The Nibelungenlied: The Lay of the Nibelungs (Oxford World's Classics) (42 page)

2316

Dietrich said to Hildebrant: ‘Now tell my men to arm themselves speedily, for I want to go there. And have my bright battle-gear brought. I myself will put questions to the heroes from Burgundy.’

2317

Master Hildebrant replied: ‘Who is to join you? What men you have who are still alive you see standing by you. I mean myself alone—the others are dead.’

Dietrich was shocked at these tidings, as he had every cause to be, for he had never gained such great grief in this world. He said:

2318

‘If all my men are dead, then God has forgotten me, wretched Dietrich! I was a proud king, possessing great power and wealth.

2319

How could it come about’, Dietrich continued, ‘that they have all been killed, those renowned heroes, by the battle-weary Burgundians, for they were in such peril? Were it not for my ill-fortune, death would still be a stranger to them. Since my evil fate will spare me this

2320

no longer, tell me, is any of the guests still alive?’

Master Hildebrant replied: ‘As God is my witness, no one except Hagen alone, and Gunther the proud king.’

2321

‘Alas, dear Wolf hart, that I should have lost you! I have good cause to regret that ever I was born! Sigestap and Wolfwin, and Wolfprant, too! Who now is to help me return to the land of the Amelungs?

2322

If my valiant Helpfrich is slain, Gerbart and Wichart, how am I to overcome their loss? This, for me, is the last day of my happiness. Alas that no one can die of grief !’

2323

T
HEN
Lord Dietrich himself sought out his armour. Master Hildebrant helped him arm himself. The mighty man lamented then so sorely that the hall echoed with the sound of his voice. Yet then he regained a true hero’s spirit. The worthy hero was armed in grim earnest. He took a sturdy shield in his hand. They soon set off, he and Master Hildebrant.

2324  2325

Hagen of Tronege then said: ‘I see Lord Dietrich walking towards us. He wants to attack us after the great sorrow that has befallen him here. Today we shall see who is to be reckoned the best. No matter how strong and how fearsome Lord Dietrich of Bern thinks himself, if he wants to wreak vengeance upon us for what has been done to him,’ said Hagen, ‘I have no fear of taking him on.’

2326  2327

Dietrich and Hildebrant heard what he said. Dietrich went over to where he found the two warriors standing outside the hall, leaning against the wall. Dietrich laid his good shield down at his feet. Full of sorrow, Dietrich then said: ‘Why have you acted thus, Gunther, powerful king, towards me in my exile? What wrong had I done you? I am bereft of all my hopes. You did not think our great anguish enough when you slew Rüedeger the hero. Now you have begrudged me all my men. I had not inflicted any such harm on you heroes. Think of yourselves and your grief, the death of your friends and your suffering—does it trouble your minds at all, worthy warriors? Alas, how deeply Rüedeger’s death grieves me! No greater grief ever befell any man in this world. You paid little heed to my woes and to your own. All those who brought me joy lie slain by you. I can never cease to lament over my kinsmen.’

2328  2329  2330  2331  2332

‘We are not so very much to blame,’ replied Hagen. ‘Your warriors walked to this hall, armed from top to toe, with such a large company. It seems to me that you have not been told the truth of the matter.’

2333

‘What else am I to believe? Hildebrant told me that when my warriors from the land of the Amelungs asked that you should hand them Rüedeger’s body out of the hall, you hurled nothing but scorn down at the bold heroes.’

2334

Then the King of the Rhine said: ‘They said that they wanted to carry Rüedeger’s body away. I ordered that he be denied them,
*
as an affront to Etzel, and not to your men, but then Wolf hart started to hurl abuse at us.’

2335

Then the hero of Bern said: ‘There is nothing else for it. Gunther, noble king, by your courtesy make me amends for the sorrows that have befallen me at your hands, and atone for them, bold knight, in

2326

such a way that I can acknowledge it. Surrender yourself to me as my hostage, you and also your vassal. I will then prevent, as best as I may, anyone from harming you here among the Huns. You will find nothing but loyalty and goodwill in me.’

2337

‘Now God in Heaven forbid,’ said Hagen then, ‘that two knights should surrender themselves who still stand armed before you, ready to defend themselves, and still walking free before their foes.’

