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

by Cyril Edwards

  1015

  king, Lord Sigmunt, lay, not sleeping. I believe his heart had told him what had happened to him. Never again could he see his dear son alive.

  1016

  ‘Wake, Lord Sigmunt! My Lady Kriemhilt asked me to go in search of you. Such a wrong has been done her as touches her heart above all other sorrows. You must help her mourn, for it touches you deeply.’

  1017

  Sigmunt rose to his feet. He said: ‘What are these sorrows of fair Kriemhilt you tell me about?’

  The messenger replied, weeping: ‘I can’t keep it from you: bold Sivrit of the Netherlands has been slain.’

  1018

  Lord Sigmunt then said: ‘Let your tomfoolery be, if you would spare me! Speak no such evil tidings, telling people that he is slain, for I could never cease to mourn over him until the day I die.’

  1019

  ‘If you will not believe what you hear me say, then you yourself can hear Kriemhilt and all her retinue mourning over Sivrit’s death.’

  Sigmunt was greatly shocked at that, as he had good reason to be.

  1020

  He leapt from his bed, as did a hundred of his men. They reached for their long, sharp swords and ran, full of grief, to where they heard the cries of lament. A thousand warriors then came up, bold Sivrit’s men.

  1021

  When they heard the ladies lamenting so wretchedly, some amongst them there then thought that they should put on their court clothes.* They had lost their senses out of sorrow. Great grief lay buried deep in their hearts.

  1022

  Then King Sigmunt went to where he found Kriemhilt. He said: ‘Alas for our journey into this land! Who has so murderously robbed me of my son, and you of your husband, among such good friends?’

  1023

  ‘Oh, if I were to know who did it,’ said the most noble queen, ‘he would never find favour in my heart! I would cause him such harm as would make his friends weep because of me!’

  1024

  Lord Sigmunt took the prince in his arms. Then the grief of his friends grew so great that the loud cries of lament caused the palace and great hall, and even the town of Worms, to resound with their weeping. No one could then console Sivrit’s wife. They drew the

  1025

  clothes off his handsome body. They washed his wounds and laid him on the bier. His people were stricken with great grief then.

  1026

  Then Sivrit’s warriors from the land of the Nibelungs said: ‘Our hands shall always seek to avenge him. He who has done this must be in this castle.’ All Sivrit’s men then ran for their swords.

  1027

  Those excellent knights came up with their shields, eleven hundred warriors—those Lord Sigmunt had in his company. He would gladly have avenged his son’s death, as he had good reason to do. They didn’t

  1028

  know whom they should attack in battle then, unless it were Gunther and his men, with whom Lord Sivrit had ridden to the hunt. Kriemhilt saw them armed, which grieved her greatly. No matter how great was

  1029

  her sorrow and how deep her anguish, she was so sorely afraid that the Nibelungs would die at the hands of her brother’s men that she forestalled it. She warned them kindly, as friends do dear friends.

  1030

  The lady rich in sorrow said then: ‘My lord Sigmunt, what are you about? You are not aware that King Gunther has so many bold men here. You would all lose your lives if you were to attack those warriors!’

  1031

  Their helmets buckled on,* they were ready for the fray. The noble queen pleaded and commanded that the gallant warriors should refrain. When they would not abandon their purpose, it truly grieved her. She said: ‘Lord Sigmunt, you must put this off until a more fitting

  1032

  time—then I will always be willing, along with you, to avenge my husband. If I am informed who has taken him from me, I will be sure to cause him harm. There are many haughty men here by the

  1033

  Rhine, which is why I will not advise you to do battle. They have a good thirty men for every one of ours. Now God grant that they fare as they have deserved by us! You must stay here and suffer these

  1034

  sorrows with me. When dawn begins to break, you most gallant heroes, help me put my dear husband into his coffin.’

  Then the knights said: ‘That shall be done.’

