the nibelungenlied, or song of the nibelungs, was written about the beginning of the thirteenth century although it relates events dating back to the sixth or seventh. some authorities claim it consists of twenty songs of various dates and origin, others that it is the work of a single author. the latter ascribe the poem to conrad von kürenberg, wolfram von eschenbach, heinrich von ofterdingen, or walther von der vogelweide. the poem is divided into thirty-nine "adventures," and contains two thousand four hundred and fifty-nine stanzas of four lines each. the action covers a period of about thirty years and is based on materials taken from the frankish, burgundian, austro-gothic, and hunnish saga cycles.
dietrich von bern, one of the characters, is supposed to be theodoric of italy, while etzel has been identified with attila the hun, and the gunther with a king of the burgundians who was destroyed with all his followers by the huns in 436.
1st adventure. three burgundian princes dwell at worms on the rhine, where, at the time when the poem opens their sister kriemhild is favored by a vision wherein two eagles pursue a falcon and tear it to pieces when it seeks refuge on her breast.
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 as this perforce to see.[30]
knowing her mother expert at interpreting dreams, kriemhild inquires what this means, only to learn that her future spouse will be attacked by grim foes. this note of tragedy, heard already in the very beginning of the poem, is repeated at intervals until it seems like the reiterated tolling of a funeral bell. 2d adventure. the poem now transfers us to xanten on the rhine, where king siegmund and his wife hold a tournament for the coming of age of their only son siegfried, who distinguishes himself greatly and in whose behalf his mother lavishes rich gifts upon all present.
the gorgeous feast it lasted till the seventh day was o'er;
siegelind the wealthy did as they did of yore;
she won for valiant siegfried the hearts of young and old
when for his sake among them she shower'd the ruddy gold.
3d adventure. hearing of the beauty of kriemhild, siegfried decides to go and woo her, taking with him only a troop of eleven men. his arrival at worms causes a sensation, and hagen of tronje—a cousin of king gunther—informs his master that this visitor once distinguished himself by slaying a dragon and that he is owner of the vast nibelungen hoard. this treasure once belonged to two brothers, who implored siegfried to divide it between them, a task he undertook in exchange for the sword—balmung—which lay on top of the heap of gold. but no sooner had he made the division than the brothers mortally wounded each other and died on their heaps of gold, leaving their treasure to siegfried, who thus became the richest man in the world.
on hearing the new-comer announce he has come to challenge gunther to a duel, the burgundians are dismayed, but they soon succeed in disarming their guest, and finally persuade him to remain with them a year, entertaining him with games and tournaments in which siegfried distinguished himself greatly, to the satisfaction of kriemhild who witnesses his prowess through a latticed window.
4th adventure. toward the end of siegfried's visit, it is reported that the kings of saxony and denmark are advancing with four thousand men. the dismay of the burgundians is such that siegfried proposes to go forth and overpower the enemy with a force of merely one thousand men. only too glad to accept this offer, gunther allows siegfried to depart, and is overjoyed when the young hero comes back with two prisoner monarchs in his train. the messenger who announces siegfried's triumph is, moreover, richly rewarded by kriemhild, who flushes with pleasure on hearing the praise bestowed upon her hero.
5th adventure. after describing the tournament held at worms in honor of this victory, the poet tells us how siegfried and kriemhild met there face to face, and how they fell in love with each other at first sight.
now went she forth, the loveliest, as forth the morning goes
from misty clouds out-beaming; then all his weary woes
left him, in heart who bore her, and so, long time, had done.
he saw there stately standing the fair, the peerless one.
the result was of course an immediate proposal, which gunther was glad to accept in his sister's name.
6th adventure. he bargained, however, that before siegfried claimed his bride he should go with him to isenland, and help him win the hand of brunhild, the finest woman in the world. gunther needs siegfried's help in his wooing, because brunhild has vowed to marry only the man who can throw a spear and stone farther than she and surpass her in jumping. siegfried, who apparently possesses some knowledge of this lady, vainly tries to dissuade gunther, and, when he decides to accompany him in his quest, suggests that hagen and another knight form their train. kriemhild provides the travellers with suitable garments, made by her own hands, and the four embark on a small vessel, in which they sail down the rhine and out to sea, reaching isenland only twelve days after their start. as they near this land, siegfried strictly charges his companions to tell every one he is gunther's vassal, and immediately begins to act as if such were indeed his real station.
