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How Siegfried fought with the Saxons

139

Now come wondrous tidings / to King Gunther's land,

By messengers brought hither / from far upon command

Of knights unknown who harbored / against him secret hate.

When there was heard the story, / at heart in sooth the grief was great.

140

Of these I now will tell you: / There was King Luedeger

From out the land of Saxons, / a mighty warrior,

And eke from land of Denmark / Luedegast the king:

Whene'er they rode to battle / went they with mighty following.

141

Come were now their messengers / to the land of Burgundy,

Sent forth by these foemen / in proud hostility.

Then asked they of the strangers / what tidings they did bring:

And when they heard it, straightway / led them to court before the king.

142

Then spake to them King Gunther: / "A welcome, on my word.

Who 'tis that send you hither, / that have I not yet heard:

Now shall ye let me know it," / spake the monarch keen.

Then dreaded they full sorely / to see King Gunther's angry mien.

143

"Wilt them, O king, permit us / the tidings straight to tell

That we now have brought thee, / no whit will we conceal,

But name thee both our masters / who us have hither sent:

Luedegast and Luedeger, /—to waste thy land is their intent.

144

"Their hate hast thou incurréd, / and thou shalt know in sooth

That high enraged against thee / are the monarchs both.

Their hosts they will lead hither / to Worms upon the Rhine;

They're helped by thanes full many—/ of this put off all doubts of thine.

145

"Within weeks a dozen / their march will they begin;

And if thy friends be valiant, / let that full quick be seen,

To help thee keep in safety / thy castles and thy land:

Full many a shield and helmet / shall here be cleft by warrior's hand.

146

"Or wilt thou with them parley, / so let it quick be known,

Before their hosts so mighty / of warlike men come down

To Worms upon Rhine river / sad havoc here to make,

Whereby must death most certain / many a gallant knight o'ertake."

147

"Bide ye now the meanwhile," / the king did answer kind,

"Till I take better counsel; / then shall ye know my mind.

Have I yet warriors faithful, / from these I'll naught conceal,

But to my friends I'll straightway / these warlike tidings strange reveal."

148

The lordly Gunther wondered / thereat and troubled sore,

As he the message pondered / in heart and brooded o'er.

He sent to fetch grim Hagen / and others of his men,

And bade likewise in hurry / to court bring hither Gernot then.

149

Thus at his word his trusted / advisers straight attend.

He spake: "Our land to harry / foes all unknown will send

Of men a mighty army; / a grievous wrong is this.

Small cause have we e'er given / that they should wish us aught amiss."

150

"Our swords ward such things from us," / Gernot then said;

"Since but the fated dieth, / so let all such lie dead.

Wherefore I'll e'er remember / what honor asks of me:

Whoe'er hath hate against us / shall ever here right welcome be."

151

Then spake the doughty Hagen: / "Methinks 'twould scarce be good;

Luedegast and Luedeger / are men of wrathful mood.

Help can we never summon, / the days are now so few."

So spake the keen old warrior, / "'Twere well Siegfried the tidings knew."

152

The messengers in the borough / were harbored well the while,

And though their sight was hateful, / in hospitable style

As his own guests to tend them / King Gunther gave command,

Till 'mongst his friends he learnéd / who by him in his need would stand.

153

The king was filled with sorrow / and his heart was sad.

Then saw his mournful visage / a knight to help full glad,

Who could not well imagine / what 'twas that grieved him so.

Then begged he of King Gunther / the tale of this his grief to know.

154

"To me it is great wonder," / said Siegfried to the king,

"How thou of late hast changéd / to silent sorrowing

The joyous ways that ever / with us thy wont have been."

Then unto him gave answer / Gunther the full stately thane:

155

"'Tis not to every person / I can the burden say

That ever now in secret / upon my heart doth weigh:

To well-tried friends and steady / are told our inmost woes."

—Siegfried at first was pallid, / but soon his blood like fire up-rose.

156

He spake unto the monarch: / "To thee I've naught denied.

