Then went the old King Siegmund where Kriemhild sat in her woe, And he spake to the Queen: “To our own land homeward now let us go.
Guests are we all-unwelcome, I trow well, here by the Rhine.
Come with us, Kriemhild belovèd, to our country, thine and mine.
That thy kin in the land Burgundian have so evil entreated us
In slaying thy noble husband by murder most treacherous,
It shall not be remembered against thee: my love shall cherish thy life,
For the sake of my son and the noble child he hath left to his wife.
Thou, Lady, shalt have dominion, shalt have over all the control
That Siegfried gave to thee ever, that lord of the noble soul.
The crown shalt thou wear, and the kingdom shall bow beneath thy sway.
Thee shall the vassals of Siegfried with willing heart obey,”
Then the word to the squires was given, “Home ride we ere eventide!”
Out of the field they gathered in haste the steeds they should ride.
To dwell mid their deadly foemen was now to their souls as gall.
For the journey prepared was raiment of the dames and the handmaids all.
But now when the old King Siegmund was at point to ride away,
Drew nigh the kinsmen of Kriemhild to plead with her and to pray
That still she would stay with her mother in the land of Burgundy.
Made answer the joyless-hearted: “Now nay, it can never be!
How could I endure it, that ever I should look upon him with mine eyes
Who hath dealt with me, the hapless, in such despiteful wise?”
But the young Prince Giselher answered: “Sister belovèd, now
By a child’s true love I adjure thee, abide with thy mother thou!
For them which have darkened thy spirit, for them which have wounded thine heart,
No need hast thou of their service; in all that is mine thou hast part.”
{p. 147}
But she to the knight made answer: “How can it be? Ah no!
If I look on the face of Hagen, I must die for utter woe.”
“Now nay, O sister belovèd, from this will I guard thee well.
With Giselher thy brother here sheltered shalt thou dwell.
My love for the death of thy dear lord shall atone in very deed.”
And the joyless made answer: “Kriemhild thereof hath bitter need!”
Now when in such loving fashion pleaded with her the lad,
Their prayers unto his supplication did Uta and Gernot add.
Yea, all her loyal kinsfolk entreated her there to stay.
“Among all the people of Siegfried no kinsman thou hast,” said they.
“They be all unto thee as strangers, as aliens,” Gernot said.
“Though the living may love thee, the strongest must needs at the last lie dead.
Bethink thee thereof, dear sister: to thine heart speak comfortably.
Here tarry with thine own kinsfolk: so shall it be well with thee.”
So she gave to her brother the promise, to abide with them in the land.
Now by this were the horses gathered for the men of Siegmund’s band;
And all to the land of the Niblungs were ready to ride away,
And laden upon the horses was the good knights’ war-array.
Then unto the bower of Kriemhild went grey-haired Siegmund the King,
And he spake to the Lady: “The warriors of Siegfried’s following
Stand waiting beside their horses. Forth and away let us ride.
The hours unto me are bitter while with Burgundy’s folk I abide.”
But the Lady Kriemhild made answer: “My kinsmen have wrought on my will,
Even my nearest and dearest, here to abide with them still.
None in the land of the Niblungs, say they, of my blood can I find.”
Then sore aggrieved was Siegmund that such should be Kriemhild’s mind.
And answered and spake the old King: “Lest any deceive thee beware.
Thou before all my kinsfolk the royal crown shalt wear,
Yea, wear it by right of kingship, even as hereto............