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

by Cyril Edwards

  2158

  Rüedeger answered: ‘How am I to go about this? I invited them home to my house, I kindly offered them drink and food and gave them my gifts—how can I plot their deaths? The people perhaps

  2159

  think that I am a coward. I have not denied the most noble princes and their vassals any service of mine. Yet I regret the friendship I have entered upon with them. I gave my daughter to Giselher

  2160

  the warrior. She could not be better bestowed upon anyone in this world—he possesses such courtesy and honour, such loyalty and also wealth. Never did I see so young a king of such true excellence.’

  2161

  Then Kriemhilt spoke again: ‘Most noble Rüedeger, take pity now upon our sorrows, mine and the king’s also. Consider that no host ever acquired such accursed guests.’

  2162

  The margrave replied to the noble queen: ‘Today Rüedeger himself must pay for all the kindness which you and my lord have shown me. I must die in return. That can no longer be delayed. I know full well

  2163

  that before the day is out my castles and my lands must fall vacant to you, when I die at the hands of one or other of them. I commend to your mercy my wife and my children, and also the many exiles who are there at Pöchlarn.’

  2164

  ‘Now God reward you, Rüedeger!’ said the king then. He and the queen both rejoiced. ‘We shall take good care of your people. Yet I trust to my good fortune that you yourself may well survive.’

  2165

  Now he set at risk both body and soul. Etzel’s wife then began to weep. Rüedeger said: ‘I must carry out what I vowed to you. Alas for my friends, whom I am loath to attack!’

  2166

  People saw him walk away from the king, full of sadness. He found his warriors standing close by him. He said: ‘You must arm your-selves, all my men. To my sorrow, I must attack the bold Burgundians.’

  2167

  They ordered the squires to leap quickly over to where their arms were to be found. Whether helmets or shield-rims, they were carried over to them by their retinue. (The proud foreigners were soon to hear sad tidings told.)

  2168

  Rüedeger was then armed, along with five hundred men. He also acquired twelve warriors to help him, who wanted to win fame in battle’s peril. (They had no knowledge that death was thus nearing them.) Then Rüedeger was seen to walk beneath his helmet.

  2169

  Rüedeger’s men bore sharp swords, and bright, broad shields before their hands. The fiddler saw that, much to his grief.

  2170

  Then young Giselher saw his father-in-law walking with his helmet strapped on. How could he then imagine that he intended anything but good? The noble king was greatly cheered at this. ‘Happy am

  2171

  I now to have such allies’, said Giselher the warrior, ‘as we have won on these ways! We shall profit full well by my wife here. I rejoice in good faith that the betrothal ever took place!’

  2172

  ‘I don’t know why your hopes are so high,’ said the minstrel then. ‘Where did you ever see, seeking reconciliation, so many heroes walk with helmets strapped on, bearing swords in their hands? Rüedeger wants to earn his castles and his lands at our cost.’

  2173

  Even before the fiddler had finished speaking, they saw noble Rüedeger outside the hall. He laid his good shield down at his feet. The time had come for him to deny his friends his service and greeting.

  2174

  The noble margrave called out into the hall: ‘You bold Nibelungs, defend yourselves now on all sides. You ought to have benefited by me, but now you will pay dearly at my hands. Once we were friends—I renounce that loyalty now.’

  2175

  Those men beset by peril were shocked at those tidings then, for not one of them rejoiced that he whom they held dear wanted to do battle with them there—from their foes they had suffered great hardship.

  2176

  ‘Now God in Heaven forbid,’ said Gunther the warrior, ‘that you should renounce the kindness you have shown us and the great loyalty we did indeed expect of you. I trust that you will never do this.’

  2177

  ‘Indeed, I have no choice,’ said the bold warrior then. ‘I must do battle with you, for I’ve vowed to do so. Defend yourselves now, bold heroes, as you value your lives. King Etzel’s wife would not spare me this.’

