song and legend from the middle ages-第14部分

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　as　day；　That　falsely　smiling　Pleasure　with　Pain　requites　us　ever。　I　from　both　will　keep　me；　and　thus　will　sorrow　never。〃

So　in　her　lofty　virtues；　fancy…free　and　gay；　Liv'd　the　noble　maiden　many　a　happy　day；　Nor　one　more　than　another　found　favour　in　her　sight；　Still　at　the　last　she　wedded　a　far…renowned　knight。

He　was　the　self…same　falcon　she　in　her　dream　had　seen；　Foretold　by　her　wise　mother。　What　vengeance　took　the　queen　On　her　nearest　kinsmen　who　him　to　death　had　done！　That　single　death　atoning　died　many　a　mother's　son。


In　his　home　in　the　Netherlands　the　hero　Siegfried　hears　of　the　beauty　of　Kriemhild　and　after　magnificent　preparations　comes　to　Worms　to　win　her；　if　possible；　for　his　bride。　After　a　long　stay　at　the　court　of　her　brother；　he　finally　sees　her　at　a　feast。　They　love　each　other　at　their　first　meeting。　　In　Isenstein；　far　over　the　sea；　lives　Brunhild；　the　Amazon…queen；　who　is　pledged　to　wed　only　him　who　can　conquer　her　in　single　combat。　Gunther；　the　brother　of　Kriemhild；　desires　her　for　his　wife。　Siegfried　promises　to　win　her　for　him　on　condition　that　Gunther　grant　him　Kriemhild's　hand　in　return。　They　proceed　to　Brunhild's　land；　where　Siegfried；　by　the　aid　of　a　magic　cloak；　which　renders　him　invisible；　helps　Gunther　to　overcome　Brunhild。


THE　CONQUEST　OF　BRUNHILD。　Stanza　447…455。

There　too　was　come　fair　Brunhild；　arm'd　might　you　see　her　stand；　As　though　resolv'd　to　champion　all　kings　for　all　their　land。　She　bore　on　her　silk　surcoat；　gold　spangles　light　and　thin；　That　quivering　gave　sweet　glimpses　of　her　fair　snowy　skin。

Then　came　on　her　followers；　and　forward　to　the　field　Of　ruddy　gold　far…sparkling　bore　a　mighty　shield；　Thick；　and　broad；　and　weighty；　with　studs　of　steel　o'erlaid；　The　which　was　wont　in　battle　to　wield　the　martial　maid。

As　thong　to　that　huge　buckler　a　gorgeous　band　there　lay；　Precious　stones　beset　it　as　green　as　grass　in　May；　With　varying　hues　it　glitter'd　against　the　glittering　gold。　Who　would　woo　its　wielder　must　be　boldest　of　the　bold。

Beneath　its　folds　enormous　three　spans　thick　was　the　shield；　If　all　be　true　they　tell　us；　that　Brunhild　bore　in　field。　Of　steel　and　gold　compacted　all　gorgeously　it　glow'd。　Four　chamberlains；　that　bore　it；　stagger'd　beneath　the　load。

Grimly　smil'd　Sir　Hagan；　Trony's　champion　strong；　And　mutter'd；　as　he　mark'd　it　trail'd　heavily　along；　〃How　now；　my　lord　king　Gunther？　who　thinks　to　scape　with　life？　This　love　of　yours　and　lady'faith　she's　the　devil's　wife。〃　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　Then　to　the　maid　was　carried　heavily　and　slow　A　strong　well…sharpen'd　jav'lin；　which　she　ever　us'd　to　throw；　Huge　and　of　weight　enormous；　fit　for　so　strong　a　queen；　Cutting　deep　and　deadly　with　its　edges　keen。

To　form　the　mighty　spear…head　a　wondrous　work　was　done；　Three　weights　of　iron　and　better　were　welden　into　one；　The　same　three　men　of　Brunhild's　scarcely　along　could　bring；　Whereat　deeply　ponder'd　the　stout　Burgundian　king。

To　himself　thus　thought　he；　〃What　have　I　not　to　fear？　The　devil　himself　could　scarcely　'scape　from　such　danger　clear。　In　sooth；　if　I　were　only　in　safety　by　the　Rhine；　Long　might　remain　this　maiden　free　from　all　suit　of　mine。〃　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。

Stanza　464…483。　Then　was　the　strength　of　Brunhild　to　each　beholder　shown。　Into　the　ring　by　th'　effort　of　panting　knights　a　stone　Was　borne　of　weight　enormous；　massy　and　large　and　round。　It　strain'd　twelve　brawny　champions　to　heave　it　to　the　ground。

