shall he never," said Hagen. "Beware thou reveal it not! With secrecy so deadly will I handle the matter, I wot, That to him shall the weeping of Brunhild be Ruin's baleful breath. Evermore unto him shall Hagen be Hate and the Shadow of Death!"

{P. 119}

But spake unto him King Gunther: "How then may ye compass the deed?" Thereunto answered Hagen: "Hearken to this my rede: There shall ride into this land heralds, as it were from a land afar, Men known unto none in thy city, denouncing against us war. Then say thou in these guests' presence: 'Lo, I must forth to the fight With all my warrior vassals'--then is thy goal in sight. He will offer himself for thine helping: thereby shall he spill his life, If I win but his woundless secret from the fearless hero's wife." Alas and alas! and he hearkened unto Hagen's evil wile; And these twain fell to devising of treachery and guile-- These two knights chivalrous-nurtured!--ere any divined their intent. So through two women's wrangling to their death many heroes were sent.

XV. How woven for Siegfried was the Net of Betrayal

To the gates of the royal city men saw on the fourth day's morn Come two-and-thirty riders. Straightway was their message borne Unto Gunther, to wit, a defiance unto war from a far-off foe. --That lie unto wives and mothers was a fathomless wellspring of woe. Unto these was licence given to appear before the King. Then said they to him: "We be liegemen of Lüdeger's following, The King overcome in battle, time was, by Siegfried's hand, And by him led thence as a hostage into King Gunther's land." Then Gunther greeted the heralds, and bade them sit at the meat. But spake of them one, and answered: "Lord King, let us stand on our feet Till we tell out all the tidings wherewith we be sent unto thee. Of many children of women be ye holden in enmity. King Lüdegast bids thee defiance, and with him King Lüdeger, Because at thine hands aforetime despitefully used they were. They will ride now into thy kingdom with a host for battle arrayed." Great semblance of indignation at their message Gunther made. {P. 120} Then lodged they those feigned heralds, as who would take counsel awhile. How might it be that Siegfried should beware of such deep guile-- He, yea, or any other, when the snare for his feet was cast? Ha, in the net they had hidden were their own feet taken at last!

To and fro the King with his kinsmen whispering ever went: Ever Hagen of Troneg was pricking the sides of his intent. In sooth, of Gunther's liegemen was many a man for peace, But never from dark devising of murder would Hagen cease. Thus as they whispered, Siegfried found these thanes on a day; And the Hero of Netherland marvelled, and questioning thus 'gan say: "Why goeth the King with his liegemen in heaviness of heart? In avenging your wrongs am I ever ready to bear my part." Answered and spake King Gunther: "Good cause for trouble have I. Me do the Dane and the Saxon again unto battle defy. With their war-hosts now be they minded to ride into Burgundy-land." Answered the aweless Hero: "Their onset shall Siegfried's hand, As best befitteth your honour, meet in the battle's strain. That I did to the kings aforetime, shall now be done yet again: I will ravage their land and their strongholds beneath the spoiler's tread Or ever from war I refrain me: hereon will I stake mine head. As for thee, do thou and thy liegemen here in the homeland stay. Let me ride forth against them with mine own war-array. That I render you service gladly, shall ye and all men see. Be ye sure, full evil entreated at mine hand shall your enemies be."

"Now welcome to me is thy saying," the King said joyful-voiced, As though in the proffered helping indeed and in truth he rejoiced. In his falseness lowly he bowed him, that King of the traitor-heart! Yet again spake Siegfried the noble, "Let all your fears depart." Plotters and vassals prepared them, as it were for the war-march, then; But all was done for a semblance unto Siegfried and his men. And the hero bade his warriors of Netherland arm for the fray; And straightway the knights of Siegfried sought out their war-array. {P. 121} To his sire spake Siegfried the mighty: "Here in the land remain, Siegmund my father: returning soon shalt thou see us again, So God but grant good fortune to us, to the land of the Rhine. While thou with the King abidest fair days and glad shall be thine."

Now all were at point of departing: banners to staves they bound. Many of Gunther's liegemen the while were standing round: But that all was hollow semblance no man of these was ware. Sooth, mighty was the war-host arrayed round Siegfried there. The hauberks and the helmets on the horses laded they: Knights many stalwart and fearless would forth of the land straightway.