7th adventure. gazing out of her window, brunhild perceives the approaching ship, and, recognizing within it siegfried,—who visited her realm once before,—her heart beats with joy at the thought that he has come to woo her. she is, however, amazed to see him hold gunther's stirrup when they land, and to learn it is the king of burgundy who sues for her hand. in her disappointment brunhild grimly warns the new-comer that, unless he prove successful, he and his men must die.
"he must cast the stone beyond me, and after it must leap,
then with me shoot the javelin; too quick a pace you keep;
stop and awhile consider, and reckon well the cost,"
the warrioress made answer, "ere life and fame be lost."
undeterred by this threat, gunther volunteers to undergo the test, but he quails when he sees the heavy spear which brunhild brandishes and when he perceives that twelve men stagger beneath the weight she proposes to throw. he is, however, somewhat reassured when siegfried whispers he need but go through the motions, while his friend, concealed by the tarncappe,—the cloak of invisibility which endows the wearer with the strength of twelve men,—will perform the required feats in his behalf.
said he, "off with the buckler and give it me to bear,
now, what i shall advise thee, mark with thy closest care.
be it thine to make the gestures, and mine the work to do."
glad man was then king gunther, when he his helpmate knew.
in the first test brunhild casts a spear with such force that both gunther and his invisible companion stagger and nearly fall, but, just as she is about to cry victory, siegfried sends back the spear butt-end foremost and brings her to her knees. veiling her dismay at this first defeat, brunhild hurls the stone to a great distance and lands beside it with a flying leap. in gunther's place the invisible siegfried hurls the same stone much farther than brunhild, and seizing gunther by his belt jumps with him to the spot where it alighted. having thus been outdone in all three feats of strength, brunhild no longer refuses her hand to gunther, who appears triumphant, although his prospective bride looks strangely solemn and angry.
8th adventure. because brunhild summons to her castle a large number of warriors, under pretext of celebrating her nuptials, siegfried sails off unseen to the land of the nibelungs, where he batters at his castle gate demanding admittance. as the wary dwarf guardian of the nibelung hoard refuses to admit him, siegfried fights him and after conquering him compels him to recognize his authority. then he bids a thousand nibelung warriors accompany him back to isenland, and brunhild, seeing this force approaching and learning from gunther it is part of his suite, no longer dares to resist.
9th adventure. the fair bride, escorted by all these men, now sails across the sea and up the rhine. as they near burgundy, gunther decides to send word of their arrival, and persuades siegfried to act as his messenger by assuring him he will earn kriemhild's gratitude.
said he, "nay, gentle siegfried, do but this journey take,
not for my sake only, but for my sister's sake.
you'll oblige fair kriemhild in this as well as me."
when so implor'd was siegfried, ready at once was he.
10th adventure. not only does siegfried receive the fair lady's hearty thanks, but he acts as her escort when she hastens down to the bank to welcome her brother and his bride. the poem then describes the kissing, speeches, and grand tournament held to welcome brunhild, as well as the banquet where siegfried publicly reminds gunther he promised him kriemhild's hand as soon as brunhild was won. exclaiming this promise shall immediately be redeemed, gunther sends for his sister, although his new wife openly wonders he should bestow her hand upon a mere vassal. silencing his bride's objections, gunther confers kriemhild's hand upon siegfried, and thus two bridal couples sit side by side at the evening meal.
the hour having come for retiring, gunther, attempting to embrace his bride, is dismayed to find himself seized, bound fast, and hung up on a peg, where he dangles all night in spite of piteous entreaties to be set free. it is only a moment before the servants enter on the morrow that brunhild consents to release her spouse, so when the bridegrooms appear in public, everybody notices that while siegfried is radiant, gunther's brow is clouded by a heavy frown. in course of the day, the king of burgundy confides to his new brother-in-law the cause of his displeasure, whereupon siegfried promises to don his cloud cloak that evening and compel gunther's bride to treat her husband henceforth with due respect. true to this promise, siegfried, unseen, follows gunther and brunhild into their apartment that night, and, the lights having been extinguished, wrestles with the bride until she acknowledges herself beaten. although fancying she is yielding to gunther, it is siegfried who snatches her girdle and ring before leaving gunther to reap the benefit of his victory, for brunhild, having submitted to a man, loses her former fabulous strength. meanwhile siegfried returns to kriemhild, imprudently relates how he has been occupied, and bestows upon her the girdle and ring.
