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Lord Sivrit was most happy at heart. He bore joy without sorrow in his mind at the thought of seeing fair Uote’s daughter. She then greeted Sivrit with charming courtesy. When she saw the
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high-spirited knight standing before her, his complexion took fire. The fair maiden said: ‘Welcome, Sir Sivrit, noble and worthy knight!’ At that greeting his spirits were greatly raised. He bowed attentively
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to her. She took him by the hand. How very charmingly he walked alongside the lady! Both the lord and the lady looked at one another with fond glances—that was done in all secrecy. If white hands were
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lovingly pressed there at all out of heartfelt love, I know nothing of it, yet I cannot believe that it was left undone. She had soon made known to him that she held him in high favour.
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In that summer season and as the May days approached, he could never have borne in his heart so much high happiness as he gained there, when she whom he wished to have for his beloved walked hand-in-hand with him. Many warriors then thought: ‘Ah, if the same fate
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were to befall me, to walk side by side with her, as I have seen him do—or to lie with her! I’d not object to that!’
No warrior had ever served more to merit a queen. No matter what
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kingdom the guests had arrived from, they all had eyes only for those two. She was given leave to kiss the handsome knight. Never in all the world had he enjoyed such happiness. The King of Denmark said
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at once: ‘Many lie sick at Sivrit’s hands for the sake of this most noble greeting, as I well know to my cost. May God never let him come into my kingdom again!’
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Then they gave the command that they should make way on all sides for fair Kriemhilt. Many bold knights were seen to go to church with her, in all decorum. (In time to come that most handsome man was to be parted from her.) She went then into the minster; many
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women followed her. The queen was so well attired that high hopes in great numbers were wasted there. She was a feast there for many warriors’ eyes.
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Sivrit could scarcely wait for the singing of mass to cease. He could have thanked his good fortune forever, that she whom he bore in his heart was so fond of him. He, for his part, had good reason to hold the fair maiden dear. When she came out of the minster, he having done
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so before her, they asked the bold knight to approach her again. Only then did the lovely maiden begin to thank him for having fought so splendidly in the forefront of her kinsmen.*
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‘Now, God reward you, Sir Sivrit,’ said that very lovely girl, ‘for earning such true loyalty and favour from the warriors as I hear them tell of you.’
Then he began to cast loving looks at Lady Kriemhilt.
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‘I shall always serve them,’ said the knight, ‘and will never lay my head low unless I have done their will, as long as I live. This will be done to earn your favour, my Lady Kriemhilt.’
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For all of twelve days, every day alike, the admirable maiden was seen by the knight’s side, whenever she was to go to court before her friends. Such attention was bestowed on the warrior out of great affection. Joy and delight, a mighty clamour, were to be heard and
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seen every day before Gunther’s hall, both outside and inside, on the part of many bold men. Ortwin and Hagen wrought great marvels.
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No matter what anyone wished to undertake, they were ready for it in full measure, those most gallant heroes, so that those warriors became well known to the guests. All Gunther’s land was embellished by this.
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Those who lay wounded there were seen to emerge from their dwellings. They were eager to join in the household’s pastimes, ducking behind shields* and shooting many shafts. Plenty assisted them in this, for the company was great in number. During that
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festivity the host gave order that they be provided with the best food possible. He had renounced any kind of disgrace that a king might ever have. They saw him walk over to his guests with a friendly bearing.
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He said: ‘You worthy warriors, before you depart from here, accept my gifts. I am determined to serve you always. If you do not disdain my possessions, I will share them with you most willingly.’
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The men of Denmark said at once: ‘Before we ride back home to our land, we desire a lasting truce—we warriors have need of that. We have lost many a dear friend, dead at the hands of your knights.’ Liudegast
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was healed of his wounds. The overlord of the Saxons had fully recovered from the battle. They left several dead behind them in that land.
Then King Gunther walked over to Sivrit. He said to the warrior:
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‘Now give me counsel as to what I should do. Our adversaries want to ride off tomorrow morning, and request a lasting truce of me and my men. Now counsel me, Sir Sivrit, as to what seems best to you.
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I will tell you what these lords offer me: they would willingly give me all the gold that five hundred packhorses could carry, if I were to let them go free.’
Mighty Sivrit replied: ‘That would be an ill deed. You must let
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them leave here freely, provided that these noble warriors forever refrain from riding in enmity into your land again. Let oaths be sworn to you on this by both these lords’ hands here.’
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‘I will follow that counsel.’ At that they parted. His foes were told that no one desired the gold they had offered. Back at home their dear friends were longing for the return of the battle-spent men.
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Many shields full of treasure were brought forward. Gunther shared it out amply, not weighing the cost, among his friends—some five hundred marks, and more besides. Gernot, that valiant warrior, had advised Gunther to do so.
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They all took their leave when they wanted to depart. The guests were then seen to walk over to Kriemhilt, and also to where Lady Uote the queen sat. Never again were knights given a better farewell.