Then stole thence Hagen of Troneg: to the presence of Kriemhild he came, As who, ere they marched unto battle, would take his leave of the dame. "Now happy am I," said Kriemhild, "to have won to myself such a lord Who unto my friends belovèd is so mighty a battle-ward As Siegfried is to my brethren when he aideth them in fight; And for this am I heart-uplifted," said the Queen, "with abiding delight. Hagen, friend well-belovèd, I pray thee, of this take thought-- I have joyed to do thee service, nor borne thee malice in aught: Let this be requited in kindness to my belovèd lord. Let him suffer not for my speaking to Brunhild a hasty word. Thereof," said the noble lady, "constrained have I been to repent: He hath visited on my body in sorest chastisement My folly of speech in stirring the Queen unto angry mood: He hath verily well avenged her, that noble knight and good."

"Yet a little while, and atonement shall she accept of thee," He said, "dear Lady Kriemhild: now I pray thee, tell unto me In what wise I may do thee service through Siegfried thy lord and thy knight. None living would I, O lady, for thy kindness so gladly requite." "For him were I wholly dreadless," made answer Siegfried's wife, "Lest any in storm of battle should imperil mine hero's life, {P. 122} Were it not for his reckless defying of danger in battle's van; Else would he aye go scatheless, that good and valiant man." "O Lady, if this thou fearest," in his subtlety Hagen replied, "Lest in battle he haply be wounded, then unto me confide How best I may devise it, such peril to withstand; Then for his warding ever will I ride full near at hand."

She answered, "Thou art my kinsman, and of blood am I near unto thee. I commit my lord, my belovèd, to thy faith and thy fealty, That for my sake o'er my belovèd the shield of protection thou hold." Then to Hagen revealed she a story that had better been left untold. For she said, "My lord is fearless, and the strongest man of men; And he slew on a day mid the mountains the Dragon of the Fen; Then bathed the hero his body in the blood of the monster worm, Wherefore availeth to wound him no weapon that man may form. Yet ever mine heart is fearful when in forefront of battle he stands, And many a flying javelin is sped from warriors' hands, Lest I peradventure may lose him, mine hero of all loved best:-- Ah me, with what fears for Siegfried tosses mine heart in unrest! O friend, dear friend and kinsman, on thy faithful love I lean That thou wilt guard thy troth-plight given herein to a queen, When I tell to thee where my belovèd may be wounded of the steel. Now shalt thou hear: the secret to thine honour and love I reveal. When from the wounds of the Dragon flowed the hot-reeking blood, And when in the red pool bathed him that fearless knight and good, There fell on him 'twixt the shoulders one broad lime-tree leaf On that spot may he be wounded; and this is my sorrow and grief."

Answered her Hagen of Troneg: "Thou then with thine own hand sew On his vesture a little token that to me that spot may show The which, when we stand in the war-storm, with heed evermore must I shield." She thought from peril to save him; but so unto death was he sealed. She said, "I will sew on his garment with a silken thread spun fine A faintly-visible crosslet: there that strong hand of thine, {P. 123} Hero, shall guard mine husband, as he presseth aye to the front, And standeth begirt with foemen in the battle's sternest brunt." "Even this will I do, dear Lady," false Hagen made reply. She thought in her wifely yearning to redeem him from death thereby:-- Ah me, thereby did Kriemhild her lord unto death betray! Most courteous leave took Hagen, and with glad heart hasted away.

(C) Then asked of him King Gunther: "What secret hath Hagen learned?" "King, we will ride forth hunting when back is the war-march turned. Now have I gotten the knowledge whereby he shall surely die. Thou, wilt thou appoint this hunting?" Said the King, "Yea, that will I!" Now are the kinsmen of Gunther blithe, and their hearts are light! Never, I ween, thereafter to the end of time shall knight Devise such black betrayal as by these contrived hath been From the trust in knighthood's honour placed by a wife and a Queen!

