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

by Cyril Edwards

2078

  laid aside both their swords and shields. The bold minstrel still stood before the doors. He was waiting to see if anyone still wanted to go and do battle with them.

  2079

  The king lamented greatly, as also did his wife. Maidens and ladies beat their breasts there. I believe that Death had conspired against them. (Many warriors were yet to lose their lives there at the hands of the guests.)

  2080

  THIRTY-SIXTH ADVENTURE

  HOW THE QUEEN ORDERED THAT THE HALL BE BURNED DOWN

  ’UNSTRAP your helmets now,’ said Hagen the warrior. ‘I and my companion will guard you. If Etzel’s men want to make another attempt against us, then I’ll warn my lords as fast as I can.’

  2081

  Then great numbers of worthy knights bared their heads. They sat down upon the wounded who had met with death at their hands and had fallen into the blood before them. The noble guests had been ill tended there.

  2082

  Even before evening had come the king, and also the queen, saw to it that the Hunnish warriors made a further attempt. Some twenty thousand or more of them could be seen standing before them—they were obliged to go into battle there.

  2083

  A fierce assault upon the guests began at once. Dancwart, Hagen’s brother, that man of great boldness, leapt away from his lords to meet the foes outside the door. They thought he had died; he had come out hale and hearty.

  2084

  The fierce battle lasted until night took it from them. Then the guests defended themselves against Etzel’s men as became worthy heroes, all through that summer-long day. Ah, how many more bold knights lay doomed to death before them! It was at the solstice that

  2085

  this great slaughter happened, when Lady Kriemhilt so avenged her heart’s grief on her nearest kindred and many another man that King Etzel never knew happiness again.

  2086

  The day had run out for the Burgundians—they had good reason to be troubled then. They thought that a swift death would be better for them than to be tortured for a long time there, suffering beyond measure. The proud, gallant knights requested a truce then. They

  2087

  asked that the king should be brought to them there. The heroes, red with blood and armour-rusty, stepped out of the hall, those three proud kings. They didn’t know to whom they might lament their most grievous injuries.

  2088

  Etzel and Kriemhilt both walked over. The land was subject to them, and so their company grew in number. Etzel said to the guests: ‘Tell me now, what do you want of me? You think to gain a truce—that could scarcely be after such great harm as you have done me.

  2089

  You shall not profit by it as long as I live—slaying my son and many of my kinsmen! Truce and reconciliation must be denied you entirely.’

  2090

  Gunther answered: ‘Great peril forced that upon us. All my retinue lay dead at the hands of your heroes in the lodgings. How had I deserved that? I came to you in good faith; I believed that you held me dear.’

  2091

  Then young Giselher of Burgundy said: ‘You heroes of Etzel who are still alive here, what do you reproach me, this warrior, for? What wrong have I done you? For it was in friendship that I rode into this land.’

  2092

  They said: ‘All the castle is full of your kindness, to the grief of the whole land. We would indeed have welcomed it if you had never left Worms on the Rhine. You have orphaned the whole land, you and your brothers together.’

  2093

  Gunther the warrior spoke in anger then: ‘If you will bring about a reconciliation and put an end to this great hostility towards us foreign warriors, that will be for the benefit of both sides. We are entirely free of blame, no matter what harm Etzel does us.’

  2094

  Then the host said to the guests: ‘My sorrows and yours bear little comparison. Because of the great suffering, the losses, and disgrace I have incurred here, none of you shall ever leave here alive.’

  2095

  Then mighty Gernot said to the king: ‘In that case may God command you to act worthily.* Slay us foreigners, but let us go down to meet you in the open. That will do you honour. Whatever may befall

  2096

  us, let it take place soon. You have so many in good health that if they dare attack us, they’ll not let us battle-weary men live. How long are we warriors to suffer like this?’

  2097

  Etzel’s warriors would almost have agreed to let them go out of the hall. Kriemhilt came to hear of that—it displeased her greatly. Thus the truce was in all haste retracted from the foreigners.

