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

by Cyril Edwards

1832

  hall. He went back inside then and took up his fiddle. Then he served his friends as befitted that hero. He sat down on the stone threshold

  1833

  of the hall. No fiddler was ever bolder. When his strings’ melodies sounded so sweetly, the proud foreigners said their thanks to Volker.

  1834

  Then his strings sounded so loud that all the hall resounded. His courage and his skill were both great. He started to fiddle ever more sweetly and softly—he put to sleep great numbers of anxious men as they lay on the beds. Once they had fallen asleep and he was

  1835

  certain of it, the knight took up his shield again and went out of the chamber to stand before the doors and guard the foreigners against Kriemhilt’s men.

  1836

  Well into the middle of the night—I don’t know if it happened any earlier—bold Volker saw a helmet shining from a window far off. Kriemhilt’s men would gladly have done the guests harm. Then

  1837

  the fiddler said: ‘Friend Hagen, it befits us to bear these troubles together. I see armed men standing outside the hall. The way I see it, I think they want to attack us.’

  1838

  ‘Then be silent,’ replied Hagen. ‘Let them come closer to us. Before they are aware of us, we two will have knocked helmets askew with our swords here. They will be sent back to Kriemhilt in a bad way.’

  1839

  One of the Huns’ warriors soon spotted that the door was guarded. How quick he was to speak then! ‘What we had in mind cannot be carried out. I see the fiddler standing guard. He wears on his head a

  1840

  shining helmet, bright and hard, stout and intact. His chainmail also burns like fire. Hagen is standing next to him—the guests are well guarded!’

  1841

  They turned back at once. When Volker saw that, he spoke wrath-fully to his companion: ‘Now let me go out from the hall to those warriors. I want to ask Lady Kriemhilt’s men for tidings.’

  1842

  ‘No, by the love you bear me,’ replied Hagen. ‘If you walk away from the hall, those bold knights might perhaps bring you into such peril with their swords that I would have to come to your aid, even if it meant the death of all my kinsmen. If we both entered battle then,

  1843

  some three or four of them would in no time at all leap towards the hall and wreak such harm on our sleepers as would never cease to be mourned over.’

  1844

  Then Volker answered: ‘Well, let us in any case make it clear to them that I have seen them, so that Kriemhilt’s men can make no denial of the treachery they would gladly have done.’

  1845

  Volker called out to them at once: ‘Why do you walk about thus armed, you bold knights? Do you want to ride out robbing, you men of Kriemhilt? You shall have me and my companion-in-arms to help you in that!’

  1846

  No one answered him. He was in an angry mood: ‘Fie on you, you base cowards!’ said the worthy hero. ‘Would you have murdered us in our sleep? Seldom has that been inflicted upon such worthy heroes!’

  1847

  Then the queen was told in full that her messengers had achieved nothing. She had good reason to be grieved. She then resorted to a different plan—she was in a savage mood. (Bold and worthy heroes were to die in consequence.)

  1848

  THIRTY-FIRST ADVENTURE

  HOW THEY WENT TO CHURCH

  ’MY chainmail is getting so cold,’ said Volker. ‘I doubt if this night will last us much longer now. I can tell by the air that it will very soon be day.’

  Then they woke the many who still lay sleeping. The bright morning then shone towards the guests, into the hall. Hagen walked about waking the knights on all sides, asking them if they wanted go to the minster for mass. Many bells began to toll according to Christian custom. They sang in different ways there, as was clearly apparent—

  1849

  Christians and heathens were not in unison.

  1850

  Gunther’s men then wanted to go to church. They had all risen from the beds. Then the warriors laced themselves into such fine

  1851

  garments that no heroes ever brought better clothes into any king’s land. That irked Hagen. He said: ‘You heroes ought to wear other clothing here. Enough of you have no doubt heard the tidings. Instead

  1852

  of roses, bear swords in your hands now; instead of hats adorned with gems, wear bright, sturdy helmets, now that we are well aware of evil Kriemhilt’s intent. We must do battle today, I tell you. Instead

  1853

  of silken shifts you must wear hauberks, and instead of costly cloaks good, broad shields, so that if anyone is angry at you, you are ready for the fray. My dear lords, and my kinsmen and vassals, you must

  1854

  go to church most willingly and lament to Almighty God your fearful peril, in certain knowledge that death is nearing us. Nor should

  1855

  you forget what wrongs you have done, and you must stand dutifully before God there. I warn you, most proud warriors, that unless God in Heaven wills it, you will never hear mass again.’

