The Lay of the Nibelung Men. Anonymous

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СКАЧАТЬ the gold was desired of no man that was proffered of them at the first.

      Ah, sick were their hearts with longing for dear ones, and home-athirst!

      Shields many treasure-laden his henchmen thitherward bare,

      And therefrom to his friends bright silver unweighed did the knight-king share,

      Five hundred marks unto each one—unto many an one yet more:

      So was Gunther advised of Gernot, that noble counsellor.

      Then prayed all, “Let us depart hence”; for now would they fain ride home;

      And into the presence of Kriemhild did the guests for farewell come,

      And unto the foot of the high-seat whereon sat Uta the Queen.

      Ne’er in such gracious fashion were guests sped forth, I ween.

      Now void were the city’s hostels, as forth of the gates they rode;

      Yet still in the land Burgundian in royal state abode

      The King with all his kinsfolk in the midst of a knightly train,

      And each day in the presence of Kriemhild appeared each noble thane.

      Then Siegfried the hero petitioned, “I pray you, let me depart”;

      For his hope waxed faint of winning her who was queen of his heart:

      And the King heard tell of his purpose, that thence he would fare straightway.

      But the young lad Giselher pleaded, and wrought on him to delay:

      “Whither away, O Siegfried, is thine heart on journeying set?

      Nay, hearken to my petition, abide with the good knights yet;

      Abide thou with King Gunther and his loyal liegemen still.

      Lo, here be lovely ladies: thou mayst see them at thy will.”

      Made answer Siegfried the mighty: “Nay then, let the steeds abide.

      Lo, I have foregone my purpose, and hence not yet will I ride.

      Bear hence the shields and uphang them—albeit I long for mine home,

      Lord Giselher’s love true-hearted hath turned my mind therefrom.”

      So tarried the valiant warrior there by a friend’s love won.

      In all the rest of the wide world other place was there none

      Wherein he had rested so gladly; and now none said him nay,

      But he looked on the beauty of Kriemhild ever day by day;

      For the sake of her measureless fairness he could not choose but stay.

      In many a pleasant pastime they wore the hours away.

      Only he felt love’s torment, he knew none other care.

      —Ah me, but the days were coming when she should be his death-snare!

VI.

       How they Voyaged on Love-quest to Isen-land

       Table of Contents

      Now over the Rhine came a story of none heard theretofore,

      A tale of the marvellous beauty of maids on a far-away shore.

      Then stirred was the spirit of Gunther to win such an one for his bride:

      In the hope thereof uplifted was his heart in kingly pride.

      There was a Queen of Beauty enthroned beyond the sea;

      Through all the world’s wide compass was none so fair as she.

      In loveliness was she peerless, and of measureless bodily might;

      For she matched her with champions that wooed her in speeding the lance’s flight,

      And in hurling the stone, and in leaping far as it flew through the air.

      Whosoever to wife would win her, that terrible test must dare,

      And in contests three overcome her, that champion-maid high-born.

      Let him fail in but one of the trials, and his head from his shoulders was shorn.

      Full oft that Daughter of Princes had done this ruthless thing:

      But now by the Rhine her rumour came to a knightly king,

      And he turned his whole heart’s longing to win that fair one to wife.

      —Ah, many a knight thereafter for her sake lost his life!

      (C) As once in the midst of his people the noble Gunther sat,

      Much question arose, as the speech-tide flowed swiftly this way and that,

      What queen among women was worthy that the King should choose her for bride,

      Who should be Queen of Burgundia, and sit enthroned at his side.

      Then spake the Lord of Rhineland: “I will take ship down to the sea,

      And will sail to the Lady Brunhild, howsoever it fare with me.

      For the love of that Queen of Women will I venture limb and life:

      Yea, ready I stand to lose them, an I win her not to my wife.”

      “I give my counsel against it,” cried Siegfried with earnest mien;

      “Such deadly-ruthless customs be practised of that dread queen,

      That whoever is her love’s suitor, his head he imperilleth.

      Well mayst thou advise thee rather to turn from this path of death.”

      (C) Answered and spake King Gunther: “Never was woman born

      So strong and so fierce of spirit, but her might were by mine outworn

      Lightly, in any contest, by my single hand alone!”

      “Ah hush!” made answer Siegfried, “unto thee is this woman unknown.

      (C) Though four such as thou withstood her, the strength of them all were as nought

      Against her terrible fury: thou therefore renounce that thought;

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