Part 9

She arose and she spake unto Gunther the King: "I dare well say That nought is like to be left me of all my fair array Through your chamberlain's reckless dealing: he squandereth all my gold! Whosoever should bridle his folly, to him were I thankful-souled. Yon thane, he dreameth, quotha!--such rich gifts doth he give-- I have sent unto Death to take me! Nay, still am I minded to live. And as for the gold of my fathers, myself can waste it, I trow. Steward so open-handed never had queen ere now!" Then answered Hagen of Troneg: "Be it known, O Lady, to thee, Gold hath the King of Rhineland and raiment fair to see To bestow in such rich abundance, that in sooth he needeth not Of all the treasure of Brunhild to carry hence one jot." {P. 71} "Now nay, by your love I charge you," that Queen to the Rhine-lords spake, "With gold and with silken raiment coffers filled would I take Twice ten with me for my journey: myself with mine own hand Will bestow my royal bounty, when we come to Burgundia-land," For the Queen then stored they the coffers with many a precious gem; And the chamberlains of Brunhild the while must be watching them: She would suffer not Gunther's liegeman in the storing thereof to partake; And thereover Gunther and Hagen into merry laughter brake.

"Now to whom," said that Daughter of Princes, "shall I commit my land Ere we go? Be a warder appointed by mine and by thine hand." Made answer Gunther the noble: "Summon thou hitherward Whomsoever thou pleasest: appoint him its governor and lord." Then the Lady looked on her kinsmen, and beheld one nigh at hand, And the man was her mother's brother; and to him gave she her command: "Now let my land and my castles be given in charge from this day Unto thee, till it please King Gunther to take them under his sway."

Out of the train of her vassals two thousand men chose she For them which should fare on the journey with her unto Burgundy With the thousand knights of the Niblungs that with Siegfried voyaged o'er. For the journey they made them ready: men saw them ride to the shore. Four-score and six fair ladies did she lead with her overseas, And withal a hundred maidens, and sweet to see were these. Now forth and away would they hasten; they would linger there no more; But of such as they took not with them many an one wept sore. In fashion as well befitteth a queen, so left she the land: She kissed her nearest and dearest at the last farewell by the strand. And so with fair leave-taking they launched on the northern main; And the ancient land of her fathers the maid saw never again.

Still as they voyaged, joyance made music through all the way: With manifold merry pastime they whiled the hours away. {P. 72} They were wafted on to the outsea by a breeze that followed fast; And so with mirth and laughter from land unto land they passed. Yet not upon that voyage would she be King Gunther's bride; But his bliss awhile must tarry until the bridal-tide In the Castle of Worms, at the stately marriage-festival, When with joy they should come with their heroes unto Gunther's royal hall.

IX. How Siegfried bare Tidings to the Royal City

Now when they had so sailed onward for nine days over the sea, Then out spake Hagen of Troneg: "I pray you, hearken to me: Lo, here we tarry from sending the tidings to Worms on Rhine; Yet by this in the land Burgundian should they be, those heralds of thine." Made answer to him King Gunther: "Of a truth good counsel is this; And to send as our tidings-bearer were none so meet, I wis, As thou thyself, friend Hagen; thou unto my land ride on. Our royal journey may no man better than thou make known." "Now nay, Lord King, of heralds nowise the best should I be. Let me as thy treasure-warder tarry still on the sea: Here will I bide with the women, and guard their costly array Till unto the land Burgundian we have brought them on their way. Not so; pray rather Siegfried to bear this message for thee: Well can he do thine errand with wisdom and courtesy. If he haply be loth for the journey, in kingly-courteous wise Entreat him in kindly fashion by the love in thy sister's eyes."

Then unto the knight sent Gunther, and he came before the King; And he said to him: "Nigh are we gotten to my land in our journeying; And now to my dear-loved sister would I send a messenger, And withal to my mother, to tell them who to the land draw near. {P. 73} So then, Lord Siegfried, I pray thee that thou wouldst bear this word, And so will I aye be beholden to thee," said the Rhineland's lord. Yet loth was Siegfried the valiant, and fain would have said him nay, Until the King besought him, and thus did Gunther pray: He said unto him: "For my love's sake thitherward shouldst thou ride, And withal for the sake of Kriemhild, the maiden lovely-eyed, To the end that the royal maiden with me may requite thy pain." When heard was her name of Siegfried, the knight was exceeding fain. "Lay on me what charge thou pleasest," he answered, "all shall be done: With joy shall it be accomplished for the sake of that lovely one Whom I bear in my heart enshrinèd!--who am I, to deny or defer? Even all that thou requirest will I perform for her."