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The lodgings were emptied when they rode away. The king still remained at home there, celebrating nobly together with his kinsmen and noble vassals in great numbers. They were seen to go daily to Lady Kriemhilt.
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The worthy hero Sivrit then wanted to take his leave. He had no hope that he would gain what he had in mind there. The king heard it said that he wanted to depart. Young Giselher dissuaded him from the journey: ‘Where do you want to ride now, most noble Sivrit? Stay
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with the warriors here, do as I ask you, stay with King Gunther and also his vassals. There are many beautiful ladies here, whom we shall gladly have you see.’
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Mighty Sivrit then replied: ‘Let the chargers stand. I had intended to ride away from here, but I have changed my mind. Take the shields away also. I did indeed want to go back to my own land. Sir Giselher in his great loyalty has dissuaded me.’
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Thus the bold warrior remained there out of affection for his friends. Indeed, he could not have felt so much at ease anywhere else in the lands.* That was because he now saw fair Kriemhilt daily.
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The lord stayed there because of her exceeding beauty. They now passed the time with many entertainments. Yet love of her oppressed him—it often caused him anguish. (That caused the bold warrior to die a most wretched death in time to come.)
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SIXTH ADVENTURE
HOW GUNTHER WENT TO ICELAND TO WOO PRÜNHILT
UNHEARD-OF tidings came across the Rhine. There was talk of a land where there were many beautiful maidens. Gunther, that worthy king, took it into his head to win one—t
he warrior’s spirits rose high at the thought. There was a queen who resided across the sea, whose
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like no one knew of anywhere. She was exceedingly beautiful and great in physical strength. She shot the shaft with bold knights—love was the prize. She threw the stone far, and then leapt a great distance
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after it. Whoever desired her love had to win three games without fail against that well-born lady. If he failed in any one of them, he would lose his head. The damsel had won at such games countless times.
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A certain well-favoured knight by the Rhine heard about this, and he bent his mind on that beautiful woman. (That caused heroes to lose their lives thereafter.)*
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Then the overlord of the Rhine said: ‘I will go downriver and over the sea to Prünhilt, no matter what befalls me. For her love I will risk my life—I will lose it unless she becomes my wife!’
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‘I advise against that,’ said Sivrit then. ‘Indeed, the queen has such dread customs that anyone who seeks her love will pay a high price. You ought therefore to dismiss this journey from your mind.’
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‘In that case I advise you’, said Hagen then, ‘to ask Sivrit to endure the arduous peril alongside you—that is my counsel now, since he is so well acquainted with how things stand with Prünhilt.’*
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Gunther said: ‘Will you help me, noble Sivrit, to woo this lovely queen? If you do what I ask of you and this lovely woman becomes my beloved, I’ll risk my honour and life for you.’
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Sivrit, Sigmunt’s son, answered: ‘If you’ll give me your sister, fair Kriemhilt, that proud princess, then I’ll do it. In that case I desire no further reward for my labours.’
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‘I swear it,’ said Gunther then. ‘Here is my hand on it, Sivrit. If fair Prünhilt comes here to this land, then I’ll give you my sister for a wife, and you may live happily with the fair lady forever.’
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They then swore oaths on this, those most noble warriors. All the worse was the peril they were to undergo before they brought the lady to the Rhine. Those valiant heroes were subsequently to be sorely troubled. Sivrit had to take with him the cloak which
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the valiant hero had won with hardship from the dwarf called Albrich. The bold and powerful warriors made themselves ready for the journey. When mighty Sivrit wore the cape of invisibility he
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had, once inside it, strength in abundance—a good dozen men’s might in addition to his own. He set about the wooing of that most noble woman with great cunning. Moreover, the cloak of invisibility
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was of such a nature that anyone wearing it could do whatever he wanted without anyone seeing him. Thus he won Prünhilt. (It caused sorrow to befall him.)
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Gunther said: ‘Now tell me, Sir Sivrit, before my journey begins—if we are to go to sea in full honour, shall we take any warriors into Prünhilt’s land? Thirty thousand knights will soon be sent for.’
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‘No matter how great an army we were to take with us,’ Sivrit replied, ‘the queen holds to such dread customs that they would, nonetheless, have to die, so haughty is she. I must give you better counsel, bold and worthy knight. We must go down the Rhine
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in warrior fashion.* I shall name to you who the party is to be. We shall be no more than four knights, all told, making our way seawards. Thus we shall win the lady, no matter what befalls us afterwards. I shall be one of the companions, you’ll be the
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second. Let the third be Hagen—then we may well hold on to our lives! As for the fourth, let it be Dancwart, that valiant man. No thousand men could ever take us on in battle.’
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‘Before we set off,’ said the king then, ‘I’d be glad to know what clothes we should wear before Prünhilt, which would befit us well there. You must tell Gunther this.’*
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‘At all times in Prünhilt’s land they wear the best garments ever found. Therefore we must wear sumptuous clothes before the lady, lest we be at all disgraced when people hear tidings told of this.’