  2098

  ‘No, you Hunnish warriors, in good faith I advise you against what you intend. Do not let those bloodthirsty men out of the hall, or else your kinsmen must fall to their deaths. If none of them were alive

  2099

  now except my noble brothers, Uote’s sons—if they get out into the fresh air and their mail cools, then you are all lost! No bolder knights were ever born in this world.’

  2100

  Then young Giselher said: ‘My most fair sister, I did very ill to trust you when you invited me across the Rhine into this land, to face this great peril. How have I deserved death at the hands of the Huns here? I was always loyal to you and never did you harm. It was in the

  2101

  hope that you held me dear, my dearest sister, that I rode to court here. Think whether you can grant us mercy—we have no choice now.’

  2102

  ‘I cannot grant you mercy—I am merciless. Hagen of Tronege has done me such great wrongs that there can be no reconciliation as long as I live. You must all pay the price,’ said Etzel’s wife. ‘If you will give

  2103

  me Hagen, alone, as a hostage, then I will not refuse to let you live, for you are my brothers and we are one mother’s children. On that condition I will seek a reconciliation with these heroes here.’

  2104

  ‘Now God in Heaven forbid!’ replied Gernot. ‘Even if there were a thousand of us, kin to your kinsmen, we would all lie dead rather than give you one man as hostage here. That shall never be done!’

  2105

  ’We must die, come what may,’ said Giselher then. ‘No one shall prevent us from defending ourselves in knightly ways. If anyone would gladly fight against us, then here we stand again, for I never went against my loyalty to any friend of mine.’

  2106

  Then bold Dancwart said—it would not have become him to be silent—‘My brother Hagen does not stand alone. Those who refuse a truce here may come to regret it. We shall give you proof of that, rest assured.’

  2107

  The queen then said: ‘You most gallant heroes, go nearer to the stairs now and avenge my wrongs. I will always repay you for that as I rightly ought. I will reward Hagen well for his haughtiness. Let not

  2108

  a single one of them out of the hall, and then I’ll give the order that all four corners be set alight. Thus all my wrongs will be well avenged!’

  Etzel’s warriors were quickly at the ready. With blows and spearshots

  2109

  they drove those who were still standing outside there back into the hall. Great uproar arose at that. The princes and their vassals, however, never wanted to part. They could never abandon their loyalty to one another.

  2110

  Etzel’s wife then ordered that the hall be set alight. Then they tortured the warriors with fire there. A gust of wind caused all the hall to catch fire in no time at all. I believe no people ever faced greater peril. There were plenty in there who called out: ‘Alas for this peril!

  2111

  We would much rather die in battle. May God take pity! We are all lost! Now the queen in her anger is wreaking monstrous vengeance upon us.’

  2112

  One of those inside said: ‘We must lie dead here. What use to us now is the greeting that the king
sent us? The strong heat causes me such painful thirst that I think my life will soon end amid these troubles.’

  2113

  Then Hagen of Tronege said: ‘You noble, worthy knights, if any of you suffers pangs of thirst, let him drink the blood here. In such heat it is even better than wine. There is nothing else for it now.’

  2114

  At that one of the warriors walked over to a corpse. He knelt by his wound; he unstrapped his helmet. He began drinking the flowing blood. Little though he was accustomed to it, he thought it excellent.

  2115

  ‘Now God reward you, Sir Hagen,’ said that weary man, ‘that I’ve drunk so well by your counsel. Seldom have I been poured out better wine. If I live any longer, I’ll always hold you dear.’

  2116

  When the others heard that he thought it good, many more of them also drank the blood. Some of them gained much strength by that. (Fair women in great numbers were to pay for that afterwards by the loss of their dearly beloved.)

