He called in answer: “Who hath done this deed?”
“That Sir Bloedel hath done with his liegemen, but he hath paid for it dearly, as I can tell you, for with mine own hands I struck off his head.”
“It is but little scathe7,” quoth Hagen, “if one can only say of a knight that he hath lost his life at a warrior’s hands. Stately dames8 shall mourn him all the less. Now tell me, brother Dankwart, how comes it that ye be so red of hue9? Ye suffer from wounds great dole10, I ween. If there be any in the land that hath done you this, ’twill cost his life, and the foul11 fiend save him not.”
“Ye see me safe and sound; my weeds alone are wot with blood. This hath happed12 from wounds of other men, of whom I have slain13 so many a one today that, had I to swear it, I could not tell the tale.”
“Brother Dankwart,” he spake, “guard us the door and let not a single Hun go forth14. I will hold speech with the warriors15, as our need constraineth us, for our meiny lieth dead before them, undeserved.”
“If I must be chamberlain,” quoth the valiant16 man, “I well wet how to serve such mighty kings and will guard the stairway, as doth become mine honors.” Naught17 could have been more loth to Kriemhild’s knights.
“Much it wondereth me,” spake Hagen, “what the Hunnish knights be whispering in here. I ween, they’d gladly do without the one that standeth at the door, and who told the courtly tale to us Burgundians. Long since I have heard it said of Kriemhild, that she would not leave unavenged her dole of heart. Now let us drink to friendship 172 and pay for the royal wine. The young lord of the Huns shall be the first.”
Then the good knight Hagen smote20 the child Ortlieb, so that the blood spurted21 up the sword towards his hand and the head fell into the lap of the queen. At this there began a murdering, grim and great, among the knights. Next he dealt the master who taught the child a fierce sword-stroke with both his hands, so that his head fell quickly beneath the table to the ground. A piteous meed it was, which he meted22 out to the master. Hagen then spied a gleeman sitting at King Etzel’s board. In his wrath23 he hied him thither24 and struck off his right hand upon the fiddle25. “Take this as message to the Burgundian land.”
“Woe is me of my hand,” spake the minstrel Werbel. “Sir Hagen of Troneg, what had I done to you? I came in good faith to your masters’ land. How can I now thrum the tunes26, sith I have lost my hand?”
Little recked Hagen, played he nevermore. In the hall he dealt out fierce deadly wounds to Etzel’s warriors, passing many of whom he slew27. Enow of folk in the house he did to death. The doughty28 Folker now sprang up from the board; loud rang in his hands his fiddle bow. Rudely did Gunther’s minstrel play. Ho, what foes30 he made him among the valiant Huns! The three noble kings, too, sprang up from the table. Gladly would they have parted the fray31, or ever greater scathe was done. With all their wit they could not hinder it, when Folker and Hagen gan rage so sore. When that the lord of the Rhine beheld32 the fray unparted, the prince dealt his foes many gaping33 wounds himself through the shining armor rings. That he was a hero of his hands, he gave great proof. Then the sturdy Gernot joined the strife34. Certes, he did many a hero of the Huns to death with a sharp sword, the which Rudeger had given him. Mighty wounds he dealt King Etzel’s warriors. Now the young son of Lady Uta rushed to the fray. Gloriously his sword rang on the helmets of Etzel’s warriors from the Hunnish land. Full mickle wonders were wrought35 by bold Giselher’s hand. But how so doughty they all were, the kings and their liegemen, yet Folker was seen to stand before them all against the foe29; a good hero he. Many a one he made to fall in his blood through wounds. Etzel’s men did fend36 them, too, full well, yet one saw the strangers go hewing37 with their gleaming swords through the royal hall and on every side was heard great sound of wail38. Those without would now fain be with their friends within, but at the entrance towers they found small gain. Those within had gladly been without the hall, but Dankwart let none go either up or down the steps. Therefore there rose before the towers a mighty press, and helmets rang loudly from the sword-blows. Bold Dankwart came into great stress thereby39; this his brother feared, as his loyalty40 did bid him.
Loudly then Hagen called to Folker: “See ye yonder, comrade, my brother stand before the Hunnish warriors amid a rain of blows? Friend, save my brother, or ever we lose the knight.”
“That will I surely,” quoth the minstrel, and through the palace he went a-fiddling, his stout41 sword ringing often in his hand. Great thanks were tendered by the warriors from the Rhine. Bold Folker spake to Dankwart: “Great discomfiture42 have ye suffered today, therefore your brother bade me hasten to your aid. Will ye stand without, so will I stand within.”
