Hero Tales and Legends of the Rhine Part 26

One by one they returned from the forest to the trysting-place, carrying with them the s.h.a.ggy fell of the bear, the bristly boar-skin, and the grey pelt of the wolf. Meat abounded in that place, and the blast of a horn announced to the hungry knights that the King was about to feast.

Said Siegfried?s huntsman to him: ?I hear the blast of a horn bidding us return to the trysting-place,? and raising his bugle to his lips, he answered it.

Siegfried was about to leave the forest, ambling quietly on horseback through the green ways, when he roused a mighty bear. The limehound was slipped and the bear lumbered off, pursued by Siegfried and his men.

They dashed into a ravine, and here Siegfried thought to run the beast down, but the sides were too steep and the knight could not approach it on horseback. Lightly he sprang from his steed, and the bear, seeing his approach, once more took flight. So swift, however, was Siegfried?s pursuit that ere the heavy beast could elude him he had caught it by its s.h.a.ggy coat and had bound it in such a manner that it was harmless; then, tying it across his horse?s back, he brought it to the tryst-fire for pastime.

Proudly emerged Siegfried from the forest, and Gunther?s men, seeing him coming, ran to hold his horse. When he had dismounted he dragged the bear from his horse?s back and set it loose. Immediately the dogs pursued it, and in its efforts to escape into the forest it dashed madly through a band of scullions who were cooking by the great fire. There was a clatter of iron pots, and burning brands were strewed about. Many goodly dishes were spoiled. The King gave order to slip the hounds that were on leash. Taking their bows and spears, the warriors set off in chase of the bear?but they feared to shoot at it through fear of wounding any among the great pack of dogs that hung upon its flanks. The one man who could keep pace with the bear was Siegfried, who, coming up with it, pierced it with his sword and laid it dead on the ground. Then, lifting the carca.s.s on his shoulders, he carried it back to the fire, to the marvel of all present.

Then began the feasting. Rich meats were handed around, and all was festive and gay. No suspicion had Siegfried that he was doomed, for his heart was pure of all deceit. But the wine had not yet been brought from the kitchen, whereat Sir Siegfried wondered.

Addressing Gunther, he said: ?Why do not your men bring us wine? If this is the manner in which you treat good hunters, certes, I will hunt no more. Surely I have deserved better at your hands.?

And the false Gunther answered: ?Blame me not, Siegfried, for the fault is Hagen?s. Truly he would have us perish of thirst.?

?Dear master,? said Hagen of Trony, ?the fault is mine?if fault it be?for methought we were to hunt to-day at Spessart and thither did I send the wine. If we go thirsty to-day, credit me I will have better care another time.?

But Siegfried was athirst and said: ?If wine lacks, then must we have water. We should have camped nearer to the Rhine.?

The Slaying of Siegfried

And Hagen, perceiving his chance, replied: ?I know of a cool spring close at hand. If you will follow me I will lead you thither.?

Sore athirst was Siegfried, and starting up from his seat, he followed Hagen. But the crafty schemer, desiring to draw him away from the company so that none else would follow them, said to him as they were setting out for the spring: ?Men say, Siegfried, that none can keep pace with you when you run. Let us see now.?

?That may easily be proved,? said Siegfried. ?Let us run to the brook for a wager, and see who wins there first. If I lose I will lay me before you in the gra.s.s. Nay, I will more, for I will carry with me spear, shield, and hunting gear.?

Then did he gird on his weapons, even to his quiver, while the others stripped, and off they set. But Siegfried easily pa.s.sed them and arrived at the lime-tree where was the well. But he would not drink first for courtesy, even although he was sore athirst.

Gunther came up, bent down to the water, and drank of the pure, cool well. Siegfried then bent him to drink also. But the false Hagen, carrying his bow and sword out of reach, sprang back and gripped the hero?s mighty spear. Then looked he for the secret mark on his vesture that Kriemhild had worked.

As Siegfried drank from the stream Hagen poised the great spear and plunged it between the hero?s shoulders. Deeply did the blade pierce through the spot where lay the secret mark, so that the blood spurted out on the traitor?s garments. Hagen left the spear deep in Siegfried?s heart and flew in grim haste from the place.

