Part 8

Now telleth the song of the raiment of that fair-clad Amazon. With glistering silk of the Orient her battle-doublet shone-- Ah, it was costly and queenly!--flashed in beholders' eyes From the vest of that Daughter of Princes full many a stone of price. {P. 60} A mighty spear broad-headed then brought they unto the Queen, Which she hurled evermore in the Contest of Wooers, a javelin keen, Gigantic, stubborn-shafted, heavy and long, and wide Were the fierce death-whetted edges thereof on either side. Of the weight of that fearful javelin be marvellous stories told. Of five-score pounds of iron was forged its massy mould: Three of the warriors of Brunhild staggering bare that spear. Then the heart of the noble Gunther grew heavy with his fear. Under his breath he whispered: "What task have I now in hand? Though the Foul Fiend rose out of Hell's Pit, against her how should he stand? Were I, with my life delivered, once more beside the Rhine, Long should she bide untroubled by any wooing of mine!" (C) Well may ye deem what burden of disquiet his spirit bare. Then all his harness of battle they set before him there: And soon the mighty Rhine-lord lapped in his war-mail stood. But the spirit of Hagen was darkened, and he chafed in bitter mood.

Then out spake Hagen's brother. Dankwart the valiant: "I rue-- Yea, my inmost soul repenteth that hither we came to woo! Good knights, time was, men called us! Shall we tamely yield our breath? Here in the land of the stranger shall a woman do us to death? Sore vexed am I for our folly, that ever we came to her land! Ha, if that my brother Hagen but grasped his sword in hand, And I had also my war-glaive, soon these should abate their pride, And should droop the eyes of scorning, yon vassals at Brunhild's side! I would teach them to go softly, full well I ween!--O yea, Though oaths had I sworn a thousand to keep the peace this day!-- Ere I saw my belovèd liege-lord lie trapped in a foul death-snare, Doomed to forsake life--quotha!--because this woman is fair!" "Ay, and we would unshackled from this land win forth clear," Answered his brother Hagen, "had we but the armour here That we lack for the clash of the onset, and the trusty battle-blade; Then soon should the pride be humbled of yonder stalwart maid!" {P. 61} Full well overheard were his murmurs of the Lady royally born. She cast back over her shoulder a smile of careless scorn:-- "And he deemeth himself so valiant?--e'en bring them hitherward Their armour, and give to the heroes each his keen-edged sword! (C) As little I reck of them whether their harness and swords they bear," Spake that Daughter of Princes, "or weaponless stand there. I fear the strength of no man that is known of me unto this day; Yea, and I look to o'ermaster yon king in the battle-play." When, after the Maid's commandment, unto these were their weapons brought, The face of the valiant Dankwart for very joy flushed hot. "Play now what play ye be minded!" he cried, that goodly thane; "Unfettered now is Gunther: we have our swords again!"

Once more of the might of Brunhild terrible proof is shown: Men into the ring come bearing an exceeding massy stone, Most huge, a quoit for a Titan, broad withal and round. Scarce twelve of her thanes could bear it into love's strange battle-ground. Even this ever hurled she in contest, when the flight had been sped of the spear. Thereat were the lords Burgundian thrilled with foreboding fear. "Who is this that my lord would be wooing?--Beshrew her!" Hagen cried: "In the nethermost hell might she fitly be plighted the Foul Fiend's bride!"