  1035

  No one could tell you in full the marvel of how the knights and ladies were heard to mourn, so that the people in the city came to hear the cries of lament. The noble townsmen came hurrying up to the castle. They mourned along with the strangers, for they were heartily

  1036

  sorry. No one had told them anything of Sivrit’s guilt, nor why the noble warrior should have lost his life. The good townsmen’s wives wept together with the ladies.

  1037

  Smiths were ordered to make haste to fashion a coffin of silver and of gold, great in size and sturdy. They ordered it to be bound firmly with bars of good steel. All the people were very sad at heart.

  1038

  The night had passed. Dawn was about to come, they said. Then the noble lady ordered that Lord Sivrit, her dearest husband, be borne to the minster. All the friends he had there were seen to weep as they walked. When they took him to the minster, many bells rang out. On

  1039

  all sides the song of priests in great numbers was then to be heard. Then King Gunther with his men, and also grim Hagen, came to the lament.

  1040

  Gunther said: ‘Dearest sister, alas for your sorrows, and that we should have to suffer such a great loss! We must forever mourn Sivrit.’

  ‘You have no right to do so,’ said the wretched queen. ‘If you were

  1041

  sorry for it, then it wouldn’t have happened! You had forgotten about me, I now aver, when I and my dear husband were parted. Would God’, said Kriemhilt, ‘that I myself had been killed!’

  1042

  They denied it firmly. Kriemhilt declared: ‘Let he who is innocent have it be beheld! Let him approach the bier before all the people! The truth will soon be shown then.’

  1043

  This is a great marvel—it still happens many a time today. Whenever a marked murderer* is seen alongside a dead man, then the corpse’s wounds will bleed—as also happened there.* Thus Hagen’s guilt was beheld there. The wounds flowed as freely as they had done before.

  1044

  The numbers of those who had mourned there before grew even greater now.

  Then King Gunther said: ‘I tell you the truth of the matter—it was ambushers who slew him. It was not Hagen who did this!’

  1045

  ‘The ambushers’, said Kriemhilt, ‘are very well known to me. Now may God have Sivrit’s allies’ hands avenge it yet! Gunther and Hagen, it was you who did this!’

  At that Sivrit’s warriors were bent on doing battle. Yet Kriemhilt spoke again: ‘Bear this anguish with me now.’

  1046

  Then Gernot, her brother, and young Giselher both came up to where they found Sivrit dead. In loyalty they mourned him, along with the others. They wept fervently over Kriemhilt’s husband.

  1047

  Mass was to be sung. All alike walked over to the minster, women, men, and children. Even those who were glad to be rid of him wept over Sivrit then.

  1048

  Gernot and Giselher said: ‘Sister mine, console yourself now after this death, as it cannot be otherwise. We will make amends to you for this as long as we live.’

  Yet no one in this world could give her any consolation then.

  1049

  His coffin had been made ready about midday. They lifted him up from the bier on which he lay. The lady did not wish to have him buried yet. All the people were in great distress over this.

  1050

  They wound a rich phellel-silk about the corpse. I believe there was no one to be found there who was
without tears. Uote, noble woman that she was, mourned from her heart, as did all her retinue, over his handsome person. When it was heard that they

  1051

  were singing at the minster and that he had been put in his coffin, a great throng arose. What offerings were then brought forth for the sake of his soul! Despite his enemies he had good friends in plenty there.

  1052

  Wretched Kriemhilt said to her chamberlains: ‘For my sake, let those suffer hardship* who wish him well at all and to whom I am dear. For the sake of Sivrit’s soul have his gold be shared out.’

  1053

  There was no child so small there with its wits about it who did not go to the offering. Before he was buried more than a hundred masses had been sung there that day. There was a great throng of Sivrit’s friends there. After the singing was over, the people departed. Then

  1054

  Lady Kriemhilt said: ‘You mustn’t leave me to watch alone over the excellent warrior tonight. All my joy has been cast down by his death.

  1055

  I will leave him where he is for three days and three nights, until my grief for my dearest husband is sated. What if God orders that Death takes me also? Then my anguish, wretched Kriemhilt that I am, would be well ended.’

