Hagen

“ Then spake the viol-minstrel: “Friend Hagen, see to it now
That we bear this burden of peril together, I and thou.
Lo, in front of the hall in armour I see folk gathered near.
If I may divine their purpose, they come to fall on us here.”
“Hush!” answered Hagen: “suffer that they come unto us full close.
Ere they be ware of our presence, shall the helms of yonder foes
With these good swords be cloven that shall swing in the hands of twain.
In evil plight unto Kriemhild will we send them back again!” ”

“ HAGEN. Zealously strove the knights in tilt and tournament to uphold their country’s honour before Sigeband their king, when he held the Midsummer feast at his high castle of Balian in Ireland. Sweetly the minstrels sang the praise of warlike deeds; 308 and eagerly did boys of noble birth contend in games of hurling the spear and shooting with the bow. But evermore did little Hagen, the king’s son, bear him best in the gentle strife; and the heart of his mother, the Lady Ute, was pleased. ”

“ For love of their Lady Kriemhild forth of the hall would they fare
And fall upon Hagen and smite him, the battle-dauntless lord,
And with him the viol-minstrel: all they were of one accord.
But the Queen looked on her champions, and marked their slender array,
And in wrathful indignation to the heroes did she say:
“From such manner of desperate emprise, I counsel you, refrain!
Ye be all too few to grapple with Hagen in battle-strain.
How valiant and mighty soever the Hero of Troneg be,
The man that sitteth beside him is mightier far than he,
Volker the viol-minstrel: a very fiend he is. ”

“ To and fro he sought the ferryman. He heard the splash of water and began to listen. In a fair spring wise women [5] were bathing for to cool them off. Now Hagen spied them and crept toward them stealthily. When they grew ware of this, they hurried fast to escape him; glad enow they were of this. The hero took their clothes, but did them naught else of harm.
Then spake one of the mermaids (Hadburg she was called) : "Sir Knight Hagen, we'll do you here to wit, an' ye give us our weeds again, bold knight, how ye will fare upon this journey to the Hunnish court." ”

“ What folk soever beheld it the praise of the hero spoke
Even in the hour when Hagen his faith with Siegfried broke.
When these to the broad lime shading the spring were at point to have sped,
Even then spake Hagen of Troneg: “Oft have I heard this said,
That none with the lord of Kriemhild in fleetness of foot may vie,
If he put forth his strength in running: lo now, the truth let us try.”
Then the noble thane and valiant, the Hero of Netherland, spake:
“Thereof may ye well make trial, if with me ye be minded to make
A running-match to the well-head. ”

“ His name was Gunther, and he tried to deal fairly with every man. He had a beautiful sister Gudrun; and, also, a half-brother named Hagen, a sly fellow who was always plotting mischief. Hagen, in fact, was the evil genius of the castle. You will not wonder at this when I tell you that he was of kin to the Nibelungs, Alberich and Mime.
Like all of dwarf blood, Hagen had a passion for gold, and was also adept at discovering secrets. He knew of the stolen Rhine-Gold; and he had also learned—perhaps through Alberich—of Siegfried's quest of Brunhilde. ”

“ Wherewith on yonder Hagen / he thought to vent his hate.
With grim and fearful visage / on him the vengeful thane did wait.
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Yet not abide his coming / might Hagen longer now.
Adown he rushed upon him / with many a thrust and blow,
Down where the stairway ended / for fierce did burn his ire.
Soon the might of Iring / must 'neath his furious onset tire,
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Their shields they smote asunder / that the sparks began
To fly in ruddy showers. / Hawart's gallant man
Was by sword of Hagen / wounded all so sore
Through shield and shining cuirass, / that whole he found him never more. ”

“ Therewith they arose in the air in their swan-garments and soon had vanished from sight. When Hagen spied the house across the stream he gave a mighty shout which brought the ferryman to the door. Hanging a heavy gold clasp upon the point of his sword, Hagen held it aloft so that it gleamed in the sunlight, and offered it to him, at the same time calling himself Amelrich, whereupon the doughty boatman seized the oars and rowed his boat across the river. ”

