The feasting lasted seventeen days. I trow men can no longer tell of any king whose wedding feast was greater. If so be, 'tis hidden from us. All that were present wore brand-new garments. I ween, she never dwelt before in Netherland with such retinue of knights. Though Siegfried was rich in goods, I trow, he never won so many noble men-at-arms, as she saw stand 'fore Etzel. Nor hath any ever given at his own wedding feast so many costly mantles, long and wide, nor such good clothes, of which all had here great store, given for Kriemhild's sake. Her friends and the strangers, too, were minded to spare no kind of goods. Whatever any craved, this they willingly gave, so that many of the knights through bounty stood bereft of clothes. Kriemhild thought of how she dwelt with her noble husband by the Rhine; her eyes grew moist, but she hid it full well, that none might see it. Great worship had been done her after many a grief. Whatever bounty any used, 'twas but a wind to that of Dietrich. What Botelung's son had given him, was squandered quite. Rudeger's lavish hand did also many wonders. Prince Bloedel of Hungary bade empty many traveling chests of their silver and their gold; all this was given away. The king's champions were seen to live right merrily. Werbel and Swemmel, (10) the minstrels of the king, each gained at the wedding feast, I ween, full thousand marks, or even better, when fair Kriemhild sate crowned at Etzel's side.
On the eighteenth morning they rode forth from Vienna. Many shields were pierced in tilting by spears, which the warriors bare in hand. Thus King Etzel came down to the Hunnish land. They spent the night at ancient Heimburg. (11) No one might know the press of folk, or with what force they rode across the land. Ho, what fair women they found in Etzel's native land! At mighty Misenburg (12) they boarded ship. The water which men saw flowing there was covered with steeds and men, as if it were solid earth. The wayworn ladies had their ease and rest. Many good ships were lashed together, that neither waves nor flood might do them harm. Upon them many a goodly tent was spread, as if they still had both land and plain.
From thence tidings came to Etzelburg, (13) at which both men and wives therein were glad. Helca's meiny, that aforetime waited on their mistress, passed many a happy day thereafter at Kriemhild's side. There many a noble maid stood waiting, who had great grief through Helca's death. Kriemhild found still seven royal princesses there, through whom all Etzel's land was graced. For the meiny the high-born maiden Herrat (14) cared, the daughter of Helca's sister, beseen with many courtly virtues, the betrothed of Dietrich, a royal child, King Nentwin's (15) daughter; much worship she later had. Blithe of heart she was at the coming of the guests; for this, too, mighty treasures were prepared. Who might tell the tale of how the king held court? Never had men lived better among the Huns with any queen.
When that the king with his wife rode from the shore, the noble Kriemhild was told full well who each one was; she greeted them the better. Ho, how royally she ruled in Helca's stead! She became acquaint with much loyal service. Then the queen dealt out gold and vesture, silk and precious stones. Whatever she brought with her across the Rhine to Hungary must needs be given all away. All the king's kinsmen and all his liegemen then owned her service, so that Lady Helca never ruled so mightily as she, whom they now must serve till Kriemhild's death. The court and all the land lived in such high honors, that all time men found the pastimes which each heart desired, through the favor of the king and his good queen.
ENDNOTES:
(1) "Kiev" (M.H.G. "Kiew") is now a government in the
southwestern part of Russia. Its capital of the same name,
situated on the Dnieper, is the oldest of the better known
cities of Russia, and in the latter Middle Ages was an
important station of the Hanseatic league.
(2) "Petschenegers", a Turkish tribe originally dwelling to the
north of the Caspian. By conquest they acquired a kingdom
extending from the Don to Transylvania. They were feared
for their ferociousness and because they continually invaded
the surrounding countries, especially Kiev.
(3) "Tulna" (M.H.G. "Tulne") is the modern Tulln, a walled town
of Lower Austria, seventeen miles northwest of Vienna on the
Danube.
(4) "Ramung and Gibeck" (M.H.G. "Gibeche") appear only in our
poem, nothing else is known of them.
(5) "Hornbog" is frequently mentioned in the "Thidreksaga", but
nothing otherwise is known of him.
(6) "Hawart" is perhaps identical with the Saxon duke Hadugot,
who is reputed to have played an important part in the
conquest of Thuringia. He evidently comes from the Low
German version.
