The Nibelungenlied: The Lay of the Nibelungs (Oxford World's Classics)

by Cyril Edwards

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  it, and mark well what you hear me say. You go through the motions now, and I will do the deeds.’ When Gunther realized who it was he was relieved.

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  Sivrit said: ‘Now keep my wiles secret. You must tell no one of them, and then the queen will win very little fame by you, no matter how much she desires it. See how the lady stands without anxiety before you now!’

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  Then the proud maiden hurled her javelin with great force at a new shield, massive and broad, which Siglint’s son carried in his hand. The fire leapt up from the steel, as if blown by the wind. The

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  stout javelin’s blade pierced right through the shield, so that fire was seen to spark from the chainmail. At the power of the throw both those strong men staggered. Were it not for the cloak of invisibility they would have died on the spot.

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  Blood broke from valiant Sivrit’s mouth. Immediately he leapt up again. Then the noble hero took hold of the javelin which she had thrown through his rim. Strong Sivrit’s hand sent it back at her.

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  He thought: ‘I do not want to pierce the fair maiden.’ He inverted the javelin’s blade behind his back. He threw the shaft of the javelin at her armour, so that it resounded loudly because of the strength of his courageous hand. The fire flashed from her chainmail as if driven

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  by the wind. Sigmunt’s son threw that shot with mettle. She did not have the strength to stand up to that throw. Indeed, King Gunther would never have been capable of that!

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  How quickly fair Prünhilt leapt up again! ‘Gunther, noble knight, I thank you for that throw!’ She believed he had done it with his own strength—a much mightier man had crept up to deceive her.

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  Then she walked rapidly away—she was in angry mood. The noble, worthy maiden raised the stone up high. She hurled it mightily from her hand, a great distance away. Then she leapt after the throw, all her armour resounding! The stone had fallen to the ground a good

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  twenty fathoms away. The well-favoured maiden outdid the throw by her leap. Lord Sivrit walked over to where the stone lay. Gunther moved it then, but it was that hero who did the throwing. Sivrit was

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  bold, very strong and tall. He threw the stone further, and moreover leapt a greater distance. The fine wiles he practised meant that he had enough strength to carry King Gunther with him in his leap.

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  The leap had been made, the stone had fallen to the ground. They saw no one else then but Sir Gunther. Fair Prünhilt grew red with rage. Sivrit had forestalled King Gunther’s death. She raised her voice

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  somewhat as she spoke to her retinue, when they saw the hero hale and healthy at the edge of the rink: ‘Come over here in haste, my kinsmen and my vassals! You must all be subject to King Gunther!’

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  Then those valiant men laid their swords on the ground. They knelt at the feet of powerful Gunther from the land of Burgundy—bold men in great numbers. They believed that he had won the games by his own strength. He greeted her charmingly, being rich in courtesy.

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  Then the admirable maiden took him by the hand. She permitted him to take power there. Hagen, that bold and valiant knight, was well pleased at that. She asked the noble knight, Gunther, to walk

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  away with her into the spacious great hall. After that the warriors were served with greater hospitality. Dancwart and Hagen took no umbrage at that.

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  Bold Sivrit was wise enough to take his cloak of invisibility back to safe-keeping. Then he returned to the hall, where many a lady sat. He said to the king—and that was a cunning deed on his part: ‘What

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  are you waiting for, my lord? When are you to begin those games, so many of which the queen is setting you? And let us soon see what is their nature.’ The cunning man acted as if he knew nothing about it.

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  Then the queen said: ‘How has it happened that you, Sir Sivrit, have seen nothing of the games which Gunther’s hand has won here?’

  Hagen from the land of Burgundy answered her. He said: ‘Lady,

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  you had given us cause for anxiety. Sivrit, the worthy hero, was down by the skiff when the overlord of the Rhine won the games against you. That is why he knows nothing of this,’ said Gunther’s vassal.

