A tale of the marvellous beauty of maids on a far-away shore.
Then stirred was the spirit of Gunther to win such an one for his bride:
In the hope thereof uplifted was his heart in kingly pride.
There was a Queen of Beauty enthroned beyond the sea;
Through all the world’s wide compass was none so fair as she.
In loveliness was she peerless, and of measureless bodily might;
For she matched her with champions that wooed her in speeding the lance’s flight,
Whosoever to wife would win her, that terrible test must dare,
And in contests three overcome her, that champion-maid high-born.
Let him fail in but one of the trials, and his head from his shoulders was shorn.
Full oft that Daughter of Princes had done this ruthless thing:
(C) As once in the midst of his people the noble Gunther sat,
Much question arose, as the speech-tide flowed swiftly this way and that,
Who should be Queen of Burgundia, and sit enthroned at his side.
Then spake the Lord of Rhineland: “I will take ship down to the sea,
And will sail to the Lady Brunhild, howsoever it fare with me.
For the love of that Queen of Women will I venture limb and life:
Yea, ready I stand to lose them, an I win her not to my wife.”
{p. 45}
That whoever is her love’s suitor, his head he imperilleth.
Well mayst thou advise thee rather to turn from this path of death.”
(C) Answered and spake King Gunther: “Never was woman born
So strong and so fierce of spirit, but her might were by mine outworn
Lightly, in any contest, by my single hand alone!”
In loyal faith I advise thee. If with death thou be not in love,
(C) “Be she as strong as she may be, on that journey I needs must fare
Hence unto Brunhild, befall me what may befall me there!
Peradventure may God yet move her to follow us to the Rhine.”
“Then will I counsel,” made answer Hagen, “if this must be,
That thou make thy request unto Siegfried, that he will bear with thee
The burden of this sore travail: this rede remaineth the best,
In my wooing of Brunhild the lovely? Do according to this my prayer,
And if for my bride I win her, and crown her my queenly wife,
For thee at all times will I venture honour and limb and life.”
“This will I do, if thou promise to give me for reward
The Lovely, the Queen of Women, Kriemhild thy sister, for bride:
“Even this do I promise,” said Gunther, “O Siegfried, on thine hand;
And if Brunhild the lovely cometh hither to this my land,
{p. 46}
Or ever they brought into Rhineland that lady of princely blood,
(C) Now concerning the tameless Earth-dwarfs this thing have I heard folk say,
That they dwell in the mountain-caverns, and about their heads they lay
For who weareth such on his body, therein hath perfect defence
No man may in any wise see him, but he heareth and seeth all
And his strength to a giant’s waxeth, as the tale in our ears hath been told.
Now whene’er the stalwart Siegfried had donned that Hood of Night,
He gat from its overscreening exceeding fulness of might;
In twelve men’s strength he clad him, as the runes of the old songs run.
So it fell, by the Dwarf-lords’ cunning that glorious bride was won.
Yea, and so wondrous-shapen was that strange cloudy Hood,
Therewith did he win Queen Brunhild—and through her at the last he died.
How best for our honour and glory over the sea we may fare.
Swiftly may thrice ten thousand be arrayed in our warrior-band.”
“How great soever the war-host that we take,” spake Siegfried to him,
“The might of that queen and her fury be so exceeding grim,
That all our array should be blasted ’neath the storm of her battle-mood.
I will give to you better counsel, O valiant thanes and good:
{p. 47}
With thee and with me two only let there go, none other beside,
That with these we may woo this lady, whatsoever39 thereafter betide.
Even I am one in the venture, the second must needs be thou,
For the fourth be chosen Dankwart, that lord of battle-might;
Then not a thousand aliens shall ever withstand us in fight.”
“Of this too,” spake King Gunther, “would I fain be certified—
For thereof should mine heart be gladdened—or ever forth we ride,
What manner of raiment in presence of Brunhild befits that we wear
Such as shall meetly beseem us: this, O Siegfried, declare.”
“In the richest of all rich vesture that is found in any land
Be arrayed evermore the people that in Brunhild’s presence stand.
Let us therefore appear before her in silk and in ermine and gold,
That none think scorn of our splendour when the tale thereafter is told.”
Answered the good thane Gunther: “Myself will go forthright41
To my well-belovèd mother, if haply good in her sight
As before that queenly lady with honour we may wear.”
Then out spake Hagen of Troneg, that lord of stately port:
“What boots it to trouble thy mother for service in such a sort?
Breathe but a word to thy sister of thy thought and thy desire,
And cunning fingers shall frame you exceeding rich attire.”
Then the King sent word to his sister that fain would he confer
With her, even he and Siegfried. But, or ever they came unto her,
Stood the ladies that waited upon her clad richly in their degree:
To meet them, from her high seat: ah, with what queenly grace
She greeted the noble stranger and her brother with radiant face!
{p. 48}
I am fain,” spake on that sweet one, “I am fain to know the end
Then spake King Gunther: “Lady, this will I tell:—we bear,
For all our knightly courage, the burden of a care.
We be minded to ride a-wooing to a strange land far away,
And fain would we have for our journey exceeding goodly array.”