11th adventure. the wedding festivities finished, siegfried returns to xanten with his bride, who is escorted thither by her faithful henchman ekkewart, who has vowed to follow her wherever she goes. siegfried's parents not only receive the bride cordially, but relinquish their throne to the young couple, who live together most happily and are overjoyed at the advent of a son.
12th adventure. twelve whole years elapse ere brunhild asks gunther how it happens his vassal siegfried has never yet come to worms to do homage? although gunther now assures his wife siegfried is a king in his own right, she nevertheless insists her brother-in-law and his wife should be invited to worms, a suggestion which gunther is only too glad to carry out.
13th adventure. overjoyed at the prospect of revisiting the scene of their courtship, siegfried and kriemhild return to worms, leaving their infant son at home, but taking with them siegfried's father who has recently lost his wife. to honor her sister-in-law, brunhild welcomes kriemhild with the same state that heralded her own entrance at worms. banquets and tournaments also take place, whereat the two queens try to outshine each other. one day, while sitting together extolling their husband's virtues, a quarrel arises, during which brunhild curtly informs kriemhild her husband can scarcely be as great as she pretends, seeing he is merely gunther's vassal!
14th adventure. of course kriemhild hotly denies this, and, when brunhild insists, declares she will prove her husband's superiority by claiming precedence at the church door. instigated by wrath, both ladies deck themselves magnificently and arrive simultaneously to attend mass, escorted by imposing trains. seeing kriemhild make a motion as if to enter first, brunhild bids her pause, and the two ladies begin an exchange of uncomplimentary remarks. in the heat of the quarrel, kriemhild insinuates that brunhild granted siegfried bridal favors, and in proof thereof exhibits brunhild's girdle and ring! brunhild immediately sends for gunther, who, helpless between two angry women, summons siegfried. bluntly declaring wives should be kept in order, siegfried undertakes to discipline kriemhild, provided gunther will reduce brunhild to subjection, and publicly swears he never approached the burgundian queen in any unseemly way. in spite of this public apology, brunhild refuses to be comforted, and, as her husband utterly refuses to take active measures to avenge her, she finally prevails upon her kinsman hagen to take up her quarrel. under the mistaken impression that she has been grievously wronged by siegfried, hagen urges gunther to attack his brother-in-law, until the weak king yields to the pressure thus brought to bear by his angry wife and kinsman.
none urged the matter further, except that hagen still
kept ever prompting gunther the guiltless blood to spill;
saying, that, if siegfried perish'd, his death to him would bring
the sway o'er many a kingdom. sore mourn'd the wavering king.
15th adventure. a cunning plan is now devised by hagen whereby siegfried is informed that the monarchs he once conquered have again risen up in rebellion. of course siegfried volunteers to subdue them once more, and kriemhild, hearing he is about to start for war, expresses great anxiety for his safety. under pretext of sympathy, hagen inquires why kriemhild feels any dread, seeing her husband is invulnerable, and learns the secret that siegfried can be injured in a spot between his shoulders, because a lime-leaf, sticking fast there, prevented the dragon's blood from touching that spot.[31]
"so now i'll tell the secret, dear friend, alone to thee
(for thou, i doubt not, cousin, will keep thy faith with me),
where sword may pierce my darling, and death sit on the thrust,
see, in thy truth and honor how full, how firm my trust!"
under pretext of protecting this vulnerable point, hagen persuades kriemhild to embroider a cross on her husband's garment over the fatal spot. then, sure now of triumphing over this dreaded foe, he feigns the kings have sent word they will submit, and proposes that instead of fighting they all go hunting in the odenwald.
16th adventure. troubled by strange presentiments, kriemhild tries to prevent siegfried from going to the chase, but, laughing at her fears, he departs joyfully, although he is never to see her again. after describing the game slain in the course of this day's hunt, the poet declares siegfried captured a live bear and playfully let it loose in amp, to the horror of his fellow hunters. then, feeling thirsty, siegfried loudly began to call for drink, and, discovering that owing to a mistake the wine has been conveyed to another part of the forest, proposes that he, gunther, and hagen should race to a neighboring spring, undertaking to perform the feat in full armor while his companions run in light undress. although handicapped, siegfried arrives first, but courteously steps aside to allow gunther to take a drink, pretending he wishes to remove his armor before quenching his thirst. but, when he, in his turn, stoops over the fountain, hagen, after slyly removing his weapons out of his reach, steals up behind him and runs a spear into the very spot where the embroidered cross shines on his doublet. mortally wounded, siegfried turns, and, grasping his shield, hurls it at the traitor with such force that he dashes it to pieces.
