The Nibelungenlied Part 68

When now the chants were over, the crowd would wend away.

Then spake the sobbing Kriemhild, "Ah! leave me not, I pray, This night alone to sorrow, and watch th' unheeding dead.

With him, my own beloved, all my joys lie withered.

LV

"Three nights, three days, I'll keep him, and gaze upon him still, Till of the dearly dear one I thus have had my fill.

What if G.o.d be willing that me, too, death should seize?

Then well at once were ended poor Kriemhild's miseries."

LVI

The people of the city went home as darkness fell; The priests and monks attendant, and all the train, who well Had serv'd the champion living, fair Kriemhild begg'd to stay.

Their night was full of sorrow, of dreariment their day.

LVII

Many of the woful mourners nor meat nor drink would taste, But for all such as needed at hand was ready plac'd Good store of each provision; this Siegmund took in hand.

There mickle toil awaited the Nibelungers' band.

LVIII

For three whole days together, as we have heard men say, Whoe'er had skill in singing, on them hard labor lay.

Sore were their hearts afflicted, as for the soul they pray'd Of that redoubted champion, who there a corpse was laid.

LIX

There, too, the poor and needy, who of his own had nought, In hand, by Kriemhild furnish'd, a golden offering brought From Siegfried's proper treasure; when his body lifeless lay, Marks full many a thousand for his soul were given away.

LX

Landed rents and revenues she scatter'd wide around, Wherever sacred convents and holy men were found, And to the poor gave silver and clothes in plenteous store.

She proved by all her actions what love to him she bore.

LXI

On the third morn when duly the ma.s.s was to be sung, With country folk all weeping (such grief their bosoms wrung) The churchyard of the minster was fill'd from end to end.

Each wail'd the dead, each sorrow'd as for his dearest friend.

LXII

In four days successive were scattered 'mongst the poor Marks some thirty thousand for Siegfried's soul, or more.

To the good knight such honor his friends desir'd to pay, When his life was brought to nothing, and his beauty pa.s.sed away.

LXIII

The singing now was over, G.o.d had been serv'd as due; Then with o'ermastering sorrow strove that empa.s.sion'd crew.

Next to the grave they brought him from out the minster near.

One weeping, one wild wailing was then alone to hear.

LXIV

Loud shrieking, mov'd the people around the bearers slow; None there, nor man nor woman, but wore one face of woe.

'Twas sung; 'twas said, as fitted, ere he in ground was laid.

Ah! what good priests to Siegfried the last sad duties paid!

LXV

Ere to the grave advancing his own true lady came, Her sense-o'erpowering sorrow so shook her wasted frame, That oft was need to sprinkle her from the cool-springing well.

Boundless was her distraction; the like no tongue can tell.

LXVI

'Twas strange, such utter anguish dislodged not the frail life.

With eager haste to help her flock'd many a wailing wife.

Then spake the queen, "Ye warriors! My murder'd Siegfried's best, By your love to your master grant me this last request.

LXVII

"Let me have one small pleasure 'mid pains so manifold; The stately head of Siegfried I would once more behold."

She begg'd so long, so wailful, that less they could not do Than force the coffin open, and give the corpse to view.

LXVIII

So thither they led the lady, where lay the clay-cold dead.

With her fine snowy fingers she rais'd his stately head, And kiss'd him lifeless lying; long bending there she stood; Her fair eyes for anguish wept o'er him tears of blood.

LXIX

How woful was their parting! Borne was she thence away, Walk she could no longer; insensible she lay Through bitterness of sorrow, so lovely and so still, As if Death would have smitten, yet wanted heart to kill.

LXX

When now the n.o.ble champion was duly laid in ground, O'erwhelm'd with boundless sorrow the valiant chiefs were found, That from the land of Nibelung had come with him erewhile; King Siegmund too thereafter was seldom seen to smile.