The Nibelungenlied: The Lay of the Nibelungs (Oxford World's Classics) by Cyril Edwards Read Free Book Online Page A

in plenty there. Therefore all Sigmunt’s land was adorned with praise.
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    Lord Sigmunt bade young Sivrit confer lands and castles in fief, as he himself had done before. Sivrit’s hands then gave many gifts to his fellow sword-bearers. They were happy then that they had made their journey into that land. The festivity lasted until the
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    seventh day. Wealthy Siglint, following old custom, gave away red gold for love of her son. She well knew how to earn the people’s favour for him.
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    Very few travelling people were found in poverty there. Chargers and clothing flew from the nobles’ hands, as if it were the lastday of their lives! No household, I believe, ever practised such great generosity. Amid great renown the festivity ended. Afterwards the
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    powerful nobles were heard to say that they wanted to have the young prince for their lord. Sivrit, that most handsome man, wanted nothing of that. Since both Sigmunt and Siglint were still alive, their dear
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    son had no wish to wear a crown. Yet he desired to be lord there and prevail against any attacks that the bold and courageous knight feared might be made in the lands.
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THIRD ADVENTURE
HOW SIVRIT CAME TO WORMS
    S ELDOM did any heart’s grief trouble that lord. He heard tidings of how there was in Burgundy a beautiful maiden, of perfect loveliness, from whom he was in time to come to gain great joy, but also suffering. Her incomparable beauty was known far and wide, and
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    many a hero discerned the damsel’s high spirits at that time. This attracted many strangers to Gunther’s land. No matter how many
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    wooers were seen to seek her love, Kriemhilt never, in her own mind, admitted to herself that she wanted any of them for a lover. He to whom she afterwards became subject was still very much a stranger to her.
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    Then Siglint’s son’s thoughts turned to noble love. * All the others’ wooing was as nothing compared with his. He was well capable of earning a beautiful lady. In time to come noble Kriemhilt became bold Sivrit’s wife.
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    His kinsmen and plenty of his vassals advised him, since his thoughts were bent upon constant love, that he should woo one who might befit him. Then bold Sivrit said: ‘In that case I will take Kriemhilt, the beautiful damsel of Burgundy, because of her
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    incomparable beauty. I know full well that no emperor who wanted a wife ever grew so powerful that it would not become him to love that wealthy queen.’
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    Sigmunt came to hear these tidings. His people talked about it, which is how he came to know of his son’s wishes—it was a great sorrow to him that he wanted to woo that most noble maiden.
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    Siglint, the noble king’s wife, also came to hear it. She was veryconcerned for her son, for she was well acquainted with Gunther and his vassals. They tried their hardest to deter the knight from his wooing.
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    Then bold Sivrit said: ‘My beloved father, I would always remain without a noble lady’s love unless I were to woo one for whom my heart holds very great love. * No matter what anyone may say, there is nothing else for it.’
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    ‘If you will not change your mind,’ the king replied, ‘then I truly rejoice in your wishes, and will help you to carry them out as best as I possibly can. Yet King Gunther has haughty vassals in great numbers. Were there none other but Sir Hagen, he knows how to practise
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    pride in his arrogance, so that I very much fear it may cost us dear if we wish to woo that most noble maiden.’
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    ‘How can that hinder us?’ replied Sivrit. ‘What I cannot obtain from them by friendly request, my hands may win there by my valour. I trust I can win both people and land from them by force.’
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    Then Prince Sigmunt said: ‘Your words trouble me, for if these tidings were told by the Rhine, you would never be permitted to ride into that land. I have long been acquainted with Gunther and Gernot. No one can win that maiden by force,’ said King Sigmunt.