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

by Cyril Edwards

  1504

  The king’s officials ordered that the palace and great hall be equipped with seating on all sides for the dear guests who were to come. (In time to come they were to rob the king of much joy.)

  1505

  TWENTY-FIFTH ADVENTURE

  HOW THE NIBELUNGS TRAVELLED TO THE HUNS

  NOW let us tell no more of how they fared there. Prouder warriors never rode in such true splendour into any king’s land. They had all that they wanted, both weapons and garments. The overlord of the

  1506

  Rhine had clad his men—a thousand and sixty, so I have heard, and nine thousand squires—to go to the festivity. (Those whom they left back home were to weep over it in time to come.) Then they carried

  1507

  the harness across the courtyard in Worms. An old bishop from Speier there then said to fair Uote: ‘Our friends want to go to the festivity—may God guard their honour there!’

  1508

  Then noble Uote said to her sons: ‘You ought to remain here, worthy heroes. I dreamt last night of fearful peril—of how all the fowls in this land were dead.’

  1509

  ‘Anyone who puts his faith in dreams,’ said Hagen then, ‘does not know how to tell the truth when all his honour is at stake. I want my lord to go to court to take his leave. We must ride willingly into Etzel’s land. There worthy heroes’ hands may serve kings well, when we come to see Kriemhilt’s festivity there.’

  1510

  Hagen advised in favour of the journey, although he was to rue it afterwards. He would have advised against it, were it not that

  1511

  Gernot, with his uncouth words, had so insulted him; he had reminded him of Sivrit, Lady Kriemhilt’s husband. He had said: ‘That is why Hagen is not willing to go on the great journey to Etzel’s court.’

  1512

  Hagen of Tronege had replied: ‘I do nothing out of fear. You may set off as soon as you give the order, heroes. I’ll gladly ride with you into Etzel’s land.’ Helmets and rims in great numbers were afterwards hewn to pieces by Hagen.

  1513

  The skiffs had been made ready.* Men were present in great numbers there. All their garments were carried on board. They were kept very busy until evening. Afterwards they departed from the castle in high spirits. Pavilions and huts were pitched on the meadow on the

  1514

  other side of the Rhine. When that had been carried out, the king’s fair wife asked him to stay longer. That night she could yet make love to her gallant husband.

  1515

  Trumpets and flutes sounded out early next morning, when they were to depart. Then they set off. Whoever held his loved one in his arms made love to his beloved. (King Etzel’s wife was to part many of those with grief in time to come.)

  1516

  The sons of fair Uote had one vassal, bold and loyal. As they were about to depart he told the king his thoughts in secret. He said: ‘I cannot help being sad that you are making this journey to Etzel’s court.’ He was called Rumolt and was a man of mettle. He said:

  1517

  ‘To whom are you abandoning your people and your lands? Alas that no one can change your minds, you warriors! Kriemhilt’s tidings never seemed good to me.’

  1518

  ‘Let the land and my baby be commended to you, and serve the ladies well—that is what I wish. If you see anyone weeping, give her comfort. King Etzel’s wife will never do us harm.’

  1519

  The horses for the kings and their men had been made ready. Great numbers of men, all in high spirits then, departed with loving kisses. (Comely women in great numbers were to weep over this in time to come.) When they saw the bold warriors walk over to the

  1520

  horses, many ladies were seen to stand there in sadness. Their minds spoke to them of a very long parting and of great harm to come, such as always brings sorrow to the heart.

  1521

  The bold Burgundians set off. The land was full of bustle then. On both sides of the hills women and men wept. Despite the tears of their people, they departed merrily. The heroes of Nibelunc*

  1522

  departed with them, in a thousand hauberks. They had left behind them at home great numbers of fair ladies, whom they never beheld again. (Sivrit’s wounds hurt Kriemhilt hard.)