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 ta'en vengeance with that stroke.
sinking to the ground after this effort, siegfried expends his last breath in beseeching gunther to watch over his wife. gazing down at the corpse, gunther, afraid to acknowledge so dastardly a deed, suggests they spread the report that siegfried was slain by brigands while hunting alone in the forest. hagen, however, proud of his feat does not intend to subscribe to this project, and plots further villainy while following the body back to worms.
17th adventure. the funeral train arriving there at midnight, hagen directs the bearers to lay siegfried's body at kriemhild's door, so that she may stumble over it when she comes out at dawn on her way to mass. on perceiving that the dead body over which she has fallen is that of her beloved spouse, kriemhild faints, while her women raise a mournful cry.
roused from his slumbers by the terrible news, old siegmund joins the mourners, and he and the nibelung knights carry the body to the minster, where kriemhild insists all those who took part in the hunt shall file past it, for she hopes thereby to detect her husband's murderer. (mediaeval tradition averred that a dead man's wounds bled whenever his murderer drew near.) because siegfried's wounds drop blood at hagen's touch, kriemhild publicly denounces him as her husband's slayer.
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 hagen tell.
but, instead of showing remorse, hagen boldly proclaims he merely did his duty when he slew the man who cast a slur upon the honor of his queen.
18th adventure. having laid his beloved son to rest, old siegmund returns home, after vainly urging kriemhild to leave the place where siegfried is buried and return to her son, for, although kriemhild's mother and brothers try to show her every mark of sympathy, brunhild reveals no pity.
meanwhile sat misproud brunhild in haughtiness uncheck'd;
of kriemhild's tears and sorrows her it nothing reck'd.
she pitied not the mourner; she stoop'd not to the low.
soon kriemhild took full vengeance, and woe repaid with woe.
19th adventure. three years elapse before hagen suggests to gunther that his sister send for the nibelung hoard which was given her on her marriage. intending to employ it to buy masses and avengers for siegfried, kriemhild gladly consents, and we are told twelve wagons travelled four nights and days to convey the store of gold from the nibelung castle to the sea, whence it was carried to kriemhild at worms. with such a treasure at her disposal, the widowed queen proceeds to win so many adherents that hagen, deeming this gold may prove dangerous, advises her brothers to take possession of it. no sooner have they done so than, fearing lest they may restore it to kriemhild, hagen buries it in the rhine, telling none but his masters in what place it is hidden.
20th adventure. having lost his first wife, etzel, king of hungary, now deems it advisable to marry again and secure an heir to his realm. as no other woman seems so fitted for so exalted a station as kriemhild, etzel sends his chief nobleman, rudiger, to worms with his proposal. after tarrying a few days on the way with his wife and daughter, this ambassador hurries to worms, where he is welcomed by hagen, who had formerly spent several years as a hostage at etzel's court. rudiger having made his errand known, gunther beseeches three days' time to ascertain his sister's wishes. flattered by the prospect of such an alliance, gunther hopes kriemhild will accept etzel's proposal, but hagen rejoins that should she secure such powerful allies, she might in time punish them for siegfried's death. at first the widowed kriemhild refuses to listen to etzel's offers, but, when rudiger swears to her past or future ills, she suddenly announces her consent.
then swore to her sir rudiger and all his knightly train
to serve her ever truly, and all her rights maintain,
nor e'er of her due honors scant her in etzel's land.
thereto gave the good margrave th' assurance of his hand.
then thought the faithful mourner, "with such a host of friends
now the poor lonely widow may work her secret ends,
nor care for what reflections the world on her may cast.
what if my lost beloved i may revenge at last?"
then, still escorted by the faithful ekkewart and carrying off with her the small portion of the nibelungen treasure which she still retains, kriemhild starts out for hungary.
21st adventure. the three burgundian princes escort their sister to the danube and, taking leave of her there, allow her to proceed with rudiger to passau, where her uncle, bishop pilgrin, gives her a warm welcome. thence the travellers proceed to rudiger's castle, where his wife and daughter entertain their future queen, who bestows upon them costly treasures. resuming her journey, kriemhild is now met on all sides by the ovations of her future subjects.