"So then to my mother Uta the Queen of the land say thou That with heart uplifted and joyous I am faring homeward now. And how we have sped in our wooing do thou to my brethren unfold: And to all our nearest and dearest withal be the story told. Yea, from my sister, the fair one, nought shalt thou hide thereof: Commend unto her Queen Brunhild and me in service of love. And unto all my servants and to all my vassals say, Whatsoever mine heart hath longed for, all have I gained this day. And to Ortwein, my nephew belovèd, bear this hest of mine, That he shall prepare us high-seats in the city beside the Rhine. Tell also my vassals and kinsfolk this--be it known to them all That I purpose for Brunhild's bridal a high-tide festival. And make my request to my sister, that now that she hath learned How that I to the land Burgundian with these my guests have returned, She receive with loving welcome this my belovèd bride: So bound evermore unto Kriemhild shall my love and my service abide."

Then of the Lady Brunhild and of all her following Fair leave was taken of Siegfried, the child of Siegmund the King, Even as was meet and seemly: then on to the Rhine rode he. No better herald than Siegfried in all the world might be! {P. 74} With good knights four-and-twenty to the city of Worms he came. "Without Gunther he cometh!"--the rumour through the city ran like flame. Then all the thanes were troubled, and a wailing moaned all round. They foreboded that in that far land his death the King had found. But the knights with hearts uplifted sprang each from his gallant steed. Then Giselher to meet them, the young Prince, hied him with speed: Came Gernot beside him, his brother, and in eager haste he cried, When he marked how no King Gunther was there by Siegfried's side: "Now welcome to thee, Lord Siegfried! I beseech thee, tell this thing, Where left ye in your departing my brother, Gunther the King? The mighty strength of Brunhild, I fear me, hath reft him from us; So for us should his princely wooing have issue dolorous."

"Cast to the winds your foreboding: to you and to all true friends My noble comrade in emprise his loving service sends. Whole and unharmed I left him: unto you was I sent of your Lord That I should come with the tidings his messenger hitherward. Now lend me your aid, to the end that this grace unto me may fall That I may see Queen Uta, and the Lady your sister withal, That now I may bear them the story that I was bidden to tell Of Gunther and Lady Brunhild, that with these twain all is well." Then the young Prince Giselher answered: "Speak thou unto them thereof, So shalt thou unto my sister render a service of love. For the sake of my brother Gunther in exceeding sorrow she is. Full gladly the maiden will see thee: lo, I will be surety for this." Spake Siegfried: "What service soever unto her may be rendered of me, Faithfully will I perform it ever and willingly. Now who beareth word of my coming to the noble Ladies twain?" So Giselher was herald, that young and comely thane. Blithely Giselher hasted, and the lad to his mother cried And his sister, where in their bower these twain sat side by side: "Siegfried the Netherland hero hither to us is come! Gunther my brother hath sent him to us in our Rhineland home! {P. 75} Tidings to us he bringeth of the King your brother's plight. Now send him word of your pleasure that he come into your sight. The story of all that in Iceland was done unto us he brings." --But he left to another to comfort those sorrowing Daughters of Kings.

They ran to their tiring-bower, they donned their richest array, And they sent word praying Siegfried to come unto them straightway. Full fain did he come at their summons, and he met them with joyful eyes. Then spake Kriemhild the queenly to the hero in gracious wise: "Now welcome, Lord Knight Siegfried, peer unto whom is none! Where bideth my brother Gunther, that noble kingly one? Through the might of Brunhild, I fear me, are we left of his love forlorn! Woe for me, hapless maiden, that ever I was born!" But the bold knight smiled in answer--"My good-news' guerdon pay! Ye be weeping, O lovely Ladies, without a cause this day. Whole and unharmed I left him: this know ye in very deed. Unto you twain by their bidding with tidings hither I speed. With all heart's love and kindness, O Lady of queenly pride, In service to you he commends him, he and his new-won bride. Now let your weeping have ending; soon will themselves be here." Long, long had it been ere she hearkened a tale to her heart so dear!

Then dried she the tears of her weeping with her vesture's snow-white fold From her lovely eyes, and she poured forth the thanks of the happy-souled To the bearer of these glad tidings that made music in her ears. Past was all her affliction, and banished were all her tears. She prayed her herald to seat him; that did he willingly; Then spake that winsome lady: "Exceeding glad were I If I dared but give unto Siegfried my gold for his herald's fee; But for this art thou too exalted--I have left but love for thee." But he said, "Though thirty kingdoms were each and all named mine, Gifts would I take glad-hearted from this fair hand of thine." Answered the high-born Lady, "My desire shall become my deed." And her chamberlain she commanded to bring her the herald's meed. {P. 76} Four-and-twenty armlets that flashed with many a gem Gave she to him for guerdon: for himself he kept not them; Of his knightly and courteous spirit he dealt them in that same hour To her comely maidens which waited on their Lady in her bower.