On her snow-white arms the Maiden her tunic-sleeves uprolled, And she stretched forth her hand to the arm-brace of the shield, and took fast hold: She hath swung up on high the javelin--lo, the banners of battle unfold!-- Then the hearts of those two heroes at the fire in her eyes waxed cold. And except in that moment Siegfried to his friend's help had drawn nigh, She had reft the life from Gunther the King right certainly: But he stole to his side all viewless, and softly touched his hand; Then, as at a spirit's presence, well-nigh was the King unmanned; For the bold knight thought: "Who touched me?--do I stand on enchanted ground?" For, look as he would all round him, no man thereby he found. {P. 62} Then a whisper came--"It is Siegfried: I, thy companion, am here. Thou therefore in yon Queen's presence be wholly void of fear. Yield up from thy grasp the buckler, and let me bear it for thee, And lay up in thine heart the counsel which now thou hearest of me:-- Be thine all feigning of action, by me shall the work be done." Then leapt his heart for gladness, when he knew it was Siegmund's son. "Ever hide thou my cunning devices, speak word thereof unto none: So by the proud King's Daughter shall little enow be won, Through thee and thine overthrowing, of the glory she thinketh to glean. Behold her, how yonder she standeth with scornful-arrogant mien!"

Then, then that royal maiden hurled across the field With her uttermost strength the javelin at the mighty and broad new shield Which braced on his left arm firmly the son of Siegelind bore: Leapt sparks from the steel, as the wind-blast sweepeth the chaff from a floor. The fang of the mighty javelin through the shield's whole thickness crashed; And it glanced from the warrior's armour, that the fire from the ring-mail flashed. Back from the shock went reeling either stalwart thane:-- Except for the Hood of Darkness, of a surety had both been slain! Yea, from the mouth of Siegfried the valiant burst forth blood; But he sprang full-height in a moment; then gripped that war-thane good The selfsame spear which the maiden through the rim of the shield had sped. Then Siegfried's strong hand backward swung it above his head. But he said in his heart: "I will pierce not the maiden sweet to see." Backward therefore the deadly point of the lance turned he; Then hurled he the spear butt-foremost full at the rings of her mail: Loudly they rang at the smiting of the hand that was strong to prevail. Flashed out the fire from her hauberk, as flies dust caught by the wind. Ha, that was a cast most mighty of the son of Siegelind! For all her strength, she prevailed not against that shock to stand. In veriest truth, such spear-cast came never from Gunther's hand!

{P. 63}

But the Fairest of fair ones, Brunhild, leapt to her feet forthright:-- "For thy good spear-cast I thank thee, O Gunther, noble knight!" She cried; for she weened that the hero by his own strength this had done, Nor dreamed she how that behind him had stolen a mightier one. Sped she from that place swiftly, for her fury stung her as flame: She grasped the stone, she upheaved it, that royal Amazon dame. Far thence from her hand that boulder with her uttermost might she swung, Then after the cast far leapt she, that her mail-rings clashed and rung. Twelve fathoms away from the caster crashed that stone to the ground; But farther yet than the quoit-flight did the high-born maiden bound. Then strode that swift war-helper, Siegfried, where lay the stone:-- Men saw but the arm of Gunther, the speeder thereof saw none. Mighty of limb was Siegfried, valiant and tall was he; Farther than Brunhild he hurled it, he leapt yet farther than she; And he added thereto a marvel, a deed of magic might, That he bore in his leap King Gunther, by the power of the Hood of Night. Lo, now is the great leap taken; behind on the earth lay the stone. Gunther it was, the war-thane, whom men saw there alone. Then the face of Brunhild the lovely with helpless anger burned. --Lo, Siegfried from King Gunther the imminent death hath turned!

Then unto the host of her vassals Queen Brunhild looked, and she cried, When she saw that hero standing safe on the lists' far side: "O ye my friends and liegemen, hitherward come straightway! Ye be all unto this King Gunther vassals from this day." Down laid each valiant warrior his weapons from his hand, And low at the feet they bowed them of the Lord of Burgundia-land; Yea, unto Gunther the mighty bent many a valiant knight, For they weened he had won that contest by his own unaided might. With chivalrous grace and in loving wise he greeted the maid; And now that Queen of Beauty her hand in his hath laid, And to him all rule she yielded over all her wide domain. Then glad in his heart was Hagen, that bold and knightly thane. {P. 64} She besought that noble chieftain to her palace builded wide With her to return, and thither strode Gunther at her side. There all men fearing before him in homage lowly bent. So the brethren, Dankwart and Hagen, thereat were well content.