  2117

  The fire rained down upon them into the hall. They steered it down and away from them with their shields. The smoke and the heat both hurt them hard. I believe no greater misery ever befell heroes. Then

  2118

  Hagen of Tronege said: ‘Stand by the wall of the hall. Don’t let the brands fall on your helmet-straps. Tread them deeper into the blood with your feet. This is a foul festivity the queen is holding for us.’

  2119

  In such suffering the night did, however, come to an end for them. The bold minstrel and Hagen, his companion, were still standing outside the hall, leaning on their rims. They were expecting more harm from the men of Etzel’s land. Then the fiddler said. ‘Let us

  2120

  go into the hall now. Then the Huns will think that we are all dead because of this torture that has been inflicted upon us. They will yet see us stand up against one or two of them in battle!’

  2121

  Then young Giselher of Burgundy said: ‘I think dawn is about to break. A cool wind is rising. Now may God in Heaven let us yet live to see happier times! My sister Kriemhilt has given us a foul festivity.’

  2122

  Then another of them said: ‘I see day now. Since there is nothing else for it now, arm yourselves, heroes, remember your lives are at stake. King Etzel’s wife will soon come for us again.’

  2123

  The host would have liked to believe that the guests were dead as a result of their suffering and their ordeal by fire. Yet six hundred bold men were still alive in there. No king ever had better knights.

  2124

  The guards around the foreigners had clearly seen that the guests were still alive, despite all that had happened to harm and injure the lords and their vassals. Many could still be seen standing in good health in the chamber. They told Kriemhilt that many of them had

  2125

  survived. The queen replied that that could never be—that any of them should have survived that ordeal by fire: ‘I still believe that they all lie dead.’

  2126

  The princes and their vassals would gladly have survived, if anyone would yet show them mercy. They could find none from those of Hungary. Then they avenged their deaths with most willing hands.

  2127

  Come morning that day they were greeted by a fierce onslaught, which brought heroes into peril. Great numbers of hard javelins were hurled in at them. The bold and proud warriors defended themselves in knightly fashion.

  2128

  Etzel’s retinue were driven on by their desire to earn Kriemhilt’s wealth; moreover they wanted to carry out the king’s commands. (In consequence many of them were soon to meet with death.)

  2129

  Marvels might be told of the promises and gifts Kriemhilt offered. She ordered that red gold be carried there on shields. She gave it to any who desired it and would accept it. No greater reward was ever offered against foes.

  2130

  A huge body of warriors came up, armed. Then bold Volker said: ‘Well, here we stand again. I never saw heroes more willing to fight than those who have taken the king’s gold to harm us.’

  2131

  Plenty of them then called out: ‘Closer, heroes, closer, so that we can put an end here to this, and do so in good time. No one remains here, after all, except those doomed to die.’ At that their shields were soon seen to be shot full with javelins.

  2132

  What more can I say? Some twelve hundred men made fierce attempts, advancing and retreating. Then the guests cooled their ardour with the wounds they dealt them. No one could part the adversaries. Thus the blood was seen to flow from mortally deep wounds,

  2133

  many of which were struck there. Every one of them was then heard to lament for his friends. The proud and powerful king’s deserving warriors had all died. Their dear kinsmen grieved greatly for them.

  2134

  THIRTY-SEVENTH ADVENTURE

  HOW RÜEDEGER WAS SLAIN

  COME morning, the foreigners had done good deeds. Gotelint’s spouse* came walking to court. Then he saw the grievous injuries on both sides. Most loyal Rüedeger wept fervently over that. ‘Woe is me,’

  2135

  said the warrior, ‘that ever I was born! Alas that no one can prevent this great suffering! Gladly though I would bring about a truce, the king will have nothing of it, for he sees his sorrows grow and grow.’

  2136

  Then good Rüedeger sent a message to Dietrich, asking whether they could yet change the proud king’s mind. The Lord of Bern sent a message back to him: ‘Who could prevent this? King Etzel will let no one part the foes.’

