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

by Cyril Edwards

  852

  King Gunther replied: ‘That would be an ill deed on her part.’

  853

  ‘She is wearing my girdle here, which I lost, and my red gold. I shall deeply regret that I was ever born, unless you, king, can defend me against this great disgrace. If so, I shall always be grateful to you.’

  854

  Then King Gunther said: ‘Let him come forth. If he’s boasted of this, he must admit it in public, or else the hero of the Netherlands must deny it.’ They ordered that Kriemhilt’s lover be brought at once.

  855

  When Lord Sivrit saw the agitated women—he knew nothing of the matter—how quick he was to speak! ‘Why are these ladies weeping? I would gladly know the reason, or for what cause the king has sent for me.’

  856

  King Gunther replied: ‘This causes me great distress. My lady Prünhilt has said here that you have boasted of being the first to make love to her fair person—so Kriemhilt, your wife, says!’

  857

  Then mighty Sivrit said: ‘If she has said that, then it will cost her dear before I have done, and I will prove myself innocent to you of having said any such thing to her by the grave oaths I will swear before all your men.’

  858

  Then the King of the Rhineland said: ‘You must give proof of that. If the oath which you offer can be given here, I will absolve you from all falseness.’

  Then they bade the proud Burgundians stand in a circle.*

  859

  Valiant Sivrit offered his hand to swear the oath, but then the mighty king said: ‘Your entire innocence is so well known to me that I will absolve you of having done that of which my sister accuses you.’

  860

  Sivrit then replied: ‘If my wife were to get away with having caused Prünhilt dismay, that would grieve me beyond measure, rest assured.’

  The two gallant, worthy knights exchanged glances with one another then.

  861

  ‘Ladies should be brought up,’ said Sir Sivrit, ‘to refrain from insolent words. Forbid your wife to utter the like, and I will do the same to mine. I am truly ashamed of her most unbecoming behaviour.’

  862

  Many of the fair women were no longer on speaking terms. Prünhilt was so sad that Gunther’s men were bound to take pity on her. Then Hagen of Tronege came walking up to his lady.

  863

  Finding her in tears, he asked what troubled her. She told him what had happened. He vowed to her on the spot that Kriemhilt’s husband would pay for this, or he would never be happy about it.

  864

  Ortwin and Gernot joined the discussion, as the heroes plotted Sivrit’s death. Giselher, noble Uote’s son, also came up to them. When he heard what they were saying, he said in good faith: ‘You

  865

  most worthy warriors, why are you acting this way? Sivrit never merited such enmity that he should lose his life for such a cause. Mere trifles, after all, make women angry.’

  866

  ‘Are we to breed bastards?’* replied Hagen. ‘Such worthy warriors as we are would have little honour by that. I will die unless his boast of his dealings with my dear lady costs him his life.’

  867

  Then the king himself said: ‘He’s brought us nothing but profit and honour. He must be allowed to live. What would it avail if I were now to be hostile to the warrior? He was always loyal to us and most willing in our cause.’

  868

  Then Sir Ortwin of Metz said: ‘Even his great strength cannot help him now. If my lord permits it, I’ll do him harm.’

  The heroes had declared hostilities against Sivrit without cause.

  869

  No one would have pursued the matter, except that Hagen suggested again and again to Sir Gunther that if Sivrit were no longer alive, then many kings’ lands would become subject to him. Gunther the hero grew sorrowful at that.

  870

  Then they let the matter lie. Games were then to be seen there. Ah, what stout shafts were broken before the minster, before Sivrit’s wife, all the way to the great hall! There was anger among plenty of Gunther’s men. The king said: ‘Let such murderous anger be! Sivrit

  871

  was born to bring us bliss and honour. Moreover, the wondrously valiant* man is so ferociously strong—if he learned of this, no one would dare oppose him!’

  872

  ‘No, that’s not so,’ replied Hagen. ‘Keep your peace for now. I’m confident that in secret I can contrive that Prünhilt’s weeping will cost him dear. Hagen will forever be his enemy now!’