  1856

  Thus the princes and their vassals walked to the minster. In the sacred precinct bold Hagen ordered them to halt and stay close together. He said: ‘No one yet knows what will happen to us at the hands of the Huns. Lay your shields at your feet, my friends, and if

  1857

  anyone offers you a mean greeting, pay him back with deep, mortal wounds—that is Hagen’s counsel. Let it be said of you that you have acquitted yourselves with renown.’

  1858

  Volker and Hagen, those two, walked towards the spacious minster. They did so because they wanted it to be known that the king’s wife might have to jostle past them. Their mood was most grim indeed.

  1859

  Then the lord of that land, and also his fair wife, arrived. She was attired in costly garments, as were the courageous warriors people saw riding alongside her. Kriemhilt’s companies then caused the dust to fly high.

  1860

  When the mighty king saw that the kings and their company were thus armed, how quick he was to speak! ‘How is it that I see my friends walking beneath helmets? By my loyalty, I am sorry if anyone has done them any harm. I will gladly make amends to them in whatever

  1861

  way they think right, if anyone has offended their hearts and minds. I shall make them well aware that I am deeply sorry for it. No matter what they command of me, I am ready and willing to do it all.’

  1862

  Hagen answered: ‘No one has done us any wrong. It is my lords’ custom to walk armed at all festivities for fully three days. If anyone did us any wrong here, we would tell Etzel of it.’

  1863

  Kriemhilt heard clearly what Hagen had then said. What hostile looks she cast at him! She did not want, however, to betray what was the custom of her land, long though she had been acquainted with it over there in Burgundy. No matter how grim and how hostile she

  1864

  was towards them, if anyone had told Etzel the truth of the matter he would have prevented what was to happen there afterwards. In their great pride none of them told him of it.

  1865

  A huge crowd then walked away alongside the queen. Volker and Hagen, those two, would not stand an inch further off. That irked the Huns. They had no choice but to jostle with the gallant heroes.

  1866

  Etzel’s chamberlains thought ill of that. They would have aroused the warriors’ wrath then, but dared not do so in the presence of the proud king. There was a great deal of jostling, but nothing further.

  1867

  After they had served God and they wanted to leave, great numbers of the Huns quickly went over to their horses. There was many a fair maiden present with Kriemhilt then. Some seven thousand knights rode alongside the queen. Kriemhilt took her seat with her

&nbs
p; 1868

  ladies at the windows, next to mighty Etzel; that gave him great pleasure. They wanted to watch the gallant heroes ride. Ah what foreign warriors rode before them in the courtyard!

  1869

  By then the marshal, valiant Dancwart, had also arrived with the squires; he had gathered about him his lord’s retinue from Burgundy. The bold Nibelungs found their horses well saddled for them. When

  1870

  the kings, and also their vassals, came to their horses, mighty Volker advised that they should hold a bohort according to their land’s custom. The heroes then rode in great splendour. What the hero had

  1871

  advised met with no disapproval. The bohort and the clamour both grew great. Men in great numbers came into the spacious courtyard. Etzel and Kriemhilt were watching this.

  1872

  Six hundred knights from among Dietrich’s warriors came to the bohort to meet the guests. They wanted to have sport with the Burgundians. If Dietrich had granted them permission, they would gladly have done so. Ah, what worthy warriors rode after them there!

  1873

  Lord Dietrich was told of this. He forbade them to have any sport with Gunther’s men. He feared for his men, and rightly so.

