song and legend from the middle ages-第15部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


er　before　was　Kriemhild　sunk　so　deep　in　woe。

On　her　mouth　of　roses　he　kiss'd　his　lady　dear；　〃God　grant　me；　dame；　returning　in　health　to　see　thee　here；　So　may　those　eyes　see　me　too；　meanwhile　be　blithe　and　gay　Among　thy　gentle　kinsmen；　I　must　hence　away。〃

Then　thought　she　on　the　secret　（the　truth　she　durst　not　tell）　How　she　had　told　it　Hagan；　then　the　poor　lady　fell　To　wailing　and　lamenting　that　ever　she　was　born。　Then　wept　she　without　measure；　sobbing　and　sorrow…worn。

She　thus　bespake　her　husband；　〃Give　up　that　chace　of　thine。　I　dreamt　last　night　of　evil；　how　two　fierce　forest　swine　Over　the　heath　pursued　thee；　the　flowers　turn'd　bloody　red。　I　cannot　help　thus　weeping；　I'm　chill'd　with　mortal　dread。

I　fear　some　secret　treason；　and　cannot　lose　thee　hence；　Lest　malice　should　be　borne　thee　from　misconceiv'd　offence。　Stay；　my　beloved　Siegfried；　take　not　my　words　amiss。　'T　is　the　true　love　I　bear　thee　that　bids　me　counsel　this。〃

〃Back　shall　I　be　shortly；　my　own　beloved　mate。　Not　a　soul　in　Rhineland　know　I；　who　bears　me　hate。　I'm　well　with　all　thy　kinsmen；　they're　all　my　firm　allies；　Nor　have　I　from　any　e'er　deserv'd　otherwise。〃

〃Nay！　do　not；　dearest　Siegfried！　't　is　e'en　thy　death　I　dread。　Last　night　I　dreamt；　two　mountains　fell　thundering　on　thy　head；　And　I　no　more　beheld　thee；　if　thou　from　me　wilt　go；　My　heart　will　sure　be　breaking　with　bitterness　of　woe。〃

Round　her　peerless　body　his　clasping　arms　he　threw；　Lovingly　he　kiss'd　her；　that　faithful　wife　and　true；　Then　took　his　leave；　and　parted；in　a　moment　all　was　o'er　Living；　alas　poor　lady！　she　saw　him　never　more。


In　the　chase　Siegfried　prefers　to　hunt　with　a　single　limehound。　But　he　achieves　most　marvelous　feats　of　skill　and　strength。


Stanzas　962…971。　All；　that　the　limehound　started；　anon　with　mighty　hand　Were　slain　by　noble　Siegfried　the　chief　of　Netherland。　No　beast　could　there　outrun　him；　so　swift　is　steed　could　race；　He　won　from　all　high　praises　for　mastery　in　the　chace。

Whatever　he　attempted；　he　went　the　best　before。　The　first　beast　he　encounter'd　was　a　fierce　half…bred　boar。　Him　with　a　mighty　death…stroke　he　stretch'd　upon　the　ground；　Just　after　in　a　thicket　a　lion　huge　he　found。

Him　the　limehound　started；　his　bow　Sir　Siegfried　drew；　With　a　keen…headed　arrow　he　shot　the　lion　through。　But　three　faint　bounds　thereafter　the　dying　monster　made。　His　wond'ring　fellow…huntsmen　thanks　to　Sir　Siegfried　paid。

Then　one　upon　another　a　buffalo；　an　elk　He　slew；　four　strong　ureoxen；　and　last　a　savage　shelk。　No　beast；　how　swift　soever；　could　leave　his　steed　behind；　Scarcely　their　speed　could　profit　the　flying　hart　or　hind　　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　They　heard　then　all　about　them；　throughout　those　forest　grounds；　Such　shouting　and　such　baying　of　huntsmen　and　of　hounds；　That　hill　and　wood　re…echoed　with　the　wild　uproar。　Th'　attendants　had　uncoupled　four　and　twenty　dogs　or　more。

Then　full　many　a　monster　was　doom'd　his　last　to　groan。　They　thought　with　glad　expectance　to　challenge　for　their　own　The　praise　for　the　best　hunting；　but　lower　sunk　their　pride；　When　to　the　tryst…fire　shortly　they　saw　Sir　Siegfried　ride。

The　hunting　now　was　over　for　the　most　part　at　least；　Game　was　brought　in　plenty　and　skins　of　many　a　beast　To　the　place　of　meeting；　and　laid　the　hearth　before。　Ah！　to　the　busy　kitchen　what　full　supplies　they　bore！　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。

