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Fall of the Nibelungs

<h2>Book II</h2> <h2>Twentieth Adventure How King Etzel Sent to Burgundy for Kriemhild</h2> It was in the days when Queen Helca died, and King Etzel wooed other women, that his friends commended to him a proud widow in the land of Burgundy, that hight Queen Kriemhild. Seeing fair Helca was dead, they said, “If thou wouldst win a noble wife, the highest and the best that ever a king won, take this woman. Stark Siegfried was her husband.” The great king answered, “How could that be, since I am a heathen, and have not received baptism? The woman is a Christian—she will not consent. It were a wonder, truly, if it came to pass.” But the good knights said, “What if she do it gladly, for thy high name’s sake, and thy great possessions? One can ask her at the least; she were a fitting and comely mate for thee.” Then the noble king answered, “Which among ye knoweth the folk by the Rhine, and their land?” Said good Rudeger of Bechlaren, “From a child I have known the high and noble kings, Gunther and Gernot, good knights both. The third hight Giselher; each of these doeth whatso goeth best with honour and virtue. The like did their fathers.” But Etzel said, “Friend, tell me now, is she meet to wear the crown in my land? If her body be so fair as they say, my best friends shall never rue it.” “She resembleth great Helca, my mistress, for beauty. No king’s wife in the world could be fairer. Whom she taketh to friend may well be comforted!” He said, “Then woo her, Rudeger, in my name and for my sake. And come I ever to wed Kriemhild, I will reward thee as I best can. Thereto, thou wilt have done my will faithfully. From my store I will bid them give thee what thou requirest of horses and apparel, that thou and thy fellows may live merrily. They shall give thee therefrom without stint for thine embassy.” Rudeger, the rich Margrave, answered, “I were much to blame if I took from thy store. I will gladly ride, an envoy to the Rhine, at mine own cost, and with what I have received from thy hand.” Then the rich king said, “When thinkest thou to set out for the fair one? God guard thine honour by the way, and also my wife, if kind fortune help us to her favour.” Said Rudeger, “Or we quit this land, we must let fashion weapons and apparel, that we may win worship when we come before the princes. I will lead to the Rhine five hundred valiant men, that when they see me and mine at Burgundy, they may say that never king sent so many men so far as thou hast sent to us, to the Rhine. And know, great king, if thou art set on this, that she belonged to Siegfried, a right goodly man, the son of Siegmund. Thou hast seen him here. Soothly, much worship might be said of him.” King Etzel answered, “If she was that knight’s wife, the noble prince was of so high renown, that I may not scorn his queen. By reason of her great beauty she pleaseth me well.” Then the Margrave said, “I promise thee that we will ride hence in four and twenty days. I will send word to Gotelind, my dear wife, that I, myself, go as envoy to Kriemhild.” So Rudeger sent messengers to Bechlaren to his wife, the high-born Margravine, and told her that he would go wooing for the king. The Margravine still thought lovingly on good Helca, and when she heard the message, she was one part sorry, and began to weep, lest she might not win such a mistress as afore. When she thought on Helca she was heavy of her cheer. Rudeger rode out of Hungary in seven days, whereat King Etzel rejoiced. They made ready his equipment at the town of Vienna, and he delayed his journey no longer. Gotelind awaited him at Bechlaren, and the young Margravine, Rudeger’s daughter, saw her father and his men gladly. They got a fair greeting from beautiful women. Or noble Rudeger rode to Bechlaren from the town of Vienna, the clothes, whereof there were enow, came on the sumpters. So strong they rode, that little was stolen from them by the way. When they were come into the town of Bechlaren, the host bade lodge his comrades, and give them good quarters. Wealthy Gotelind rejoiced to see her husband, the like did also his dear daughter, the young Margravine, that was as merry as could be at his coming. Right gladly she saw the heroes from Hungary. The noble maiden said, with laughing mouth, “Ye be very welcome, my father and his men.” And the good knights were not slow to thank her. Well Gotelind knew the mind of Rudeger. When she lay by him at night, she asked him sweetly whither the king of the Huns had sent him. He answered, “I will tell thee gladly, my wife Gotelind. I go to woo a wife for my master, now that fair Helca is dead. I go to Kriemhild, on the Rhine, that shall become a great queen here among the Huns.” “God grant it fall so, for much good have we heard of her. Haply she will make up to us for our mistress of aforetime. We might well rejoice to have her wear the crown here.” Said the Margrave, “To them that ride with me to the Rhine, thou shalt give graciously of thy goods, dear wife. When heroes go richly attired, they be of high courage.” She answered, “There is none, if he will take it, but shall have what suiteth