  1056

  The townsfolk went to their lodgings. She asked the priests and monks, and all of Sivrit’s retinue, to stay and watch over the hero. They had many hard nights and many harsh days. Many a man remained

  1057

  there, not eating nor drinking. Those who wished for food and drink were told that they would be given it in full. Lord Sigmunt saw to that. The Nibelungs grew acquainted with great hardship then.

  1058

  During those three days, so we hear tell, those there who could sing had to bear much hardship. What offerings were brought to them! Those who were very poor became rich enough.

  1059

  Such poor people as were found who could not afford it were told to go to make offerings with the gold from Sivrit’s own treasury. As he was to live no longer, many thousand marks were given for the sake of his soul. Kriemhilt shared out the revenue from taxes

  1060

  all over the lands, wherever monasteries and good people were to be found. Silver and clothing in plenty were given to the poor. She thus showed what goodwill she bore Sivrit. On the third morning,

  1061

  at the right time for mass, the broad churchyard next to the minster was full with the weeping countryfolk. They rendered him such service after his death as ought to be paid to dear friends.

  1062

  In those four days, so it has been said, thirty thousand marks or even more was given to the poor there for the sake of his soul. Thus his great beauty and his life were laid low. When God had been served

  1063

  there and the singing was over, many of the people wrestled with distress beyond measure. They ordered that he be carried out of the minster to the grave. Those who were loath to part with him were seen to weep and lament. Loud were the cries of the people as they

  1064

  walked alongside the corpse. No one was joyful there, neither women nor men. Before he was buried, there was singing and reading. Ah, what good priests were at his burial!

  1065

  Before Sivrit’s wife came to the grave, the loyal queen struggled with such wretchedness that she had to have water from the well poured over her there, time and again. Her spirits were low beyond measure. It was a great marvel that she ever survived. Many a lady helped her to mourn.

  1066

  Then the queen said: ‘You men of Sivrit, by your loyalty, have mercy on me! Let me, after this my sorrow, have this small pleasure: let me see his handsome head once more!’

  1067

  She pleaded for this so long in her mind’s great grief that they then had to break open the splendid coffin. Then they took the lady to where

  1068

  she found him lying. She lifted up his handsome head with her white hands. Then she kissed the noble, worthy knight, dead though he was. Out of sheer sorrow her lustrous eyes wept blood.

  1069

  Wretched was the parting that then took place there. They carried her away—she could not walk. She was then found senseless, that noble queen. That most beautiful lady might have died of sorrow.

  1070

  Now that they had buried the noble lord, all those who had come with him from the land of the Nibelungs were seen to grieve beyond measure. Seldom was Sigmunt found in good spirits then. There were

  1071

  several then who out of great grief neither ate nor drank for three days. Yet they could not so entirely renounce their bodily needs. After their sorrows they recovered, as plenty still do today.

  1072

  EIGHTEENTH ADVENTURE

  HOW SIGMUNT RETURNED TO HIS HOMELAND

  KRIEMHILT’ s father-in-law went to see her. He said to the queen: ‘We must go back to our land. We’re unwelcome guests, I believe, by the Rhine. Kriemhilt, dearest lady, come now to my lands. Though

  1073

  treachery has robbed us of your noble husband here in these lands, you must not pay the price for that. I will hold you dear for love of my son—be in no doubt of that. Moreover, lady, you shall keep all

  1074

  the power which Sivrit, that bold warrior, made known to you before. Let both the land and the crown be subject to you. All Sivrit’s men shall willingly serve you.’

  1075

  Then they told the squires that they were to ride off. With great haste they made for the horses then. It irked them to stay amid their fierce foes. They ordered the clothes for the ladies and maidens to be sought.

  1076

  Now that King Sigmunt was intent on riding off, Kriemhilt’s kinsfolk began to plead with her that she should stay there with her mother. The proud lady replied: ‘That could never be. How might I ever behold with my eyes that man by whom such great grief has befallen me, wretched woman that I am?’

