The Nibelungenlied - Anonymous

Скачать книгу

But Hagen spake against it, / and Gernot too was quick at hand.

      "Such purpose have we never," / Gernot then said,

       "For lands to combat ever, / that any warrior dead

       Should lie in bloody battle. / We've mighty lands and strong;

       Of right they call us master, / and better they to none belong."

      116

      There stood full grim and moody / Gernot's friends around,

       And there as well amongst them / was Ortwein to be found.

       He spake: "This mild peace-making / doth grieve me sore at heart,

       For by the doughty Siegfried / attacked all undeserved thou art.

      117

      "If thou and thy two brothers / yourselves to help had naught,

       And if a mighty army / he too had hither brought,

       I trow I'd soon be able / to make this man so keen

       His manner now so haughty / of need replace by meeker mien."

      118

      Thereat did rage full sorely / the hero of Netherland:

       "Never shall be measured / 'gainst me in fight thy hand.

       I am a mighty monarch, / thou a king's serving-knight;

       Of such as thou a dozen / dare not withstand me in the fight."

      119

      For swords then called in anger / of Metz Sir Ortwein:

       Son of Hagen's sister / he was, of Tronje's line.

       That Hagen so long was silent / did grieve the king to see.

       Gernot made peace between them: / a gallant knight and keen was he.

      120

      Spake he thus to Ortwein: / "Curb now thy wrathful tongue,

       For here the noble Siegfried / hath done us no such wrong;

       We yet can end the quarrel / in peace—such is my rede—

       And live with him in friendship; / that were for us a worthier deed."

      121

      Then spake the mighty Hagen: / "Sad things do I forebode

       For all thy train of warriors, / that this knight ever rode

       Unto the Rhine thus arméd. / 'Twere best he stayed at home;

       For from my masters never / to him such wrong as this had come."

      122

      But outspake Siegfried proudly, / whose heart was ne'er dismayed:

       "An't please thee not, Sir Hagen, / what I now have said,

       This arm shall give example / whereby thou plain shall see

       How stern anon its power / here in Burgundy will be."

      123

      "Yet that myself will hinder," / said then Gernot.

       All his men forbade he / henceforth to say aught

       With such unbridled spirit / to stir the stranger's ire.

       Then Siegfried eke was mindful / of one most stately maid and fair.

      124

      "Such strife would ill befit us," / Gernot spake again;

       "For though should die in battle / a host of valiant men

       'Twould bring us little honor / and ye could profit none."

       Thereto gave Siegfried answer, / good King Siegmund's noble son:

      125

      "Wherefore bides thus grim Hagen, / and Ortwein tardy is

       To begin the combat / with all those friends of his,

       Of whom he hath so many / here in Burgundy?"

       Answer him they durst not, / for such was Gernot's stern decree.

      126

      "Thou shalt to us be welcome," / outspake young Giselher,

       "And all thy brave companions / that hither with thee fare.

       Full gladly we'll attend thee, / I and all friends of mine."

       For the guests then bade they / pour out in store of Gunther's wine.

      127

      Then spake the stately monarch: / "But ask thou courteously,

       And all that we call ours / stands at thy service free;

       So with thee our fortune / we'll share in ill and good."

       Thereat the noble Siegfried / a little milder was of mood.

      128

      Then carefully was tended / all their knightly gear,

       And housed in goodly manner / in sooth the strangers were,

       All that followed Siegfried; / they found a welcome rest.

       In Burgundy full gladly / anon was seen the noble guest.

      They showed him mickle honor / thereafter many a day,

       And more by times a thousand / than I to you could say.

       His might respect did merit, / ye may full well know that.

       Scarce a man e'er saw him / who bore him longer any hate.

      130

      And when they held their pastime, / the kings with many a man,

       Then was he ever foremost; / whatever they began,

       None there that was his equal, /—so mickle was his might—

       If they the stone were putting, / or hurling shaft with rival knight.

      131

      As is the knightly custom, / before the ladies fair

       To games they turned for pastime, / these knights of mettle rare;

       Then ever saw they gladly / the hero of Netherland.

       But he had fixed his fancy / to win one fairest maiden's hand.

      132

      In all that they were doing / he'd take a ready part.

       A winsome loving maiden / he bore within his heart;

       Him only loved that lady, / whose face he ne'er had seen,

       But she full oft in secret / of him spake fairest words, I ween.

      133

      And when before the castle / they sped in tournament,

       The good knights and squires, / oft-times the maiden went

       And gazed adown from casement, / Kriemhild the princess rare.

       Pastime there was none other / for her that could with this compare.

      134

      And knew he she was gazing / whom in his heart he bore,

       He joy enough had found him / in jousting evermore.

       And might he only see her, /—that can I well believe—

       On earth through sight none other / his eyes could such delight receive.

      135

      Whene'er with his companions / to castle court he went,

       E'en as do now the people / whene'er on pleasure bent,

       There stood 'fore all so graceful / Siegelind's noble son,

       For whom in love did languish / the hearts of ladies many a one.

      136

      Eke

Скачать книгу