  1874

  After those men of Bern had departed, five hundred of Rüedeger’s men from Pöchlarn came riding up to the palace, beneath their shields. The margrave would have liked them to have refrained from this. Then, wisely, he rode through the company to them and said

  1875

  to his warriors that they must be aware that Gunther’s men were in angry mood—if they were to abandon the bohort, it would meet with his approval.

  1876

  When those gallant heroes had parted from the Burgundians, the men of Thuringia approached, so we are told, and some thousand bold men of Denmark. Many splinters were seen to fly up into the air as the jousts met. Irnfrit and Hawart rode into the bohort. The men from

  1877

  the Rhine had been proudly waiting for them. They offered many a joust to the men of Thuringia. Thus great numbers of splendid rims were riddled with holes.

  1878

  Then Lord Blœdelin arrived with three thousand men. Etzel and Kriemhilt observed him clearly, for these deeds of chivalry were taking place before them both. The queen was glad to see this, hoping that harm would befall the Burgundians. Schrutan and Gibeche*

  1879

  rode to the bohort, as did Ramunc and Hornboge,* according to Hunnish customs. They halted opposite the heroes of Burgundy. The shafts twirled high over the walls of the king’s hall.

  1880

  No matter what anyone did there, it was no more than clamour. The palace and the great hall resounded loudly with the clash of the shields of Gunther’s men. His retinue won renown and great honour.

  1881

  Their sport was so intense and great then that the shining sweat flowed through the caparisons* of the good chargers that the heroes rode. They put the Huns to the test, bearing themselves most proudly.

  1882

  Then Volker the minstrel, that bold warrior, said: ‘I believe these warriors daren’t take us on. I always heard tell that they bore us enmity. No better opportunity could ever present itself than now.

  1883

  Have our warhorses led to the lodgings,’ Volker went on, ‘and let us ride again towards evening, when the time is ripe. What if the queen gives the prize to the Burgundians?’

  1884

  Then they saw one who rode so swaggeringly there that none among all the Huns matched him. He might well have had a lady-love at that time. He rode as well-attired as a noble knight’s bride.

  1885

  At that Volker spoke again: ‘How can I resist? That ladies’ pet must have a thrashing.* No one can prevent it—it will cost him his life! I don’t care if it angers King Etzel’s wife.’

  1886

  ‘No, by the love you bear me,’ said the king at once. ‘The people will hold us to blame if we attack them. Let the Huns start things—that would be far more fitting.’

  Still King Etzel sat by the queen.

  1887

  ‘I will add to the bohort’s numbers,’ said Hagen then. ‘Let the ladies and the knights see how we can ride—that would be a noble deed. Otherwise, they won’t give any praise to King Gunther’s men.’

  1888

  Valiant Volker rode back into the bohort. That was to cause many a lady grievous sorrow thereafter. He thrust his lance through the wealthy Hun’s body. Both maidens and women were seen to weep over that in time to come. Hard into the clash rode Hagen and his

  1889

  men, sixty of his knights, following the fiddler to where that sport had taken place. Etzel and Kriemhilt saw that clearly. The three

  1890

  kings did not want to leave their minstrel defenceless among their foes then. A thousand heroes rode with great skill there. They did just as they liked, with a most haughty bearing.

  1891

  When the wealthy Hun had been slain, his kinsmen could be heard calling out and lamenting. All the household then asked: ‘Who has done this?’ ‘It was the fiddler, Volker the bold minstrel!’ At once the

  1892

  margrave of Hungary’s kinsmen called out for swords and shields there. They would have slain Volker. The host hastened away from the window.

  1893

  Then clamour arose on all sides amongst the people. The kings and their retinue dismounted in front of the palace. The Burgundians thrust their chargers back.* Then King Etzel came up—that lord set

  1894

  about ending the dispute. He found one of the Hun’s kinsmen standing by him. He tore a mighty sword out of his hand. Then he drove them all back, for he was greatly angered: ‘How should I have forfeited the service I have rendered these heroes if you had slain this

  1895

  minstrel in my presence!’ said King Etzel. ‘That would be an ill deed. I clearly saw him riding when he thrust his lance through the Hun, and that it was not his fault—it happened because he stumbled. You

  1896

  must leave my guests in peace!’ He acted as their escort then. They led the chargers off to the lodgings. They had many squires who took pains to serve them in all things.