  1523

  Then Gunther’s men directed their journey towards the Main, up through East Franconia. Hagen led them there—he knew the country well. Their marshal was Dancwart, that hero of Burgundy. As they rode from East Franconia towards Swalefeld,

  1524

  their proud demeanour was clearly to be observed, that of the princes and their kinsmen, those renowned heroes. On the twelfth morning the king came to the Danube. Hagen of Tronege then rode ahead

  1525

  of them all. He was a helpful comfort to the Nibelungs. Then the bold warrior alighted upon the shore; he quickly tied his horse to a tree.

  1526

  The river was in flood, the skiffs hidden from their sight. The Nibelungs were greatly troubled as to how they were to cross—the flood-tide was too broad for them. Gallant knights in great numbers alighted upon the ground then.

  1527

  ‘Harm may well befall you here, overlord of the Rhine,’ said Hagen then. ‘You can see for yourself now that the river is in flood; its current is very strong. I believe we will lose many worthy heroes here before the day is out.’

  1528

  ‘Why do you reproach me, Hagen?’ said the proud king. ‘For your own repute’s sake do not discourage us further. You must seek a ford for us to cross over to the land there, so that we can take both our horses and garments across.’

  1529

  ‘I’m not so weary of life,’ said Hagen, ‘that I want to drown in these wide waves. Before that many a man will die at my hands in Etzel’s lands—that is my firm intent. Stay by the river, you proud and worthy knights. I myself will seek the ferrymen by the tide, who will take us across into Gelpfrat’s land.’

  1530

  Then strong Hagen took hold of his good shield’s rim. He was most

  1531

  well armed. He took his shield with him. His helmet was buckled on; it shone brightly. Over his chainmail he then bore a broad sword, both of whose edges cut fiercely. He went up and down in search of the

  1532

  ferrymen. He heard water plashing in a fair spring. He listened—it was wise women, who wanted to cool themselves there and were bathing. Hagen caught sight of them; he sneaked after them secretly.

  1533

  When they grew aware of him they hurried away. They were happy to escape him. He took their clothing from them—the hero did them no other harm.

  1534

  Then one of the water-sprites—she was called Hadeburc—said: ‘Hagen, noble knight, if you, bold warrior, give us back our clothes, we will tell you here how this journey of yours to the court of the Huns will turn out.’

  1535

  They were floating in front of him like birds on the waves.* He thought therefore that they must be wise and cunning. He was all the more ready to believe all that they would tell him. They gave him a full answer to what he then asked of them.

  1536

  She said: ‘You may ride with confidence into Etzel’s land. I place my good faith as a pledge to you here and now that no heroes ever made better progress into any realm in such high honour. Rest assured of that.’

  1537

  Hagen was happy at heart then to hear those words. He gave them their clothes then and tarried no longer. When they had put on their wondrous garments they told him the truth about the journey into Etzel’s land. The other water-sprite, whose name was

  1538

  Sigelint, spoke then: ‘I will warn you, Hagen, Aldrian’s son. My aunt has lied to you because of our clothes. If you arrive among the Huns, you’ll be badly betrayed. Indeed, you ought to turn back—it is high

  1539

  time
, for you bold heroes are invited to meet with certain death in Etzel’s land. All that ride there are doomed to die.’

  1540

  Then Hagen replied: ‘There is no need for you to deceive me. How might it happen that we should all lie dead there because of anyone’s enmity?’

  They gave him a better-informed account. The second of them

  1541

  spoke again: ‘It is so fated that none of you can survive there except for the king’s chaplain—we have full knowledge of this. He will return hale and healthy to Gunther’s land.’

  1542

  Bold Hagen replied in a grim mood: ‘Those would be harsh words to tell my lord—that we are all to lose our lives amongst the Huns. Now show us how to cross the river, wisest of all women.’

  1543

  She said: ‘Since you won’t abandon your journey—upstream by the river stands a lodge in which a ferryman lives. No other is to be found anywhere.’

  He refrained from asking for further tidings then.

