The Lay of the Nibelung Men. Anonymous

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      With greeting exceeding gracious, with courtesy passing fair;

      And before them the Knight all-peerless bowed him in courtly wise

      In thanks for their lovingkindness, and the worship in their eyes.

      Spake Gunther the king: “I marvel, and fain would be certified,

      Whence, O most noble Siegfried, unto this our land ye ride,

      And what thing come ye seeking at Worms by the waters of Rhine.”

      And the guest to the King made answer: “I hide no purpose of mine.

      Afar in the land of my fathers the tidings have I heard

      How that here, O King, in thy palace—and fain would I prove the word—

      Be the knights in the world most valiant—yea, oft have I hearkened their fame—

      And the best that king gat ever: and for this cause hither I came.

      Yea, and I hear men praise thee for the Star of Chivalry.

      ‘Never was king so valiant unto this day seen,’ they cry.

      Through all my land thy glory is blown upon rumour’s wind.

      No rest may my spirit give me till the truth hereof I find.

      Lo, I withal am a warrior; a crown must I wear one day;

      And fain am I that all men of me in that hour should say

      That I take the folk and the kingdom of right for mine heritage.

      Lo, mine head and mine honour, I lay them in the lists for battle’s gage.

      Thou then, if thou be so valiant as is sung by the lips of fame—

      I ask no man of my challenge, if he joy or chafe at the same—

      I challenge thee here, do battle for all thou accountest thine!

      Thy land and thy castles, I claim them for spoil of this sword of mine!”

      Then the King was exceeding astonied, amazed did the earl-folk stand,

      As they hearkened to that strange challenge, to the champion’s haughty demand,

      As he claimed for his victory-guerdon the people and land of their lord;

      And as flame burst forth their anger to hear that arrogant word.

      “Nay, how should it be for mine honour,” answered the King thereto,

      “If I staked the realm that my father ruled nobly his whole life through

      On a combat’s issue, to lose it or hold it by bodily might?

      Sooth, this were a sorry maintaining of the name and the fame of a knight!”

      “Nay, nought I abate of my challenge,” that aweless champion cried;

      “If the peace of thy land safe warded by the strength of thine arm abide,

      Now from thy grasp will I wrest it; and mine heritage withal,

      If thou win it by battle-prowess, shall be held of thee in thrall.

      Let thou and I stake straightway our land and throne and crown;

      And whichsoever in combat shall strike the other down,

      Unto him shall all be subject, the lands of twain and the folk.”

      Then against it Hagen the mighty and Gernot the valiant spoke.

      “Of a surety not so are we minded,” spake Gernot proudly and high,

      “That for winning of new possessions should any good knights die

      In the strife of warring heroes: lo, fair our heritage is,

      And of right is it ours; and no man hath claim more righteous to this.”

      In burning indignation there stood they, the friends of the King;

      And the Lord of Metz, Knight Ortwein, stepped forth from the warrior-ring,

      Crying, “Out upon these soft answers! My very heart have they wrung!

      Lo, a causeless challenge Siegfried the strong at you all hath flung!

      Though thou and thy brothers before him were standing with none to aid,

      Though he brought a kingdom’s army against thee, my King, arrayed,

      Yet would I maintain, I only, thy right against yon foe:

      I would still his malapert vaunting, I would bring his high heart low!”

      Outflamed the wrath of the hero, the lord of the Nether Land:

      “Not against me may be measured the might of thy low-born hand!

      I am the heir to a kingdom, a king’s mere vassal thou;

      Yet twelve such as thou should vainly withstand me in battle, I trow!”

      Then the Lord of Metz, Knight Ortwein, cried hotly, “Bring me a sword!”—

      True son was he of the sister of Hagen Troneg’s lord!—

      Sore vexed was the King that Hagen so long should silent stand.

      Then for peace yet again spake Gernot, bold-hearted and ready of hand:

      “Now nay, rein in thine anger”—with Ortwein so did he plead—

      “Not yet hath the noble Siegfried done us any despiteful deed.

      For kindness and reconciling still all my counsel is,

      And for winning of his friendship: yea, more for our honour were this.”

      At the last spake Hagen the stalwart: “There were reason enow for our wrath

      And the good knights’ indignation, if he rode on the Rhineward path

      For nought but for this defiance—what ailed him to do this thing?

      Never so evil-entreated had he been of our lord the King.”

      Then Siegfried the mighty hero flashed out all scornfully:

      “If that I have said, Lord Hagen, in aught misliketh thee,

      I will let it be seen of all men how ready is this mine hand

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