The Nibelungenlied: The Lay of the Nibelungs (Oxford World's Classics) (26 page)

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for Sivrit’s soul she still possessed a good thousand marks in gold. She shared them out for the sake of her dearest husband’s soul. Rüedeger thought that a deed of great loyalty.

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Then the lady, lamenting, said: ‘Where are my friends who for my sake want to go into exile, who must ride with me to Hungary? Let them take my treasure to buy horses, and also garments.’

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Margrave Eckewart said to the queen in reply: ‘Ever since I first joined your retinue, I have served you loyally,’ said the knight, ‘and will ever be in your service until my end. Moreover, I will take with

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me five hundred of my men, whose loyal service I grant you. We will remain unseparated unless death do us part.’

Kriemhilt bowed to him for those words, as was only right.

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Then the packhorses were led up; they wanted to depart. Much weeping took place on the part of friends there. Most mighty Uote and many a fair maiden showed that they grieved at Lady Kriemhilt’s departure. She led away with her a hundred wealthy maidens, who

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were dressed as well befitted them. Tears fell down then from bright eyes. Afterwards she was to have much happiness at Etzel’s side.

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Then Lord Giselher, and also Gernot, came up with their retinues, as their courtesy commanded of them. They wanted then to escort their dear sister on her departure. They brought with them a good thousand of their gallant warriors. Along came bold Gere, and also

1287

Ortwin. Rumolt, the master of the kitchen, had of necessity to be of the company. They provided overnight quarters as far as the bank of the Danube. Gunther then only rode a little beyond the city. Before

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they departed from the Rhine they had sent ahead their speedy messengers to Hungary, to tell the king that Rüedeger had wooed that proud and noble queen for his wife.

1289

L
ET
the messengers ride! We must make known to you how the queen made her way through the lands—or where Giselher and Gernot parted from her. They had served her as their loyalty commanded of them. They rode as far as the Danube then, to Pföring.

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They asked leave of the queen, for they wanted to ride back to the Rhine. Good friends then could not part without weeping.

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Bold Giselher said to his sister: ‘Whenever, lady, you have need of me, if anything troubles you, let me know of it and I will ride to serve you into Etzel’s land.’

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She kissed those who were her kinsmen on the mouth. The bold Burgundians were seen on that occasion to part in all friendship from
Rüedeger’s men. The queen then took with her well-favoured maidens in great numbers, one hundred and four of them, wearing sumptuous

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cloaks of richly dyed furs. The warriors carried many broad shields
*
close by the ladies on the roads. Then proud knights in great numbers parted from the queen.

1294

They made hasty progress down through Bavaria. Then tidings were told that many unknown guests were fast approaching a place where a monastery still stands, and where the Inn flows into the Danube. In the city of Passau there resided a certain bishop. The

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lodgings there were emptied,
*
as was the prince’s court. They hastened to meet the strangers up in Bavaria, where Bishop Pilgrim
*
found fair Kriemhilt. The warriors of that land were not overly

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distressed then to see so many fair maidens in her train. Amorous eyes looked upon the noble knights’ daughters. Good lodgings were afterwards given to the guests.

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The bishop rode with his niece to Passau. When the townsfolk were told that Kriemhilt, the prince’s sister’s daughter, was arriving, she was given a warm welcome then by the merchants. The bishop

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had his hopes that they would stay there some time. Lord Eckewart then said: ‘That cannot be. We must go down into Rüedeger’s land. Many knights are expecting us, for they are all well aware of how things stand.’

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By now fair Gotelint was well aware of the tidings. She and her most noble daughter busied themselves with preparations. Rüedeger had sent her a message that it seemed good to him that she should comfort the queen’s mind by riding, together with his vassals, to meet

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her upriver by the Enns. When that took place, the roads were seen to be busy everywhere. Both on horseback and on foot they made their way to meet the guests.

1301

Now the queen had arrived at Eferding. Plenty of people from Bavaria might well have caused the strangers harm there if they had robbed them on the roads, as was their custom. That was easily

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forestalled by the proud margrave. He led with him a thousand knights, and even more. By then Gotelint had also arrived, Rüedeger’s wife; with her came hosts of noble warriors in great splendour.

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When they had crossed the Traun, on the plain near Enns, they saw huts and pavilions pitched there, where the guests were to stay overnight. Rüedeger had gone to this expense for the guests there.

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Fair Gotelint left the lodgings behind her. Along the roads walked many handsome horses, the bells on their reins chiming. The welcome that was given was most fair; it met with Rüedeger’s approval. Those

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who approached them on both sides of the roads rode in praiseworthy fashion; knights in great numbers were present. They practised chivalry, as great numbers of maidens saw. Nor did the knights’ service displease the queen. When Rüedeger’s men came to meet

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the guests, many splinters were seen flying high from the warriors’ hands,
*
according to knightly custom. They then rode before the ladies, meeting with great praise there.

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The jousting was brought to an end. Many men then greeted each other with great kindness. Then they led fair Gotelint into Kriemhilt’s presence. Those who knew how to serve ladies had little rest there.

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The overlord of Pöchlarn rode up to his wife. The noble margravine was not displeased that he had thus come back from the Rhine safe and sound. Some of her sorrow was taken from her, giving way to great joy. When she had welcomed him, he told her to alight upon the

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meadow with all the ladies she had with her there. Many a noble man busied himself there, taking great pains to serve the ladies.

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Then Lady Kriemhilt saw the margravine standing with her retinue—she let her palfrey go no further. She pulled at the reins and asked that she be quickly lifted down from the saddle. Next they saw

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the bishop—he and Eckewart—lead his niece over to Gotelint. Great numbers of people at once made way for them there. Then the exiled lady kissed Gotelint on the mouth. Rüedeger’s wife then spoke most

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charmingly: ‘Blessed am I, dear lady, that my eyes have seen your fair person here in these lands. No greater joy could ever befall me now.’