Sturdy Dankwart stood without the door and guarded the staircase against whoever came, wherefore men heard the swords resound43 in the heroes’ hands. Folker of Burgundy land performed the same within. Across the press the bold fiddler cried: “Friend Hagen, the hall is locked; forsooth King Etzel’s door is bolted well. The hands of two heroes guard it, as with a thousand bars.” When Hagen of Troneg beheld the door so well defended, the famous hero and good slung44 his shield upon his back and gan avenge18 the wrongs that had been done him there. His foes had now no sort of hope to live.
When now the lord of Berne, the king of the Amelungs, 173 beheld aright that the mighty Hagen broke so many a helm, upon a bench he sprang and spake: “Hagen poureth out the very worst of drinks.”
The host, too, was sore adread, as behooved45 him now, for his life was hardly safe from these his foes. O how many dear friends were snatched away before his eyes! He sate46 full anxious; what booted it him that he was king? Haughty47 Kriemhild now cried aloud to Dietrich: “Pray help me hence alive, most noble knight, by the virtues48 of all the princes of the Amelung land. If Hagen reach me, I shall grasp death by the hand.”
“How shall I help you, noble queen?” spake Sir Dietrich. “I fear for myself in sooth. These men of Gunther be so passing wroth that at this hour I cannot guard a soul.”
“Nay, not so, Sir Dietrich, noble knight and good. Let thy chivalrous49 mood appear today and help me hence, or I shall die.” Passing great cause had Kriemhild for this fear.
“I’ll try to see if I may help you, for it is long since that I have soon so many good knights so bitterly enraged50. Of a truth I see blood spurting51 through the helmets from the swords.”
Loudly the chosen knight gan call, so that his voice rang forth as from a bison’s horn, until the broad castle resounded52 with his force. Sir Dietrich’s strength was passing great in truth.
When Gunther heard this man cry out in the heated strife, he began to heed53. He spake: “Dietrich’s voice hath reached mine ears, I ween our champions have bereft54 him of some friend today. I see him on the table, he doth beckon55 with his hand. Ye friends and kinsmen56 from Burgundian land, give over the strife. Let’s hear and see what here hath fortuned to the knight from my men-at-arms.”
When Gunther thus begged and bade in the stress of the fray, they sheathed1 their swords. Passing great was his power, so that none struck a blow. Soon enow he asked the tidings of the knight of Berne. He spake: “Most noble Dietrich, what hath happed to you through these my friends? I am minded to do you remedy and to make amends57. If any had done you aught, ‘twould grieve me sore,”
Then spake Sir Dietrich: “Naught hath happed to me, but I pray you, let me leave this hall and this fierce strife under your safe-guard, with my men. For this favor I will serve you ever.”
“How entreat58 ye now so soon,” quoth Wolfhart 174 then. “Forsooth the fiddler hath not barred the door so strong, but what we may open it enow to let us pass.”
“Hold your tongue,” spake Sir Dietrich; “the devil a whit59 have ye ever done.”
Then: spake King Gunther: “I will grant your boon60. Lead from the hall as few or as many as ye will, save my foes alone; they must remain within. Right ill have they treated me in the Hunnish land.”
When Dietrich heard these words, he placed his arm around the high-born queen, whose fear was passing great. On his other side he led King Etzel with him hence; with Dietrich there also went six hundred stately men.
Then spake the noble Margrave Rudeger: “Shall any other who would gladly serve you come from this hall, let us hear the tale, and lasting61 peace shall well befit good friends.”
To this Giselher of the Burgundian land replied: “Peace and friendship be granted you by us, sith ye are constant in your fealty62. Ye and all your men, ye may go hence fearlessly with these your friends.”
When Sir Rudeger voided the hall, there followed him, all told, five hundred men or more, kinsmen and vassals63 of the lord of Bechelaren, from whom King Gunther later gained great scathe. Then a Hunnish champion spied Etzel walking close by Dietrich. He, too, would take this chance, but the fiddler dealt him such a blow that his head fell soon before King Etzel’s feet. When the lord of the land was come outside the house, he turned him about and gazed on Folker. “Woe is me of these guests. This is a direful need, that all my warriors should lie low in death before them. Alas64 for the feasting,” quoth the noble king. “Like a savage65 boar there fighteth one within, hight Folker, who is a gleeman. I thank my stars that I escaped this fiend. His glees have an evil sound, the strokes of his how draw blood; forsooth his measures fell many a hero dead. I wot not, with what this minstrel twitteth us, for I have never had such baleful guest.”
