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

by Cyril Edwards

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  sake, and also for the sake of Kriemhilt, the fair maiden, and then the proud maid and I will always reward you.’

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  When Sivrit heard those words, the warrior was most willing. ‘Now tell me all that you wish to be said. Nothing will be kept

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  back. I will gladly carry out the errand for the sake of that beautiful maiden. Why should I refuse anything for the sake of her whom I hold in my heart? All that you command in her name will be done.’

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  ‘In that case, tell my mother, Queen Uote, that we are in high spirits on this journey of ours. Let my brothers know how we have fared. You must also tell our friends these tidings. Keep nothing back from my

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  fair sister. Give her my homage, and that of Prünhilt, and greet also my retinue and all my vassals. I have accomplished what my heart always strove for! And tell Ortwin, my dear kinsman, to have seating set up

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  at Worms on the Rhine, and my other kinsmen must also be told of this. I want to hold a great festivity, together with Prünhilt. And tell

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  my sister that as soon as she has heard that I, together with my guests, have landed, she is to take pains to give my beloved a good welcome. I will always be indebted to Kriemhilt for that.’

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  Lord Sivrit quickly took his leave of Lady Prünhilt, as well became him, and of all her retinue. Then he rode to the Rhine. There could be no better messenger in this world. He rode to Worms, then, with

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  twenty-four warriors. He arrived without the king. When that was told, all the household was troubled by anxiety. They feared that their lord lay dead in foreign lands.

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  Then the messengers dismounted from their horses. They were in high spirits. Quickly Giselher, the young, noble king, came towards them, and Gernot his brother. How quick he was to speak, when he saw that King Gunther was not with Sivrit: ‘Welcome, Sivrit! You

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  must tell me where you have left my brother the king. I believe Prünhilt’s strength has taken him from us. In that case his noble love of her has cost us very dear!’

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  ‘Have no fear of that! My companion-in-arms sends his greetings to you and his kinsmen. I left him hale and hearty. He has sent me to you to be his messenger, bringing tidings into your land.

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  You must see to it with all speed, no matter how it comes about, that I see the queen and your sister. I am to let them hear what messages Gunther and Prünhilt have sent them. They are both in fine fettle.’

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  Young Giselher replied: ‘In that case, you must go to her. You will have brought my sister much joy by this. She is also very anxious about my brother. The maiden will be glad to see you, I guarantee you.’

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  Then Lord Sivrit said: ‘All that I can do to serve her will be done most willingly and loyally. Who is to tell the ladies, now, that I want to go to them?’

  Giselher, that most handsome man, then acted as messenger.

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  Bold Giselher said to his mother, and also to his sister, as soon as he saw them: ‘Sivrit, the hero from the Netherlands, has come to us. My brother Gunther has sent him here to the Rhine. He brings us

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  tidings of how things stand with the king. You must give him leave now to come to court. He will tell the true tidings of what has happened over in Iceland.’

  As yet the noble ladies were no strangers to great anxiety. They

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  leapt for their robes and dressed themselves at once. They asked Sivrit to come to court. He did so willingly, glad as he was to see them. Noble Kriemhilt spoke graciously to him: ‘Welcome, Sir Sivrit,

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  renowned knight! Where is my brother Gunther, that noble, mighty king? I believe we’ve lost him because of Prünhilt’s strength. Alas for me, poor maiden, that ever I was born into this world!’

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  The bold knight replied: ‘Now give me my messenger’s bread!* You most lovely ladies are weeping without need. I left him hale and hearty, I assure you. He and Prünhilt have sent me here to you both with these tidings. Gunther and his beloved offer you devoted service

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  and loving affection, most noble queen. Cease your weeping, now. They will soon arrive.’

  Not for a long time had she heard such dear tidings. Her weeping

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  over, she wiped her lovely eyes on snow-white sleeves. She began to thank the messenger for the tidings that had come to her there. Much sadness and many tears had then been banished from her. She

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  asked the messenger to sit down. He did so most readily. Then the lovely princess said: ‘I would be far from sorry to give you my gold as a messenger’s reward. You are too wealthy for that, yet I will always hold you dear.’

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  ‘Even if I alone possessed thirty lands,’ said he, ‘yet I would still gladly receive a gift from your hands.’

  The virtuous princess replied: ‘Then that shall be done.’

  She ordered her chamberlain to fetch the messenger’s reward.

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  She gave him twenty-four torques inlaid with precious stones as a reward. Yet the hero was not disposed to keep them. He at once gave them to the most intimate members of her retinue, whom he saw present in the chamber. Kriemhilt’s mother most graciously offered him her service.

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  ‘I am to tell you tidings’, said the bold warrior, ‘of what Gunther asks of you when he comes to the Rhine. If you carry this out, lady, he will always hold you dear. I heard him ask that you should give a

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  good welcome to his wealthy guests, and should do him the favour of riding out beyond Worms to the shore to meet him.* The king has urged you to do this out of your true loyalty.’