  873

  Then King Gunther said: ‘How might that be brought about?’

  Hagen answered: ‘I’ll tell you. We’ll have messengers whom no one knows here ride into our land, declaring hostilities openly. Then

  874

  you will announce before the guests that you and your men want to wage war. Once that is done, he’ll vow to serve you in the cause—he’ll lose his life by that. I’ll find out information that will serve us from the bold warrior’s wife.’

  875

  It was ill that the king took the advice of Hagen, his vassal. Those excellent knights began to contrive great disloyalty, before anyone could discover it. By the squabbling of two ladies, heroes in great numbers were doomed.

  876

  FIFTEENTH ADVENTURE

  HOW SIVRIT WAS BETRAYED

  ON the fourth morning after that, thirty-two men were seen to ride to court. Gunther, that powerful king, was then informed that hostilities had been declared against him. It was lies that caused ladies the greatest sorrow of all time. The messengers gained permission to

  877

  approach and said that they were Liudeger’s men—those that Sivrit’s hands had conquered before and brought as hostages into Gunther’s land. Gunther greeted the messengers then and bade them be seated.

  878

  One amongst them said: ‘Lord, let us stand until we have told the tidings that have been sent you. Indeed, many a mother’s child bears you enmity, let us tell you. Liudegast and Liudeger, on whom in the

  879

  past you inflicted such grievous injury, declare hostilities against you. They want to ride into your land with their armies.’

  The king grew angry when he heard those tidings. Then they

  880

  told the traitors to go to their lodgings. How could Sir Sivrit—he or anyone else—defend himself against what they contrived there? It was to bring the plotters themselves great grief in time to come.

  881

  The king walked about plotting with his allies. Hagen of Tronege never left him in peace. Plenty of the king’s men would have settled matters peacefully, but Hagen would never desist from what he counselled.

  882

  One day Sivrit found them plotting. Then the hero of the Netherlands asked: ‘How is it that the king and his men walk about in such sadness? I’ll always help them avenge it if anyone has done them any wrong.’

  883

  Lord Gunther replied: ‘I have good reason to grieve. Liudegast and Liudeger have declared hostilities against me. They want to ride in open battle into my land.’

  Then the bold warrior said: ‘Sivrit’s hands will take care to prevent

  884

  that and maintain all your honour. I will act against those warriors as I did before: I will lay waste to their castles and their lands before I have done with them—let my head be your pledge for that!

  885

  You and your warriors must stay at home here and let me ride against them with the men I have at my disposal. I shall prove to you that I serve you willingly. Your enemies will suffer at my hands, rest assured.’

  886

  ‘Happy am I to hear these tidings!’ replied the king, as if he were genuinely glad of the aid Sivrit had promised. Falsely, the disloyal king made him a deep bow.

  Then Lord Sivrit said: ‘You have very little cause for anxiety.’

/>   887

  Then they sent the squires ahead on the journey.* That was put on as a show for Sivrit and his men. He ordered the men of the Netherlands to make ready then. Sivrit’s warriors sought out warlike garb.

  888

  Then mighty Sivrit said: ‘My father Sigmunt, you must remain here. We will return to the Rhine in a short while, if God grants us good fortune. You must stay here with the king and be of good cheer.’

  889

  They tied their banners to their spears, intent on setting off. There were plenty of Gunther’s men present there who knew nothing of why this had happened. A great retinue could then be seen at Sivrit’s side. They tied their helmets and also their breastplates

  890

  together, placing them on the palfreys. Strong knights in great numbers made ready to leave the land. Then Hagen of Tronege went in search of Kriemhilt and asked to be given leave to depart—they were intent on leaving the land.

  891

  ‘Now happy am I’, said Kriemhilt then, ‘that I ever gained such a husband as dares stand so well at the head of my dear allies, as my lord Sivrit does before my friends! That puts me in high spirits,’ said the queen. ‘My dearest friend Hagen, remember that I will always

  892

  willingly serve you and never bore you enmity. Let my dear husband profit by that. He mustn’t pay for it if I have done Prünhilt any wrong. I regretted it afterwards,’ said the noble woman. ‘Indeed he

  893

  has beaten me so badly for ever saying anything that troubled her mind. The bold and worthy hero has avenged that well.’