  2178

  ‘This is too late in the day now for you to declare hostilities against us,’ replied the proud king. ‘Now may God reward you, most noble Rüedeger, for the loyalty and love you have shown us, if you would only treat us more kindly now the end has come. We would always

  2179

  seek to repay you, I and my kinsmen, for what you have given us, if you would let us live. Think, noble Rüedeger, of those splendid gifts you gave us when you brought us in good faith here into Etzel’s land.’

  2180

  ‘How willingly I would grant you,’ said Rüedeger the warrior, ‘such gifts as I would gladly heap upon you in abundance, as I had hoped! Then no abuse would ever fall upon me.’

  2181

  ‘Change your mind, noble Rüedeger,’ said Gernot then, ‘for no host ever treated his guests with such true friendship as you did us. You ought to profit well by that if we live any longer.’

  2182

  ‘Would God,’ said Rüedeger, ‘most noble Gernot, that you were by the Rhine and I were dead with some honour, since I must attack you! Never yet did friends act worse by heroes!’

  2183

  ‘Now God reward you, Sir Rüedeger,’ replied Gernot, ‘for your most sumptuous gifts. I grieve for your death if such virtue is to perish with you. I bear your sword here which you gave me, worthy hero.

  2184

  Never has it failed me in all this peril. Many a knight lies dead beneath its blades. It is clean and constant, splendid and worthy. I believe no warrior will ever give so rich a gift again. If you will not change your

  2185

  mind, but will attack us now, if you slay any of my friends that I still have in here, I’ll take your life with your own sword. I will grieve then for you, Rüedeger, and for your noble wife.’

  2186

  ‘Would God, Sir Gernot, that it might happen that all your wishes were carried out here, and that your friends might survive! Both my daughter and my wife must place their full trust in you.’*

  2187

  Then fair Uote’s son of Burgundy said: ‘Why are you doing this, Sir Rüedeger? Those who have come here with me all hold you dear—you act ill to intervene. You want to make a widow of your fair daughter too early. If you and your warriors attack me in battle, that

  2188

  is no friendly way to show why I trust you above all other men, which is why I took your daughter for my wife.’

  2189

  ‘Bear your loyalty in mind, most noble, proud king. If God sends you away from here,’ said Rüedeger, ‘do not let the damsel pay the price for my deeds. Be merciful to her in your courtesy.’

  2190

  ‘I’d do so in all justice,’ said young Giselher, ‘yet if my noble kinsmen who are still inside here should die at your hands, then my most constant friendship with you, and also your daughter, must be at an end.’

  2191

  ‘Now God grant us mercy!’ said the bold warrior.

  Then they raised their shields, setting off to do battle with the guests in Kriemhilt’s hall. Hagen called out loudly then, down the steps: ‘Stay a while, most noble Rüedeger,’ said Hagen. ‘We would

  2192

  talk more, I and my lords, as our peril compels us. How can the death of us foreigners aid Etzel?’ ‘I stand here in great trouble,’ Hagen

  2193

  went on. ‘The Huns have hewn to pieces before my hands the shield which Lady Gotelint gave me to bear. I bore it in friendship into Etzel’s land. May God in Heaven grant that I should yet bear so good
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  2194

  a shield as that you hold before your hand, most noble Rüedeger! Then I would have no need of any hauberk in battles.’

  2195

  ‘I would most willingly help you by giving you my shield, if I dared offer it you, despite Kriemhilt. Yet take it, Hagen, and bear it in your hand. Ah, if only you were to take it back home to Burgundy!’

  2196

  When he so willingly offered to give him the shield, plenty of eyes grew red with hot tears. It was the last gift that Rüedeger of Pöchlarn ever offered to any warrior. No matter how grim Hagen was and how

  2197

  hard of heart, the gift that the worthy hero gave him, so close to his end, moved him to pity. Great numbers of noble knights were saddened along with him.

  2198

  ‘Now God in Heaven reward you, most noble Rüedeger! Your like will never live again, giving such splendid gifts to foreign warriors. May God command that your courtesy lives forever! Alas for these

  2199

  tidings!’ Hagen went on. ‘We had so many other burdens to bear. If we are to fight with friends, let that be lamented to God!’

