Now when the Burgundian Heroes came to the Hunfolk’s land, Told was the thing to the warrior of Bern, old Hildebrand,
And he unto Dietrich told it; and his lord with grief and dismay
Heard; yet he bade him welcome that valiant knightly array.
Then were the horses saddled at the bidding of Wolfhart the strong.
With the Hero of Bern went riding knights in a lordly throng
To greet the friends far-travelled. On the river-plain they met
Where many a goodly pavilion the squires by this had set.
So soon as Hagen of Troneg beheld them from far away,
In knightly-courteous fashion unto his lords did he say:
“Now, warriors battle-eager, leap each man down from the selle,
And go ye forward to meet them which be come to greet you well.
A warrior company cometh; full well be they known unto me;
Thanes battle-eager and stalwart from the Amals’ land they be;
{p. 235}
And the Hero of Bern is their leader, and their courage is high in the fray.
Ye shall nowise scorn the service they proffer to you this day.”
Then sprang to the earth from the saddle, even as was meet and right,
Dietrich, and there with their captain were many a squire and knight.
Forward to that guest-greeting they strode to the hero-band,
And in kindliest wise they welcomed the men of Burgundia-land.
So now when the noble Dietrich beheld them drawing nigh,
Gladness and sorrow within him strove for the mastery[11].
Well knew he the deadly secret: a grief was their journey to him;
But he weened that Rüdiger knew it, and had told of the peril grim.
“Welcome, my lords! O Gunther and Giselher, welcome be ye!
Gernot and Hagen, welcome! Lord Volker, welcome to thee
And to Dankwart the battle-eager!—but hath no man told you the tale
How still for the Niblung Hero doth Kriemhild weep and wail?”
“Let her weep so long as she listeth!” scornfully Hagen replied.
“Many a year hath fleeted since her lord was smitten and died.
Ay, let her joy and her solace be the love of the Lord of the Hun!
Siegfried returneth never; he was buried long agone.”
“Enough of the slaying of Siegfried! His memory is not dead.
So long as Kriemhild liveth may the vengeance-snare be spread.”
—So spake the noble Dietrich, the Hero of Bern, his rede.—
“O hope of the Niblung Nation, of her vengeance take good heed!”
“Beware of my sister!—and wherefore?” proudly the King replied.
“Etzel hath sent to us heralds—what should I ask beside?—
Bidding us ride to meet him here in this land as a friend.
Yea, many a loving greeting did my sister Kriemhild send.”
“Hearken,” again spake Hagen, “and so will I counsel you.
Hear ye this story of Kriemhild, and let it be told all through
By Dietrich the Lord of the Amals, and his heroes valorous:
So shall the mind of Kriemhild be wholly revealed unto us.”
{p. 236}
Then drew them apart the Princes, and spake together the three,
Even Gunther the King and Gernot and Dietrich secretly:
“O Knight of Bern most noble and valiant, tell us now—
Of the inmost mind of Kriemhild the Queen what knowest thou?”
And the Prince of Bern made answer: “What other can be my tale
Save this, that morning by morning I hear her weep and wail—
This Etzel’s wife, Queen Kriemhild—with bitter and passionate breath
Appealing to God in Heaven to avenge strong Siegfried’s death?”
“O’erlate is it now for repenting as touching this thou hast told,”
Spake Volker the viol-minstrel, the warrior ever bold.
“Let us on to the court of the Hun-king, and let it there be seen
What deeds shall be done of the Hunfolk to the warriors battle-keen.”
So on to the court went riding that bold Burgundian band,
Bearing themselves right proudly after the wont of their land.
Then many a valiant warrior of the Huns watched eagerly
For the coming of Hagen of Troneg, what manner of man should he be.
Known long since was the story to all folk, how that his hand
Had dealt unto Siegfried the death-stab, to the King of the Nether Land,
Of all stark knights the strongest, the lord of Kriemhild the Queen:
Therefore the expectation of men to behold him was keen.
Mighty of mould was the hero, as the soothfast songs declare,
Exceeding broad in the shoulders and deep of chest, and his hair
By this was a sable silvered; sinewy, long of limb,
As a king was he stately in going, and his face as death was grim.
Then all the thanes Burgundian into hostels did they bring;
But the train of the squires of Gunther were sundered far from the King.
It was done by the Queen’s devising, for the hate that to him she bare.
Slain ere long in their hostels all those henchmen were.
Dankwart the brother of Hagen was marshal of all that train,
And to him did the King commit them, charging him once and again
To do his utmost endeavour for supplying of all their need;
And he laboured with willing spirit, and served with diligent heed.
{p. 237}
Forth came the fair Queen Kriemhild with a goodly company.
With falsely-feignèd kindness those Niblungs greeted she.
Then Giselher her brother did she kiss, and she clasped his hand:
When Hagen of Troneg saw it, he tightened his helmet-band.
“Good sooth, after such a welcome,” Hagen cried, “there is need
That the battle-eager warriors should take to themselves good heed!
The greeting of prince and of liegeman is here no whit the same.
I wot, on an ............