22d adventure. when etzel and his chief noblemen finally meet her, kriemhild courteously kisses her future spouse, as well as the men whom he points out as worthy of such distinction. among these is dietrich of bern, one of the heroes of the poem, and it is under his escort that the king and queen of hungary proceed to vienna, where their marriage festivities last seventeen days.
23d adventure. seven years elapse, and, although kriemhild has a son by etzel, she still grieves for siegfried and continually broods over her wrongs. one day she suddenly suggests that king etzel invite her kinsmen to hungary, and, when he consents, gives special instructions to the bards who bear the message to make sure that hagen accompanies her brothers.
24th adventure. after fourteen days' journey the minstrels reach worms and deliver their message. all are in favor of accepting this invitation save hagen, who remarks that such friendliness seems suspicious. when his master retorts a guilty conscience harbors fear, hagen stoutly avers he is ready to serve as guide, suggesting, however, that they journey fully armed, with an escort of a thousand men, so as to cope with treachery should such occur.
"turn, while there's time for safety, turn, warriors most and least;
for this, and for this only, you're bidden to the feast,
that you perforce may perish in etzel's bloody land.
whoever rideth thither, death has he close at hand."
25th adventure. dismissed with the old queen's blessing, the burgundians leave brunhild and her son in charge of a steward, and set out. as they are now sole possessors of the great nibelung hoard, the poet terms them nibelungs in the remainder of his work. under the guidance of hagen, who alone knows the way, the party reaches the banks of the danube, where, finding no vessels to ferry them across, hagen bids them wait until he provide means of transportation. walking down the river, he surprises three swan-maidens bathing, and by capturing their garments induces them to predict the future. although one promises him all manner of pleasant things to recover her plumes, her companions, having secured theirs, warn hagen that none but the priest will return safely to burgundy, and inform him that he can secure a boat by assuring the ferry-man on the opposite bank that his name is amalung.
thanks to this hint, hagen induces the ferry-man to cross the river and springs into his boat, before the man, discovering the trick, attacks him with his oar. forced to defend himself, hagen slays the ferry-man, takes possession of his boat, and then proceeds to convey relays of the burgundian army across the river. during his last trip, perceiving the chaplain on board and wishing to give the lie to the swan-maidens' prophecy, hagen flings the priest into the water; but the long ecclesiastical garments buoy up their wearer and enable him to regain the bank which he has just left, whence he makes his way back to burgundy. on perceiving the priest's escape, hagen realizes none of the rest will return, so grimly destroys the boat as soon as he is through with it. then he directs his friends to ride onward, leaving him to guard their rear, for he knows the boatman's friends will pursue and attack them.
26th adventure. although hagen's apprehensions are soon justified, the burgundians fight so bravely that their assailants are defeated. a little farther on they find a man sleeping by the roadside, and discover it is ekkewart, lying in wait to warn them that kriemhild cherishes evil intentions. but, undeterred by this warning also, the burgundians continue their journey, and visit bishop pilgrin and rudiger on their way.
27th adventure. while at rudiger's,—where the ladies welcome all save hagen with a kiss, and where the host lavishes gifts upon his guests,—hagen suggests that a marriage be arranged between giseler, the youngest burgundian prince, and rudiger's daughter. in compliance with this suggestion, a formal betrothal takes place.
then had the bride and bridegroom within a ring to stand,
for such was then the custom; a merry stripling band
encircled the fair couple, and gaz'd on them their fill,
and thought the while as idly as think young people still.
this ceremony over, rudiger prepares to guide the burgundians to etzel's court, where kriemhild is rejoicing to think they will soon appear.
28th adventure. so patent are kriemhild's evil intentions, that dietrich of bern and his faithful henchman hildebrand also caution the burgundians to be on their guard. this second warning impresses the visitors, who at hagen's suggestion announce they will retain their weapons for three days. when they arrive at the palace, kriemhild cordially embraces her youngest brother, but refuses the same welcome to the two others, and grimly asks hagen whether he has brought her gold. when he bluntly rejoins her treasures will remain in the rhine until doomsday, she abruptly turns her back upon him, and invites the rest to enter the palace, leaving their arms at the door. thereupon hagen announces his masters have vowed to spend the next three days in arms, a measure which dietrich openly approves, informing kriemhild to her very face that he is sure she means no good.
29th adventure. although the three royal brothers accompany kriemhild into the palace, hagen lingers at the door, and, inviting the minstrel volker to sit on the bench beside him, confides to him his fears, entreating him to stand by him, and promising to do the same in his behalf should the need occur.
