The Nibelungenlied Part 134

Then would the knights of Etzel their wish have granted straight, And let come out the strangers before the palace gate.

Wroth thereat was Kriemhild; she had heard it soon.

Quickly to the strangers was denied the boon.

XX

"No! no! Hungarian heroes! My counsel take for true, And grant them not their longing; beware of what you do; Ne'er let those b.l.o.o.d.y murderers come out from yonder hall, Or surely must your kinsmen endure a deadly fall.

XXI

"Were none of them yet living but Uta's children there, My high-descended brothers, if once they got fresh air To cool their heated harness, you'd one and all be lost; The world has no such warriors; you'd learn it to your cost."

XXII

Then spake the youthful Giselher, "Fairest sister mine, I little ween'd thy summons call'd me o'er the Rhine, In this net of treason and mortal strait to lie.

How here of these Hungarians have I deserved to die?

XXIII

"To thee true was I ever; I never did thee wrong; Loving and confiding I hither came along, For thou, I thought, dear sister, didst bear like love to me.

Oh! look on us with kindness! what else should we expect from thee?"

XXIV

"Talk not to me of kindness! Unkind is all my thought.

Against me he of Trony such grievous wrong has wrought, Never can I forgive it as long as I have life; For that you all must suffer," said Etzel's furious wife.

XXV

"Yet would you to me Hagan up for a prisoner give, No longer I'd refuse you, but fain would let you live, For you're indeed my brethren, all of one mother sprung; Then of the fit atonement I'd speak these lords among."

XXVI

"Now G.o.d in heaven forbid it!" Sir Gernot proudly said; "Were there a thousand of us, we'd rather all lie dead, All thy n.o.ble kinsmen, than e'er that only one Give up to thee a captive; no! that can ne'er be done."

XXVII

"So we must die," said Giselher, "'scape can we never hence; Still valiantly and knightly we'll stand on our defence, Let him then, who would prove us, do now his worst endeavor; I never friend abandoned, nor will abandon ever."

XXVIII

Then, scorning longer silence, cried Dankwart void of fear, "Ay! my good brother Hagan stands not lonely here.

They who peace deny us, shall soon their anger rue.

We'll teach you bitter knowledge; take these my words for true."

XXIX

Then spake the queen, "Brave warriors, this hour to you belongs; Up! closer to the staircase! take vengeance for my wrongs!

What thrift requites good service, I'll show you well to-day.

The insolence of Hagan I will in full repay.

x.x.x

"Let not a soul forth sally; their courage soon we'll tame; I'll straight at the four corners bid set the hall on flame, And thus will I revenge me at once for all my woes."

Quick Etzel's knights made ready, and fell upon her foes.

x.x.xI

Who yet without were standing, they instant drove within By dint of darts and broadsword; deafening rose the din; Yet naught their valiant followers could from the princes part; Close link'd they stood together with fix'd and faithful heart.

x.x.xII

With that, the wife of Etzel bade set the hall on fire.

How sore then were they tortur'd in burning anguish dire!

At once, as the wind freshened, the house was in a glow.

Never, I ween, were mortals in such extremes of woe.

x.x.xIII

"We all are lost together," each to his neighbor cried, "It had been far better we had in battle died.

Now G.o.d have mercy on us! woe for this fiery pain!

Ah! what a monstrous vengeance the b.l.o.o.d.y queen has ta'en!"

x.x.xIV

Then faintly said another, "Needs must we here fall dead!

What boots us now the greeting, to us by Etzel sped?

Ah me! I'm so tormented by thirst from burning heat, That in this horrid anguish my life must quickly fleet."

x.x.xV

Thereat outspake Sir Hagan, the n.o.ble knight and good, "Let each, by thirst torment'd, take here a draught of blood.

In such a heat, believe me, 'tis better far than wine.

Naught's for the time so fitting; such counsel, friends, is mine."