Then bold Siegfried changed his voice and spake: “I am a knight; do up the door, else will I enrage10 many a one outside today, who would liefer lie soft and take his ease.”
When Siegfried thus spake, it irked the warder. Meanwhile the giant had donned his armor and placed his helm upon his head. Quickly the mighty man snatched up his shield and opened wide the gate. How fiercely he ran at Siegfried and asked, how he durst wake so many valiant11 men? Huge blows were dealt out by his hand. Then the lordly stranger gan defend him, but with an iron bar the warder shattered his shield-plates. Then was the hero in dire12 need. Siegfried gan fear a deal his death, when the warder struck such mighty blows. Enow his master Siegfried loved him for this cause. They strove so sore that all the castle rang and the sound was heard in Nibelung’s hall. He overcame the warder and bound him, too.
The tale was noised abroad in all the Nibelungs’ land. Alberich, the bold, a savage13 dwarf14, heard the fierce struggle through the mountain. He armed him quick and ran to where he found the noble stranger, as he bound the mighty giant. Full wroth was Alberich and strong enow. On his body he bare helmet and rings of mail and in his hand a heavy scourge15 of gold. Swift and hard he ran to where Siegfried stood. Seven heavy knobs 60 hung down in front, with which he smote16 so fiercely the shield upon the bold man’s arm, that it brake in parts. The stately stranger came in danger of his life. From his hand he flung the broken shield and thrust into the sheath a sword, the which was long. He would not strike his servant dead, but showed his courtly breeding as his knightly17 virtue18 bade him. He rushed at Alberich and with his powerful hands he seized the gray-haired man by the beard. So roughly he pulled his beard, that he screamed aloud. The tugging19 of the youthful knight hurt Alberich sore.
Loud cried the valiant dwarf: “Now spare my life. And might I be the vassal20 of any save one knight, to whom I swore an oath that I would own him as my lord, I’d serve you till my death.” So spake the cunning 61 man.
He then bound Alberich as he had the giant afore. Full sore the strength of Siegfried hurt him. The dwarf gan ask: “How are ye named?”
“My name is Siegfried,” he replied; “I deemed ye knew me well.”
“Well is me of these tidings,” spake Alberich, the dwarf. “Now have I noted21 well the knightly deeds, through which ye be by right the sovran of the land. I’ll do whatso ye bid, and ye let me live.”
Then spake Sir Siegfried: “Go quickly now and bring me the best of knights22 we have, a thousand Nibelungs, that they may see me here.”
Why he wanted this, none heard him say. He loosed the bonds of Alberich and the giant. Then ran Alberich swift to where he found the knights. In fear he waked the Nibelung men. He spake: “Up now, ye heroes, ye must go to Siegfried.”
From their beds they sprang and were ready in a trice. A thousand doughty23 knights soon stood well clad. They hied them to where they saw Sir Siegfried stand. Then was done a fair greeting, in part by deeds. Great store of tapers24 were now lit up; they proffered26 him mulled wine. 62 He gave them thanks that they were come so soon. He spake: “Ye must away with me across the flood.”
Full ready for this he found the heroes brave and good. Well thirty hundred men were come eftsoon, from whom he chose a thousand of the best. Men brought them their helmets and other arms, for he would lead them to Brunhild’s land. He spake: “Ye good knights, this will I tell you, ye must wear full costly27 garments there at court, for many lovely dames28 shall gaze upon us. Therefore must ye deck yourselves with goodly weeds.”
Early on a morn they started on their way. What a speedy journey Siegfried won! They took with them good steeds and lordly harness, and thus they came in knightly wise to Brunhild’s land. The fair maids stood upon the battlements. Then spake the queen: “Knoweth any, who they be whom I see sailing yonder far out upon the sea? They have rich sails e’en whiter than the snow.”
Quoth the king of the Rhineland: “They’re men of mine, the which I left hard by here on the way. I had them sent for, and now they be come, my lady.” All eyes were fixed30 upon the lordly strangers.
Then one spied Siegfried standing at his vessel’s prow31 in lordly weeds and many other men. The queen spake: “Sir King, pray tell me, shall I receive the strangers or shall I deny them greetings?”
He spake: “Ye must go to meet them out before the palace, that they may well perceive how fain we be to see them here.”
Then the queen did as the king advised her. She marked out Siegfried with her greetings from the rest. Men purveyed32 them lodgings33 and took in charge their trappings. So many strangers were now come to the land, that everywhere they jostled Brunhild’s bands. Now would the valiant men fare home to Burgundy.
