But Giselher’s true friendship I know not to withstand.”
323
Thus did the gallant hero remain for friendship’s sake.
And in no other country could he a sojourn make
That to his soul were sweeter;— and so it hap’d that he
On every day thenceforward did fair Kriemhilda see.
324
For her surpassing beauty he was content to stay
And spend the days in pastimes, which whiled the hours away.
Although her love constrained him, it gave him grievous pain.
Through it the brave knight, later, was miserably slain.
Adventure VI
How Gunther Went to Iceland After Brunhilda
325
Fresh rumours now were coming from over Rhine: for there
As all the folk were saying was many a maiden fair.
Of these was good King Gunther now thinking one to woo,
And high his knightly ardour rose, as this purpose grew.
326
There was a great queen, dwelling, somewhere beyond the sea,
Whose like none had seen ever, and ne’er again would see.
She was of matchless beauty, and strong withal of make;—
She shot with ready warriors, and made her love the stake.
327
A stone she hurl’d far from her, then after it would spring;
He, who her love did covet, must, without wavering,
Win three games in succession from her, the high-born maid;—
And if he failed in any, his head was forfeited.
328
Thus many a time and often the maid was wont to do.
’Twas one day heard in Rhineland, by a good knight and true,
Who turned his thoughts towards her, and sought to win the dame,
Through whom full many a hero to death foredooméd came.
329
Upspake the Lord of Rhineland: “I’ll go down to the sea,
And visit this Brunhilda, howe’er it fare with me!
For love of her I’m ready to venture limb and life:
I am content to lose them if she be not my wife.”
330
“From that would I dissuade you!” in answer Siegfried said,
“In sooth this queen hath customs so terrible and dread—
That whosoever woos her must pay a price too high;
Seek not to take this journey, I counsel earnestly!”
331
“Now I would fain advise you,” thus Hagen to him spake,
“To bid Siegfried go with you, and half the burden take,
And share your risk and danger; I counsel this in faith,
Since he such good acquaintance with Brunhild’s customs hath.”
332
Quoth Gunther: “Wilt thou help me in very truth, Siegfried,
To woo and win this fair one? ah, if thou dost indeed
Get her for my betrothéd, my own, my noble wife—
Then, for thy sake, I’ll venture mine honour and my life!”
333
For answer gave him Siegfried, the royal Siegmund’s son:
“Giv’st thou to me thy sister, behold, it shall be done!
Give me the lovely Kriemhild, the high and noble queen;
No guerdon for my labour, save this I care to win.”
334
“That swear I to thee, Siegfried,” cried Gunther “on thine hand!
And if the fair Brunhilda doth come here to this land,
I’ll give my sister to thee, to have and hold for wife:
So mayst thou, with thy fair one, aye lead a joyous life.”
335
By solemn oath they swore it, the noble warriors twain.
But they had toilsome labour, and grief enough, and pain,
Before the high-born lady home to the Rhine they brought.
The gallant knights’ achievement must be with sorrow wrought.
336
Siegfried his hood of darkness, Tarnhelm yclept, must take:
The same that the bold hero, after hard fight, did make
His own, from a dwarf wrested, whose name was Alberich.
The bold and mighty warriors sped on their journey quick.
337
Whene’er the gallant Siegfried the wondrous Tarnhelm wore,
A hidden strength was in him he had not known before:
He had the strength of twelve men, joined to his own, ’twas said;
And cunningly he plotted to win the noble maid.
338
Now this same hood was fashion’d in such a wondrous way
That any man who wore it could carry out straightway
Whatever thing he wanted, whilst no man could him see.
Therewith he won Brunhilda; whence mickle woe had he.
339
“Now answer me,” thane Siegfried, “ere yet our way begin,
How shall we, with due honour, across the water win?
Should we not take our warriors unto Brunhilda’s land?—
Full thirty thousand have I, who soon may be to hand.”
340
“How many folk soever we take there,” Siegfried said,
“This queen doth cherish customs so terrible and dread,
That they will all fall victims to her o’erweening mood.
I’ll give thee better counsel, thou fearless knight and good.
341
“Let us, as plain knights-errant, go sailing down the Rhine.
And I will name unto thee the knights we’ll take of thine.
Besides us two, two others shall go, none else at all:
So shall we win the lady, whatever may befall.
342
“I one of these four comrades, another shall be thou;
The third had best be Hagen, we should do well enow.
And let the fourth be Dankwart, he hath a dauntless hand;
A thousand others dare not in fight us four withstand.”
343
“I would I had some knowledge,” the king said—“verily,
Ere we from hither journey, ’twould much enhearten me—
In what apparel should we before Brunhild appear;
What would be right and fitting? that, Siegfried, would I hear.”
344
“Whatever be most handsome is worn, I understand,
By ev’ry man, at all times, in Queen Brunhilda’s land;
Therefore should we go finely before this haughty dame—
That when men talk about us we need not blush for shame.”
345
Then cried the good king, “Surely, I will myself go ask
My own dear, gracious mother, that she do set the task
To her fair maids, to make us such garb, wherein array’d
We may appear with honour before the royal maid.”
346
Then Hagen, knight of Tronjé, in courtly fashion spake:
“Why trouble you your mother with things to undertake?
Let your fair sister hear now all that you have in mind.
Her aid, in this state journey, you will of service find.”
347
So sent he to his sister; saying, he fain would see
Her face, as would Sir Siegfried. But, long ere this, had she
Put on her goodliest raiment; and stood, so fair a maid,
I trow that at their coming she was not much dismay’d!
348
Also her court-attendants array’d were as was meet
When princes twain were coming; and as she heard their feet,
Straight from her chair upstanding right modestly she went
To greet the noble comers with fitting compliment.
349
“Right welcome is my brother, and his companion eke;
But fain would I have knowledge,” thus did the maiden speak,
“What is your lordships’ pleasure that ye at court appear?
With you two noble warriors how stands it? let me hear.”
350
Then spake King Gunther: “Lady, to you the truth I’ll tell:
Although we have high courage, yet have we cares as well.
For we would go a-courting, far in a foreign land,
And now, unto this journey, fine raiment would command.”
351
“So sit you down, dear brother,” bade the king’s daughter fair.
“And who may be the ladies, for I would rightly hear,
Whom