Now Siegfried, the swift war-helper, in all deep craft was wise: Back bare he the Hood of Darkness, and hid it from all men's eyes. Then he passed to the hall, where fair ones sat in their bravery; And he spake unto King Gunther, and cunningly dealt he:-- "Now why, Lord King, dost thou tarry, that the games not yet begin Whereof this Queen made promise, and challenged thee herein? Let us now full soon behold them, and know of the trial's stress." --As nothing knowing of all things he spake in his wiliness. Then spake that Daughter of Princes: "How might this marvel befall That thou of the games, Lord Siegfried, hast witnessed nought at all, Wherein was the victory given unto this King Gunther's hand?" Out spake and answered Hagen, the knight of Burgundia-land: "Thou, Queen," he said, "didst trouble our spirit exceedingly: Therefore was Siegfried the good knight abiding by ship and sea In the hour when the Lord of Rhineland overcame in the wooer's play; So nought thereof he knoweth," did Gunther's liegeman say. "Now welcome to me be the tidings," Siegfried the hero replied, "That here in such wise a wooer hath humbled thy tameless pride, And that some one lives to be master at last over thee and thine! Now shalt thou, noble maiden, fare with us to the Rhine."

Made answer that high-born Lady: "Not yet may this thing be, Ere I have summoned my kinsmen and them of my vassalry. It is all unmeet that so lightly I depart from this my land: Ere then must my nearest and dearest be bidden from every hand." Through the length and the breadth of her kingdom she made her messengers ride; And all her friends and her vassals she gathered from every side. {P. 65} Wherefore in swift obedience unto Isenstein came they; And to each and to all of them gave she most royal-rich array. Yea, day after day came riding from far, came early and late, The best of the folk of Brunhild in throngs to her fortress-gate. "Beshrew our folly," cried Hagen, "in consenting to this thing! To our own undoing await we Queen Brunhild's following. If these with all their war-might throng into this land thus-- Queen Brunhild's secret purpose is all unknown unto us,-- What if she be wroth against us? Then were our plight forlorn: So were the noble maiden for our utter discomfiture born!"

Then answered Siegfried the mighty: "This will I countervail. So will I deal, that the purpose that disquieteth you shall fail. Them that shall help I will bring you hitherward unto this shore, Even chosen knights, such a war-host as ye have not seen heretofore. Ye shall ask not concerning mine absence: I will journey away from this place. God have your honour in keeping, and guard it safe for a space! Soon shall ye see me returning: a thousand men will I bring, And these the mightiest war-thanes that ever followed king." "Only not long do thou linger," the King made answer again, "Forasmuch as we of thine helping be most exceeding fain." He said, "Ere ye see me returning of a truth shall the days be few: And this shall ye tell Queen Brunhild, that hence I was sent of you."

VIII. How Siegfried went to the Niblung Land for his Knights

So thence to the strand and the haven Siegfried hied him away In the Hood of Darkness shrouded. Now a boat by the wharf-side lay, And thereinto from men's eyes hidden stepped Siegfried Siegmund's son, And he thrust it forth o'er the waters, as it were by a wind driven on. {P. 66} Now no one beheld that steersman, though swift was the barge's flight Sped on by the strength of Siegfried, so passing-great was his might. Who marked it, deemed that it drifted before a strange strong wind: None dreamed it was driven of Siegfried the child of Siegelind. In the space of that day and the night-tide that followed was he brought To a certain land, by the mighty strength wherewithal he wrought. It was leagues full three-and-thirty, yea, more peradventure, away. This was the Land of the Niblungs, where he won the Hoard for a prey. Alone stepped forth the hero on to an eyot wide; And he fastened, that knight resourceful, the boat to the river-side. Then he passed unto where a castle stood on a craggy bent, And therein sought harbourage, even as a wayfarer toil-forspent.