"tell me now, friend volker, will you stand me by,
if these men of kriemhild's would my mettle try?
show me, if you love me, faithful friend and true!
and when you need my service i'll do as much for you."
on seeing her foe so close at hand, kriemhild summons four hundred warriors, and bids them attack hagen, for at present he is the only one against whom she has sinister designs. to prove to the men that hagen is guilty, she offers to meet and question her foe in their presence. on seeing her coming, volker suggests they rise in token of respect, but hagen grimly rejoins kriemhild would merely take such politeness as a proof of weakness. instead of rising, he therefore ostentatiously lays siegfried's sword across his lap. after taunting hagen with slaying her husband,—a charge he does not deny,—kriemhild orders her men to slay him, but a single glance of his fiery eyes sends them back cringing, and the queen cannot prevail upon them to renew the attack. seeing this, volker and hagen boldly join their friends in the banquet-hall, where etzel—who is depicted as an inoffensive, unsuspicious old man—cordially bids them welcome.
30th adventure. on their way to their sleeping quarters that night, the burgundians are jostled by some huns, who, instigated by kriemhild, are evidently seeking to provoke a quarrel. in spite of their efforts, however, the burgundians reach their dormitory in safety, where hagen and volker watch all night at the door to guard against surprise. it is well for them they do so, because at midnight kriemhild dispatches a force to attack them, but again the huns shrink away appalled on meeting hagen's menacing glance.
31st adventure. at dawn the burgundians, still fully armed, march off to church, and after service proceed with the king and queen to view a tournament held in their honor. in these games rudiger and dietrich both refuse to take part, lest an accident should occur. their previsions are justified, for, when volker inadvertently slays a hun, kriemhild loudly clamors for vengeance, although her husband implores that peace be maintained. fomented by kriemhild's secret efforts, such bad feelings have arisen among the huns against their guests, that etzel's own brother finally undertakes to compass their death. meantime the old king, having invited the burgundians to a banquet, is surprised to see the princes arrive fully armed, but tries to show his friendship by promising they shall bring up his son.
32d adventure. while the burgundians are banqueting with the king of hungary, their men are resting in the hall where they slept, under the charge of dankwart, hagen's brother. there they are suddenly attacked by some huns, and, although they manage to slay most of their first assailants, the deaths they deal kindle lasting animosity in the breast of the rest of the huns. new forces therefore press into the hall, until all the burgundians are slain, save dankwart, who, cutting his way through the enemy's serried ranks, rushes into the hall where his brother is feasting, and reports what has occurred.
"be stirring, brother hagen, you're sitting all too long.
to you and god in heaven our deadly strait i plain;
yeomen and knights together lie in their quarters slain."
33d adventure. no sooner has this cry reached his ear, than hagen, whipping out his sword, cuts off the head of etzel's child, which bounces into its mother's lap. then, calling to his brother to prevent any escape, hagen shears off the hand of the minstrel who invited them to hungary, before he begins slashing right and left. paralyzed by the sight of their headless son, etzel and kriemhild sit immovable on their thrones, while hagen despatches volker to help dankwart guard the door, and bids his masters make use of their weapons while they may. although the burgundians now slay ruthlessly, mindful of the kindness shown by dietrich and rudiger they refrain from attacking them or their men. when these noblemen therefore beg permission to pass out safely with their friends, their request is unquestionably granted. grasping the king and queen by the hand, dietrich then leads them out of the hall, closely followed by rudiger and their respective men, while the burgundians continue the massacre until not a living foe is left in the hall.
34th adventure. weary of slaughter, the burgundians now sit down for a moment to rest, but, finding the presence of so many corpses distasteful, they fling seven hundred victims down the steps, those who are merely wounded being killed by the fall. the huns, who come to pick up their dead, now set up so loud and persistent a cry for revenge, that their monarch is compelled to prepare a force to oust the burgundians from his banquet-hall. seeing the aged monarch himself advance at the head of the troops, hagen, who guards the door, loudly jeers at him, whereupon kriemhild offers an immense reward to any one who will bring her his head.
35th adventure. the first to try to earn this guerdon is a dane, who not only succeeds in entering the hall but in effecting a retreat. when, emboldened by this first success, he advances a second time with a new force, he is killed as well as his men.
