How Gunther Went to Woo Brunhild, XXXVI–LXX

Then said to her King Gunther, "Right noble sister mine, What I wish can never be but with help of thine. We'll to the land of Brunhild to take our pastime there, And must before the lady princely apparel wear."

Then spake the queen in answer, "Right loving brother mine, If ought I can will profit whatever end of thine, Depend on me to do it; thou'lt find me ready still. If any aught denied thee, 'twould please thy Kriemhild ill.

"Noble knight, thou should'st not, as doubting, ask and pray, But, as my lord and master, command, and I'll obey. Thou'lt find me, whatsoever thou hast in heart to do, Not more a loving sister than a servant true."

"Dearest sister Kriemhild, we must wear costly weed, And therewith to equip us thy snowy hand we need, And let thy maids their utmost upon the same bestow, For sure my purpos'd journey never will I forego."

Then spoke the noble virgin, "Mark now what I say; I've silk myself in plenty; on shields, as best you may, Precious stones bid bring us to work the clothes withal. Gunther and eke Siegfried bade bring them at her call.

"And who are the companions," ask'd the royal maid, "Who you to court will follow thus gorgeously array'd?" "We're four in all," he answer'd; "two of my men beside, Dankwart and Hagan, with us to court will ride.

"And, dame, mark well, I pray thee, what I have yet to say. Let each be well provided three changes every day, And for four days successive, and all be of the best; So back shall I wend homeward no scorn'd, dishonor'd guest."

So with kind dismissal away the warriors strode. Then quick the fair queen summon'd from bowers where they abode Thirty maids, her brother's purpose to fulfil, Who in works of the needle were the chief for craft and skill.

Silks from far Arabia, white as driven snow, And others from Zazamanc, green as grass doth grow, They deck'd with stones full precious; Kriemhild the garments plann'd, And cut them to just measure with her own lily hand.

Of the hides of foreign fishes were linings finely wrought; Such then were seen but rarely, and choice and precious thought; Fine silk was sewn above them to suit the wearers well. Now of the rich apparel hear me fresh marvels tell.

From the land of Morocco and from the Libyan coast The best silk and the finest e'er worn and valued most By kin of mightiest princes, of such had they good store. Well Kriemhild show'd the favor that she the wearers bore.

E'er since the chiefs were purpos'd the martial queen to win, In their sight was precious the goodly ermelin With coal-black spots besprinkled on whiter ground than snow, E'en now the pride of warriors at every festal show.

Many a stone full precious gleam'd from Arabian gold; That the women were not idle, scarcely need be told. Within seven weeks, now ready was the vesture bright, Ready too the weapons of each death-daring knight.

Now when all was ready, by the Rhine you might mark Built with skill and labor a stout though little bark, Wherein a-down the river to sea they were to go. To the noble maidens their toil brought mickle woe.

When now 'twas told the champions, that the vesture gay, Which they should carry with them, was ready for the way, And that nought impeded their firmly-fixed design, No longer would they tarry by the banks of Rhine.

So to their loving comrades a messenger was sent, That they the goodly vesture might see before they went, If it for the warriors too short were or too long. Much thanks they gave the women when found was nothing wrong.

Whomever met the warriors, all could not but admire; In all the world not any had seen such fair attire; At Brunhild's court 'twould surely become the wearers well. Of better knightly garments not a tongue could tell.

Much thank'd was each fair seamstress for her successful toil. Meanwhile, on point of parting for a far and dangerous soil, The warriors would of Kriemhild take leave in knightly wise, Whereat moist clouds of sorrow bedimm'd her sunbright eyes.

Said she, "Why thus, dear brother, to foreign regions run? Stay here and woo another; that were far better done, Than on so dire a venture to set your fame and life. You'll find among our neighbors a fairer, nobler wife."

Their hearts, I ween, foreboded what thence was to befall. How spake they ever boldly, sore wept they one and all. Their tears the gold o'ermoisten'd that on their breasts they wore; So thick they from their eyelids stream'd down upon the floor.

"To you," said she, "Sir Siegfried, at least may I resign, To your faith, to your honor, this brother dear of mine, That no mischance beset him in Brunhild's fatal land." Straight promis'd he the maiden, and clasp'd her clay-cold hand.

Then spake the loving champion, "Long as I have life, Dismiss the cares, fair lady, that in your breast are rife. I'll bring you back your brother safe and well a-pay'd; Take that for sure and certain." Low bow'd the thankful maid.

Their golden-color'd bucklers were borne down to the strand, With all their costly vesture, and softly led in hand Were their high-mettled chargers; they now would straight depart. Then many an eye was weeping, and throbbing many a heart.

Fair maids stood at the windows as they hoisted sail; The bark rock'd, and the canvas flapp'd with the fresh'ning gale. So on the Rhine were seated the comrades frank and free; Then said good King Gunther, "Who shall our steersman be?"

"I will," said noble Siegfried; "well all our course I know, Well the tides and currents how they shift and flow. Trust me, good knight, to pilot you and your company." So from Worms and Rhineland they parted joyously.

With that straight seiz'd Sir Siegfried a pole that lay at hand, And with strong effort straining 'gan push off from the strand; Gunther himself as ready took in hand an oar; So fell off the vessel and parted from the shore.

They had on board rich viands, thereto good store of wine, The best that could be met with e'en on the banks of Rhine. Their steeds in easy quarters stood tractable and still; The level bark ran smoothly; nothing with them went ill.

Their sail swell'd to the breezes, the ropes were stretch'd and tight; Miles they ran full twenty ere the fall of night. With a fair wind to seaward down dropp'd the gallant crew. Their dames had cause long after their high emprise to rue.

By the twelfth bright morning, as we have heard it told, The winds the bark had wafted with the warriors bold Towards Isenstein, a fortress in the martial maiden's land; 'Twas only known to Siegfried of all th' adventurous band.

Soon as saw King Gunther, wondering as well he might, The far-stretch'd coast, and castles frowning from every height, "Look! friend," said he, "Sir Siegfried, if thou know'st, declare, Whose are all these fair castles, and all this land as fair.

"In all my life, assure thee, the simple truth to tell, I never met with castles plann'd and built so well, Anywhere soever, as here before us stand. He must needs be mighty who took such work in hand."

Thereto made answer Siegfried: "Well what you ask I know. Brunhild's are all these castles, this land, so fair a show, And Isenstein this fortress; 'tis true what now I say. Here will you meet, Sir Gunther, many a fair dame to-day.

"I'll give you counsel, heroes! e'en as it seems me good; Keep in one tale together; be this well understood. To-day we must, as fits us, at Brunhild's court be seen; We must be wise and wary when we stand before the queen.

"When we behold the fair one and all her train around, Let but this single story in all your mouths be found. That Gunther is my master, and I am but his man; To give him all his longing you'll find no surer plan.

"'Tis not so much for thy sake, I own, such part I bear, As for thy sister Kriemhild's, the fairest of the fair. She to me is ever as my own soul and life. Fain do I such low service to win her for my wife."