I dreamt a dream this morning, of great dismay and dread;
How all the winged creatures within this land were dead.”
1510
“Who puts his faith in dreamings,” then Hagen made reply,
“Knows not the proper meaning that may within them lie,
When honour, peradventure, may wholly be at stake.
I’m willing that my masters for court their leave should take.”
1511
“We should indeed with gladness ride unto Etzel’s land:
There kings can have the service of many a hero’s hand,
When there we take our part in Kriemhilda’s revelry.”
Hagen the journey counsell’d: he rued it presently.
1512
He would have been against it, if Gernot had not sought
With ill-adviséd speeches to set him so at naught:
Reminding him of Siegfried, the Lady Kriemhild’s lord;
Said he: “This ride to Hagen is therefore untoward.”
1513
Then Hagen spake, of Tronjé: “Through fear I’ll not forego!
If such your will is, heroes, ’twere well to buckle to.
Gladly will I ride with you, e’en unto Etzel’s realm.”
Soon by his hand were shatter’d full many a shield and helm.
1514
The boats were ready waiting, and many a man was there:
Whate’er they had of clothing on board forthwith they bare.
Unwearyingly wrought they until the fall of eve;
And full of joy and gladness at length their homes they leave.
1515
Their tents and wooden cabins were pitch’d upon the green
Along the further Rhine-bank. When finish’d this had been,
The king’s fair wife besought him a while there to abide
For one night would she lay her his manly form beside.
1516
With trumpeting and fluting the early morning brake,
To warn them to be starting: then did they ready make.
If any had a sweetheart her to his heart he laid;—
For them a bitter parting King Etzel’s wife soon made!
1517
The sons of the fair Uté for vassal had a man
As bold as he was faithful; now, when the march began,
He to the king, in secret, did thus his mind declare.
Said he: “It needs must grieve me that to this feast ye fare.”
1518
This man by name was Rumold, a knight of ready hand.
“To whom,” so spake he, “leave ye your people and your land?
Alas, that none can turn you, ye warriors, from your mood!
This message of Kriemhilda’s to me ne’er boded good.”
1519
“To thee my realm be trusted, and eke my little son,
Serve faithfully the ladies; so let my will be done.
Shouldst thou see any mourner, ’tis thine to cheer his life.
No harm will e’er befall us by cause of Etzel’s wife.”
1520
The horses were awaiting the kings and eke their men;
With loving kiss departed full many a husband then,
Whose heart was full of courage, and body strong with life:
Soon to be sadly wept for by many a comely wife.
1521
Who saw the eager warriors unto their horses go,
Saw likewise many a lady there standing in her woe.
That they for long were parting too surely did they feel,
Foreboding great disaster. Heart never thus had weal.
1522
Now quickly the Burgundians did on their journey ride.
Then was there much disturbance through all the country wide;
On either side the mountains both women wept and men.
Howe’er their people bare it forth fared they blithely then.
1523
The warriors of Niblung to ride with them had come,
A thousand men in hauberks, who left behind at home
Full many a lovely lady, ne’er to be seen again.
Still wrought the wounds of Siegfried in Kriemhild bitter pain.
1524
Their course they now directed, King Gunther’s gallant men,
Up through the East Franks’ country, towards the River Main;
And thither led them Hagen, who knew the road of old.
Their marshal was Sir Dankwart, Burgundian hero bold.
1525
As they from Eastern Franks’ land to Schwanefeld rode on,
Well might they be to all men by noble bearing known,
These princes and their kinsmen, heroes deserving fame.
The king on the twelfth morning unto the Danube came.
1526
Then Hagen, knight of Tronjé, rode of them all foremost;
Good heart and courage gave he unto the Niblung host.
The warrior bold dismounted, down on the sand stood he,
And hastily his warhorse made fast unto a tree.
1527
The stream was overflowing, no skiff was there to see,
The Nibelungs misdoubted, in great anxiety,
How they should e’er get over; the flood was all too wide.
The gallant knights dismounted hard by the river-side.
1528
“Much damage,” said Sir Hagen, “may here be done to thee,
Ruler of the Rhineland! Look for thyself and see;
The river is o’erflowing, and mighty is its flood.
I trow we lose ere nightfall here many a hero good.”
1529
“What art thou casting at me, Hagen?” the great king spake.
“Seek not again to daunt us for thine own honour’s sake.
The ford thou shalt find for us, which to that land doth cross,
That we both steeds and raiment may take there without loss.”
1530
“My life to me,” quoth Hagen, “is not yet such a load
That I should wish to drown me in this wide, rushing flood!
For by my hands I’d sooner that many a man should die
In Etzel’s country yonder: goodwill thereto have I.
1531
“Proud warriors and goodly, stay by the water then,
Whilst I along the river myself seek ferrymen,
Who presently will take us across to Gelfrat’s land.”
Then took the doughty Hagen his good shield in his hand.
1532
Well clad was he in armour; his shield he did thereon,
And on his head his helmet; brightly enow it shone.
Above his harness wore he a sword so broad of blade
That wounds right deep and ghastly with either edge it made.
1533
Then up and down the river he sought some ferryman;
He heard a splash of water; to hearken he began.
’Twas made by elfin women within a fountain fair,
Who fain to cool their bodies were bathing themselves there.
1534
As soon as Hagen saw them he slyly towards them crept.
No sooner had they seen him than off they swiftly leapt.
That thus they had escaped him did please them mightily;
He took their raiment from them, no further harm did he.
1535
Then spake one of the mermaids, Hadburga was she hight:
“O Hagen, noble warrior, we’ll tell to thee aright,
How thou upon this journey unto the Huns shalt thrive,
If thou, bold thane, our raiment again to us wilt give.”
1536
They floated like to sea-birds before him on the flood.
It seemed to him their foresight must needs be sure and good.
Whatever they should tell him he, therefore, would believe.
To whatsoe’er he ask’d them, wise answers they would give.
1537
Said she: “To Etzel’s country ye certainly may take
This ride; and I am ready my faith thereon to stake,
That ne’er did heroes journey to any kingdom yet—
In truth ye may believe it— who did such honour get.”
1538
This saying made Sir Hagen within his heart right gay,
Then gave he them their garments and made no more delay.
When they their wondrous raiment forthwith had donn’d again,
The way to Etzel’s country aright they did explain.
1539
Then spake the other mermaid, her name was
