When Etzel forth to the Rhineland had his viol-minstrels sped, From land to land the story on the wings of rumour fled.
By messengers swift to his barons request and command he gave
To come to his festal high-tide; and they came—to the gates of the grave.
{p. 194}
Meanwhile forth rode the envoys, and afar from the Hunland went
To the folk Burgundian, whither of their lord the King they were sent
Unto those three noble Princes and to all their vassal-array,
To bid them to Etzel’s high-tide; and fast and far rode they.
To the castle of Bechlaren those messengers came with speed:
There blithe was their entertainment; and for this their hosts took heed
That Rüdiger and Gotlind and their daughter sent by these
Unto the knights of Rhineland all loving messages.
They loaded with gifts the envoys or ever they parted thence,
That Etzel’s servants might journey in the more magnificence;
And to Uta and to her children this greeting did Rüdiger send,
That never was living Margrave unto them so true a friend.
They commended also to Brunhild their service and ready will,
And in steadfast faith they pledged them her pleasure to fulfil.
So when they had heard that message, onward the envoys would ride.
Then prayed the Margravine Gotlind that God would guard them and guide.
Or ever the messengers wholly had traversed Bavarian ground,
Werbel the eager minstrel the holy bishop found.
What greetings he sent to his kinsmen, the dwellers beside the Rhine,
This have the old bards told not; but of ruddy gold and fine
He gave to the heralds freely. When now they would forth again,
Spake Pilgerin the bishop: “Mine heart were exceeding fain
If I might but see them before me, for my sister’s sons they are.
Right seldom indeed have I journeyed unto them by the Rhine afar!”
By what tracks fared they onward through the land on the Rhineward way,
Thereof no minstrel singeth. Of their silver and rich array
No spoiler dared to rob them, for the terror of Etzel lay
Heavy on all; so mighty was the high-born Hun-king’s sway.
So they came, even Werbel and Schwemmel, to the folk by Rhine-river side,
Unto Worms the fortress-city, ere the light of the twelfth day died.
{p. 195}
Unto Gunther then and his liegemen did the watchman tidings bring
Of the coming of stranger heralds; and straightway questioned the King,
And spake the warder of Rhineland: “Who maketh known unto us
From whence these guests and strangers to our land come riding thus?”
But none was able to answer, till Hagen, Troneg’s Lord,
Looked forth and beheld those envoys, and he spake unto Gunther the word:
“This day is a day of tidings: your surety for this am I;
For these be the men of Etzel, and the lords of his minstrelsy.
None other than your sister to the Rhine hath sped their feet.
For the sake of their noble master must we give them welcome meet.”
Even as he spake it, rode they into the castle court:
Never king’s viol-minstrels came in such gallant sort.
And the servants of King Gunther to welcome them in made speed,
And they gave unto them fair lodging, and looked to their gear with heed.
So rich were their travelling-garments, so goodly-fashioned withal,
Unshamed they might have worn them in the King’s own presence-hall;
Yet they scorned for one hour longer to wear them in courts of kings,
And they bade make inquisition whether any desired the things.
Good sooth, there lacked not people that were right well content
That their need be supplied so richly, and to these were the garments sent.
Then did the envoys array them in splendour of goodliest gear,
Such as fitteth heralds royal in the presence of kings which appear.
Then gat they leave and license, those servants of Etzel, to go
Where the King sat throned: right gladly men looked on their gallant show.
And Hagen sprang from his high-seat, and met them hard by the door,
And greeted with kindly welcome, and they gave him thank therefor.
Then asked he them of their tidings, and prayed the heralds say
Concerning the welfare of Etzel and of all that owned his sway.
“Never the land hath prospered more,” those bards replied;
“Never the folk were happier: hereof be ye certified.”
{p. 196}
To the presence of King Gunther they passed the thronged halls through;
And the guests with courteous welcome were received, as aye is it due
That envoys so be greeted in the land of another king.
There round King Gunther standing were knights in a stately ring.
Unto them the King gave greeting of princely courtesy:
“O servants of King Etzel, ye minstrels, welcome be ye,
Welcome your journeying-fellows! Wherefore hath Etzel your lord
Into the land Burgundian sent you hitherward?”
Before the King they bowed them, and Werbel answer made:
“My dearly belovèd master and Kriemhild your sister bade
That hither we fare to your kingdom, and commend their service to you.
Unto you, O knights, have they sent us in kindness loving and true.”
And the mighty King made answer: “Of thy tidings am I fain.
How fareth it now with Etzel?”—spake on that royal thane—
“And how with Kriemhild my sister in the Hunland hath it sped?”
“I will tell thee all their story,” the viol-harper said.
“Better in any kingdom never its lords have been,
Nor blither, know of a surety, than Hunland’s King and Queen,
And all their kinsmen and liegemen, and all their knightly train.
Right glad were they of our journey, when hither we fared, we twain.”
“Now thank we him for the message that he sendeth by your voice.
Thanks unto him and my sister: herein do I greatly rejoice
That your King and all his people in peace and in bliss abide;—
For indeed I feared in mine asking lest haply worse might betide.”
Now came the two young princes into the hall, and heard;
For touching those glad tidings had come to them yet no word.
