This day make plain to all men thy kind and virtuous mood,
In that thou hence wilt help me: or I am like to die.”
Her fears had brought Kriemhilda to sore anxiety.
1986
“Can I do aught to help you, I verily will try;
Since never have I witness’d, for many years gone by,
To such deep wrath enkindled so many a warrior good.
Ay! through the riven helmets I see the surging blood.”
1987
This thane of proven valour with power began to shout;
Like unto horn of bison his voice rang loudly out,
Until its strength re-echoed the wide-wall’d stronghold round.
The mightiness of Dietrich was great beyond all bound.
1988
When Gunther heard the clamour proceeding from this man
Above the noise of battle, to hearken he began.
Said he: “The voice of Dietrich is to my hearing plain;
I trow that our retainers some friend of his have slain.
1989
“I see him on the table, he beckons with his hand.
Ye friends of mine and kinsfolk from the Burgundian land,
Cease fighting for a season, and let one hear and see
What to the thane hath happen’d through them who follow me.”
1990
And when the royal Gunther besought and gave command,
They, in the stress of battle, halted with sword in hand.
So great the power he wielded, not one durst strike a blow
Whilst him of Bern he challenged, with readiness enow.
1991
Said he: “Most noble Dietrich, what hath to you been done
By any of my people? I’m willing, be it known,
Amends and satisfaction right readily to give.
Were any man to wrong you, right deeply should I grieve.”
1992
Then answer’d the Lord Dietrich: “Naught hath been done to me;
But let me leave the palace with your safe-conduct free,
And get with my retainers from this fell strife away:
For that I’ll owe you service assuredly for aye.”
1993
Then unto him spake Wolfhart: “Why ask ye grace so soon?
That door, I trow, the fiddler hath not so closely done
But we can force it open enough to get away.”
“Now hold thy peace,” cried Dietrich, “the devil thou dost play.”
1994
Then spake the royal Gunther: “That will I let you do.
Out of this place depart ye, many be ye or few,
But not a single foeman— here stay they everyone.
They have anent these Hunsfolk so basely to me done.”
1995
When Dietrich heard that saying, he took beneath his arm
The noble queen, sore stricken with sorrow and alarm.
Upon his other arm he took Etzel with him then;
There also went with Dietrich six hundred goodly men.
1996
Then up and spake the margrave, the noble Rüdeger:
“If any from the palace be yet allowed to fare,
Who still are fain to serve you, to us let it be known:
For thus may peace enduring betwixt good friends be sown.”
1997
Whereto made answer Gis’lher, of the Burgundian land:
“To you shall peace and pardon be granted at our hand,
Since you and your retainers were e’er of faithful heart.
You all shall, unmolested, hence with your friends depart.”
1998
When Rüdeger the margrave departed from the hall,
Five hundred men went with him or more, belike, in all,
Who came from Bechelaren, liegemen and friends as well;
By whom unto King Gunther great mischief soon befell.
1999
Meanwhile a Hunnish warrior, who saw how Etzel went
By Dietrich’s side, to profit thereby was all intent;
But with his sword the minstrel fetch’d at him such a slice,
That at the feet of Etzel his head lay in a trice.
2000
When that the country’s ruler had got outside the place,
He stopp’d and look’d behind him towards where Volker was:
“Woe’s me for this dread stranger; a cruel destiny
It is that all my warriors must dead before him lie!
2001
“And woe upon this feasting,” the noble sovran cried,
“For one, by name of Volker, is fighting there inside
Like to a savage boar, and yet a minstrel he!
I thank my Lord and Saviour I’m from that devil free!
2002
“Right evil sound his measures, his strokes are bloody red;
Ay, and his tunes have smitten full many a hero dead.
I know not what against us this minstrel doth attest,
For never have I harbour’d so downright ill a guest!”
2003
They’d let from out the palace as many as they chose;
Then from the folk within it a fearful din arose.
The guests for what had happen’d a dire revenge would have.
Ay! Volker the undaunted, what helmets then he clave!
2004
Gunther, the noble ruler, turn’d at that noise around:
“Hear’st thou yon music, Hagen, which Volker there doth sound
Amid the Hunfolk fiddling, who through the door would go?
He hath a blood-red straker upon his fiddle-bow!”
2005
“It grieves me beyond measure,” Hagen in answer spake,
“That I before that warrior a seat in hall should take.
I have been his companion, as he was likewise mine,
And we shall aye be faithful if hence we ever win.
2006
“Now mark, great king, how Volker doth thee and thine uphold
Right willingly he earneth thy silver and thy gold.
Through steel of hardest temper his fiddle-bow will smite;
He breaks from off the helmets their shining crests and bright.
2007
“I never saw a fiddler so nobly hold his own
As this same warrior Volker throughout the day hath done.
On helmet and on buckler his music ringeth clear:
A gallant horse deserves he and raiment rich to wear.”
2008
Of those of Hunnish kindred who had been in that hall,
Not one was left within it alive amongst them all.
Now silenced was the uproar; for none there were to fight:
Aside was laid the weapon of every gallant knight.
Adventure XXXIV
How They Cast Forth the Dead
2009
Down sat the knights and nobles, by all their labours spent;
Before the hall together Volker and Hagen went.
These warriors over-weary lean’d on their shields for rest;
The while betwixt the couple pass’d many a ready jest.
2010
Then Giselher, the warrior from Burgundy, outspake:
“Dear friends, ye must in no wise seek yet your rest to take:
The dead folk must ye carry straight from the house away.
There’ll be another onset, that can I surely say.
2011
“Beneath our feet ’tis needful they should no longer lie.
And ere by storm the Hunsmen undo us utterly,
Some wounds we yet will give them, e’en as I love to do;
For firmly am I minded,” said Giselher, “thereto.”
2012
“Well’s me for such a master,” said Hagen, thereunto;
“From none such rede were likely, save from a warrior true,
As we from my young master this very day have had:
I trow all ye Burgundians may therefore be right glad.”
2013
Then follow’d they his counsel, and carried through the door
Dead warriors seven thousand and cast them therebefore.
At foot of the hall stairway they fell upon the ground;
Then rose a doleful wailing from all their kinsmen round.
2014
Some few there were among them whose wounds were not so bad
But that with gentler usage they yet might life have had,
Who from that height down falling in death must needs