So he came before that burg-gate: fast locked and barred did it stand; For jealous aye for their honour were the warders of that land. On the massy door 'neath the gate-tower did the unknown one begin Straightway to beat, and his smiting roused up therewithin A mighty one and a giant, that there kept watch and ward, And night and day beside him his armour lay and his sword: And he spake: "Who knocketh so roughly on the burg-gate therewithout?" In a feigned voice Siegfried the valiant sent back the answering shout: "Up! I am a knight belated. Knave, open to me forthright, Else I with strokes heavy-handed shall gall a laggard wight Who loveth to keep his chamber and lie in the sluggard's bed!" Then exceeding wroth was the warder for the word that Siegfried said. His armour hath that fierce giant in haste on his huge limbs done, And his helmet hath he settled on his head, that mighty one. In haste hath he snatched his buckler and the castle gate swung wide: In a fury of rage against Siegfried forth did he swiftly stride. "How dar'st thou wake," he shouted, "all these of our gallant band?" Then fell fast-raining buffets, dealt by his mighty hand: From the shield of the noble stranger glanced fierce blows many and rude, Yet the steel shards flew from his shield-rim as the giant warder hewed {P. 67} With a massy mace of iron, that the thane was hard-bestead. Well-nigh began the hero the very death to dread At the smiting of that huge porter, as the lightning vehement. Yet was his liege-lord Siegfried with his faithfulness well content. So furious was their battling, the keep rang echoing round, And afar in the hall of King Niblung was heard the tempest-sound: Yet at last he o'ermastered the warder, and bound him foot and hand. --Ere long men laughed at the story through all the Niblung land.

As the thunder of that conflict through the mountain's heart far rolled, It was heard of the Dwarf, the dauntless Albrich, the tameless-souled. In haste he armed him, and thither he ran, and behold, he found That noble stranger-warrior, and the giant warder bound. Of fiery mood was Albrich, and mighty strength he had: In hauberk-rings and in helmet was his body for battle clad; And a morning-star huge-headed of gold had he gripped in his hand. With swift feet rushed he onward unto where did Siegfried stand. Seven balls spike-studded and massy by chains from the mace-head swung, Wherewith on the shield that the hero's arm before him flung He hailed down blows so bitter that in fragments all it flew, So that somewhat adread that noble guest for his own life grew. The shield by that flail of battle shattered he flung from his hand, And he thrust back into the scabbard Balmung, the long keen brand: He would smite not therewith, lest his faithful seneschal should die; For aye was he noble-hearted, and the flower of chivalry. But the hero leapt upon Albrich with his strong bare hands alone, And fast by the beard he gripped him, that hoary-headed one, And he mightily plucked, that the Earth-dwarf shrieked for very pain, As the hero-knight tamed Albrich with his fingers' bitter strain. Loud cried the erstwhile aweless: "Ah, leave my life unto me! Had I not to another hero sworn true fealty, And bowed myself in homage to be vassal to him for aye, Thee would I serve to my death-day," did the crafty-wise one say. {P. 68} Then bound he Albrich, even as he bound that giant before: Of a truth the prowess of Siegfried galled him exceeding sore! Then asked the Dwarf of the hero: "I pray thee, how named art thou?" And he answered: "My name is Siegfried: thou hast heard that name, I trow." Spake Albrich: "For these tidings of a truth mine heart is fain! Of thy strength, the strength of a hero, hast thou given proof again, Hast shown how well thou art worthy to be lord of the Niblung Land. So thou spare me for that I withstood thee, will I do all thy command." Answered the good knight Siegfried: "Up then, and speedily Bring thou unto me my bravest which here in the fortress be, A thousand Niblungs: before me now would I see them brought." But the cause for the which he desired them thus, he told him not.