Then spake the queen: “My favor would I bestow34 on him who could deal out to the king’s guests and mine my silver and gold, of which I have such store.”
To this Dankwart, King Giselher’s liegeman, answered: “Most noble queen,” spake the brave knight, “let me but wield35 the keys. I trow to deal it out in fitting wise; whatso of blame I gain, let be mine own.” That he was bountiful, he made appear full well.
When now Sir Hagen’s brother took the keys in charge, the hero’s hand did proffer25 many a costly gift. He who craved36 a mark 63 received such store that all the poor might lead a merry life. Full hundred pounds he gave, nor did he stop to count. Enow walked before the hall in rich attire37, who never had worn afore such lordly dress. Full sore it rued38 the queen when this she heard. She spake: “Sir King, I fain would have your aid, lest your chamberlain leave naught39 of all my store of dress; he squandereth eke40 my gold. If any would forfend this, I’d be his friend for aye. He giveth such royal gifts, the knight must ween, forsooth, that I have sent for death. I would fain use it longer and trow well myself to waste that which my father left me.” No queen as yet hath ever had so bounteous41 a chamberlain.
Then spake Hagen of Troneg: “My lady, be it told you that the king of the Rhineland hath such great store of gold and robes to give, that we have no need to carry hence aught of Brunhild’s weeds.”
“Nay, and ye love me,” spake the queen, “let me fill twenty traveling chests with gold and silk as well, the which my hand shall give, when we are come across to Gunther’s land.”
Men filled her chests with precious stones, the while her chamberlains stood by. She would not trust the duty to Giselher’s men. Gunther and Hagen began to laugh thereat.
Then spake the queen: “With whom shall I leave my lands? This my hand and yours must first decree.”
Quoth the noble king: “Now bid draw near whom ye deem fit and we will make him steward42.”
The lady spied near by one of her highest kin29 (it was her mother’s brother); to him the maiden43 spake: “Now let be commended to your care my castles and my lands, till that King Gunther’s hand rule here.”
Then twenty hundred of her men she chose, who should fare with her hence to Burgundy, together with those thousand warriors44 from the Nibelung land. They dressed their journey; one saw them riding forth45 upon the sand. Six and eighty dames they took along and thereto a hundred maids, their bodies passing fair. No longer now they tarried, for they were fain to get them hence. Ho, what great wail46 was made by those they left at home! In courtly wise she voided thus her land. She kissed her nearest kinsmen47 who were found at court. After a fair leave-taking they journeyed to the sea. To her fatherland the lady nevermore returned. Many kinds of games were seen upon the way; pastimes they had galore. A real sea breeze did help them on their voyage. Thus they fared forth from the land fully48 merrily. She would not let her husband court her on the way; this pleasure was deferred49 until their wedding-tide in the castle, their home, at Worms, to which in good time she came right joyfully50 with all her knights.
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1
embarked
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| 乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 )； 装载； 从事 | |
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impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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hoard
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| n./v.窖藏，贮存，囤积 | |
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isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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enrage
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| v.触怒，激怒 | |
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valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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dwarf
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| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
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scourge
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| n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏 | |
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smote
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| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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knightly
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| adj. 骑士般的 adv. 骑士般地 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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tugging
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| n.牵引感v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的现在分词 ) | |
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vassal
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| n.附庸的；属下；adj.奴仆的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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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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doughty
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| adj.勇猛的，坚强的 | |
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tapers
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| （长形物体的）逐渐变窄( taper的名词复数 )； 微弱的光； 极细的蜡烛 | |
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proffer
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| v.献出，赠送；n.提议，建议 | |
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proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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costly
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| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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dames
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| n.（在英国）夫人（一种封号），夫人（爵士妻子的称号）( dame的名词复数 )；女人 | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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prow
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| n.(飞机)机头，船头 | |
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purveyed
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| v.提供，供应( purvey的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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wield
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| vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等) | |
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craved
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| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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rued
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| v.对…感到后悔( rue的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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naught
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| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
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40
eke
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| v.勉强度日，节约使用 | |
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41
bounteous
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| adj.丰富的 | |
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42
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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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
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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45
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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46
wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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47
kinsmen
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| n.家属，亲属( kinsman的名词复数 ) | |
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48
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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49
deferred
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| adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
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50
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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