Kriemhild

“ How might another’s leman ever be wife of a King?”
“Whom hast thou here named leman?”—the cry from the Queen’s lips burst.
“That have I thee!” hissed Kriemhild; “for thy fair body first
Was embraced by none other than Siegfried, mine own belovèd lord.
Of a surety it was not my brother—nay, but by him wert thou whored!
How was thy wit so hoodwinked?—a cunning wile was it all!
How couldst thou let him embrace thee who is but thy vassal-thrall?
I hear thee,” scoffed on Kriemhild, “complain where no cause is!”
“In veriest deed,” cried Brunhild, “I will tell unto Gunther this!” ”

“ My heart doth often yearn for my faithful kin. Might I be with those who did me wrong, my lover's death would be well avenged. Scarce can I abide this," spake Etzel's wife. All the king's men, Kriemhild's warriors, bare her love in duty bound. Of the chamber Eckewart had charge, which won him friends. None might gainsay Dame Kriemhild's will. All time she thought: "I will beg the king, that he in kindly wise may grant me to bring my kinsmen to the Hunnish land." None marked the evil purpose of the queen. ”

“ Unto this were given thereafter of Kriemhild unstinted doles
For the peace of the soul of Siegfried, and for all Christian souls.
Gold gave she with hand ungrudging, and many a precious stone.
More faithful wife hath never on earth unto us been known.
(C) Since Kriemhild had granted forgiveness to the King for her lord’s blood spilt,
And of that great hoard thereafter had been spoiled through Gunther’s guilt,
Then higher swelled than ever the tide of her anguish of heart,
And the noble lady and royal from his city was fain to depart. ”

“ Again Günther maintained that they were innocent, but Kriemhild, fixing her gaze full on Hagen, cried aloud in grief and wrath:
“Now do I know his murderer!”
A great coffin, long and wide, of silver and gold embossed with knobs of steel, was made ready and therein, wrapped in a winding sheet of richest silk, Siegfried’s body was laid. For three days and nights it rested in the minster, and Kriemhild watched beside it. She neither ate nor drank, but besought God to have pity on her and let her also die, that she might be laid with her husband in the tomb. ”

“ As the silver moon obscures the light of the stars by its superior splendour, so did Kriemhild obscure the beauty of the ladies who surrounded her. When he beheld her each hero drew himself up more proudly than ever and appeared as if ready to do battle for such a paragon of beauty. She was preceded by chamberlains in rich attire, but no ushers might keep back the knights from sight of her, and they crowded about her to catch a glimpse of her face. Pleased and sad was Siegfried, for, thought he, “How may I ever hope to win so peerless a creature? The hope is a rash one. ”

“ Great was the grief of Kriemhild when she learned of the murder of her husband, whose body had been placed at her very door by the remorseless Hagen. He and the rest of the Burgundians pretended that Siegfried had been slain by bandits, but on their approach the wounds of Siegfried commenced to bleed afresh in mute witness of treachery. Kriemhild secretly vowed a terrible revenge and would not quit the land where her beloved spouse was buried. For four years she spake never a word to Gunther or Hagen, but sat silent and sad in a chamber near the minster where Siegfried was buried. ”

“ Ay, ever the faithful-hearted made for the knight great dole.
Came Uta and all her women to comfort her day by day;
But Kriemhild’s wounded spirit so crushed ’neath affliction lay,
That nothing availed consolation that the lips of the loving spake,
Forasmuch as with sharper anguish did her heart for her lost love ache
Than wife felt ever for husband, were her sorrow never so keen;
And the love of the true and faithful herein was of all men seen
That on to the end she mourned him, long as endured her life,
Till that great vengeance for Siegfried was wreaked at last by the wife. ”

“ Nor in knightly spirit nor honour, nor in faith, nor in this world’s good.
Never was prince thus youthful so chivalrous of mood.”
But again made answer Kriemhild: “O Rüdiger, noble chief,
Think also on us; have pity on all our wrongs and our grief,
Upon mine and my Lord King Etzel’s; yea, ponder well thereon.
No host in the wide world ever more pestilent guests hath won.”
Thereat unto Queen Kriemhild did the Lord of the Marches say:
“His life must be rendered in payment by Rüdiger this day
For all the kindness showed me of thee and my Lord the King. ”

