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

by Cyril Edwards

  1916

  Kriemhilt, King Etzel’s wife, also heard those words.

  1917

  ‘These knights ought to have every confidence in him,’ said Hagen, ‘if he grows to manhood, but the young king has such a doomed look about him—seldom shall I be seen to go to court for Ortliep’s sake.’

  1918

  The king glanced at Hagen—his words displeased him. Although the gallant prince said no more about it, it troubled his heart and weighed upon his mind. Hagen was not then in any mood for sport.

  1919

  What Hagen had said about the child hurt all the princes, as well as the king. They were dismayed that they had to tolerate it. (They knew nothing of what would afterwards befall them at the hands of that warrior.)

  1920

  THIRTY-SECOND ADVENTURE

  HOW DANCWART SLEW BLŒDELIN

  ALL of Blœdelin’s warriors were at the ready. Clad in a thousand hauberks, they headed off to where Dancwart sat with the squires at table. The greatest hostility ever known among heroes arose there.

  1921

  When Lord Blœdelin went up to the tables, Dancwart the marshal took pains to welcome him: ‘Welcome to this house, my lord Blœdelin. I wonder greatly at this—what is amiss?’

  1922

  ‘There’s no need for you to greet me,’ said Blœdelin, ‘for my coming here must be the death of you, because of Hagen your brother, who slew Sivrit. You will pay for that at the hands of the Huns, as will plenty of other knights.’

  1923

  ‘No, Lord Blœdelin!’ replied Dancwart. ‘In that case we would have good reason to regret this journey to a foreign court. I was a small child when Sivrit lost his life.* I don’t know what cause King Etzel’s wife has to reproach me.’

  1924

  ‘I have nothing more to say to you. It was your kinsmen, Gunther and Hagen, who did the deed. Defend yourselves now, strangers to this land. You cannot survive! You must repay Kriemhilt with your deaths.’

  1925

  ‘You will not relent, then?’ said Dancwart. ‘In that case I regret pleading with you—it would have been better if I had saved my breath.’ The bold, valiant warrior leapt away from the table. He drew a sharp sword, huge and long. Then he dealt Blœdelin such a fierce blow with his sword that his head at once lay at his feet. ‘Let that be

  1926

  your dowry,’ said Dancwart the warrior, ‘for Nuodunc’s bride, to whom you wanted to make love! They can marry her to another man

  1927

  tomorrow. If he wants the dowry, he will be dealt with in the same way!’ A most loyal Hun had told him that the queen was plotting such grievous wrongs against them.

  1928

  When Blœdelin’s men saw that their lord lay slain, they would no longer tolerate such treatment from the strangers. Swinging their swords high, they leapt up to the squires in a grim mood. Great numbers of them rued that in time to come. Loudly Dancwart then

  1929

  called out to all the retinue: ‘You see clearly, noble squires, what is to come! Defend yourselves, strangers to this land! In truth, we have dire need to do so, although noble Kriemhilt sent us such a gracious invitation.’ Those who had no swords reached beneath the benches

  1930

  and lifted great numbers of tall stools from amongst their feet. The squires of Burgundy were not going to take such treatment from the Huns. Many helmets were dented by heavy stools then! How grimly

  1931

  then the foreign lads defended themselves! They drove the armed men out of the hall, yet five hundred or more of them were left dead inside. The retinue then was red and wet with blood.

  1932

  Etzel’s warriors were told of those awful tidings—it grieved them greatly—that Blœdelin and his men had been slain. Hagen’s brother, together with the squires, had done that deed. Before the king could

  1933

  find out, two thousand or even more of the Huns, full of hostility, had made themselves ready. They made their way to the squires—there was no help for it—and left not a single one of the retinue alive.

  1934

  Those traitors led a mighty army up to the hall. The foreign squires defended themselves well. What did their bold courage avail them? They were inevitably slain. Grievous anguish arose soon after that.

  1935

  Now you may hear marvels and monstrous tidings! Nine thousand squires lay slain, along with twelve knights of Dancwart’s men. He alone was to be seen still standing among his foes.

