86
“And,” furthermore said Hagen, “though hitherto, I ween
The famous hero Siegfried, mine eyes have never seen,
I cannot help believing, how strange soe’er it be,
That yon proud knight, there standing, can be none else but he!
87
“He bringeth us new tidings, here into this our land.
The hardy Niblungs slew he with his own hero-hand,
Both Nibelung and Schilbung, the sons of a rich king.
He hath wrought mighty wonders, by sheer strength vanquishing.
88
“For riding once, all lonely, and with no help at hand,
He came unto a mountain, (as I did understand,)
Where lay the Niblungs’ treasure, well watched by doughty men,
Who all were strangers to him, until he met them then.
89
“The treasure of the Niblungs had just been taken then
Out of a hollow mountain— (Now hearken, my good men!)
While as the Niblung warriors to share it did prepare,
Young Siegfried came, and saw them: and had good cause to stare.
90
“He came so nigh unto them that he could see them all,
And they did also see him;— then one of them did call:
‘Here comes the mighty Siegfried, the Netherlander strong!’
He met with strange adventures the Nibelungs among.
91
“The knight was well received by Schilbung and Nibelung;
And with one voice in counsel those noble lords and young
Cried: ‘Share for us the treasure, thou honourable man!’
And eagerly besought him: so he to share began.
92
“He saw so many jewels as I have heard men say,
That fivescore waggons scarcely would carry them away;
Yet more there was of red gold, from out the Nib’lungs’ land:
And all must be divided by gallant Siegfried’s hand.
93
“And unto him for wages they gave the Niblungs’ sword:
But little they foreboded what would be their reward
For rendering this service to Siegfried, the good knight;—
Ere he could end the sharing they had begun to fight.
94
“They had their friends anear them, twelve gallant arméd men,
Who all were mighty giants— but what availed them then?
For Siegfried fell upon them and slew them in his ire,
Full seven hundred Niblungs, vanquished in battle dire,
95
“With their good sword resistless, that was yclept ‘Balmung.’
And through the mighty terror that seized those warriors young,
Dread of the sword, and hero who bravely did it wield;—
Their land and eke their castles unto him did they yield.
96
“The wealthy kings he also smote, till they both fell dead.
But he himself, through Albrich, was grievously bested,
Who would avenge his masters upon the spot—till he
Found the great strength of Siegfried beyond his mastery.
97
“The sturdy dwarf was powerless against him in the fray.
Like lions wild to the mountain they twain then broke away,
Till the Tarnhelm1 from Albrich he wrested; and thus lord
Became the dreaded Siegfried of all the Niblung hoard.
98
“They who had dared the battle there, one and all, lay slain.
Then bade he that the treasure be carried back again
Unto the cave, whence erstwhile the Niblungs did it take.
And then did he stout Albrich his treasure-keeper make.
99
“By a great oath he made him unto him fealty swear,
To serve him in all service, no matter when or where.”
So spake Hagen of Tronjé, “That did he presently:
“There never was a warrior who had such might as he!
100
“And yet another story of Siegfried I have heard:
How he did slay a dragon, with his own hand and sword,
And in its blood he bathed him till horny grew his skin,
And thus no sword can cut him, as hath been often seen.
101
“Then let us this young hero receive as best we may,
Lest we deserve his hatred and have to rue the day.
He is of such bold spirit ’twere best to be his friend:
He hath, by his strong right hand, wrought wonders without end.”
102
Then the great king said, “Truly, methinks that thou art right.
See but how chivalrously he stands prepared to fight,
He and his warriors with him, a dauntless man is he!
We will go down to meet him, and greet him courteously.”
103
“Thou mayest,” answered Hagen, “with honour do this thing,
His ancestry is noble, his sire a wealthy king.
One sees it in his bearing— and, by the dear Lord Christ,
It is no trifle brings him, I warrant, on this quest!”
104
Then spake the country’s ruler: “Right welcome let him be—
That he is brave and noble hath aye been told to me;
We’ll make his sojourn merry in our Burgundian land.”
So saying, down went Gunther to where Siegfried did stand.
105
The host and all his warriors received the guest so well
That nothing to good breeding was lacking, sooth to tell.
The goodly man, on his side, bowed low before them there,
And thanked them for their greeting, so friendly and so fair.
106
“I marvel at these riddles,” spake Gunther, suddenly,
“Whence have you, noble Siegfried, come unto this country?
And for what purpose come you to Worms upon the Rhine?”
The guest unto the king said: “To answer shall be mine.
107
“To me were told the tidings, erst in my fatherland,
That here with you were dwelling (which I would know firsthand,)
The boldest of all warriors— oft said they so to me—
That ever monarch governed: lo, I am come to see!
108
“Thy fame hath also reached me; I hear the knights declare
That never king was bolder nor braver, anywhere.
Such is the common folk-talk o’er all the land, in sooth,
And I shall have no quiet until I know the truth.
109
“I also am a warrior, and shall too wear a crown;
And I shall ne’er content me until I win renown,
Until the folk say of me, that I have proved my right
To reign o’er land and people: my honour do I plight
110
“And head thereto. And wert thou as bold as some men say,
I will now wrestle from thee whatever is thine to-day;
I care not who gainsay it, or who may like, or hate:
Thy broad lands and thy castles shall mine be, soon or late!”
111
The king did greatly marvel, and eke his liegemen all,
At the strange declaration that from his lips did fall:
To take his kingdom from him! so that was his intent!
His thanes all heard it, likewise, and fierce was their dissent.
112
“Whereby have I deserved this?” Gunther the warrior cried,
“That lands my father governed, with honour, till he died,
Should be now wrested from us by force, by whomsoe’er?
That were to prove but poorly that we too knighthood bear.”
113
“Nought else will I,” quoth Siegfried, “by that I fall or stand:
If thy strength cannot peace win for thine own fatherland,
Then shall my strong hand rule it, and after me mine heir;
If thou dost win, thine be it, and we thy rule must bear.
114
“Thy heritage, mine also, are now alike at stake;
Whichever of the other shall wholly conquest make
To him shall all be subject— the land and all its folk.”
But Hagen and King Gernot in hasty answer spoke:
115
“Far be it from our purpose,” spake