Then her most loving service graciously tendered the Queen. "Lo, this of my message remaineth," spake on that warrior keen, "Touching that which the King desireth when he meets you by Rhine-flood's side: If herein ye will do his pleasure, in his love shall ye ever abide. His noble guests receive ye--for this his petition is-- With loving and courteous welcome; and he earnestly asketh this, That ye ride forth all to meet him from Worms by the Rhine-stream shore. This is the kindness that Gunther by your love and your faith doth implore." "Even that will I do right gladly," the Fair One made reply: "Of all wherein I can serve him nothing will I deny. In loyallest love and kindness shall his every wish be fulfilled." And the blood in her fair cheeks mantled from the heart with rapture thrilled. Never had herald of princes more gracious welcome than he: An she dared but have kissed him, kissed him with all her heart had she. And so with sweet leave-taking from those ladies forth he went.

Now Burgundy's thanes were fulfilling the commands by Siegfried sent. There Sindold and Hunold bestirred them, and Rumold the noble thane; With all their hearts they laboured, and in love they toiled amain Making ready the festal high-seats in Worms beside the river: Early and late those craftsmen of the King were toiling ever. Ortwein withal and Gere were nowise slack of hand, For they sent forth word unto kinsmen through the length and the breadth of the land To bid those guests to the feast-tide that soon should be holden there; And ready was made her adorning by many a maiden fair. Splendour-arrayed was the palace, and with tapestries each wall Was hung in the great guests' honour: King Gunther's royal hall {P. 77} Was adorned in princely fashion to greet the strangers' eyes: And thus did the stately feast-tide begin in gladsome wise.

Now did the three Kings' kinsmen down many a highway ride Through all the land to the city, which were summoned from every side To the end that these with honour might welcome the bidden guests. Then drawn from their cedar coffers were many costly vests. Now heard are the tidings that watchers have spied the far-off gleam Of the knights of the train of Brunhild. Lo, how the great throngs stream As all the multitudes gather and flock through Burgundia-land! What gallant knights went riding in either princely band!

Then spake she, Kriemhild the Lovely: "O my bower-maidens, ye Which forth unto this guest-welcome this day will ride with me, Out of the coffers take ye attire most glorious, And so shall praise and honour by the guests be rendered to us." Then also hasted the good knights, and bade their squires bring out Goodly saddles with red gold all richly set about. Mounting-blocks gold-gleaming upon foot-cloths spread on the earth They set for the feet of the ladies on that day of gladness and mirth. There in the court stood waiting the palfreys richly dight, Prepared, as the old song telleth, for many a lady bright. On the breast of each horse gleaming was the dainty martingale Of the richest silk threads woven ever sung in minstrel's tale.

Fourscore-and-six fair ladies came pacing forth in state With their bright hair wimple-hooded: gather now to the palace-gate Kriemhild's own bower-maidens in lovely vesture arrayed; Decked with their jewels came they, many a winsome maid. Fifty-and-four were her fair ones, the maids of Burgundia-land; There were none of such high-born lineage as they of her queenly band: The silken snoods fair-jewelled mid their golden tresses shone. Sooth, all that the King had prayed for, with right good will was it done. {P. 78} All of the costliest loom-work and the best that earth bestowed Was the vesture of their arrayal as to meet those guests they rode; With the lily and rose of their faces it blended in harmony. Whosoe'er had been ill-contented, a witless wight were he! Mantles of ermine and sable over the housings flowed; On lovely arm and white wrist many a bracelet glowed. Clasps gathered the silk in many a softly-floating fold:-- But of all their splendour-devising the end can ne'er be told.

Full many a rich-wrought girdle with tassels swinging low Over their shining raiment did hands of ladies throw, Coiled round the silken loom-work far-fetched from Araby. --O, the hearts of the noble maidens with joy and hope beat high! There too did many a fair one over her bosom lace The bodice clasped with jewels:--yet she whose lovely face Outshone not all the splendour of her raiment might well be sad! So fair a train of ladies never queen in the whole world had. So when all those winsome ladies were arrayed in their bravery, Then did the knights of their escort in eager haste draw nigh; Yea, thither the thanes high-hearted came in a mighty throng All bearing their shining bucklers and their ashen lances long.

X. Of the strange Bridal of Gunther and Brunhild

Then gazed they across the Rhine-stream, and beheld on the farther shore The King with his guests around him, which had drawn nigh theretofore; And they saw the good knights standing by the bridle of many a maid, Even them that they looked to welcome, who now for their coming stayed. So passed they down to the galleys, that host from the Northern Land, They and the Niblung thousand, even Siegfried's own war-band, {P. 79} And adown the bank they hasted: their toil the rowers plied, Till all these friends of Gunther had won to the farther side.