They had permitted whom they would to leave the hall. Then there arose within a mighty uproar66; sorely the guests avenged19 what there had happed them. Ho, what helmets bold Folker broke! The noble King Gunther turned him toward the sound. “Hear ye the measures, Hagen, which Folker yonder fiddleth with the Huns, when any draweth near the towers? ’Tis a blood-red stroke he useth with the bow.”
“It rueth me beyond all measure,” quoth Hagen, “that in this hall I sate me down to rest before the hero did. I was his comrade and he was mine; and come we ever home again, we shall still be so, in loyal wise. Now behold67, most noble king, Folker is thy friend, he earneth gladly thy silver and thy gold. His fiddle bow doth cut through the hardest steel, on the helmets he breaketh the bright and shining gauds! 175 Never have I seen fiddler stand in such lordly wise as the good knight Folker hath stood today. His glees resound through shield and helmet. Certes he shall ride good steeds and wear lordly raiment.”
Of all the kinsmen of the Huns within the hall, not one of these remained alive. Thus the clash of arms died out, since none strove with them longer. The lusty knights and bold now laid aside their swords.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
sheathed
|
|
| adj.雕塑像下半身包在鞘中的；覆盖的；铠装的；装鞘了的v.将（刀、剑等）插入鞘( sheathe的过去式和过去分词 )；包，覆盖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
knight
|
|
| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
woe
|
|
| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
knights
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
squires
|
|
| n.地主，乡绅( squire的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
scathe
|
|
| v.损伤；n.伤害 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
dames
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
hue
|
|
| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
dole
|
|
| n.救济，（失业）救济金；vt.（out）发放，发给 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
foul
|
|
| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
happed
|
|
| v.偶然发生( hap的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
slain
|
|
| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
warriors
|
|
| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
valiant
|
|
| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
naught
|
|
| n.无，零 [=nought] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
avenge
|
|
| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
avenged
|
|
| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
smote
|
|
| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
spurted
|
|
| （液体，火焰等）喷出，（使）涌出( spurt的过去式和过去分词 )； （短暂地）加速前进，冲刺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
meted
|
|
| v.（对某人）施以，给予（处罚等）( mete的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
wrath
|
|
| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
thither
|
|
| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
fiddle
|
|
| n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
tunes
|
|
| n.曲调，曲子( tune的名词复数 )v.调音( tune的第三人称单数 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
slew
|
|
| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
doughty
|
|
| adj.勇猛的，坚强的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
foe
|
|
| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
foes
|
|
| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
fray
|
|
| v.争吵；打斗；磨损，磨破；n.吵架；打斗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
beheld
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
gaping
|
|
| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
strife
|
|
| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
wrought
|
|
| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
fend
|
|
| v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
hewing
|
|
| v.（用斧、刀等）砍、劈( hew的现在分词 )；砍成；劈出；开辟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
wail
|
|
| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
thereby
|
|
| adv.因此，从而 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
loyalty
|
|
| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
discomfiture
|
|
| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
resound
|
|
| v.回响 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
slung
|
|
| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
behooved
|
|
| v.适宜( behoove的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
sate
|
|
| v.使充分满足 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
haughty
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
virtues
|
|
| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
chivalrous
|
|
| adj.武士精神的；对女人彬彬有礼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
enraged
|
|
| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
spurting
|
|
| （液体，火焰等）喷出，（使）涌出( spurt的现在分词 )； （短暂地）加速前进，冲刺； 溅射 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
resounded
|
|
| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
heed
|
|
| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
bereft
|
|
| adj.被剥夺的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
beckon
|
|
| v.(以点头或打手势)向...示意，召唤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
kinsmen
|
|
| n.家属，亲属( kinsman的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
amends
|
|
| n. 赔偿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
entreat
|
|
| v.恳求，恳请 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
whit
|
|
| n.一点，丝毫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
boon
|
|
| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
lasting
|
|
| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
fealty
|
|
| n.忠贞，忠节 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
vassals
|
|
| n.奴仆( vassal的名词复数 )；（封建时代）诸侯；从属者；下属 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
alas
|
|
| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
uproar
|
|
| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
behold
|
|
| v.看，注视，看到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |