Читать книгу The Song of the Nibelungs (Medieval Literature Classic) - Anonymous - Страница 24

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How Siegfried first saw Kriemhild

265

Unto the Rhine now daily / the knights were seen to ride,

Who there would be full gladly / to share the festive tide.

To all that thither journeyed / to the king to show them true,

In plenty them were given / steeds and rich apparel too.

266

And soon were seats made ready / for every noble guest,

As we have heard the story, / for highest and for best,

Two and thirty princes / at the festival.

Then vied with one another / to deck themselves the ladies all.

267

Never was seen idle / the young Prince Giselher:

The guests and all their followers / received full kindly were

By him and eke by Gernot / and their men every one.

The noble thanes they greeted / as ever 'tis in honor done.

268

With gold bright gleaming saddles / unto the land they brought,

Good store of rich apparel / and shields all richly wrought

Unto the Rhine they carried / to that high festival.

And joyous days were coming / for the woúnded warriors all.

269

They who yet on couches / lay wounded grievously

For joy had soon forgotten / how bitter death would be:

The sick and all the ailing / no need of pity had.

Anent the days of feasting / were they o'er the tidings glad,

270

How they should make them merry / there where all were so.

Delight beyond all measure, / of joys an overflow,

Had in sooth the people / seen on every hand:

Then rose a mickle joyance / over all King Gunther's land.

271

Full many a warrior valiant / one morn at Whitsuntide

All gorgeously apparelled / was thither seen to ride,

Five thousand men or over, / where the feast should be;

And vied in every quarter / knight with knight in revelry.

272

Thereof the host was mindful, / for he well did understand

How at heart right warmly / the hero of Netherland

Loved alone his sister, / though her he ne'er had seen,

Who praised for wondrous beauty / before all maidens else had been.

273

Then spake the thane so noble / of Metz Sir Ortwein:

"Wilt thou full be honored / by every guest of thine,

Then do them all the pleasure / the winsome maids to see,

That are held so high in honor / here in the land of Burgundy.

274

"What were a man's chief pleasure, / his very joy of life,

An 't were not a lovely maiden / or a stately wife?

Then let the maid thy sister / before thy guests appear."

—Brave thanes did there full many / at heart rejoice the rede to hear.

275

"Thy words I'll gladly follow," / then the monarch said,

And all the knights who heard him / ere thereat right glad.

Then told was Queen Ute / and eke her daughter fair,

That they with maids in waiting / unto the court should soon repair.

276

Then in well-stored wardrobes / rich attire they sought,

And forth from folding covers / their glittering dresses brought,

Armbands and silken girdles / of which they many had.

And zealous to adorn her / was then full many a winsome maid.

277

Full many a youthful squire / upon that day did try,

By decking of his person, / to win fair lady's eye;

For the which great good fortune / he'd take no monarch's crown:

They longed to see those maidens, / whom they before had never known.

278

For her especial service / the king did order then

To wait upon his sister / a hundred of his men,

As well upon his mother: / they carried sword in hand.

That was the court attendance / there in the Burgundian land.

279

Ute, queen so stately, / then came forth with her:

And with the queen in waiting / ladies fair there were,

A hundred or over, / in festal robes arrayed.

Eke went there with Kriemhild / full many a fair and winsome maid.

280

Forth from their own apartments / they all were seen to go:

There was a mickle pressing / of good knights to and fro,

Who hoped to win the pleasure, / if such a thing might be,

The noble maiden Kriemhild, / delight of every eye, to see.

281

Now came she fair and lovely, / as the ruddy sun of morn

From misty clouds emerging. / Straight he who long had borne

Her in his heart and loved her, / from all his gloom was freed,

As so stately there before him / he saw the fair and lovely maid.

282

Her rich apparel glittered / with many a precious stone,

And with a ruddy beauty / her cheeks like roses shone.

Though you should wish to do so, / you could not say, I ween,

That e'er a fairer lady / in all the world before was seen.

283

As in a sky all starlit / the moon shines out so bright,

And through the cloudlets peering / pours down her gentle light,

E'en so was Kriemhild's beauty / among her ladies fair:

The hearts of gallant heroes / were gladder when they saw her there.

284

The richly clad attendants / moved stately on before,

And the valiant thanes high-hearted / stood patiently no more,

But pressed right eager forward / to see the lovely maid:

In noble Siegfried's bosom / alternate joy and anguish swayed.