him well, or thou and thy men depart.” And the Margrave said, “Thou wilt please me well thereby.” Ha! what rich stuffs they took from their chambers! They hasted and provided the noble warriors with vesture enow from neck to spur. What pleased him the beast, Rudeger chose for himself. On the seventh morning the host rode from Bechlaren with his knights. They took a goodly store of weapons and raiment through Bavaria, and were seldom fallen upon by robbers on the way. Within twelve days they came to the Rhine. The news was not slow to spread. They told the king and his men that stranger guests had arrived. Then the king began to ask that, if any knew them, he might declare it. They perceived that their sumpters were heavy laden, and saw that they were rich; and they gave them lodging in the wide city straightway. When the stranger were arrived, the folk spied at them curiously. They wondered whence they had journeyed to the Rhine. The king asked Hagen who the knights were, and the hero of Trony answered, “I have not seen them aright. When we meet them, I will tell thee whence they have ridden into this land. They be strangers indeed if I know them not straightway.” The guests had been to their lodging. The envoy and his train were richly arrayed. Their clothes were good, and cunningly fashioned; and they rode to the court. Then said bold Hagen, “So far as I know, for it is long since I saw the knights, they ride like the men of Rudeger, a bold warrior from the land of the Huns.” “How could I believe,” said the king, “that he of Bechlaren should come into this land?” King Gunther had scarcely made an end of speaking, when bold Hagen saw the good Rudeger. He and all his friends ran to him. Five hundred knights sprang from their horses. The Huns were well received; never were envoys so richly clad. Then cried Hagen of Trony, “Welcome, in God’s name, is this knight, the prince of Bechlaren, and all his men.” Worshipful greeting got the Huns. The nearest of kin to the king pressed forward, and Ortwin of Metz said to Rudeger, “We have not, for long, seen guests so gladly. I speak the truth.” They thanked the heroes for their welcome. Then they went with the warriors into the hall, where they found the king amidst of many bold men. Gunther rose from his seat out of courtesy. On what friendly wise he went toward the envoys! He and Gernot hasted to meet the guests and his men, as beseemed them, and Gunther took Rudeger by the hand. He led him to the highseat where he sat himself, and bade his men set before the strangers goodly meats, and the best wine that was to be found in all the land round about the Rhine; the which was done gladly. Giselher and Gary, Dankwart and Folker, came in, for they had heard of the worthy guests. They rejoiced to see them, and welcomed, in the presence of the king, the noble knights and good. Then said Hagen of Trony to his master, “Thy knights are greatly beholden for what the Margrave hath done for our sake. The husband of fair Gotelind should be well requited.” King Gunther said, “I pray thee tell me, for I would know, how it standeth with Etzel and Helca in the land of the Huns.” The Margrave answered, “I will tell thee gladly.” Then he rose from his seat with all his men, and said to the king, “Give me leave to deliver the message that King Etzel hath sent me with, here to Burgundy.” Gunther answered, “I will hear the message wherewith thou art charged, without taking counsel with my friends. Speak it before me and my men, for with all honour shall thy suit be heard.” Then said the faithful envoy, “My great lord commendeth his true service to thee at the Rhine, and to all the friends thou hast. This he doth with true heart. The noble king biddeth thee mourn for his loss. His people are joyless, for my mistress, great Helca, my lord’s wife, is dead; whereby many high-born maidens, children of great princes, that she hath reared, are orphaned. By reason thereof the land is full of sorrow, for these, alack! have none now to care for them. The king also ceaseth not to make dole.” “Now God requite him,” said Gunther, “that he commendeth his service so fair to me and to my men. I have hearkened gladly to his greeting. My kinsmen and my liegemen will repay him.” Then said Gernot of Burgundy, “The world may well rue beautiful Helca’s death, for the sake of her many virtues.” Hagen and many another knight said the same. But Rudeger, the noble envoy, went on: “If thou allow it, O king, I will tell thee further what my dear master hath charged me with. Dolefully hath he lived since Helca’s death. And it hath been told him that Kriemhild is without a husband, for that Siegfried is dead. If that be so, and thou grant it, she shall wear the crown before Etzel’s knights. This hath my lord bidden me say.” Then the great king spake courteously, “If she be willing, she followeth my desire therein. In three days I will let thee know. If she say not nay to Etzel, wherefore should I?” Meanwhile they gave the guests good lodging. On such wise were the entreated that Rudeger was fain to confess he had friends among Gunther’s men. Hagen served him gladly, the which Rudeger had done to Hagen aforetime. So Rudeger