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  The lovely princess replied: ‘I am most willing to do so. No service that I can do for him will be refused. Let it be done in loving loyalty.’ Her colour deepened out of joy.

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  No prince’s messenger was ever better welcomed. If Kriemhilt had dared to kiss him, the lady would have done so. How charmingly he parted from the ladies!

  Then the Burgundians did as Sivrit advised them. Sindolt and

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  Hunolt, and Sir Rumolt, were then obliged to be at their busiest, setting up the seating on the shore outside Worms. The kings’ stewards were found to be hard at work then. Ortwin and Gere by no

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  means wished to omit to send for their friends, wherever they might be, telling them of the festivity that was to be held there. The beautiful maidens donned their finery for the occasion. The palace and its

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  walls were all decorated* to meet the guests. Gunther’s great hall was well furnished with tables for the many strangers. This great festivity began most joyfully. From all directions the three kings’ kinsmen,

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  who had been sent for to greet those who were to arrive, rode along the roads through the land. Many sumptuous garments were taken out of their folds there.

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  Soon the tidings were told that Prünhilt’s friends had been seen on horseback. Much ado arose then among the crowds of people in Burgundy. Ah, what bold knights were to be found in both parties there!

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  Then fair Kriemhilt said: ‘Let those of my maidens who want to be with me at the reception seek their very best clothes out of the chests. Then the guests will speak words of praise and honour about us.’

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  Then the warriors also arrived. They ordered that the splendid saddles, all of red gold, should be brought over. The ladies were to ride to Worms on the Rhine. No better harness might ever be found anywhere. Ah, what bright gold shone from the palfreys! Great numbers of gems gleamed from the reins. Golden mounting-stools, placed upon fi
ne bright phellel-silk, were brought for the ladies. They were in joyful spirits. In the courtyard the palfreys stood ready

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  for the noble damsels (as I have told you). The horses were seen to wear slender breast-straps, of the best silk of which any tongue might tell. They saw eighty-six ladies emerge from their chambers, wearing

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  head-dresses.* Those beautiful ladies walked in great splendour over to Kriemhilt, wearing bright clothing. Then many comely maidens came up in their finery, fifty-four of them from Burgundy.

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  They were, moreover, the highest-born to be found anywhere there. They saw them walk forward, with blonde hair beneath bright braids. All that the king had requested before had been attentively carried out. They wore rich phellel-silks, the best to be found, before

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  the warriors who were strangers to them—as many good garments as befitted their abundant beauty. A man would have to be in poor spirits to wish any of them ill. Many garments of sable and ermine were

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  to be found there. Many an arm and hand was elegantly adorned by torques, over the silks they were to wear there. No one could describe to you in full the efforts to which they had put themselves. Hands

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  in great numbers had flung about them many skilfully sewn girdles, rich and long, over bright dresses of phellel-silk from Araby, on top of precious skirts of farandine.* The noble damsels were in the highest of spirits. Many a fair maiden was laced in by braids, most prettily

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  sewn. Any one of them would have been distressed if her bright hue did not match her garments in radiance. No king’s kin has such a fair retinue nowadays. The lovely ladies having now put on their

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  apparel, those who were to escort them immediately arrived, a great army of proud warriors. They carried along with them shields and ashen spears in great numbers.

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  TENTH ADVENTURE

  HOW PRÜNHILT WAS WELCOMED IN WORMS

  ON the other side of the Rhine they saw the king with his guests making his way to the shore,* with numerous companies. Many maidens could also be seen, their horses led by the reins. All those who were to welcome them were in readiness. When the people from

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  Iceland boarded the skiffs, and also Sivrit’s men from the land of the Nibelungs, they made haste, rowing hard, to land on the shore on the other side, where the king’s friends were to be found.

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  Now hear also these tidings of the queen, Uote the most mighty—how she herself then rode there, bringing the maidens from the castle. Knights and maidens in great numbers made each other’s acquaintance there.

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  Duke Gere led Kriemhilt by the reins, but no further than the castle-gate. Bold Sivrit was to be at her service from then on—she was a beautiful girl. In time to come he would be well rewarded by the damsel. Bold Ortwin rode alongside Lady Uote, with many

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  knights and maidens keeping each other company. We can readily aver that never were so many ladies seen alongside one another at such a great welcoming.

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  Magnificent bohorts in great numbers were seen, ridden by renowned heroes before beautiful Kriemhilt, all the way down to the skiffs. (It would have been ill if that had been overlooked!) Then many well-favoured ladies were helped down from their palfreys.

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  The king had crossed the river, with many noble guests. Ah, what sturdy shafts were broken before the ladies! Many shields were heard to clash in the charge there. Ah, what splendid shield-buckles resounded loudly in the collisions!

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  The lovely ladies stood in the harbour. Gunther and his guests disembarked from the skiffs. He himself led Prünhilt by the hand. Many bright gems and garments reflected one another there. With

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  great decorum Lady Kriemhilt then walked over to welcome Lady Prünhilt and her retinue. Bright hands were seen to push back hairbands* there, as they kissed one another—that was a mark of courtesy.