  894

  Hagen said: ‘You’ll be well reconciled in days to come. Kriemhilt, dear lady, you must tell me how I can serve your husband Sivrit. I will do so willingly, lady, for I wish no one better fortune.’

  895

  ‘I’d be entirely free of fear’, said the noble woman, ‘that anyone might take his life in battle, if only he would not let his pride have the better of him. Otherwise the bold and worthy warrior would always be safe.’

  896

  ‘Lady,’ Hagen replied, ‘if you have any idea about how he might be wounded, you must tell me what cunning I am to employ to prevent it. I will always ride and walk with him to guard him.’

  897

  She said: ‘You are my kin, as I am yours. I commend my dear lover to you loyally, so that you may protect my husband.’ She told him tidings known to her which would have been better left unsaid. She said: ‘My husband is bold, and great in strength, too. When he slew the dragon by the mountain, the gallant warrior bathed in its blood, which is why no weapon has ever wounded him in onslaughts.

  899

  Yet I am anxious when he does battle and many javelins are hurled by heroes’ hands, that I may lose my dear husband. Oh, what great anxiety I often feel for Sivrit! I’ll tell you about it, my dearest friend,

  900

  trusting in the loyalty you bear me. I’ll let you hear where my dear husband can be wounded—I trust to your help in this. When the

  901

  hot blood flowed from the dragon’s wounds and the bold, worthy knight bathed in it, a broad linden leaf fell and landed between his shoulder-blades. At that spot he can be wounded—that is the cause of my great anxiety.’

  902

  Then Hagen of Tronege said: ‘Sew a small sign on his clothing. That way I will know where I can protect him when we stand in battle.’

  She then thought she was protecting the hero—it was to be the death of him. She said: ‘With fine silk I shall sew a secret cross on his

  903

  clothing. There, hero, your hands must protect my husband in the thick of it, when he stands before his enemies in the onslaughts.’

  904

  ‘I’ll do so, my dearest lady,’ replied Hagen.

  The lady did indeed imagine then that it would help Sivrit, but Kriemhilt’s husband was betrayed by that. Hagen took his leave then; he walked away in high spirits. The king’s retinue were all in

  905

  good spirits. I believe no warrior will ever again perpetrate such great treachery as Hagen did there, when Queen Kriemhilt entrusted her-self to his loyalty.

  906

  The following morning, with a thousand of his men, Lord Sivrit rode off in high spirits. He thought to avenge the wrong done to his friends. Hagen rode so close to him that he could examine his garments. When he saw the sign, he secretly sent off two of his men

  907

  who brought fresh tidings: Gunther’s land was to be left in peace, and Liudeger had sent them to tell the king of this.

  908

  How unwillingly Sivrit then rode back, without having avenged any of the wrongs done to his friends! Only with great difficulty could Gunther’s men persuade him to turn back. Then he rode up to the king. The lord began to thank him: ‘Now God reward you

  909

  for your good intent, friend Sivrit. I must ever seek to repay you as I rightly ought, for doing so willingly what I ask of you. I have faith in you above all my friends. Now that we have no cause to campaign,

  910

  I want to ride to the Vosges Forest to hunt bears and boar, as I have often done before.’ That had been the counsel of Hagen, that most disloyal of men. ‘Have all my guests told that we are riding off very

  911

  early. Let those who wish to hunt with me make themselves ready. Those who remain here to court the ladies do so with my blessing.’

  912

  Then Lord Sivrit said proudly: ‘Whenever you ride hunting, I will gladly go with you. You must lend me a tracker and a bercelet* or two, and I will ride into the woods.’

  913

  ‘Will you only take one tracker?’ replied the king at once. ‘If you like, I’ll lend you four who are very well acquainted with the forest and the paths that the beasts take, and won’t lead you astray when you ride to camp.’