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Then the worthy knight said: ‘In that case I will go myself to my dear mother, to see if I can persuade her to have her fair maids help prepare such garments for us as we may wear with honour before the noble maiden.’
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Then Hagen of Tronege said proudly: ‘Why do you want to ask such services of your mother? Let your sister hear what we intend—then her services will benefit you on this journey to a foreign court.’
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Then Gunther sent a message to his sister, telling her he wished to see her, as also did Sir Sivrit. Before that came about, the fair maiden had dressed herself to perfection. It was small sorrow to her that those valiant men were coming to see her. Her retinue were also
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now attired as well became them.
The two princes had arrived. When she heard that, she stood up from her chair and walked courteously over to welcome the most noble stranger, and also her brother. ‘Welcome to my brother and his
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companion. I would gladly know’, said the maiden, ‘what you lords want, since you have come to court. Let me hear what you noble warriors have in mind.’
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King Gunther replied: ‘Lady, I’ll tell you. We must endure many troubles, yet stay in high spirits. We want to ride on a wooing expedition, far off into foreign lands; we must have elegant garments for the journey.’
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‘Sit down now, dear brother,’ said the princess, ‘and let me hear who exactly the ladies are whom you desire to court in other kings’ lands.’ The lady took both the excellent knights by the hand. Then
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she walked over with the pair of them to where she had been seated before, on sumptuous couches, as I well know, embroidered with fine pictures, well adorned with raised gold. They passed their time pleasantly among the ladies. Many amorous glances and well-meaning
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looks passed between the pair. He bore her in his heart; she was as dear to him as life itself. Fair Kriemhilt was afterwards to become mighty Sivrit’s wife.
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Then the powerful king said: ‘My dearest sister, we can’t do without your help. We want to pass the time pleasantly in Prünhilt’s land. We need to have splendid garments to wear before the ladies there.’
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The damsel replied: ‘My dearest brother, I’ll show you most willingly that I’m at your disposal and will give you all the help I can. If anyone were to refuse you, that would grieve Kriemhilt. You must
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not ask me anxiously, noble knight, but must proudly give me your commands. I am ready and willing to do whatever I can to please you,’ said the charming maiden.
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‘We want, dear sister, to wear fine garments. Your noble hands must help prepare them. Let your maidens see to it that our clothing suits us well, for we are resolved to go on this journey.’
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Then the damsel said: ‘Now mark my words. I myself have silk.* See to it now that they carry precious stones in to us, loaded on shields, and then we will fashion the garments.’ Both Gunther and Sivrit were ready and willing to do that.
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‘Who are the companions,’ said the queen, ‘who are to go thus clad to court with you?’
Gunther said: ‘There will be four of us, all told. Two of my vassals, Dancwart and Hagen, are to go to court with me. Pay close
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heed, lady, to what I tell you: my three companions and I must have three changes of clothes for four days, and such fine garments that we may leave Prünhilt’s land without disgrace.’
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With a cordial leave-taking the lords departed. Then Queen Kriemhilt ordered thirty maidens
from amongst her damsels to come out of their chambers—they were well skilled in such work.
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Into the Arabian silk, white as snow, and the noble silk from Zazamanc,* green as clover, they worked gems—fine garments were the outcome. They were cut by Kriemhilt herself, that most noble maiden. Fair linings made from outlandish fish-skins,* strange to
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behold, all that they could acquire, they covered with silk for the warriors to wear. Hear great marvels now told of that bright garb!
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They had silk in plenty from the land of Morocco, and also from Lybia, the very best that any king’s kin ever acquired. Kriemhilt made it apparent that she held them in high favour. Since they were
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now desirous of this noble expedition, they disdained ermine skins.* Furs lay on top, black as coal, such as even today would well suit brave heroes at festivities. Many precious stones shone forth from
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Arabian gold. The labour of the ladies was not small. Within seven weeks they had prepared the garments. By then the worthy warriors’ armour was also prepared.
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When they were ready, a stout little skiff had been painstakingly constructed for them to sail on the Rhine. It was to take them downriver, all the way to the sea.
The noble damsels ached from their labours. Then the warriors
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were told that the elegant garments that they were to take with them were now ready for them, as they had requested. The work had now been done.
They then wanted to stay by the Rhine no longer. A messenger
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was sent to the companions-in-arms to ask if they wanted to look at their new garments, to see whether they were too short or too long for the heroes. They fitted them well, for which they thanked the ladies.
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All whom they passed by had to concede to them that they had seen nothing better in the whole world. They took delight, therefore, in wearing the clothes at court there. No one could ever find a word to say of better warriors’ garments. They did not hold back words of
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great gratitude. Then the gallant heroes desired to take their leave. The lords did so with knightly courtesy. Bright eyes were dimmed and wet at that.
The Nibelungenlied: The Lay of the Nibelungs (Oxford World's Classics) Page 8