(7) "Iring" is considered by Wilmanns to have been originally an
ancient deity, as the Milky Way is called "Iringe straze" or
"Iringi". He occurs in a legend of the fall of the
Thuringian kingdom, where he played such a prominent role
that the Milky Way was named after him. See W. Grimm,
"Heldensage", p. 394, who thinks, however, that the
connection of Iring with the Milky Way is the result of a
confusion.
(8) "Irnfried" is considered to be Hermanfrid of Thuringia, who
was overthrown and killed in A.D. 535 by Theuderich with the
aid of the Saxons. See Felix Dahn, "Urgeschichte", iii,
73-79. He, too, comes from the Low German tradition.
(9) "Bloedel" is Bleda, the brother of Attila, with whom he
reigned conjointly from A.D. 433 to 445. In our poem the
name appears frequently with the diminutive ending, as
"Bloedelin".
(10) "Werbel and Swemmel", who doubtless owe their introduction
to some minstrel, enjoy special favor and are intrusted with
the important mission of inviting the Burgundians to Etzel's
court, an honor that would hardly be accorded to persons of
their rank. Swemmel appears mostly in the diminutive form
"Swemmelin".
(11) "Heimburg" lies on the Danube near the Hungarian border.
(12) "Misenburg" is the modern Wieselburg on the Danube,
twenty-one miles southeast of Pressburg.
(13) "Etzelburg" was later identified with the old part of
Budapest, called in German "Ofen", through the influence of
Hungarish legends, but, as G. Heinrich has shown, had no
definite localization in the older M.H.G. epics. See
Bleyer, PB. Belt. xxxi 433 and 506. The name occurs in
documents as late as the fifteenth century.
(14) "Herrat", the daughter of King "Nentwin" is frequently
mentioned in the "Thidreksaga" as Dietrich's betrothed. She
is spoken of as the exiled maid.
(15) "Nentwin" is not found in any other saga, and nothing else
is known of him. See W. Grimm, "Heldensage", 103.
ADVENTURE XXIII. How Kriemhild Thought To Avenge Her Wrongs.
With great worship of a truth they lived together until the seventh year. In this time the queen was delivered of a son, at which King Etzel could not have been more joyful. She would not turn back, until she brought it to pass that Etzel's child was christened after the Christian rite. Men named it Ortlieb; (1) at this great joy arose over all of Etzel's lands. Whatever courtly breeding Lady Helca had possessed, Dame Kriemhild practiced this full many a day. Herrat, the exiled maid, who in secret grieved full sore for Helca, taught her the customs. Well was she known to the strangers and the home-folk. They vowed that never had a kingdom had a better or more bounteous queen. This they held for true. She bare this praise among the Huns until the thirteenth year. Now wot she well, that none would thwart her, as royal men-at-arms still do to a prince's wife, and that all time she saw twelve kings stand before her. Over many a wrong she brooded, that had happed to her at home. She thought likewise on the many honors in the Nibelung land, which she had there enjoyed and of which Hagen's hand had quite bereft her at Siegfried's death, and if perchance she might not make him suffer for his deed. "That would hap, if I might but bring him to this land." She dreamed that Giselher, her brother, walked often with her hand in hand. Alway she kissed him in her gentle slumber; later suffering came to both. I ween, the foul fiend did counsel Kriemhild this, that she withdrew her friendship from Giselher, whom for forgiveness' sake she had kissed in the Burgundian land. At this hot tears again gan soil her robe. Early and late it lay within her heart, how without fault of hers they had made her wed a heathen man. Hagen and Gunther had brought her to this pass. This wish she seldom gave over in her heart. She thought: "I am so mighty and have such great wealth, that I can do my foes an injury yet. Full ready would I be for this towards Hagen of Troneg. My heart doth often yearn for my faithful kin. Might I be with those who did me wrong, my lover's death would be well avenged. Scarce can I abide this," spake Etzel's wife.
All the king's men, Kriemhild's warriors, bare her love in duty bound. Of the chamber Eckewart had charge, which won him friends. None might gainsay Dame Kriemhild's will. All time she thought: "I will beg the king, that he in kindly wise may grant me to bring my kinsmen to the Hunnish land." None marked the evil purpose of the queen. One night when she lay by the king, and he did hold her in his arms, as he was wont to love the noble dame, who was dear to him as life, the high-born lady thought her of her foes. To the king she spake: "Dear my lord, I would fain beseech you, by your grace, that ye would show me that ye did love my kinsfolk, if I have earned the favor."
Then spake the king (true was his heart): "I'll give you to know however well the knights may fare, I may well have joy of this, for never have I won better kin through woman's love."