  1544

  One of the water-sprites called out after the wrathful warrior: ‘Now stay a while, Sir Hagen, you are in far too great haste. Hear more about how you are to cross to the far shore. This march’s lord is called Else. His brother is called Sir Gelpfrat, a lord in Bavaria.

  1545

  It will be very hard for you if you want to make your way through his march. You must be on your guard, and treat the ferryman with great discernment. He is so ferocious that he will not let you live unless

  1546

  you act well towards the hero. If you want him to ferry you over, then give him his reward. He keeps guard over this land and is dear to Gelpfrat. If he doesn’t come in good time, then call out over the

  1547

  river and say you are called Amelrich. He was a worthy hero who left this land out of enmity. The ferryman will come over to you when his name is named to him.’

  1548

  Haughty Hagen bowed to the ladies then. He spoke no more, but held his peace. Then he walked higher upstream to the shore, where he found a lodge on the far bank. He shouted out loud across the

  1549

  river: ‘Fetch me from here now, ferryman,’ called the worthy knight, ‘and I’ll give you a torque of red gold as a reward. I am sorely in need of this crossing, believe me!’

  1550

  The ferryman was so wealthy that serving others did not become him, which is why he seldom accepted anyone’s reward there. His squires were also full of pride. Hagen still stood alone on this side of the river. Then he shouted out with such power that all the waves

  1551

  resounded, for that hero’s strength was great and mighty: ‘Fetch me now—I am Amelrich, Else’s vassal, who fled from this land in face of fierce hostilities!’

  1552

  Held high on his sword, Hagen offered him a torque, bright and beautiful, red with gold, if he would ferry him across into Gelpfrat’s land. The haughty ferryman himself took the rudder into his hands.

  1553

  It so happened that that ferryman had lately married. Lust for great wealth leads to an evil end. He wanted then to earn Hagen’s gold, so red it was. For that he suffered death by the knight’s fierce sword-work.*

  1554

  The ferryman eagerly pulled across to the bank. When he did not find the man he had heard named there, he grew bitterly angry at the sight of Hagen. Ferociously he then said to the knight: ‘You may well

  1555

  be called Amelrich, yet you bear little likeness to the man I expected to find here. He was my brother, on both my father’s and mother’s side. Since you have deceived me, you must stay on this side of the river!’

  1556

  ‘No, by Almighty God!’ replied Hagen. ‘I am a warrior, a stranger to these lands, and have knights in my care. Now accept my payment in friendship today, and ferry me across—I will be truly beholden to you.’

  1557

  The ferryman then said: ‘That cannot be. My dear lords have foes, which is why I will ferry no stranger into this land. If your life is dear to you, step quickly out onto the shore.’

  1558

  ‘Now don’t do this,’ said Hagen, ‘for I am sad at heart. Accept in friendship this fine gold from me, and ferry across a thousand horses, and as many men for us.’

  The grim ferryman replied: ‘That will never be.’ He lifted up a

  1559

  mighty oar, massive and broad, and struck such a blow at Hagen—to his dismay!—that he stumbled to his knees in the skiff. The man of Tronege had never met with such a fierce ferryman. He wanted then

  1560

  to provoke the haughty stranger to even greater anger. He broke a pole into smithereens upon Hagen’s head—he was a mighty man! Yet Else’s ferryman paid dearly for that there. Grimly, Hagen reached at

  1561

  once for his scabbard, where he found his sword. He struck off his head and threw it down onto the riverbed. Those tidings soon became known to the proud Burgundians.

  1562

  While he had been slaying the boatman, the skiff had drifted downstream, to Hagen’s great trouble. Before he could right her again he grew weary. King Gunther’s vassal pulled with all his might then.

  1563

  With powerful pulls the stranger turned her about, pulling so hard that the stout oar broke in his hand. He wanted to moor her on the shore near the warriors. Now no oar remained. Oh, how swiftly he then bound it together there with a shield-strap—that was a slender

  1564

  braid! He turned her downstream towards a forest. There he found his lord standing by the bank. Gallant men in great numbers then came towards him. Those bold, worthy knights greeted him

  1565

  heartily. Then they saw in the skiff the reeking blood from the mighty wound which Hagen had dealt the ferryman. The knights put plenty of questions to Hagen then.

