Later Hagen told him that might not be. The hero of Troneg spake: "I do it in the hope that if we have a coward on this journey, who through faint-heartedness would run away, that in this stream he may die a shameful death."
They had with them from Burgundy land a hero of his hands, the which was named Folker. Wisely he spake all his mind. Whatever Hagen did, it thought the fiddler good. Their steeds were now ready, the sumpters laden well. On the journey they had taken no harm that irked them, save the king's chaplain alone. He must needs wander back on foot to the Rhine again.
ENDNOTES:
(1) "a thousand and sixty". This does not agree with the
account in Adventure XXIV, where we read of a thousand of
Hagen's men, eighty of Dankwart's, and thirty of Folker's.
The nine thousand foot soldiers mentioned here are a later
interpolation, as the "Thidreksaga" speaks of only a
thousand all told.
(2) "Eastern Frankland", or East Franconia, is the ancient
province of "Franconia Orientalis", the region to the east
of the Spessart forest, including the towns of Fulda,
Würzburg and Barnberg. In Biterolf Dietlieb journeys
through Eastern Frankland to the Danube.
(3) "Swanfield" (M.H.G. "Swanevelde") is the ancient province of
"Sualafeld" between the Rezat and the Danube.
(4) "Gelfrat" is a Bavarian lord and the brother of "Else",
mentioned below. Their father's name was also Else.
(5) "Wise women", a generic name for all supernatural women of
German mythology. While it is not specifically mentioned,
it is probable that the wise women, or mermaids, as they are
also called here, were 'swan maidens', which play an
important role in many legends and are endowed with the gift
of prophecy. They appear in the form of swans, and the
strange attire of the wise women mentioned here refers to
the so-called swan clothes which they wore and which enabled
Hagen to recognize them as supernatural beings. On bathing
they lay aside this garment, and he who obtains possession
of it has them in his power. This explains their eagerness
to give Hagen information, if he will return their garments
to them. For an account of them see Grimm's "Mythologie",
355.
(6) "Aldrian" is not an historical personage; the name is merely
a derivative of "aldiro", 'the elder', and signifies
'ancestor', just as Uta means 'ancestress'. In the
"Thidreksaga" Aldrian is the king of the Nibelung land and
the father of Gunther, Giselher, and Gernot, whereas Hagen
is the son of an elf by the same mother.
(7) Else appears also in "Biterolf"; in the "Thidreksaga" he is
called "Elsung", the younger, as his father bore the same
name. See Adventure XXV, note 4.
(8) "Amelrich" is the ferryman's brother.
(9) "Spear". It was the custom to offer presents on a spear
point, perhaps to prevent the recipient from treacherously
using his sword. Compare the similar description in the
"Hildebrandslied", 37, where we are told that gifts should
be received with the spear.
(10) "Goods". In the "Thidreksaga" the ferryman desires the ring
for his young wife, which explains better the allusion to
marriage and the desire for wealth.
(11) "To-broke", see Adventure II, note 9.
(12) "Clerk", 'priest'.
ADVENTURE XXVI (1) How Gelfrat Was Slain By Dankwart.
Now when all were come upon the shore, the king gan ask: "Who will show us the right roads through this land, that we go not astray?"
Then the sturdy Folker spake: "For this I alone will have a care."
"Now hold," quoth Hagen, "both knight and squire. Certes, me-thinketh right that we should heed our friends. With full monstrous tales I'll make you acquaint: we shall never come again to the Burgundian land. Two mermaids told me early in the morning that we should not come back again. I will now counsel you what ye do: ye must arm you, ye heroes, for we have mighty foes. Ye must guard you well and ride in warlike guise. I thought to catch these mermaids in a lie. They swore that none of us would come home safe and sound, save the chaplain alone. Therefore would I fain have drowned him to-day."
These tidings flew from band to band and valiant heroes grew pale from woe, as they began to fear a grewsome death on this journey to Etzel's court. Forsooth they had great need. When they had crossed at Moering, (2) where Else's ferryman had lost his life, Hagen spake again: "Sith I have gained me foes upon the way, we shall surely be encountered. I slew this same ferryman early on the morn to-day. Well they wot the tale. Now lay on boldly, so that it may go hard with Gelfrat and Else, should they match our fellowship here to-day. I know them to be so bold that 'twill not be left undone. Let the steeds jog on more gently, that none ween we be a-fleeing on the road."
"This counsel I will gladly follow," quoth Giselher, the knight; "but who shall guide the fellowship across the land?"