Part 27 (2/2)
She thought in her heart, ”Now for the reckoning! If I can contrive it, it will go hard at this hightide with him that killed all my happiness.
Fain would I work his doom. I care not what may come of it: my vengeance shall fall on the hateful body of him that stole my joy from me. He shall pay dear for my sorrow.”
Twenty-Eighth Adventure
How Kriemhild Received Hagen
When the Burgundians came into the land, old Hildebrand of Bern heard thereof, and told his master, that was grieved at the news. He bade him give hearty welcome to the valiant knights.
Bold Wolfhart called for the horses, and many stark warriors rode with Dietrich to greet them on the plain, where they had pitched their goodly tents.
When Hagen of Trony saw them from afar, he spake courteously to his masters, ”Arise, ye doughty heroes, and go to meet them that come to welcome you. A company of warriors that I know well draw hither--the heroes of the Amelung land. They are men of high courage. Scorn not their service.”
Then, as was seemly, Dietrich, with many knights and squires, sprang to the ground. They hasted to the guests, and welcomed the heroes of Burgundy lovingly.
When Dietrich saw them, he was both glad and sorry; he knew what was toward, and grieved that they were come. He deemed that Rudeger was privy to it, and had told them. ”Ye be welcome, Gunther and Giselher, Gernot and Hagen; Folker, likewise, and Dankwart the swift. Know ye not that Kriemhild still mourneth bitterly for the hero of the Nibelungs?”
”She will weep awhile,” answered Hagen. ”This many a year he lieth slain. She did well to comfort her with the king of the Huns. Siegfried will not come again. He is long buried.”
”Enough of Siegfried's wounds. While Kriemhild, my mistress, liveth, mischief may well betide. Wherefore, hope of the Nibelungs, beware!” So spake Dietrich of Bern.
”Wherefore should I beware?” said the king. ”Etzel sent us envoys (what more could I ask?) bidding us. .h.i.ther to this land. My sister Kriemhild, also, sent us many greetings.”
But Hagen said, ”Bid Sir Dietrich and his good knights tell us further of this matter, that they may show us the mind of Kriemhild.”
Then the three kings went apart: Gunther and Gernot and Dietrich.
”Now tell us, n.o.ble knight of Bern, what thou knowest of the queen's mind.”
The prince of Bern answered, ”What can I tell you, save that every morning I have heard Etzel's wife weeping and wailing in bitter woe to the great G.o.d of Heaven, because of stark Siegfried's death?”
Said bold Folker, the fiddler, ”There is no help for it. Let us ride to the court and see what befalleth us among the Huns.”
The bold Burgundians rode to the court right proudly, after the custom of their land. Many bold Huns marvelled much what manner of man Hagen of Trony might be. The folk knew well, from hearsay, that he had slain Siegfried of the Netherland, the starkest of all knights, Kriemhild's husband. Wherefore many questions were asked concerning him. The hero was of great stature; that is certain. His shoulders were broad, his hair was grisled; his legs were long, and terrible was his face. He walked with a proud gait.
Then lodging was made ready for the Burgundians. Gunther's attendants lay separate from the others. The queen, that greatly hated Gunther, had so ordered it. By this device his yeomen were slain soon after.
Dankwart, Hagen's brother, was marshal. The king commended his men earnestly to his care, that he might give them meat and drink enow, the which the bold knight did faithfully and with good will.
Kriemhild went forth with her attendants and welcomed the Nibelungs with false heart. She kissed Giselher and took him by the hand. When Hagen of Trony saw that, he bound his helmet on tighter.
”After such greeting,” he said, ”good knights may well take thought. The kings and their men are not all alike welcome. No good cometh of our journey to this hightide.”
She answered, ”Let him that is glad to see thee welcome thee. I will not greet thee as a friend. What bringest thou for me from Worms, beyond the Rhine, that thou shouldst be so greatly welcome?”
”This is news,” said Hagen, ”that knights should bring thee gifts. Had I thought of it, I had easily brought thee something. I am rich enow.”
”Tell me what thou hast done with the Nibelung h.o.a.rd. That, at the least, was mine own. Ye should have brought it with you into Etzel's land.”
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