The Nibelungenlied Part 15

Lx.x.x

With one accord agreeing the b.l.o.o.d.y strife they left; The shining shields all shiver'd, the helmets hack'd and cleft They laid aside o'er-wearied; whatever down they threw Bore from Burgundian falchions a stain of b.l.o.o.d.y hue.

Lx.x.xI

They took whome'er it pleas'd them, none could their will gainsay.

Gernot and valiant Hagan at once bade bear away The faint and feeble wounded, and with them carried then Off to the Rhine as captives five hundred chosen men.

Lx.x.xII

With wailing back to Denmark the bootless warriors came; The late o'erweening Saxons bore off but loss and shame From that disastrous struggle; each hung his pensive head.

They last their friends remember'd, and sorrow'd for the dead.

Lx.x.xIII

Anon they bade the sumpters be loaded for the Rhine; And thus victorious Siegfried his perilous design Had brought to full performance; well had he done in fight; This every man of Gunther allow'd him as of right.

Lx.x.xIV

To Worms straight did a message from good Sir Gernot come, To tell throughout the country to all his friends at home Whate'er in that encounter to him and his befell, And how they all their duty had knightly done and well.

Lx.x.xV

The youths they ran their swiftest, and nois'd abroad the whole.

Then laugh'd who late lamented; delight succeeded dole.

All bosoms straight were beating to learn the news they bore, And every n.o.ble lady would ask them o'er and o'er,

Lx.x.xVI

How the knights of Gunther in Saxony had sped.

Then too the lovelorn Kriemhild had one in secret led (For publicly she durst not) to a distant bower apart, For she would learn how far'd it with the chosen of her heart.

Lx.x.xVII

Soon as to the chamber the melancholy maid Saw the youth approaching, sweetly thus she said, "Now tell me happy tidings, and I'll give thee gold in store, And if 'tis truth thou tell'st me, I'll befriend thee evermore.

Lx.x.xVIII

"Tell me how in battle my brother Gernot sped, And all our friends around him; is any of them dead?

Who prov'd the best and bravest? this thou must tell me true."

"No coward," the youth made answer, "had we in all the crew;

Lx.x.xIX

"But sure to fight or foray (the simple truth to tell) Fair and n.o.ble princess! rode never knight so well As the n.o.ble stranger from distant Netherland.

Wonders that mock believing were wrought by Siegfried's hand.

XC

"However well the others have borne them in the fight, Dankwart and Hagan, and all our men of might, Howe'er deserv'd the honor, that other swords have won, 'Tis a puff of wind to Siegfried, King Siegmund's glorious son.

XCI

"Well plied the rest the falchion, and wielded well the spear, But ne'er from tongue of mortal expect at full to hear What feats were done by Siegfried, when he broke the squadrons through; Those feats the weeping sisters of slaughter'd brethren rue.

XCII

"There lay the heart's-beloved of many a mourning bride; Beneath his sounding sword-strokes cleft morions, gaping wide, Let out the ruddy life-blood gushing fearfully.

Sir Siegfried is in all things the flower of chivalry.

XCIII

"There too won no small worship the knight of Metz, Ortwine; Whomever reach'd the warrior with keen-edg'd falchion fine, Down went they from the war-horse, some wounded, others dead.

There too your valiant brother as wide the slaughter spread,

XCIV

"As e'er was done, believe me, since armies met in fight; So much must all men witness of that redoubted knight.

There too the proud Burgundians so n.o.bly strove for fame, That well they have a.s.sur'd them from every taint of blame.

XCV

"Before their level'd lances was many a saddle void; Around the field re-echoed when they the sword employ'd.

The n.o.ble knights of Rhineland fought so well that day, Their foes had sure done wiser at once to flee away.

XCVI

"The gallant men of Trony did deeds they well may boast When with united squadrons to battle rode the host.

What numbers fell by Hagan and Hagan's chivalry!

Long shall their glory flourish here in broad Burgundy.

XCVII