The Nibelungenlied: The Lay of the Nibelungs (Oxford World's Classics) (12 page)

390

Then Lord Sivrit said: ‘Now you must search secretly among the damsels and tell me then which you would take if it were in your power.’

‘I will do so,’ replied Gunther, that bold and valiant knight.

391

‘Well, I see one of them standing in that window in snow-white clothing, who is so well-favoured—my eyes choose her because of her fair person. If it were in my power, she would become my wife.’

392

‘Your eyes have chosen rightly. That is noble Prünhilt, the fair maiden for whom your heart, your mind, and your intent strive.’

The whole of her demeanour seemed noble to Gunther.

393

Then the queen ordered her noble maidens to go away from the windows. They were not to stand there to be looked at by the foreigners. They did her bidding. What the ladies did next has also been told us. To meet the strangers they adorned themselves, as has

394

ever been comely women’s custom. They walked over to the narrow windows, from which they could see the heroes—they did so in order to observe them.

395

There were only four of them who had come to that land. Bold Sivrit led a warhorse onto the beach, watched through the windows by the comely women. King Gunther thought himself honoured by that.
*
Sivrit held his elegant charger by the reins there—it was noble

396

and handsome, huge and strong—until King Gunther had seated himself in the saddle. Such was the service Sivrit rendered Gunther, though he was afterwards to forget it altogether. Then he also led his

397

own horse down from the skiff. Seldom had he done such service before as to stand at a hero’s stirrups. The fair and proud ladies saw that through the windows. Those two most gallant heroes were very

398

much alike, in that their chargers and their clothing were both of the same snow-white hue. Their fair shields shone from the hands of those most gallant men. Their saddles were well adorned with gems,

399

their bridles slender. They rode in splendour up to Prünhilt’s hall. From their harness hung bells of bright red gold. They arrived in that land, as their courage commanded, with new-cut lances, with splendid

400

swords which reached down to those gallant men’s spurs. Those valiant warriors carried swords that were sharp and broad. Prünhilt, that most noble maiden, saw all that for herself.

401

Together with them came then Dancwart, and also Hagen. We hear tell that those knights wore sumptuous clothing of raven-black hue. Their shields were splendid, of great size, good and broad.

402

They saw them wearing gems from the land of India; they could see them rippling on their clothes in all splendour. They left their little skiff unguarded by the tide. Thus those bold and worthy heroes rode up to the castle. They saw eighty-six towers standing

403

within there, three spacious palaces and a handsome great hall of noble marble, green as grass, where Prünhilt herself resided with her retinue.

404

The castle gates were opened wide. Then Prünhilt’s men ran to meet the strangers and welcome them into their lady’s land. They gave order that their horses be stabled and their shields taken from their hands. A chamberlain said: ‘You must give us your swords, and also your bright breastplates.’

405

‘You won’t be granted those,’ said Hagen of Tronege. ‘We’ll carry them ourselves.’

Then Sivrit told him the truth of the matter: ‘In this castle the

406

custom is, I tell you, that no strangers are to bear weapons here. Now let them be taken away—it would be as well.’ Hagen, Gunther’s vassal, agreed to this most unwillingly.

407

They ordered wine to be poured out for the guests and gave them comfortable chambers. Great numbers of bold warriors
*
were to be seen at court there, walking in princely garb everywhere. Many looks were cast then at the bold strangers.

408

Tidings were then brought to Lady Prünhilt that unknown warriors had arrived there, wearing splendid clothing, sailing on the tide. This caused the beautiful, noble maiden to ask for tidings.

409

‘You must let me hear,’ said the queen, ‘who these warriors, all unknown to us, may be, who stand so proudly in my castle, and ask for whose sake the heroes have travelled here.’

410

Then one of her retinue said: ‘Lady, I venture to say, though I have never seen any of them before, that one standing amongst them looks like Sivrit. You ought to give him a good welcome—that is my loyal counsel. Another of the companions is so admirable. If he

411

had such power, he might well be a mighty king, reigning over the broad lands of princes—if he has such. You can see him standing so very proudly among the others. The third of the companions is

412

so fearsome—and yet of handsome build, mighty queen—casting so
many fierce glances about him. He has, I believe, a grim cast of mind.