“Now seat thee, belovèd brother,” that child of kings ’gan say,
“And of this thing first instruct me, what fairest of fair ones be they
Whom ye are so fain to be wooing in a strange king’s far-off land.”
On splendour-gleaming couches—nought passing the truth tell I—
With imagery fair-fashioned with the red gold threads entwined:
Of a truth, in that bower of ladies fair pleasure might they find!
For shrined in his soul he bare her; she was more unto him than life,
And ere long by noble service he won her to be his wife.
Then spake that goodly war-king: “Belovèd sister mine,
Our desire may be nowise accomplished55 saving with help of thine.
We would fare forth pleasure-questing to the Lady Brunhild’s land,
And knights need fair arrayal that in presence of ladies stand.”
Then spake that Daughter of Princes: “Belovèd brother mine,
If aught mine help may avail you to compass your design,
Hereof have utter assurance, I am ready to bear my part.
Yea, if another denied thee, it were pain unto Kriemhild’s heart.
O noble knight, it needs not that ye ask as in fear and doubt:
What best ye bring soever in lordly wise tell out.
Whatsoever may do you a pleasure, ready awaiteth mine aid,
{p. 49}
“Our will is, sister belovèd, to array us in vesture fair,
And we pray that thine own white fingers may this our apparel prepare.
And let these thy maidens be heedful that each man be arrayed like a king;
For no gainsaying58 shall turn us from this our journeying.”
Silks have we beside us in plenty; command that one bring for our need
The gemstones that gleam on your bucklers; these on the silk will we lay.”
Thereunto Gunther and Siegfried glad-hearted answered yea.
“Now who be the journeying-fellows,” the Princess asked again,
“Myself am the fourth: first Siegfried; two of my liegemen withal,
Dankwart and Hagen, shall journey with us to her palace-hall.
Heed well, O sister belovèd, what now unto thee we say:—
See to it, that we four comrades three several times a day
May through four days change our raiment, and still go gorgeously,
Then to seek help of her women did Kriemhild the princess arise,
And of all her bower-maidens thirty summoned she
Which above all others were cunning in needle-mastery.
On white Arabian samite—as the snow was its pearly sheen—
Laid they the flashing gemstones,—O rich was the vesture and rare,
For by hands of Kriemhild the lovely were the garments shapen fair.
And with silk did they overlay them, and drew the seams with gold.
Sooth, many a marvellous story of the splendour thereof hath been told.
Out of the land of the Morians came the goodliest silk on earth,
And from sun-smitten plains of Libya: on children of royal birth
And through all the threadwork woven was the love that Kriemhild bare.
{p. 50}
Out of bezels of gold of Arabia the glorious gemstones gleamed:
So fashioned they all that raiment ere seven weeks fleeted away:
And withal for the good knights ready by this was their war-array.
Wherein down Rhine-flood the heroes on to the sea should be borne.
And by this were the noble maidens by their labour of love outworn.
Then they sent to the knights the message that ready all things were
In the which they would fain go bravely, that raiment passing-fair;
Accomplished was all they had prayed for, and the labour of love was done.
Now therefore beside Rhine-river no more would they linger on.
If perchance for the heroes’ wearing it were over short or long:
And behold, it was all just measure, and they thanked that maiden-throng.
Into whosesoever presence they came, all men must say
That never on earth had they looked on more passing-fair array.
Blithe-hearted might they wear it in the palace of proudest queen,
For of goodlier knights’ apparel had none or heard or seen.
So then to these noble maidens all-courteous thanks they gave.
And now must the bold knights-errant for leave of parting crave.
With courtesy right gentle they spake their last farewell:
Ah, then were there bright eyes troubled and dim as the tears fast fell.
She spake: “O brother belovèd, ’twere better that here ye stayed—
Yea, wiselier done I account it—and wooed some other maid
Where ye should not thus be enforcèd to hazard limb and life:
Ye should find in a land near-lying no less a high-born wife.”
{p. 51}
Already their hearts foreboded the trouble darkening near.
All needs must weep, whatsoever words were spoken of cheer:
With the tears that aye fell earthward from sorrowing eyes down-rained.
Hereby do I commit him, this brother belovèd of me,
That nothing of peril harm him afar in Brunhild’s land.”
And the hero pledged him, and swore it on the Lady Kriemhild’s hand.
And he spake, that noble war-thane: “So long as endure my days,
No shadow of trouble, Princess, shall fall across thy ways.
I will bring him back into Rhineland—I swear it by life and limb!—
By peril unscathed.” Low bowed she with soft eyes thanking him.
Their shields with the red gold gleaming down to the shore bare they;
And they laid withal in the galley their goodly war-array;
And aboard men led their horses: on the decks now stand their feet—
O me, what bitter weeping brake forth from maidens sweet!
And a great wind lifted the galley as they shook the white sails wide.
So out on the Rhine they floated, those proud hearts, bound for the sea.
Then answered and spake King Gunther: “Our pilot, who shall he be?”
Your ship on the flood, stout heroes; thereof have ye no fear;
For the printless paths of the waters unto me be throughly known.”
Gunther the dauntless hero on the tiller hath laid his hand:
So the glorious war-swift champions swung out clear from the land.
