The Nibelungenlied Part 67

x.x.xIX

When they the minster enter'd, how many a bell was rung!

How many a priest on all sides the mournful requiem sung!

Then thither with his meiny came Dankrat's haughty son, And thither too grim Hagan; it had been better left undone.

XL

Then spoke the king, "Dear sister, woe worth this loss of thine!

Alas that such misfortune has happ'd to me and mine!

For sure the death of Siegfried we ever both must rue."

"Nay," said the mournful lady, "so without cause you do,

XLI

"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 G.o.d! would he had granted the stroke had fall'n on me!"

XLII

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."

XLIII

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 to the same befell, And thus could each beholder the guilt of Hagan tell.

XLIV

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."

XLV

"Ay! well know I those robbers," his widow'd sister said; "By the hands of his true comrades may G.o.d revenge the dead!

False Gunther, and false Hagan! 'twas you, your friend that slew."

Thereat the knights of Siegfried gripp'd to their swords anew.

XLVI

This more distracted Kriemhild; when in her anxious pain Two friends she saw approaching to seek and mourn the slain, Gernot her good brother, and Giselher the young.

Their eyes were blind with weeping; true grief their bosoms wrung.

XLVII

They wept for Kriemhild's husband, and inly sorrowed too.

Ma.s.s now all would be singing; the doors they open threw, And straight into the minster both men and women press'd.

Those, who could well spare Siegfried, mourn'd for him with the rest.

XLVIII

Gernot then and Giselher thus spake, "My sister dear!

For this sad death take comfort, all must have sorrow here.

We'll do our best to help thee as long as we have life."

Yet could not they nor others console the widow'd wife.

XLIX

His coffin now was ready; it was about midday; From the bier he was lifted whereon till now he lay.

Yet would not his pale lady have him laid at once in ground.

His friends and faithful followers to further toil were bound.

L

In richest stuff, deep sighing, they wrapp'd the clay-cold dead.

Not one, I ween, was present, but bitter tears he shed.

Then wail'd the high-born Uta; deep teen in heart she bore; And all her dames lamented that Siegfried was no more.

LI

Soon as 'twas heard, the murder'd had now been laid in chest, And that the ma.s.s was singing, to church the people press'd.

For his soul what offerings were brought in all men's view!

E'en 'midst foes so deadly, friends had he firm and true.

LII

Then the wretched Kriemhild her chamberlains bespake, "Now must you toil and trouble suffer for my sake.

To those who honor'd Siegfried, and dear his widow hold, For the soul of the departed deal out his treasur'd gold."

LIII

No child, howe'er so little, just knowing wrong from right, But brought an offering thither; ere buried was the knight, At least a hundred ma.s.ses they sang the whole day long; Thither all friends of Siegfried's flock'd in, a numerous throng.

LIV