All ills that now do threaten / I'll help to turn aside.

And if but friends thou seekest, / of them the first I'll be,

And trow I well with honor / till death to serve thee faithfully."

157

"God speed thee well, Sir Siegfried, / for this thy purpose fair:

And though such help in earnest / thy arm should render ne'er,

Yet do I joy at hearing / thou art so true to me.

And live I yet a season, / right heartily repaid 'twill be.

158

"Know will I also let thee / wherefore I sorrowing stand.

Through messengers from my foemen / have tidings reached my land

That they with hosts of warriors / will ride my country o'er;

Such thing to us did never / thanes of any land before."

159

"Small cause is that for grieving," / said then Siegfried;

"But calm thy troubled spirit / and hearken to my rede:

Let me for thee acquire / honor and vantage too,

And bid thou now assemble / for service eke thy warriors true.

160

"And had thy mighty enemies / to help them now at hand

Good thanes full thirty thousand, / against them all I'd stand,

Had I but one good thousand: / put all thy trust in me."

Then answered him King Gunther: / "Thy help shall full requited be."

161

"Then bid for me to summon / a thousand of thy men,

Since I now have with me / of all my knightly train

None but twelve knights only; / then will I guard thy land.

For thee shall service faithful / be done alway by Siegfried's hand.

162

"Herein shall help us Hagen / and eke Ortwein,

Dankwart and Sindold, / those trusted knights of thine;

And with us too shall journey / Volker, the valiant man;

The banner he shall carry: / bestow it better ne'er I can.

163

"Back to their native country / the messengers may go;

They'll see us there right quickly, / let them full surely know,

So that all our castles / peace undisturbed shall have."

Then bade the king to summon / his friends with all their warriors brave.

164

To court returned the heralds / King Luedeger had sent,

And on their journey homeward / full joyfully they went.

King Gunther gave them presents / that costly were and good,

And granted them safe convoy; / whereat they were of merry mood.

165

"Tell ye my foes," spake Gunther, / "when to your land ye come,

Than making journeys hither / they better were at home;

But if they still be eager / to make such visit here,

Unless my friends forsake me, / cold in sooth shall be their cheer."

166

Then for the messengers / rich presents forth they bore,

Whereof in sooth to give them / Gunther had goodly store:

And they durst not refuse them / whom Luedeger had sent.

Leave then they took immediate, / and homeward joyfully they went.

167

When to their native Denmark / the messengers returned,

And the king Luedegast / the answer too had learned,

They at the Rhine had sent him, /—when that to him was told,

His wrath was all unbounded / to have reply in words so bold.

168

'Twas said their warriors numbered / many a man full keen:

"There likewise among them / with Gunther have we seen

Of Netherland a hero, / the same that Siegfried hight."

King Luedegast was grievéd, / when he their words had heard aright.

169

When throughout all Denmark / the tidings quick spread o'er,

Then in hot haste they summoned / helpers all the more,

So that King Luedegast, / 'twixt friends from far and near,

Had knights full twenty thousand / all furnished well with shield and spear.

170

Then too his men did summon / of Saxony Luedeger,

Till they good forty thousand, / and more, had gathered there,

With whom to make the journey / 'gainst the land of Burgundy.

—At home likewise the meanwhile / King Gunther had sent forth decree

171

Mighty men to summon / of his own and brothers twain,

Who against the foemen / would join the armed train.

In haste they made them ready, / for right good cause they had.

Amongst them must thereafter / full many a noble thane lie dead.

172

To march they quick made ready. / And when they thence would fare,

The banner to the valiant / Volker was given to bear,

As they began the journey / from Worms across the Rhine;

Strong of arm grim Hagen / was chosen leader of the line.

173

With them there rode Sindold / and eke the keen Hunold

Who oft at hands of Gunther / had won rewards of gold;

Dankwart, Hagen's brother, / and Ortwein beside,

Who all could well with honor / in train of noble warriors ride.

174

"King Gunther," spake then Siegfried, / "stay thou here at home;

Since now thy knights so gallant / with me will gladly come,

Rest thou here with fair ladies, / and be of merry mood:

I trow we'll keep in safety / thy land and honor as we should.

175

"And well will I see to it / that they at home remain,

Who fain would ride against thee / to Worms upon the Rhine.

Against them straight we'll journey / into their land so far

That they'll be meeker minded / who now such haughty vaunters are."

176

Then from the Rhine through Hesse / the hosts of knights rode on

Toward the land of Saxons, / where battle was anon.

With fire and sword they harried / and laid the country waste,

So that both the monarchs / full well the woes of war did taste.

177

When came they to the border / the train-men onward pressed.

With thought of battle-order / Siegfried the thanes addressed:

"Who now shall guard our followers / from danger in the rear?"

In sooth like this the Saxons / in battle worsted never were.

178

Then said they: "On the journey / the men shall guarded be

By the valiant Dankwart, /—a warrior swift is he;

So shall we lose the fewer / by men of Luedeger.

Let him and Ortwein with him / be chosen now to guard the rear."

179

Spake then the valiant Siegfried: / "Myself will now ride on,

And against our enemies / will keep watch in the van,

Till I aright discover / where they perchance may be."

The son of fair Queen Siegelind / did arm him then immediately.

180

The folk he left to Hagen / when ready to depart,

And as well to Gernot, / a man of dauntless heart.

Into the land of Saxons / alone he rode away,

And by his hand was severed / many a helmet's band that day.

181

He found a mighty army / that lay athwart the plain,

Small part of which outnumbered / all those in his own train:

Full forty thousand were they / or more good men of might.

The hero high in spirit / saw right joyfully the sight.

182

Then had eke a warrior / from out the enemy

To guard the van gone forward, / all arméd cap-a-pie.

Him saw the noble Siegfried, / and he the valiant man;

Each one straight the other / to view with angry mien began.

183

Who he was I'll tell you / that rode his men before,

—A shield of gold all shining / upon his arm he bore—

In sooth it was King Luedegast / who there the van did guard.

Straightway the noble Siegfried / full eagerly against him spurred.

184

Now singled out for combat / him, too, had Luedegast.

Then full upon each other / they spurred their chargers fast,

As on their shields they lowered / their lances firm and tight,

Whereat the lordly monarch / soon found himself in sorry plight.

185

After the shock their chargers / bore the knights so fast

Onward past each other / as flew they on the blast.

Then turned they deftly backward / obedient to the rein,

As with their swords contested / the grim and doughty fighters twain.

186

When Siegfried struck in anger / far off was heard the blow,

And flew from off the helmet, / as if 'twere all aglow,

The fiery sparks all crackling / beneath his hand around.

Each warrior in the other / a foeman worth his mettle found.

187

Full many a stroke with vigor / dealt eke King Luedegast,

And on each other's buckler / the blows fell thick and fast.

Then thirty men discovered / their master's sorry plight:

But ere they came to help him / had doughty Siegfried won the fight.

188

With three mighty gashes / which he had dealt the king

Through his shining breastplate / made fast with many a ring.

The sword with sharpest edges / from wounds brought forth the blood,

Whereat King Luedegast / apace fell into gloomy mood.

189

To spare his life he begged him, / his land he pledged the knight,

And told him straight moreover, / that Luedegast he hight.

Then came his knights to help him, / they who there had seen

How that upon the vanguard / fierce fight betwixt the twain had been.

190

After duel ended, / did thirty yet withstand

Of knights that him attended; / but there the hero's hand

Kept safe his noble captive / with blows of wondrous might.

And soon wrought greater ruin / Siegfried the full gallant knight.

191

Beneath his arm of valor / the thirty soon lay dead.

But one the knight left living, / who thence full quickly sped

To tell abroad the story / how he the others slew;

In sooth the blood-red helmet / spake all the hapless tidings true.

192

Then had the men of Denmark / for all their grief good cause,

When it was told them truly / their king a captive was.

They told it to King Luedeger, / when he to rage began

In anger all unbounded: / for him had grievous harm been done.

193

The noble King Luedegast / was led a prisoner then

By hand of mighty Siegfried / back to King Gunther's men,

And placed in hands of Hagen: / and when they did hear

That 'twas the king of Denmark / they not a little joyful were.

194

He bade the men of Burgundy / then bind the banners on.

"Now forward!" Siegfried shouted, / "here shall yet more be done,

An I but live to see it; / ere this day's sun depart,

Shall mourn in land of Saxons / full many a goodly matron's heart.

195

"Ye warriors from Rhineland, / to follow me take heed,

And I unto the army / of Luedeger will lead.

Ere we again turn backward / to the land of Burgundy

Helms many hewn asunder / by hand of good knights there shall be."

196

To horse then hastened Gernot / and with him mighty men.

Volker keen in battle / took up the banner then;

He was a doughty Fiddler / and rode the host before.

There, too, every follower / a stately suit of armor wore.

197

More than a thousand warriors / they there had not a man,

Saving twelve knights-errant. / To rise the dust began

In clouds along the highway / as they rode across the fields,

And gleaming in the sunlight / were seen the brightly shining shields.

198

Meanwhile eke was nearing / of Saxons a great throng,

Each a broadsword bearing / that mickle was and long,

With blade that cut full sorely / when swung in strong right hand.

'Gainst strangers were they ready / to guard their castles and their land.

199

The leaders forth to battle / led the warriors then.

Come was also Siegfried / with his twelve chosen men,

Whom he with him hither / had brought from Netherland.

That day in storm of battle / was blood-bespattered many a hand.

200

Sindold and Hunold / and Gernot as well,

Beneath their hands in battle / full many a hero fell,

Ere that their deeds of valor / were known throughout the host.

Through them must many a stately / matron weep for warrior lost.

201

Volker and Hagen / and Ortwein in the fight

Lustily extinguished / full many a helmet's light

With blood from wounds down flowing—/ keen fighters every one.

And there by Dankwart also / was many a mickle wonder done.

202

The knights of Denmark tested / how they could weapons wield.

Clashing there together / heard ye many a shield

And 'neath sharp swords resounding, / swung by many an arm.

The Saxons keen in combat / wrought 'mid their foes a grievous harm.

203

When the men of Burgundy / pressed forward to the fight,

Gaping wounds full many / hewed they there with might.

Then flowing down o'er saddle / in streams was seen the blood,

So fought for sake of honor / these valiant riders keen and good.

204

Loudly were heard ringing, / wielded by hero's hand,

The sharply-cutting weapons, / where they of Netherland

Their master followed after / into the thickest throng:

Wherever Siegfried led them / rode too those valiant knights along.

205

Of warriors from Rhine river / could follow not a one.

There could be seen by any / a stream of blood flow down

O'er brightly gleaming helmet / 'neath Siegfried's mighty hand,

Until King Luedeger / before him with his men did stand.

206

Three times hither and thither / had he the host cut through

From one end to the other. / Now come was Hagen too

Who helped him well in battle / to vent his warlike mood.

That day beneath his valor / must die full many a rider good.

207

When the doughty Luedeger / Siegfried there found,

As he swung high in anger / his arm for blows around

And with his good sword Balmung / knights so many slew,

Thereat was the keen warrior / filled with grief and anger too.

208

Then mickle was the thronging / and loud the broadswords clashed,

As all their valiant followers / 'gainst one another dashed.

Then struggled all the fiercer / both sides the fight to win;

The hosts joined with each other: / 'twas frightful there to hear the din.

209

To the monarch of the Saxons / it had been told before,

His brother was a captive, / which grieved his heart right sore.

He knew not that had done it / fair Siegelind's son,

For rumor said 'twas Gernot. / Full well he learned the truth anon.

210

King Luedeger struck so mighty / when fierce his anger rose,

That Siegfried's steed beneath him / staggered from the blows,

But forthwith did recover; / then straight his rider keen

Let all his furious mettle / in slaughter of his foes be seen.

