Song and Legend from the Middle Ages Part 13

[1] Cf. Morley's "English Writers." Vol. III., pp. 152-4.

1. The Frankish cycle contains the stories of Siegfried, the Sigurd of the Scandinavian tradition.

2. The Burgundian cycle contains King Gunther.

3. The Ostrogoth cycle contains Dietrich, Theodoric, and Hildebrand.

4. The Hungarian cycle, to which belongs Attila or Etzel, and Rudiger.

5. The Lombard cycle, to which belong King Rother, King Otnit, and Wolfdietrich.

6. The North Saxon cycle, to which belongs the tale of Gudrun.

The two most important of all the epics based upon these cycles are the Gudrun and the Niebelungenlied. The latter is the more comprehensive, national, and famous. It includes and unifies all the tales from the first four cycles of heroic legends.[1] The whole of German art, literature, and tradition is full of reflections of this poem. The best scholars.h.i.+p has concluded that the poem is not the work of a single author, but, like other folk epics, an edited collection of songs. The work was finished about 1190-1210. It consists of two greater parts, (1) the "Death of Siegfried" and (2) the "Vengeance of Kriemhild".

[1] See Kluge, "Geschichte der Deutschen National-Literature," p.

33.

From the "Niebelungenlied". The first song in the poem gives us Kriemhild's foreboding dream.

KRIEMHILD'S DREAM.

Stanzas 1-19.

In stories of our fathers high marvels we are told Of champions well approved in perils manifold.

Of feasts and merry meetings, of weeping and of wail, And deeds of gallant daring I'll tell you in my tale.

In Burgundy there flourish'd a maid so fair to see, That in all the world together a fairer could not be.

This maiden's name was Kriemhild; through her in dismal strife Full many a proudest warrior thereafter lost his life.

Many a fearless champion, as such well became, Woo'd the lovely lady; she from none had blame.

Matchless was her person, matchless was her mind.

This one maiden's virtue grac'd all womankind.

Three puissant Kings her guarded with all the care they might, Gunther and eke Gernot, each a redoubted knight, And Giselher the youthful, a chosen champion he; This lady was their sister, well lov'd of all the three.

They were high of lineage, thereto mild of mood, But in field and foray champions fierce and rude.

They rul'd a mighty kingdom, Burgundy by name; They wrought in Etzel's country deeds of deathless fame.

At Worms was their proud dwelling, the fair Rhine flowing by, There had they suit and service from haughtiest chivalry For broad lands and lords.h.i.+ps, and glorious was their state, Till wretchedly they perish'd by two n.o.ble ladies' hate.

Dame Uta was their mother, a queen both rich and sage; Their father hight Dancrat, who the fair heritage Left to his n.o.ble children when he his course had run; He too by deeds of knighthood in youth had wors.h.i.+p won.

Each of these three princes, as you have heard me say, Were men of mighty puissance. They had beneath their sway The n.o.blest knights for liegemen that ever dwelt on ground; For hardihood and prowess were none so high renown'd.

There was Hagan of Troy of a n.o.ble line, His brother nimble Dankwart, and the knight of Metz, Ortwine, Eckewart and Gary, the margraves stout in fight, Folker of Alzeia, full of manly might.

Rumolt the steward (a chosen knight was he), Sindolt, and Hunolt; these serv'd the brethren three, At their court discharging their several duties well; Besides, knights had they many whom now I cannot tell.

Dankwart was marshal to the king his lord, Ortwine of Metz, his nephew, was carver at the board, Sindolt he was butler, a champion choice and true, The chamberlain was Hunolt; they well their duties knew.

The gorgeous pomp and splendour, wherein these brethren reign'd, How well they tended knighthood, what wors.h.i.+p they attain'd, How they thro' life were merry, and mock'd at woe and bale-- Who'd seek all this to tell you, would never end his tale.

A dream was dreamt by Kriemhild the virtuous and the gay, How a wild young falcon she train'd for many a day, Till two fierce eagles tore it; to her there could not be In all the world such sorrow at this perforce to see.

To her mother Uta at once the dream she told,

But she the threatening future could only thus unfold; "The falcon that thou trainedst is sure a n.o.ble mate; G.o.d s.h.i.+eld him in his mercy, or thou must lose him straight."

"A mate for me? what say'st thou, dearest mother mine?

Ne'er to love, a.s.sure thee, my heart will I resign.

I'll live and die a maiden, and end as I began, Nor (let what else befall me) will suffer woe for man."

"Nay", said her anxious mother, "renounce not marriage so; Wouldst thou true heartfelt pleasure taste ever here below, Man's love alone can give it. Thou'rt fair as eye can see, A fitting mate G.o.d send thee, and nought will wanting be."

"No more," the maiden answer'd, "no more, dear mother, say; From many a woman's fortune this truth is clear 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 n.o.ble 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 s.h.i.+eld, 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 gra.s.s 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 s.h.i.+eld, 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?