The Nibelungenlied: The Lay of the Nibelungs (Oxford World's Classics)

by Cyril Edwards

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  Kriemhilt said: ‘Dearest brother, you would be better off staying here and wooing other ladies, so that your life should not be so very much at risk—that I would call wise. You can find as high-born a wife closer to home.’

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  I think her heart was telling them what was to happen to them in consequence. The ladies all wept as one, no matter what anyone said. Their gold breastplates were dimmed by the tears that rained down from their eyes.

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  Kriemhilt said: ‘Sir Sivrit, let my dear brother be commended to your loyalty and your favour, so that nothing ill befalls him in Prünhilt’s land.’

  The valiant warrior vowed to protect him, taking Lady Kriemhilt’s hand.* The mighty knight replied: ‘As long as I live you may be free,

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  lady, of all anxiety. I’ll bring him back to you safe and sound, to the Rhine here—rest assured of that.’ The fair maiden bowed to him.

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  Their golden shields were carried down to the shore and all their garments were brought to them. They ordered their horses to be led over—they wanted to ride off. Fair ladies wept profusely there. The

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  charming maidens stood then at the windows. A high wind swept their ship and its sail along. The proud companions-in-arms were afloat on the Rhine. King Gunther then said: ‘Who is to be the ship’s captain now?’

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  ‘I will,’ said Sivrit. ‘I am well capable of guiding you there over the waves. I tell you, worthy heroes, that I am well acquainted with the right sea-roads.’ In high spirits they departed from Burgundy.

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  Sivrit then quickly took a pole; powerfully he pushed off from the bank. Bold Gunther took an oar himself. Thus the brave, renowned knights drew away from the land. They took with them excellent

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  food and also much good wine, the best to be found in the lands around the Rhine. Their warhorses were in good condition—they were well tended. Their skiff sailed very smoothly—little harm befell them. Their stout halyards were stretched to the full. They sailed

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  for twenty miles before night fell, a favourable wind blowing them downstream to the sea. (Afterwards their arduous toil would cost those proud warriors dear.)

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  On the twelfth morning, so we hear tell, the winds had borne them far off towards Isenstein, in Prünhilt’s land. That was unknown territory to all of them except Sivrit. When King Gunther saw so many

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  castles, and also the broad marches, how quick he was to speak then! ‘Tell me, friend Sivrit, do you know whose are these castles, and also this splendid land?’

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  Sivrit replied: ‘It is well known to me. These are Prünhilt’s people and land, and the fortress of Isenstein, of which you heard me tell. There, before the day is out, you may see many fair ladies.

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  Moreover, I advise you heroes to be of one mind and all say the same thing—that seems good counsel to me—when we walk into Prünhilt’s presence, before the day is out. We may have good reason to be troubled when we stand before the queen. When we see the

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  lovely lady amid her retinue, then, famed* heroes, you must all say the same: Gunther is my lord and I am his vassal. All that he hopes for there will be done.’

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  They were ready to do all that he ordered them to vow. In their pride, none of them desisted, but they all asserted whatever he wanted—that turned out well for them when King Gunther saw fair Prünhilt.

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  [Sivrit said:]* ‘I don’t swear this oath so much for your sake as for love of your sister, that fair maiden. She is as dear to me as my life and soul. I will gladly serve to earn her for my wife.’

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  SEVENTH ADVENTURE

  HOW GUNTHER WON PRÜNHILT

  BY that time their skiff had come so close to the castle that the king could see fair maidens in great numbers standing high up at the windows. Gunther was sorry to know nothing of their identity.

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  He asked Sivrit, his companion: ‘Do you know anything about these maidens who are looking down towards us, here on the waves? No matter what their lord is called, their spirits are most high.’

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  Then Lord Sivrit said: ‘Now you must search secretly among the damsels and tell me then which you would take if it were in your power.’

  ‘I will do so,’ replied Gunther, that bold and valiant knight.

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  ‘Well, I see one of them standing in that window in snow-white clothing, who is so well-favoured—my eyes choose her because of her fair person. If it were in my power, she would become my wife.’

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  ‘Your eyes have chosen rightly. That is noble Prünhilt, the fair maiden for whom your heart, your mind, and your intent strive.’

  The whole of her demeanour seemed noble to Gunther.

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  Then the queen ordered her noble maidens to go away from the windows. They were not to stand there to be looked at by the foreigners. They did her bidding. What the ladies did next has also been told us. To meet the strangers they adorned themselves, as has

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  ever been comely women’s custom. They walked over to the narrow windows, from which they could see the heroes—they did so in order to observe them.

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  There were only four of them who had come to that land. Bold Sivrit led a warhorse onto the beach, watched through the windows by the comely women. King Gunther thought himself honoured by that.* Sivrit held his elegant charger by the reins there—it was noble

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  and handsome, huge and strong—until King Gunther had seated himself in the saddle. Such was the service Sivrit rendered Gunther, though he was afterwards to forget it altogether. Then he also led his

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  own horse down from the skiff. Seldom had he done such service before as to stand at a hero’s stirrups. The fair and proud ladies saw that through the windows. Those two most gallant heroes were very

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  much alike, in that their chargers and their clothing were both of the same snow-white hue. Their fair shields shone from the hands of those most gallant men. Their saddles were well adorned with gems,

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  their bridles slender. They rode in splendour up to Prünhilt’s hall. From their harness hung bells of bright red gold. They arrived in that land, as their courage commanded, with new-cut lances, with splendid

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  swords which reached down to those gallant men’s spurs. Those valiant warriors carried swords that were sharp and broad. Prünhilt, that most noble maiden, saw all that for herself.