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  ‘Then happy am I at these tidings,’ said Sir Sivrit, ‘that your pride is laid so low here, that someone has lived to be master over you. Now, noble maiden, you must follow us to the Rhine.’

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  Then the well-favoured queen said: ‘That cannot be. First my kinsmen and vassals must learn of this. I cannot leave my lands so readily. My best allies must be sent for first.’

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  Then she ordered her messengers to ride off in all directions. She sent for her allies, kinsmen, and vassals. She asked them to come to Isenstein without fail, and ordered that they all be given sumptuous and splendid garments. Daily they rode in their bands,

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  early and late, towards Prünhilt’s castle. ‘Ye gods!’ said Hagen. ‘What have we done! To wait for fair Prünhilt’s men here would cost us very dear! When they arrive with their armies in this land—the queen’s

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  intent is not known to us!—what if she becomes so angry that we are doomed? In that event this noble maiden was born to give us great trouble.’

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  Then mighty Sivrit said: ‘I shall forestall that. I’ll stop you worrying on that score. I shall bring you help into this land, from excellent warriors, never yet known to you. You are not to ask about my

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  whereabouts—I want to leave here. May God preserve your honour meanwhile! I’ll come back soon, bringing you a thousand of the very best knights I have ever known.’

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  ‘Then do not linger long,’ replied the king. ‘We have good reason to be glad of your help.’

  Sivrit said: ‘I’ll be back in a few days. You must tell Prünhilt that you have sent me on a journey.’

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  EIGHTH ADVENTURE

  HOW SIVRIT FETCHED HIS MEN

  THEN Sivrit in his cloak of invisibility walked out of the gate that led to the shore, where he found the bark. Sigmunt’s son boarded it in all secrecy. He quickly steered it away, as if it were blown by the wind. No one could see the skipper. The bark sailed fast, powered

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  by Sivrit’s great strength. People thought that a severe gale* was driving it, but no, it was Sivrit, fair Siglint’s son, driving it forward.

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  Sailing for that day and the following night, his massive strength took him a good hundred miles, and yet more, to a land named after the Nibelungs, where he had taken possession of the great hoard.

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  The hero sailed alone into a wide wharf. Quickly the gallant knight moored the skiff. He walked up to a mountain, on which there stood a castle, and looked for lodging, as the way-worn do.

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  He came up to the gate. It was closed against him. They were guarding their honour, as people still do today. The stranger began to beat at the door—it was well guarded. He found a monster of a

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  man standing behind it, who had the castle in his care; his weapons always lay close to hand. The giant said: ‘Who is that knocking so hard at the gate?’

  Lord Sivrit, standing outside, disguised his voice. He said: ‘I am a warrior! Now open the door! Or else I, standing outside here, will before the day is out provoke the anger of a fair few who would gladly lie easy and take their rest.’

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  The gatekeeper was angry at Sir Sivrit’s words. Now the bold giant had donned his armour, put his helmet on his head. The mighty man quickly grabbed his shield. He flung open the gate. How ferociousl
y he ran at Sivrit!—how dared he wake up so many

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  bold men!—his hands dealt blows fast and hard there. The proud stranger ducked to avoid them. The gatekeeper succeeded in shattering his shield-bolts with an iron pole.* The hero was in trouble! Sivrit

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  was in some fear of death when the gatekeeper struck such powerful blows. His lord, Sivrit, respected him amply for this. They fought

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  so hard that the whole castle echoed with the clamour. It could be heard then in Nibelunc’s hall. Sivrit overcame the gatekeeper and tied him up. Tidings of this spread all through the land of the Nibelungs.

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  Then, far off in the mountain, valiant Albrich, a wild dwarf, heard the fierce fighting. Quickly he armed himself, then ran to where he found that most noble stranger tying up the giant with firm bonds.

