The Nibelungenlied - - (english love story books .txt) 📗

cozen me;
And, seeing she’s thy sister, I make complaint to thee.
She swears I’ve played the wanton with her own man, Siegfried.”
Then answer’d the King Gunther: “She doth an evil deed!”

854

“She weareth here my girdle, which I so long have lost,
My ring of red gold likewise. To me ’tis bittermost
That e’er my mother bore me. An’ thou wilt not disprove,
O king, this grievous scandal, no longer thee I’ll love.”

855

Then up and spake King Gunther: “Siegfried shall now appear;
If he hath play’d the braggart, he shall the truth declare,
Or else deny the slander⁠— this knight of Netherland!”
Then did Kriemhilda’s husband right soon before them stand.

856

As soon as he had look’d on these dames discomfited,
(Naught knowing of the matter) the noble Siegfried said:
“Why are these ladies weeping? that am I fain to hear,
And wherefore I am bidden before the King to appear?”

857

Then spake to him King Gunther: “Right sorrowful am I;
To me my wife Brunhilda hath told a history
That thou thyself hast boasted her first love to have won:
Thy wife, Kriemhild, declareth that thou, thane, this hast done.”

858

Then spake the noble Siegfried: “And if she so hath said,
Before I rest I’ll see that for this she be repaid!
In face of all your lieges I’m ready to aver
By oath of mine most solemn, I never told it her!”

859

Then spake the King of Rhineland: “Give proof of that must thou!
The oath which thou dost offer, if thou canst take it now,
From ev’ry untrue dealing I’ll hold thee clear and free.”
Then in a ring around him stood they of Burgundy.

860

His hand the gallant Siegfried outstretched the oath to take.
Then spake the mighty sovran: “So certain do I make
Of thy great innocency, that I will thee acquit:
Sure what my sister charges thou never didst commit.”

861

Yet once again spake Siegfried: “And if she joy doth find
In that she hath so troubled Brunhilda’s peace of mind,
My sorrow, of a surety, too deep were to be told.”
Then look’d at one another these ready knights and bold.

862

“So should one train one’s women,” the hero Siegfried said,
“That suchlike haughty speeches should aye be left unsaid:
Unto thy wife forbid them, to mine I’ll do the same;
Such ill-advised behaviour doth fill my heart with shame.”

863

By this dispute were many fair women kept apart.
Brunhilda still the matter so sorely took to heart
That needs must Gunther’s warriors feel pity for the dame.
Then Hagen, knight of Tronjé, unto his lady came.

864

He bade her say what ail’d her, finding her weeping sore.
Then told she him the story, and unto her he swore
That either Kriemhild’s husband must for the lie repent
Or he himself thereafter would never live content.

865

Ortwein and also Gernot, in council join’d the twain;
And there the heroes plotted how Siegfried should be slain.
And Giselher came likewise, the noble Uté’s son;
When he had heard their saying, he spake⁠—the faithful one:

866

“Alack! ye gallant warriors, now wherefore do ye that?
I trow that never Siegfried deservéd such like hate,
That he, by reason of it, should need to lose his life:
Ay, very trifles are they that make an angry wife!”

867

“Are we to harbour cuckoos?” cried Hagen, answering:
“To gallant knights as we are scant honour that would bring!
That he of my dear lady hath bragg’d so scurvily
His life shall make atonement; or I myself will die.”

868

The king himself spake, saying: “Naught hath he to us done
Save what is good and worthy; so let his life alone.
What matter though the warrior were hateful now to me?
He hath been ever faithful and that right willingly.”

869

Then spake the warrior Ortwein, who came from Metz, and said:
“His great strength, of a surety, shall give him little aid.
If now my lord allow me, short shrift of him I’ll make.”
Thus, without cause, the heroes the part of foes did take.

870

But none went any further, save Hagen, who for aye,
Was pressing upon Gunther this counsel day by day:
That, if King Siegfried lived not, to him would subject be
The broad lands that he governed;⁠— the king heard ruefully.

871

They let the matter rest; then to jousting did they take.
Ha! many a sturdy lance-shaft for Siegfried’s wife they brake
In shadow of the minster, up to the royal hall!
Yet were some men of Gunther’s but ill-content withal.

872

The king spake: “Lay aside now this murd’rous hate and scorn;
Unto our weal and honour he verily was born.
So fierce his strength is also, this marvellous-bold knight,
Had he of this an inkling, none durst withstand his might.”

873

“He’ll never know,” quoth Hagen, “save thou should let it out!
I trow that I in secret can bring it so about
That for Brunhilda’s weeping sore reckoning he shall pay.
Yea, verily is Hagen his enemy for aye.”

874

Then spake the royal Gunther: “And how may that be done?”
And Hagen said in answer: “That will I now make known.
We’ll bid two unknown envoys to ride as from afar
Unto our land, ’fore all men to challenge us to war.

875

“Then thou, before the guests, wilt declare that thou must go
To battle, with thy liegemen; and when he that doth know
He’ll offer you his service: so shall he lose his life.
I’ll seek to learn his secret from the bold warrior’s wife.”

876

Unto his vassal Gunther in evil hour gave ear.
With treason foul to tamper, ere any grew aware,
Began those chosen warriors of chivalry the boast.
By wrangling of two women was many a hero lost.

Adventure XV How Siegfried Was Betrayed

877

Upon the fourth day morning came two and thirty men
Unto the king’s court riding; and word was carried then
To Gunther, the most mighty, that he was call’d to war.
The lie cost many a woman much grief and sorrow sore.

878

When leave to them was granted, before the king they went,
And said that they were under King Lud’ger’s government⁠—
Who vanquish’d was aforetime by doughty Siegfried’s hand,
And brought by him a captive unto King Gunther’s land.

879

Then greeted he the heralds, and bade them seated be.
But one among them pray’d him: “Sire, let us stand, till we
Our message have deliver’d and errand duly done:
Know then that thou art hated by many a mother’s son!

880

“King Ludegast and Lud’ger, do challenge you to war,
Of whom you were aforetime the bloody conqueror:
They’re coming with their armies, to ride thy country through.”
At this the king feign’d anger, as if to him ’twere new.

881

They took these counterfeiters to hostel presently.
How then could Siegfried ware be of any treachery⁠—
Could he or any other suspect they played a part?
Unto themselves hereafter befell the pain and smart.

882

The king with his advisers were whispering without cease;
Nor would Hagen of Tronjé e’er let him be at peace.
Though many a lord would gladly have given up the plot,
Yet Hagen from his counsel would never swerve a jot.

883

One day