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Fall of the Nibelungs

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<h2>Fifteenth Adventure How Siegfried Was Betrayed</h2> On the fourth morning, thirty and two men were seen riding to the court. They brought word to Gunther that war was declared against him. The women were woeful when they heard this lie. The envoys won leave to go into the king, and they said they were Ludger’s men, that Siegfried’s hand had overcome in battle and brought captive into Gunther’s land. The king greeted them, and bade them sit, but one of them said, “Let us stand, till that we have declared the message wherewith we are charged to thee. Know that thou hast to thy foemen many a mother’s son. Ludger and Ludgast, whom thou hast aforetime evilly entreated, ride hither to make war against thee in this land.” The king fell in a rage, as if he had known naught thereof. Then they gave the false messengers good lodging. How could Siegfried or any other guess their treason, whereby, or all was done, they themselves perished? The king went whispering up and down with his friends. Hagen of Trony gave him no peace. Many of the knights were fain to let it drop, but Hagen would not be turned from it. On a day that Siegfried found them whispering, he asked them, “Wherefore are the king and his men so sorrowful? If any hath done aught to their hurt, I will stand by them to avenge it.” Gunther answered, “I grieve not without cause. Ludgast and Ludger ride hither to war against me in my land.” Then said the bold knight, “Siegfried’s arm will withstand them on such wise, that ye shall all come off with honour. I will do to these warriors even as I did aforetime. Waste will be their lands and their castles, or I be done. I pledge my head thereto. Thou and thy men shall tarry here at home, and I will ride forth with my knights that I have with me. I serve thee gladly, and will prove it. Doubt not that thy foemen shall suffer scathe at my hand.” “These be good words,” answered the king, as he were truly glad, and craftily the false man bowed low. Then said Siegfried further, “Have no fear.” The knights of Burgundy made ready for war, they and their squires, and dissembled before Siegfried and his men. Siegfried bade them of the Netherland lose no time, and they sought out their harness. Then spake stark Siegfried, “Tarry here at home, Siegmund, my father. If God prosper us, we shall return or long to the Rhine. Meanwhile, be thou of good cheer here by the king.” They made as if to depart, and bound on the standard. Many of Gunther’s knights knew nothing of how the matter stood, and a mighty host gathered round Siegfried. They bound their helmets and their coats of mail on to the horses and stood ready. Then went Hagen of Trony to Kriemhild, to take his leave of her, for they would away. “Well for me,” said Kriemhild, “that ever I won to husband a man that standeth so true by his friends, as doth Siegfried by my kinsmen. Right proud am I. Bethink thee now, Hagen, dear friend, how that in all things I am at thy service, and have ever willed thee well. Requite me through my husband, that I love, and avenge not on him what I did to Brunhild. Already it repenteth me sore. My body hath smarted for it, that ever I troubled her with my words. Siegfried, the good knight, hath seen to that.” Whereto Hagen answered, “Ye will shortly be at one again. But Kriemhild, prithee tell me wherein I can serve thee with Siegfried, thy husband, and I will do it, for I love none better.” “I should fear naught for his life in battle, but that he is foolhardy, and of too proud a courage. Save for that, he were safe enow.” Then said Hagen, “Lady, if thou fearest hurt for him in battle, tell me now by what device I may hinder it, and I will guard him afoot and on horse.” She answered, “Thou art my cousin, and I thine. To thy faith I commend my dear husband, and thou mayst watch and keep him.” Then she told him what she had better have left unsaid. “My husband is stark and bold. When that he slew the dragon on the mountain, he bathed him in its blood; wherefore no weapon can pierce him. Nevertheless, when he rideth in battle, and spears fly from the hands of heroes, I tremble lest I lose him. Alack! for Siegfried’s sake how oft have I been heavy of my cheer! And now, dear cousin, I will trust thee with the secret, and tell thee, that thou mayst prove thy faith, where my husband may be wounded. For that I know thee honourable, I do this. When the hot blood flowed from the wound of the dragon, and Siegfried bathed therein, there fell atween his shoulders the broad leaf of a lime tree. There one might stab him, and thence is my care and dole.” Then answered Hagen of Trony, “Sew, with thine own hand, a small sign upon his outer garment, that I may know where to defend him when we stand in battle.” She did it to profit the knight, and worked his doom thereby. She said, “I will sew secretly, with fine silk, a little cross upon his garment, and there, O knight, shalt thou guard to me my husband when ye ride in the thick of the strife, and he withstandeth his foemen in the fierce onset.” “That will I do, dear lady,” answered Hagen. Kriemhild thought to serve Siegfried; so was the hero betrayed. Then Hagen took his leave and went forth glad; and his king bade him say what he had learned. “If thou wouldst turn from the journey, let us go hunting instead; for I have learned the secret, and have him in my hand. Wilt thou contrive this?” “That will I,” said the king. And the king’s men rejoiced. Never more, I ween, will knight do so foully as did Hagen, when he brake his faith with the queen. The next morning Siegfried, with his thousand knights, rode merrily forth; for he thought to avenge his friends. And Hagen rode nigh him, and spied at his vesture. When he saw the mark, he sent forward two of his men secretly, to ride back to them with another message: that Ludger bade tell the king his land might remain at peace. Loth was Siegfried to turn his rein or had he done battle for his friends. Gunther’s vassals scare held him back. Then he rode to the king, that thanked him. “Now, God reward thee, Siegfried, my kinsman, that thou didst grant my prayer so readily. Even so will I do by thee, and that justly. I hold thee trustiest of all my friends. Seeing we be quit of this war, let us ride a hunting to the Odenwald after the bear and the boar, as I have often done.” Hagen, the false man, had counselled this. “Let it be told to my guests straightway that I will ride early. Whoso would hunt with me, let him be ready betimes. But if any would tarry behind for pastime with the women, he shall do it, and please me thereby.” Siegfried answered on courtly wise, “I will hunt with thee gladly, and will ride to the forest, if thou lend me a huntsman and some brachs.” “Will one suffice?” asked Gunther. “I will lend thee four that know the forest well, and the tracks of the game, that thou come not home empty-handed.” Then Siegfried rode to his wife. Meanwhile Hagen had told the king how he would trap the hero. Let all men evermore avoid such foul treason. When the false man had contrived his death, they told all the others. Giselher and Gernot were not hunting with the rest. I know not for what grudge they warned him not. But they paid dear for it. <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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