“ Isman! Plimpton and Rutherford! Estelle! I have them all! It is triumph! It is glory! It is the world! I am King! I am King! King! KING! [Seizes MIMI and starts centre; the music rises to climax.] To Nibelheim! To Nibelheim! [Stands stretching out his arms in exultation; a wild burst of music.] Make way for Hagen! Make way for Hagen! ”

“ My dear lords have foes, wherefore I never ferry strangers to this land. If ye love your life, step out quickly on the sand."
"Now do it not," spake Hagen; "sad is my mind. Take this good gold from me as a token of my love and ferry us across: a thousand horse and just as many men."
The grim boatman answered: "'Twill ne'er be done." He raised a mighty rudder oar, mickle and broad, and struck at Hagen (full wroth he grew at this) , so that he fell upon his knees in the boat. The lord of Troneg had never met so fierce a ferryman. Still more the boatman would vex the haughty stranger. ”

“ As Sigeband had died without leaving any other heir, Hagen was warmly welcomed home, and ascending the vacant throne, he took to wife Hilde, the fair maiden with whom he had shared his game and berries for so many years. The royal couple were very happy, and Hagen ruled so wisely that he became a terror to his enemies and a blessing to his own subjects. Even when engaged in warfare he proved himself an upright and generous man, never attacking the poor and weak. ”

“ The King ordered horses to be brought at once, and rode forth with the Queen from the gates of the castle, followed by a stately train. Hagen meanwhile had come on shore with the knights and the maidens, and when he beheld his beloved parents once again his heart swelled with joy, while tears overflowed his eyes. Crowds of people had gathered to gaze upon him, for he had grown to be a mighty hero. ”

“ Hagen attempted to impress the ferryman by kindness, but he refused to listen to his words, telling the warrior that his lords had enemies, wherefore he never conveyed strangers across the river. Hagen then offered him gold, and so angry did the ferryman become that he struck at the Nibelung with his rudder oar, which broke over Hagen’s head. But the warrior smote him so fiercely with his sword that he struck his head off and cast it on the ground. The skiff began to drift down the stream, and Hagen, wading into the water, had much ado to secure it and bring it back. ”

“ Hagen now pointed out the spring and forth they bounded like two panthers over the grassy [89] plain, all the huntsmen following. Siegfried was the swifter; coming first to the spring he laid aside his sword, bow, and shield, and leaned his spear against a linden tree. Had he but drunk his fill now and taken up his arms once more, all Hagen’s base scheming would have been undone, for none had dared to assail the hero armed and on his guard. But restraining his thirst, he waited till Günther as sovereign prince should first have tasted of the spring. ”

“ So Hagan plotted evil, saying enemies were coming against Gunther, and Siegfried and his knights made them ready to go forth to the King's defence. And of the chiefs of Rhineland not a few offered themselves as comrades, knowing nothing of the treachery that Hagen and his fellows were preparing against him.
But before they departed Hagen went to bid farewell to Queen Kriemhild. Said she, "I have good comfort in my heart to think how valiant a husband I have, and how zealous he is to help his friends, for I have loved my kinsmen always, nor ever wished them ill." ”

“ The music plays the Hagen motives, with suggestions of the Siegfried funeral march. Voices are heard in the distance, and at the climax of the music PRINCE HAGEN and his keepers enter. He is small for a man, but larger than any of the Nibelungs; a grim, sinister figure, with black hair, and a glowering look. His hands are chained in front of him, and eight Nibelungs march as a guard. He has bare arms and limbs, and a rough black bearskin flung over his shoulders. He enters right, and stands glaring from one to another. ”

“ Still further up the hillside, protruding from a gash in the side of a giant bowlder of red sandstone, is the distorted face of Hagen, that demon dwarf of a single eye, whose devilish claws tore out the heart of Siegfried. Everywhere, to the right and left, are these garish and ghastly remembrancers of the tales that make children crouch closer to grandmother’s knees, and people the darkness with forms infuriate. But the comical side is not wanting; for nature is protean in this godless garden of quaint conceits done in stone. ”