211

There helped him well grim Hagen, / and Gernot in the fray,

Dankwart and Volker; / dead many a knight there lay.

Sindold and Hunold / and Ortwein, doughty thane,

By them in that fierce struggle / was many a valiant warrior slain.

212

Unparted in storm of battle / the gallant leaders were,

Around them over helmet / flew there many a spear

Through shield all brightly shining, / from hand of mighty thane:

And on the glancing armor / was seen full many a blood-red stain.

213

Amid the hurly-burly / down fell many a man

To ground from off his charger. / Straight 'gainst each other ran

Siegfried the keen rider / and eke King Luedeger.

Then flew from lance the splinters / and hurled was many a pointed spear.

214

'Neath Siegfried's hand so mighty / from shield flew off the band.

And soon to win the victory / thought he of Netherland

Over the valiant Saxons, / of whom were wonders seen.

Heigh-ho! in shining mail-rings / many a breach made Dankwart keen!

215

Upon the shining buckler / that guarded Siegfried's breast

Soon espied King Luedeger / a painted crown for crest;

By this same token knew he / it was the doughty man,

And to his friends he straightway / amid the battle loud began:

216

"Give o'er from fighting further, / good warriors every one!

Amongst our foes now see I / Siegmund's noble son,

Of netherland the doughty / knight on victory bent.

Him has the evil Devil / to scourge the Saxons hither sent."

217

Then bade he all the banners / amid the storm let down.

Peace he quickly sued for: / 'Twas granted him anon,

But he must now a hostage / be ta'en to Gunther's land.

This fate had forced upon him / the fear of Siegfried's mighty hand.

218

They thus by common counsel / left off all further fight.

Hacked full many a helmet / and shields that late were bright

From hands down laid they weary; / as many as there might be,

With stains they all were bloody / 'neath hands of the men of Burgundy.

219

Each whom he would took captive, / now they had won the fight.

Gernot, the noble hero, / and Hagen, doughty knight,

Bade bear forth the wounded. / Back led they with them then

Unto the land of Burgundy / five hundred stalwart fighting-men.

220

The knights, of victory cheated, / their native Denmark sought,

Nor had that day the Saxons / with such high valor fought,

That one could praise them for it, / which caused the warriors pain.

Then wept their friends full sorely / at home for those in battle slain.

221

For the Rhine then laden / they let their armor be.

Siegfried, the knight so doughty, / had won the victory

With his few chosen followers; / that he had nobly done,

Could not but free acknowledge / King Gunther's warriors every one.

222

To Worms sent Gernot riding / now a messenger,

And of the joyous tiding / soon friends at home were ware,

How that it well had prospered / with him and all his men.

Fought that day with valor / for honor had those warriors keen.

223

The messenger sped forward / and told the tidings o'er.

Then joyfully they shouted / who boded ill before,

To hear the welcome story / that now to them was told.

From ladies fair and noble / came eager questions manifold,

224

Who all the fair fortune / of King Gunther's men would know.

One messenger they ordered / unto Kriemhild to go.

But that was done in secret: / she durst let no one see,

For he was 'mongst those warriors / whom she did love so faithfully.

225

When to her own apartments / was come the messenger

Joyfully addressed him / Kriemhild the maiden fair:

"But tell me now glad tidings, / and gold I'll give to thee,

And if thou tell'st not falsely, / good friend thou'lt ever find in me.

226

"How has my good brother / Gernot in battle sped,

And how my other kinsmen? / Lies any of them dead?

Who wrought most deeds of valor? /—That shall thou let me know."

Then spake the messenger truly: / "No knight but did high valor show.

227

"But in the dire turmoil / rode rider none so well,

O Princess fair and noble, / since I must truly tell,

As the stranger knight full noble / who comes from Netherland;

There deeds of mickle wonder / were wrought by doughty Siegfried's hand.

228

"Whate'er have all the warriors / in battle dared to do,

Dankwart and Hagen / and the other knights so true,

Howe'er they fought for honor, / 'twas naught but idle play

Beside what there wrought Siegfried, / King Siegmund's son, amid the fray.

