26
And being now so stalwart that he could weapons bear,
Having what he requiréd, enough and e’en to spare,
He turned his thoughts to women, and dreamt of a fair bride:
The fairest might stand proudly at the bold Siegfried’s side.
27
Then did his father, Siegmund, summon his liegemen all
Unto a friendly banquet in the great castle-hall;
To many a neighbour-king’s land the festal tidings spread;
On strangers as on kinsmen steeds, gear, he lavishéd.
28
If any squire were lacking knightly estate and name,
Who, by descent and breeding, had thereunto a claim,
Such noble youth was bidden to tournament and board,
And with the young king, later, was girt with knightly sword.
29
One could tell many marvels of this great feast so rare;
Siegmund and Siegelinda did win much honour there
By the good gifts they lavished, with free and open hand;
Therefore so many strangers came riding to their land.
30
Four hundred squires receivéd their knightly gear that day.
Together with young Siegfried; and maidens fair, they say,
Toiled at the festal raiment, because they did him hold
So dear, and many a jewel they broidered in the gold.
31
And wove them in the robe-weft, and stitched upon the hem:
Sure, to such proud young warriors behovéd lace and gem!
The host had seats preparéd for many a gallant man,
At that June feast, where Siegfried his knightly course began.
32
And thither to the Minster came many a wealthy squire,
And many a noble warrior. The elders did aspire
That day to serve the younger, as was the ancient rule;—
And merriment, and pastime, and joy were at the full.
33
When later, in God’s honour, a solemn Mass was sung,
Up rose from out the people a great and mighty throng,
Who there receivéd knighthood, with fitting knightly rite,
And honours, such as ne’ermore were seen of mortal wight.
34
Soon ran the knights to where they found saddled chargers wait;
At Siegmund’s court began then a tournament so great
That one heard hall and palace with crash of arms resound,
As the high-mettled thanes met upon the tilting-ground.
35
From old knights and from young ones went thrust and parry there,
Till crash of breaking lances re-echoed through the air;—
One saw the splinters flying up to the palace wall
From many a gallant knight’s hand: so eager were they all!
36
The host he bade them end it; they led the steeds away;
Full many a sturdy buckler to sight all broken lay;
And precious stones, in plenty, had fallen on the sward
From out the shining shield-clasps: the onset was so hard.
37
Then went the host’s guests whither they bidden were to sit;
Their weariness was banished by the choice food they ate,
And by wine of the rarest, of which there was no stint.
Alike to friends and strangers was all this lavishment.
38
And, though the games and pastimes had lasted all the day,
The throngs of merry-makers knew neither rest nor stay,
Contending for the many good gifts that were to hand:
A bounty which redounded to the praise of Siegmund’s land.
39
Then did the king make over to young Siegfried, the loan
Of both his lands and castles, as he afore had done.
Unto his knightly comrades he gave with open hand,
So all were right well-pleaséd that they had sought his land.
40
Until the seventh sunrise the festival went on.
Then did the rich queen, Sieglind, as in old days was done,
For love of her son Siegfried, share out her red gold free:
To win all folks’ hearts to him thereby, in sooth, hoped she.
41
Not one who in the games played, methinks, went poor away;
It rainéd steeds and raiment through all the land that day.
As if had come the world’s end, and common life were o’er!
Such gifts, in such abundance, were never known before;
42
So, with befitting honour, ended the festal day.
And some of the rich nobles were overheard to say,
That they would like the young man, Prince Siegfried, for their lord:
Howbeit the honest Siegfried, gave heed not to their word.
43
While Siegmund and Sieglinda were living, their dear son
Would never dream of wearing the crown for any one!
He wished to be lord only the mighty to restrain,
Who kept the land in terror— the bold and gallant thane!
Adventure III
How Siegfried Came to Worms
44
The Prince was little troubled by pangs of heartache yet!
The people’s talk, however, erelong his ears beset:
How there was in Burgundia a maiden, passing fair;—
For her sake joy and sorrow thereafter he did bear.
45
The beauty of this maiden was faméd far and wide;
Her lofty mind, ’twas vaunted, excelled her beauty’s pride,
And brought her many a wooer, riding to Gunther’s land,
Who fain would see the damsel, and bid for that fair hand.
46
And yet, however many contended for her love,
Kriemhilda felt in secret that none her heart could move;
There was no man among them whose love she could reward;
That knight was still a stranger, who was to be her lord.
47
But when the son of Sieglind to lofty love inclined,
Compared with his, all wooing was as an idle wind!
Right well, in sooth, deserved he to win so fair a bride:
Erelong the noble Kriemhild’ stood at bold Siegfried’s side.
48
His followers and kinsmen, seeing that he would wed,
Did counsel that the maiden he to the altar led
Should be by birth his equal— for his, and for their sake:
“Then,” cried the gallant Siegfried, “Kriemhilda will I take!
49
“That beauteous young maiden of the Burgundian land,
For her surpassing beauty. Right well I understand
No Kaiser were so mighty but, should he need a wife,
That princess were fit consort to share his royal life.”
50
A rumour of the matter soon reached King Siegmund’s ears
(’Twas buzzed among the people); his mind was full of fears
For this his son’s intention;— that he was fain to wed
The fair and lovely maiden, and would not be gainsaid.
51
Sieglinda also heard it, the noble monarch’s wife,
And much heart-searching had she about her dear son’s life:
For well she knew King Gunther, and his bold warrior-train.
They sought to turn the hero back from his wooing vain.
52
Then outspake gallant Siegfried: “Belovéd father mine,
The love of noble women I will for aye resign
Unless I woo where Love is, and give my heart its way.
Such is my purpose truly— whatever men may say.
53
“If thou canst not forego her,” the king said, “verily
My will shall be as thy will, and well it pleaseth me;
And I will help thee end it, and do the best I can:
Yet hath the royal Gunther full many a haughty man!
54
“If it were only Hagen, and no one else beside,
He hides ’neath courtly seeming such overweening pride,
That he’ll do us a mischief— of that I’m sore afraid,
If once we go a-wooing this fair and stately maid.”
55
“Shall that be hindrance to us?” asked Siegfried, fearlessly.
“If what I ask in kindness he venture to deny,
My strong right hand shall win