  1936

  The din had died down, the clamour had ceased. Then Dancwart the warrior looked over his shoulder. He said: ‘Alas for the friends whom I have lost! Now I fear I must stand alone among my foes.’ The

  1937

  swords rained down upon the sole survivor. Heroes’ wives in great numbers were to weep over that thereafter. He shifted his shield higher, lowering the grip. He made much chainmail wet with the blood that then flowed.

  1938

  ‘Alas for these sorrows of mine!’ said Aldrian’s son. ‘Make way now, you Hunnish warriors, let me get at the wind, so that the air may cool me, battle-weary as I am.’ They saw the warrior stride in great splendour then. When the warrior, wearied by the battle,

  1939

  leapt out of the hall, what fresh swords rang out upon his helmet! Those who had not beheld what marvels his hands had wrought leapt to encounter the man of Burgundy. ‘Would God, now,’

  1940

  said Dancwart, ‘that I might have a messenger who could let my brother Hagen know that I stand in such peril before these warriors! He would help me away from here, or he would lie dead alongside me!’

  1941

  Then the Hunnish warriors said: ‘You yourself must be that messenger when we bear your dead body before your brother. Only then will Gunther’s vassal see his sorrows. You have caused King Etzel such great losses here!’

  1942

  Dancwart said: ‘Leave off your threats now, and stand further back. I shall still make a few men’s chainmail wet! I myself will tell the tidings at court and will also lament my great troubles to my lords.’

  1943

  He had made himself so repugnant to Etzel’s men that they dared not attack him with their swords. Then they shot so many javelins into his rim that the weight made him drop his shield from his hand.

  1944

  They believed then that they would vanquish him, as he bore no shield. Oh, what deep wounds he struck through their helmets, causing great numbers of bold men to stumble before him! Bold Dancwart won great fame by those deeds.

  1945

  They leapt at him from both sides, but some few of them entered the battle too early. He walked before the foes then as a wild boar in the forest does before the hounds! How could he have been bolder? His trail was once again wet with hot blood. No single warrior could

  1946

  ever have fought better against his foes than he had done. They saw Hagen’s brother stride proudly to court.

  1947

  Stewards and cup-bearers had heard the sound of swords. Great numbers of them then threw from their hands the drink and various foods they had carried to court. Strong foes in plenty met him before the steps.

  1948

  ‘How now, you stewards?’ said the weary warrior. ‘It is for you to treat your guests kindly and carry good food in for the lords, and let me, for my part, tell tidings to my dear lords.’ He struck such heavy

  1949

  blows with his swinging sword against several of those who had the courage to leap down the steps towards him, that out of fear they had to back off higher. His mighty courage had wrought a great many marvels.

  1950

  THIRTY-THIRD ADVENTURE

  HOW THE BURGUNDIANS FOUGHT AGAINST THE HUNS

  WHEN bold Dancwart stepped beneath the door, he asked Etzel’s retinue to stand further back. All his garments were dripping with blood; he carried a mighty sword, unsheathed, in hi
s hand. Loudly

  1951

  Dancwart then called out to the warrior: ‘You have sat here all too long, brother Hagen! To you and God in Heaven I lament our anguish! Both knights and squires lie dead in the lodgings.’

  1952

  Hagen called out to him: ‘Who has done this?’ ‘It was Lord Blœdelin and his men. He’s paid dearly for it, too, I can tell you. With my own hands I struck off his head.’

  1953

  ‘It is no great loss,’ Hagen replied, ‘if it is said of a knight that he has lost his life at warriors’ hands. Comely women ought to lament him all the less. Now tell me, brother Dancwart, how do you come to

  1954

  be so red? I believe you suffer great anguish from your wounds. If he who’s done this to you is anywhere in this land, it will cost him his life, unless the Foul Fiend preserves him!’

  1955

  ‘You see me hale and healthy—my clothes are wet with blood. That has been brought about by other men’s wounds, so many of whom I have slain today. Even on oath I could never tell you the number.’