413

The youngest amongst them is so admirable—I see the powerful knight standing there so charmingly, modest as a maid, and with a goodly bearing. We might all have good reason to be afraid if anyone here were to harm him. No matter how blithe he is in his courtesy

414

and how handsome his person, he might readily cause comely women to weep if he were to wax wrath. To judge from his build, all his qualities are those of a bold and valiant knight.’

415

Then the queen said: ‘Now bring me my clothes. If mighty Sivrit has come into this land in pursuit of my love, it will cost him his life. I am not so very much in fear of him that I shall become his wife.’

416

Soon fair Prünhilt was well attired. Beautiful maidens walked alongside her then in great numbers, a good hundred or more. They were in fine array. Those comely women wanted to see the strangers. Together with them walked knights from that country

417

of Iceland, Prünhilt’s warriors, bearing swords in their hands, five hundred or more. That gave the strangers cause for anxiety. The bold and gallant heroes then rose from their seats. When the

418

queen saw Sivrit—you may now wish to hear what the maiden said: ‘Welcome, Sivrit, here to this land. What is the purpose of your journey? I would gladly know it.’

419

‘Most gracious thanks to you, my lady Prünhilt, for deigning to greet me, munificent prince’s daughter, ahead of this noble warrior who stands before me here, for he is my lord
*
—I would gladly dispense with such honour. He is a Rhinelander by birth. What

420

more shall I tell you? It is for your sake that we have travelled here. He would gladly woo you, no matter what happens to him in consequence. Now think about this before it is too late—my lord will not spare you. He is called Gunther and is a proud king. If he

421

were to win your love, he’d desire nothing more. Indeed, this well-favoured warrior commanded me to come here. If I could have refused him, I’d gladly have refrained.’

422

She replied: ‘If he’s your lord and you’re his vassal, and he dares take on the games I’ll set him—if he proves master in them, then I’ll be his wife—but if I win, it will cost all of you your lives.’

423

Then Hagen of Tronege said: ‘Lady, let us see these tasking games of yours. They’d have to be hard indeed before Gunther my lord were to yield to you. He is fully confident of winning such a fair maiden.’

424

‘He will have to throw the stone and leap after it, and shoot the javelin in competition with me. Do not be in too much of a hurry! You may well lose your honour and your lives here! Think long and hard on this,’ said the lovely lady.

425

Valiant Sivrit stepped up to the king, asking him to tell all his intent to the queen—he was not to be afraid. ‘I will guard you well against her by my wiles.’

426

Then King Gunther said: ‘Proud queen, set now whatever tasks you command. Even if it were yet more, I would undertake it all for the sake of your fair person. I will lose my head unless you become my wife.’

427

When the queen heard his words she asked that the games be prepared in haste as then best suited her. She ordered good battle-gear to be prepared for her, a breastplate of red gold and a good shield’s rim. The maiden put on a silken shift beneath her armour,
*

428

one never slashed by a sword in any battle, made of phellel-silk
*
from Lybia—it was most fair. Brightly embroidered braids could be seen to shine from it.

429

Meanwhile the warriors met with many taunts and threats. Dancwart and Hagen were not best pleased. They were worried as to how the king might fare. They thought: ‘This journey of ours does not bode too well for us warriors.’

430

Meanwhile handsome Sivrit, for his part, had boarded the skiff before anyone could find out. He found his cloak of invisibility lying hidden there. He slipped into it quickly, and then no one could tell who he was. He hurried back. He then found many warriors, there

431

where the queen was setting out the games to be played for such high stakes. In secret he walked over there—that was done out of cunning so that none of all those present there could see him. The rink
*
where

432

the games were to take place was marked out before many bold warriors, who were to watch them, more than seven hundred of them. They were seen to bear swords. Those heroes were to announce who succeeded in the games.

