It was her wedding dowry, and rightly hers was made.
1117
’Twas Gernot who went for it, and with him Giselher
And eighty-hundred liegemen, who had commands from her
To go and fetch the treasure from where it lay unseen,
Since Alberich its keeper, with trusty friends, had been.
1118
Now when they saw the Rhine-men coming the hoard to take,
The ever-valiant Albrich unto his comrades spake:
“We dare not keep the treasure withholden from her power,
Seeing the noble lady can claim it as her dower.
1119
“Yet never would the matter have come to such a pass,
Had we not had,” said Albrich, “the evil luck, alas!
The goodly cap of darkness with Siegfried’s self to lose:
Which fair Kriemhilda’s husband was ever wont to use.
1120
“Now evil unto Siegfried hath happen’d since the day
That from our hands the hero the Tarnhelm took away,
And all this land by conquest did to his service bind.”
Then went the treasure-keeper straightway the keys to find.
1121
At the hill-foot were waiting the Queen Kriemhilda’s men
And sundry of her kinsmen; the treasure bore they then
Down to the lake-shore, lading their vessel with the same:
Then o’er the waves they took it and up the Rhine-stream came.
1122
Now may you of this treasure a wondrous story hear:
It took a dozen wagons it from the mount to bear;
Four days and nights they ceased not to carry it away;
And each must make the journey, so laden, thrice a day.
1123
Naught else but gold and jewels within this treasure lay;
And had one taken from it what would the whole world pay,
’Twould not have seem’d to eyesight of one mark’s value quit.
Ay! Not without some reason did Hagen covet it.
1124
The gem of all lay lowest— a little rod of gold.
Whoever understood it he might the mastery hold
In all the world’s dominions, o’er every race of men.
Of Albrich’s kinsmen many did follow Gernot then.
1125
As soon as they had carried the hoard to Gunther’s land,
And thus the queen had taken the whole into her hand,
The storerooms and the towers were full as they could hold.
Never of such vast treasure the marvel hath been told.
1126
And even were the treasure increased a thousand fold,
And she once more might Siegfried in health and strength behold,
Gladly to him would Kriemhild have empty-handed gone:
For never could a hero a truer wife have won.
1127
Now that she had the treasure, she brought unto the land
Full many a stranger-warrior; in truth the lady’s hand
Her bounty gave so largely, the like had ne’er been known.
This queen had many virtues: that all the folk did own.
1128
To poor men and to wealthy she now began to give
So much, that Hagen argued: if she perchance should live
For long enough, ’twas likely so many would she win
To stay there in her service, that ’twould go ill with him.
1129
King Gunther said: “Her own are her body and estate;
What she shall do with either how then can I dictate?
Nay, hardly could I compass that she became thus kind.
So let both gold and silver go as she hath a mind.”
1130
But to the king said Hagen: “No prudent man and wise
Would leave to such a woman a treasure of this size.
In gifts we’ll see her spend it and squander the whole store,
And then the bold Burgundians may rue it evermore.”
1131
Then answer’d him king Gunther: “To her an oath I swore
That I to her would never do any evil more;
And that will I abide by, for she my sister is.”
But thereunto said Hagen: “Let me be blamed for this.”
1132
The oaths that they had taken they reckon’d all for naught.
And from the widow’s keeping the mighty hoard they brought,
And quietly did Hagen of all the keys get hold.
Wroth was her brother Gernot when he the truth was told.
1133
Then spake the noble Giselher: “Hagen a deal of ill
Hath done unto my sister: reckon with him I will.
And were he not my kinsman, ’twould stand him in his life.”
Then once again to weeping fell Siegfried’s widow’d wife.
1134
Then up and spake Lord Gernot: “Ere we be troubled aye
By reason of this treasure, we’ll take it all away
And sink it in the Rhine-stream; then will it no man’s be.”
To Giselher her brother then went she woefully.
1135
She spake: “Belovéd brother, thou must take thought for me;
Of both my life and substance the guardian thou shouldst be.”
Then spake he to the lady: “This will I undertake
When we have home returned: we have a ride to take.”
1136
The king and all his kinsmen now left their land behind—
The best of all were taken that one therein could find—
None stay’d save Hagen only; that did he for the hate
He bore unto Kriemhilda; with purpose did he wait.
1137
Before the mighty king came back to his home again,
Hagen had meanwhile managed the treasure great to gain.
Down in the Rhine at Lochheim he sank it bodily.
He hoped yet to enjoy it: but that was not to be.
1138
The princes came back shortly, and with them many a man.
Of her great loss Kriemhilda to make complaint began,
And all her maids and ladies: great was their grief, in sooth.
Ready with faithful service was Giselher the youth.
1139
They one and all said: “Hagen hath done us a foul wrong.”
Then from the princes’ anger he kept aloof for long,
Till he regain’d their favour; and so they left him free:
Yet never to Kriemhilda could he more hateful be.
1140
Before Hagen of Tronjé had hidden thus the hoard,
They made a pact together and with strong oaths assured,
That it should remain hidden as long as each should live:
None for himself should take it, nor to another give.
1141
So now again with sorrow her heart was desolate:
First for her husband’s murder, and now that her estate
Had all been taken from her. Thus she became a prey
Unto her grief for ever until her dying day.
1142
After the death of Siegfried, as verily appears,
With many troubles burthen’d she dwelt for thirteen years;
And all the while could never forget the warrior dead.
She aye was faithful to him: that all the people said.
Adventure XX
How King Etzel Sent to Burgundy After Kriemhilda
1143
Now on a time it happen’d that lady Helka died;
Then was King Etzel minded to woo another bride:
His friends all bade him look to the land of Burgundy,
Towards a high-born widow; Kriemhilda named was she.
1144
Soon after the fair Helka departed had this life,
Quoth they: “If thou would’st ever possess a noble wife—
The highest and most worthy that king did ever have,
Then take this self-same lady, widow of Siegfried brave.”
1145
“How might that be accomplish’d,” then said the mighty king,
“Seeing I am a heathen and ne’er had christening?
The lady is a Christian; she never would agree.
A miracle must happen, if this should ever be.”
