Now through all these years ever Brunhild the Queen to her own heart said: “How comes it that Lady Kriemhild beareth so proudly her head?
And yet is her husband Siegfried nought but our vassal, I trow;
Yet for long hath he rendered homage or service little enow!”
So bare she in secret a burden of brooding and heart’s unrest,
And that these in a far land tarried was ever a thorn in her breast,
Yea also, that none brought tribute to her out of Siegfried’s land;
How it befell she knew not, and she wearied to understand.
Then made she trial of Gunther, if haply she might attain
Her purpose, to meet Queen Kriemhild face to face again;
{p. 99}
And she took with him secret counsel for that whereon aye did she brood.
But the word of the Queen unto Gunther seemed in no wise good.
“How might we bring them hither?” that noble King replied,
“Even to this our kingdom? The thing can never betide.
Too far is their dwelling: I dare not ask that this might be!”
But Brunhild to him made answer with speech of subtlety:
“And be he never so mighty, who is vassal still to a King,
Whatsoever his liege-lord biddeth, of force must he do the thing.”
Smiled Gunther for this delusion that in her heart had place—
Little he thought on homage when he looked upon Siegfried’s face.
“Nay, dear my lord,” she made answer, “I pray thee, help me herein—
By my love I beseech thee—that Siegfried and thy sister Kriemhild the Queen
May come unto this thy kingdom, that we may behold them here.
In all this world could be given no joy to mine heart more dear.
That gracious mien of thy sister, and her queenly courtesy,
Still as I muse thereover, how sweet is the memory,
How we sat at the feast of my bridal side by side at the board!
In sooth hath she chosen with honour Siegfried the brave for her lord.”
She lay on him sore in entreaty, that at last King Gunther said:
“Now know, that no guests more welcome my feast-hall floor could tread.
Lightly is gained thy petition: swift messengers of mine
Shall be sent unto them, to bid them come unto us by Rhine.”
Then spake that Daughter of Princes: “Now shalt thou tell unto me
When thou wilt send to bid them, and how many days shall it be
Ere come into this our kingdom the friends we love so well.
And whom thou wilt send to bid them unto me beforehand tell.”
“Yea,” answered the King, “that will I: There shall go of my knightly array
Thirty thitherward riding.” For these did he send straightway;
And with that message he charged them, to bear it to Siegfried’s land.
Rich raiment to gladden their spirits received they of Brunhild’s hand.
“My knights, ye shall take this message from me”; thus spake the King;
“And of all wherewith I have charged you withhold not anything.
{p. 100}
Say unto Siegfried the mighty, and unto my sister say,
That in all this world may no one be dearer to me than they.
And pray them to come to their kinsfolk here beside Rhine-river:
And for this unto them shall Brunhild and I be beholden ever.
Ere summer to autumn waneth full many shall he see here,
Even he and his men, that in honour hold him passing dear.
And bear ye to King Siegmund my service in courtesy,
And say that to him aye bounden my friends and I shall be:
And pray ye also my sister that she tarry not to ride
To her friends—she hath lighted never on so worthy a festal-tide.”
Brunhild withal, and Uta, yea, every high-born dame
Unto the land of Siegfried fair greeting sent by name
To their kinsfolk and their acquaintance, fair lady and valiant knight.
So, sped by King and Council, they hasted thence forthright;
For they stood all girt for the journey, seeing all things ready to hand
Had they, their horses, their raiment: so rode they forth of the land.
On to the goal they hasted whereunto their hearts were bent.
Strong escort on that wayfaring to guard them the King had sent.
So it was, on the twelfth day’s dawning they came to the Niblung land,
To the fencèd city, whither they were sent by the King’s command.
Afar on the marches of Norway that hero-thane found they:
And by this were steed and rider forwearied with all the way.
Unto Siegfried and unto Kriemhild were tidings borne with speed
That knights were come to their castle arrayed in suchlike weed
As folk in the land Burgundian were wont to wear alway.
Then leapt from the couch that lady, where resting yet she lay;
And a certain one of her handmaids she bade to the casement go,
Who beheld the valiant Gere in the court stand therebelow,
Even him and his fellow-farers which thither from far had sped.
All heart-ache of the exile like a dream at the tidings fled.
And she cried aloud unto Siegfried: “Behold how there they wait,
These that with Gere the stalwart have ridden through our gate,
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These whom my brother Gunther unto us down Rhine-flood sends!”
Made answer Siegfried the mighty, “Welcome to us be our friends!”
Straightway beholding them hasted to greet them squire and knight,
And this one and that with welcome hailed them, and, each as he might,
They paid to the heralds royal all loving courtesies.
Yea, also the old King Siegmund rejoiced for the coming of these.
So when they had given fair lodging to Gere and all his men,
And had stabled in stall their horses, they led those messengers then
To the place where sat King Siegfried with Kriemhild at his side,
Even the Hall of the Presence, when his pleasure was signified.
Then the King and the Queen from their high-seats rose up at their entering-in,
And they graciously greeted the envoys of their far Burgundian kin,
Even these and their fellow-farers, King Gunther’s liegemen all,
And entreated Gere the noble, “Sit thou with us in the hall.”
“Let us first of our message acquit us, ere we sit down to rest:
So long let him stand in thy presence, thy travel-weary guest;
And so shall the word be spoken which is sent unto you of the King,
Of Gunther, and of Queen Brunhild. In bliss be they prospering.
From the Lady Uta thy mother, O Queen, have we also a word,
And from Giselher the stripling, and from Gernot the royal lord,
And from all your nearest kinsfolk: hither have these sent us
From Burgundia-land with greetings exceeding courteous.”
“God guerdon them!” said Siegfried; “I put my trust alway
In their love and their faith true-hearted, as friend with friend doth aye:
This doth withal their sister. Now shall ye further tell
If our friends in their far-off homeland be merry, and all go well.
Since the day that we parted from them, hath any evil been done
By a foe to my Lady’s brethren? Concerning this say on.
In loyal faith will I help them aye to the uttermost.
Of my service to these shall foemen learn to their bitter cost.”
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Answered the Lord of the Marches, Gere, a right good knight:
“In chivalry and in joyance be all things going aright;
And they bid you now unto Rhineland to a glorious festal-tide.
Glad shall they be to behold you, hereof be ye certified.
They beseech my Lady Kriemhild withal that she come with thee
So soon as the feet of the winter from the face of the spring shall flee.
Or ever the summer waneth full fain would they look upon you.”
Answered Siegfried the............