So thence to the strand and the haven Siegfried hied him away In the Hood of Darkness shrouded. Now a boat by the wharf-side lay,
And thereinto from men’s eyes hidden stepped Siegfried Siegmund’s son,
And he thrust it forth o’er the waters, as it were by a wind driven on.
{p. 66}
Now no one beheld that steersman, though swift was the barge’s flight
Sped on by the strength of Siegfried, so passing-great was his might.
Who marked it, deemed that it drifted before a strange strong wind:
None dreamed it was driven of Siegfried the child of Siegelind.
In the space of that day and the night-tide that followed was he brought
To a certain land, by the mighty strength wherewithal he wrought.
It was leagues full three-and-thirty, yea, more peradventure, away.
This was the Land of the Niblungs, where he won the Hoard for a prey.
Alone stepped forth the hero on to an eyot wide;
And he fastened, that knight resourceful, the boat to the river-side.
Then he passed unto where a castle stood on a craggy bent,
And therein sought harbourage, even as a wayfarer toil-forspent.
So he came before that burg-gate: fast locked and barred did it stand;
For jealous aye for their honour were the warders of that land.
On the massy door ’neath the gate-tower did the unknown one begin
Straightway to beat, and his smiting roused up therewithin
A mighty one and a giant, that there kept watch and ward,
And night and day beside him his armour lay and his sword:
And he spake: “Who knocketh so roughly on the burg-gate therewithout?”
In a feigned voice Siegfried the valiant sent back the answering shout:
“Up! I am a knight belated. Knave, open to me forthright,
Else I with strokes heavy-handed shall gall a laggard wight
Who loveth to keep his chamber and lie in the sluggard’s bed!”
Then exceeding wroth was the warder for the word that Siegfried said.
His armour hath that fierce giant in haste on his huge limbs done,
And his helmet hath he settled on his head, that mighty one.
In haste hath he snatched his buckler and the castle gate swung wide:
In a fury of rage against Siegfried forth did he swiftly stride.
“How dar’st thou wake,” he shouted, “all these of our gallant band?”
Then fell fast-raining buffets, dealt by his mighty hand:
From the shield of the noble stranger glanced fierce blows many and rude,
Yet the steel shards flew from his shield-rim as the giant warder hewed
{p. 67}
With a massy mace of iron, that the thane was hard-bestead.
Well-nigh began the hero the very death to dread
At the smiting of that huge porter, as the lightning vehement.
Yet was his liege-lord Siegfried with his faithfulness well content.
So furious was their battling, the keep rang echoing round,
And afar in the hall of King Niblung was heard the tempest-sound:
Yet at last he o’ermastered the warder, and bound him foot and hand.
—Ere long men laughed at the story through all the Niblung land.
As the thunder of that conflict through the mountain’s heart far rolled,
It was heard of the Dwarf, the dauntless Albrich, the tameless-souled.
In haste he armed him, and thither he ran, and behold, he found
That noble stranger-warrior, and the giant warder bound.
Of fiery mood was Albrich, and mighty strength he had:
In hauberk-rings and in helmet was his body for battle clad;
And a morning-star huge-headed of gold had he gripped in his hand.
With swift feet rushed he onward unto where did Siegfried stand.
Seven balls spike-studded and massy by chains from the mace-head swung,
Wherewith on the shield that the hero’s arm before him flung
He hailed down blows so bitter that in fragments all it flew,
So that somewhat adread that noble guest for his own life grew.
The shield by that flail of battle shattered he flung from his hand,
And he thrust back into the scabbard Balmung, the long keen brand:
He would smite not therewith, lest his faithful seneschal should die;
For aye was he noble-hearted, and the flower of chivalry.
But the hero leapt upon Albrich with his strong bare hands alone,
And fast by the beard he gripped him, that hoary-headed one,
And he mightily plucked, that the Earth-dwarf shrieked for very pain,
As the hero-knight tamed Albrich with his fingers’ bitter strain.
Loud cried the erstwhile aweless: “Ah, leave my life unto me!
Had I not to another hero sworn true fealty,
And bowed myself in homage to be vassal to him for aye,
Thee would I serve to my death-day,” did the crafty-wise one say.
{p. 68}
Then bound he Albrich, even as he bound that giant before:
Of a truth the prowess of Siegfried galled him exceeding sore!
Then asked the Dwarf of the hero: “I pray thee, how named art thou?”
And he answered: “My name is Siegfried: thou hast heard that name, I trow.”
Spake Albrich: “For these tidings of a truth mine heart is fain!
Of thy strength, the strength of a hero, hast thou given proof again,
Hast shown how well thou art worthy to be lord of the Niblung Land.
So thou spare me for that I withstood thee, will I do all thy command.”
Answered the good knight Siegfried: “Up then, and speedily
Bring thou unto me my bravest which here in the fortress be,
A thousand Niblungs: before me now would I see them brought.”
But the cause for the which he desired them thus, he told him not.
Then Albrich and the giant from their bonds the hero unbound;
And the Dwarf to the place ran swiftly where the Niblung knights slept sound;
And in eager haste he uproused them, the men of the Niblung array,
Crying, “Up, ye heroes! to Siegfried your lord must ye go straightway.”
Upsprang they from their couches, and they clad themselves with speed;
And a thousand eager warriors stood arrayed in battle-weed;
And he led them to where Prince Siegfried abode them in that great hall;
And they gave to him loving greeting by word and by deed withal.
They have kindled a hundred torches, they have poured the wine for their lord;
And for that their speedy coming he thanked them with gracious word;
And he said to them: “Now shall ye follow with me far hence oversea.”
And those valiant knights and loyal consented willingly.
Stout vassal-knights three thousand had gathered at his call,
And of these he chose a thousand, the goodliest of them all;
And their helmets were brought to the chosen, and all their harness of war,
Forasmuch as their lord would lead them unto Brunhild’s land afar.
And he spake: “O knights true-hearted, I would say unto you this thing:
Ye must take rich raiment for wearing in the pr............