This　would　she　cast　at　all　times　when　she　had　hurl'd　the　spear；　The　sight　the　bold　Burgundians　fill'd　with　care　and　fear。　Quoth　Hagan；　〃she's　a　darling　to　lie　by　Gunther's　side。　Better　the　foul　fiend　take　her　to　serve　him　as　a　bride。〃

Her　sleeve　back　turn'd　the　maiden；　and　bar'd　her　arm　of　snow；　Her　heavy　shield　she　handled；　and　brandished　to　and　fro　High　o'er　her　head　the　jav'lin；　thus　began　the　strife。　Bold　as　they　were；　the　strangers　each　trembled　for　his　life；

And　had　not　then　to　help　him　come　Siegfried　to　his　side；　At　once　by　that　grim　maiden　had　good　King　Gunther　died。　Unseen　up　went　he　to　him；　unseen　he　touch'd　his　hand。　His　trains　bewilder'd　Gunther　was　slow　to　understand。

〃Who　was　it　just　now　touch'd　me？〃　thought　he　and　star'd　around　To　see　who　could　be　near　him；　not　a　soul　he　found。　Said　th'　other；　〃I　am　Siegfried；　thy　trusty　friend　and　true；　Be　not　in　fear　a　moment　for　all　the　queen　can　do。〃

Said　he；　〃off　with　the　buckler　and　give　it　me　to　bear；　Now；　what　I　shall　advise　thee；　mark　with　thy　closest　care。　Be　it　thine　to　make　the　gestures；　and　mine　the　work　to　do。〃　Glad　man　was　then　king　Gunther；　when　he　his　helpmate　knew。

〃But　all　my　trains　keep　secret；　thus　for　us　both　'twere　best；　Else　this　o'erweening　maiden；　be　sure；　will　never　rest；　Till　her　grudge　against　thee　to　full　effect　she　bring。　See　where　she　stands　to　face　thee　so　sternly　in　the　ring！〃

With　all　her　strength　the　jav'lin　the　forceful　maiden　threw。　It　came　upon　the　buckler　massy；　broad；　and　new；　That　in　his　hand　unshaken；　the　son　of　Sieglind　bore。　Sparks　from　the　steel　came　streaming；　as　if　the　breeze　before。

Right　through　the　groaning　buckler　the　spear　tempestuous　broke；　Fire　from　the　mail…links　sparkled　beneath　the　thund'ring　stroke；　Those　two　mighty　champions　stagger'd　from　side　to　side；　But　for　the　wondrous　cloud…cloak　both　on　the　spot　had　died。

From　the　mouth　of　Siegfried　burst　the　gushing　blood；　Soon　he　again　sprung　forward；　straight　snatch'd　the　hero　good　The　spear　that　through　his　buckler　she　just　had　hurl'd　amain；　And　sent　it　at　its　mistress　in　thunder　back　again。

Thought　he　〃't　were　sure　a　pity　so　fair　a　maid　to　slay；〃　So　he　revers'd　the　jav'lin；　and　turn'd　the　point　away。　Yet；　with　the　butt　end　foremost；　so　forceful　was　the　throw；　That　the　sore…smitten　damsel　totter'd　to　and　fro。

From　her　mail　fire　sparkled　as　driven　before　the　blast；　With　such　huge　strength　the　jav'lin　by　Sieglind's　son　was　cast；　That　'gainst　the　furious　impulse　she　could　no　longer　stand。　A　stroke　so　sturdy　never　could　come　from　Gunther's　hand。

Up　in　a　trice　she　started；　and　straight　her　silence　broke；　〃Noble　knight；　Sir　Gunther；　'thank　thee　for　the　stroke。〃　She　thought　't　was　Gunther's　manhood　had　laid　her　on　the　lea；　No！　It　was　not　he　had　fell'd　her；　but　a　mightier　far　than　he。

Then　turn'd　aside　the　maiden；　angry　was　her　mood；　On　high　the　stone　she　lifted　rugged　and　round　and　rude；　And　brandish'd　it　with　fury；　and　far　before　her　flung；　Then　bounded　quick　behind　it；　that　loud　her　armour　rung。

Twelve　fathoms'　length　or　better　the　mighty　mass　was　thrown；　But　the　maiden　bounded　further　than　the　stone。　To　where　the　stone　was　lying　Siegfried　fleetly　flew　Gunther　did　but　lift　it；　th'　Unseen　it　was；　who　threw。

Bold；　tall；　and　strong　was　Siegfried；　the　first　all　knights　among；　He　threw　the　stone　far　further；　behind　it　further　sprung。　His　wondrous　arts　had　made　him　so　more　than　mortal　strong；　That　with　him　as　he　bounded；　he　bore　the　king　along。