433

Prünhilt had arrived by then. They saw that she was armed as if she were to fight for all the kingdoms in the world. Above her silks she wore ingots of gold in great numbers. Her lovely hue shone splendidly beneath that covering. Then her retinue arrived, carrying in

434

their hands a rim all of red gold with steel-hard buckles, massive and broad, beneath which the lovely maiden wanted to play the games.

435

The lady’s shield-strap was a noble braid. Gems green as grass lay embroidered upon it, reflected here and there in the gold. A man would have to be most valiant if
that
lady were to hold him dear.

436

The shield that the maiden was to carry was, beneath its buckles, so we are told, some three spans in breadth, of steel and also of gold—it was of ample splendour. Her chamberlain and three others could scarcely carry it. When mighty Hagen saw that shield being carried

437

forward, the hero of Tronege said grimly: ‘What now, King Gunther? Are we to lose our lives like this? She whom you desire to woo there is the very Devil’s wife!’

438

Hear more now about her garments—she possessed plenty. She wore a noble, sumptuous tabard, made of silk from Azagouc;
*
from its hue precious stones in great numbers shone from the queen.

439

Then they carried in for the lady a heavy, huge javelin, very sharp, which she always threw. It was strong and bulky, massive and broad, and its edges cut most fearsomely. Hear marvels told of that javelin’s

440

weight: three-and-a-half ingots
*
had been beaten to make it. Three of Prünhilt’s men could scarcely carry it. Noble Gunther began to grow very anxious. He thought to himself: ‘What is to come of this?

441

How might even the foul fiend prevail here? If I were back alive in Burgundy, this queen here would long be free of my love!’

442

Then Hagen’s brother, bold Dancwart, said: ‘I regret from my heart this wooing expedition. We were always renowned as warriors. What a way to lose our lives if women are now to be our ruin in these lands! I am heavy at heart that I ever came into this land. If my

443

brother Hagen had his sword in his hand, and I mine also, then all Prünhilt’s men would have to rein in their pride. Rest assured, they’d have to keep back, even if I’d sworn a thousand oaths to keep the peace. Rather than see my dear lord die, this maiden in all her beauty would have to lose her life!’

445

‘We could easily leave this land unimprisoned,’ said then his brother Hagen, ‘if we had the armour we are sorely in need of and our fine swords—then this mighty lady’s pride would easily be tamed!’

446

The noble maiden heard loud and clear what the knight said. Smiling, she looked over her shoulder: ‘Since he thinks himself so valiant, let their armour be brought in to them. Put the sharp swords in the warriors’ hands!’

447

When they had regained their swords as the maiden had ordered, valiant Dancwart blushed for joy. ‘Now let them play whatever
games they will,’ said that man of great mettle. ‘Gunther will be unvanquished now that we have our swords.’

448

Prünhilt’s strength was all too apparent. They carried a heavy stone into the rink for her, great and bulky, massive and round. Twelve of those bold and valiant heroes could scarcely carry it. She

449

always threw it after she had hurled the javelin. The Burgundians grew greatly anxious. ‘Good grief !’ said Hagen. ‘What a beloved the king has found! She should be the foul fiend’s bride in Hell!’

450

She rolled her sleeves up her white arms. She grasped the shield in her hand. She lifted the javelin high—then battle was begun. Gunther and Sivrit feared Prünhilt’s hostility. If Sivrit had not come

451

to Gunther’s aid she would have taken the king’s life. Sivrit walked up secretly and touched Gunther’s hand. Gunther was greatly troubled by his wiles. ‘What has touched me?’ thought the bold king.

452

He looked all about him—he could find no one standing there.

Sivrit said: ‘It is I, Sivrit, your dear friend. You need have no fear whatever of the queen. Put the shield into my hands and let me carry

453

it, and mark well what you hear me say. You go through the motions now, and I will do the deeds.’ When Gunther realized who it was he was relieved.

454

Sivrit said: ‘Now keep my wiles secret. You must tell no one of them, and then the queen will win very little fame by you, no matter how much she desires it. See how the lady stands without anxiety before you now!’