Of meats they bare rich plenty, and therewithal good wine,
The while their horses rested each tethered safe in stall:
{p. 52}
The wind in the strong-twined sail-ropes drew with unresting might:
Twice ten miles onward they fleeted ere sank over earth the night;
Down stream so slid they seaward with a breeze that followed fast.
—Ah me, but their stalwart labour brought sorrow enow at the last!
And now with the twelfth day’s dawning, as singeth the ancient lay,
The wind in the white sails straining had borne them far on their way
All strange, save only to Siegfried, it seemed to that warrior-band.
And the land’s wide-sweeping marches, he spake sore marvelling88:
“Make answer to me, friend Siegfried, dost thou know yonder strand?
Unto whom appertain these castles, unto whom that lordly land?
Never in all my life-days—this thing I needs must own—
Fortress so goodly-builded mine eyes unto me have shown,
No, not in any country, as this that here we see.
He which could rear it skyward, a mighty man was he!”
Answered and spake to him Siegfried: “Yea, well do I know all these:
And Isenstein yon fortress, even that whereof I have told:
There many a lovely lady this day shall your eyes behold.
Now hearken my counsel, ye heroes: be ye one and all in a tale,
And with one accord affirm ye—this only, I trow, shall avail:
For if to the presence of Brunhild this day we go, I ween,
When we see that lovely lady amidst her knightly train,
One thing, O far-famed heroes, must ye for truth maintain,
So that which his heart hath longed for shall by this device be won[7].”
{p. 53}
Then the heroes all consented, even as he counselled, to do.
So they spake even after his bidding; and for them full well was it done,
When Gunther the King beheld her, Brunhild the lovely one.
But to win thy sister, the fairest of maidens, for mine own.
She is unto me as mine own soul, she is dear unto me as my life.
Blithe am I to render service that shall get her to me for wife.”
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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2
hurling
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| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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3
rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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4
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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5
knightly
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| adj. 骑士般的 adv. 骑士般地 | |
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6
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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7
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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8
mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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9
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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10
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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11
lone
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| adj.孤寂的，单独的；唯一的 | |
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12
hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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13
nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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14
renounce
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| v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系 | |
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15
travail
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| n.阵痛；努力 | |
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16
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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17
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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18
scion
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| n.嫩芽，子孙 | |
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19
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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20
requital
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| n.酬劳；报复 | |
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21
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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22
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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23
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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24
begotten
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| v.为…之生父( beget的过去分词 )；产生，引起 | |
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25
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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26
dwarf
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| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
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27
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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28
hoods
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| n.兜帽( hood的名词复数 )；头巾；（汽车、童车等的）折合式车篷；汽车发动机罩v.兜帽( hood的第三人称单数 )；头巾；（汽车、童车等的）折合式车篷；汽车发动机罩 | |
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29
pall
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| v.覆盖，使平淡无味；n.柩衣，棺罩；棺材；帷幕 | |
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30
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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31
wrested
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| （用力）拧( wrest的过去式和过去分词 )； 费力取得； （从…）攫取； （ 从… ） 强行取去… | |
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32
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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33
shrouding
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| n.覆盖v.隐瞒( shroud的现在分词 )；保密 | |
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34
espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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35
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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37
guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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38
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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39
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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40
prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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41
forthright
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| adj.直率的，直截了当的 [同]frank | |
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42
comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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43
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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44
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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45
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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46
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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47
scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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48
bower
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| n.凉亭，树荫下凉快之处；闺房；v.荫蔽 | |
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49
blithe
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| adj.快乐的，无忧无虑的 | |
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50
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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51
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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52
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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53
yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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54
dart
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| v.猛冲，投掷；n.飞镖，猛冲 | |
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55
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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56
winsome
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| n.迷人的，漂亮的 | |
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57
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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58
gainsaying
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| v.否认，反驳( gainsay的现在分词 ) | |
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59
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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60
scoff
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| n.嘲笑，笑柄，愚弄；v.嘲笑，嘲弄，愚弄，狼吞虎咽 | |
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61
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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62
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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63
lining
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| n.衬里，衬料 | |
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64
costlier
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| adj.昂贵的( costly的比较级 )；代价高的；引起困难的；造成损失的 | |
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65
costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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66
craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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67
lavished
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| v.过分给予，滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68
flecks
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| n.斑点，小点( fleck的名词复数 )；癍 | |
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69
retinue
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| n.侍从；随员 | |
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70
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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71
strand
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| vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地） | |
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72
galley
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| n.（飞机或船上的）厨房单层甲板大帆船；军舰舰长用的大划艇； | |
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74
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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75
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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76
bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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77
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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78
thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79
casement
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| n.竖铰链窗；窗扉 | |
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80
steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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81
exultant
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| adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的 | |
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82
wield
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| vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等) | |
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83
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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84
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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85
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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86
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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87
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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88
marvelling
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的现在分词 ) | |
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89
diadem
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| n.王冠，冕 | |
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90
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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91
vassal
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| n.附庸的；属下；adj.奴仆的 | |
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92
nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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93
abase
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| v.降低，贬抑 | |
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