  1897

  The host went into the palace with his friends. He allowed no more anger to arise there. Then they set up the tables; they brought the water* for them. The men of the Rhine had plenty of fierce foes there. It took a very long time until the lords had sat down.

  1898

  Kriemhilt’s troubles oppressed her all too sorely. She said: ‘Prince of Bern, I seek your counsel, help, and favour. My affairs are in a parlous state.’

  1899

  Hildebrant, that renowned warrior, answered her: ‘If anyone is to slay the Nibelungs, I for one shall not be party to it, not for the sake of any treasure. It may cost someone dear. They are as yet unvanquished, those bold, gallant knights.’

  1900

  Then Sir Dietrich in his courtesy added: ‘Let this request

  1901

  be, mighty queen. Your kinsmen have done me no such harm that I should wish to take on those bold warriors in battle. This request does you little honour, most noble prince’s wife—that you plot the death of your kinsmen. They came here into this land in good faith. Sivrit will remain unavenged by Dietrich’s hands.’

  1902

  When she found no treachery in the man of Bern, she wasted no time in promising to Blœdelin a broad march which Nuodunc had possessed before. (Afterwards Dancwart slew him, so he had no memory of that gift!) She said: ‘You must help me, Lord Blœdelin.

  1903

  Here in this castle are my foes who slew Sivrit, my dear husband. If anyone helps me avenge that, I shall always be indebted to him.’

  1904

  Blœdelin answered her as follows: ‘Lady, you must know that I dare not, for fear of Etzel, plot any enmity, for he is very glad, lady, to se
e your kinsmen. If I were to harm them at all, the king would not forgive me for it.’

  1905

  ‘No, Lord Blœdelin, I shall always hold you dear! I’ll give you silver and gold as a reward, and a fair maiden, Nuodunc’s bride.* You will be glad to take your pleasure with that most lovely woman. I will

  1906

  give you all the land with its castles. Then, noble knight, you may forever live in joy, if you gain the march where Nuodunc resided. What I have vowed to you today, I’ll carry out in good faith.’

  1907

  When Lord Blœdelin heard of that reward, knowing that the lady well befitted him because of her beauty, he thought to earn the lovely woman in battle. (The warrior was then to lose his life in that cause.) He said to the queen: ‘Go back into the hall. Before anyone

  1908

  becomes aware of it, I shall cause a disturbance. Hagen must pay for the wrongs he has done you. I shall deliver King Gunther’s vassal to you in bonds.’

  1909

  ‘Now arm yourselves,’ said Blœdelin, ‘all my men! We must go to the foes’ lodgings. Etzel’s wife will not spare me this! We heroes must all risk our lives in this cause!’

  1910

  After the queen had left Blœdelin bent on battle, she then went to table with Etzel the king, and also his vassals. She had laid grim plots against the guests. Now that the battle could not be brought about in

  1911

  any other way—Kriemhilt’s old grief was buried deep in her heart—she ordered then that Etzel’s son be brought to the table. How could a woman ever wreak more dreadful vengeance? Four of Etzel’s men

  1912

  walked up at once; they carried Ortliep, the young king, over to the princes’ table, where Hagen also sat. (The child was fated to die because of his murderous hostility.)

  1913

  When the mighty king beheld his son, he spoke graciously to his in-laws: ‘See now, my friends, this is my only son, and that of your sister also. This may bode well for all of you. If he takes after

  1914

  his kindred, he will be a bold man, wealthy and most noble, strong and well-favoured. If I live long enough, I’ll give him twelve lands. Thus young Ortliep’s hands may serve you well. Therefore, my dear

  1915

  friends, I would like to ask you, when you ride back to your land by the Rhine, to take your sister’s son* with you, and act most kindly by the child. Bring him up honourably until he reaches manhood. If anyone has wronged you in the lands, he will help you avenge it, if he grows to be a man.’