The Lay of the Nibelung Men. Anonymous
It were good,” said the valiant warrior, “that we told unto Siegfried the thing.”
So they gave those war-denouncers for dwellings their city’s best,
How hateful they were soever, for such was the knightly hest
Of Gunther the noble-hearted—since thus fair honour bade—
Till the friends should be known who would fail not to bring their battle-aid.
Now the King in his heart was bearing a burden of sorrow and fear;
Then the hero, the swift war-helper, beheld him heavy of cheer,
And he marvelled thereat, for he knew not why he went ’neath a load of care.
And he spake, and he prayed King Gunther the cause thereof to declare.
“Exceeding sorely I marvel,” the hero Siegfried said,
“Wherefore thine olden joyance this day is utterly fled,
The gracious cheer that aforetime made the hearts that love thee light.”
Answered and spake to him Gunther, that royal-goodly knight:
“In sooth may I suffer not all men in my sorrow of soul to have part:
I must keep my grief deep-hidden, I must bear it alone in mine heart:
Unto tried friends only and steadfast may a man unveil his pain.”
Then pale grew the face of Siegfried, and anon waxed crimson again.
He spake to the King, and he answered: “Have I ever denied thee aught?
I will help thee to cast the burden of thy spirit sorrow-fraught.
If ye seek for friends true-hearted, lo, such an one even am I:
I will cleave unto thee and aid thee in honour till I die.”
“Now God requite thee, Siegfried, for thy words as music ring!
Yea, though thy might and thy valour no help unto me could bring,
Even so should thy love’s assurance make glad mine heart this day.
If I live on yet for a season, of a surety I will repay.
Thou therefore shalt hear the trouble wherewith mine heart is stirred:
Mine adversaries’ heralds have brought unto me this word,
That their kings be marching to seek us here with their war-array;—
Such outrage never warriors have dealt to us unto this day!”
“Let this not disquiet thy spirit,” spake the hero in answer thereto;
“Speak peace to thine heart, and according to this my counsel do:
Suffer me, even me, to win thee honour and goodly gain
Or ever thy foes to the marches of this thy land attain.
Yea, had those thy mighty foemen of battle-helpers arrayed
So many as thrice ten thousand, by me should their onset be stayed,
Had I at my side but a thousand. Commit thy cause unto me.”
Then spake unto him King Gunther: “I am bounden for ever to thee!”
“Give charge that a thousand riders shall follow me forth to the fray,
Inasmuch as of mine own warriors no more can I set in array
Here, than my twelve war-fellows: so will I ward your land,
And loyal service ever shall be done you by Siegfried’s hand.
Yea also let Hagen help us, and Ortwein fare to the fight,
Dankwart and Sindold, each man a well-belovèd knight,
Therewithal shall ride in our war-host Volker the aweless one,
And he shall be banner-bearer: better than he is none.
And let those war-denouncers to their own lords’ land ride back,
And cause them to bear this message, that we follow hard on their track:
So safe shall our castles be warded, and their peace no foe shall mar.”
Then the king bade summon the muster of his friends and his men of war.
So back to their lord went the bearers of Lüdiger’s command:
They were well content to be faring thence to their own home-land.
And Gunther the royal-hearted rich gifts on the men bestowed,
And therewithal safe-conduct; and with blithe hearts thence they rode.
“Say ye to my mighty foemen,” thus spake Burgundia’s Lord,
“Better for them unventured were their journey hitherward.
Howbeit, if here in mine own land to seek my face they be fain,
So my battle-helpers fail not, they shall find their bitter bane.”
Then goodly gifts to the heralds his treasure-warders bare;—
Good sooth, of the same had Gunther enow and withal to spare!—
Neither dared they refuse them, the bearers of Lüdiger’s command.
So took they their leave, and they journeyed with glad hearts forth of the land.
So then when the heralds to Denmark from Burgundy had passed,
And had spoken the tidings unlooked-for to their lord, King Lüdegast,
Had told him the word of the dwellers by Rhine, that message grim,
For that haughty-hearted defiance was the soul made bitter in him.
For they told him of many a valiant knight in the King’s war-band:—
“Yea, one we beheld with Gunther, and he stood at the king’s right hand,
And Siegfried they named him, a hero of Netherland.” Thus spake they.
Then Lüdegast’s heart at the tidings was filled with strange dismay.
So then when the tale of their message was heard all Denmark o’er,
They hasted to win war-helpers, yea, more than theretofore,
Till their lord, King Lüdegast, under his banner beheld enrolled
Warriors twice ten thousand, all war-thanes dauntless-souled.
Then Lüdiger, lord of the Saxons, gathered his war-array,
Till his battle-muster was two-score thousand, yea, more than they,
Who should join them with Denmark’s war-host, unto Burgundy to ride.
But in that land also had Gunther the King sent far and wide;
To his kinsmen-friends and the war-host of his brethren he sent his hest
To the end they should follow his banner as battleward he pressed;
And with these came the knights of Hagen: yea, sore was their need that day;
And the shadow of death already over many a warrior lay.
They addressed them unto their journey; for nought was their march delayed;
And Volker was banner-bearer, Volker the unafraid,
On the day that they went forth riding from Worms by the waters of Rhine;
And Hagen of Troneg marshalled Burgundia’s battle-line.
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