  1956

  Hagen said: ‘Brother Dancwart, in that case guard the door for us and do not let a single one of the Huns out. I want to talk with the warriors, as our peril compels us. Our retinue lies dead before them, a fate they have not deserved.’

  1957

  ‘If I am to be chamberlain,’ said bold Dancwart, ‘I know how to serve such mighty kings well. I shall see to the stairs as befits my honour.’ Kriemhilt’s knights could not be more dismayed.

  1958

  ‘I wonder greatly’, Hagen went on, ‘what the Hunnish knights are whispering in here. They would, I believe, gladly be rid of the man standing at the door there, he who has told the Burgundians the court tidings. I have long heard tell of Kriemhilt that she could not

  1959

  get over her heart’s grief. Now let us drink love* and pay for the king’s wine. The young overlord of the Huns must be the first of all!’

  1960

  Then Hagen, that worthy hero, dealt the child Ortliep such a blow that the blood shot back along the sword up to his hand, and the boy’s head flew into the queen’s lap. Grim and massive slaughter began then among those knights. Next he dealt the tutor who had charge of

  1961

  the child such a fierce blow with both his hands that his head at once lay on the ground before the table.

  1962

  That was a wretched reward that he dealt the tutor. He saw a minstrel standing before Etzel’s table. Hagen in his anger hastened over there. He struck off his right hand, which held the fiddle. ‘Let that be your reward for the message you brought to Burgundy!’

  1963

  ‘Alas for my hand!’ said Wärbel the minstrel. ‘Sir Hagen of Tronege, what wrong had I done you? It was in good faith that I went into your lords’ land. How am I to make the melodies sing out, now I have lost my hand?’

  1964

  Hagen cared little if he never fiddled again. He dealt mortal injuries to Etzel’s warriors in the hall, slaying so many of them. He put to death plenty of people in the hall then. Valiant Volker leapt up from the table.

  1965

  His bow resounded loudly in his hand. Gunther’s minstrel fiddled a monstrous tune then. Ah, what foes he won among the bold Huns!

  1966

  The three proud kings also leapt up from the tables. They would gladly have parted the combatants before more damage was done. Their good sense could not then prevent it, as Volker and Hagen grew so enraged. Then the overlord of the Rhine saw that the battle

  1967

  was not to be parted. The prince himself then struck great numbers of gaping wounds through the bright chainmail of his foes. He was a man of mettle, as he showed in great measure. Mighty Gernot then

  1968

  also joined the battle. He slew great numbers of the Hunnish heroes with the sharp sword that Rüedeger had given him. He inflicted grievous injuries on Etzel’s warriors. Uote’s young son leapt into the

  1969

  battle. His sword resounded splendidly, cutting through the helmets of Etzel’s warriors from Hungary. Bold Giselher’s hands did many marvels there. No matter how valiant they all were, the kings and also

  1970

  their vassals, Giselher was seen to stand before them all against the foes—he was a worthy hero. He caused great numbers to fall wounded into the blood there.

  1971

  Etzel’s men, for their part, defended themselves stoutly. Yet then the guests were seen to make their way through the king’s hall, hewing at the foes with their bright swords. Everywhere the grievous cry of woe was then heard. Those outside wanted to join their friends

  1972

  inside. They won very little profit at the doors. Those inside would most gladly have got out of the hall. Dancwart would let none of them up or down the stairs. At that a mighty press arose before the doors,

  1973

  and a great sound of swords upon helmets. By that bold Dancwart was greatly endangered. That caused his brother concern, as his loyalty commanded of him. Loudly Hagen then called out to Volker:

  1974

  ‘Do you see, companion, my brother standing there before the Hunnish warriors, beneath mighty blows? Friend, rescue my brother before we lose the knight!’

  1975

  ‘I will do so, for sure!’ said the minstrel. He began to make his way through the palace, fiddling. A hard sword sounded out often in his hand. The warriors of the Rhine said great thanks to him for that.