tarried there till the third day. The king did prudently, and called a counsel, to ask his friends whether it seemed good to them that Kriemhild should take King Etzel to husband. And they all counselled it save Hagen, that said to Gunther, the bold knight, “If thou be wise, thou wilt see to it that she do it not, even if she desire it.” “Why should I hinder it?” said Gunther. “If any good fall to the queen, I may well grant it. She is my sister. If it be to her honour, we ourselves should seek the alliance.” But Hagen answered, “Say not so. Didst thou know Etzel as I do, thou wouldst see that thou, first of all, must suffer if she wedded him as thou counsellest.” “How so?” answered Gunther. “Were she his wife, I need not come so nigh him that I must feel his hate.” But Hagen said, “I will never approve it.” They summoned Gernot and Giselher, and asked whether it seemed good to them that Kriemhild should take the great king. And none save Hagen was against it. Then said Giselher, the knight of Burgundy, “Do fairly by her for once, friend Hagen. Make good to her the hurt thou hast done her. Let her prosper without grudging it. Thou hast caused her much sorrow, and well might she hate thee. Never was woman bereft by any man of more joy.” “Trow me, I know that well. And were she to take Etzel, and to live long enow, she would do us all the hurt she could. She will have many valiant men to serve her.” But bold Gernot answered Hagen, “Belike we shall never come into Etzel’s land till they be both dead. Let us do truly by her, and it will be to our honour.” Said Hagen, “None need tell me that. If Kriemhild wear Helca’s crown, she will do us all the hurt she can. Let the thing alone; it were better for you knights.” Then Giselher, fair Uta’s son, spake angrily, “We will not all do basely. If aught good befall her, we shall be glad. For all thou canst say, Hagen, I will serve her truly.” When Hagen heard that, he was wroth. Gernot and Giselher, the proud knights and good, and Gunther, the great king, agreed in the end, that they would allow it gladly, if Kriemhild were so minded. Then Prince Gary said, “I will tell the lady, that she may incline her heart to King Etzel, for many a knight is his vassal. He may make good to her the wrong she hath suffered.” The good knight went to Kriemhild. She welcomed him kindly, and he said without ado, “Greet me gladly, and give me the envoy’s meed, for good fortune parteth thee from all thy dole. One of the best men that ever ruled a king’s land with honour, or wore a crown, hath sent hither to sue for thy love. Noble knights are come wooing for him; thy brother bade tell thee this.” But the sorrowful one said, “God forbid that thou and all my friends should mock my misery. What could I be to a man that hath known the heart’s love of a good wife?” She would none of it. But Gernot, her brother, and Giselher the youth, came to her, and lovingly they bade her be comforted, for, if she took the king, it were truly to her profit. But none could prevail on the lady to wed with any man. Then the knights prayed her, saying, “Receive the envoys, at the least, if thou wilt not yield.” “That I will do,” said the queen; “I am fain to see Rudeger, by reason of his many virtues. Were it not he, but another envoy, I had remained a stranger to him.” She said, “Send him hither to my chamber to-morrow early, and I will tell him my mind on this matter.” Then her bitter weeping began afresh. Rudeger desired nothing better than to see the queen. He knew himself so skilful in speech that, could it be at all, he must prevail with her. Early the next morning when they were singing the mass, the noble envoys came. The press was great, and the valiant men that were bound for the court with Rudeger were richly arrayed. Poor Kriemhild, the sad-hearted one, waited for Rudeger, the noble envoy. He found her in the clothes that she wore every day, albeit her attendants were in rich raiment enow. She went to the door to meet him, and received Etzel’s man kindly. With twelve knights only he came before her. They were well entreated, for never were better envoys. They bade the warrior and his men sit down. The two Margraves, Eckewart and Gary stood before her, but all were sad of their countenance by reason of the sorrowful queen; many fair women sat round her, and Kriemhild did nothing but weep; that her robe on the bosom was wet with hot tears. The Margrave saw this, and rose from his seat and spake courteously, “Most noble king’s daughter, grant to me and my friends that are with me, to stand before thee and tell thee the message we bring hither.” “Thou hast permission,” said the queen; “say what thou wilt, and I will hear it gladly, for thou art a good envoy.” The others perceived her unwilling mind, but Prince Rudeger of Bechlaren said, “Etzel, a great king, commendeth his true love to thee, here in this land. He hath sent many good knights to sue for thy love. Love without sorrow he offereth thee, and the like firm affection that he showed erstwhile to Queen Helca, that lay upon his heart. Thou shalt wear the crown, even as my mistress did aforetime.” Then said the queen, “Margrave Rudeger, none that knew