  1566

  When King Gunther beheld the hot blood floating in the skiff, how quick he then was to speak! ‘Why don’t you tell me, Hagen, what has become of the ferryman? I believe your mighty courage has cost him his life!’

  1567

  Hagen replied, denying this: ‘There where I found the skiff, by a wild willow, my hand untied it. I’ve seen no ferryman here today. Nor has anyone come to grief because of me here.’

  1568

  Then Lord Gernot of Burgundy said: ‘I must fear for the death of dear friends today, since we have no boatmen at our disposal. I am troubled as to how we are to cross the river.’

  1569

  Loudly Hagen called out then: ‘Lay the harness down upon the grass, you squires. I believe I was the very best ferryman ever found by the Rhine. I trust I can take you safely over into Gelpfrat’s land.’

  1570

  So that they might cross the flooding river the more quickly, they drove their horses ahead with blows. They swam well, for the strong waves deprived them of none of them there. One or two drifted far downstream, so wearied were they.

  1571

  Then they carried their gold, and also their garments, onto the skiff, since there was nothing for it but to make the crossing. Hagen was captain there; he led wealthy warriors in great numbers onto the shore, into a land unknown to them. First he took over a thousand

  1572

  proud knights, thereafter his own warriors. There were more of them still. He took nine thousand squires across into that land. The bold man of Tronege had much to do that day.

  1573

  When he had brought them safe and sound across the flooded river, that bold and worthy knight thought back to the strange tidings that the wild water-sprites had told him earlier. The king’s chaplain almost lost his life by that. He found the chaplain by the chapel-baggage.*

  1574

  He was leaning with his hand on the relics. That was of no avail to him. Once Hagen had caught sight of him, the poor priest of God had troubles in store. Hagen hastily threw him out of the

 
; 1575

  skiff. Plenty of them called out: ‘Catch hold now, sir, catch hold!’ Young Giselher grew angry at this, but Hagen was bent on doing the chaplain harm.

  1576

  Then Lord Gernot of Burgundy said: ‘Now what will the chaplain’s death avail you, Hagen? If anyone else had done this, you’d have been angered at it! For what reason have you turned against the priest?’

  1577

  The priest swam urgently—he wanted to save his life, if anyone could come to his aid. That could not be then, for mighty Hagen was in a very angry mood. He thrust him down to the riverbed—no one thought well of that. When the poor clergyman saw no help

  1578

  forthcoming, he crossed back over, suffering great distress. Although he was no swimmer, God’s hand helped him emerge onto land again, safe and sound. Then the poor priest stood there and shook his

  1579

  clothes. Hagen saw clearly by this that there was no help for it, that the wild water-sprites had told him the truth. He thought: ‘These knights are doomed to lose their lives.’

  1580

  When they had unloaded their cargo from the skiff and carried it all onto land, all that the three kings’ men had had on board, Hagen struck the skiff into pieces and threw it into the flooded river. The bold and worthy warriors wondered greatly at this. ‘Why are you

  1581

  doing this, brother?’ asked Dancwart. ‘How are we to cross when we ride back from the Huns to our land by the Rhine?’ (Afterwards Hagen told him that that could not be.)

  1582

  The hero of Tronege replied: ‘I am doing this in the belief that if we have any coward on this journey who wants to run away from us, daunted in the face of danger, he will yet have to suffer shameful death in these waves.’

  1583

  There was one that they took with them from Burgundy, a man of mettle, who was named Volker. He voiced all his opinions with cunning. All that Sir Hagen ever undertook seemed good to the fiddler.

  1584

  Their chargers were readied, their packhorses well laden. They had suffered no losses to trouble them as yet on their journey, except for the king’s chaplain. He had to make his way back to the Rhine on his own two feet.