285

He thought with heart despairing, / "How could it ever be,

That I should win thy favor? / There hoped I foolishly.

But had I e'er to shun thee, / then were I rather dead."

And oft, to think upon it, / the color from his visage fled.

286

The noble son of Siegmund / did there so stately stand

As if his form were pictured / by good old master's hand

Upon a piece of parchment. / All who saw, confessed

That he of all good heroes / was the stateliest and the best.

287

The fair Kriemhild's attendants / gave order to make way

On all sides for the ladies, / and willing thanes obey.

To see their noble bearing / did every warrior cheer;

Full many a stately lady / of gentle manner born was there.

288

Then outspake of Burgundy / Gernot the valiant knight:

"To him who thus has helped thee / so bravely in the fight,

Gunther, royal brother, / shalt thou like favor show,

A thane before all others; / he's worthy of it well, I trow.

289

"Let then the doughty Siegfried / unto my sister go

To have the maiden's greetings, /—'twill be our profit so.

She that ne'er greeted hero / shall greet him courteously,

That thus the stately warrior / for aye our faithful friend may be."

290

The king's knights hastened gladly / upon his high command

And told these joyous tidings / to the prince of Netherland.

"It is the king's good pleasure / that thou to court shalt go,

To have his sister's greetings; / to honor thee 'tis ordered so."

291

Then was the thane full valiant / thereat soon filled with joy.

Yea, bore he in his bosom / delight without alloy

At thought that he should straightway / Ute's fair daughter see.

Siegfried anon she greeted / in courteous manner lovingly.

292

As she saw the knight high-hearted / there before her stand,

Blushed red and spake the maiden, / the fairest of the land:

"A welcome, brave Sir Siegfried, / thou noble knight and good."

As soon as he had heard it, / the hearty greeting cheered his mood.

293

Before her low he bended; / him by the hand took she,

And by her onward wended / the knight full willingly.

They cast upon each other / fond glances many a one,

The knight and eke the maiden; / furtively it all was done.

294

Whether he pressed friendly / that hand as white as snow

From the love he bore her, / that I do not know;

Yet believe I cannot / that this was left undone,

For straightway showed the maiden / that he her heart had fully won.

295

In the sunny summer season / and in the month of May

Had his heart seen never / before so glad a day,

Nor one so fully joyous, / as when he walked beside

That maiden rich in beauty / whom fain he'd choose to be his bride.

296

Then thought many a warrior: / "Were it likewise granted me

To walk beside the maiden, / just as now I see,

Or to lie beside her, / how gladly were that done!"

But ne'er a knight more fully / had gracious lady's favor won.

297

From all the lands far distant / were guests distinguished there,

But fixed each eye was only / upon this single pair.

By royal leave did Kriemhild / kiss then the stately knight:

In all the world he never / before had known so rare delight.

298

Then full of strange forebodings, / of Denmark spake the king:

"This full loving greeting / to many woe will bring,

—My heart in secret warns me—/ through Siegfried's doughty hand.

God give that he may never / again be seen within my land."

299

On all sides then 'twas ordered / 'fore Kriemhild and her train

Of women make free passage. / Full many a valiant thane

With her unto the minster / in courtly way went on.

But from her side was parted / the full stately knight anon.

300

Then went she to the minster, / and with her many a maid.

In such rich apparel / Kriemhild was arrayed,

That hearty wishes many / there were made in vain:

Her comely form delighted / the eye of many a noble thane.

301

Scarce could tarry Siegfried / till mass was sung the while.

And surely did Dame Fortune / upon him kindly smile,

To him she was so gracious / whom in his heart he bore.

Eke did he the maiden, / as she full well deserved, adore.

302

As after mass then Kriemhild / came to the minster door,

The knight his homage offered, / as he had done before.

Then began to thank him / the full beauteous maid,

That he her royal brothers / did 'gainst their foes so nobly aid.

303

"God speed thee, Sir Siegfried," / spake the maiden fair,

"For thou hast well deservéd / that all these warriors are,

As it hath now been told me, / right grateful unto thee."

Then gan he cast his glances / on the Lady Kriemhild lovingly.

304

"True will I ever serve them," /—so spake the noble thane—

"And my head shall never / be laid to rest again,

Till I, if life remaineth, / have their good favor won.

In sooth, my Lady Kriemhild, / for thy fair grace it all is done."