229

"Beneath their hands in battle / full many a hero fell,

Yet all the deeds of wonder / no man could ever tell,

Wrought by the hand of Siegfried, / when rode he 'gainst the foe:

And weep aloud must women / for friends by his strong arm laid low.

230

"There, too, the knight she loved / full many a maid must lose.

Were heard come down on helmet / so loud his mighty blows,

That they from gaping gashes / brought forth the flowing blood.

In all that maketh noble / he is a valiant knight and good.

231

"Many a deed of daring / of Metz Sir Ortwein wrought:

For all was evil faring / whom he with broadsword caught,

Doomed to die that instant, / or wounded sore to fall.

And there thy valiant brother / did greater havoc work than all

232

"That e'er in storm of battle / was done by warrior bold.

Of all those chosen warriors / let eke the truth be told:

The proud Burgundian heroes / have made it now right plain,

That they can free from insult / their country's honor well maintain.

233

"Beneath their hands was often / full many a saddle bare,

When o'er the field resounding / their bright swords cut the air.

The warriors from Rhine river / did here such victory win

That for their foes 'twere better / if they such meeting ne'er had seen.

234

"Keen the knights of Tronje / 'fore all their valor showed,

When with their stalwart followers / against their foes they rode;

Slain by the hand of Hagen / must knights so many be,

'Twill long be in the telling / here in the land of Burgundy.

235

"Sindold and Hunold, / Gernot's men each one,

And the valiant Rumold / have all so nobly done,

King Luedeger will ever / have right good cause to rue

That he against thy kindred / at Rhine dared aught of harm to do.

236

"And deeds of all most wondrous / e'er done by warrior keen

In earliest time or latest, / by mortal ever seen,

Wrought there in lusty manner / Siegfried with doughty hand.

Rich hostages he bringeth / with him unto Gunther's land.

237

"By his own strength subdued them / the hero unsurpassed

And brought down dire ruin / upon King Luedegast,

Eke on the King of Saxons / his brother Luedeger.

Now hearken to the story / I tell thee, noble Princess fair.

238

"Them both hath taken captive / Siegfried's doughty hand.

Hostages were so many / ne'er brought into this land

As to the Rhine come hither / through his great bravery."

Than these could never tidings / unto her heart more welcome be.

239

"With captives home they're hieing, / five hundred men or mo',

And of the wounded dying / Lady shalt thou know,

Full eighty blood-stained barrows / unto Burgundian land,

Most part hewn down in battle / beneath keen Siegfried's doughty hand.

240

"Who message sent defiant / unto the Rhine so late

Must now as Gunther's prisoners / here abide their fate.

Bringing such noble captives / the victors glad return."

Then glowed with joy the princess / when she the tidings glad did learn.

241

Her cheeks so full of beauty / with joy were rosy-red,

That passed he had uninjured / through all the dangers dread,

The knight she loved so dearly, / Siegfried with doughty arm.

Good cause she had for joying / o'er all her friends escaped from harm.

242

Then spake the beauteous maiden: / "Glad news thou hast told me,

Wherefor now rich apparel / thy goodly meed shall be,

And to thee shall be given / ten marks of gold as well."

'Tis thus a thing right pleasant / to ladies high such news to tell.

243

The presents rich they gave him, / gold and apparel rare.

Then hastened to the casement / full many a maiden fair,

And on the street looked downward: / hither riding did they see

Many a knight high-hearted / into the land of Burgundy.

244

There came who 'scaped uninjured, / and wounded borne along,

All glad to hear the greetings / of friends, a joyful throng.

To meet his friends the monarch / rode out in mickle glee:

In joying now was ended / all his full great anxiety.

245

Then did he well his warriors / and eke the strangers greet;

And for a king so mighty / 'twere nothing else but meet

That he should thank right kindly / the gallant men each one,

Who had in storm of battle / the victory so bravely won.