Though wounded to the death, Siegfried rose from the stream like a maddened lion and cast about him for a weapon. But nothing came to his hand but his shield. This he picked up from the water?s edge and ran at Hagen, who might not escape him, for, sore wounded as he was, so mightily did he smite that the shield well-nigh burst and the jewels which adorned it flew in flinders. The blow rang across the meadow as Hagen fell beneath the stroke.

It was Siegfried?s last blow. His countenance was already that of a dead man. He could not stand upright. Down he crashed among the flowers; fast flowed his blood; in his agony he began to upbraid those who had contrived his death.

?Cowards and caitiffs,? he cried, ?is this the price you pay me for my fealty to you? Ill have you done by your friends, for sons of yours as yet unborn will feel the weight of this deed. You have vented your spite on my body; but for this dastard crime all good knights shall shun you.?

Now all surrounded him, and those that were true among them mourned for him. Gunther also wept. But the dying man, turning to him, said: ?Does he weep for the evil from whom the evil cometh? Better for him that it had remained undone, for mighty is his blame.?

Then said false Hagen: ?What rue ye? Surely our care is past. Who will now withstand us? Right glad am I that Siegfried is no more.?

Loud was Siegfried?s dole for Kriemhild. ?Never was so foul a murder done as thou hast done on me, O king,? he said to Gunther. ?I saved thy life and honour. But if thou canst show truth to any on earth, show it to my dear wife, I beg of thee, for never had woman such woe for one she loved.?

Painfully he writhed as they watched him, and as he became weaker he spake prophetically.

?Greatly shall ye rue this deed in the days to come,? he groaned, ?for know, all of ye, that in slaying me ye have slain yourselves.?

Wet were the flowers with his blood. He struggled grimly with death, but too deep had been the blow, and at last he spake no more.

They laid his body on a shield of ruddy gold and took counsel with one another how they should hide that the deed had been done by Hagen.

?Sure have we fallen on evil days,? said many; ?but let us all hide this thing, and hold to one tale: that is, that as Siegfried rode alone in the forest he was slain by robbers.?

?But,? said Hagen of Trony, ?I will myself bear him back to Burgundy. It is little concern of mine if Kriemhild weep.?

Kriemhild?s Grief

Great was the grief of Kriemhild when she learned of the murder of her husband, whose body had been placed at her very door by the remorseless Hagen. He and the rest of the Burgundians pretended that Siegfried had been slain by bandits, but on their approach the wounds of Siegfried commenced to bleed afresh in mute witness of treachery. Kriemhild secretly vowed a terrible revenge and would not quit the land where her beloved spouse was buried. For four years she spake never a word to Gunther or Hagen, but sat silent and sad in a chamber near the minster where Siegfried was buried. Gunther sent for the Nibelungen treasure for the purpose of propitiating her, but she distributed it so freely among Gunther?s dependents that Hagen conceived the suspicion that her intention was to suborn them to her cause and foment rebellion within the Burgundian dominions; therefore he seized it and sank it in the Rhine, forcing Kriemhild?s brethren never to divulge its whereabouts.

It is a circ.u.mstance of some importance that when this treasure enters the land of the Burgundians they take the name of Nibelungs, as Siegfried was called Lord of the Nibelungs on first possessing the h.o.a.rd, and for this reason that part of the poem which commences with the Burgundian acquirement of the treasure was formerly known as the Nibelungen Not.

The confiscation of the treasure was another sharp wound to Kriemhild, who appears to have bitterly cherished every hostile act committed against her by her uncle Hagen and her brothers, and to have secretly nursed her grievances throughout the remainder of her saddened existence.

Kriemhild Marries Attila

Thirteen years after the death of Siegfried, Helche, wife of Attila, or Etzel, King of the Huns, having died, that monarch was desirous of marrying again, and dispatched his faithful councillor, Rudiger, Margrave of Bechlarn, to the Burgundian court to ask for the hand of Kriemhild. Her brethren, only too anxious to be rid of her accusing presence, gladly consented to the match, but Hagen had forebodings that if she gained power she would wreak a dreadful vengeance on them all.