“ Brunhild made answer. "Shall I renounce the service which he and all the vassals are bound to render to their lord?" "Renounce it you must," cried Kriemhild in great wrath. "The service of a vassal he will never do; he is of higher degree than Gunther my brother, though Gunther is a noble King." "You bear yourself far too proudly," answered Brunhild.
But the deadliest cause of quarrel was yet to come. Said Queen Kriemhild to Queen Brunhild when next she saw her: "Think you that when you were vanquished in your own land it was Gunther, my brother, that vanquished you?" ”

“ So then to those gallant comrades was a message from Kriemhild brought
To come and behold the apparel that her hands had newly wrought,
If perchance for the heroes’ wearing it were over short or long:
And behold, it was all just measure, and they thanked that maiden-throng.
Into whosesoever presence they came, all men must say
That never on earth had they looked on more passing-fair array.
Blithe-hearted might they wear it in the palace of proudest queen,
For of goodlier knights’ apparel had none or heard or seen.
So then to these noble maidens all-courteous thanks they gave. ”

“ These chosen warriors feared the hate of none. They sate them down upon a bench before the house over against a hall, the which belonged to Kriemhild. Upon their bodies shone their lordly weeds. Enow who gazed upon them would than have known the knights; as wild beasts the haughty heroes were stared upon by the Hunnish men. Etzel's wife, too, gazed upon them through a window, at which fair Kriemhild waxed sad again. Of her sorrows it minded her and she began to weep. Much it wondered Etzel's men what had so quickly saddened her mood. Quoth she: "That Hagen hath done, ye heroes brave and good." ”

“ How Queen Kriemhild was Wooed for the King of the Huns It befell in the selfsame season, when the Lady Helka had died,
And Etzel the King would be wooing another woman for bride,
That his kinsmen in council assembled spake unto him of the fame
Of a certain proud queen widowed, that Kriemhild had to name.
Since Helka the Queen, the lovely, was taken from him and from life,
They said: “If haply thou thinkest on another noble wife,
In blood and in virtue the highest that ever prince hath won,
Take Kriemhild: Siegfried the Hero was her lord in days bygone.” ”

“ Gernot and Giselher, the proud knights and good, and Gunther, the mighty, spake at last, if Kriemhild wished it, they would let it hap without all hate.
Then spake Prince Gere: "I will tell the lady that she look with favor upon King Etzel, to whom so many knights owe dread obedience. He can well requite her of all the wrongs that have been done her."
Then the doughty warrior hied him to where he saw Kriemhild. Kindly she received him. How quickly then he spake: "Ye may well greet me gladly and give me a messenger's meed. Fortune is about to part you from all your woes. ”

“ So then when the great King Etzel beheld his son brought in,
In faith and in lovingkindness he spake unto Kriemhild’s kin:
“Behold, my friends and my kinsmen, mine only son is this,
And the child of Kriemhild your sister: your friend that shall be he is.
If he favour his Rhineland kinsmen, a stalwart man shall he be,
Mighty withal and noble, valiant and comely to see. ”

“ By royal leave did Kriemhild / kiss then the stately knight:
In all the world he never / before had known so rare delight.
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Then full of strange forebodings, / of Denmark spake the king:
"This full loving greeting / to many woe will bring,
—My heart in secret warns me— / through Siegfried's doughty hand.
God give that he may never / again be seen within my land."
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On all sides then 'twas ordered / 'fore Kriemhild and her train
Of women make free passage. / Full many a valiant thane
With her unto the minster / in courtly way went on. ”

“ After his death the interest turns to Kriemhild planning for revenge. It may be that sympathy is repelled as her hate draws within its tide so much of guiltlessness and honour; and as the doomed Nibelungen heroes show themselves haughty, strong-handed, and stout-hearted to the end, he cheers them on, and most heartily that grim, consistent Hagen in whom the old German troth and treachery for troth's sake are incarnate. ”