36th adventure. after a second brief rest, the burgundians prepare to meet a new assault directed by kriemhild, whose wrath now involves all her kinsmen, although at first she meditated the death of hagen alone. the murder of his child has incensed even etzel, and the huns plan a general massacre to avenge their slain. although the burgundians offer to meet etzel's forces in fair fight provided they can return home unmolested if victorious, kriemhild urges her husband to refuse unless hagen is delivered up to their tender mercies. deeming it dishonorable to forsake a companion, the burgundians reject these terms, whereupon kriemhild, whose fury has reached a frantic point, orders the hall set on fire.
although the queen fancies the burgundians will be roasted alive, the hall being built of stone offers them a place of refuge, and, as they quench in blood all the sparks that enter, they succeed in maintaining their position.
'twas well for the burgundians that vaulted was the roof;
this was, in all their danger, the more to their behoof.
only about the windows from fire they suffer'd sore.
still, as their spirit impell'd them, themselves they bravely bore.
the intensity of the heat causes such thirst, however, that hagen bids his companions quench that too in the blood of the slain. thus, six hundred burgundians are found alive when a new hungarian force bursts into the hall.
37th adventure. having failed in this third attempt, kriemhild reminds rudiger of his solemn oath, and bids him redeem his promise by slaying the burgundians. although this nobleman pleads with the queen, offering instead to relinquish all he owns and leave her land a beggar, she insists upon his obedience to her commands. fully armed, rudiger, therefore, finally marches toward the hall and, arriving at the foot of the staircase, explains his position to the burgundians. knowing his generosity, hagen, whose shield has been cut to pieces, begs for the one rudiger carries, and, after receiving it, declares he will give a good account of himself before he yields. the signal for battle is then given and rudiger and his men enter the hall, where, after many have fallen on both sides, gernot, one of kriemhild's brothers, and rudiger slay each other.
38th adventure. a new batch of corpses having been flung down stairs, such a lament arises among the huns that dietrich of bern inquires what it may mean. on learning that rudiger has been slain, dietrich bids hildebrand go and claim his corpse, but, instead of acting merely as ambassador, this warrior first bandies words with volker and then slays him. seeing this, hagen drives him down the stairs, and discovers that all the burgundians have now been slain, and that he and gunther alone remain alive in the hall. meantime hildebrand having reported to dietrich all that has occurred, this chief, hearing most of his men have perished, sallies forth to avenge them.
39th adventure. on approaching the hall, dietrich summons hagen and gunther to surrender, promising to use his influence to secure their safe return home; but the two burgundians, feeling sure kriemhild will show no mercy, refuse to yield. a duel, therefore, takes place between dietrich and the exhausted hagen, in the course of which, by means of a sudden feint, dietrich seizes and binds his foe. then, leading him to kriemhild, he implores her to be merciful to this prisoner, while he returns to secure gunther also.
"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."
while dietrich is securing gunther in the same way, the queen, left alone with hagen, again demands her treasures. hagen rejoins that, having promised never to reveal their hiding-place as long as his lords live, he cannot reveal the secret to her. hearing this statement, kriemhild, whose cruelty now knows no bounds, orders gunther—her last brother—slain, and herself carries his head to hagen, as proof there is no more reason for guarding the secret. proudly informing her, since it now depends upon him alone, it will remain secret forever, hagen so exasperates kriemhild that, drawing from its scabbard the sword which once belonged to siegfried, she hews off her prisoner's head with one revengeful stroke! although neither her husband nor hildebrand have been quick enough to forestall this crime, the latter is so exasperated by kriemhild's cruelty that he now slays her in his turn.
hildebrand the aged, fierce on kriemhild sprung;
to the death he smote her as his sword he swung.
sudden and remorseless he his wrath did wreak.
what could then avail her her fearful thrilling shriek!
it is, therefore, in the presence of her corpse that dietrich and
etzel utter the loud lament with which the nibelungenlied closes.
there is, however, another poem called the nibelungenklage, or the lament of the nibelungs, wherein etzel, dietrich, hildebrand, bishop pilgrin, and the rest utter successive laments over the slain. then the spoil of the burgundians is sent back to worms, where these lamentations are continued, each mourner reciting the deeds of the man whose fate he bewails. this poem is, however, greatly inferior to the real nibelungenlied, and was evidently not composed by the same bard.
"'tis more than i can tell you what afterward befell,
save that there was weeping for friends belov'd so well
knights and squires, dames and damsels, were seen lamenting all.
so here i end my story. this is the nibelungers' fall."