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  Albrich was very fierce and had strength in plenty. He wore a helmet and chainmail, and carried a whip of gold in his hand.* He ran fast at Sivrit. Seven heavy balls hung from his scourge; with that he struck so

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  fiercely at bold Sivrit’s shield, which he held in front of him, that much of it was shattered. The handsome stranger feared for his life then.

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  He threw aside his shattered shield. He thrust his long sword into its scabbard, not wishing to slay his chamberlain. He clung to his good breeding, as courtesy commanded him. He charged at Albrich with his

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  mighty hands, seizing the hoary old man by his beard. He pulled monstrously hard at it, so that Albrich cried out loud. The young hero’s chastisement* hurt Albrich hard. The bold dwarf cried out loudly: ‘Let

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  me live! If I might be anyone’s bondsman but that of one warrior, to whom I swore oaths that I’d be his subject, I’d serve you rather than die,’ said the cunning dwarf.

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  Sivrit tied up Albrich, as he had done the giant before. Sivrit’s strength hurt him hard. The dwarf asked: ‘What is your name?’

  He said: ‘I am called Sivrit. I thought you knew me well!’

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  ‘Happy am I to hear these tidings!’ said Albrich the dwarf. ‘Now I have fully felt the impact of your warrior-like deeds and know that you are rightfully lord of this land. I’ll do whatever you command, if you let me live.’

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  Then Lord Sivrit said: ‘You must quickly go and bring to me the best warriors we have, a thousand Nibelungs—let them behold me here!’ No one heard him explain why he wanted this.

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  He untied the giant’s and Albrich’s bonds. Then Albrich ran quickly to where he could find the warriors. Troubled, he wakened the men of the Nibelungs. He said: ‘On your feet, you heroes, you must go to Sivrit!’ They leapt from their beds and were all at the

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  ready. A thousand bold knights were soon well clad. They went to where Sivrit stood. A splendid welcome took place there, their actions matching their words. Many candles were kindled. Clary*

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  was poured out for Sivrit. He thanked them all for coming so quickly. He said: ‘You must leave here and sail across the sea with me.’ He found that those bold and worthy heroes were most ready to do so.

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  Some three thousand warriors had soon arrived. A thousand of the best were then chosen from them. Their helmets were brought for them and the rest of their armour, for Sivrit wanted to lead them into Prünhilt’s land.

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  He said: ‘You worthy knights, one thing I would tell you: you must wear most sumptuous clothes at court there, for many lovely women will be there to see us. Therefore you must adorn yourselves with good garments.’

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  Early one morning they set off. What bold companions Sivrit had won! They led good chargers and wore splendid garments. In knightly fashion they entered Prünhilt’s land.

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  In the turrets the lovely maidens stood. The queen then said: ‘Does anyone know who those are whom I see afloat, so far off on the sea? They carry splendid sails, whiter even than snow.’

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  Then the King of the Rhineland said: ‘They are my vassals. I left them close by here when we came on this journey. I have sent for them. Now, lady, they have arrived.’

  Great attention was paid to the noble strangers. Then they

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  saw Sivrit standing in splendid clothing at the prow of a ship, and many another man. The queen then said: ‘Sir King, you must tell me, am I to welcome these guests, or should I deny them my greeting?’

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  He said: ‘You must walk towards them, out of the great hall, so that they clearly comprehend that we are glad to see them.’ Then the queen did as the king counselled her. She greeted Sivrit before all the others. They were given lodgings and their armour put into

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  safe-keeping. So many guests had arrived in that land that there was jostling on all sides between the bands. The valiant warriors were then resolved on returning home to Burgundy.

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  The queen then said: ‘I would hold any man in high favour who would share out my silver and my gold to the king’s guests and mine—I have so much of it!’

  Dancwart, King Giselher’s vassal,* responded: ‘Most noble queen,

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  let me have charge of the keys. I trust I can share out your gold in such a way’, said the bold knight, ‘that any disgrace I gain by it shall be mine alone.’ He showed in abundance how generous he was. When

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  Hagen’s brother took charge of the keys, the hero’s hands offered so many rich gifts that anyone who asked for a mark was given so much that all the poor folk could rejoice. He gave out some hundreds of

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  pounds without counting the cost. Plenty of people who had never before worn such splendid clothes walked out of the great hall in rich raiment.