“ He looked again slyly at Gudrun, who blushed red, but wished within her heart that she could see this Siegfried. Her wish was soon to be gratified, for just as Hagen finished speaking they heard the sound of a horn, out on the river, blown in challenge.
"Who dares challenge Gunther in his own castle?" exclaimed the King starting up.
Hagen hurried to the battlements.
"I see a knight clad in glittering gold armour," he said. "He is in a boat alone; and by the boat swims a horse. With your favour I will meet him at the landing." And Hagen seized sword and helmet and hastened out. ”

“ But spake unto him King Gunther: “How then may ye compass the deed?”
Thereunto answered Hagen: “Hearken to this my rede:
There shall ride into this land heralds, as it were from a land afar,
Men known unto none in thy city, denouncing against us war.
Then say thou in these guests’ presence: ‘Lo, I must forth to the fight
With all my warrior vassals’—then is thy goal in sight.
He will offer himself for thine helping: thereby shall he spill his life,
If I win but his woundless secret from the fearless hero’s wife.” ”

“ Each day for leave to journey / more great their yearning grew,
But daily to withhold it / crafty Hagen pretext knew.
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He spake unto his master: / "Well shall we beware
Hence to let them journey / ere we ourselves prepare
In seven days thereafter / to ride to Etzel's land:
If any mean us evil, / so may we better understand.
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"Nor may the Lady Kriemhild / ready make thereto,
That any by her counsel / scathe to us may do.
Yet if such wish she cherish, / evil shall be her meed,
For many a chosen warrior / with us shall we thither lead." ”

“ And even old Hagen, who had never felt a fear when meeting a host in open battle, was troubled at the thought of the mischief which was brewing.
“‘Tis true, too true,” he said, and the dark frown deepened on his face, “that we have done a foolish thing. For we four men have come to this cheerless land upon a hopeless errand; and, if we await the gathering of the storm, our ruin will be wrought.” And he grasped his sword-hilt with such force, that his knuckles grew white as he paced fiercely up and down the hall. ”

“ When he so willingly offered to give the shield, enow of eyes grew red with scalding tears. 'T was the last gift that ever Rudeger of Bechelaren gave to any knight. However fierce Hagen, and however stern of mood, the gift did touch him, which the good hero, so near to death, had given. Many a noble knight gan mourn with him.
"Now God in heaven requite you, most noble Rudeger. Your like will nevermore be found, who giveth homeless warriors such lordly gifts. God grant that your courtesie may ever live." Again Hagen spake: "Woe is me of these tales, we had so many other griefs to bear. ”

“ Let us pass on then to the Princes, where in the palace they are,
That none may beset our masters unawares with array of war.”
“Good; lead thou on, I follow,” did Hagen answering say.
And thence went those two comrades; and there in the hall saw they
Those knights, and the Hunfolk greeting thronged them all about.
Then the voice of Volker the dreadless like a trumpet-blast rang out,
As he cried to his lords the Princes: “How long are ye minded to stay
To be thronged and pressed thus tamely? Ye should to the King straightway,
And hear in his presence-chamber what is his mood unto you.” ”

“ Then the fiddler, a bold minstrel, saw the queen coming down the stair from the house, and said to his comrade, “Now see, friend Hagen, how she that hath falsely bidden us to this land, cometh toward us. Never have I beheld, with a king’s wife, so many men, sword in hand, as for strife. Knowest thou, friend Hagen, that they hate thee? I counsel thee to look to thy life and thine honour. Certes, it were well. Methinketh they be wrothful of their mood. Many among them have shoulders broad enow. Who would save his life had best do it betimes. ”

“ How against Hagen of Troneg her champion had borne him in fight,
For this that Daughter of Princes poured forth her thanks to the knight:
“Now God reward thee, Iring, thou thane renowned and bold!
To mine heart hast thou brought comfort, and made me joyful-souled.
Lo, I see on the battle-harness of Hagen a bloody stain!”
And for joy took Kriemhild the buckler herself from the hand of the thane.
“Small cause wilt thou have to thank him,” cried Hagen in fierce disdain:
“Let but thy valorous champion essay the deed again;
If alive he win back ever, a hero indeed shall he be ”