The　chase　being　done；　the　hunters　are　summoned　to　a　feast　in　a　neighboring　glade。　Here；　though　they　are　served　with　a　profusion　of　sumptuous　viands；　there　is；　according　to　Hagen's　plot；　no　wine　to　drink。　When；　toward　the　end　of　the　meal　Siegfried　is　tormented　with　thirst；　Hagen　tells　him　of　a　cool　runnel　near　by　under　a　linden；　and　proposes　that　he　and　Gunther　and　Siegfried　shall　try　a　race　to　this　brook。　Siegfried　gaily　consents；　and　boasts　that　he　will　run　with　all　his　clothing　and　his　weapons　upon　him。


Stanzas　1005…1029。　King　Gunther　and　Sir　Hagan　to　strip　were　nothing　slow；　Both　for　the　race　stood　ready　in　shirts　as　white　as　snow。　Long　bounds；　like　two　wild　panthers　o'er　the　grass　they　took；　But　seen　was　noble　Siegfried　before　them　at　the　brook。

Whate'er　he　did；　the　warrior　high　o'er　his　fellows　soar'd。　Now　laid　he　down　his　quiver；　and　quick　ungirt　his　sword。　Against；the　spreading　linden　he　lean'd　his　mighty　spear。　So　by　the　brook　stood　waiting　the　chief　without　a　peer。

In　every　lofty　virtue　none　with　Sir　Siegfried　vied。　Down　he　laid　his　buckler　by　the　water's　side。　For　all　the　thirst　that　parch'd　him；　one　drop　he　never　drank　Till　the　king　had　finished；　he　had　full　evil　thank。

Cool　was　the　little　runnel；　and　sparkled　clear　as　glass。　O'er　the　rill　king　Gunther　knelt　down　upon　the　grass。　When　he　his　draught　had　taken；　he　rose　and　stepp'd　aside。　Full　fain　alike　would　Siegfried　his　thirst　have　satisfied。

Dear　paid　he　for　his　courtesy；　his　bow；　his　matchless　blade；　His　weapons　all；　Sir　Hagan　far　from　their　lord　convey'd；　Then　back　sprung　to　the　linden　to　seize　his　ashen　spear；　And　to　find　out　the　token　survey'd　his　vesture　near；

Then；　as　to　drink　Sir　Siegfried　down　kneeling　there　he　found；　He　pierc'd　him　through　the　croslet；　that　sudden　from　the　wound　Forth　the　life…blood　spouted　e'en　o'er　his　murderer's　weed。　Never　more　will　warrior　dare　so　foul　a　deed。

Between　his　shoulders　sticking　he　left　the　deadly　spear。　Never　before　Sir　Hagan　so　fled　for　ghastly　fear；　As　from　the　matchless　champion　whom　he　had　butcher'd　there。　Soon　as　was　Sir　Siegfried　of　the　mortal　wound　aware；

Up　he　from　the　runnel　started；　as　he　were　wood　Out　from　betwixt　his　shoulders　his　own　hugh　boar…spear　stood。　He　thought　to　find　his　quiver　or　his　broadsword　true。　The　traitor　for　his　treason　had　then　receiv'd　his　due。

But；　ah！　the　deadly…wounded　nor　sword　nor　quiver　found；　His　shield　alone　beside　him　lay　there　upon　the　ground。　This　from　the　bank　he　lifted　and　straight　at　Hagan　ran；　Him　could　not　then　by　fleetness　escape　king　Gunther's　man。

E'en　to　the　death　though　wounded；　he　hurl'd　it　with　such　power；　That　the　whirling　buckler　scatter'd　wide　a　shower　Of　the　most　precious　jewels；　then　straight　in　shivers　broke。　Full　gladly　had　the　warrior　then　vengeance　with　that　stroke。

E'en　as　it　was；　his　manhood　fierce　Hagan　level'd　low。　Loud；　all　around；　the　meadow　rang　with　the　wondrous　blow。　Had　he　in　hand　good　Balmung；　the　murderer　he　had　slain。　His　wound　was　sore　upon　him；　he　writh'd　in　mortal　pain；

His　lively　colour　faded；　a　cloud　came　o'er　his　sight：　He　could　stand　no　longer；　melted　all　his　might；　In　his　paling　visage　the　mark　of　death　he　bore。　Soon　many　a　lovely　lady　sorrow'd　for　him　sore。

So　the　lord　of　Kriemhild　araong　the　flowerets　fell。　From　the　wound　fresh　gushing　his　heart's　blood　fast　did　well。　Then　thus　amidst　his　tortures；　e'en　with　his　failing　breath；　The　false　friends　he　upbraided　who　had　contriv'd　his　death。

