That I the noble maiden / with my own eyes may see,
Whom I do love so dearly / and have for many a day?
To me is she a stranger, / which sorely grieves my heart to say."
137
Whene'er the kings so mighty / rode o'er their broad domain,
Then of valiant warriors / they took a stately train.
With them abroad rode Siegfried, / which grieved those ladies sore:
—He too for one fair maiden / at heart a mickle burden bore.
138
Thus with his hosts he lingered /—'tis every tittle true—
In King Gunther's country / a year completely through,
And never once the meanwhile / the lovely maid did see,
Through whom such joy thereafter / for him, and eke such grief should be.
FOURTH ADVENTURE
How Siegfried fought with the Saxons
139
Now come wondrous tidings / to King Gunther's land,
By messengers brought hither / from far upon command
Of knights unknown who harbored / against him secret hate.
When there was heard the story, / at heart in sooth the grief was great.
140
Of these I now will tell you: / There was King Luedeger
From out the land of Saxons, / a mighty warrior,
And eke from land of Denmark / Luedegast the king:
Whene'er they rode to battle / went they with mighty following.
141
Come were now their messengers / to the land of Burgundy,
Sent forth by these foemen / in proud hostility.
Then asked they of the strangers / what tidings they did bring:
And when they heard it, straightway / led them to court before the king.
142
Then spake to them King Gunther: / "A welcome, on my word.
Who 'tis that send you hither, / that have I not yet heard:
Now shall ye let me know it," / spake the monarch keen.
Then dreaded they full sorely / to see King Gunther's angry mien.
143
"Wilt them, O king, permit us / the tidings straight to tell
That we now have brought thee, / no whit will we conceal,
But name thee both our masters / who us have hither sent:
Luedegast and Luedeger, /—to waste thy land is their intent.
144
"Their hate hast thou incurréd, / and thou shalt know in sooth
That high enraged against thee / are the monarchs both.
Their hosts they will lead hither / to Worms upon the Rhine;
They're helped by thanes full many—/ of this put off all doubts of thine.
145
"Within weeks a dozen / their march will they begin;
And if thy friends be valiant, / let that full quick be seen,
To help thee keep in safety / thy castles and thy land:
Full many a shield and helmet / shall here be cleft by warrior's hand.
146
"Or wilt thou with them parley, / so let it quick be known,
Before their hosts so mighty / of warlike men come down
To Worms upon Rhine river / sad havoc here to make,
Whereby must death most certain / many a gallant knight o'ertake."
147
"Bide ye now the meanwhile," / the king did answer kind,
"Till I take better counsel; / then shall ye know my mind.
Have I yet warriors faithful, / from these I'll naught conceal,
But to my friends I'll straightway / these warlike tidings strange reveal."
148
The lordly Gunther wondered / thereat and troubled sore,
As he the message pondered / in heart and brooded o'er.
He sent to fetch grim Hagen / and others of his men,
And bade likewise in hurry / to court bring hither Gernot then.
149
Thus at his word his trusted / advisers straight attend.
He spake: "Our land to harry / foes all unknown will send
Of men a mighty army; / a grievous wrong is this.
Small cause have we e'er given / that they should wish us aught amiss."
150
"Our swords ward such things from us," / Gernot then said;
"Since but the fated dieth, / so let all such lie dead.
Wherefore I'll e'er remember / what honor asks of me:
Whoe'er hath hate against us / shall ever here right welcome be."
151
Then spake the doughty Hagen: / "Methinks 'twould scarce be good;
Luedegast and Luedeger / are men of wrathful mood.
Help can we never summon, / the days are now so few."
So spake the keen old warrior, / "'Twere well Siegfried the tidings knew."
152
The messengers in the borough / were harbored well the while,
And though their sight was hateful, / in hospitable style
As his own guests to tend them / King Gunther gave command,
Till 'mongst his friends he learnéd / who by him in his need would stand.
153
The king was filled with sorrow / and his heart was sad.
Then saw his mournful visage / a knight to help full glad,
Who could not well imagine / what 'twas that grieved him so.
Then begged he of King Gunther / the tale of this his grief to know.
154
"To me it is great wonder," / said Siegfried to the king,
"How thou of late hast changéd / to silent sorrowing
The joyous ways that ever / with us thy wont have been."
Then unto him gave answer / Gunther the full stately thane:
155
"'Tis not to every person / I can the burden say
That ever now in secret / upon my heart doth weigh:
To well-tried friends and steady / are told our inmost woes."
—Siegfried at first was pallid, / but soon his blood like fire up-rose.
156
He spake unto the monarch: / "To thee I've naught denied.
All ills