LITMIR.BIZ

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on him looked they: to his fellow a prince spake straightway the word:

      “ ‘Lo, here cometh Siegfried the stalwart, the Low Land’s hero renowned!’—

      Good sooth, a weird adventure mid the Niblung men he found!

      Then Schilbung and Nibelung greeted the hero with courteous speech;

      And now do the high-born princes that stranger knight beseech

      That himself would consent between them that mighty treasure to share;

      And they hung so sore upon him that he yielded at last to their prayer.

      Such wealth of precious gemstones he beheld, as telleth the tale,

      That fivescore wains had sufficed not that treasure thence to hale:

      There were heaps yet huger of red gold, the wealth of the Niblung land:

      And all that hoard must be portioned by the aweless Siegfried’s hand.

      And for hire did they give to the hero King Niblung’s dwarf-wrought sword—

      But, ere all was done, for their guerdon they won them an evil reward;

      Yea, enforced was Siegfried to deal them therewith great slaughter and grim;

      For his sharing might nowise content them, and they turned their fury on him.

      (C) So there in the midst that treasure yet all unportioned lay;

      And fell on the hero the war-thanes of either king’s array.

      But he thrust and he hewed with Balmung, their sire’s enchanted sword,

      Nor stayed, till his might had wrested from the Niblung men the Hoard.

      Twelve fearful battle-helpers ’gainst that lone warrior fought,

      Strong men, and in stature giants; but their might availed them nought,

      For the hand of Siegfried smote them in his fury of battle-lust.

      Seven hundred knights of the Niblung land he laid in the dust

      With the Sword, the good sword Balmung of the world-renownèd name.

      And the heart of many a champion for terror as water became,

      Quelled by the lightning-flasher and its lord’s undaunted mood.

      Yea, the Niblung land and her castles were under his might subdued.

      Yea, those two kings in the battle he met, and he smote them dead;

      Yet himself through the might of Albrich the Dwarf was sorely bestead;

      For the vassal dwarf burned fiercely to avenge his liege-lords slain,

      Till quelled by the might of Siegfried his purpose he needs must refrain.

      That demon-dwarf all vainly strove with the hero’s might:

      Like the grapple of raging lions round the mountain stormed their fight,

      Till the Hood of Darkness was yielded by Albrich to this new lord,

      And Siegfried the Terrible master was left of the Niblung Hoard,

      For all which had dared to withstand him on that stricken field lay slain.

      Then bade he bear that treasure to the mountain-fastness again

      Whence the Niblung vassals had haled it forth as the dead kings bade;

      And the warder of the treasure strong Alberich he made.

      By an oath most mighty he bound him his thrall, to be faithful and true,

      And ever in loyal service his uttermost bidding to do.”

      So ended Hagen of Troneg—“All this hath the hero done:

      Through the world in battle-prowess peer unto him is there none.

      Men tell of another emprise—as I heard it, I tell it to you—

      A Worm, a winged fen-dragon, the hand of the hero slew:

      Then he bathed in the blood of the monster, and his skin became as horn,

      That no weapon may wound him: witness thereof full many have borne.

      Now wisely and well do I rede you—receive him in courteous wise,

      That the fiery wrath of the hero by no deed of ours may arise.

      Since utterly aweless his heart is, let no man do him despite.

      Bethink you how many a marvel hath been wrought by his quenchless might.”

      And the King of the land made answer: “Thy counsel is meet and right.

      Mark ye how proudly he standeth, as defying peril of fight!

      Dauntless they be, yon warrior and the vassals that follow him.

      We will fare down unto the gateway, and greet yon champion grim.”

      “Yea, greet him with worship and honour,” spake Hagen answering;

      “For he cometh of noble lineage, and is son of a mighty king;

      And his port, meseemeth, is princely—yea, by Christ the Lord!

      Great tales shall be told of the issues of his riding hitherward.”

      Then the lord of the land made answer: “Right welcome to us be he!

      Valiant he is and noble, as well may mine own eyes see.

      Yea, Burgundy-land shall hold him for a guest of passing worth.”

      Unto where Prince Siegfried tarried then Gunther the King passed forth.

      And the lord of the land and his earlfolk bade the hero welcome there

      With greeting exceeding gracious, with courtesy passing fair;

      And before them the Knight all-peerless bowed him in courtly wise

      In thanks for their lovingkindness, and the worship in their eyes.

      Spake Gunther the king: “I marvel, and fain would be certified,

      Whence, O most noble Siegfried, unto this our land ye ride,

      And what thing come ye seeking at Worms by the waters of Rhine.”

      And the guest to the King made answer: “I hide no purpose of mine.

      Afar in the land of my fathers the tidings have I heard

      How that here, O King, in thy palace—and fain would I prove the word—

      Be the knights in the world most valiant—yea, oft have I hearkened their fame—

      And the best that king gat ever: and for this cause hither I came.

      Yea, and I hear men praise thee for the Star of Chivalry.

      ‘Never was king so valiant unto this day seen,’ they cry.

      Through all my land thy glory is blown upon rumour’s wind.

      No rest may my spirit give me till the truth hereof I find.

      Lo, I withal am a warrior; a crown must I wear one day;

      And fain am I that all men of me in that hour should say

      That I take the folk and the kingdom of right for mine heritage.

      Lo, mine head and mine honour, I lay them in the lists for battle’s gage.

      Thou then, if thou be so valiant as is sung by the lips of fame—

      I ask no man of my challenge, if he joy or chafe at the same—

      I challenge thee

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