  1976

  Bold Volker said to Dancwart: ‘You have suffered very great hardship today. Your brother has asked me to come to your aid. If you will stand outside now, then I will stand inside.’

  1977

  Bold Dancwart stood outside the door. He defended the stairs against any who advanced. At that the swords were heard to ring out in the heroes’ hands. Inside Volker of Burgundy, for his part, did the same. The bold fiddler called out over the crowd: ‘The hall is well

  1978

  closed, friend Sir Hagen. Etzel’s door is so well barred by two heroes’ hands that some thousand bolts have latched it!’

  1979

  When Hagen of Tronege saw that the door was thus guarded, that famed, worthy hero flung his shield onto his back.* Only then did he begin to avenge what wrong had been done him. His foes had no hope whatever of surviving then. When the overlord of Bern observed

  1980

  that mighty Hagen was breaking so many helmets, the King of the Amelungs leapt up onto a bench, saying: ‘Here Hagen is pouring out the worst drink of all!’

  1981

  The host was greatly troubled, as he then had every right to be—what dear friends were being taken from him before his eyes!—for he scarcely escaped with his life from his foes there. He sat full of anxiety—what did it avail him that he was king there?

  1982

  Wealthy Kriemhilt called out to Dietrich: ‘Help me now, noble knight, to escape with my life, for the sake of the honour of all the princes of the Amelungs, for if Hagen reaches me, I must breathe my last!’

  1983

  ‘How am I to help you, noble queen?’ said Sir Dietrich. ‘I have my own troubles now. Gunther’s men are so enraged that I can protect no one at this time.’

  1984

  ‘No, Lord Dietrich, most noble, worthy knight, show your courtesy today and help me away from here, or I shall lie here slain!’ Kriemhilt had every reason for such fears.

  1985

  ‘I will try to help you, if I can, for never, not for a long time, have I seen so many worthy knights so bitterly enraged. I see the blood spurting through the helmets, as the swords strike them!’

  1986

  That excellent knight called out with all his might, his voice ringing out loud as a bison’s horn, so that the vast castle echoed with the power of it. Dietrich’s strength was great beyond measure. Then

  1987

  Gunther heard that ma
n call out in the fierce onslaught—he listened hard. He said: ‘Dietrich’s voice has reached my ears. I believe our knights have robbed him of someone here. I see him standing on the

  1988

  table—he is beckoning with his hand. You friends and kinsmen of Burgundy, cease fighting! Let us hear and see what has happened to the knight at my men’s hands.’

  1989

  When King Gunther asked and also commanded it, they put up their swords in the heat of the battle. It was a great show of authority to ensure that no one struck a blow there. He was quick enough to ask the Lord of Bern for tidings. He said: ‘Most noble Dietrich,

  1990

  what wrongs have my friends done you here? I am ready and willing to offer you compensation and atonement. I would deeply regret any wrong that anyone might have done you.’

  1991

  Lord Dietrich replied: ‘I have been done no wrong. Let me leave the hall and this fierce battle, together with my retinue, on terms of truce with you. I will always serve to repay that, rest assured.’

  1992

  ‘Why are you so quick to plead with them?’ said Wolf hart then. ‘The fiddler has not barred the door so firmly that we cannot open it wide enough to get out!’

  ’Be silent now,’ said Sir Dietrich. ‘You have done the devil of a lot!’*

  1993

  Then King Gunther said: ‘I will give you leave: take out of the hall as few or as many as you will, except for my foes—they must remain here. They have done me such great wrong here among the Huns.’

  1994

  When Dietrich heard that, he took the noble queen by the arm—she was in great distress. On his other side he led Etzel away with him. Six hundred gallant men also walked away with Dietrich.

  1995

  Then the margrave, noble Rüedeger, said: ‘If anyone else is to leave this hall who is, after all, glad to serve you, let us hear, for a lasting truce would be fitting between good friends.’

  1996

  Giselher of Burgundy answered him: ‘Let truce and reconciliation be proclaimed to you and your men, since you are constant in your loyalty. You shall go from here without fear, along with your friends.’