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  Together with them came then Dancwart, and also Hagen. We hear tell that those knights wore sumptuous clothing of raven-black hue. Their shields were splendid, of great size, good and broad.

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  They saw them wearing gems from the land of India; they could see them rippling on their clothes in all splendour. They left their little skiff unguarded by the tide. Thus those bold and worthy heroes rode up to the castle. They saw eighty-six towers standing

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  within there, three spacious palaces and a handsome great hall of noble marble, green as grass, where Prünhilt herself resided with her retinue.

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  The castle gates were opened wide. Then Prünhilt’s men ran to meet the strangers and welcome them into their lady’s land. They gave order that their horses be stabled and their shields taken from their hands. A chamberlain said: ‘You must give us your swords, and also your bright breastplates.’

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  ‘You won’t be granted those,’ said Hagen of Tronege. ‘We’ll carry them ourselves.’

  Then Sivrit told him the truth of the matter: ‘In this castle the

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  custom is, I tell you, that no strangers are to bear weapons h
ere. Now let them be taken away—it would be as well.’ Hagen, Gunther’s vassal, agreed to this most unwillingly.

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  They ordered wine to be poured out for the guests and gave them comfortable chambers. Great numbers of bold warriors* were to be seen at court there, walking in princely garb everywhere. Many looks were cast then at the bold strangers.

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  Tidings were then brought to Lady Prünhilt that unknown warriors had arrived there, wearing splendid clothing, sailing on the tide. This caused the beautiful, noble maiden to ask for tidings.

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  ‘You must let me hear,’ said the queen, ‘who these warriors, all unknown to us, may be, who stand so proudly in my castle, and ask for whose sake the heroes have travelled here.’

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  Then one of her retinue said: ‘Lady, I venture to say, though I have never seen any of them before, that one standing amongst them looks like Sivrit. You ought to give him a good welcome—that is my loyal counsel. Another of the companions is so admirable. If he

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  had such power, he might well be a mighty king, reigning over the broad lands of princes—if he has such. You can see him standing so very proudly among the others. The third of the companions is

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  so fearsome—and yet of handsome build, mighty queen—casting so many fierce glances about him. He has, I believe, a grim cast of mind.

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  The youngest amongst them is so admirable—I see the powerful knight standing there so charmingly, modest as a maid, and with a goodly bearing. We might all have good reason to be afraid if anyone here were to harm him. No matter how blithe he is in his courtesy

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  and how handsome his person, he might readily cause comely women to weep if he were to wax wrath. To judge from his build, all his qualities are those of a bold and valiant knight.’

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  Then the queen said: ‘Now bring me my clothes. If mighty Sivrit has come into this land in pursuit of my love, it will cost him his life. I am not so very much in fear of him that I shall become his wife.’

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  Soon fair Prünhilt was well attired. Beautiful maidens walked alongside her then in great numbers, a good hundred or more. They were in fine array. Those comely women wanted to see the strangers. Together with them walked knights from that country

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  of Iceland, Prünhilt’s warriors, bearing swords in their hands, five hundred or more. That gave the strangers cause for anxiety. The bold and gallant heroes then rose from their seats. When the

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  queen saw Sivrit—you may now wish to hear what the maiden said: ‘Welcome, Sivrit, here to this land. What is the purpose of your journey? I would gladly know it.’

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  ‘Most gracious thanks to you, my lady Prünhilt, for deigning to greet me, munificent prince’s daughter, ahead of this noble warrior who stands before me here, for he is my lord*—I would gladly dispense with such honour. He is a Rhinelander by birth. What

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  more shall I tell you? It is for your sake that we have travelled here. He would gladly woo you, no matter what happens to him in consequence. Now think about this before it is too late—my lord will not spare you. He is called Gunther and is a proud king. If he

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  were to win your love, he’d desire nothing more. Indeed, this well-favoured warrior commanded me to come here. If I could have refused him, I’d gladly have refrained.’

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  She replied: ‘If he’s your lord and you’re his vassal, and he dares take on the games I’ll set him—if he proves master in them, then I’ll be his wife—but if I win, it will cost all of you your lives.’

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  Then Hagen of Tronege said: ‘Lady, let us see these tasking games of yours. They’d have to be hard indeed before Gunther my lord were to yield to you. He is fully confident of winning such a fair maiden.’

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  ‘He will have to throw the stone and leap after it, and shoot the javelin in competition with me. Do not be in too much of a hurry! You may well lose your honour and your lives here! Think long and hard on this,’ said the lovely lady.