  The queen came to hear of this—she was far from pleased. The

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  noble lady then said: ‘Sir King, I would rather that your chamberlain were not so intent on leaving me without garments. He is squandering all my gold! I would forever hold anyone dear who might yet prevent this. He doles out such rich gifts—indeed, the knight

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  believes I am on my deathbed! I want to keep my wealth for a while yet. Moreover, I trust I’m well capable myself of squandering what my father bequeathed me. Never did a queen acquire so generous a chamberlain.’*

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  Then Hagen of Tronege said: ‘Lady, let it be told you that the King of the Rhineland has so much gold and garb to give that we have no need to take any of Prünhilt’s clothes away from here.’

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  ‘No!’ said the queen. ‘Allow me, for my part, to fill twenty panniers with gold and silk, which my hands will give out when we arrive over in Gunther’s land.’

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  They loaded her trunks with precious stones. Her own chamberlain had to be present. She did not want to trust it to Giselher’s vassal. Gunther and Hagen started to laugh at that.

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  Then the queen said: ‘To whom shall I entrust my lands? Before we depart, your hand and mine must provide a ruler for them.’

  The noble king replied: ‘Now command someone to come forward whom you favour for this, and we shall have him be overlord.’

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  The lady saw one of her most nobly-born kindred standing by her. He was her mother’s brother. The maiden said to him: ‘Now let my castles and also my lands be commended to you until such time as King Gunther’s hand passes judgement here.’

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  Then she chose two thousand men from her retinue who were to travel with her to Burgundy, along with those thousand warriors from the land of the Nibelungs. They made ready for the journey. They were seen to ride down to the shore. Prünhilt took eighty-six women

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  along with
her, and also some hundred maidens, most fair of person. They delayed no longer; they were in haste to leave. Ah, what tears were shed by those they left at home there! In courteous decorum

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  she departed from her own land. She kissed the close friends she found by her. After a good leave-taking, they embarked. The lady never returned to her father’s land.

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  On the journey various entertainments were then to be heard. They had all kinds of pastimes at their disposal. A good sea-breeze assisted their journey. They left the land, full of joy.

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  Prünhilt did not as yet want to make love with Lord Gunther during the journey. Their pleasures were deferred until they had arrived in their castle in the city of Worms and a festivity was held, and there they afterwards arrived with their heroes, to their great joy.

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  NINTH ADVENTURE

  HOW SIVRIT WAS SENT TO WORMS

  WHEN they had been underway for a full nine days, Hagen of Tronege said: ‘Hear now what I tell you. We are tardy in sending tidings to Worms on the Rhine. Your messengers ought to be in Burgundy by now.’

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  King Gunther replied: ‘You tell me nothing but the truth. No one could be as suitable for that journey as you, friend Sir Hagen. Ride now to my land. No one can give them a better account of our expedition.’

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  Hagen answered: ‘I am no good messenger. Let me stay as chamberlain here. I will remain on the waves among the ladies, guarding their garments,* until we have brought them into the land of Burgundy. Ask Sivrit, now, to head the embassy. He is well capable of

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  carrying it out with courage and strength. If he refuses to go on the journey, you must ask him courteously and in friendship, for love of your sister, to do what you request.’

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  Gunther sent for the warrior. He came as soon he was found. Gunther said: ‘Since we are nearing my homelands now, I ought to send messengers to my dear sister and also to my mother, to tell them that we are nearing the Rhine. That is what I desire of you, Sivrit.

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  Carry out my purpose now, and I shall always be at your service,’ said the worthy knight.*

  At first Sivrit, that valiant warrior, declined, until Gunther began to press him urgently. He said: ‘You must ride there, for my