Bright at beholding the envoys shone young Giselher’s eyes
For the love that he bare to his sister: and he spake in friendliest wise:
“Heralds twain, ye be welcome, right welcome to us this day!
An ye came but oftener riding upon the Rhineward way,
Here should ye find friends’ faces that ye should gladly see.
Small sorrow or scathe should betide you here in Burgundy!”
{p. 197}
“Yea, in all honour,” said Schwemmel, “we hail this greeting of thine!
Of a surety I cannot tell you by any words of mine
What loving greetings be sent you of Etzel the Lord of the land,
And your noble sister, who highest beside him in honour doth stand.
And the Queen unto thy remembrance calleth thy faith and thy love,
And the true heart’s tender kindness, and the steadfastness thereof.
Now first before all unto Gunther our King’s request we bear
That ye of your grace into Hunland would ride, to greet them there.
Etzel the King most mighty hath straitly commanded us
That by all his love we entreat you, and to each and to all say thus—
If haply the love of your sister avail not to draw you hence,
Yet fain would he know what trespass ye have found in him, or offence,
That ye hold you so far from his kingdom, and the land ye have never seen.
Yea, though unto you a stranger, and wholly unknown were the Queen,
Yet himself might surely merit that ye deigned to look on his face!
If to this ye consent, ye shall gladden his heart by this great grace.”
Answered and spake King Gunther: “After the seventh night
Will I render to you mine answer, the thing that hath seemed me right
In council with friends and kinsmen. Depart ye; tarry the while
In the halls wherein we have lodged you, and find there rest from your toil!”
But spake the minstrel Werbel: “May this not also be,
That we come before Queen Uta, and the face of our Lady see
Or ever we pass from the presence royal unto our rest?”
And Giselher the courteous made answer to his request:
“That boon shall no man deny you: if ye to her presence would go,
After the will of my mother and her heart’s desire were it so.
For my sister’s sake your faces right gladly will she see.
For the sake of the Lady Kriemhild welcome to her shall ye be.”
Straightway to the presence of Uta leading the twain he went.
Glad was she to see the envoys from the land of the Hunfolk sent;
And she gave to them kindly welcome with queenly and gracious mien,
And the heralds courtly and loyal their message spake to the Queen:
{p. 198}
“My Lady,” said Schwemmel, “biddeth that I commend unto thee
Her constant love and her service; and if so it might haply be
That she might oftener see thee, this of a surety believe,
That in all the world no pleasure greater could she receive.”
Answered and spake Queen Uta: “That cannot now befall,
Though fain would I oftener see her, my best beloved of all:
Too far from us she dwelleth, that noble Queen, alas!
Evermore upon her and Etzel all blessing come to pass!
Send word to me—see that ye fail not—ere ye must hence away,
When ye will go. I have seen not for many and many a day
Messengers so welcome as now, when I look upon you.”
Then did the young men pledge them her heart’s desire to do.
So passed they unto their hostels, those knights from the land of the Huns;
And the King to a council summoned his kin and his mighty ones.
Then Gunther the noble questioned the heroes man by man
Touching their rede of the matter; and many an one began
Thus saying: “It were for thine honour unto Etzel’s land to ride.”
This was the rede of the chiefest of them that stood at his side,
Save Hagen alone; but hateful to him was the counsel of those.
To the King he whispered fiercely: “To your own lives are ye foes!
Surely thou hast not forgotten what deeds unto her we wrought!
For us are the wrongs of Kriemhild for ever peril-fraught.
I smote unto death her husband, even I with mine own hand.
How should we be so hardy as to ride into Etzel’s land?”
Made answer the King: “My sister of all wrath emptied her heart:
With kisses of lovingkindness, ere she turned from this land to depart,
She sealed her forgiveness of trespass, whatsoever to her we had done.
If she beareth a grudge, Lord Hagen, it shall be against thee alone.”
“Deceive not thyself,” said Hagen, “whatsoever honied speech
Fall from this woman’s envoys! Come within Kriemhild’s reach,
And thou well mayest lose thine honour; yea, and thou stakest thy life!
A memory long and relentless hath this King Etzel’s wife.”
{p. 199}
Before the council Gernot flung back his haughty reply:
“Albeit with too good reason thou haply fear to die
In the kingdom of the Hunfolk, shall we too show faint heart,
And cower away from our sister?—that were a sorry part!”
And scornfully Giselher answered the baron and bitterly:
“If conscience, O friend Hagen, maketh a coward of thee,
Here in the land abide thou, and guard thine health with care,
And let such as fear no dangers with us to my sister fare.”
At his scoffing the hero of Troneg brake into fierceness of wrath—
“I tell thee, that no man fareth with thee on the Hunward path
Who feareth so little as Hagen to Etzel’s palace to ride!
Ay, and by deeds will I prove it, since ye will not be turned aside.”
Then spake the feast-arrayer, Rumold the noble thane:
“The home-friend and the stranger at home can ye entertain
After your own good pleasure, for here nought lacketh to you.
I trow, the counsel of Hagen never yet had ye cause to rue.
If ye will not be counselled by Hagen, I Rumold give you my rede—
Unto you have I ever been faithful, I have served you with diligent heed—
Here in th............