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  Valiant Sivrit stepped up to the king, asking him to tell all his intent to the queen—he was not to be afraid. ‘I will guard you well against her by my wiles.’

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  Then King Gunther said: ‘Proud queen, set now whatever tasks you command. Even if it were yet more, I would undertake it all for the sake of your fair person. I will lose my head unless you become my wife.’

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  When the queen heard his words she asked that the games be prepared in haste as then best suited her. She ordered good battle-gear to be prepared for her, a breastplate of red gold and a good shield’s rim. The maiden put on a silken shift beneath her armour,*

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  one never slashed by a sword in any battle, made of phellel-silk* from Lybia—it was most fair. Brightly embroidered braids could be seen to shine from it.

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  Meanwhile the warriors met with many taunts and threats. Dancwart and Hagen were not best pleased. They were worried as to how the king might fare. They thought: ‘This journey of ours does not bode too well for us warriors.’

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  Meanwhile handsome Sivrit, for his part, had boarded the skiff before anyone could find out. He found his cloak of invisibility lying hidden there. He slipped into it quickly, and then no one could tell who he was. He hurried back. He then found many warriors, there

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  where the queen was setting out the games to be played for such high stakes. In secret he walked over there—that was done out of cunning so that none of all those present there could see him. The rink* where

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  the games were to take place was marked out before many bold warriors, who were to watch them, more than seven hundred of them. They were seen to bear swords. Those heroes were to announce who succeeded in the games.

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  Prünhilt had arrived by then. They saw that she was armed as if she were to fight for all the kingdoms in the world. Above her silks she wore ingots of gold in great numbers. Her lovely hue shone splendidly beneath that covering. Then her retinue arrived, carrying in

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  their hands a rim all of red gold with steel-hard buckles, massive and broad, beneath which the lovely maiden wanted to play the games.

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  The lady’s shield-strap was a noble braid. Gems green as grass lay embroidered upon it, reflected here and there in the gold. A man would have to be most valiant if that lady were to hold him dear.

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  The shield that the maiden was to carry was, beneath its buckles, so we are told, some three spans in breadth, of steel and also of gold—it was of ample splendour. Her chamberlain and three others could scarcely carry it. When mighty Hagen saw that shield being carried

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  forward, the hero of Tronege said grimly: ‘What now, King Gunther? Are we to lose our lives like this? She whom you desire to woo there is the very Devil’s wife!’

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  Hear more now about her garments—she possessed plenty. She wore a noble, sumptuous tabard, made of silk from Azagouc;* from its hue precious stones in great numbers shone from the queen.

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  Then they carried in for the lady a heavy, huge javelin, very sharp, which she always threw. It was strong and bulky, massive and broad, and its edges cut most fearsomely. Hear marvels told of that javelin’s

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  weight: three-and-a-half ingots* had been beaten to make it. Three of Prünhilt’s men could scarcely carry it. Noble Gunther began to grow very anxious. He thought to himself: ‘What is to come of this?

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  How might even the foul fiend prevail here? If I were back alive in Burgundy, this queen here would long be free of my love!’

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  Then Hagen’s
brother, bold Dancwart, said: ‘I regret from my heart this wooing expedition. We were always renowned as warriors. What a way to lose our lives if women are now to be our ruin in these lands! I am heavy at heart that I ever came into this land. If my

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  brother Hagen had his sword in his hand, and I mine also, then all Prünhilt’s men would have to rein in their pride. Rest assured, they’d have to keep back, even if I’d sworn a thousand oaths to keep the peace. Rather than see my dear lord die, this maiden in all her beauty would have to lose her life!’

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  ‘We could easily leave this land unimprisoned,’ said then his brother Hagen, ‘if we had the armour we are sorely in need of and our fine swords—then this mighty lady’s pride would easily be tamed!’

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  The noble maiden heard loud and clear what the knight said. Smiling, she looked over her shoulder: ‘Since he thinks himself so valiant, let their armour be brought in to them. Put the sharp swords in the warriors’ hands!’

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  When they had regained their swords as the maiden had ordered, valiant Dancwart blushed for joy. ‘Now let them play whatever games they will,’ said that man of great mettle. ‘Gunther will be unvanquished now that we have our swords.’

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  Prünhilt’s strength was all too apparent. They carried a heavy stone into the rink for her, great and bulky, massive and round. Twelve of those bold and valiant heroes could scarcely carry it. She

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  always threw it after she had hurled the javelin. The Burgundians grew greatly anxious. ‘Good grief !’ said Hagen. ‘What a beloved the king has found! She should be the foul fiend’s bride in Hell!’

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  She rolled her sleeves up her white arms. She grasped the shield in her hand. She lifted the javelin high—then battle was begun. Gunther and Sivrit feared Prünhilt’s hostility. If Sivrit had not come

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  to Gunther’s aid she would have taken the king’s life. Sivrit walked up secretly and touched Gunther’s hand. Gunther was greatly troubled by his wiles. ‘What has touched me?’ thought the bold king.

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  He looked all about him—he could find no one standing there.

  Sivrit said: ‘It is I, Sivrit, your dear friend. You need have no fear whatever of the queen. Put the shield into my hands and let me carry