  The margrave replied: ‘I am heartily sorry for this.’

  2200

  ‘Now God reward you for this gift, most noble Rüedeger! No matter how these proud warriors treat you, my hand will never touch you in battle here, even if you were to slay all the men of Burgundy.’

  2201

  Worthy Rüedeger bowed courteously to him for that. On all sides they wept that no one could put an end to those heart’s sorrows. There was great anguish there. (The father of all virtues was to lie dead with Rüedeger.)

  2202

  Then Volker the minstrel spoke from the hall: ‘Since my companion Hagen has made this truce with you, you shall have it in constancy from my hand also. You earned it well when we came into this land.

  2203

  Most noble margrave, you must be my messenger. The margravine gave me these red torques to wear at the festivity here. You can see them for yourself—be my witness that I did so.’

  2204

  ‘Would God in Heaven,’ Rüedeger replied, ‘that the margravine should give you yet more! I’ll gladly tell these tidings to my beloved, if I live to see her—rest assured of that!’

  2205

  When he had made that vow to him, Rüedeger raised his shield. He went berserk. He waited no longer there, but ran at the guests, most like a warrior. The wealthy margrave struck many a mighty blow.

  2206

  Those two stood back, Volker and Hagen, for those bold knights had vowed to him before that they would do so. Yet Rüedeger found such bold men standing by the doors that he began battle with a troubled mind. Bent on slaughter, Gunther and Gernot let him

  2207

  enter—they had heroes’ minds. Giselher stood back then; he was truly sorry for this. He still thought to survive, which was why he avoided Rüedeger.

  2208

  Then the margrave’s men leapt at their foes. They were seen to follow their lord in most warrior-like fashion. They bore in their hands cutting swords, which caused many helmets to break apart there, and many a splendid rim. The weary Burgundians struck

  2209

  against those of Pöchlarn many fierce blows which weighed straight and deep, right through the bright mail to the seat of life. They did most splendid deeds in that battle.

  2210

  By now the noble retinue of Pöchlarn had all made its way in. Volker and Hagen quickly leapt to the attack. They had given a truce to none but the one man. The blood ran down through helmets at the blows struck by their hands. How fiercely many swords rang out in

  2211

  the hall! Many shield-clasps leapt out of their fastenings, the gems in the shields falling into the blood as they were hewn to pieces. They fought so fiercely that none will ever do the like again.

  2212

  The overlord of Pöchlarn strode back and forth as only a man of courage can in battle. That day Rüedeger showed beyond doubt that he was a valiant warrior of high renown.

  2213

  Those warriors Gunther and Gernot stood their ground there; they slew great numbers of heroes in the battle. Giselher and Dancwart, those two, thought little of dispatching great numbers to their doom.

  2214

  Rüedeger showed beyond doubt that he had ample strength and was bold and well armed. Ah, what heroes he slew! One of the Burgundians saw this—he was enraged. That caused noble Rüedeger’s death to draw near. Mighty Gernot called out to the hero. He said to

  2215

  the margrave: ‘You will let none of my men live, most noble Rüedeger! That troubles me beyond measure—I can’t look on any longer. Now your gift may well come to harm you, since you have taken

  2216

  so many of my friends from me. Turn around and face me now, most noble, bold warrior. I shall prove worthy of your gift as best as I can!’

  2217

  Before the margrave could make his way over to him, bright mail had to be discoloured.* Then those two men, avid for honour, leapt at one another. Both ducked under their shields to avoid deep wounds.

  2218

  Their swords were so sharp that nothing could counter them. Then Rüedeger the warrior struck Gernot through his flint-hard helmet, so that the blood flowed down. The bold and worthy knight was quick to repay him for that. He swung Rüedeger’s gift high in his hands.

  2219

  Although he was mortally wounded, he struck him a blow through his excellent shield, right down to his helmet-straps.* By that blow fair Gotelint’s husband had to die. Never was such a rich gift worse

  2220

  rewarded. Both fell slain then, Gernot and Rüedeger, by each other’s hands in the battle.