my bitter woe would counsel me to wed another man, for I lost one of the best that ever woman had.” “What comforteth more in grief,” said the bold man, “than true love? He that chooseth to his heart’s desire findeth that naught healeth sorrow like love. If thou consent to wed my noble master, twelve royal crowns shall be thine; thereto, my lord will give thee thirty princes’ lands that his strong hand hath overcome. And thou shalt be mistress of many worshipful men, that were subject to my lady Helca, and of many beautiful maidens, the kin of kings, that she ruled over. My master bade me say that, if thou wilt wear the crown with him, he will give thee all the high power that Helca had. Mightily shalt thou wield it over Etzel’s men.” But the queen answered, “How could I incline my heart again to be a hero’s wife? Death hath wrought me such woe through one, that I must stand joyless till my life’s end.” The Huns answered, “Great queen, thy life by Etzel will be so glad that thou wilt know nothing save delight, if thou consent. For the king hath many a peerless knight. Helca’s maidens, and thine together, shall be thy attendants, by reason whereof many warriors shall rejoice. Be counselled, O queen, for thy good.” She said courteously, “Let the matter stand till to-morrow morning. Come to me then; and I will answer you concerning your business.” To the which the bold knights agreed. When they were all gone to their lodging, the lady sent for Giselher and her mother. To both she said that weeping beseemed her better than aught else. But her brother Giselher said, “Sister, something telleth me, and I trow it, that King Etzel will end all thy dole. It seemeth good to me that thou take him to husband, whatso any other may counsel. He may give thee again all that thou hast lost. From the Rhone to the Rhine, from the Elbe to the sea, no king is so mighty as he is. Thou mayest well rejoice that he chooseth thee for his queen.” She answered, “Dear brother, wherefore counsel me thus? Mourning and weeping suit me better. How could I appear before the knights at court? Had my body ever beauty, it hath lost it.” Then said queen Uta to her dear daughter, “Dear child, do what thy brother saith. Be counselled by thy friends, and good will betide thee. Too long have I seen thee mourning bitterly.” Then she asked mighty God to guide her. Albeit she might have gold and silver and apparel to give, as aforetime, when her husband lived, never again could she have the happy hours. She thought to herself, “Shall I give myself to a heathen? I am a Christian woman. I should be shamed before the world. Though he gave me the riches of the whole earth, it could never be.” At that point she left it; and all night long, till the day, the woman lay on her bed full of thoughts. Her bright eyes were never dry till she went to mass in the morning. The kings also came at the hour of mass, and took their sister by the hand. They counselled her to wed the king of the Huns. But the lady was no merrier of her cheer. Then they bade Etzel’s men come before her, that were fain to be gone with her answer, whether it was a “yea” or a “nay.” So Rudeger came to the court. His comrades urged him to learn the princes’ mind without delay. This seemed good to them all, for it was a far way back to their land. They brought Rudeger to Kriemhild. And the knight asked the queen gently to let him hear the message she sent to Etzel. He won nothing from her but denial, for never could she love another man. Then said the Margrave, “That were ill done. Wherefore ruin so fair a body? Still mayest thou with honour become a good man’s wife.” Yet all their entreaty availed not, till that Rudeger said secretly to the queen that he would make good to her any hurt that might befall her. At that, her grief abated somewhat. He said to the queen, “Weep no more. If thou hadst none among the Huns save me, my faithful kinsmen, and my men, sore must he pay for it that did thee wrong.” Much milder was the lady’s mood, and she said, “Swear me an oath that, should any do aught against me, thou wilt be the first to avenge it.” The Margrave answered, “I will swear it.” So Rudeger swore with all his men always to serve her truly, and to deny her nothing in Etzel’s land that her honour called for, and he confirmed it with his hand. Then thought the faithful woman, “Since I, a forlorn woman, can win so many friends, I will let the folk say what they please. Haply I may yet avenge my dear husband’s death. Etzel hath so many knights that, were they mine to command, I could do what I would. Thereto, he is so wealthy that I shall have wherewith to bestow gifts. Cruel Hagen hath taken my treasure from me.” She said to Rudeger, “Had I not heard he was a heathen, I would go gladly at his bidding, and take him to husband.” The Margrave answered, “Say no more of that, Lady. He is not quite a heathen, be assured, for my dear master hath been christened; albeit he hath turned again. Haply he will think better of it shouldst thou wed him. He hath so many Christian knights that no ill could betide thee. And thou mightst easily win back the good prince, heart and soul, to God.” Her brothers said, “Promise