But he was overruled, and Rudiger was permitted to interview Kriemhild.

At first she would not hear of the marriage, but when Rudiger expressed his surprise at the manner in which she was treated in her own country, and hinted that if she were to wed with Etzel she would be guarded against such insulting conduct, she consented. But first she made Rudiger swear to avenge her wrongs, and this he did lightly, thinking it merely a woman?s whim which would pa.s.s away after marriage. She accompanied Rudiger to the court of Etzel, stopping at his castle of Bechlarn, where dwelt his wife Gotelind and his daughter Dietlinde. The journey to Vienna is described in detail. At length they met Etzel at Tulna with twenty-four kings and princes in his train and a mighty retinue, the greatest guest present being Dietrich of Bern, King of the Goths, who with his band of Wolfings was sojourning at the court of Etzel. The nuptials took place at Vienna amid great magnificence, but through all Kriemhild sorrowed only for Siegfried and brooded long and darkly on her schemes of vengeance.

Seven years pa.s.sed, during which Kriemhild won the love of all Etzel?s court. She bore the King a son, Ortlieb, and gained the confidence and respect of his advisers. Another six years pa.s.sed, and Kriemhild believed that the time for vengeance had now arrived. To this end she induced Etzel to invite her brethren and Hagen to his court at Vienna.

At first the Burgundians liked the hospitable message well, but suspicion of it was sown in their minds by Hagen, who guessed that treachery lurked beneath its honeyed words. In the end they accepted the invitation and journeyed to the land of the Huns, a thousand and sixty knights and nine thousand soldiers. On the way they encountered many ill omens.

The Journey

Through Eastern Frankland rode Gunther?s men toward the river Main, led by Hagen, for well he knew the way. All men wondered when they saw the host, for never had any seen such lordly knights or such a rich and n.o.ble retinue. Well might one see that these were princes. On the twelfth day they came to the banks of the Danube, Hagen riding in the van. He dismounted on the river?s sandy sh.o.r.e and tied his steed to a tree. The river was swollen with rains and no boats were in sight. Now the Nibelungs could not perceive how they were to win over the stream, for it was broad and strong.

And Hagen rebuked the King, saying: ?Ill be with you, lord. See ye not that the river is swollen and its flood is mighty? Many a bold knight shall we lose here to-day.?

?Not greatly do thy words help, Hagen,? spake the King. ?Meeter were it for thee to search for a ford, instead of wasting thy breath.?

But Hagen sneered back: ?I am not yet weary of life, O king, and I wish not to drown in these broad waves. Better that men should die by my sword in Etzel?s land. Stay thou then by the water?s edge, whilst I seek a ferryman along the stream.?

To and fro he sought a ferryman. Soon he heard a splash of water and hearkened. In a spring not far off some women were bathing. Hagen spied them and crept stealthily toward them. But they saw his approach and went swiftly away. Hagen, approaching, seized their clothes.

Now these women were swan-maidens, or mermaids, and one of them, Hadburg, spake to him. ?Sir Hagen,? she said, ?well wot I that ye wish to find a ferry. Now give to us our garments and we will show you where one is.? They breasted the waves like swans. Once more spake Hadburg: ?Safely will ye go to Etzel?s land and great honours will ye gain there; aye, greater than hero ever rode to find.?

Right joyous was Hagen at this speech. Back he handed to the maidens their weeds.

Then spake another mermaid, Sieglind: ?Take warning from me, Hagen.

Believe not the word of mine aunt, for she has sore deceived thee.

Go not to Etzel?s land, for there you shall die. So turn again. Whoso rideth onward hath taken death by the hand.?

?I heed not thy words,? said Hagen, ?for how should it be that all of us die there through the hate of anyone??

?So must it be,? said Sieglind, ?for none of you shall live, save the King?s chaplain, who alone will come again safe and sound to Gunther?s land.?

?Ye are wise wives,? laughed Hagen bitterly. ?Well would Gunther and his lords believe me should I tell him this rede. I pray thee, show us over the stream.?

?So be it,? replied Sieglind; ?since ye will not turn you from your journey. See you yonder inn by the water?s side? There is the only ferry over the river.?