  Only now was Hagen enraged, when he saw what great harm had been done. The hero of Tronege then said: ‘An ill fate has befallen us.

  2221

  We have suffered such great harm by the loss of these two that their people and lands will never overcome it. Rüedeger’s heroes will pay the price for this at the hands of us strangers to this land.’

  2222

  ‘Alas for my brother,* whose death has been brought about here! What ill tidings reach me at all times! I must also rue noble Rüedeger forever. There is harm and grievous loss on both sides.’

  2223

  When Lord Giselher saw that his father-in-law was dead, those who were in the hall there had to suffer peril. Death sought hard for his retinue there. Of the men of Pöchlarn, not a single one survived.

  2224

  Gunther and Giselher, and also Hagen, Dancwart, and Volker, those worthy warriors, walked over to where they saw the two men lying. The heroes wept there in their grief. ‘Death is robbing us

  2225

  harshly,’ said young Giselher. ‘Now leave off your weeping and let us go out into the breeze, so that our chainmail may cool, battle-weary as we are. I don’t believe God in Heaven will deign to let us live longer here.’ Some warriors were seen sitting, others leaning. They were idle

  2226

  again. Rüedeger’s heroes lay dead there. The clamour had died down.

  The silence lasted so long that it irked Etzel. ‘Alas for such service!’

  2227

  said the king’s wife. ‘It has not been so constant that our foes can have paid the price at Rüedeger’s hands. He wants to lead them back into Burgundy. How does it help, King Etzel, that we have shared with

  2228

  him all that he wanted? The hero has acted ill. He who ought to have avenged us there wants to seek a truce.’

  Volker, that most gallant warrior, answered her: ‘Sadly, that is not

  2229

  so, most noble king’s wife. If I dared to call such a noble person a liar, then I might say that you have lied devilishly about Rüedeger. He and his warriors have been entirely deceived if they thought to obtain a truce. He has done the king’s bidding so willingly that h
e

  2230

  and his retinue lie dead here. Look all about you now, Kriemhilt, for someone to command now. Rüedeger the hero has served you until his end. If you don’t want to believe this, you shall be shown the

  2231

  truth of the matter.’

  To her heart’s grief that then took place. They carried the hero who had been hewn down to where the king could see him. Etzel’s warriors were never so truly grief-stricken. When they saw the margrave

  2232

  borne dead, no scribe could ever record or tell aloud of the great breast-beating which began to show itself there, on the part of man and woman alike, in their hearts’ grief. Etzel’s grief was so great that

  2233

  the mighty king roared like a lion in his heartfelt cry of woe, as also did his wife. They mourned beyond measure for worthy Rüedeger.

  2234

  THIRTY-EIGHTH AVENTURE

  HOW LORD DIETRICH’S WARRIORS WERE ALL SLAIN

  THEN such great grief was heard on all sides that the palace and the towers resounded with the cries of woe. One of Dietrich of Bern’s men heard this, too. How he hurried when he heard those stark tidings! He said then to the prince: ‘Listen, my lord Dietrich!

  2235

  As long as I have lived, I have never heard such truly impossible lamentation as I have now heard. I think King Etzel himself has come to harm. How might they otherwise all be in such anguish? The

  2236

  king or Kriemhilt—one or other of them lies dead as a result of the bold guests’ hostility. Great numbers of gallant knights are weeping beyond measure.’

  2237

  Then the hero of Bern said: ‘My beloved men, do not be in too great haste now. All that the foreign warriors have done here was caused by dire necessity. Let them profit by the truce I offered them.’

  2238

  Then bold Wolf hart said: ‘I will go over and ask for tidings as to what they have done, and will tell you them then, my dearest lord, once I’ve found out what has caused this lament.’

  2239

  Then Lord Dietrich said: ‘When anger is to be expected if uncouth questions are put, that can easily trouble warriors’ minds. I don’t want you, Wolf hart, to ask questions of them.’ Then he asked