The　leap　was　seen　of　all　men；　there　lay　as　plain　the　stone；　But　seen　was　no　one　near　it；　save　Gunther　all　alone。　Brunhild　was　red　with　anger；　quick　came　her　panting　breath；　Siegfried　has　rescued　Gunther　that　day　from　certain　death。

Then　all　aloud　fair　Brunhild　bespake　her　courtier　band；　Seeing　in　the　ring　at　distance　unharm'd　her　wooer　stand；　〃Hither；　my　men　and　kinsmen：　low　to　my　better　bow；　I　am　no　more　your　mistress；　you're　Gunther's　liegemen　now。〃

Down　cast　the　noble　warriors　their　weapons　hastily；　And　lowly　kneel'd　to　Gunther　the　king　of　Burgundy。　To　him　as　to　their　sovran　was　kingly　homage　done；　Whose　manhood；　as　they　fancied；　the　mighty　match　had　won。

He　fair　the　chiefs　saluted　bending　with　gracious　look；　Then　by　the　hand　the　maiden　her　conquering　suitor　took；　And　granted　him　to　govern　the　land　with　sovran　sway；　Whereat　the　warlike　nobles　were　joyous　all　and　gay。


Upon　the　return　to　Worms　the　double　marriage　feast　is　celebratedthe　weddings　of　Gunther　and　Brunhild；　of　Siegfried　and　Kriemhild。　A　second　time　is　Gunther　compelled　to　ask　the　help　of　Siegfried　in　conquering　Brunhild；　who　again　thinks　that　Gunther　is　the　conqueror。　From　this　second　struggle　Siegfried　carries　away　Brunhild's　ring　and　girdle；　which　he　gives　to　Kriemhild。　　Siegfried　and　Kriemhild　depart　to　his　country；　and　not　until　after　ten　years　do　they　visit　again　the　court　of　Gunther。　At　the　festival　given　in　honor　of　this　visit；　the　two　queens；　looking　on　at　the　knightly　games；　fall　into　a　bitter　quarrel　concerning　the　prowess　of　their　husbands。　Kriemhild　boasts　to　Brunhild　that　it　was　Siegfried　and　not　Gunther　who　overcame　her　in　both　struggles。　To　prove　her　taunt　she　shows　the　girdle　and　ring。　Brunhild　is　thrown　into　violent　anger　by　the　insult　and　desires　only　vengeance　upon　Siegfried　and　Kriemhild。　Hagen；　the　most　valiant　of　Gunther's　vassals；　takes　up　her　cause；　and　seeks　opportunity　to　kill　Siegfried。　　A　war　against　the　Saxons　is　declared；　in　which　Siegfried　offers　to　assist　Gunther。　On　the　eve　of　the　departure　to　battle；　Hagen　visits　Kriemhild。　She　begs　him　to　protect　Siegfried；　and　tells　him　the　story　of　her　husband's　one　vulnerable　spotwhen　Siegfried　had　killed　the　dragon；　he　bathed　in　its　blood；　and　was　rendered　invulnerable；　except　in　one　spot；　where　a　lime　leaf　fell　between　his　shoulders。　This　spot　the　dragon　blood　did　not　touch。　　Kriemhild　promises　to　mark　this　spot　with　a　silken　cross；　that　Hagen　may　the　better　protect　her　husband。　The　next　morning　the　excursion　against　the　Saxons　is　withdrawn；　and　the　heroes　conclude　to　go　on　a　hunting　party。


THE　HUNTING　AND　THE　DEATH　OF　SIEGFRIED。　Stanzas　944…958。

Gunther　and　Hagan；　the　warriors　fierce　and　bold；　To　execute　their　treason；　resolved　to　scour　the　wold。　The　bear；　the　boar；　the　wild　bull；　by　hill　or　dale　or　fen；　To　hunt　with　keen…edg'd　javelins；　what　fitter　sport　for　valiant　men？

In　lordly　pomp　rode　with　them　Siegfried　the　champion　strong。　Good　store　of　costly　viands　they　brought　with　them　along。　Anon　by　a　cool　runnel　he　lost　his　guiltless　fife。　'T　was　so　devis'd　by　Brunhild；　King　Gunther's　moody　wife。

But　first　he　sought　the　chamber　where　he　his　lady　found。　He　and　his　friends　already　had　on　the　sumpters　bound　Their　gorgeous　hunting　raiment；　they　o'er　the　Rhine　would　go。　Never　before　was　Kriemhild　sunk　so　deep　in　woe。

On　her　mouth　of　roses　he　kiss'd　his　lady　dear；　〃God