305

Ne'er a day passed over / for a twelve of happy days,

But saw they there beside him / the maiden all did praise,

As she before her kinsmen / to court would daily go:

It pleased the thane full highly / that they did him such honor show.

306

Delight and great rejoicing, / a mighty jubilee,

Before King Gunther's castle / daily might ye see,

Without and eke within it, / 'mongst keen men many a one.

By Ortwein and by Hagen / great deeds and wondrous there were done.

307

Whate'er was done by any, / in all they ready were

To join in way right lusty, / both the warriors rare:

Whereby 'mongst all the strangers / they won an honored name,

And through their deeds so wondrous / of Gunther's land spread far the fame.

308

Who erstwhile lay sore wounded / now were whole again,

And fain would share the pastime, / with all the king's good men;

With shields join in the combat, / and try the shaft so long.

Wherein did join them many / of the merry-making throng.

309

To all who joined the feasting / the host in plenty bade

Supply the choicest viands: / so guarded well he had

'Gainst whate'er reproaches / could rise from spite or spleen.

Unto his guests right friendly / to go the monarch now was seen.

310

He spake: "Ye thanes high-hearted, / ere now ye part from me,

Accept of these my presents; / for I would willingly

Repay your noble service. / Despise ye not, I pray,

What now I will share with you: / 'tis offered in right grateful way."

311

Straightway they of Denmark / thus to the king replied:

"Ere now upon our journey / home again we ride,

We long for lasting friendship. / Thereof we knights have need,

For many a well-loved kinsman / at hands of thy good thanes lies dead."

312

Luedegast was recovered / from all his wounds so sore,

And eke the lord of Saxons / from fight was whole once more.

Some amongst their warriors / left they dead behind.

Then went forth King Gunther / where he Siegfried might find.

313

Unto the thane then spake he: / "Thy counsel give, I pray.

The foes whom we hold captive / fain would leave straightway,

And long for lasting friendship / with all my men and me.

Now tell me, good Sir Siegfried, / what here seemeth good to thee.

314

"What the lords bid as ransom, / shall now to thee be told

Whate'er five hundred horses / might bear of ruddy gold,

They'd give to me right gladly, / would I but let them free."

Then spake the noble Siegfried: / "That were to do right foolishly.

315

"Thou shalt let them freely / journey hence again;

And that they both hereafter / shall evermore refrain

From leading hostile army / against thee and thy land,

Therefor in pledge of friendship / let each now give to thee the hand."

316

"Thy rede I'll gladly follow." / Straightway forth they went.

To those who offered ransom / the answer then was sent,

Their gold no one desired / which they would give before.

The warriors battle-weary / dear friends did yearn to see once more.

317

Full many a shield all laden / with treasure forth they bore:

He dealt it round unmeasured / to friends in goodly store;

Each one had marks five hundred / and some had more, I ween.

Therein King Gunther followed / the rede of Gernot, knight full keen.

318

Then was a great leave-taking, / as they departed thence.

The warriors all 'fore Kriemhild / appeared in reverence,

And eke there where her mother / Queen Ute sat near by.

Gallant thanes were never / dismissed as these so graciously.

319

Bare were the lodging-places, / when away the strangers rode.

Yet in right lordly manner / there at home abode

The king with friends around him, / full noble men who were.

And them now saw they daily / at court before Kriemhild appear.

320

Eke would the gallant hero / Siegfried thence depart,

The thing to gain despairing / whereon was set his heart.

The king was told the tidings / how that he would away.

Giselher his brother / did win the knight with them to stay.

321

"Whither, O noble Siegfried, / wilt thou now from us ride?

Do as I earnest pray thee, / and with these thanes abide,

As guest here with King Gunther, / and live right merrily.

Here dwell fair ladies many: / them will he gladly let thee see."

322

Then spake the doughty Siegfried: / "Our steeds leave yet at rest,

The while from this my purpose / to part will I desist.

Our shields once more take from us. / Though gladly home I would,

Naught 'gainst the fond entreaties / of Giselher avail me could."

323

So stayed the knight full gallant / for sake of friendship there.

In sooth in ne'er another / country anywhere

Had he so gladly lingered: / iwis it was that he,

Now whensoe'er he wished it, / Kriemhild the maiden fair could see.

324

'Twas her surpassing beauty / that made the knight to stay.

With many a merry pastime / they whiled the time away;

But love for her oppressed him, / oft-times grievously.

Whereby anon the hero / a mournful death was doomed to die.