Free The Nibelungenlied: The Lay of the Nibelungs (Oxford World's Classics) by Cyril Edwards Page B

there—he had excelled, as all Gunther’s men had to concede him.
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    Lord Gernot sent tidings to Worms. He told his friends at home in his own land how he and his men had succeeded, and that those valiant men had performed most honourable deeds. The pages
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    ran to tell the news. Those who had been sorrowful there before rejoiced at the happy tidings that had come to them. Much questioning was heard on the part of noble ladies there as to the
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    success of the powerful king’s men. One of the messengers was told to go before Kriemhilt. That happened in all secrecy—indeed, she didn’t dare be open about it, for she had her dearest heart’s beloved among the men in the army. When she saw the messenger
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    coming to her chamber, fair Kriemhilt spoke most graciously: ‘Now tell me happy tidings, for I’ll give you my gold. If you tell no lie, I’ll hold you dear forever. How did my brother Gernot and other
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    friends of mine emerge from the battle? Are many of our men dead? Or who did best there? This you must tell me.’
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    The messenger was quick to reply: ‘We had no cowards amongst us at all. When it came to battle in earnest, no one rode as well,
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    most noble queen, since I’m bound to tell you about it, as the most noble guest from the Netherlands. Bold Sivrit’s hands wrought many marvels there. No matter what all the warriors did in battle,
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    Dancwart and Hagen, and other men of the king, honourably as they fought, it was all as nothing compared with what Sivrit, King Sigmunt’s son, achieved single-handed. They caused many heroes
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    to be slain in the onslaught, yet no one could give you a full account of the marvels Sivrit wrought there whenever he rode into battle. He caused the ladies great grief over their kinsfolk. Many a lady’s beloved
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    inevitably lay dead there. His blows were heard to rain down so loud upon helmets that they caused blood to flow from their wounds. He is a bold and worthy knight, full of prowess. Despite all that
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    Ortwin of Metz achieved there—all those he could reach with his sword were bound to be left lying there wounded, most of them dying—it was your brother who there brought about the greatest peril
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    ever to happen in battles. The truth must be conceded to those excellent warriors—the proud Burgundians have acted in such a way that they can guard their honour well against all disgrace. Saddles in great
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    numbers were seen emptied there at their hands, where the plain resounded so loudly with the clash of bright swords. The warriors from the Rhine have ridden to such effect that their foes would have been better off refraining from it. The bold men of Tronege caused
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    great suffering when the army rode into battle in full force. Bold Hagen’s hands caused the death of many there; much might be said of that here in Burgundy. Sindolt and Hunolt, Gernot’s men, and
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    bold Rumolt did so much that Liudeger may forever regret declaring hostilities on your kinsmen by the Rhine.
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    The greatest battle of all that happened there, first and last, that anyone beheld, was fought most willingly by Sivrit’s hands. He is bringing wealthy hostages into Gunther’s land. That handsome man
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    won them by the force of his valour, to the detriment of King Liudegast, and also his brother, Liudeger of Saxony. Listen to my tidings, now, noble, proud queen: Sivrit’s hands took them both captive. Never
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    were so many hostages brought into this land as now come to the Rhine by his doing.’ No tidings could ever be dearer to her.
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    ‘They are bringing here into our land five hundred or more who are healthy, and—lady, let me tell you—some eighty red stretchers for the mortally wounded, most of whom were hewn down by bold Sivrit’s hands. Those who in their arrogance declared hostilities
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    against the Rhineland must now be Gunther’s captives. To our joy, they are being brought here into this land.’
    Her bright