it, sister, and give over grieving.” They begged it so long that at the last the sorrowful woman promised, before the warriors, to become Etzel’s wife. She said, “Poor queen that I am, I will follow you! I will go to the Huns, if I find friends to lead me thither.” Fair Kriemhild gave her hand on it before the knights. Then said the Margrave, “Thou hast two knights for thy liegemen, and I have more. Thou canst fare across the Rhine with honour. I will not leave thee longer here among the Burgundians. I have five hundred men and also my kinsmen. These shall serve thee here, and at home likewise, and do thy bidding. I will do it also, and will never shame me when thou mindest me on my word. Bid them fetch thee forth thy horse-gear, for thou wilt never rue Rudeger’s counsel, and tell it to the maidens that thou takest with thee. Many a chosen knight will meet us on the road.” They had still the trappings that they rode with in Siegfried’s time, so that she could take many maidens with her in fitting pomp when she departed. Ha! what goodly saddles they brought out for the fair women! All the rich clothes they had ever worn were made ready for the journey, for they had heard much of the king. They opened the chests that had stood shut, and busied them for five days and a half, and took from the presses the store of things that lay therein. Kriemhild unlocked her chambers, that she might make Rudeger’s men rich. She had still some gold from the Nibelung hoard, that she purposed to divide with her hand among the Huns. An hundred mules scarce carried it. Hagen heard the news, and said, “Since Kriemhild will never forgive me, Siegfried’s gold shall stay here. Wherefore should I let my foemen get so much wealth. Well I know what Kriemhild will do with this treasure. If she took it hence, she would divide it, certes, to my hurt. Tell her that Hagen will keep it.” When she heard this, her anger was grim. They told it to the three kings, that would gladly have put it right; when they could not, noble Rudeger said joyfully, “Great Queen, why weep for thy gold? King Etzel’s love is not small. When his eyes behold thee, he will give thee more than thou canst ever spend. Take my word for it, lady.” But the queen said, “Most noble Rudeger, never had a king’s daughter more wealth than Hagen hath taken from me.” Then came her brother Gernot to her chamber, and, with his kingly might, stuck a key into the door, that they got Kriemhild’s gold out—thirty marks or more. He bade the guests take it, the which pleased Gunther. But Gotelind’s husband of Bechlaren said, “Had my mistress all that was ever brought from the Nibelung land, neither mine nor the queen’s hand would touch it. Bid them keep it, for I will none of it. I brought with me so much from my home that we can lightly dispense with it, and yet live merrily by the way.” But her maidens had filled twelve chests of the best gold that could be; they took that with them, and many women’s trinkets for the journey. But even in this thing she feared grim Hagen’s might. She had still a thousand gold marks for masses, and this she gave for the soul for her dear husband; the which Rudeger thought well done. Then said the weeping queen, “Where are now the friends that will leave their home for my sake? Let them ride with me into the land of the Huns, and take of my treasure to buy them horses and apparel.” The Margrave Gary spake at once, “From the day I was first given to thee for thine attendant, I have served thee faithfully,” said the knight, “and will do the same to my life’s end. I will take with me also five hundred men; these, with true heart, I make over to thee. Only death shall part us.” Kriemhild thanked the knight for his word and for his good offer. Then they brought round the horses, for they were ready to start. There was bitter weeping of friends. Great Uta and many a fair maiden showed their grief for the loss of Kriemhild. She took with her an hundred high-born maidens, arrayed as beseemed them. The tears ran down from bright eyes. But at Etzel’s court they had joyful days again. Then Giselher and Gernot came with their followers, as courtesy bade them, and escorted their dear sister. A thousand valiant men they took with them. Brave Gary came, and Ortwin. Rumolt the cook had also to go. They prepared night-quarters for the women on the way. Folker was the marshal, and saw to their lodging. After the kisses there was loud weeping, or they came from the castle to the plain. Many rode and followed on foot unbidden, but Gunther went only a little way from the town. Or they left the Rhine, they had sent forward swift messengers to the land of the Huns, that told the king how Rudeger had won the noble queen for his wife. The envoys sped fast; needs must they haste, for honour’s sake and the guerdon of good news. When they and their horses got home, King Etzel had never heard such welcome tidings. The king bade give the envoys so much for their message that they could live merrily ever after, till their death. For love had chased away the king’s trouble and his dole. <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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