The Nibelungenlied (Oxford World's Classics) by Cyril Edwards

Author:Cyril Edwards [Edwards, Cyril]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Published: 2010-02-11T05:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-FIRST ADVENTURE

HOW KRIEMHILT TRAVELLED TO THE HUNS

LET the messengers ride! We must make known to you how the queen made her way through the lands—or where Giselher and Gernot parted from her. They had served her as their loyalty commanded of them. They rode as far as the Danube then, to Pföring.

1290

They asked leave of the queen, for they wanted to ride back to the Rhine. Good friends then could not part without weeping.

1291

Bold Giselher said to his sister: ‘Whenever, lady, you have need of me, if anything troubles you, let me know of it and I will ride to serve you into Etzel’s land.’

1292

She kissed those who were her kinsmen on the mouth. The bold Burgundians were seen on that occasion to part in all friendship from Rüedeger’s men. The queen then took with her well-favoured maidens in great numbers, one hundred and four of them, wearing sumptuous

1293

cloaks of richly dyed furs. The warriors carried many broad shields* close by the ladies on the roads. Then proud knights in great numbers parted from the queen.

1294

They made hasty progress down through Bavaria. Then tidings were told that many unknown guests were fast approaching a place where a monastery still stands, and where the Inn flows into the Danube. In the city of Passau there resided a certain bishop. The

1295

lodgings there were emptied,* as was the prince’s court. They hastened to meet the strangers up in Bavaria, where Bishop Pilgrim* found fair Kriemhilt. The warriors of that land were not overly

1296

distressed then to see so many fair maidens in her train. Amorous eyes looked upon the noble knights’ daughters. Good lodgings were afterwards given to the guests.

1297

The bishop rode with his niece to Passau. When the townsfolk were told that Kriemhilt, the prince’s sister’s daughter, was arriving, she was given a warm welcome then by the merchants. The bishop

1298

had his hopes that they would stay there some time. Lord Eckewart then said: ‘That cannot be. We must go down into Rüedeger’s land. Many knights are expecting us, for they are all well aware of how things stand.’

1299

By now fair Gotelint was well aware of the tidings. She and her most noble daughter busied themselves with preparations. Rüedeger had sent her a message that it seemed good to him that she should comfort the queen’s mind by riding, together with his vassals, to meet

1300

her upriver by the Enns. When that took place, the roads were seen to be busy everywhere. Both on horseback and on foot they made their way to meet the guests.

1301

Now the queen had arrived at Eferding. Plenty of people from Bavaria might well have caused the strangers harm there if they had robbed them on the roads, as was their custom. That was easily

1302

forestalled by the proud margrave. He led with him a thousand knights, and even more. By then Gotelint had also arrived, Rüedeger’s wife; with her came hosts of noble warriors in great splendour.

1303

When they had crossed the Traun, on the plain near Enns, they saw huts and pavilions pitched there, where the guests were to stay overnight.

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