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  Then the maiden Kriemhilt said courteously: ‘I and my mother bid you welcome to these lands, as do all the loyal allies we have.’ They then bowed there. The ladies embraced one another time and again.

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  Never was a more charming welcoming heard of than that which the two ladies bestowed upon the bride. Lady Uote and her daughter kissed her sweet mouth time and again.

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  When all of Prünhilt’s ladies had landed on the shore, many well-favoured women were then taken by the hand, most charmingly, by handsome warriors. The beautiful maidens could be seen standing before Lady Prünhilt. It took a long time until all their greetings

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  had been exchanged. Many rosy mouths were kissed there! The powerful princesses were still standing next to one another. Renowned warriors in great numbers rejoiced at the sight. Then those who had

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  heard tell before that they would never have seen anyone as beautiful as those two ladies studied them with their eyes—it was no lie that had been told. Moreover, no trace of deception* was to be perceived in their persons. Those who knew how to judge ladies and lovely

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  persons praised Gunther’s wife for her beauty. The discerning there said that they had observed more closely, and that Kriemhilt might readily be accounted more fair than Prünhilt. The maidens and married

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  women went up to one another. Fair figures in great numbers could be seen there, well adorned.

  Silken tents and many splendid pavilions stood there, so that the whole plain outside Worms was full to the brim. The king’s kinsmen

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  jostled one another there. Then Prünhilt and Kriemhilt, with all the other ladies, were told to go into the shade.* The knights of Burgundy escorted them there.

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  Now the guests had also all mounted their chargers. Splendid jousts in great numbers pierced shields. So much dust was raised over the plain that it seemed as if the whole land were ablaze with fire. Heroes won renown there. Maidens in great numbers observed

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  the prowess of the warriors there. I think Sir Sivrit charged backwards and forwards in front of the tents, time and again, with his knights. He led a thousand handsome men from the land of the Nibelungs.

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  Then Hagen of Tronege arrived at his lord’s behest. The hero then parted the bohort amicably, so that the beautiful girls should not be covered in dust. The guests soon obeyed, with no ill feeling. Then

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  Lord Gernot said: ‘Let the chargers stand until it begins to turn cool. Then we shall joust to serve fair women before the great hall. Make sure that you are ready when the king wishes to ride.’

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  When the bohort was at an end all over the plain, the knights walked over to the ladies to converse pleasantly beneath many high pavilions, in the hope of great delights to come. There they passed the time until they wished to ride further. Before evening drew in,

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  when the sun went down and it began to turn cool, they postponed their ride no longer; many men and women headed off towards the castle. Fair ladies in great numbers were gazed at with amorous eyes.

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  Worthy heroes had ridden many of their clothes to rags there, as was the proud custom of the land, before the king dismounted outside the great hall. There the ladies were accorded such service as proud heroes still practise.

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  Then the mighty queens were separated. Lady Uote and her daughter both went with their retinue into a most spacious chamber. Everywhere joyful clamour was to be heard then. Seats were set up.

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  The king wanted to go to table with his guests. Fair Prünhilt was then seen standing at his side. She wore a crown then in the king’s land. She did, indeed, have power in plenty.

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  We are told that seats were set up in great numbers for the people there, with good, broad tables laden with food. How little was lacking of what they needed there! Proud guests in great numbers were to be seen then in the king’s presence. The host’s chamberlains brought

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  the water* in basins of red gold. There would be little point in anyone telling you that better service took place at any other prince’s festivity—I wouldn’t believe it!

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  Before the overlord of the Rhine took water, Lord Sivrit then acted as became him. He reminded him of his loyalty and what he had promised him before he saw Prünhilt at her home in Iceland.

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  He said: ‘You must bear in mind the oath that your hand swore,* that if Lady Prünhilt ever came to this land you would give me your sister. What has become of those oaths? I underwent great hardship during your journey.’

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  The king replied to his guest: ‘You do right to remind me. Indeed, my hand shall not commit perjury. I’ll help you bring this about as best I can.’

  Then they bade Kriemhilt go to court before the king. With her

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  fair maidens she came up to the hall. Giselher then leapt down a staircase: ‘Now, bid these maidens turn back! None but my sister is to be here with the king!’

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  Then Kriemhilt was taken into the king’s presence. Noble knights stood there from many princes’ lands. They were ordered to stand in silence in the spacious hall. Lady Prünhilt had then made her way right up to the king’s table. Then King Gunther said: ‘Most comely

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  sister, fulfil my oath out of your own courtesy! I have promised you by oath to a warrior, and if he becomes your husband, then you will have carried out my wishes with great loyalty.’

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  The noble maiden replied: ‘My dearest brother, there is no need for you to plead with me. It will always be my wish to carry out all that you command of me. I will gladly pledge myself to the man whom you, lord, give me for a husband.’

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  Sivrit blushed as a loving glance was bestowed on him. The warrior pledged himself to Lady Kriemhilt’s service. They were told to stand next to one another in the ring.* They asked if she were willing to take the handsome man. She was somewhat embarrassed in