999
And when the nobles saw that the hero was quite dead,
Upon a shield they laid him, that was of wrought gold red;
And straightway held they counsel how they might best take heed
From all to keep it hidden that Hagen did the deed.
1000
Then diverse of them counsell’d: “Woe hath befallen us,
But ye must all conceal it, and tell the story thus:
‘As Dame Kriemhilda’s husband alone a-hunting rode,
Some vagabonds set on him and slew him in the wood.’ ”
1001
Then spake of Tronjé Hagen: “Myself I’ll take him home,
It matters not to me that the truth to her should come:
Brunhilda’s mind hath sorely by her been harasséd,
It troubles me but little what tears she now may shed!”
Adventure XVII
How Kriemhilda Mourn’d for Her Husband, and How He Was Buried
1002
Then waited they for nightfall, and o’er the Rhine did row:
Ne’er to more direful ending could heroes hunting go.
The quarry they had slaughter’d mourn’d noble maids and wives:
And many goodly warriors paid for it with their lives.
1003
Of arrogance o’erweening the tale ye soon shall hear,
And of a fearful vengeance. Then Hagen bade men bear
The body of dead Siegfried, the Niblung lord of late,
And lay it in a chamber wherein Kriemhild did wait.
1004
He had him laid in secret down close beside her door,
That she might find him lying when she, as heretofore,
Went forth to matins early, ere daylight had begun;
Which duty dame Kriemhilda but seldom left undone.
1005
The wonted bell was ringing, which to the minster bade;
Then rose the fair Kriemhilda and waken’d many a maid:
She bade them bring a taper, and fetch her all her gear.
Then came a chamber-servant who lit on Siegfried there.
1006
In red blood he was lying, and all his garb was wet;
But that it was his master he did not know as yet.
Into the room he carried the candle in his hand,
From him did Dame Kriemhilda some ill news understand.
1007
For, as she with her women would to the minster fare,
The chamberlain spake to her: “My lady, stay you there!
Right opposite the doorway a murder’d knight doth lie.”
Whereat began Kriemhilda to weep unmeasuredly.
1008
Before she knew for certain that ’twas her husband dead,
Unto her mind recall’d she how Hagen questionéd
In what way he might guard him: then first she was afraid.
An he were dead, her pleasure was all to sorrow made.
1009
To earth down sank she swooning, and ne’er a word could say:
Upon the hapless fair one men gazed as there she lay.
The grief of Dame Kriemhilda was past all measuring:
After her swoon, the chamber did with her wailing ring.
1010
Her people said unto her: “What if it be a guest?”
But from her mouth came flowing the blood, by anguish press’d;
Then spake she: “ ’Tis my husband, my own belov’d Siegfried:
It was Brunhilda’s counsel, and Hagen did the deed.”
1011
The lady bade them lead her where she her hero found.
With her white hand she lifted his fair head from the ground;
Red as he was with blood-stains, well knew she him again.—
There lay the Niblung hero, so pitifully slain.
1012
Then in her sorrow cried she, that fair and gentle queen:
“Woe on mine evil fortune! Upon thy shield is seen
No dint of any sword-stroke: thou liest murder’d there.
And wist I who hath done it, of death mote he be ware.”
1013
Thereon all her attendants began to wail and weep:
With their belovéd lady, their grief indeed was deep
About their noble master, of whom they were forlorn.
Thus heavily had Hagen made good Brunhilda’s scorn.
1014
Then sorrowfully spake she: “Go hence now, all of ye,
And waken Siegfried’s liegemen as quickly as may be.
And unto Siegmund also my sorrow must ye tell,
If so be he will help me to mourn brave Siegfried well.”
1015
A messenger ran swiftly and found them where they lay—
Siegfried’s own band of heroes from Niblung land were they.
He told the grievous tidings, and joy fled at his word;
Yet would they not believe it till they the wailing heard.
1016
The messenger sped further to where he found the king.
Unto the noble Siegmund that night no sleep did bring;
His heart within foreboded what happ’d to him, I ween:
How that his dear son living should never more be seen.
1017
“Awake, arise, Lord Siegmund! Kriemhilda, my mistress,
Hath bidden me to fetch thee; to her a sore distress
Hath happ’d beyond all others, which cuts her to the heart:
And thou must help her mourning, for thou in it hast part.”
1018
Upstarted Siegmund, crying: “What grief hath happenéd
Unto the fair Kriemhilda, as thou just now hast said?”
Then spake the herald, weeping, “I cannot it withhold:
Ay! Siegfried hath been murder’d, the Netherlander bold!”
1019
Then spake the noble Siegmund: “Pray let this jesting be,
And of such evil stories, beware, for love of me,
The like you tell to no man— how Siegfried hath been slain:
In such case could I never live happily again.”
1020
“If thou wilt not believe me when thou hast heard my tale,
With thine own ears ’tis easy to hear Kriemhilda wail;
For she and all her people are mourning Siegfried dead.”
Then sore afraid was Siegmund: and sad was he indeed.
1021
Straight from his couch upsprang he, with five score of his men;
They reach’d their hands in search of their weapons long and keen,
And ran, grief-stricken, thither to where they heard the cries;
Then, too, the thousand warriors of Siegfried bold did rise.
1022
Whilst piteously the women were heard to weep and moan,
Some of the men bethought them that raiment they should don:
Ay, scarcely for their trouble could they their senses keep.
And bitter was the anguish that in their hearts lay deep.
1023
Soon came the royal Siegmund to where Kriemhild did stand.
He spake: “Woe on the journey that brought us to this land
Who hath thy husband taken, and reft me of my son,
And, amidst friends and kinsmen, thus murderously done?”
1024
“Ah, if I only knew him!” the noble wife did say,
“No mercy would I show him, in mind or body aye:
Such evil would I do him, that if his kith and kin
Had not good cause for weeping, ’twould be no fault of mine.”
1025
Then in his arms did Siegmund the murder’d prince enfold;
Whereat his friends their sorrow so little could withhold,
That with their lamentation the palace rang and hall;
And even through Worms city, the sounds of woe did fall.
1026
To none who strove to comfort did Siegfried’s wife give heed.
Meanwhile from out its clothing his body fair they freed;
They washed his wounds with water, and laid him on the bier;
The sorrow of his people right grievous was to hear.
1027
Then up and spake his warriors the men of Niblung-land:
“With right goodwill shall vengeance be taken at our hand;
Within this very fortress is he who did the deed.”
Then ran they all for weapons the liegemen of Siegfried.
1028
These