246

Then of his friends King Gunther / bade tidings tell straightway,

Of all his men how many / were fallen in the fray.

Lost had he none other / than warriors three score:

Then wept they for the heroes, / as since they did for many more.

247

Shields full many brought they / all hewn by valiant hand,

And many a shattered helmet / into King Gunther's hand.

The riders then dismounted / from their steeds before the hall,

And a right hearty welcome / from friends rejoicing had they all.

248

Then did they for the warriors / lodging meet prepare,

And for his guests the monarch / bade full well have care.

He bade them take the wounded / and tend them carefully,

And toward his enemies also / his gentle bearing might ye see.

249

To Luedeger then spake he: / "Right welcome art thou here.

Through fault of thine now have I / lost many friends full dear,

For which, have I good fortune, / thou shall right well atone.

God rich reward my liegemen, / such faithfulness to me they've shown."

250

"Well may'st thou thank them, truly," / spake then Luedeger;

"Hostages so noble / won a monarch ne'er.

For chivalrous protection / rich goods we offer thee,

That thou now right gracious / to us thy enemies shalt be."

251

"I'll grant you both your freedom," / spake the king again;

"But that my enemies surely / here by me remain,

Therefor I'll have good pledges / they ne'er shall quit my land,

Save at my royal pleasure." / Thereto gave Luedeger the hand.

252

Sweet rest then found the weary / their tired limbs to aid,

And gently soon on couches / the wounded knights were laid;

Mead and wine right ruddy / they poured out plenteously:

Than they and all their followers / merrier men there none might be.

253

Their shields all hacked in battle / secure were laid away;

And not a few of saddles / stained with blood that day,

Lest women weep to see them, / hid they too from sight.

Full many a keen rider / home came aweary from the fight.

254

The host in gentlest manner / did his guests attend:

The land around with stranger / was crowded, and with friend.

They bade the sorely wounded / nurse with especial care:

Whereby the knights high-hearted / 'neath all their wounds knew not despair.

255

Who there had skill in healing / received reward untold,

Silver all unweighéd / and thereto ruddy gold

For making whole the heroes / after the battle sore.

To all his friends the monarch / gave presents rich in goodly store.

256

Who there again was minded / to take his homeward way

They bade, as one a friend doth, / yet a while to stay.

The king did then take counsel / how to reward each one,

For they his will in battle / like liegemen true had nobly done.

257

Then outspake royal Gernot: / "Now let them homeward go;

After six weeks are over, /—thus our friends shall know—

To hold high feast they're bidden / hither to come again;

Many a knight now lying / sore wounded will be healed ere then.

258

Of Netherland the hero / would also then take leave.

When of this King Gunther / did tidings first receive,

The knight besought he kindly / not yet his leave to take:

To this he'd ne'er consented / an it were not for Kriemhild's sake.

259

A prince he was too noble / to take the common pay;

He had right well deserved it / that the king alway

And all his warriors held him / in honor, for they had seen

What by his arm in battle / bravely had accomplished been.

260

He stayed there yet a little / for the maiden's sake alone,

Whom he would see so gladly. / And all fell out full soon

As he at heart had wished it: / well known to him was she.

Home to his father's country / joyously anon rode he.

261

The king bade at all seasons / keep up the tournament,

And many a youthful rider / forth to the lists there went.

The while were seats made ready / by Worms upon the strand

For all who soon were coming / unto the Burgundian land.

262

In the meantime also, / ere back the knights returned,

Had Kriemhild, noble lady, / the tidings likewise learned,

The king would hold high feasting / with all his gallant men.

There was a mickle hurry, / and busy were fair maidens then

263

With dresses and with wimples / that they there should wear.

Ute, queen so stately, / the story too did hear,

How to them were coming / proud knights of highest worth.

Then from enfolding covers / were store of dresses rich brought forth.

264

Such love she bore her children / she bade rich dress prepare,

Wherewith adorned were ladies / and many a maiden fair,

And not a few young riders / in the land of Burgundy.

For strangers many bade she / rich garments eke should measured be.