song and legend from the middle ages-第16部分

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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　the　stroke　had　fall'n　on　me！〃

Firmly　they　made　denial；　Kriemhild　at　once　replied；　〃Whoe'er　in　this　is　guiltless；　let　him　this　proof　abide。　In　sight　of　all　the　people　let　him　approach　the　bier；　And　so　to　each　beholder　shall　the　plain　truth　appear。〃

It　is　a　mighty　marvel；　which　oft　e'en　now　we　spy；　That　when　the　blood…stain'd　murderer　comes　to　the　murder'd　nigh；　The　wounds　break　out　a…bleeding；　then　too　the　same　befell；　And　thus　could　each　beholder　the　guilt　of　Hagan　tell。

The　wounds　at　once　burst　streaming　fast　as　they　did　before；　Those；　who　then　sorrow'd　deeply；　now　yet　lamented　more。　Then　outspake　king　Gunther；　〃I　give　you　here　to　know；　He　was　slain　by　robbers；　Hagan　struck　ne'er　a　blow。〃

〃Ay！　well　know　I　those　robbers；〃　his　widow'd　sister　said；　〃By　the　hands　of　his　true　comrades　may　God　revenge　the　dead！　False　Gunther；　and　false　Hagan！　't　was　you；　your　friend　that　slew。〃　Thereat　the　knights　of　Siegfried　grip'd　to　their　swords　anew。


After　the　burial　of　Siegfried；　Kriemhild　decides　to　remain　at　the　court　of　Gunther；　in　the　care　of　her　brothers。　Thither　is　brought　the　enormous　treasures　of　the　Niebelungen；　which　Siegfried　had　won；　and　of　which　he　had　been　the　guardian；　and　which　now　fell　to　Kriemhild。　The　crafty　Hagen　gains　possession　of　this　horde；　and　conceals　it　by　sinking　it　in　the　Rhine；　hoping　some　day　to　recover　and　enjoy　it。　For　thirteen　years　Kriemhild　remains　at　the　court　of　her　brother；　brooding　over　her　wrongs　and　meditating　revenge。　　The　second　part　of　the　poem　begins　by　telling　how　Etzel；　king　of　the　Hung；　proposed　for　the　hand　of　the　widowed　Kriemhild；　and　how　she　finally；　hoping　to　use　him　in　her　plan　of　vengeance；　conlsents　to　a　marriage　with　him　and　goes　away　with　him　into　his　land。　Here　for　many　years　she　lives　the　beloved　queen　of　the　Huns。　But　her　purpose　of　vengeance　never　falters；　and　at　last　she　persuades　Etzel　to　invite　her　brothers　to　his　court　on　a　visit。　Against　many　forebodings　and　warnings　they　come；　Hagen　with　them。　After　numerous　interesting　episodes　upon　the　journey；　they　arrive　at　Etzell's　court　and　are　handsomely　welcomed。　But　the　inevitable　quarrel　soon　breaks　out　and　a　desperate　fight　begins。　After　a　most　desperate　and　bloody　struggle；　Gunther；　Hagen；　and　a　few　followers　are　shut　up　in　a　hall。　To　this　Kriemhild　sets　fire。


THE　BURNING　OF　THE　HALL。　Stanza；　2l86…2194。

With　that；　the　wife　of　Etzel　had　set　the　hall　on　fire。　How　sore　then　were　they　tortur'd　in　burning　anguish　dire！　At　once；　as　the　wind　freshen'd；　the　house　was　in　a　glow。　Never；　I　ween；　were　mortals　in　such　extremes　of　woe。

〃We　all　are　lost　together；〃　each　to　his　neighbour　cried；　〃It　had　been　far　better　we　had　in　battle　died。　Now　God　have　mercy　on　us！　woe　for　this　fiery　pain！　Ah！　what　a　monstrous　vengeance　the　bloody　queen　has　ta'en！〃

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。〃

Thereat　outspake　Sir　Hagan；　the　noble　knight　and　good；　〃Let　each；　by　thirst　tormented；　take　here　a　draught　of　blood。　In　such　a　heat；　believe　me；　't　is　better　far　than　wine。　Nought's　for　the　time　so　fitting；　such　counsel；　friends；　is　mine。〃

With　that　straight　went　a　warrior；　where　a　warm　corpse　he　found。　On　the　dead　down　knelt　he；　his　helmet　he　unbound；　Then　greedily　began　he　to　drink　the　flowing　blood。　However　unaccustom'd；　it　seem'd　him　passing　good。

