The Lay of the Nibelung Men. Anonymous
That a man overpalled by its shrouding might do even that which he would,
Yea, after his heart’s good pleasure, for of none was he espied:
Therewith did he win Queen Brunhild—and through her at the last he died.
“Now, ere we set forth on our journey, unto me, O Siegfried, declare
How best for our honour and glory over the sea we may fare.
Shall we lead ’neath our banners a war-host of knights unto Brunhild’s land?
Swiftly may thrice ten thousand be arrayed in our warrior-band.”
“How great soever the war-host that we take,” spake Siegfried to him,
“The might of that queen and her fury be so exceeding grim,
That all our array should be blasted ’neath the storm of her battle-mood.
I will give to you better counsel, O valiant thanes and good:
In guise as of lone knights-errant let us sail adown the Rhine.
Touching who in our band shall be numbered, hear this counsel of mine:
With thee and with me two only let there go, none other beside,
That with these we may woo this lady, whatsoever thereafter betide.
Even I am one in the venture, the second must needs be thou,
And let the third be Hagen—fear not, we shall prosper now;—
For the fourth be chosen Dankwart, that lord of battle-might;
Then not a thousand aliens shall ever withstand us in fight.”
“Of this too,” spake King Gunther, “would I fain be certified—
For thereof should mine heart be gladdened—or ever forth we ride,
What manner of raiment in presence of Brunhild befits that we wear
Such as shall meetly beseem us: this, O Siegfried, declare.”
“In the richest of all rich vesture that is found in any land
Be arrayed evermore the people that in Brunhild’s presence stand.
Let us therefore appear before her in silk and in ermine and gold,
That none think scorn of our splendour when the tale thereafter is told.”
Answered the good thane Gunther: “Myself will go forthright
To my well-belovèd mother, if haply good in her sight
It shall be that her comely maidens may fashion attire so fair
As before that queenly lady with honour we may wear.”
Then out spake Hagen of Troneg, that lord of stately port:
“What boots it to trouble thy mother for service in such a sort?
Breathe but a word to thy sister of thy thought and thy desire,
And cunning fingers shall frame you exceeding rich attire.”
Then the King sent word to his sister that fain would he confer
With her, even he and Siegfried. But, or ever they came unto her,
That lovely one had adorned her in such royal-rich array
That with right scant heart-misgivings their coming did she stay.
Stood the ladies that waited upon her clad richly in their degree:
Then came to her bower the Princes: at their entering-in rose she
To meet them, from her high seat: ah, with what queenly grace
She greeted the noble stranger and her brother with radiant face!
“Blithe welcome unto my brother, and welcome to his friend!
I am fain,” spake on that sweet one, “I am fain to know the end
Of your coming to this bower royal, what thing your hearts would crave.
I beseech you, let me hearken what the noble knights would have.”
Then spake King Gunther: “Lady, this will I tell:—we bear,
For all our knightly courage, the burden of a care.
We be minded to ride a-wooing to a strange land far away,
And fain would we have for our journey exceeding goodly array.”
“Now seat thee, belovèd brother,” that child of kings ’gan say,
“And of this thing first instruct me, what fairest of fair ones be they
Whom ye are so fain to be wooing in a strange king’s far-off land.”
And therewith those chosen chieftains did the maiden take by the hand,
And with these twain onward paced she, and seated them royally
On splendour-gleaming couches—nought passing the truth tell I—
With imagery fair-fashioned with the red gold threads entwined:
Of a truth, in that bower of ladies fair pleasure might they find!
Flashes of swift love-lightning and of yearning of the heart,
From the eyes of each unto other, well might they ofttimes dart!
For shrined in his soul he bare her; she was more unto him than life,
And ere long by noble service he won her to be his wife.
Then spake that goodly war-king: “Belovèd sister mine,
Our desire may be nowise accomplished saving with help of thine.
We would fare forth pleasure-questing to the Lady Brunhild’s land,
And knights need fair arrayal that in presence of ladies stand.”
Then spake that Daughter of Princes: “Belovèd brother mine,
If aught mine help may avail you to compass your design,
Hereof have utter assurance, I am ready to bear my part.
Yea, if another denied thee, it were pain unto Kriemhild’s heart.
O noble knight, it needs not that ye ask as in fear and doubt:
What best ye bring soever in lordly wise tell out.
Whatsoever may do you a pleasure, ready awaiteth mine aid,
And with all mine heart I do it.” So spake that winsome maid.
“Our will is, sister belovèd, to array us in vesture fair,
And we pray that thine own white fingers may this our apparel prepare.
And let these thy maidens be heedful that each man be arrayed like a king;
For no gainsaying shall turn us from this our journeying.”
Answered and spake that Fair One: “To this my request give heed:
Silks have we beside us in plenty; command that one bring for our need
The gemstones that gleam on your bucklers; these on the silk will we lay.”
Thereunto Gunther and Siegfried glad-hearted answered yea.
“Now who be the journeying-fellows,” the Princess asked again,
“Who shall wend so goodly-apparelled unto where this queen doth reign?”
“Myself am the fourth: first Siegfried; two of my liegemen withal,