Kriemhild's Dream
764 Words
Kriemhild's Dream
To us in olden story are wonders many told
Of heroes rich in glory, of trials manifold:
Of joy and festive greeting, of weeping and of woe,
Of keenest warriors meeting, shall ye now many a wonder know.
There once grew up in Burgundy a maid of noble birth,
Nor might there be a fairer than she in all the earth:
Kriemhild hight the maiden, and grew a dame full fair,
Through whom high thanes a many to lose their lives soon dooméd were.
'Twould well become the highest to love the winsome maid,
Keen knights did long to win her, and none but homage paid.
Beauty without measure, that in sooth had she,
And virtues wherewith many ladies else adorned might be.
Three noble lords did guard her, great as well in might,
Gunther and Gernot, each one a worthy knight,
And Giselher their brother, a hero young and rare.
The lady was their sister and lived beneath the princes' care.
These lords were free in giving, and born of high degree;
Undaunted was the valor of all the chosen three.
It was the land of Burgundy o'er which they did command,
And mighty deeds of wonder they wrought anon in Etzel's land.
At Worms amid their warriors they dwelt, the Rhine beside,
And in their lands did serve them knights of mickle pride,
Who till their days were ended maintained them high in state.
They later sadly perished beneath two noble women's hate.
A high and royal lady, Ute their mother hight,
Their father's name was Dankrat, a man of mickle might.
To them his wealth bequeathed he when that his life was done,
For while he yet was youthful had he in sooth great honor won.
In truth were these three rulers, as I before did say,
Great and high in power, and homage true had they
Eke of knights the boldest and best that e'er were known,
Keen men all and valiant, as they in battle oft had shown.
There was of Tronje Hagen, and of that princely line
His brother valiant Dankwart; and eke of Metz Ortwein;
Then further the two margraves, Gere and Eckewart;
Of Alzei was Volker, a doughty man of dauntless heart.
Rumold the High Steward, a chosen man was he,
Sindold and Hunold they tended carefully
Each his lofty office in their three masters' state,
And many a knight beside them that I the tale may ne'er relate.
Dankwart he was Marshal; his nephew, then, Ortwein
Upon the monarch waited when that he did dine;
Sindold was Cup-bearer, a stately thane was he,
And Chamberlain was Hunold, masters all in courtesy.
Of the kings' high honor and their far-reaching might,
Of their full lofty majesty and how each gallant knight
Found his chiefest pleasure in the life of chivalry,
In sooth by mortal never might it full related be.
Amid this life so noble did dream the fair Kriemhild
How that she reared a falcon, in beauty strong and wild,
That by two eagles perished; the cruel sight to see
Did fill her heart with sorrow as great as in this world might be.
The dream then to her mother Queen Ute she told,
But she could not the vision than thus more clear unfold:
"The falcon that thou rearedst, doth mean a noble spouse:
God guard him well from evil or thou thy hero soon must lose."
"Of spouse, O darling mother, what dost thou tell to me?
Without a knight to woo me, so will I ever be,
Unto my latest hour I'll live a simple maid,
That I through lover's wooing ne'er be brought to direst need."
"Forswear it not so rashly," her mother then replied.
"On earth if thou wilt ever cast all care aside,
'Tis love alone will do it; thou shalt be man's delight,
If God but kindly grant thee to wed a right good valiant knight."
"Now urge the case, dear mother," quoth she, "not further here.
Fate of many another dame hath shown full clear
How joy at last doth sorrow lead oft-times in its train.
That I no ruth may borrow, from both alike I'll far remain."
Long time, too, did Kriemhild her heart from love hold free,
And many a day the maiden lived right happily,
Ere good knight saw she any whom she would wish to woo.
In honor yet she wedded anon a worthy knight and true.
He was that same falcon she saw the dream within
Unfolded by her mother. Upon her nearest kin,
That they did slay him later, how wreaked she vengeance wild!
Through death of this one hero died many another mother's child.
- Writer
