The Nibelungenlied: The Lay of the Nibelungs (Oxford World's Classics) (28 page)

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for twenty-four warriors. Moreover, they were told by the king the message they were to take, that they were to invite Gunther and his men to Hungary. Lady Kriemhilt spoke to them in private.

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Then the mighty king said: ‘I shall tell you what you are to do. I wish my friends joy and all good fortune, and may they deign to ride into my lands here. Seldom have I had such dear guests. If

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Kriemhilt’s kinsmen want to meet with my wishes at all, they should not omit to come to my festivity this summer, for much of my joy lies with my in-laws.’

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Then proud Swemmelin the fiddler said: ‘When is your festivity in these lands to be? Let us know so that we can tell your friends there.’

King Etzel replied: ‘At the next solstice.’

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‘We shall do all that you command,’ said Wärbelin then.

The queen asked that they be brought secretly to her chamber, where she spoke to the messengers. (Knights in great numbers met with little joy in consequence.)

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She said to the two messengers: ‘Now earn great wealth if you will kindly carry out my wishes and give the message I send home to our land. I shall make you rich in property and give you splendid garments.

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You must never tell any of my friends that you may see in Worms on the Rhine that you ever saw me low in spirits. Give my homage to the bold and worthy heroes. Ask that they do the king’s bidding,

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and thus part me from all my misery. The Huns must think that I lack any friends. If I were a knight I’d visit them from time to time.

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And tell Gernot, my noble brother, that no one in this world could hold him dearer. Ask him to bring our best friends with him to me in this land, to do us honour. And tell Giselher also that he should bear

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in mind that I never suffered any wrong at his hands, and therefore my eyes would very much like to see him here. I would be most glad to have him here because of his great loyalty. Tell my mother, too, of

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the honour I possess here. And if Hagen of Tronege wanted to remain there, who then would lead them through the lands? He has known the roads to Hungary well since his youth.’

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The messengers did not know at all why they had been told that they should not let Hagen of Tronege remain by the Rhine. It cost them dear afterwards. When war was declared on Hagen, it consigned many a knight along with him to grim death.

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The letters and the embassy had now been given to them. They journeyed rich in wealth and could live in splendour. Etzel, and also his fair wife, gave them leave to depart. They were attired in noble garments.

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W
HEN
Etzel sent his messengers to the Rhine, those tidings then flew from land to land. Employing speedy messengers, he both asked and summoned guests to his festivity. (Many a man fetched his death there in consequence.)

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The messengers made their way out of Hungary to the Burgundians. They had been sent there to three noble kings, and also to their vassals. They were to come to Etzel. Hasty progress was then made.

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They came riding to Pöchlarn. There people served them willingly, omitting nothing there. Rüedeger and Gotelint, and also their dear daughter, sent their homage to the Rhine by the messengers. They

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didn’t permit them to part from them without gifts, so Etzel’s men travelled in even better style. Rüedeger’s message then to Uote and her children was that no other margrave held them so dear as he.

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They also sent a message to Prünhilt, offering her homage and wealth, constant loyalty and goodwill. Once they had heard these words the messengers were intent on departing. The margravine asked God in Heaven to protect them.

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Before the messengers had passed through Bavaria, speedy Wärbel sought out the good bishop. What message Bishop Pilgrim then sent to his friends by the Rhine is not known to me—only that he gave his gold, so red, to the messengers in token of his affection.

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He let them ride. Bishop Pilgrim said: ‘If I were to see them here, my sister’s sons, I would rejoice, for I can seldom go to the Rhine to them.’

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What ways they took through the lands to the Rhine I cannot tell. No one took their silver and garments from them
*
—they feared their lord’s wrath. The noble, well-born king did indeed wield great power.

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Within twelve days Wärbel and Swemmelin had come to the Rhine, to the country near Worms. Tidings were then told to the kings and their vassals that foreign messengers had arrived. Gunther then put questions. The overlord of the Rhineland then said: ‘Who will tell us from where these strangers have ridden into the land?’

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No one knew until Hagen of Tronege saw them. He then said to Gunther: ‘Fresh tidings have come to us, I assure you. I have seen

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Etzel’s fiddlers here. Your sister has sent them to the Rhine. For their lord’s sake they must be warmly welcomed.’

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Already they were riding past the palace. Never did a prince’s minstrels ride in greater splendour. The king’s retinue welcomed them at once. They gave them lodgings and had their garments put in store.

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Their travelling clothes were costly and so fair that they might have honourably gone before the king, dressed as they were. They no longer wanted to wear those clothes at court there. The messengers had it be asked if anyone wanted to have them. People were indeed

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found of such a degree that they were most willing to accept the clothes
*
—they were sent to them. Then the strangers donned far better garments, as befits a king’s messengers to wear in splendour.

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Etzel’s retinue then went, having been given leave, to where the king sat. People were glad to see this.

Hagen leapt up courteously to meet the messengers and welcomed them with affection. The squires thanked him for that. He asked for tidings as to how Etzel and his men fared.

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The fiddler replied: ‘The land was never in a better state, nor the people so happy. Rest assured of that.’

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They walked over to the lord of the land. The palace was packed full. Then the guests were welcomed as strangers to other kings’ lands ought to be, with gracious greetings. Wärbel found many warriors in Gunther’s presence there.

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The king greeted them with courtesy: ‘Welcome, both you minstrels of the Huns, and your companions. Has mighty Etzel sent you here to Burgundy?’

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They bowed to the king. Then Wärbelin said: ‘My dear lord sends you his cordial homage, as does Kriemhilt, your sister, here into this land. They have sent us in good faith to you warriors here.’

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Then the mighty king said: ‘I rejoice in these tidings. How fares Etzel,’ asked the knight then, ‘and Kriemhilt, my sister, in Hungary?’