2338

‘You must not refuse this,’ were Dietrich’s words. ‘Gunther and Hagen, you have both grieved my heart and mind so sorely—if you would make amends to me, that would be right and proper. I swear

2339

to you by my good faith, and give you my hand on it, that I will ride with you, home to your land. I’ll escort you honourably or die for it, and will, for your sake, forget my grievous anguish.’

2340

‘Have no further thought of that!’ replied Hagen. ‘It would ill befit us if the tale were to be told that two such bold men surrendered themselves to you. We see no one standing at your side now, except Hildebrant alone.’

2341

Then Master Hildebrant said: ‘God knows, Sir Hagen, if anyone offers to agree upon a truce with you, the time may yet come when you would gladly have accepted it. You would do well to accept my lord’s truce.’

2342

‘Indeed, I would rather accept such a truce,’ replied Hagen, ‘than flee in such disgrace from a chamber as you, Master Hildebrant, have done here. I would have thought that you could have stood up better against your foes.’

2343

Hildebrant answered: ‘Why do you reproach me for this? Now who was it who sat upon a shield before the Waskenstein, when Walther of Spain slew so many of his friends?
*
You yourself still have plenty to prove.’

2344

Then Lord Dietrich said: ‘It does not befit heroes to scold one another like old women. I forbid you, Hildebrant, to say anything more. Grievous sorrows oppress me, exiled warrior that I am. Let me

2345

hear,’ Dietrich went on, ‘warrior Hagen, what you two bold knights were saying when you saw me approach you, armed? You averred that you alone would take me on in single combat.’

2346

‘Indeed, no one will deny to you’, said Hagen the warrior, ‘that I’m willing to try battle with you here, with mighty blows, unless Nibelunc’s sword should be shattered in my hands. It angers me that we two are wanted as hostages here.’

2347

When Dietrich heard how grim Hagen’s mood was, the bold and worthy warrior was quick to seize his shield. How swiftly Hagen leapt down the steps towards him! Nibelunc’s good sword rang out loudly as it struck down upon Dietrich. Sir Dietrich knew well that

2348

the bold warrior was full of ferocity. The Lord of Bern raised his shield to protect himself against perilous blows. He knew Hagen, that most gallant warrior, well. Moreover he feared Balmunc, that sword

2349

of great strength. Now and then Dietrich struck cunning blows in return, until, despite all, he overcame Hagen in battle. He struck him a wound which was deep and long.

2350

Then Lord Dietrich thought: ‘You are exhausted by the peril you have endured. I’d gain little honour if you were to lie dead before me. I’ll try if I can compel you to be my hostage.’ That was done with difficulty. He let his shield fall. His strength was immense. He clasped

2351

his arms about Hagen of Tronege. Thus the bold warrior was then vanquished by him. Noble Gunther was saddened by that.

2352

Dietrich then tied Hagen in bonds and led him to the noble queen, and handed over to her the boldest warrior who ever bore a sword. She was amply pleased after the great grief she had suffered.

2353

In joy Etzel’s wife bowed to the warrior: ‘Blessed forever be your body and soul! You have made good amends to me for all my anguish. I shall forever seek to repay you, unless death forestalls me.’

2354

Then Lord Dietrich said: ‘You must let him live, noble queen, and if that may still be, how well he will atone to you for the wrongs he has done you! He must not pay the price for your seeing him standing in bonds.’

2355

She then had Hagen led to no comfortable place, where he lay locked up and no one could see him. Gunther, that noble king, called out then: ‘Where has the hero of Bern gone? He has done me wrong!’

2356

Lord Dietrich strode towards him then. Gunther’s valour was of great renown. He waited no longer then, but ran out of the hall. Loud clamour arose from the clash of their two swords. Although Lord

2357

Dietrich had long been renowned, Gunther was greatly enraged and berserk, for after such great grief Dietrich was his heart’s foe.
*
They still account it a marvel that Sir Dietrich then survived. They

2358

both possessed great courage and strength. The palace and towers echoed with the sound of their blows, as they hewed with their swords on their good helmets. King Gunther was in fine fettle.

2359

Yet the Lord of Bern afterwards overcame him, as he had done Hagen before. They saw the blood flow through the hero’s mail because of the sharp sword that Dietrich bore. Sir Gunther had defended himself in renowned fashion, weary as he was. That lord

2360

was tied up by Dietrich’s hands, though kings should never suffer such bonds. He thought that if he let them go free, the king and his vassal, all that they found would have to die at their hands.

