How the Knights Went to Church, I–XXXV

"So cold I feel my hauberk," the minstrel said at last, "The night, I ween, friend Hagan, must needs be waning fast. The nipping air assures me that close at hand is day." Then wak'd they of their comrades who yet in slumber lay.

Then broke the gleam of morning on those within the hall. Straight began Sir Hagan to rouse the warriors all, If they would to the minster the early mass to hear. Meanwhile in Christian fashion the bells were ringing clear.

The chants were so discordant, thereby you well might see, That Christian men and heathen together ill agree. The valiant men of Gunther would thence to church away. From their beds they started; little linger'd they.

With that at once they laced them all in such gorgeous vests, That into no king's country had ever knightly guests Brought weed more fair and costly; ill did it Hagan please; "Here," said he, "are fitting for other clothes than these.

"My friends, what toils beset us, you all well understand; So for the rose, ye warriors, take the good sword in hand, And for the cap of jewels the morion beaming bright. Remember what fell Kriemhild devis'd but yesternight.

"To-day must we do battle, so I bid you well beware; For the soft silken tunic the clashing hauberk wear, And for the sumptuous mantle the buckler stout and wide, That, when they rage against ye, the brunt you well may bide.

"Give ear, my dearest masters, my kin and comrades too, Go to the church, and welcome, it fits you so to do, And wail to God in heaven your need, while you have breath, And know ye this for certain, that at our heels is death.

"Forget not then, moreover, if aught ye ill have done, And fervently for pardon pray, every mother's son; For this I warn you, warriors, nor hold these words for vain, Ne'er, but God show you mercy, mass will ye hear again."

Then went they to the minster, the princes and their band. Just at the holy churchyard bold Hagan bade them stand, And keep all well together, and thus bespake the crew. "Who knows, to us Burgundians what yonder Huns may do?

"Take heed, my friends, your bucklers bring down before your feet, And, if a soul our party in hostile guise should greet, Requite him with a death-stroke; so seems to Hagan right, So doing, will each among us be found as fits a knight."

Folker then and Hagan both together went And stood before the minster; 'twas done with this intent, That they might see if Kriemhild would stir the slumbering feud Passing contemptuous by them; right stern were both of mood.

And now came on King Etzel and eke his lady fair, Both, as their state befitted, in garments rich and rare, With crowds of knights all ready to do their high commands. Uprose the dust to heaven from Kriemhild's trampling bands;

When the king, advancing, so arm'd to point espied The kings and their bold vassals, how quick to them he cried, "What's this? my friends in armor marching thus along? In sooth, 'twould sore afflict me if they have suffer'd wrong.

"Amends I'll make, and gladly, as shall to them seem right; If any have put on them affront or foul despite, I'll show them, that such outrage I also inly rue, And all that they demand me, I ready am to do."

Then Hagan thus made answer, "Naught has to us been done; But my lords have a custom, till three whole days be run, When royal feasts they visit, their warlike arms to wear; All wrong that may be done us, to Etzel we'll declare."

Right well heard Lady Kriemhild what Trony's knight replied. How bitterly the warrior under her lids she eyed! Yet, though the truth well knowing as a Burgundian dame, She would not to her husband her country's use proclaim.

How deep soe'er and deadly the hate she bore her kin Still, had the truth by any disclos'd to Etzel been, He had at once prevented what afterward befell. Through proud contemptuous courage they scorn'd their wrongs to tell.

Then on went haughty Kriemhild girt with a mighty crowd, Yet swerve would not before her that pair of champions proud So much as e'en two hands'-breadth; that gall'd th' Hungarians sore. Perforce they press'd and jostled with the warriors through the door.

The chamberlains of Etzel therewith were ill content; They had straight the haughty strangers defied as in they went; But that they fear'd to do so their monarch's eyes before; Pressing enough and jostling there was, but nothing more.

When serv'd was God as fitted, and thence would every one, Straight into the saddle leapt many a warlike Hun; The while around fair Kriemhild many a bright maid was seen, And full seven thousand champions begirt the stately queen.

Queen Kriemhild and her ladies now at the windows sat With the wide-ruling Etzel; well pleas'd was he with that. They would survey the tourney where knights their prowess show'd Ah! what stranger warriors in the court before them rode!

Thither too the marshal was with the yeomen come; The redoubted Dankwart had muster'd, all and some, The followers of his master, the flower of Rhenish ground. For the bold Nibelungers well-saddled steeds were found.

Thither the kings came riding and with them many a man, When the good minstrel Folker to counsel this began, That they should joust together each in his country's mode. Thereafter in the tourney the chiefs full knightly rode.

What so the warrior counsell'd gave all who heard content. A mighty press and clatter uprose incontinent. Into the court's broad circuit prick'd many a mighty man. King Etzel and Queen Kriemhild now to look on began.

There came into the tourney six hundred warriors fleet, Retainers of Sir Dietrich, the stranger knights to meet. With the bold Burgundians they long'd a course to run. Had Dietrich but permitted fain would they so have done.

Ah! what good knights among them rein'd the proud battle-steed! To their good lord Sir Dietrich the news was brought with speed With Gunther's knights forbade he his knights a lance to cross, Naught from such game forboding but grief and deadly loss.

When now from out the tilt-yard the men of Bern were gone, Sir Rudeger's retainers before the hall came on, Five hundred from Bechlaren with shields and armor gay. Well had it pleas'd the margrave had they been far away.

Then he rode in his wisdom up to the muster'd band, And earnestly bespake them, and gave to understand, That Gunther's men were sullen and all on mischief bent; If they would quit the tourney, 'twould give him much content.

When thence were now departed the margrave's warriors bold, Then came the men of Thüringen, as has to us been told, And from the realm of Denmark a thousand proud and high. Then from the crashing lances were seen the shivers fly.

Irnfried then and Hawart into the tourney rode. Proudly the bold Burgundians their sturdy brunt abode. The noble knights of Thüringen they met in many a joust, And many a glittering buckler pierc'd through with many a thrust.

Sir Blœdel with three thousand rode forward frank and free; By Etzel and by Kriemhild full well observ'd was he; Before them both, his tilting perform'd each gallant knight; Through hate to the Burgundians it gave the queen delight.

She ponder'd thus in secret (as nigh to pass it came), "Should they by chance hurt any, at once this gentle game Would turn to bloody earnest; then I on these my foes Should be reveng'd for ever, and quit of all my woes."

Schrutan and stout Gibek into the tourney rode, And Ramung and swift Hornbog after the Hunnish mode. Against the bold Burgundians they knightly bore them all; High flew the whizzing splinters o'er the king's mighty hall.

And yet all their performance was but an empty sound. Hall might you hear and palace with clashing shields resound, Where rode the men of Gunther: by them proud deeds were done. His train of that fair tourney the highest honors won.

So great was then the pastime when front to front they met, That through the reeking foot-cloths forth burst the frothy sweat From the high-mettled coursers which the good knights bestrode, As 'gainst the lords of Hungary in haughty wise they rode.