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‘Now may God reward you,’ said Kriemhilt, ‘most noble Gotelint! If I and Botelunc’s son
*
keep our health, you may yet rejoice at having seen me here.’ (Neither had knowledge of what was to happen thereafter.)

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Maidens in great numbers walked courteously up to one another. The warriors were ready to serve them with alacrity. After greeting each other they sat down upon the clover. They made the acquaintance of many who had been complete strangers to them before.

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They ordered that wine be poured for the ladies. It was about midday. The noble company lay there no longer. They rode over to where they found many broad huts; great hospitality was at the disposal of the noble guests there. That night they rested until early morning.

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Those of Pöchlarn made preparations for accommodating great numbers of noble guests. Rüedeger had acted well in seeing to it that they lacked little there. They could see that the windows in the walls

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stood open, and that the castle of Pöchlarn had its gates ajar. Then the guests rode in, the people rejoicing to see them. The noble host ordered that they be given every comfort. Rüedeger’s daughter

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walked over with her retinue to welcome the queen most charmingly. Her mother, the margave’s wife, was also present. Damsels in great numbers were greeted fondly. They took one another by the

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hand and walked into a spacious palace, which was very beautiful, the Danube flowing beneath it. They sat facing the fresh air, taking their ease.

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What else they did there I cannot tell. Kriemhilt’s warriors were heard then to lament that they delayed so long, for it grieved them. Ah, what worthy knights rode away with her from Pöchlarn!

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Rüedeger offered them service in all friendship. Then the queen gave twelve torques of red gold to Gotelint’s daughter, and such good garments that she took nothing better with her into Etzel’s land.

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Even though the Nibelungs’ gold had been taken from her, she won the favour of all who beheld her with what little wealth she had at her disposal there. Great gifts were given to the host’s household.

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In return Lady Gotelint then offered such kindly hospitality to the guests from the Rhine that very few guests were to be found who did not wear her jewels or her sumptuous garments.

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When they had eaten and were to depart, Etzel’s wife was offered loyal homage by the lady of the house. The fair damsel, her daughter, met with many embraces there. She said to the queen: ‘Whenever

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you think it right, I know well that my dear father would willingly agree to send me to you in Hungary.’ Kriemhilt clearly discerned that she was loyal to her.

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The horses had been made ready and brought before Pöchlarn. By then the noble queen had taken her leave of Rüedeger’s wife and of his daughter. Then fair maidens in great numbers also parted from one another with farewells. They were seldom to see one another after those days.

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When they passed by Melk, sumptuous golden vessels were carried to them in great numbers, bringing wine to the guests on the road—they were made to feel welcome. A lord resided there who was called

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Astolt. He guided them along the road into Austria, towards Mautern,
downstream alongside the Danube. There the mighty queen was afterwards given great service.

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The bishop parted lovingly from his niece. How firmly he pressed it upon her that she should bear herself well and purchase honour, as Helche had done before her! Ah, what great honour she afterwards won there among the Huns!

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Then they took the guests to the Traisen. Rüedeger’s men took great care of them, until they came to where the Huns were riding across country. Much great honour was done then to the queen.

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The King of Hungary had a prosperous castle by the Traisen, which was very well known, called Traismauer.
*
Lady Helche had resided there before, practising such great virtue as perhaps will never be seen again—unless it were equalled by Kriemhilt, who knew how to make

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such gifts. After her sorrow she was able to experience the happiness of Etzel’s men also speaking of her honour, which she afterwards gained in great abundance among those heroes.

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Etzel’s power was so widely known that at all times at his court the boldest of warriors ever heard of were to be found, be it among Christians or heathens—they had all made their way there with him. Those of the Christian faith, and also those of pagan

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beliefs, were about him at all times, all practising their different ways of life—that may perhaps never come to pass again. The king’s generosity saw to it that plenty was given to them all.

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S
HE
stayed at Traismauer until the fourth day. All that time the dust never settled on the road, but flew into the air as if everywhere were ablaze. King Etzel’s men were riding through Austria. By now

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the king himself had been given a full account of how splendidly Kriemhilt was making her progress through the lands—at that his sorrows vanished from his thoughts. The king made haste to meet the well-favoured queen. On the roads ahead of Etzel many bold knights

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were seen to ride, conversing in many and various tongues, vast hosts in great numbers of Christians and pagans. In splendour they came to where they found the lady. There were riders in great numbers from

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Russia and from Greece there. The excellent horses of the Poles and the Wallachians
*
were seen to gallop fast, ridden hard. Little did they neglect all their native customs. Warriors from the land of Kiev rode

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there in great numbers, and the wild Pechenegs.
*
There was much shooting with the bow at the birds flying past there. They drew their arrows back to the very limit of their bows.

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There is a place that lies by the Danube in Austria which is called Tulln. There Kriemhilt became acquainted with a great number of strange customs which she had never seen before. Plenty of people welcomed her there who afterwards met with sorrow for her sake.

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The retinue that rode before King Etzel was merry and most prosperous, courteous and gallant, some twenty-four princes of high degree and proud. They wished for nothing other than to see their lady. Duke Ramunc of Wallachia came charging past her with seven

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hundred men. They saw them ride like birds in flight. Then Prince Gibeche arrived with hosts of great splendour. Bold Hornboge with

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some thousand men turned away from the king to head for his lady. Loud was the clamour they made, as was that land’s custom. The kinsmen of the Huns also rode hard there.