Amid all this honour and glory—herein doth the bard sing true— Dwelt they in love together till the seventh year onward drew.
In the midst of the years unto Kriemhild was born a noble son.
In the life of Etzel never had a brighter dayspring shone.
Never she ceased from pleading till she won her love’s reward
That unto the font baptismal of the faith of Christ the Lord
Brought was the child of Etzel, and Ortlieb they named the boy.
Then all King Etzel’s kingdom rejoiced with exceeding joy.
In the selfsame paths of virtue that Helka had trodden erst
The feet of the Lady Kriemhild paced day by day from the first;
By Herrat, the stranger princess, in the ways of the land were they set,
While her secret heart for Helka bore a burden of long regret.
The son of the land and the stranger with one accord confessed
That never had any kingdom of any king possessed
More bounteous queen and gracious: true witness they held it of her.
Such was her praise mid the Hunfolk still till the thirteenth year.
Now when she marked how no man opposed him to her will—
Even so unto wives of princes knights wont to bear them still—
And that twelve kings stood in her presence aye as the years passed on,
On the pain and the wrong she brooded that was dealt to her years agone.
She thought withal on the honour that of yore in the Niblung land
Of right unto her was rendered, whereof had Hagen’s hand
Utterly despoiled her when Siegfried by him had been slain:
And she pondered how she might compass that his wrong should become his bane:—
{p. 190}
“Into this land could I but bring him, then might my vengeance betide!”
She dreamed a dream, how that walking anear her, close at her side,
Was Giselher her brother, and she kissed him again and again
In slumber—what meant that vision was thereafter all too plain!
The Foul Fiend was it surely that whispered Kriemhild’s heart
In outward-seeming friendship from Gunther the King to part,
And with kiss of feigned forgiveness, in Burgundia years ago.
Now the old pain woke, and her vesture was drenched with the hot tears’ flow.
On her heart lay morning by morning, and evening by evening lay
The thought, how they had constrained her the faith of her youth to betray
By taking to husband a heathen, when will thereto she had none.
This wrong unto her had Hagen and her brother Gunther done.
How she might wreak her vengeance still thought she day by day:—
“Now am I waxen so mighty, I have such far-reaching sway,
That I of them that have wronged me could exact the penalty.
Gladly with Hagen of Troneg would I deal as he dealt with me!
For my belovèd mourneth my spirit within me still.
Might I but draw them hither which have worked me all this ill,
Then, then might I have vengeance at last for my Siegfried’s death.
Scarce can I endure this waiting!” she moaned with passionate breath.
Well was she loved of all men of Etzel’s vassal-array
Which were named the Knights of Kriemhild: good cause in sooth had they.
Friends many were won by Eckwart her treasurer’s open hand.
The will of the Lady Kriemhild might none in the realm withstand.
Each day was she thinking, thinking: “I will make my request to the King
If so of his grace and his goodness he may haply grant this thing
That my friends be bidden to see me here in the Land of the Hun.”
But the guileful purpose of Kriemhild the while was divined of none.
One night, when the Lady Kriemhild beside King Etzel lay,
When he held her in arms enfolding, even as his wont was aye
{p. 191}
In his love for the noble lady who was dear as his life unto him,
Then on her enemies thought she, and her thoughts were guileful and grim.
She spake unto King Etzel: “My dearly-belovèd Lord,
I would make unto thee my petition, if this thy grace would accord,
That thou suffer mine heart to be gladdened, if my love hath deserved this meed,
By the proof of mine eyes that my kinsmen be dear unto thee indeed.”
Then spake the King, and, speaking, was guileless his heart within:
“Hereof will I certify thee: whatsoe’er to thine hero-kin
Is done for their honour and profit, for mine own joy shall it be done;
For never by love of woman nobler kin have I won.”
Unto him the Queen made answer: “Well known is this unto thee,
That indeed I have high-born kinsmen; but sorely it troubleth me
That, since I wedded thee, never their faces have I seen.
In sooth, of all thy people am I known for ‘the Kinless Queen’!”
Made answer and spake King Etzel: “O wife, heart’s dearest mine,
If not too great be the journey, I will bi............