The Nibelungenlied Part 99

So loud and strong he shouted, that all the water rung, While the deep-chested warrior thus thunder'd from his tongue, "Come, put me o'er, I'm Amelrich, who Elsy serv'd and sued, The same who from this country fled for a mortal feud."

XLVIII

High on his sword an armlet held out the champion bold (Bright was it and glittering and ruddy all with gold) That he might be put over thence into Gelfrat's land.

Then took the burly boatman himself an oar in hand.

XLIX

He was in sooth, that boatman, an ill-condition'd elf.

Nothing leads men to ruin like hankering after pelf.

He thought by ferrying Hagan his ruddy gold to get; A sword-stroke for an armlet, and death for gain he met.

L

With sinewy might the boatman row'd o'er to yonder strand, But not the man he heard of sprung to the boat from land.

The ferryman wax'd furious when Hagan there he found; Thus he bespake the hero, and speaking darkly frown'd.

LI

"Your name it may be Amelrich for ought I know," said he, "But you're like him I look'd for as little as can be.

In sooth he was my brother, by father and mother's side You've put a trick upon me, so on this bank shall bide."

LII

"Nay, think again, for heaven's sake," Sir Hagan made reply, "In pain for sundry comrades a foreign knight am I; So take my fare contented, and kindly put me o'er; You'll bind me to your service, your friend for evermore."

LIII

"No, no," replied the ferryman, "it must not, faith, be so; My good lords all around them have many a deadly foe; For this, I ne'er put over strangers into this land, So, as your life you value, out with you to the strand."

LIV

"Nay, speak not so," said Hagan, "you see my drooping cheer; Take of me, and welcome, the gold I hand you here, And ferry a thousand horses and as many knights of pride."

"That will I do never," the ferryman grim replied.

LV

With the word up caught he an oar both broad and long, And lent the knight a buffet so st.u.r.dy and so strong, That in the boat he brought him at once upon his knee.

Such a boisterous boatman never before met he.

LVI

Yet more the haughty stranger to wrath would he provoke, So on the head of Hagan a boat-pole next he broke, The ferryman of Elsy was sure a l.u.s.ty wight, Yet naught but loss and ruin got he by all his might.

LVII

The grim knight up starting ended soon the fray; To the sheath quick gripp'd he wherein his weapon lay.

Off he his head has smitten, and to the bottom thrown.

Soon were the glad tidings to the bold Burgundians known.

LVIII

The boat meanwhile, ere Hagan its master yet had slain, Had dropp'd into the current; this wrought him mickle pain, For ere he round could bring it, faint he to wax began, Yet strongly row'd and stoutly King Gunther's large-limb'd man.

LIX

The brawny stranger turn'd it with many a st.u.r.dy stroke, Till in his grasp o'ermaster'd the oar asunder broke.

He long'd to reach his comrades at a near landing-place, But oar had ne'er another, so this he join'd apace.

LX

With a shield-thong together (poor cord, but workman good!) And then adown the river made for a neighboring wood.

There his good lords the warrior found waiting on the strand; Many a bold knight ran toward him as he drew nigh the land.

LXI

Him well his comrades greeted beside the foamy flood, But when they saw the shallop reeking all with blood From that grim wound, that sudden the ferryman did to death, They put a thousand questions to Hagan in a breath.

LXII

When beheld King Gunther the hot blood, how it ran About the heaving ferry, thus he straight began.

"Here's a boat, Sir Hagan, but where's the boatman left?

Your st.u.r.dy strength, I fear me, the wretch's life hath reft."

LXIII

With lying tongue he answer'd, "The shallop I espied Fast by a desert meadow, myself the same untied.

I have seen no boatman; this I can truly say; And harm to none has happen'd by fault of mine to-day."

LXIV

Thereto the bold Burgundian Sir Gernot made reply, "To-day deep care besets me; many a dear friend must die.