  1077

  Young Giselher then said: ‘My dearest sister, you must in your loyalty stay here with your mother. As for those who have troubled and grieved your mind, you’ve no need of their service. Live now at my expense alone.’

  1078

  She said to the warrior: ‘Indeed, that cannot happen. I would have to die of grief if I ever had to see Hagen.’

  1079

  ‘I shall spare you that, my dearest sister. You must stay with your brother Giselher. Indeed, I will make amends to you for your husband’s death.’

  The God-forsaken queen replied: ‘Kriemhilt would stand in dire need of that.’

  1080

  Now that young Giselher had made her such a kind offer, Uote and Gernot and her loyal kinsmen began to plead with her. They besought her to stay there. She had few kinsfolk among Sivrit’s men. ‘They are all strangers to you,’ said Gernot. ‘No one alive is

  1081

  so strong but he must die some day. Think on this, dear sister, and console yourself. Stay among your friends. It will truly be best for you.’

  1082

  She vowed to Giselher that she would remain there. The horses had been led up for Sigmunt’s men, now that they were intent on riding to the land of the Nibelungs, and all the warriors’ garments had also been loaded onto the packhorses. Lord Sigmunt then walked

  1083

  over to where Kriemhilt stood. He said to the lady: ‘Sivrit’s men are waiting for you by the horses. Let us ride now, for I am most unwilling to stay among the Burgundians.’

  1084

  Lady Kriemhilt replied: ‘My friends, all that I have who are loyal, counsel me to stay with them here. I have no kinsfolk in the land of the Nibelungs.’

  It grieved Sigmunt greatly to hear this from Kriemhilt. King

  1085

  Sigmunt then said: ‘Let no one tell you that. You shall wear the crown and rule over all my kinsmen as powerfully as you did before. You shall not pay th
e price for our having lost the hero. For the

  1086

  sake of your baby, also, come back with us. You must not let it be an orphan, lady. When your son is fully grown he will console you. Meanwhile many a bold and worthy hero will be in your service.’

  1087

  She said: ‘Lord Sigmunt, indeed I cannot ride with you. No matter what happens to me, I must remain here among my kinsfolk, who will help me grieve.’

  These tidings brought no pleasure then to the worthy warriors.

  1088

  They all said with one voice: ‘In that case, we might justly say that only now has suffering befallen us. If you were to want to stay among our foes here, then never did heroes ride with greater anxiety away from a foreign court.’

  1089

  ‘You shall depart without anxiety, commended to God’s keeping. They will give you a good escort to Sigmunt’s land—I’ll order that you be well protected. Let my dear baby be well commended to the favour of you warriors.’

  1090

  When they heard for certain that she did not want to leave, all Sigmunt’s men wept as one. How wretchedly Sigmunt then parted from Lady Kriemhilt. Anger then made his acquaintance.

  1091

  ‘A curse upon this festivity!’ said the proud king then. ‘Never again will a king and his kinsmen, bent on pleasure, suffer what has befallen us! Never again will they see us here in Burgundy!’

  1092

  Then Sivrit’s men said openly: ‘The journey might yet be made into this land, when we have found out for certain who slew our lord. They will find plenty of fierce foes among his kinsfolk.’

  1093

  Sigmunt kissed Kriemhilt. When he saw for certain that she wanted to remain, how wretchedly he spoke: ‘Now let us ride without joy, home to our land. Only now are all my sorrows known to me.’

  1094

  They rode away from Worms on the Rhine without any escort. They must have been fully confident in their minds that if they were attacked by foes, the bold Nibelungs’ hands would defend themselves. They asked leave of no man there. Then Gernot and

  1095

  Giselher were seen to go up to Sigmunt in friendship. They grieved over his loss. Those bold and gallant heroes assured him of that.

  1096

  Courteously Prince Gernot then said: ‘God in Heaven knows well that I was never guilty of Sivrit’s murder, nor did I ever hear tell who might be hostile to him here. I have every right to mourn over him.’