Now list ye withal, how the story of the Queen of Burgundy Telleth, how Uta the stately with her maiden-company Went forth of the castle riding with that bright cavalcade: Then were made known to each other many a knight and maid. The Lord of the Marches, Gere, led Kriemhild's steed by the rein To the fortress-gate, no farther: Siegfried the noble thane Should render her service thereafter--how queenly and lovely she shone! Well was his service requited by the maiden's love anon. Ortwein the noble, the dauntless, led onward Uta the Queen, And, each by a lady riding, was many a knight there seen. Unto festal welcoming rode they, plain for all folk to see. Never was seen of ladies so goodly a company! In front of Kriemhild the lovely, through all the merry way Those far-famed heroes jousted in gentle and joyous play: 'Twas the ancient and honoured custom. So when to the ships they came, Then lifted they from their palfreys full many a noble dame. Now the King had by this crossed over with many a stranger knight; But in jousting still they shivered strong spears in ladies' sight. Ever the shields were ringing with echoing clash and clang; In the press of the warriors charging rich bosses mightily rang.

So there these winsome ladies stood by the river-side; And forth of the ships came Gunther with his guests, the folk of his bride; And himself forth out of the galley by the hand led Brunhild the Queen. As they met, bright raiment to raiment and stone unto stone flashed sheen. Then stepped the Lady Kriemhild forward with queenly grace, And she greeted the Lady Brunhild and her train with loving face. Men saw white hands from their foreheads the coronals softly move, As each fair queen kissed other in token of knitting of love. Then sweet spake Kriemhild the maiden, the child of a royal line: "Into this our land Burgundian welcome be thou and thine {P. 80} Unto me and to my mother, and to all this loyal crowd Of liegemen and kinsfolk," With stately grace Queen Brunhild bowed. Ofttimes with arms enfolding those lovely ladies clung;-- Of such loving welcome aforetime hath never minstrel sung As now to the bride was rendered of those noble ladies twain Uta and Kriemhild: her sweet lips kissed they once and again. Now as the ladies of Brunhild beside the river stand, The goodly knights step forward, and they take them by the hand In token of loving greeting to those fair ones lovely-eyed-- Ah, comely were they, the maidens at the Lady Brunhild's side!

Ere all that greeting was ended, long time had fleeted by: On rosebud lips full many fell kisses lovingly. Long face to face communing those Daughters of Kings abode; And the peerless knights looked on them with hearts that for gladness glowed. With their own eyes then beheld they, who oft had heard it told That so glorious beauty might no man in all the world behold As the beauty of these two fair ones; and the rumour's truth they learned; For in all their lovely bodies might no blemish be discerned. Of such as could weigh the fairness of form and winsome face, Some to the bride of Gunther gave beauty's chiefest praise; But they that were more discerning, that wiselier looked thereon, Said, "Nay, ye must own that Brunhild by Kriemhild is outshone."

Now mingled they, home-abiders and strangers, matron and maid: There many a comely woman was seen all costly-arrayed. Rich tents and silken pavilions all round lay far and wide, Wherewith were the green meads covered from Worms to the river-side. Then nigher pressed to behold them King Gunther's friends and kin. Then prayed they the Lady Brunhild and Kriemhild to pass within, And all their handmaids with them, 'neath the wavering silken shade. Thither the knights Burgundian their noble guests conveyed. Now by this upon their horses those knightly guests had sprung, And with sport of the breaking of lances the shining bucklers rung. {P. 81} Over the field upsoaring was the dust, as though all the land Were flame-devoured, as the heroes made proof of their might of hand. To the eyes of the watching maidens those knights their prowess showed: Right well with the host of his warriors Siegfried the valiant rode; In tourney before the pavilion aye to and fro he wheeled: With the hero a thousand Niblungs went sweeping across the field.

Then strode forth Hagen of Troneg at Gunther the King's behest, And courteously the hero bade the knights from their jousting rest, That they should not o'erpall with the dust-cloud the maidens fair and sweet; And the knightly guests blithe-hearted rendered obedience meet. Then out spake Gernot the noble: "Awhile let the horses abide Till the day on-draweth to coolness, and so shall our escort ride Beside the lovely ladies to the wide-roofed palace-hall. When the word of the King shall be given, 'To horse!' be ye ready all." Through the length and the breadth of the lealand stayed was the tournament; Then the knights sought unto the ladies in many a stately tent To while the hours in converse, and to make them merry of heart: So fleeted fast the moments, till time was thence to depart.

Before the falling of even, when sank the light of the sun, And came thereafter the coolness, no more would they linger on. Then cityward knight and lady rode the summer ways, And on many a form most winsome fell warrior's loving gaze. As they rode, were there tourney-courses; oft mantles with sudden hand[8] Were twitched from the gallant riders, after the wont of the land, Till afront of the gate of the palace the King his war-horse stayed: So by the knights to the ladies was honour-service paid.