On the morrow's morning early Siegfried the knight rode forth With a thousand men blithe-hearted, their faces set to the north. He weened he should take a vengeance for his friends' wrong fierce and fell. So nigh unto him rode Hagen that he marked his surcoat well. Then, when he spied the token, he sent all secretly To be bearers of other tidings two men of his company Which should say, "Let the great King's country in peace unmarred abide, For to make submission to Gunther hath Lüdeger bidden us ride." How passing loth was Siegfried to turn him back from the fight, From avenging friends and kinsmen on these that had done them despite! Scarce could the liegemen of Gunther persuade him to sheathe the sword. Back rode he at last to the traitor, and the King his thanks outpoured: "God guerdon thee, friend Siegfried, for thy good heart unto mine aid, That thou offeredst thee so freely what time for thine help I prayed! For this will I aye be beholden to thee, as well may I be. Beyond all friends and kinsmen do I put chief trust in thee! But seeing that now for a season war unto peace giveth place, Go to, let us hunt the wild-boar and hold the bear in chase {P. 124} In the Odenwald, as ofttimes in days overpast have I done." --By Hagen was all this plotted, the utter-treacherous one. "Each guest of mine by my message shall straightway be certified That tomorn we go forth hunting: whoso with me will ride, Let him hold him early ready: if any will bide here still Fleeting careless hours with the ladies, that doth he with my good will." With knightly courtesy Siegfried made answer thereunto: "If ye ride forth a-hunting, I will gladly go with you. So ye will but lend me a huntsman who shall rouse the quarry for me, And therewithal some sleuth-hounds, to the forest will I with thee." "One huntsman wilt thou only?" King Gunther straightway replied. "I will lend thee four, an it please thee, which know from side to side The forest and all the wood-ways, and every wild thing's lair, Lest thou err from the path unknowing when campward at even we fare."

Then rode the hero to Kriemhild, and told to her everything, The while that the tale of Hagen was told in the ears of the King, Even all his deadly devising against that noble thane:-- God grant such treachery never may be wrought by man again! (C) So when these royal hunters had woven the dark death-snare, Then told they the plot to their fellows. Yet Gernot and Giselher Would not with the rest go hunting. Wherefore from warning their friend They hardened their hearts, I know not. Fully paid was the price in the end.

XVI. How Siegfried was Murdered

Now Gunther the King and Hagen, those knights of high-born blood, Have contrived with treacherous purpose the hunt through the glades of the wood. O yea, with their spears keen-whetted will they pierce the forest-bear And the wild boar and the bison--what sport for the brave more fair? {P. 125} Forth rode with heart exultant Siegfried amidst of the rest. All manner of meats followed after for the feasting of host and guest. In the wood's dark heart cool-welling is a spring--there left he his life By the counselling of Brunhild, King Gunther's ruthless wife. But the bold knight, ere he departed, farewell to his wife would say. Already on sumpters laden was his goodly hunting array, And the gear of his woodland-fellows, for over the Rhine would they now. But behold, she wept--ah, never had she more cause, I trow! Soft on the lips he kissed her, his well-belovèd one: "God grant me to see thee, belovèd, safe and sound anon, And that thy sweet eyes may behold me!--with the friends thou boldest dear Fleet thou the time all-careless: I may not tarry here."

Then called she to mind the story--yet durst not tell him the tale-- Told erewhile unto Hagen: bitterly 'gan she bewail, That noble Daughter of Princes, that ever she saw the light; And brake into measureless weeping the bride of Siegfried the knight. And she spake to her lord: "I beseech thee, O let this hunting be! Last night was my dream a horror: two wild boars tracking thee Held thee in chase o'er a moorland--then flowers grew suddenly red! Cause have I for bitter weeping; for fear is mine heart as lead. I fear--oh, I needs must shudder at the thought of a treacherous blow, If haply offence hath been given to an unforgetting foe, Unto some who might visit their hatred and malice on thee and me. Stay here, dear lord: I beseech thee in love and in loyalty!"

But he said: "My wife, my belovèd, I shall be but a few days gone. Is there any that here bears hatred to me?--I know not one. Lo, one and all thy kinsmen unto me are gracious-willed, And I, I have earned no guerdon save the love wherewith they be filled." "Ah no, but my lord, but my Siegfried, thy very death do I dread! For I dreamed yet again for mine anguish: crashing down on thine head Suddenly fell two mountains--and I saw thee never again! If now from me thou departest, it shall be for mine uttermost pain." {P. 126} Then cast he his arms about her, the utter-faithful and dear, And essayed with loving kisses that fairest of women to cheer. This was their last leave-taking: lo, he is gone from her bower. Alas and alas, never living she beheld him from that hour!

So the King rode forth to the wood-lawns that the forest's arms enfold, Seeking the hunter's pastime, and many a baron bold With Gunther rode and his liegemen. Two only were lacking there, Twain in the city that tarried, Gernot and Giselher. Many a beast full-laden before them passed over Rhine For those blithe hunting-fellows bearing the bread and the wine, The flesh and withal the fishes, and abundance of everything Which beseemeth the lord of a kingdom when he goeth journeying. Then chose they a place for their camping on the skirts of the forest green Or ever the game brake cover, those lordly hunters keen: Thence would they slip the sleuth-hounds--'twas a river-mead wide-spread. And now overtook them Siegfried, and this to the King one said.