〃Now　God　requite　thee；　Hagan；〃　the　weary　warrior　cried；　〃For　such　refreshing　beverage　by　your　advice　supplied。　It　has　been　my　lot　but　seldom　to　drink　of　better　wine。　For　life　am　I　thy　servant　for　this　fair　hint　of　thine。〃

When　th'　others　heard　and　witness'd　with　that　delight　he　quaff'd；　Yet　many　more　among　them　drank　too　the　bloody　draught。　It　strung　again　their　sinews；　and　failing　strength　renew'd。　This　in　her　lover's　person　many　a　fair　lady　rued。

Into　the　hall　upon　them　the　fire…flakes　thickly　fell；　These　with　their　shields　they　warded　warily　and　well。　With　smoke　and　heat　together　they　were　tormented　sore。　Never；　I　ween；　good　warriors　such　burning　anguish　bore。

Through　smoke　and　flame　cried　Hagan；　〃stand　close　against　the　wall；　Let　not　the　burning　ashes　on　your　helm…laces　fall。　Into　the　blood　yet　deeper　tread　every　fiery　flake。　In　sooth；　this　feast　of　Kriemhild's　is　ghastly　merry…make。〃

One　by　one　the　champions　fall；　until　only　Hagen　and　Gunther；　exhausted　with　fighting；　are　left　to　contend　with　Dietrich；　the　most　Valisntof　Etzel's　vassals。　The　conclusion　of　the　poem　tells　of　the　fate　of　Hagen；　Gunther；　and　Kriemhild。


THE　FALL　OF　THE　NIEBELUNGEN。　Stanza　2428…2459。

Well　knew　the　noble　Dietrich　how　fierce　and　fell　a　knight　Was　standing　now　against　him；　so　warily　the　fight　'Gainst　those　tempestuous　swordstrokes　wag'd　the　good　lord　of　Bern。　The　strength　and　skill　of　Hagan　he　had　not　now　to　learn。

He　fear'd　too；　mighty　Balmung　as　down　it　swept　amain；　Yet　at　times　Sir　Dietrich　with　craft　would　strike　again；　Till　that　to　sink　before　him　he　brought　his　foeman　strong；　A　fearful　wound；　he　gave　him　that　was　both　deep　and　long。

Sir　Dietrich　then　bethought　him；　〃thou'rt　faint　and　ill　bestead　I　should　win　little　worship；　were　I　to　strike　thee　dead。　I'll　make　a　different　trial；　if　thou　can'st　now　be　won　By　main　force　for　a　pris'ner。〃　With　wary　heed　't　was　done。

Down　he　threw　his　buckler；　wondrous　was　his　might；　He　his　arms　resistless　threw　round　Trony's　knight。　So　was　by　his　stronger　the　main　of　strength　subdued。　Thereat　the　noble　Gunther　remain'd　in　mournful　mood。

His　vanquish'd　foe　Sir　Dietrich　bound　in　a　mighty　band；　And　led　him　thence　to　Kriemhild；　and　gave　into　her　hand　The　best　and　boldest　champion　that　broadsword　ever　bore。　She　after　all　her　anguish　felt　comfort　all　the　more。

For　joy　the　queen　inclin'd　her　before　the　welcome　guest；　〃Sir　knight　I　in　mind　and　body　heaven　keep　thee　ever　blest！　By　thee　all　my　long　sorrows　are　shut　up　in　delight。　Even　if　death　prevent　not；　thy　service　I'll　requite。〃

〃Fair　and　noble　Kriemhild；〃　thus　Sir　Dietrich　spake；　〃Spare　this　captive　warrior；　who　full　amends　will　make　For　all　his　past　transgressions；　him　here　in　bonds　you　see；　Revenge　not　on　the　fetter'd　th'　offences　of　the　free。〃

With　that　she　had　Sir　Hagan　to　durance　led　away；　Where　no　one　could　behold　him；　where　under　lock　he　lay。　Meanwhile　the　fierce　king　Gunther　shouted　loud　and　strong；　〃Whither　is　gone　the　Berner？　he　hath　done　me　grievous　wrong。〃

Straight；　at　the　call；　to　meet　him　Sir　Dietrich　swiftly　went。　Huge　was　the　strength　of　Gunther；　and　deadly　his　intent。　There　he　no　longer　dallied；　from　th'　hall　he　forward　ran；　Sword　clash'd　with　sword　together；　as　man　confronted　man。