  914

  Then the gallant warrior rode to his wife. Hagen had quickly told the king how he would overcome the mettlesome knight. Never should anyone practise such great disloyalty!

  915

  SIXTEENTH ADVENTURE

  HOW SIVRIT WAS SLAIN

  GUNTHER and Hagen, those valiant warriors, proclaimed in their disloyalty a hunting expedition into the forest. With their sharp javelins they were intent upon hunting boars, bears, and bison—what could be bolder? Sivrit rode along with them, proud in demeanour.

  916

  Provisions of various kinds were taken along for them. By a cold spring Sivrit was afterwards to lose his life. That was the counsel of Prünhilt, King Gunther’s wife.

  917

  The bold warrior then walked over to Kriemhilt. By now his fine hunting-clothes were packed on mules, both his and those of his companions. They wanted to cross the Rhine. Kriemhilt could never have been more unhappy than at that moment. Sivrit

  918

  kissed his beloved on the mouth. ‘May God let me see you hale and hearty again, lady, and let your eyes see me again! You must pass the time pleasantly with your dear kinsmen—I cannot remain at home here.’

  919

  Then she reflected upon what she had told Hagen. She dared not tell Sivrit of it. The noble queen then lamented that she had ever been born. Lord Sivrit’s wife wept beyond measure. She said to the

  920

  warrior: ‘Let your hunting be. I dreamt last night, to my grief, how two wild boars chased you over the heath, and flowers grew red there. In all truth, I have good reason to weep so sorely! I am sorely afraid of

  921

  some conspiracy or other, if we have served any of them ill and they are capable of inflicting hostile intent upon us. Stay here, dear lord—that is my loyal counsel.’

  922

  Sivrit replied: ‘My beloved, I’ll be back in a few days. I know of no people here who bear me any enmity. All your kinsmen, with no exception, are well disposed towards me. Nor have I deserved anything less from the warriors h
ere.’

  923

  ‘No, Lord Sivrit! Indeed I fear your fall! I dreamt last night, to my grief, how two mountains fell upon you—I never saw you again. If you want to part from me, it hurts me to the heart.’

  924

  He took his virtuous wife into his arms. Kissing her tenderly, he made love to her beautiful person. Taking his leave, he soon departed. (Sadly, she never saw him alive again.)

  925

  Then they rode off, deep into a forest, intent on amusement. Bold knights in great numbers followed Gunther and his men. Gernot and Giselher had stayed back home. Many horses crossed the Rhine

  926

  ahead of them, carrying bread and wine for the hunting party, meat and fish, and lots of other supplies such as so wealthy a king can readily command.

  927

  The proud, bold huntsmen ordered that camp be set up on the edge of the greenwood, close to where the game would emerge, there where they were to hunt on a broad island. Sivrit had also arrived by now—the king was told of this. The huntsmen then posted their relays* in all

  928

  directions. Then that bold man, mighty Sivrit, said: ‘Who is to direct us in pursuit of the game in the forest, you bold and brave heroes?’

  929

  ‘Shall we separate before we start hunting here?’ said Hagen then. ‘That way we will be able to tell, I and my lords, who are the best hunters on this expedition through the forest. We’ll share out all the

  930

  people and hounds. Then let everyone take whatever direction he wants. Whoever then hunts best shall have his thanks.’ The hunters did not stay together too long after those words.

  931

  Lord Sivrit then said: ‘I have no need of hounds except for one bercelet, which has tasted its reward* so that it can follow the beasts’ track through the wood. We’ll have fine hunting!’ said Kriemhilt’s husband.

  932

  Then an old huntsman brought over a good tracking-hound. It led its master in a short while to a place where they found lots of game. The party hunted down all the beasts that fled from their lairs, as good hunters still do today. Valiant Sivrit, the hero of the

  933

  Netherlands, slew with his hands all the beasts that the bercelet started up. His horse galloped so fast that none of them could escape him. He won the prize above all others in the hunt.