  2137

  Then one of the Hunnish warriors saw Rüedeger standing there with tears in his eyes, for he had shed many. The Hun said to the queen: ‘See now how he stands there, he who after all has the greatest authority with Etzel here, and whom they all serve, people and

  2138

  lands. How is it that so many castles are made over to Rüedeger, great numbers of them by the gift of the king? He has never yet struck a praiseworthy blow in these attacks! It seems to me he does not care

  2139

  what is happening here, since he has all he wants in abundance. They say of him, he is bolder than anyone else could be—there has been wretchedly little sign of that in these troubles.’

  2140

  Sad at heart, that most loyal hero glanced at the man he heard speak those words. He thought: ‘You must pay for this—you call me a coward! You have said your piece too loudly at court!’

  2141

  He clenched his fist, then ran at him and struck the Hun such a powerful blow that he at once lay dead at his feet! King Etzel’s anguish was added to again.

  2142

  ‘Away with you, infamous coward!’ said Rüedeger then. ‘I have sorrows and suffering enough. Why do you reproach me for not fighting here? I would have every right to be hostile to the guests,

  2143

  and would have done them all the harm I could, except it was I who led the warriors here. I myself was their escort into my lord’s land. For that reason the hands of this exile must not fight with them.’

  2144

  Then Etzel, that proud king, said to the margrave: ‘How have you helped us, most noble Rüedeger? For we have so many doomed to death here in this land—we needed no more of them. You have acted most ill.’

  2145

  The noble knight replied: ‘He harassed me and taunted me with the honour and possessions, so many of which I have received from your hands. That has cost the liar somewhat dear.’

  2146

  Then the queen came up, having also seen what had happened to the Hun as a result of the hero’s anger. She lamented it beyond measure; her eyes grew wet. She said to Rüedeger: ‘How have we deserved that you should add to the suffering of myself and the king?

  2147

  Now you have always told us, noble Rüedeger, that you would risk you
r honour and even your life for our sake. I’ve heard many warriors accord you most great praise. I remind you of your goodwill, and

  2148

  that you swore to me, when you advised me to take Etzel, excellent knight, that you would serve me until one of us died. Never was I, poor woman, in such grievous need of that.’

  2149

  ‘There is no denying it. I swore to you, noble lady, that I would risk my honour and even my life for you. I did not swear that I would forfeit my soul. It was I who brought the well-born princes to this festivity.’

  2150

  She said: ‘Think, Rüedeger, on your great loyalty, your constancy, and also the oaths you swore, that you would always avenge any harm done to me and all my wrongs.’

  The margrave replied: ‘I have seldom refused you anything.’

  2151

  Mighty Etzel also began to plead. They both then knelt at his feet. The noble margrave was visibly in distress at that. That most loyal warrior said in his great misery: ‘Alas for me, Godforsaken wretch,

  2152

  that I have lived to see this! I must relinquish all my honour, the loyalty and courtesy that God commanded of me. Alas, God in Heaven, that death does not avert this from me! Whatever I now leave

  2153

  undone, whatever I undertake, I will have acted basely and most ill. Yet if I do neither, all the people will curse me. Let Him guide me now who brought about my birth!’

  2154

  The king, and also his wife, pleaded intensely with him then. Because of this warriors were afterwards to lose their lives at Rüedeger’s hands, and the hero himself was also to die. You can hear for yourselves now what a most wretched course he followed. He knew he

  2155

  would gain harm and suffering beyond measure. He would most willingly have refused the king’s request, and also that of the queen. He was sorely afraid that if he slew a single one of the guests, the whole world would bear him ill-will.

  2156

  Then the valiant warrior said to the king: ‘Sir King, take back now all that I hold at your hands. Neither the land nor the castles shall remain mine. I will go on foot into exile.’

  2157

  King Etzel replied: ‘Who would help me then? I’ll give it all to you outright, the land and the people, if you’ll avenge me, Rüedeger, on my foes. You shall be a powerful king at Etzel’s side.’