Howe'er　renown'd　was　Dietrich；　and　train'd　in　combat　well；　Yet　Gunther　fought　against　him　so　furious　and　so　fell；　And　bore　him　hate　so　deadly；　now　friendless　left　and　lone；　It　seemed　past　all　conceiving；　how　Dietrich　held　his　own。

Both　were　of　mighty　puissance；　and　neither　yielded　ground；　Palace　and　airy　turret　rung　with　their　strokes　around；　As　their　swift　swords　descending　their　temper'd　helmets　hew'd　Well　there　the　proud　king　Gunther　display'd　his　manly　mood。

Yet　him　subdued　the　Berner；　as　Hagan　erst　befell；　Seen　was　the　blood　of　the　warrior　forth　through　his　mail　to　well　Beneath　the　fatal　weapon　that　Dietrich　bore　in　fright。　Tir'd　as　he　was；　still　Gunther　had　kept　him　like　a　knight。

So　now　at　length　the　champion　was　bound　by　Dietrich　there；　How　ill　soe'er　it　fitteth　a　king　such　bonds　to　bear。　Gunther　and　his　fierce　liegeman　if　he　had　left　unbound；　He　ween'd　they'd　deal　destruction　on　all；　whome'er　they　found。

Then　by　the　hand　Sir　Dietrich　took　the　champion　good。　And　in　his　bonds　thence　led　him　to　where　fair　Kriemhild　stood。　She　cried；　〃thou'rt　welcome；　Gunther；　hero　of　Burgundy。〃　〃Now　God　requite　you；　Kriemhild；　if　you　speak　lovingly。〃

Said　he；　〃I　much　should　thank　you；　and　justly；　sister　dear；　If　true　affection　prompted　the　greeting　which　I　hear；　But；　knowing　your　fierce　temper；　proud　queen；　too　well　I　see；　Such　greeting　is　a　mocking　of　Hagan　and　of　me。〃

Then　said　the　noble　Berner；　〃high…descended　dame；　Ne'er　have　been　brought　to　bondage　knights　of　such　peerless　fame；　As　those；　whom　you；　fair　lady；　now　from　your　servant　take。　Grant　these　forlorn　and　friendless　fair　treatment　for　my　sake。〃

She　said　she　fain　would　do　so；　then　from　the　captive　pair　With　weeping　eyes　Sir　Dietrich　retir'd　and　left　them　there。　Straight　a　bloody　vengeance　wreak'd　Etzell's　furious　wife　On　those　redoubted　chanapions；　and　both　bereft　of　life。

In　dark　and　dismal　durance　them　kept　apart　the　queen；　So　that　from　that　hour　neither　was　by　the　other　seen；　Till　that　at　last　to　Hagan　her　brother's　head　she　bore。　On　both　she　took　with　vengeance　as　tongue　ne'er　told　before。

To　the　cell　of　Hagan　eagerly　she　went；　Thus　the　knight　bespake　she；　ah！　with　what　fell　intent！　〃Wilt　thou　but　return　me　what　thou　from　me　hast　ta'en；　Back　thou　may'st　go　living　to　Burgundy　again。〃

Then　spake　grim…visag'd　Hagan；　〃you　throw　away　your　prayer；　High…descended　lady；　I　took　an　oath　whilere；　That；　while　my　lords　were　living；　or　of　them　only　one；　I'd　ne'er　point　out　the　treasure；　thus　't　will　be　given　to　none。〃

Well　knew　the　subtle　Hagan；　she　ne'er　would　let　him　'scape。　Ah！　when　did　ever　falsehood　assume　so　foul　a　shape？　He　fear'd；　that；　soon　as　ever　the　queen　his　life　had　ta'en；　She　then　would　send　her　brother　to　Rhineland　back　again。

〃I'll　make　an　end；　and　quickly；〃　Kriemhild　fiercely　spake。　Her　brother's　life　straight　had　she　in　his　dungeon　take。　Off　his　head　was　smitten；　she　bore　it　by　the　hair　To　the　lord　of　Trony；　such　sight　he　well　could　spare。

A　while　in　gloomy　sorrow　he　view'd　his　master's　head；　Then　to　remorseless　Kriemhild　thus　the　warrior　said；　〃E'en　to　thy　wish　this　business　thou　to　an　end　hast　brought；　To　such　an　end；　moreover；　as　Hagan　ever　thought。

Now　the　brave　king　Gunther　of　Burgundy　is　dead　Young　Giselher　and　eke　Gernot　alike　with　him　are　sped；　So　now；　where　lies　the　treasure；　none　knows　save　God　and　me；　And　told　shall　it　be　never；