2361

Dietrich of Bern took Gunther by the hand; he then led him in bonds over to Kriemhilt. His suffering then dispelled many of her sorrows. She said: ‘Welcome, Gunther of Burgundy!’

2362

He said: ‘I would bow to you, my dearest sister, if your greeting might be more gracious. I know, queen, that you are of so wrathful a mind that you will greet myself and Hagen sparingly.’

2363

Then the hero of Bern said: ‘Most noble king’s wife, there were never any greater hostages, never any such worthy knights, than these I have given you, noble lady. Now you must let these foreigners benefit by me.’

2364

She said she’d willingly do so. Then Sir Dietrich, tears in his eyes, walked away from those renowned heroes. Afterwards Etzel’s wife took cruel revenge. She took the lives of both those excellent knights.

2365

She had them lie separately, to cause them discomfort, neither of them ever beholding the other thereafter, until she took her brother’s head before Hagen. Kriemhilt wrought ample vengeance upon them both.

2366

Then the queen went over to Hagen. With what great hostility she spoke to the hero! ‘If you will give me back what you have taken from me, you may yet return alive, home to Burgundy.’

2367

Grim Hagen replied: ‘These are wasted words, most noble queen. Indeed I have sworn that I will not show where the hoard lies as long as any of my lords lives, and shall give it to no one.’

2368

‘I’ll put an end to this,’ said the noble woman. She gave the order that her brother be put to death. They struck off his head. Taking hold of it by his hair, she took it before the hero of Tronege. He was greatly grieved then.

2369

When he saw his lord’s head, the angry warrior said to Kriemhilt: ‘You have put an end to things as you wished, and it has all turned out as I had thought. Now the noble King of Burgundy is dead, along

2370

with young Giselher, and also Sir Gernot. No one knows now where the treasure is except God and myself—it will be well hidden from you forever, she-devil!’

2371

She said: ‘You have given me an ill reward, but I will at least keep Sivrit’s sword. My dearly beloved wore it when I last saw him, when my heart’s grief befell me by your doing.’

2372

She drew it from the scabbard—Hagen could not prevent it. Then, intent on robbing the warrior of his life, she raised it in her hands. She struck off his head. King Etzel saw that—he was greatly grieved.

2373

‘Alas!’ said the prince. ‘How is it that the very best warrior that ever entered battle or bore a shield now lies dead at a woman’s hands! Although he was my enemy, I am greatly grieved.’

2374

Then old Hildebrant said: ‘She shall not profit by daring to slay him. No matter what happens to me in consequence, even though he brought me myself into dread peril, I will, nevertheless, avenge

2375

the death of the bold man of Tronege.’ Hildebrant leapt angrily at Kriemhilt. He dealt the queen a blow with a swing of his heavy sword. Hildebrant caused her woe indeed. How could it help her that she screamed out so grievously?

2375  2376

Then all doomed to die there had fallen. The noble queen was hewn to pieces. Dietrich and Etzel began to weep. Fervently they mourned over both their kinsmen and vassals. Great glory lay dead

2376

there. All the people were in misery and anguish. Amid sorrow the king’s festivity had ended, just as joy always, at the very end, yields to sorrow. I can’t tell you what happened afterwards there, except that knights and ladies were seen to weep, and noble squires, too, for the death of their dear friends. Here this tale is at an end—that is
The Nibelungs’ Doom
.
*

2377  2378  2379

I
T
is a commonplace of the evolution of heroic epic that historical events are telescoped, reshaped, and distorted. Looking back to the Latin historiography concerned with the fifth and sixth centuries, we find little basis for the plot of the
Nibelungenlied
. A number of proper names can be identified with varying degrees of certainty. In the
Lex Burgundionum
, which dates back to the early sixth century, the author King Gundobad refers in the section
De libertatibus servorum nostorum
to his ancestors, naming Gibica, Gundomaris, Gislaharius, and Gundaharius.
¹
The first of these enters legend as Gibeche. A fifteenth-century modernization of the
Nibelungenlied
identifies Gibich as Gunther’s father,
²
whereas in our thirteenth-century text Dancrat is named as the father of Gunther and his brothers, and Gibeche is a king at the court of the Huns, one of the assembly that greets Kriemhilt at Tulln. Gislaharius and Gundaharius are readily identifiable as Giselher and Gunther; Gundomaris may correspond to Gernot.