Eighteenth Adventure: How Siegmund Returned Home

The father-in-law of Kriemhild to the pale mourner went,
And kindly thus bespake her, "Our thoughts are homeward bent;
Unwelcome guests in Rhineland I ween we needs must be,
So, Kriemhild, dearest lady, ride to my land with me.

"Thou must not here dwell helpless among thy foemen left,
Where both of us of Siegfried foul treason hath bereft.
I'll guard thee with firm friendship and honor undefil'd
For love of thy good husband and of his noble child.

"All power, beloved lady, shall be thine again,
And, as thy lord intended, royally shalt thou reign.
The land, the crown, thou ownedst, thou both, as erst, shall sway.
To thee shall Siegfried's liegeman a willing service pay."

Forthwith 'twas told his followers that they must hence with speed;
Each straight to the stable hurried for his steed.
To dwell with deadly foemen scorn and shame they thought;
Matrons and maids were stirring, and out their vesture sought.

When now the good King Siegmund ready was to ride,
Her mother sued to Kriemhild among her kin to bide,
That still her only daughter her aged eyes might see.
The joy-bereft made answer, "Nay, that can hardly be.

"With my eyes could I ever the fawning friend behold,
Who wrought me, wretched woman, sorrows so manifold?"
Then spake the youthful Giselher, "Dear sister, why away?
For love's sake and for duty's, here with thy mother stay.

"Who have weigh'd thee down with sorrow and wreak'd on thee their hate,
Of them thou need'st no service; live from my sole estate."
She answer'd thus the warior, "No! no! it cannot be.
Die should I straight of horror, if I should Hagan see."

"From that thou may'st be certain I'll shield thee, sister dear,
With me shalt thou dwell ever, thy brother Giselher,
Who, if love can bring comfort, will thy sad loss supply."
"Ah!" said the heaven-forsaken, "Of that sore need have I."

Soon as this gentle proffer the youthful knight had made,
Next Uta and good Gernot and their true cousins pray'd
The joy-deserted mourner among them there to stay.
Her kin 'mong Siegfried's followers were few and far away.

"To you they all are strangers," said Gernot, drawing nigh;
"No man there lives so mighty but he must some time die;
Consider this, fair sister, and comfort to you take;
Here with your friends 'twere better your fix'd abode to make."

At last she promised Giselher that she would there abide.
Meanwhile the knights of Siegmund ready were to ride
To the Nibelunger's country; their steeds were led from stall,
And on the sturdy sumpters was laid their raiment all.

The venerable Siegmund went up to Kriemhild then,
And with these words address'd her: "Lady, Siegfried's men
Are waiting with the horses; part must we instantly;
It irks me every moment we stay in Burgundy."

Then answer'd Lady Kriemhild, "Such friends as wish me well
And bear me love, advise me among them here to dwell,
Since in the land of Nibelung nor kith nor kin have I."
Woe was the noble Siegmund at hearing her reply.

"In this at least," return'd he, "trust not their offers fair.
Thou before all my kindred the royal crown shalt wear
With the same pride and puissance as ere our joys were crost,
Nor want of aught remind thee that Siegfried we have lost.

"Come then, return among us for thy fair infant's sake;
Desert not the young orphan; a mother's duty take.
When he grows up to manhood, he'll comfort thy sad cheer;
Meanwhile good knights shall serve thee, who held thy husband dear."

Said she, "My good lord Siegmund, from home I cannot ride.
Whatever hence befall me, here must I still abide
Among my proper kinsmen, who'll help me to lament."
Her words gave the good warriors sorrow and discontent.

With one accord they answer'd, "We must in truth confess,
That never till this moment we felt true bitterness,
If thou persist to tarry among our foemen here.
Sure for a peaceful journey knights never paid so dear."

"Hence without thought of danger ride home with God to friend,
Your steps a fitting escort shall through this land attend
E'en to your native country. Farewell, good knights and true;
My dear, my orphan'd infant I trust, my friends, to you."

When they perceiv'd for certain that she her purpose kept,
The warriors of King Siegmund with one accord they wept.
With what heart-rending sorrow the reverend Siegmund, too,
Parted from Lady Kriemhild! then what was grief he knew.

"Woe worth this dreary festal!" the hoary monarch cried,
"To kings nor to their kinsmen shall never more betide
From merriment and pleasure such heart-devouring teen.
In Burgundy shall Siegmund never more be seen."

Then said and frown'd indignant the knights of Siegfried's train,
"Nay, into this same country we well may come again
To seek and find the traitor who laid our master low.
Among the kin of Siegfried they have many a mortal foe."

Lovingly kiss'd he Kriemhild, and sadly thus 'gan say,
When he could see too clearly that she was fix'd to stay,
"Now home, bereav'd and joyless, a weary way we go.
'Tis only now I'm feeling the fulness of my woe."

They rode without an escort from Worms beyond the Rhine.
Sorrowful and silent they mov'd in lengthen'd line,
Nor fear'd assault or ambush by lurking foemen plann'd;
Secure each Nibelunger felt in his own right hand.

From all they kept disdainful, leave of none they took;
Giselher and Gernot such parting could not brook.
But lovingly approach'd them; woe were they for their woe;
That for their loss they sorrow'd, they gave their guest to know.

Then gently spoke Prince Gernot, and heav'd full many a sigh,
"God in heaven is my witness, nor part the guilt had I
In the death of Siegfried, nor had I heard before
That any him bore malice; I sorrow for him sore."

To them was given good escort by Giselher the young.
Deep-sorrowing altogether he brought them safe along,
Both king and loyal liegemen, home to Netherland.
There met they all their kindred; small joy was in the band.

What happ'd to them thereafter is more than I can say.
At Worms still heard was Kriemhild complaining, day by day.
That none her sorrow pitied, or brought her comfort due,
Save Giselher her brother; he still was good and true.

Meanwhile sat misproud Brunhild in haughtiness uncheck'd;
Of Kriemhild's tears and sorrows her it nothing reck'd.
She pitied not the mourner; she stoop'd not to the low.
Soon Kriemhild took full vengeance, and woe repaid with woe.