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The fiddler replied: ‘I shall tell you tidings of them—never did any folk fare better than those two, you may rest assured, and all their servitors, their kinsmen, and also their vassals. They took pleasure in this journey of ours when we departed.’

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‘Gracious thanks for the homage that he and my sister have sent me, since things so stand that the king and his men live in happiness, for I asked with some anxiety about those tidings.’

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By now the two young kings had also arrived. They had then only just heard about these tidings. For love of his sister, young Giselher was glad to see the messengers. He then spoke with affection to them:

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‘You messengers would be heartily welcome here if you wanted to ride more often to the Rhine. You would find friends here whom you might be glad to see. Little harm will befall you here in this land.’

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‘We trust you will treat us with all honour,’ said Swemmelin then. ‘I couldn’t tell you, so poor are my wits, what truly loving greetings Etzel has sent you, as has your noble sister, whose affairs stand in high honour. The king’s wife would remind you of your

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favour and loyalty, and that your heart and mind were ever fond of her. First and foremost, we have been sent to the king here to ask if you will deign to ride into Etzel’s land. Mighty Etzel commanded

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us most earnestly that we should ask you all whether you do not want to see your sister—otherwise he would gladly like to know what wrong he does you, in that you thus avoid him and also his lands.

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Even if you had never made the queen’s acquaintance, he might still have merited that you should deign to see him. Whenever that were to come about, it would give him pleasure.’

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Then King Gunther said: ‘In seven nights’ time I will let you know what I have determined upon with my allies. Meanwhile you must go to your lodgings and rest well.’

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Wärbelin spoke again: ‘Might it be possible that we first see my lady, Uote the most powerful, before we seek our rest?’

Noble Giselher replied most courteously: ‘No one shall stand in your

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way if you want to go before her. You will have granted my mother’s wish entirely, for she will be glad to see you for the sake of my sister, Lady Kriemhilt. You will be welcome visitors to her.’

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Giselher took them into the lady’s presence. She was glad to see the messengers from Hungary. She greeted them with affection,
courteous as she was. Then the courtly and worthy messengers told her their tidings.

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‘My lady sends you her loyal homage,’ so said Swemmelin. ‘If it might be, she would gladly see you often. You must believe that never in this world would she enjoy greater happiness.’

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The queen replied: ‘That cannot be. Gladly though I would see my dear daughter often, I fear the noble king’s wife lives too far away. I wish eternal blessings upon her and Etzel. You must let me know,

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before you depart from here, when you want to go back. Never was I so glad to see such messengers as you, not for a long time.’

The squires promised her then that they would have that happen.

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The men from Hungary went to their lodgings. By then the mighty king had sent for his allies. Noble Gunther asked his men how the matter pleased them. Great numbers of them then spoke up. The

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best amongst them advised that he would do well to ride to Etzel’s land—except for Hagen alone. He was fiercely opposed to the journey. He said to the king in secret: ‘You have declared war upon your own self. You are only too well aware of what wrong we have

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done Kriemhilt. We must always be wary of her, for I slew her husband with my own hands. How might we dare ride into Etzel’s lands?’

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The mighty king replied: ‘My sister has renounced her anger. With a loving kiss she forgave us for all the wrongs we ever did her, before she rode away from here—were it not that you alone, Hagen, are her declared foe.’

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‘Now do not let yourself be deceived,’ said Hagen. ‘No matter what the messengers from the Huns say, if you want to see Kriemhilt, you may well lose your honour and even your life there. King Etzel’s wife is very long-toothed in vengeance.’
*

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Then Prince Gernot addressed the counsel: ‘Although you rightly fear death there in the Hunnish realms, if we for that reason were to desist from seeing our sister, that would be a very ill deed.’

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Then Prince Giselher said to the warrior: ‘Since you know you are guilty, friend Hagen, you ought to remain here and be on your guard, and let those who dare travel with us to my sister.’

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The warrior of Tronege grew angry at that: ‘I don’t want you to take anyone on the ways who would more willingly dare ride to court with you than I. Since you will not desist, I shall give you good proof of that.’

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Then the master of the kitchen, Sir Rumolt, said: ‘You could order both strangers and acquaintances to be as well cared for here as you would wish, for you have all the supplies you need. I don’t believe that Hagen has ever yet made hostages of you. If you will not take

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Hagen’s advice, then Rumolt counsels you—for I am your most loyal servant—that you should stay here as I wish, and leave King Etzel alone there with Kriemhilt. How might you ever fare better in this world? You are quite safe from your foes’ attacks. You ought to attire yourselves in good garments, drink the best of wine, and make love to comely women. Moreover, you will be given the best food any king

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in the world ever had. Even if this were not so, you ought to remain for the sake of your fair wife, rather than risk your life so childishly. Therefore I counsel you to remain here. Your lands are wealthy. If you were taken hostage, you could be ransomed more easily here at home than there among the Huns. Who knows how things stand there? Remain here, lords—that is Rumolt’s counsel.’
*

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‘We do not want to remain here,’ said Gernot then, ‘since my sister and mighty Etzel have invited us so amicably. Why should we not go? Anyone who does not want to go there can stay at home here.’

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Hagen answered: ‘Do not think ill of my words, no matter what befalls you. I advise you in good faith: if you want to protect yourself, then you must travel well-guarded to the Huns. Since you will not

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desist, then send for your men—the best you can find, no matter where they be. Then I will choose a thousand worthy knights from amongst them all. That way Kriemhilt’s evil intent may not harm you.’

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‘I will gladly give my consent to that,’ said the king at once. Then he ordered messengers to ride far and wide into his lands. They fetched three thousand heroes or more then. (They didn’t believe they would gain such grievous suffering by this.) Merrily they rode