Then Albrich and the giant from their bonds the hero unbound; And the Dwarf to the place ran swiftly where the Niblung knights slept sound; And in eager haste he uproused them, the men of the Niblung array, Crying, "Up, ye heroes! to Siegfried your lord must ye go straightway." Upsprang they from their couches, and they clad themselves with speed; And a thousand eager warriors stood arrayed in battle-weed; And he led them to where Prince Siegfried abode them in that great hall; And they gave to him loving greeting by word and by deed withal. They have kindled a hundred torches, they have poured the wine for their lord; And for that their speedy coming he thanked them with gracious word; And he said to them: "Now shall ye follow with me far hence oversea." And those valiant knights and loyal consented willingly.

Stout vassal-knights three thousand had gathered at his call, And of these he chose a thousand, the goodliest of them all; And their helmets were brought to the chosen, and all their harness of war, Forasmuch as their lord would lead them unto Brunhild's land afar. And he spake: "O knights true-hearted, I would say unto you this thing: Ye must take rich raiment for wearing in the presence of Queen and King; {P. 69} For there shall ye look upon many a maiden fair to see: Therefore ye needs must adorn you with seemly bravery." (C) Now perchance might a simple-one chide me--"Not sooth is this thy song! How might in the castle be gathered so vast a knightly throng? Wherewithal should all these be nourished, and whence purvey them attire? Though realms he had thirty, never had he brought to pass his desire." (C) Tush!--surely ye know this--Siegfried was a passing-wealthy lord: He had that realm in possession, and his was the Niblung Hoard. So he gave to his war-thanes freely so much as they lacked, nay, more. How much he lavished soever, unminished still was his store.

Lo, in the dimness of dawning forth on the sea they fare: --Ho for the eager warriors that Siegfried had gathered there!-- With goodly battle-horses and lordly attire sailed they: So unto the land of Brunhild they came, a knightly array. On her battlements many a fair one stood gazing over the sea. Then spake that Daughter of Princes: "Knoweth any man who they be Whom yonder I see far fleeting o'er the waters in gallant show? How rich be the sails that waft them!--they be whiter than driven snow!" Then spake the Lord of Rhineland: "My royal train be these Whom I left as I journeyed hither not far behind overseas. I have sent to speed them hither: lo, now be they come, O Queen." With wondering eyes the coming of those knightly guests was seen. Men saw on a ship's prow Siegfried standing foremost of all In princely vesture: beside him was many a warrior tall. Then spake that Daughter of Princes: "Lord King, I pray thee, declare: Shall I greet these guests at their coming, or shall I from greeting forbear?" He said: "Thou shalt go to meet them with welcome in thy face Forth of thy palace-portals, that none may doubt of thy grace." So did that Daughter of Princes according as Gunther bade: But cold and haughty greeting from Brunhild Siegfried had. So they gave them lodging, and safely laid by their battle-gear. And by this were guests so many there gathered from far and near, {P. 70} That for these too strait was the city as they thronged on every hand. And now would the valiant heroes fare home to Burgundia-land.

Then spake that Daughter of Princes: "Unto him were I thankful-souled Who for me would deal out my bounty of my silver and my gold Unto my guests and King Gunther's; for full is my treasury." Then Dankwart, Giselher's liegeman, made answer gallantly: "O noble Daughter of Princes, unto me commit the key, And I will deal forth thy treasure," said the valiant thane, "for thee. If any cry out on the niggard, on me be all blame thrown!" --That Dankwart was open-handed, full soon was to all men known. When to Hagen's brother committed was the key of her treasury, The hand of the hero scattered rich gifts all lavishly. Who craved but one mark only, on him was so much showered That the poor of the land through their life-days might aye live gladness-dowered. Pounds of silver uncounted by hundreds lavished he; And forth of her halls passed many in goodly bravery Who never before in their life-tide clad in such splendour went. But when Queen Brunhild heard it, was she passing ill-content.