The Nibelungenlied Part 148

Then thus replied Sir Dietrich, "Thither will I anon; So go and tell my warriors their armor straight to don, And bid my glittering hauberk be brought me instantly; I myself will question yon knights of Burgundy."

Lx.x.xV

Then spake Master Hildebrand, "Whom would you have me call?

Of those who yet are living you see before you all; I'm now your only soldier, the others they are dead."

Sore shudder'd then Sir Dietrich for dole and drearihead.

Lx.x.xVI

In all the world such ruin did ne'er the knight befall.

Said he, "If they have slaughtered my liegemen one and all, Then I'm of G.o.d forgotten. Poor Dietrich! Lost am I, Who was a king but lately so haughty and so high."

Lx.x.xVII

Then further spake the champion, "But how could this have pa.s.sed?

How could such puissant warriors have perish'd to the last By battle-wearied foemen, fainting and need-beset?

Sure, but through my ill-fortune they had been living yet.

Lx.x.xVIII

"Since my hard fate condemns me to suffer every ill, Tell me, of those grim strangers if one be living still."

Then answer'd Master Hildebrand, "G.o.d knows, their lives not one, Save Hagan and King Gunther; the rest their course have run."

Lx.x.xIX

"Ah! woe is me, dear Wolfhart; since thou from me art torn, Well may it repent me that ever I was born.

Siegstab, Wolfwine, and Wolfbrand, my true and trusty band!

Who back can ever help me to th' Amelungers' land?

XC

"The danger-daring Helfrich, his doom has he too met?

Gerbart and valiant Wichart, how can I these forget?

My friends are dead together; who so bereft as I?

Ah! woe is me, that wretches of grief can never die."

THIRTY-NINTH ADVENTURE

HOW GUNTHER AND HAGAN AND KRIEMHILD WERE SLAIN

I

Then took the good Sir Dietrich himself his mail in hand; His ready aid to arm him gave aged Hildebrand.

Such piteous moan then made he the while, that mighty man, That with his voice of thunder the house to ring began.

II

Yet soon did he recover his high heroic mood.

In wrath he donn'd his harness, and ready now he stood.

A shield of prov'd allowance he grasp'd in his strong hand, And thence in haste forth sallied with Master Hildebrand.

III

Then spake the Knight of Trony, "I yonder see come on With st.u.r.dy strides Sir Dietrich; he'll fight with us anon To venge his slaughter'd kinsmen whom we have done to die.

To-day shall all bear witness, who best his sword can ply.

IV

"Howe'er himself may value the haughty Lord of Bern, Though ne'er so stout of body, of mood though ne'er so stern, If us for our late doings he now attempt to quit, He'll find in me," said Hagan, "an equal opposite."

V

Dietrich as well as Hildebrand the words of Hagan caught; He came, and close together the twain, whom here he sought, Outside the house and leaning against the wall he found.

Sir Dietrich straight his buckler set down upon the ground.

VI

With anguish deep impa.s.sion'd the warrior thus began, "Why have you thus entreated a wandering banish'd man?

What have I done, King Gunther, that you should serve me so?

I'm reft of all my comfort, all at a single blow.

VII

"It seem'd you all too little, that to our loss and pain By your hands our comrade, good Rudeger, was slain; And now you have bereft me my warriors every one.

I, sure, to you, ye heroes, such wrong would ne'er have don.

VIII

"Think of yourselves, your sorrow, your long disastrous toil, The death of your brave comrades in this abhorred broil, If to the dust with anguish it bows your lofty cheer.

Ah! how my heart is bleeding for the death of Rudeger!