Thus　spake　the　deadly…wounded；　〃Ay！　cowards　false　as　hell！　To　you　I　still　was　faithful；　I　serv'd　you　long　and　well；　But　what　boots　all？for　guerdon　treason　and　death　I've　won。　By　your　friends；　vile　traitors！　foully　have　you　done。

Whoever　shall　hereafter　from　your　loins　be　born；　Shall　take　from　such　vile　fathers　a　heritage　of　scorn。　On　me　you　have　wreak'd　malice　where　gratitude　was　due。　With　shame　shall　you　be　banish'd　by　all　good　knights　and　true。〃

Thither　ran　all　the　warriors　where　in　his　blood　he　lay。　To　many　of　that　party　sure　it　was　a　joyless　day。　Whoever　were　true　and　faithful；　they　sorrow'd　for　his　fall。　So　much　the　peerless　champion　had　merited　of　all。

With　them　the　false　king　Gunther　bewept　his　timeless　end。　Then　spake　the　deadly…wounded；　〃little　it　boots　your　friend　Yourself　to　plot　his　murder；　and　then　the　deed　deplore。　Such　is　a　shameful　sorrow；　better　at　once　it　were　o'er。〃

Then　spake　the　low'ring　Hagan；　〃I　know　not　why　you　moan。　Our　cares　all　and　suspicions　are　now　for　ever　flown。　Who　now　are　left；　against　us　who'll　dare　to　make　defence？　Well's　me；　for　all　this　weeping；　that　I　have　rid　him　hence。〃

〃Small　cause　hast　thou；〃　said　Siegfried；　〃to　glory　in　my　fate。　Had　I　ween'd　thy　friendship　cloak'd　such　murderous　hate；　From　such　as　thou　full　lightly　could　I　have　kept　my　life。　Now　grieve　I　but　for　Kriemhild；　my　dear；　my　widow'd　wife。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　　Then　further　spake　the　dying；　and　speaking　sigh'd　full　deep；　〃Oh　king！　if　thou　a　promise　with　any　one　wilt　keep；　Let　me　in　this　last　moment　thy　grace　and　favour　find　For　my　dear　love　and　lady；　the　wife　I　leave　behind。

Remember；　she's　thy　sister；　yield　her　a　sister's　right；　Guard　her　with　faith　and　honour；　as　thou'rt　a　king　and　knight。　My　father　and　my　followers　for　me　they　long　must　wait。　Comrade　ne'er　found　from　comrade　so　sorrowful　a　fate。〃

In　his　mortal　anguish　he　writh'd　him　to　and　fro；　And　then　said；　deadly　groaning；　〃this　foul　and　murderous　blow　Deep　will　ye　rue　hereafter；　this　for　sure　truth　retain；　That　in　slaying　Siegfried　you　yourselves　have　slain。〃

With　blood　were　all　bedabbled　the　flowerets　of　the　field。　Some　time　with　death　he　struggled；　as　though　he　scorn'd　to　yield　E'en　to　the　foe；　whose　weapon　strikes　down　the　loftiest　head。　At　last　prone　in　the　meadow　lay　mighty　Siegfried　dead。


They　carry　the　body　of　Siegfried　back　to　Worms；　and　lay　it　at　Kriemhild's　door。　Here　she　finding　it　next　morning。　She　has　it　carried　to　the　church　and　stands　by　it　while　the　heroes　come　to　view　it；　expecting　to　discover　the　murderer。


KRIEMHILD'S　TEST。　Stanza　1071…1078。

And　now　the　night　was　over；　forth　peep'd　the　morning　fair；　Straight　had　the　noble　lady　thence　to　the　minster　bear　The　matchless　champion　Siegfried；　her　husband　lov'd　so　dear。　All　her　friends　close　follow'd　with　many　a　sigh　and　tear。

When　they　the　minster　enter'd；　how　many　a　bell　was　rung！　How　many　a　priest　on　all　sides　the　mournful　requiem　sung！　Then　thither　with　his　meiny　came　Dancrat's　haughty　son；　And　thither　too　grim　Hagan；　it　had　been　better　left　undone。

Then　spoke　the　king；　〃dear　sister；　woe　worth　this　loss　of　thine！　Alas　that　such　misfortune　has　happ'd　to　me　and　mine！　For　sure　the　death　of　Siegfried　we　ever　both　must　rue。〃　〃Nay〃；　said　the　mournful　lady；　〃so　without　cause　you　do；

For　if　you　really　rued　it；　never　had　it　been。　I　know；　you　have　your　sister　forgotten　quite　and　clean；　So　I　and　my　beloved　were　parted　as　you　see。　Good　God！　would　he　had　granted