“ Therefore will I, O Brunhild, entreat thee even as a friend—
For courtesy’s sake, and my love’s sake, let this thy babble have end.”
Made answer the Queen: “I may not refrain me from this my claim.
Am I like to renounce the service of all these knights of fame
Which, even as thine, be bounden to homage unto my lord?”
Then the anger of Kriemhild the lovely leapt into flame at the word:
“This boast, thou must needs forego it, that my lord ever on earth
Hath rendered thee aught of homage! Mine hero is more of worth
Than thy lord, my brother Gunther, be he never so noble a king. ”

“ How may I counsel their death? People will lightly ween, that I be craven. No service of mine have I refused these noble lordings and their men. Now I rue the kinship I have gained with them. I gave my daughter to Giselher, the knight; to none in all the world could she have been better given, for courtesie and honor, for fealty and wealth. Never have I seen so young a prince of such right courteous mind."
Then Kriemhild spake again: "Most noble Rudeger, take pity on our griefs, on mine and on the king's. Bethink thee well, that king did never gain such baneful guests." ”

“ It fell out on a certain day, while sundry knights were in the castle court, that the two Queens sat together. The fair Kriemhild then began, "My husband is so mighty a man that he should rule these kingdoms of right." "Nay," answered Brunhild, "that might be were you and your husband only alive, and all others dead, but so long as Gunther lives he must needs be King." Then said fair Kriemhild, "See how he shines among the knights, a very moon among the stars." Brunhild answered, "However brave and strong he may be, and stately to look upon, Gunther, your brother, is better than he." ”

“ These, with the twelve hundred men that made up their host, received Kriemhild with all worship. Then came Sir Blœdel, King Etzel’s brother, from the land of the Huns; with great pomp, he drew nigh to the queen. The next was King Etzel, with Sir Dietrich and all his knights, among the which were many good warriors faithful and true; whereat the heart of Queen Kriemhild was uplifted.
Then Sir Rudeger said to the queen, “Lady, the king would welcome thee here. Kiss them that I bid thee kiss. It is not meet that all Etzel’s men be greeted on like manner.” ”

“ Although the thirst for revenge now made her a "she-fiend," as he termed her, Kriemhild did not dare openly to attack Dietrich, whom all men justly feared; and she quickly concealed her anger, while Etzel advanced in his turn to welcome his guests; and especially singled out Hagen, his friend's son. While many of the Burgundians accompanied the king into the hall, Hagen drew Volker aside, and, sitting down on a stone seat near Kriemhild's door, entered into a life-and-death alliance with him. Kriemhild, looking out of her window, saw him there and bade her followers go out and slay him ”

“ I will win Brunhild for you if in return you will give me the hand of your sister, Kriemhild."
"There is no other to whom I would more gladly trust her than to you," replied Gunther; and then with clasped hands the two friends sealed their compact.
After busy days of preparation, during which the most splendid raiment that ever clad brave knights was made by Kriemhild and her maidens, Gunther and Siegfried, with several companions, set sail upon the river Rhine, thence to cross the sea to Issland, in the far north. Slowly passed the days of the voyage, for it was a time of keen suspense. ”

“ He bade the good minstrels be fetched straightway. Quickly they hasted to where the king sate by the queen. He told the twain they should be envoys to the Burgundian land and bade full lordly weeds be made ready for them. Clothing was prepared for four and twenty warriors, and the message was told them by the king, how they should bid Gunther and his liegemen hither. Kriemhild, the queen, talked with them apart. Then spake the mighty king: "I'll tell you what to say. I offer to my kin my love and service, that it may please them to ride hither to my land. ”

“ Sooth, mighty was the war-host arrayed round Siegfried there.
The hauberks and the helmets on the horses laded they:
Knights many stalwart and fearless would forth of the land straightway.
Then stole thence Hagen of Troneg: to the presence of Kriemhild he came,
As who, ere they marched unto battle, would take his leave of the dame.
“Now happy am I,” said Kriemhild, “to have won to myself such a lord
Who unto my friends belovèd is so mighty a battle-ward
As Siegfried is to my brethren when he aideth them in fight;
And for this am I heart-uplifted,” said the Queen, “with abiding delight. ”